Those words, those simple words made Mina's heart stop
- ¿W-What did you just say?
- He's in the surgery room - Natsuki's tone was totally broken - He came in 2 hours ago and we haven't heard of him since then
- N-No
Mina did not want to believe it, she shook her head and refused to believe what she was telling her
- It's not true... ¿Why do you say those things? - Mina tried to smile still in denial
- M-Miss Ashido, I'm not lying, it's ...
- ¡No! - Mina burst into tears still denial and ended the call - ¡Not true!
Mina dropped the phone to the ground and covered her face with her pillow, the pillow prevented her crying from waking Nozomi, in no way did she want to accept Natsuki's words
The next morning…
Mina's eyes were red a little swollen from so many tears, her vision was blurry, she picked up the phone from the ground and managed to see that it was 9:14 a.m.. As soon as she unlocked it she saw that his phone had more than 40 missed calls and 150 unanswered messages
It didn't take long for the news to report Shoto's condition, everyone immediately called Mina to see how he was doing. Rei and Fuyumi were totally affected, Natsuo couldn't believe it
Mina turned on the TV in her room and put on the news channel, they were showing a video of the last moments of Shoto's fight; he had managed to make a big ice barrier to save a bus full of elementary students...
But the villain he was facing at the time took advantage of Shoto's distraction and touched the hood of a car; this villain by touching the metal could alter its shape; and made some sharp spikes come out of it and pierce Shoto's chest and abdomen making him spit a big amount of blood, he threw another that aimed to pierce his skull, but Shoto grabbed the spikes with his left-hand heating them to the point that the villain get his hands burn from being in contact with the metal. This was one of the villains for whom Shoto had to travel, the information said that to alter the metal he had to be in contact with it, so he took advantage of when those spikes went through him to be able to indirectly attack him and one of his support heroes knocked the villain unconscious, then lost consciousness from the great loss of blood while still hanging in the air with the spikes running through his body
Mina couldn't believe what she had just seen, she covered her mouth with her right hand and her breathing became very agitated, her whole world was collapsing in front of her without her being able to do something, if she could still cry she would, she was dry inside having cried all night
Nozomi's crying returned her to the world, for a long time Nozomi did not wake up crying, Mina went to her and lifted her in her arms
- ¿What's wrong little girl?
Mina tried to smile so as not to worry her daughter, but Nozomi felt that something was wrong, and she kept crying, Mina bathed her, fed her, changed her diaper, played with her, but nothing made her stop crying. Mina lay down on the bed next to Nozomi which she pointed to a framed photo, Mina took that photo, which was one of her, Nozomi and Shoto on the beach when Nozomi was just 6 months old
- Da…Da
Mina opened her eyes when she heard her daughter's first words, she smiled slightly and hugged her
- Yes little one, that's daddy
- Da…ddy - Nozomi repeated Mina's words and hugged the portrait - Daddy
Mina hugged her more tightly than ever, she didn't want to think that maybe Shoto would never be able to hear her, she tried to ignore that thought as she saw Nozomi yawn and her eyes revealed that she was about to fall asleep, Mina snuggled her in her arms and kissed her head
- Daddy will come back with us little one - Mina stroked her hair gently, Nozomi closed her eyes falling asleep - He will come back with us, he will come back with us
Mina repeated that until they both fell asleep, she said it to calm Nozomi and herself with the hope that Shoto would come out of the surgery fine and come back with them, she just wanted him to come back and everything was as before
The sound of someone ringing the main bell made Mina wake up, she got up but not before accommodating Nozomi who was still sleeping in the corner of her bed and covered her with a blanket, she went to open the door and saw that all her friends were there.
- H-Hi, ¿What are you doing here?
They all hugged Mina who was surprised
- We saw the news and… We are sorry Mina
Mina hugged them back and let them in, so as not to leave Nozomi alone, she laid her down in the living room's crib, Momo made her some tea to calm her down, none of them knew what Mina was feeling, although their friends in the past had also been to the hospital, now it was her husband, and she couldn't be near him
- ¿You still don't know anything about him Mina? - Ask Hagakure sitting next to her
- N-No, his assistant said he was in surgery... But that was yesterday at 10 p.m.
- Maybe he already left surgery - Uraraka said trying to cheer her up
- She is right, you should call him again
Mina saw them all with a smile on their faces and nodded, Momo gave her the phone, quickly dialed the number...
But at the time of pressing the button to call, she could not do it
- ¿What's up Mina? - They all asked confused
- I-I can't do it ... - Mina lowered her head and turned off the phone
- ¿Why?
- I'm scare of the answer
They all looked with more concern at Mina and hugged her, Mina breathed sharply in despair and sadness
- I can't lose him girls, Shoto is everything to me
- He is strong, you know him better than anyone - Hagakure said trying to cheer up her best friend - Maybe at this moment he is resting and planning to return with you and Nozomi
- And ... And if he isn't
They all glared at Momo for that comment, Mina just got more worried and lowered her head
- I do not want to sound pessimistic girls, but it is possible that if he has not communicated with Mina for a long time he will be ...
- Momo stop - Uraraka said
- It's the truth, Todoroki is also ... or was my friend
Nozomi began to cry breaking the tension that Momo created, Mina fed her with a bottle of milk, and they all smiled, just by seeing Nozomi who was smiling while drinking her milk, Mina knew that she would be better, since she did not cry uncontrollably as in the morning
- Momo, I know what you said may be true, but I am not you and I will not believe it - Mina smiled and kissed Nozomi's head, sat on the sofa and gently stroked her daughter's white hair, which remembered Shoto's, she put her hand on her chest and her breathing returned to normal - Inside me ... I feel that Shoto will be fine and will return to me and Nozomi
- Daddy - Nozomi said while all the girls were surprised to see that the baby said her first word
- Besides, Nozomi deserves a father who loves her, takes care of her and teaches her things - Mina saw Momo again smiling - And there is no one better than Shoto for that, that's why now I know that he will return safe and sound
Nozomi finished her bottle and snuggled into Mina's arms, she didn't cry again since she woke up
After they had lunch, they stayed with Mina and Nozomi until they heard any news from Shoto, good or bad
Mina's phone started ringing and they all saw that the screen said "Shoto", she took it and answered
- H-Hello - Mina said nervously
- Miss Ashido
The one who was calling was Natsuki, it was not a good sign
- Natsuki, ¿W-Why are you calling me and not Shoto?
Natsuki took a big sigh and spoke
- He is resting, the operation was a success
Mina smiled and gave a cry of happiness, raised Nozomi in her arms which began to clap and hug Mina, the girls sighed with relief, Mina continued with the call still holding Nozomi
- Forgive me that I could contact you until now, the surgery was complicated for a moment by the blood transfusion, but it was solved quickly
- ¿Can I talk to him Natsuki?
- For now he cannot speak to anyone, the doctor said that due to the loss of blood and his injuries, plus anesthetics and medicines, he would sleep for at least 2 days, and he will be able to move for at least in 2 weeks
Mina opened her eyes when she heard that last, it meant that he would not be on Nozomi's first birthday, but what she cared about was that he was alive and recovering
- Oh I see, ¿Can you do me a favor when he wake up?
- Of course
- Tell him that Nozomi and I are waiting for him, that we love him, and a plate of cold soba awaits him at home