Izuku grabbed the spare blanket from the closet. It was a hand-woven quilt, crafted with blue and white stripes. It belonged to his grandmother that she received from her mother to commemorate her marriage. This hand-me-down quilt now belongs in the hands of his mother to celebrate their marriage. He touched the soft fabric that has covered over two generations of husbands and wives. A fabric that symbolizes a union, the red strand that bridged his mother to his father.

It now rested onto his arms. He couldn't find the spare quilts since his mother was doing spring cleaning. Since he wasn't in the mood to peruse the maze he called her bedroom, he had decided to use it until it was light enough to find some quilts in the morning.

Ryuko was lying face up onto the couch. Wearing nothing but her blue t-shirt and blue panties, the superheroine called it quits after raiding the fridge for some beer and potato chips. Syndicated American programming was on the television. Nothing Izuku would either recognize or get into. He was careful as he draped the quilt over the sleeping blonde. She nuzzled to the quilt upon its touch. She smacked her lips as she turned over to resume her dreams. Unknown to the wandering Izuku but at least she wasn't disturbed. At least the events of today didn't bother her enough to stay awake.

He lowered the volume before leaving on the table. He stretched his arms. He was tired but he couldn't sleep. It was the dead of night. The silence was upon him. Nothing stirred beyond the midnight hour. Even the alley cats weren't stirring or purring into the night. He turned out the light as he grabbed the jacket to step outside. He just didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to adjust to this new life he was about to face.

He stepped outside to embrace the cool air. It captivated the emerald-haired teen on how much contrast night was from day. Warm days, cool nights. He didn't know where he was walking. He just needed to step out for a while. His mind was flooding like a swimming pool. This shouldn't be where he needed to be. He should be in bed nestled underneath his quilt, thinking of dreams of his future. Not in a bind knowing that the girl that he loved turned out pregnant.

It was fresh. Fresh as the milkshake that splashed upon his face. Fresh as the tears that he had wept for this manner. Aunt Ryuko told him that things will be okay. How can she be so sure? This wasn't her problem. She doesn't have to worry about the reactions of his parents when informing them of the pregnancy. She doesn't have to worry about the responsibility of being a teenage father. The reactions from his peers, his other family members, society. It has already frowned upon teenage parents. The fears of being thrown out, misbegotten, and unforgave. He couldn't afford any of that. He paused. They couldn't afford any of that.

He has spoken to Ochako since the bowling alley. She hasn't answered any of his calls, even if he had tried. Her Facebook has been inactive over the last eight hours so she wasn't online. God knows what worries she was having in her brain. In a way, she was responsible.

He paused, not only as he saw a passing 18-wheeler, it was because it was much of his responsibility as well. He could have worn a condom. He could have paused and stopped. Instead, he indulged in the forbidden pleasure of exploring their sexuality.

And he was paying a hefty price for it.

Even if he wanted an abortion, he couldn't afford it. Also, Ochako's family was Catholic. There wasn't an option. Prepared or not, the baby was going to be born. He evacuated those thoughts. A road he wasn't ready to cross. Sooner or later, it was going to be a matter of time.

It was a quarter after three in the morning when he entered the mini-mart. It was a few blocks from his home. Honestly, he had no reason to be there. He just wanted to be somewhere that was light. Somewhere he can just feel the warmth. Just something to remind him that he wasn't alone.

He went to the freezer where he grabbed a bottle of orange juice. He then went down the snack aisle to purchase a bag of chips. However, he put them back. He decided to opt for the healthier option and reached for an apple.

"Excuse me. Do you have any items on motion sickness?"

Izuku immediately ducked behind the snack aisle when he had recognized her voice. He crept around the corner. The brunette bob to her neck. The distinctive features of her flushed cheeks. It was very person he confronted earlier at the bowling alley.

"You can check at the corner there." Izuku watched as the clerk directed her to the appropriate aisle. He waited until he saw that the coast was clear. He carefully placed the items on the rack. Slowly, he focused his sights on the front door. He calculated her movements, watching, waiting on the moment she will turn her back.

As she shifted to another aisle, Izuku used the opportunity and headed out to the front door. He ran quickly and briskly as possible like a bat flying out of the fiery pits of hell. He continued to run. Where? He wasn't sure but enough in which he wasn't going to be seen by Ochako. He continued running until he was facing shortness of breath. He stopped at a nearby mailbox. He panted and he panted hard. All day, the teen has been running away.

He held onto the mailbox as he was trying to catch his breath. He snapped his eyes shut, praying to God on this being a nightmare. He wanted to snap his eyes shut, squeeze tightly, and hope that he would wake up in the warm confines of his bedroom. His mother would call his name to tell him about breakfast. Katsuki or Shouto inviting him at some place. Ochako texting him and telling him how much that she loves him.

As he snapped open his eyes, he received the heavy blow of cool wind. It immediately followed by raindrops. Using his jacket as his shield, he darted back to his residence.

If Izuku was as vigilant as he was, as he was running, he swiftly passed Ochako as she was carrying her items home. However, she too was too distracted to notice.

Ochako knew there was rain in the forecast so she had brought an umbrella. Her father was at work at the meatpacking plant and wasn't expected to be home until morning. Her mother was pulling a double shift at the hospital. She didn't want to be alone. She had only used the mini-mart as an excuse so that she can be somewhere that she wouldn't feel alone.

Dead of night. It wouldn't hurt to have a friend to speak with her. However, how could she explain to her friends about her pregnancy? That was if she would have friends after informing them. She had seen enough movies and read mangas to see the declination of a friendship following informing. It as like she was cursed. No one would want to be seen with her. At some point, her flat belly would continue to grow. It will be noticeable. Could she go to school? Would she be able to go to school? What excuse was enough for Principal Nezu to keep her in school? They would probably find it embarrassing and kick her out to keep appearances. No way would a school acknowledge or support a teenage mother.

She opened her umbrella as she welcomed the raindrops as it came from the heavens above. The dripping sounds hit wherever it could. She heard a passing car making its slicking noises onto the street. It was quite chilly. She didn't wear a jacket as she didn't feel like it. She didn't feel like being confined to anything. Not that was constricting.

She pondered on calling Izuku. She pondered endlessly about hearing his voice. Was he still mad? Was he still upset? God knows what kinds of things he was probably saying about her. It wouldn't be a surprise if he had told Shouto or Katsuki.

She paused, not only because she was waiting for a passing car as she crossed the street, she was wrong to presume that. Izuku wasn't that kind of person. He was cute, meek, somewhat timid. He wouldn't have the gull to alert something like that. Although they were mad at each other, she was quite certain that he would protect this from anyone knowing.

Peer pressure was the motive. It started innocently on a warm, robust weekend at Momo's condo. Girls sitting in her bedroom. Music, food, sneaked drinks from her mother's liquor cabinet. Her mother was out of town on business as usual. It went from what male supermodel did the girls like to which of them weren't virgins.

Ochako was truthful. If these were her friends, then they would respect her honesty. Her honesty resulted in the laughter of her friends. They labeled as the only virgin in the class. She was told that anybody who was anybody had their cherry popped. They have informed her that losing their virginity proved their womanhood. Of course, it contrasted what her mother had told her about the sanity of preserving her virginity.

It was a bet, if not a dare. She had one week to lose her virginity to any boy. If she didn't do it, then the girls were going to tell the student body. Longing for friends, she didn't want to be the outcast. She didn't want to lose any of her friends. Submitting to peer pressure, she told the girls to give her three days.

And on the third day, she had called Izuku. The duo was already on the spectrum between lovers and friends. They didn't talk about with the others for it wasn't their business to know. Izuku and Ochako were very discreet with their relationship. On this particular day, she waited until her parents went to work to make her move.

She squeezed her eyes shut to contain her crying. The fear of being discussed by others was the reason why she didn't purchase condoms. She was too ashamed. Her mother, although had given her talk, wouldn't offer condoms. Her family was Catholic and they didn't believe in contraception. Her parents informed her to preserve her virginity until marriage. She didn't have time to wait for within seventy-two hours, she wasn't sure if she would have the bridesmaids ready by then. Why would they be friends with a virgin?

They had trained her. Gave her the proper role of being seductive. They have told her what to do to get Izuku into her pants. Even as he came over with the intent of watching movies and playing video games, she allowed one final thing to seal the deal of this action.

She entered her home a little after four. The home was empty as usual. She placed her umbrella into the slot and took her off her shoes. She didn't put on any houseshoes as she had planned to return to bed.

She wasn't hungry as she stepped into the kitchen to pour herself some water. She leaned back against the sink as she ingested a few swallows. She inhaled sharply as she saw the empty kitchen table. She remembered it as she sat there nervously with the bottle of brandy in her hands. Momo was kind of enough to let Ochako borrow her liquor to help her set the mood.

She returned the cup back into the sink. She added water so quick wash before putting it back into the cabinet. She grabbed her motion sickness medicine and headed to her room.

She didn't feel like taking off any clothes as she climbed into her bed. She lied on her back as she pondered about her next move. Was losing her virginity to prove her womanhood worth it? Did drinking the half-bottle of brandy worth it? She rubbed her stomach gently, knowing that life was forming inside.

She reached for her phone and scan through her messages. She overlooked the trivial messages of a teenager. Didn't care about the latest sales at the mall, who slept with who, or the latest with a friend on congratulating her about popping her cherry. The bloodied-stain panties were proof to show that it was done. The girls cheered and patted her on the back for a job well-done.

Yeah, awesome job as they weren't worried about the consequences.

She made a text and turned off her phone. She turned over as she tried to get some sleep. As she shut her eyes, she knew that from this moment on, her life wasn't going to be the same.

Saturday morning cartoons weren't his usual routine. Izuku wiped the milk mustache with his arm as he poured another helping of Lucky Charms. Invader Zim was on tab for the morning. The early 00's television show brought the surreal humor of science fiction and animation, the quirkiness between Zim and Dib. He belched as he tipped the spoon into the bowl. Wearing nothing but his old t-shirt and boxers, watching television was his current plan of action since waking up earlier that morning.

The blonde pussycat walked into the living room as she got off of her cell phone. Not bringing anything to wear, she borrowed Inko's old skinny clothes from the closet. Wearing her white t-shirt and blue boyshorts, Ryuko jumped on the couch as she watched Izuku eating silently.

"Spare a bowl?" Izuku didn't hesitate as he passed his bowl to Ryuko. She took a couple of spoonfuls before passing it back to Izuku. They were comfortable enough to share cereals. Even last night, for a moment, they shared a couch. Ryuko lied beside Izuku until she fell asleep. The floodgates of sorrow created a path from the car to the residence. She didn't think a sixteen-year-old carried that much emotion. Then yet again, knowing that he was about to become a parent was riveting.

"Thanks." She belched the corn-based aftertaste as she lied down to watch television. "That was your mother," she said as she pulled the throw blanket to cover her. "She told me to tell you that there is some money in the cookie jar in case of groceries." Izuku nodded, confirming what she had said by sighing through his nose. "Do you feel like spaghetti or pizza tonight?"

He turned around, displaying his childlike face. "I want pizza. Please." He grabbed the cereal box and poured it into the bowl. He then poured some more milk.

Ryuko smiled at him. "Sure. We can do that." She tugged the pillow. She was a bit hesitant but knew it was up for discussion. "I have spoken to Ochako this morning."

Izuku made a loud sigh as he set the bowl on his lap. "Did you?"

"She isn't upset anymore. In fact, she plans to come by today."

"Really?"

Ryuko brushed her fingers through Izuku's hair. "It will modest of you if you two make peace. The fact that you guys care about each other shows that the time for bickering and argument is naught." She lied back on the couch. "We can't fix what happened, but talking it out is going to be the best solution." She paused, pondering on what she wanted to say next. "Look, Izuku. I may not be the perfect example of a being a parent or a mother figure." She tapped his shoulder to get his attention. Izuku turned around as he looked at his aunt.

"Thank you," she answered while nodding. "I may not be the best example of being a mother. At least I can be a great listener when I say that you need to mend the ties." She pointed her finger at his nose. "Plus, it's quite unhealthy for the baby to be stressed. How Ochako feels, the baby feels as well."

Izuku put the bowl aside. He turned around to give Ryuko her attention. "I understand, Auntie." He stood up and bend over to grab the bowl. He placed it in the sink before returning to the couch. "Hey, I am going to take a shower. Let me know if she shows up."

"Roger that," replied Ryuko as she grabbed the cereal box to eat some more.

"And Auntie."

"Yeah."

"Thanks."

Ryuko gave him the okay sign as he disappeared into the hallway. She crossed her legs as she up the volume to the cartoon programming. She often wondered if that was what she would be doing if she would have kept her child?

She saw that Izuku forgot to put up his milk. She grabbed the milk jug and headed towards the refrigerator. Upon closing it, she saw a piece of paper on the kitchen table. Before she could ponder what it was, she heard the door.

To be continued….