Chapter 12: Meeting Eri
Needless to say the Madrigals were interested in getting to know the boy who was courting Mirabel. After all they only vaguely knew of him. So over the course of the next few days they all met up with him.
Alma was the first to meet with him.
Though they did have to rely on a phone's translator app.
Luisa after Alma learned that that the only boys interested in Mirabel in the Encanto were just boys who wanted to get in with the family.
"So you wish to court my granddaughter." Said Alma.
She was told he was rather awkward with few words and she could tell from the looks of him.
"I do." Said Shoto.
"And is it true you have a gift?" asked Alma.
Shoto nodded and created a flame on his left hand and some ice on his other hand.
She was surprised.
"And you want to court her because you find her attractive?" asked Alma.
"I do… and I didn't know she makes her own clothes… when I found out I liked it." Said Shoto blushing a little.
Mirabel who was there blushed a little when he said that.
She also told him that she played the accordion.
But he admitted he didn't know enough about music.
"Alma looked at the awkward boy.
While it was clear that he was nowhere close to Felix or Marino when it came to family suitors, she did approve of him more than Agustin.
Plus with his gift she knew he had a real interested in her.
"You have my approval." Said Alma.
Shoto nodded and Mirabel smiled.
The next was Luisa who wanted to give him a proper shovel speech.
Though unlike with Alma, Mirabel wasn't here for it.
"If you ever hurt my sister…" muttered Luisa glaring at him.
She punched her open palm, she isn't have enough strength for another intimidation tactic at the moment.
"Don't worry I don't intend to." Said Shoto.
"How can I trust you?" asked Luisa.
"Because I saw the pain my father caused my mother." Said Shoto, "That's why I made a vow should I ever love someone I would not hurt them intentionally…
"Your father hurt your mother?" asked Luisa.
Shoto nodded knowing it was probably not a good time to tell her the whole story.
"He did…" he said.
Luisa realized this might have been a reason he was so awkward.
"I didn't know…" she whimpered.
"It's fine." Said Shoto with a shrug.
"Do you want a hug?" asked Luisa.
Shoto blinked then shrugged, Luisa took it as a yes anyways and hugged him.
Shoto let her but said nothing.
The next one was of course Mirabel's parents… and it didn't go the way they hoped…
No they approved him right away… but rather something else.
The conversation was awkward of course due to Shoto's lack of social skills.
However it got to when Julietta offered Shoto some food.
He remembered her quirk, and hesitantly picked it up and ate it. However Mirabel was shocked.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"You scar didn't heal." Said Mirabel.
"What?" asked Shoto shocked.
Julieta sighed.
"I'm sorry Shoto… but sometimes, if someone doesn't want to be healed, my gift won't work." Explained Julieta.
"What?" he asked.
"Part of you don't want to be healed… often it ties to what injured you." She explained, "When I was young there were people who I tried to heal old wounds… but due to reasons tied to how they got their injuries… they didn't want them healed… some of them had to heal from what happened first emotional other realized they didn't care… For now whatever reason you can't be healed." Said Julieta.
Shoto nodded completely getting it.
He still hasn't completely healed from what happened that gave him the scar on his face. He wasn't sure if he would ever fully heal from it.
Maybe one day he might… but not right now.
"So tell us more about you." Said Agustin.
Shoto told him something's about him.
Though after this little parental meeting.
"By way." said Mirabel, "Do you want to tell rest of my family about your scar yourself or have Dolores tell them?"
"I think I should tell them." Said Shoto.
Mira bel nodded.
The next meeting was with Antonio as he was Mirabel's closest cousins and she also considered him her best friend.
He figured out a nice thing to do for Antonio which was create a flurry of snow so he could play in it.
"Oh wow!" he cheered.
He played in the snow, which was in his room.
"You know you didn't have to try that hard." Said Mirabel.
Shoto blush.
That was when his Jaguar friend approached Shoto.
He made a noise that wasn't quite a growl or a roar.
"He says you're really warm." Said Antonio.
That was when the jaguar lightly tackled Shoto and began to happily sit on him getting all nice and warm from his left side.
"Shoto!" cried Mirabel.
"(Parce get off him.)" said Antonio.
The Jaguar got off him and pouted.
Nearby a toucan was making noises that meant it was clearly laughing.
"Pico…" scolded Antonio.
The toucan pouted as well.
"I'm fine." Said Shoto recovering quickly.
Next was Isabela.
And this case she asked to talk to him alone without Mirabel.
Shoto had learned that the sisters didn't along that much and they spoke in her room.
And he wanted to know something.
"Why do you already approve of me?" he asked.
"You want to know?" asked Isabela.
Shoto nodded.
"Because I want Mirabel to have a choice… if you don't work out, you don't work out. But I don't want to be with someone she doesn't want to be with." Said Isabela .
Shoto's eyes narrowed and he began to put together the pieces. It was clear that Isabela was the golden child of the family.
"Are you being forced to with your boyfriend?" he asked.
Isabela didn't say anything.
"I fear that one day my father will do the same to me." Said Shoto.
Isabela looked at him shocked.
"Part of the reason I like her is that she's the person my father would hate…" said Shoto, "Along with how she makes me feel."
"I get it… I'm kind of attracted to someone who's the opposite of my boyfriend." Sighed Isabela, "I'm just going to marry him for the good of the family… but Tio Bruno told me something that changed my mind about it, I just don't know when I'm going to be able to break free."
Shoto nodded in understanding.
Of course when they left the room.
"I just don't know what everyone sees in him." Said Isabela rolling his eyes as she walked right by Mirabel.
Mirabal looked at her.
"Should I tell her I'm seeing thorough it?" asked Mirabel.
"I don't think it's a good idea." Said Shoto.
Next were Pepa and Felix
It was actually very awkward .
As it was clear that they cared about their niece, they weren't sure how to go about with the new boyfriend.
"(So… um… what's remedial classes?)" asked Felix making small talk.
"I failed the license exam so I have to take them if I want my license." Said Shoto.
"(And why do you need a since exactly?)" asked Pepa.
Shoto began to explain things about being a hero to them.
It was just awkward… but it was clear they did approve of him.
After that was Dolores and much like with her sisters it was more private.
"Can you keep whatever you heard to yourself until Mirabel or myself is ready to talk about it?" asked Shoto.
"Of course." Said Dolores.
She had overheard all but the conversation with Isabela and the one with Antonio… though everyone had heard with what happened with Antonio as he told them. But it wasn't like the other conversations after all.
With Camillo he was looking at Shoto just looking at him very closely.
That was when Mirabel just tired and tugged his ear.
"(You are not going to prank me and other people by turning into him!)" she scolded.
"(Ow! Ow! Ow! Fine!)" said Camilo.
Shoto just stood there confused.
And of course the last was Bruno which made sense as he was gone from the family for a long time and was often busy visiting Eri at the hospital.
"You look familiar." Said Bruno.
"My father is Endeavor." Said Shoto.
"Oh… that's it." Said Bruno.
There was an awkward silence.
It was like Bruno wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he should.
"If you want to say something about not liking him… it's fine. I don't like him either." Said Shoto.
"Ah…" said Bruno, "I can't blame you… I once saw a compilation of him tossing away autograph boards from kids."
Though didn't these conversations. Dolores had one with Aoyama in her room.
"You are the one who heard about me." Said Aoyama.
"Si…" said Dolores.
Aoyama sighed.
(Flashback)
HE had confessed to everything. Being a spy for the League of Villains, getting them information about it.
He also told them that the only ones that knew about him were All for One, Kurogiri and someone known as "The Doctor"… though with All for One and Kurogiri in prison he was doing better.
Though it was more along the lines of thinking that Shigaraki didn't know about him and he was just unsure.
But he did confess why he did it, when he was young he was Quirkless. His parents made a deal with the dreaded "Boogeyman" and he was given his quirk.
His parents will die if he ever tells anyone honestly. Though Nezu said they put into protective custody to make sure they were never ever kidnaped or killed.
However there was a deal to be made.
"You want me to be a double agent?" asked Aoyama.
"Yes." Said Nezu, "At the moment we have no idea what they might pull. Should All for One Escape or this Doctor contact you, you can lay a trap of some sort… Not to mention give them false information."
Aoyama nodded.
He looked up at teacher who had a blank face. Which caused him to blink.
"We will determine your punishment after the League has been captured." Said Tsukauchi.
Aoyama nodded.
"For the time being it's better to not show our hand. Which is why we're waiting for this." Said Nezu.
"I understand." Sighed Aoyama.
"Though… there is something I wanted to know… why were you trying to befriend Midoriya?" asked Nezu.
Aizawa was confused and Tsukauchi looked alarmed.
"And yes I know about the cheese message." Said Nezu .
"Cheese message?" mouthed Tsukauchi confused.
"Why can't my students act like normal people." grumbled Aizawa.
It should be noted this shortly happened after the pick-up lines and he didn't know about them yet…
"I thought he might have been a fellow spy for All for One." Said Aoyama, "He showed signs similar to mine, how he couldn't the handle his quirk, like it was foreign to his body. But after the camp and Kamino I don't believe that anymore."
"Don't worry thanks to a very credible source I know for a fact that Midoriya is not a spy for All for One." Said Tsukauchi jumping in.
"I know the source as well. He is not a spy." Said Nezu.
Both of them looked at Aizawa, as if they were saying it to make sure that Aizawa didn't suspect Izuku of being a traitor. '
Plus the two knew that All for One wasn't the one to give Izuku his quirk so that helped too.
Still Aoyama nodded in agreement to that.
"Even so I know he knows the same pain I do." Saud Aoyama.
Tsukauchi nodded as if saying it was true.
"Oh I have to know…" said Aoyama, "How did you find out?"
"Dolores Madrigal overhead you." Said Nezu.
Aoyama's eyes widened as this. He had been quiet enough so that either Kyoka or another boy with great hearing skills named Shoji could hear him, but he never thought about the new girl would hear him.
But he had heard that Dolores' hearing was far more powerful than theirs's
"I see…" said Aoyama.
(End of Flashback)
The two were quiet.
"Merci." He said.
Dolores realized he was thanking her.
"Without you hearing me I don't know if I ever would have been free…" he whispered .
Dolores nodded.
She had heard him trying to make friends with Izuku was very much genuine.
But that did leave her with one question.
"Why did you leave messages in cheese?" asked Dolores.
Aoyama sighed at that .HE had the feeling that those that knew about the cheese would never live it down.
However there was still some good news, as Nezu had a small meeting with Alma.
"A festival?" asked Alma.
"Yes. You see it's common for school here in Japan to have a festival." Said Nezu, "And it's almost time for ours. Though the public won't be allowed. I'm letting the people of the Encanto to come." Said Nezu, "I will even personally supply with some money for everyone that choose to come."
"Thank you." She said happy that the villagers could be included in such a way.
Even if she was still upset with many of them for the jars and wanting to court Mirabel to have an in with the family.
Still that sounded like a wonderful day.
Nezu also talked to something about the festival with Bruno. Which he agreed to it depending on if they would get permission from the doctor's too.
The good news for the Madirgal family would continue as one day during one of the family meals, Bruno gave the good news .
"Eri's finally allowed visitors." He said.
"Really!" said Antonio who wanted to meet his adopted cousin.
"Yes. Though the doctor's recommend that she have only four visitors at a time outside of myself." Said Bruno.
"That does make sense." Said Julietta.
"So who gets to see her first." Said Camillo.
"I think she should see Mirio and Izuku as part of the first group." Said Bruno.
It made sense as both boys fought very hard to save her.
"As for the two other slots." Said Bruno, "Antonio for sure since he's almost the same age."
Antonio smiled.
"As for the other spot…" said Bruno.
"It's okay if I don't meet her first." Said Dolores.
"Same." Agreed Luisa.
It was clear a rivalry sparked between the three remaining cousins.
"I can turn into someone her age!" said Camillo turning into one of the village kids.
"I can make her any flower she wants." Said Isabela.
"I've actually been working on a gift for her." Said Mirabel.
That was when they heard Casita grab something for Mirabel and bring it down for her.
It was a tapir plushy which wasn't done yet.
"Oh that's a wonderful idea." Said Agustin getting why she chose the animal .
"Yeah I thought it would help." Said Mirabel.
"Why a tapir?" asked Camilo.
"You see there's a myth in Japan about creatures known as Bakus that eat bad dreams and they look like tapirs to the extent when they learned about tapirs they gave them the word "Baku"." Explained Agustin.
"That's why I thought it would be the perfect animal to make." Said Mirabel.
Her sister and cousin both groaned.
"I can't win against that." Said Camillo.
Isabela didn't say anything as it was clear that Mirabel had won this one…
"I think she might need that gift sooner than later." Said Bruno.
A gift to keep away nightmares even just symbolically would be good for Eri after all.
"may I see it?" asked Alma.
Mirabel handed her the stuffed tapir. She gave it a good look that despite the unfished nature of the toy it was clearly well made.
"This is a wonderful thing to make." Said Alma.
Mirabel smiled at the compliment as Alma handed it back.
It was clear that Alma was getting idea, while it has been years since she had something like that.
A couple days later was the first day of visitors.
It was clear that Izuku and Mirio would go in first to speak to Eri, then introduced her to her two cousins.
When they arrived Eri immediately lit up when she saw them.
"Deku! Mirio!" she cheered.
"Eri!" said Mirio.
"How are you doing?" asked Izuku.
"I'm doing okay." Sighed Eri, "But Papa has been here most of the time. And I'd probably be really sad and lonely without him!"
Bruno blushed a little.
"I don't know what it would be like if Papa was never here for me." Said Eri.
Both boys didn't say anything but it was clear they didn't want to know what Eri would be like without her adoptive father.
Even Bruno picked up on this…
"Everything's been fine, don't worry. I'm here." Said Bruno.
Eri nodded.
"By the way they're not the only ones here to see you." Said Bruno.
That was when Eri noticed the two and she realized.
"(Are you?)" she asked in Spanish.
"(We're your cousins. I'm Mirabel.)" said Mirabel.
"(And I'm Antonio!)" said Antonio.
"(You're my cousins?)" she asked .
"(We are.)" Said Mirabel .
She then gave her the box .
Eri opened the box and saw the plushy inside.
"(I made it myself.)" Said Mirabel.
"(What is it?)" asked Eri.
Mirabel explained the whole Tapir thing and how legends said they eat bad dreams.
Eri's eyes sparkling she when she said that.
"Also there's something else." Said Izuku who figured out what they were saying.
"Really what?" asked Eri.
"There's going to be a festival at the school and Nezu said you might be able to come!" said Bruno.
"Really! Wow…" said Eri.
Then she blinked.
"What's a festival?" she asked.
Bruno took a clam breath.
While Mirabel 's eye twitched a little.
Bruno, Antonio and Mirio explained what a festival was.
Izuku didn't because Mirabel tapped his shoulder.
"You know you're lucky you got to punch that guy right." Said Mirabel.
Izuku could only nod al little, not that he could blame her for saying something like that.
"Plus I'm sure there would be candy apples." Said Mirio who was told that her favorite food was apples.
"What's a candy apple?" asked Eri.
"It's an apple that dipped in stuff to make it even more sweet." Said Miro.
Eri began to drool a little.
They also talked about other things as well. Such as class 1-A's thing which would be a concept.
But it was clear she was really excited to maybe go to the festival.
They talked about other things.
Of course she was excited for it hoping they would let her go.
The next day of course it was a second group. Which were the rest of the cousins.
Of course the entire conversation was in Spanish.
"These are you remaining cousins." Said Bruno.
"It's nice to meet you!" said Isabella creating a bouquet of pretty white and red flowers.
"Oh wow!" said Eri, "Can you make apples? I know apples from flowers?"
"Oh I can't…" said Isabela , "Sorry."
"Have you ever tried?" asked Eri.
Before Isabela could answer, Camillo jumped in.
"You want to see something neat?" asked Camillo.
He turned into a copy of Eri.
"Oh wow!" said Eri, "Can you turn into anyone else."
"Please turn into Shoto or Marino." Sighed Bruno.
"Fine…" grumbled Camillo who then smirked.
He then turned into his idea of what Bruno looked into in child.
Which was 7 feet talk and very scary looking…
"Why did you make papa look like that?" asked Eri on the verge of tears.
Camillo began to sweat as Bruno gave him a very disappointed look.
"I saw Mirabel made you your tapir?" asked Dolores getting Eri's mind off Camillo's image of Bruno.
"She did." Said Eri, "Oh Papa! Can you tell hear it helped me sleep last night."
"Of course!" said Bruno.
'So you're Eri!" said Luisa.
"I am! And are you Luisa?" asked Eri nodding.
"I am!" said Luisa.
She then lift Eri high into the air and made Eri giggle.
"Be careful." Said Bruno.
"Don't worry it will be fine./" said Luisa.
She didn't take into account that mentally she was getting better… with her family learning about what she went through and her wanting to use her strength to help people, he straight was starting to return.
Though in this case it wasn't a good thing…
Eri too high and into the celling, bumping her head.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" cried Luisa.
"It's okay! It's an accident! I'm not that hurt!" argued Eri as a doctor check up on her, making sure she wasn't injured.
"But…" cried Luisa.
"Well at least her strength is returning…" said Dolores.
"Eh… I think this end up setting her back." Said Camillo with a shrug, though it earned a glare from Isabela.
"(She's fine don't worry… though I'm a bit concerned with your quirk and psyche you didn't think she wouldn't hit the ceiling?)" asked the doctor.
"(She's recovering from Atlas Syndrome.)" said Bruno.
"(It's true)" said Luisa calming down.
The doctor nodded… knowing that it wasn't uncommon for people with atlas syndrome to underestimate their strength.
Thankfully the next visit didn't include scaring Eri or injuries.
As she was introduced to her aunts and uncles.
Eri's eyes sparkled as her Tia Pepa made a rainbow just for her.
"It's so pretty I've never seen a rainbow before." Said Eri.
"You haven't?" asked Pepa.
"No." said Eri.
Julieta noticed her sister's face .
A small cloud began to develop over her head.
She and Agustin began to distract her.
"Clear skies… clear skies…" said Pepa.
Felix calmed her down as well.
"Bruno… where is that man begin held?" she asked.
"You not going there to electrocute him." Said Bruno.
Pap pouted a little but she was calming down from that.
Thankfully Eri didn't notice her aunt's anger that much.
However the next day was a big one…
Alma all to herself.
"So your my grandma?" asked Eri.
"I am." Said Alma looking at her adoptive granddaughter.
IT was clear Eri wasn't sure what else to say.
"Bruno took care of you all by himself." Said Alma.
"Papa did…" said Eri, "He got hurt… but he always cheered me up when I needed it and cried with me when I didn't want to be cheered up…"
Alma nodded.
"Your favorite food is apples right?" asked Alma.
"Yes." Said Eri.
"Next time I see you I'm going to ty to have a gift for you." Said Alma.
"Really!" said Eri.
"You are a member of my family." Said Alma, "Even though it's not by blood."
Eri nodded.
Alma looked at Bruno who seemed a little nervous to have the two meet.
Alma immediately realized why.
The two needed to talk after all.
She let Eri talk about whatever what she was interested in and just chat like children her age would do.
After her visit were done she knew she had to talk to Bruno private.
"These past few weeks… I've realized something important." Said Alma, "I made so many mistakes Brunito…"
Bruno wanted to say something but she stopped him.
"I'm glad you ran away because of your vision… who knows what would have happened if you didn't." said Alma, "But at the same time… I don't know…"
Bruno didn't know what to say.
"You don't have to accept my apology right now… I still have a lot to apologize for." Sighed Alma,
Bruno hugged his mother.
Alma started to cry.
Bruno didn't say anything.
It was clear that a lot had to be said and done for Alma… and that it wasn't just Bruno she had to apologize to, but it was a start…
And she didn't the rest of the pain she caused her family…
Next Time: As the school is preparing for the festival, Eri is allowed to visit the school grounds... not only for a tour but also to open the door to her room. What will her room be like? Fin out next time!
A/N: And now for an obvious joke that I've oddly have yet to see with Mirabel even though using her would be one of those things that had to be used...
Mirabel: I have only had Eri for less than a day but if anything happened to her... I would kill everyone in this room and then myself...