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Hi! Finally I have made an update after a long time. And I'm just going to remind you that I have changed my writing style, still under development though. You may or may not notice but mehp. Errors are still possibly... present somewhere, sorry. AND I made this chapter longer than my usual , though this is just a bundle of sadness. :/
And some information isn't official to the actual series so don't mind them but do as it's only related here. You'll find out. ^^
[Previously on Raising the Absolute Duo]
"Let's talk for a bit..." Wataru looked at Katsuki with a serious face.
...
"I... I have... something to say... Please hear me out..." Izuku uttered and Mitsuki awaited.
The boy looked at her and the fear in his eyes could not be hidden. Tears began to build up on the corners of his eyes. And the next words that Mitsuki hears broke her heart and made her almost deaf.
"The twins and I... One of us will not be able to make it. I'm scared..." Hot tears rolled out of his eyes.
Mitsuki walks forward to Izuku to wipe his tears off then pulls him into an embrace. She couldn't help but pity the poor boy in his situation. Simply looking at him, she can tell how he felt so vulnerable all these previous months of pregnancy.
"Oh, Izuku." is the only thing the woman could say.
Then something made her bother.
"Izuku..." Mitsuki calls the boy's attention.
Izuku looks up with his teary green eyes, uncertain. Just seeing those pained look in his eyes felt like a thorn had been stabbed in Mitsuki's chest.
"Does... Inko knew about this?" she speaks hesitantly.
The moment she spoke the boy's mother's name, fear quickly envelops Izuku's eyes. His lips quivers as he shakes his head in dismay. Mitsuki is troubled.
"Dear, don't tell me that guy doctor told this only to you?" her voice sounding disbelief.
With Izuku's dark silence, it is enough for Mitsuki to form a disappointed frown on her face. She thinks it is bad, terribly bad. How could a doctor put such heavy burden on a sixteen-year-old boy who's just experiencing something he's not supposed to experience, at all? And worst part of it, he didn't even inform that very important detail to the kid's own mother.
But Mitsuki decides not to let the boy hear her opinion about it as she is sure that it will only make his feelings more messed up.
Instead... "Hey..." she uses her hand to gently raise Izuku's gaze to hers. What she needs to do right now is to understand.
"I'll support you. Tell Inko all these and I'm sure she will understand."
Izuku stares into those red eyes of hers as if those are doors of death right in front of him. Even if he wanted to say something, his throat constricts. He knew he didn't have a choice. His heart isn't nearly prepared as he thought it was. He is hesitating. He knows that at some point he should be telling this to Inko, and that is now. Hot tears kept flowing out of his eyes. His lips purses into a thin line.
But he gives her a small nod.
Minutes have passed after Mitsuki making Izuku calm down first before they head back inside the house. She holds the boy's hand to let him know that she's there for him. Izuku wanted to form a small smile of appreciation but even though he had calmed down, the heaviness in his chest still won't go away. For him, it seem that just a small smile is draining too much of his energy.
They take their time in walking and finally they reach his mother's room. Mitsuki makes an assuring smile and urge the boy to knock. The boy still is hesitant but he inhales then exhales in hopes to relax his panicking heart. He raises his knuckles and knocks onto the door.
Inko informs them to wait for a second before the door swings open. His mother grins and is about to greet them a good morning when she sees the seriousness in the atmosphere, she stopped herself. Mitsuki slowly releases her grip from Izuku's hand. For a moment, the boy panics but Mitsuki gives his shoulder a tap and smiles at him warmly.
Then transfers her gaze to Inko. "Izuku has something to say. Please hear him out."
Inko raises an eyebrow, confused. But she didn't question any further and makes a space for her son to go inside. Izuku then walks in, leaving Katsuki's mother by the door. She closes the door for them and immediately the room felt suffocating for the boy.
"Izuku," he flinches when Inko called him out. He looks at her, petrified.
This made his mother more worried. "Izuku, you don't have to be scared." she did her best to make her tone soft as possible. "You can tell me anything. I'm here."
Inko holds his hand as her way to soothe her son's nervousness. However the boy only felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He realize that he's been selfish all this time. Why hadn't he told his own mother the truth sooner? Why had he carried the burden all to himself? Does she not have the rights to worry?
No. Simply because Izuku loves his mother so much that he didn't want to make her worry or even hurt her feelings. He knew that Inko is weak emotionally toward her son after his husband left their son into her own hands to raise. Izuku understands all of it and decided not to tell her. But right now, he has to.
After a moment of collecting his composure and courage to speak out, he then begins explaining the situation as careful as he can.
Nevertheless, the outcome didn't surprise him at all. Inko's expression twists to horror to hurt then to a mess. Her eyes sting and hot tears roll out of her eyes in an alarming pace. Every word from Izuku seems like her heart's been torn bit by bit in a mind-wrecking torture way. Her legs gave out as she falls down, covering her face.
Izuku couldn't do a thing besides warping her into his embrace while apologizing for his selfishness. And this time, not a single tear came out of his eyes.
Hours had gone by since Izuku's confrontation about the truth to his mother and between those hours the Yanase couple and Katsuki's arrival to the house while Emilia still stays unconscious at the hospital. Wataru reports to Mitsuki that her son's almost healed and that he still needs some rest. Wataru did suggested Katsuki to stay at the hospital for another day but he insisted to get out of there as soon as possible.
After Wataru finishes telling about it to Mitsuki, he feels that he's being glared by the woman which sent harsh chills in his spine. He couldn't tell, actually. Yet he tries his best to shrug it off and change the topic.
"Where are Izuku-kun and Inko?" With that simple question, he sees now clearly the killer glare from Mitsuki.
He flinches. But she then exhales in defeat. She knows that by glaring won't solve the current problem anyway, even if she's restraining herself not to cause a scene by strangling the doctor to his last breath or other worst possibilities. But still worth the try mentally, she thought.
"Well, Izuku finally told his mother about his situation." she utters, plastering a pissed face.
Upon mentioning this, Wataru is taken aback and is speechless for a moment. Now, he knows behind her glare. The doctor suddenly felt that guilt when he begins recalling his discussion to the boy about his risks, yet he forces himself to speak.
"Oh... Well... can they be able to join our meeting later?" he hesitantly ask.
For the first time in his career, never he expected to be awkward in this kind of situation. Usually it's the doctors who give off the tension about life-threatening cases to either the patient or the patient's relatives or friends. But this time, he felt like he's the one getting the tension. Nonetheless, he still kept a straight face.
"I don't know." Mitsuki's huffs heavily. "They haven't gone out of Inko's room for some time now."
"Then... we'll just start after things settled on their part for now..." Wataru trails off.
She grows more worried. The fact that she knew Inko very well that she's emotionally weak made her thought that if they discuss the meeting about Izuku's safety for the next months of his expectancy, with fifty-fifty chance of survival in mind, might affect her mentality even more toward Izuku.
Despite that, Mitsuki choose not to underestimate her good friend. She gave Inko her faith on how she'll face the discussion later on.
Some time later, Inko and Izuku finally comes out of the room by the time it is lunch. Inko looks dejected and Izuku walks by her side quietly as they both head at the dining area. The silence is neither awkward nor uncomfortable. Yet, it isn't that comfortable either. He can't tell. But the boy decided to just let his mother recollect herself after learning about the news. Her eyes are still puffy and her nose is red from crying earlier. Izuku still feeling guilty about telling it now but he thought it is for the best that he finally told her it.
They've arrived at the dining room with others welcoming them warmly and urging them to sit with them. They also notice Inko's features but didn't say a word. Izuku's eyes wander off to scan the people in the room only to stop at a certain person which makes his heart skip a beat. As soon as his gaze meets with this person's familiar red piercing eyes, an unconscious smile of relief forms on his lips.
Both Midoriya then proceed to head to the table and sit on their seats. Wataruis sitting at the head of the table while on his left sit his wife then Mitsuki and Inko. Then to his right are Katsuki and Izuku.
Katsuki pulls Izuku's chair for him to sit down beside him. Izuku, frozen on his spot, looks at him with burning face, slowly spreading down to his neck. Suddenly becoming a gentle man was not Katsuki at all, Izuku thought, but it certainly made his heart jump happily in his chest. His thoughts begins to scramble though for a good response to Katsuki's once-in-blue-moon kindness when he decides to just simply thank him. But Katsuki only scowls at him, his look only tells him 'not a single fucking word and sit your ass here now'. Katsuki averts his gaze off from Izuku's view and Izuku just mouths an 'okay' and silently accept his offer then Katsuki follows after he made sure that Izuku had sat down properly.
"I didn't know you'd come by today, Kacchan." Izuku whispers, joy hinting in his tone. He really wants to thank his childhood friend about earlier but stops himself knowing fully that it will only make him embarrass.
"Yeah, I didn't want to stay there for another damn second..." Katsuki responds, sort of in a complaint way.
The said boy bites the insides of his cheeks to stop himself from saying the second reason why he wanted to leave the hospital badly. It might get awkward if Izuku ever knew that Katsuki was wishing to see his face as soon as possible, for somehow.
Katsuki made a quick scan at Izuku's attire which is an oversize t-shirt of All Might and plain shorts that's just above his knees. It made him quite pissed at All Might's picture but what he can't ignore is Izuku's bump. His own cheeks slightly heats up knowing that he's the one who caused that...
Izuku's small giggle drag Katsuki out of his thoughts. He looks up, Izuku makes a tiny toothy grin; "Well, I'm happy that you're finally okay."
Then their lunch begins when Wataru announced thanks for the meals which followed by others. As much as he wants to ignore it, the tension growing around them is just awkward. Wataru eyes Erisa shortly on his side and sees she also notice the atmosphere.
He had mentioned to her earlier that Inko finally discovered about her son's case. Certainly, his wife's worried about it and a part of her blamed her husband for the outcome.
But then again, Wataru also did pointed out that after his discussion about the risks to Izuku, the said boy requested not to mention it to his mother and that he'll do it on Wataru's behalf. With that said Erisa decided that she should just respect the boy's wishes. However the tension, currently, seems to lose their appetite and this didn't Erisa like. So, she thinks of conversing as a careful approach to lighten their lunch up.
Erisa glances across the table; "Izuku-kun," she calls out his attention and the boy tears his attention from his meal to the woman who just spoke his name. Katsuki's attention is also caught so he also looks to whom Izuku's looking at in slight curiosity. "have you already thought of names already?"
Izuku's eyes widen as he freezes for a moment of realization that he hadn't thought of the twins' names. He did thought of some but all were ridiculously embarrassing and awful. And recalling those made him troubled. He silently admits that he has bad naming sense in him.
Izuku takes a small peek on his side to look at Katsuki only to flinch and quickly avert his gaze away when he catches him looking at him expectantly. He knows it would be stupid to ask for him to think for the names instead, which was his plan but he didn't think it would be this difficult.
He shakes his head; "No, I haven't yet. It's hard coming up of names than I thought it would be..." he trails off.
Erisa smiles; "It's okay. It's just December. You still have some time to think."
The woman reminds. Since Izuku had been pregnant early of September and he's currently at his fourth month, second trimester and all, they only have five months before the due month. With this in thought made Izuku nervous and a little relieve that Katsuki's now by his side.
"Five months..." Katsuki speaks up but more of a question. Izuku then turns to him. "That's in May, right?"
"Yes. Though we aren't sure the exact date for Izuku-kun's special case." Erisa notes.
She thinks that since Izuku isn't a female to begin with, much less experience menstrual periods, they couldn't really estimate the date or the week of his should-be due time. Dates of the big day for the delivery usually is calculated on when a woman had her last period then skips few weeks back. So, on Izuku's case, they'd have to stick on estimating the month instead.
Izuku slightly tilts his head with an eyebrow arch up with interest when he see a smirk starting to stretch on Katsuki's lips. Knowing the other boy, he's sure he's up to something and has not a single clue about it until Katsuki glances at him straight in the eye.
"Then don't bother thinking for names, Deku. I'll be the one who'll give them instead."
Izuku's face immediately flushes with bright red hue. His eyes showing astonishment and glee. He's stupefied and couldn't form the right words he want to describe his feelings. His thoughts scrabbling in panic once again. Izuku didn't notice his breath was held back until then.
This reaction though was seen by everyone on the table. Their mothers' and the Yanase couple's attention are now focused on them which Izuku hadn't realized until he hears Mitsuki's voice.
"Well, that's nice of you, Katsuki." she purrs with a hint of mock.
Katsuki irk, face burning from embarrassment; "Shut it, old hag!" Her son grumbles but Mitsuki only let out a snicker. But deep inside her, she appreciated this side of Katsuki.
Their short moment is interrupted when Wataru clears his throat. All eyes are at him in question. The doctor then looks at the blond boy, slightly in amusement.
"If that's case, then you should be thinking names for a boy and a girl." Wataru made sure to emphasize the word 'girl'. He forms an intrigued grin when he knew that his plan worked.
It is obvious enough that Katsuki is utterly stunned from the man's words. Even his mother is also shocked just hearing that small fact but didn't say a word as they all jolt up when Katsuki slams his fists on the table. Everyone looks at him in worry of his behavior especially Izuku beside him. Izuku was about to think otherwise but when Katsuki turns at him accusingly while a shaky smirk on his face, Izuku makes a confused look.
"No one fucking told me that news, Deku." slowly, Izuku can now see how happy his childhood friend about it, in his own way of expressing it though.
He mentally sighed in relief. He shrugs his shoulders. "You never ask. Sorry, Kacchan." Izuku stretches out an apologetic smile.
Katsuki sneers at him playfully then mutters. "You sneaky fucking nerd." Mitsuki warns her son about his cursing but Katsuki only ignore her warning.
Erisa looks at the two teenagers in front of her with satisfaction, relieved that the tension earlier had disappeared. The conflict on their part is finally solved, she observed, which puts her more focus on the other problem now. She knows somehow that this person kept silent the whole time for some clarification when she, from time to time, glances at Inko from her side view. Erisa hopes that it's a pass to make things easier.
Their lunch ended shortly after that and Wataru invites the others to follow him to the living room to discuss the important matters once and for all. The Yanase couple sits on a couch in the middle part while the mother and son Bakugo beside each other on the couch on the Yanase's right. Izuku and Katsuki had silently planned to sit beside each other though when Inko stopped them, refusing to not be beside with her son-not even bothering to conceal her over-protectiveness. Izuku clearly understands this but still hides the forming frown on his face. Resulting, Inko and Izuku sitting on the Yanase's left side couch. Izuku reluctantly peeks up to Katsuki across him then brings his eyes down on the coffee table that's on the center of them.
The teal haired doctor clears his throat to catch their attention, which he found unneeded when all eyes are already directly at him. He clasps his hands together, already feeling the growing tension in the air, then starts speaking.
"There are three matters that needed to give importance and priority. First and foremost; Izuku-kun's safety. Second; the enemy. And third; the delivery."
Izuku slightly feels strange hearing that he's the one being protected than him doing the protecting. But then again, he is in a situation he cannot argue with. Izuku already thought this and he didn't need to bother to again.
"First up, Izuku-kun's safety. I know that simply staying in one place that feels like a cage is not healthy for him at all. However, due to the attempt of going outside yesterday, it was clear that it endangered not only his life but also all of yours as well. And as much as possible I'd like to refrain it from happening."
"Beside this house, isn't there any other place to ensure Izuku's safety?" Mitsuki rises her question.
"To be honest, the hospital isn't a reassuring location. It isn't a safe place to begin with anyway. Frustratingly, now that we know that one of the employees there is behind all these, we're on the edge. This house is the only place we know his safety is assured because there are some professional heroes nearby the area. It might be... bad but at least it pushes Izuku-kun away from harm. And transferring him to other place might give the enemy a chance to attack, if ever they're waiting for an opening, that is."
"Yeah, this place is much better than the hospital. Deku might get tired of their nasty food in just hours of staying there." Katsuki comments then a bothered look then appears on his face.
"Who is this f-"
"Your word, you brat." Mitsuki threatens.
Katsuki bites his tongue and glares at his mother on his side to stop himself. So he'll force himself not to cuss then, since his mother's very near him and he didn't want any trouble while they are in a serious discussion.
"fricking 'employee', by the way?"
Izuku makes an amused smile that his childhood friend's mother's able to control her son's natural habits. But still couldn't hide the fact that he's finally seeing Katsuki near him in the flesh after a long time. With just Katsuki's presence, it gave Izuku some relief and a sense of safety.
"That will be answer on the second matter." He points out then pauses.
"The enemy. Her name is Kumo Anri and... she was my assistant." The disappointment in his tone wasn't hidden.
Katsuki's eyebrows furrows, crease appearing in the middle, in mixture of confusion and sprouting anger from hearing that. Since he's been asleep when they discovered about Kumo Anri, he had no clue about what's going. This troubled look is noticed by Erisa.
"Kumo Anri was Wataru's assistant until then." Erisa continues.
"We didn't know that she was the one responsible for our daughter's kidnap years ago. Emilia's quirks took the villains attention and interest. At that, she's immediately given protection ever since her quirks had manifested by the authorities and some professional heroes who volunteered to protect her. But they weren't for a life-time bodyguards. So, only Ibusaki's left to protect her."
"Why didn't you just protect her by yourselves?" Katsuki's eyes widens in realization of his actions. He accidentally let out his thoughts, he curses in his mind for it. To be honest, Katsuki wasn't interested at all about what happened to Emilia's past experience. But hearing that even some pro heroes were involved made him curious. Just how important that girl is? He didn't know.
Wataru and Erisa is thrown off guard from the question but immediately stretches a small smile, although it is sad. The doctor holds his wife's hand and intertwines their fingers. He gives her an assuring smile to let her know that he'll be the one who will answer.
"We could have done it with no problem but sadly... we don't have any quirks. Both of us have no power to protect to those who are important to us. But our daughter received a fate of... misfortune." Wataru trails off, sadness clear in his eyes.
Katsuki becomes meek all of the sudden. He feels awfully regretful and wishes that he could have just held his tongue and just let them continue their discussion. Erisa, not wanting to make the boy uncomfortable - knowing he's just curious, continues.
"Going back, we had a search warrant of her kidnap along with the polices and two professional heroes in search of Emilia. It took only a day to find her with everyone's cooperation however... we found her in a facility that conducts..." the woman is having second thoughts. Erisa couldn't think for any other term to describe the place as she does not want to frighten them. Still, she decides to tell them straight.
"Illegal human dissection..."
It gave everyone a violent shiver and slowly getting the gist of the enemy's intentions. Izuku's expression turns into terror and anxious grows at an alarming speed in his chest. Unconsciously, images and scenes begin to flood in his thoughts. Seeing his soon-to-be fate if ever they get there hands on him and do the illegal activity while he is completely wide awake is enough to crumble his composure and sense of safety. It makes his throat tight, almost blocking a path for him to breath. He overthinks that sure he can fight however he'll also risks two lives on the line. Izuku thinks about every possibility that might happen to him in worst ways.
His vision's about to be consumed by darkness when he is then pulled abruptly out of his trance. Someone grabs his hands and yanks them toward this person. Izuku snaps his terrified eyes up to the owner. He sees Katsuki's red eyes glaring at his green ones with the same resolve he saw yesterday when they conversed. Only this time the resolve is stronger.
"Deku! I am here." His voice is clearly powerful and persuasive.
The said words of Katsuki makes Izuku recall All Might's phrase to calm and ensure the civilians he saves that they're finally okay when he's around. The grip on Izuku's hands is also strong but he didn't attempt to take his hands back as he is still frozen in fear.
"Let's talk for a bit..." Wataru looked at Katsuki with a serious face.
The doctor took the chair where Izuku was sitting on a moment ago and sat just beside his patient's bed. He crossed his legs and intertwines his fingers on top of his knee. He relaxed himself before telling the information he wanted the boy to hear.
Katsuki, on the other hand, doesn't like waiting. It only ticks his patience as he wanted to make things faster. The sooner the better, he thought, but with the tension in the room he's forced to wait. Wataru gazed at the boy, fatigue starting to show in his expression. He doesn't have the intention to even hide it in the first place.
"Katsuki-kun, I would just like to know if you'd be really willing to take the responsibility in front of you as of the moment." the doctor spoke. "As one of Izuku-kun's doctor, I'm honestly worried about his current health. And if his state worsens... I fear to say a word about it."
Anger in Katsuki's chest only rises into fury with just witnessing Izuku's pathetic state. It frustrates him that he is seeing Izuku this weak and about to break down from too much pressure and burden. Katsuki hates this. Panic is slowly rising when he sees the life in Izuku's eyes is starting to disappear.
The doctor knew this part isn't his business. It's their decision to be made and he has no place to interfere. But with this few passed months, he had grown quite fond of his patient. And the fact that his daughter's involved, he knew he needed to do something to help the situation.
The boy was quiet. It sure was his fault to begin with that all this had happened, he knew. Katsuki already went through this and had finally accepted the truth. He remembered thinking that he still couldn't take the responsibility yet as he was talking to Izuku earlier. But right now, he knew he is determined. Not only it would hurt his pride of not accepting his fault but it would also not answer the mystery of why he's doing this.
He'll do it not because he's forced to but because he wants to.
"I will take full responsibility of Deku by all means." Katsuki declared and the resolve in his eyes is very clear for the man to see.
Wataru felt slightly relieve at that. But it's not yet the ending.
"With your words, I trust you to fulfill it." Katsuki squinted his eyes a little bit. The way the man spoke felt as if he's the father of Izuku and he's entrusting his son to him. He ignored this and listened further to Wataru.
"However... there is something I must say about his current issue." the doctor began. "I know this is going to be a burden for the both of you but I do not want to see the scene I had imagined and just stand there feeling regretful."
"Just say it already, damn it!" As much as Katsuki wanted to contain his temper from waiting, he's growing bothered how the tension is choking him harder.
Wataru's eyes couldn't hide the distress as he told his next words to Katsuki. "Izuku-kun and the twins... there is a high chance that one of them will not survive."
"What..." his blood ran cold.
Katsuki can taste the bitterness in his mouth as he recalls his conversation with Wataru. Remembering how the doctor explained to him the reasons and the chances of their survival, he bites his lower lip. He doesn't want to see his childhood friend not smiling or not even trying his best to conquer the challenges in front of him. What Katsuki wants is the opposite not this shaking in fear figure, almost losing all hope. He will do anything to tear off that sadness in his face.
Katsuki gently caresses Izuku's tensed hands in order to soothe the other's fear away in his own way and looks straight at those green eyes.
"I will protect you. I won't let those shitty bastards and that crazy bitch get their hands or even lay a single fucking finger on you, Deku. I swear on that."
Katsuki feels relieved when Izuku's green eyes is beginning to lighten up, feeling the accomplishment of returning the life back in Izuku. Then comes a quivering smile on his lips. Katsuki notices Izuku's tears starting to build up on the corners of his eyes.
"T-th-thank y-you, Kacchan." Izuku tries his best not to make his words shaky but failed to do so. Despite that, he's feeling grateful of Katsuki. He knows he can count on his words.
Katsuki smirks from his response and uses his thumb to remove the tear that is threatening to fall down.
"Good. So stop worrying too much."
Katsuki leans forward, releases one of his hands from Izuku's to pull gently his head toward him as he places a feather kiss on Izuku's forehead. He quickly retreats back on his seat when it just hit him that they aren't the only ones in the room. He gazes at them and definitely they are watching the whole time in silent. Katsuki feels extremely embarrassed from their attention and when his eyes lands on Mitsuki gawking at him in disbelief, he has the sudden urge to lash out to make them forget what they just saw.
Mitsuki, on the other hand, thinks that it is her first time seeing her son showing an affection to other people, which is also the reason why she's so surprised. She glances to Izuku, who is staring at Katsuki with cheery red cheeks.
Wataru clears his throat once again to take their attention.
"Well..." he starts off. "Why don't we move on to the third matter?" he gives a soft smile.
They mumble something Wataru couldn't hear right but when they sit back properly, this signals the doctor for him to continue.
"Okay, third matter: the delivery." he huffs. "On this one, we have a problem."
Everyone's ears perks up as the word 'problem' is spoken.
"What problem?" Inko suddenly speaks up, and the rest turns to her direction. As they didn't mean it, they almost forgot that Inko is also with them.
Erisa pulls out a piece of folded paper from her pocket and gives this to her husband after opening it. Wataru shows this to everyone and they recognize the letter from Kumo Anri besides Katsuki. Katsuki reads this from the doctor's hand and upon finishing reading, he gets this desire of taking it and burning it to crisp.
"Izuku-kun has only five more months before the delivery. But in this letter... Kumo Anri's warning states she needs him within three months or she'll hunt him herself."