I do not own BNHA or its characters.
Enjoy part 5 of "Shoes"
Inko closed the door to her apartment and carefully kicked off her shoes, balancing the bags of groceries on her soft hips. The apartment was quiet and empty. The door to the guest room was open, as it was whenever Hisashi was out.
Inko breathed a sigh of relief. It would be nice to get some housework done on her own without worrying about disturbing him.
Inko carried the groceries to the kitchen, surprised to see a single plate and cup on the drying rack by the sink, the only trace of himself Hisashi ever seemed to leave outside of the guest room. He had been quiet in the days following his visit to U.A. and kept to himself most times. He was job hunting and spent most of his time out of the apartment. Inko had seen him return in the late evenings, applications and resumes in hand before he disappeared back into Izuku's old room. She knew it was a challenge for him, being an ex-convict and looking for work. That was part of the reason Inko had offered him a place to stay until he got back on his feet. Inko did not know how successful his attempts were, but … at least he was trying.
Inko was part way through putting her groceries away when her phone buzzed. She brushed her hands on her skirt and fished through her purse. When she pulled the phone out and saw the contact, her whole day brightened.
Toshinori Y: Young Midoriya's updated hero costume is complete.
Attached was a candid image of her Izuku. He was speaking with a frightening looking hero with a bright grin. He seemed to be in the middle of an animated conversation, the photo catching him mid-gesture. New supports covered most of his arms. The most notable differences were the additional braces and padding on his legs and shoes.
Inko smiled, touched. Izuku had kept the costume true to her original design.
The phone buzzed again.
Toshinori Y: Your son has developed an excellent special move. He saved me from a falling boulder with it only moments ago.
Inko nearly dropped the phone.
Eyes wide and thumbs fumbling, she typed out her reply.
Inko M: He did what?! Are you okay?
There was a pause, then.
Toshinori Y: Yes, yes. I'm fine. Just a training incident.
Inko could almost see the gaunt smile and hear his careless laugh. Honestly! The man was supposed to be putting her at ease!
She sighed, exasperated.
Inko M: You are ridiculous! You better not be putting yourself at risk on purpose. Are you getting enough rest?
Only after she hit send did she realize she just scolded All Might! This time she really did drop her phone.
She blushed furiously, trembling as she stooped to pick up her phone, but flinched back when the phone buzzed again. Hesitantly, she scooped up the phone and turned it around.
His response was two words.
Toshinori Y: Yes, ma'am.
He'd even sent a grinning emoji and a thumbs up.
Inko shook her head, warm laughter bubbling in her chest. She covered her mouth but the laughter bubbled over and soon she was shaking and giggling and out of breath.
"Honestly, Toshinori!" Inko laughed to herself, wiping a tear from her eye, "if it isn't Izuku, you will be the death of me."
"Who is Toshinori?"
Inko jumped and turned to the door.
Hisashi was standing in the entryway to the hall. He looked … tired, resigned, and almost nostalgic. He shifted uncomfortably, then waved his hand dismissively.
"Forget I asked. It's fine," he shrugged with a small smile, "I'm glad."
Inko blushed furiously, "It's not - He's just -"
Hisashi laughed awkwardly.
"You forget," Hisashi said, tapping his temple with a finger, "I remember what you look like when you like someone."
"He's a teacher!" Inko blurted, "I couldn't - He wouldn't -" Her blush reached her ears and she trembled in embarrassment.
Toshinori was a teacher, Izuku's teacher! For Pete's sake, he was All Might! Yes, he was charming and funny and infuriating. Yes, he swore to protect and teach Izuku and it was obvious he cared for her son. Yes, he went out of his way to ease her mind and meet with her over tea. And if she was honest with herself, she did find him rather handsome though she wished he would take better care of himself. Inko's train of thought came to a grinding halt.
"Ah," Hisashi snorted, smiling more genuinely than Inko had seen in years, "there it is. You've got it bad."
Inko's phone buzzed again. Hesitantly, aware of Hisashi's gaze, Inko looked at her phone screen.
Toshinori Y: Oh! I meant to ask earlier. There is a faculty meeting during our usual meeting time. If you would like, perhaps I could have a car pick you up and bring you to the school? Izuku could join us. He has been very eager to show you his progress. If not, we could reschedule. Also, I tried the tea you recommended. It was very good!
Inko's hands shook. How long had they been going back and forth so casually? She had originally texted to apologize for Hisashi's unorthodox school visit, then … then the conversation had continued as easily as it did in person. Toshinori would talk of students and new teaching methods - he admitted he was lacking in that field but was aiming to improve. In turn, Inko would tell stories from Izuku's childhood, share recipes, and chat about ordinary goings on. It had been so natural, she hadn't noticed…
"Are you going to reply or are you going to keep staring at it?" Hisashi asked flatly from the doorway, some of his old humor resurfacing.
Inko M: Yes
She'd replied before she could think.
Toshinori Y: Fantastic! At 3pm then?
Inko M: Yes, sounds good.
Inko shoved her phone back in her purse before she could do anything more rash. She leaned against the counter, blush going strong and heart racing.
When did this happen? Inko's brows furrowed. Did it matter? He was All Might and Izuku's teacher and she was … Her blush faded away. It was best not to think about it. It's not like it could go anywhere.
Inko straightened, putting on a brave smile.
"How's the hunt going?" she asked.
Hisashi blinked at the sudden change in subject, then sighed. He lifted a manilla envelope, shaking it loosely.
"Sent out more applications and picked some up on my way back." He pressed his lips in a thin frown, "No responses yet. I'm sorry to impose on you -"
"Don't be," Inko said, shrugging casually, "It hasn't even been a week. I'm sure your luck will turn around."
"Yeah," Hisashi looked away, some unreadable emotion passed as a shadow across his face. "Here's hoping."
Hisashi returned to the room that had become his refuge outside of Jakku Penitentiary. It was dark and quiet and as bare as when he had first stepped inside it. The only differences were the papers on the desk and the few shirts he owned hanging in the closet. With a sigh, he sat at the desk and kneaded the growing headache at his temples.
Inko's predicament had provided a brief and needed distraction, but it only lasted so long.
Hisashi slapped the manilla envelope on the desk, its contents spilling. His most recent failures. The company where he had worked before had gone out of business three years prior to his release. All others - it only took one look at the Jakku insignia that branded his record and his registered quirk for them to turn him away. Of course, it was never officially the reason. There were laws against that kind of prejudice; however, there were plenty of loopholes and excuses hiring managers could and did use. No one wanted a possibly dangerous firebreather working under them.
Hisashi felt flames curl in his gut, the dry heat rushing out of his nostrils as he took a controlled breath.
No. He would not go to that place again. He just needed to be patient. Things would work out.
Hisashi glanced around the room, his son's room, to ground himself. When he asked, Inko had described what it had looked like before, even supplying some photo examples. He could see it in his mind's eye. All Might posters lined the walls, his desk covered in notebooks and hero figurines. Izuku had grown up in this room, and grown out of it.
On the desk his phone vibrated with a call, an unknown number glowing on the screen. The phone might not have recognized the number, but he sure as hell did.
"Damnit," Hisashi growled, small tongues of fire slipping between his teeth. If he didn't need his phone for his job search, he would have chucked it in a pond already.
The phone continued to vibrate, inching ever closer to the edge of the desk but stopped before tipping off. Moments later, it buzzed once. A voicemail notification lit up the screen.
Hisashi closed his eyes with a frustrated sigh, letting the last of his flames to curl up and around his face before flickering out. With a single motion, he scooped up the phone and selected the message.
"Hisashi! I hear you got out! Everyone is thrilled," said a boisterous male voice, "We ought to get a drink. Talk about old times. Call me back, Blowtorch." The voicemail ended there.
Hisashi slammed the phone back on the desk and pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes.
"Goddamnit!" he snarled quietly, too aware of Inko's presence in the living area. He was not going back there. He had a chance to know his son. He could not give that up. He couldn't go back there.
Fire stirred in his chest and Hisashi grit his teeth.
"Goddamnit."
To be continued.