Trigger Warning:
- crude language
- discussion of abuse
Two days after the attack, Recovery Girl discharges me from the infirmary.
The other students of Class 1-A were curious about why I had mysteriously disappeared.
Shouto and Bakugou-kun managed to divert their attention so their questions did not become too prying.
Shouto was kind enough to collect my notes and homework for me.
"Consider it returning the favor for when I was sick," he said.
So here I am in my boarding house room, catching up on two days worth of homework. Funny how so much work can accumulate if you miss even a short amount of time. Shouto is with me, too, finishing his own work. He had a strenuous day at his work-study, so he has a bit of back pain. I offered him my bed because after being confined to one for two days, I had my fair share.
We complete our tasks in mutual silence. Quiet but comfortable silence.
A single phone call shatters that peace.
When I look at the caller ID, a despondent snort leaves me. Sooner or later this was bound to happen. Hanada-sama was going to call me to return to the manor. Here it is now. This morning, two parcels had arrived. My cane and pendant in the first; a new phone in the other. The police had insisted on holding onto the old one for further analysis, but they had sent the other two belongings. Hanada-sama knew of it, so the second package was from him. He was courteous to mail a letter with it as well. Expect a call from me today, the letter read. A single, succinct sentence. No signature, no inquiry about my health, nothing whatsoever. I was not expecting any from him. However, my old-time friend dread paid a visit. It has yet to say goodbye.
When the dial tune rings for more than a few seconds, Shouto asks, "Who is it? Are you not going to pick up?"
I don't respond. On the one hand, I am scared of angering Hanada-sama by not picking up the first time. On the other hand, whatever he has to say will not be pleasant. The bed creaks behind me. A breeze of air flutters in my direction as the mosquito net parts. Shouto's feet plant on the ground, and his footsteps come close to me. He leans over me to look at the phone. His silence is not that of tranquility any more; it is furious and precarious.
Without any warning, he clicks the 'Accept Call' button and puts it on speaker. I want to listen, his eyes tell me. A hand on my shoulder is his encouragement for me to speak.
"Yes, Hanada-sama?" I greet carefully.
"I heard that Miyamoto Akutenshi and his friends nearly gang raped you." Straight to the point. Void of emotion. A slight slur in his words due to alcohol. How characteristic of him. "I told that fool to wait until the opportunity was good."
I pretend to be surprised. Feigning horror, I seethe, "So you collaborated with him to get back at me. Of course. I should have known."
"Did you think that you could announce in front of a group of lawyers an end to your sexual abuse?" he bites back. "Arrogant ***! Believing that because my sons were dead you could challenge me. I had to teach you a lesson."
Shouto is overhearing all of this. Now I have more reason to be afraid. The rage in his eyes burns brighter.
"Why did you call?" I say after too many moments pass. "I doubt it was to check on my welfare."
"Your debutante party. It is this weekend. Selene, you didn't come last week. A big mistake, for which you will be punished. But if you repeat it this time, your discipline will be much more severe than some lashings and someone's bed."
He ends the call, leaving me with more fear than I had started with. Naturally, my hands begin wringing themselves. Clenching and squeezing. Tightening and twisting. "Selene?" Shouto calls out. "Selene, what was he talking about? What debutante party?" I cannot find the words inside me to reply. Everything is just too much. He bends to his knees and plants his other hand on my shoulder, too. "Darling, look at me. Talk to me. Please. Whatever it is, you don't have to go through it by yourself."
"I'm afraid, Shouto," I croak out. "You want to help, and I truly respect that. But this is something I have to suffer by myself."
"What do you mean?"
My anxiety intensifies, evident by the frantic motions of my hands. "You know that in Japan the new school year begins in April. So does the fiscal year. Hanada-sama believed that it was an auspicious opportunity. I should have my official debut into the business world at the start of April. I have already undertaken some unofficial endeavors, but this party is the first step to solidifying my position. There will be all sorts of businessmen, politicians, and heroes present at the Hanada manor. I am expected to meet with all of them. Introduce myself."
Shouto finishes the rest of it for me. "And you have no choice but to go. Because I held you back last time, he is pissed." I nod. "He thinks that you should be chastised for your disobedience." Again, yes. "The punishments he doles out are whips and assault." That is true, too. But I don't have the strength to confirm it. What am I supposed to say? That Hanada-sama rents me to others so they can enjoy my body? That I have no self-respect?
He pries my fingers apart and threads his through them.
"That place … th-that mansion," I stammer. "I-I-I don't want to go there. Something bad is going to happen to me there. I just know it. The mansion is his domain. H-He will find a w-w-way to hurt me. He always does."
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!" Shouto exclaims. "It's okay. Calm down. Nothing is going to happen to you. I won't let it." Shouto releases my hands to hold my hips instead. Slowly, he brings me down from the chair and lifts me into his arms. He carries me to the bed and sets me on the edge. Occupying the seat next to me, he wraps an arm around me. I lean into his side. "Actually, this would be a good time to talk about it now. It's something that's been on my mind for quite some time now."
I look up at him. "I'm listening. Go on."
"Any day now Hanada-shi will get the summons from the court. He will find out it was you, and if you are anywhere near him … well, I don't want to imagine how he will exact his wrath on you. So before that happens, how about you get away from that horrible place forever?"
"Where will I go?"
"My home," he replies immediately.
I scan his face for any sign of mischievousness. There is none. So you're serious about this? The shock must be visible on my face because Shouto begins to elaborate. "The dormitory installation won't last forever. For breaks and stuff, we'll have to go home. Initially, I was thinking that while the court trial lasts, you could stay with me and my family. Using my Dad's name doesn't usually sit right with me, but I have to admit that Hanada-shi will not attempt any attack toward the Number One Hero or anyone in his shelter. You could stay until you find a new residence. Or longer if you like."
Tentatively, I ask, "Does your family know about your idea?"
He shakes his head. "I wanted to get your opinion first before I brought up the subject with them. But after seeing how new problems are arising that we did not anticipate, I had to ask you now. If you agree, this party could very well be the last time you go to the mansion."
"I'm not sure if I understand. What do you mean the last time?"
His hold on me tightens just slightly. With his free arm, he rubs the back of his neck. He's shying. I wonder what the reason could be. "You have some stuff there that you can't leave behind, right? Dresses, toiletries, precious belongings?" I affirm that I do. "Well, on the night of the party, you could sneak away for a little while. Pack up all of your things. Get them in some suitcases and then never look back."
"How do you suggest I hide all that? And who is going to give me transportation to move all that luggage?"
"I will," he answers. My eyes widen in surprise. "If you can get me an invitation to that party, Selene, then I can help you buy some time away from the other guests. I'll even help you pack your stuff, so we can leave quicker."
The proposition is so risky. Despite his certain belief that Endeavor-san's status will protect him, if we both are caught … there is no telling how Hanada-sama might retaliate. Also … "What about Miyamoto-san? I can feel it inside my bones. He will be there at the party. That is the punishment he has planned for me. And you will have to inform your father of your strategy. What if he does not approve?"
"All the more reason you should escape his clutches as soon as possible," he counters. "As for Dad, don't worry about him. I'll bargain with him: if he goes to the party, then I'll continue the work-study."
I pull back, vigorously shaking my head. "Please don't do that. Don't sacrifice your career for my sake."
Shouto shoves his homework from the bed with a single sweep. He flops down on his back and sighs. Mimicking his behavior, I settle on my elbows and watch him with my head turned to the side.
"Sweetheart," he says. "I hope this kind of situation never arises, but if it comes down to a choice between my career as a Pro-Hero and you … I choose you."
No, no, no. Rolling onto my stomach, I cradle his cheeks so he faces me. "I cannot let you do that. You mustn't sacrifice your future for someone else. Especially not me."
"Why not?" he opposes. "I want to become a Pro-Hero. And if I don't help you, it will always on my conscience that I worked to save everyone but failed to protect my best friend." Shouto snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me closer toward him. "The one person who means the most to me. What kind of hero would that make me?"
I disagree. He has so much potential, and I have complete faith that he will make a phenomenal hero. It would truly be a shame for the world to be deprived of such talent. And as the girl who loves you, I wish for nothing more than to see you succeed in life. The work-study is an essential rung in that ladder. Shouto wishes to save me. I respect him immensely for that. But the price he is willing to pay for that … I never want him to do that. That would be the gravest insult of my love and friendship.
When I tell him as much, he simply says, "Agree to disagree?"
"Fine. Can you promise me something, though?"
"Anything, Moonflower."
I love it when you call me that. It feels like the most natural thing to lie down completely, head resting above his heart, arms draped across his midriff. Just us. Secluded in our own world. A white mosquito net separating us from the outside world. Unfortunately, our discussion cannot grant us that luxury. "I'll get you an invitation, although Hanada-sama will most likely personally reach out to your father. If he accepts your plan and everything proceeds smoothly, then perfect. In the case that things take a turn for the worse, promise me you will escape. No matter the cost. Leave me behind if you have to." Shouto freezes. I can tell that he is reluctant to acquiesce. So I remind him of the night he proposed arresting Hanada-sama. "If anything happens to you, I would never be able to forgive myself." I stare up at him to trace the small scratches that have turned pink. They won't scar, but it still pains me to see them all the same. "Inadvertently, I hurt you already. Not again."
He remains quiet for a long time. Then, "Under one condition, I'll stick to your promise."
"What is your condition?"
"If someone forces themself on you, then I am getting you out of there. No questions asked. No protests listened."
His fingers press into my back. Shouto is clearly adamant about it. Nothing will change his mind. Then again, my request was profound. I should grant him this. "All right. I accept."
"And if it's Miyamoto harming you, then I get to beat the living shit out of him."
I snort, "That's two conditions."
He presses a kiss to the top of my head. "You drive a hard bargain. I think at least two stipulations are warranted."
"In that case, your other wish is granted. I would like to see him get what he deserves, too."
A long time passes like this. Where both of us simply relish each other's presence. Shouto draws lines across my back. A little unusual because stroking circles is his specialty. It takes me a while to realize that he is marking the areas where I was whipped in January. The areas he healed with his ice. He still remembers the exact locations of the wounds? I'm touched. But I am the only one experiencing that feeling. Shouto grows more despondent with every line.
Suddenly, he says, "Sasaki-san told me the story about how you were adopted." I tense instinctively. That's not a story I like to recall. "Being an outsider sometimes has its advantages; it allows me to provide new insight into the same course of events. I got the impression that Hanada-shi had intentions of abusing you from the very start. Just think about it: a sick, orphaned girl with a powerful quirk; no family support; aggregating medical costs. Then he oh so conveniently takes you abroad, where you definitely have no resources."
His perspective is correct, I manage to tell him. Being a direct party involved, it took me some years to reach the same conclusion. To surface better-left-forgotten memories in order to analyze where I went wrong. After all, if it was a child he wanted, there were so many other options. Yet he chose the one confined to a wheelchair.
"When was the first time he abused you?" Shouto asks.
"My fifth birthday," I answer, mournfully. The cries of that little girl who expected ice cream but got something far worse echoes in my mind.
"That's why you stopped celebrating it. Until I compelled you to."
I hum in agreement.
His hold on me tightens.
A litany of vows is followed with a kiss to the temple.
"No more melancholic anniversaries.
"No more abuse at his hands.
"After that party, you will never return to that hellhole again.
"I swear it."