Izumi

I managed to stay away for four hours before giving in and making my way back to Akane's house. The look her Mom gave her, the borderline hate and vindictive pleasure, swept chills down my spine.

She fully planned on hurting Akane and enjoying every minute of it. Even the thought that someone was capable of that soured my stomach.

She was Akane's mother, shouldn't that mean something?

My mom would never hurt me, not intentionally, but clearly that wasn't the case here.

Part of me screamed to tell someone, anyone, but it would be a violation of Akane's trust. After Kacchan all but abandoned me, she'd been my only friend.

Unless it was life or death, I couldn't betray her like that.

I'd just have to convince her to tell someone herself. It didn't feel like nearly enough but it would have to do.

When Akane's house appeared at the end of the street, I breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother's car was gone now so it should be safe to visit.

Inching around the house to her room, I peaked inside. The lights were out and a distinctly Akane shaped lump laid across the bed. A pillow was over what I assumed was her head and, when I tapped the glass, she lurched up as if she'd been electrocuted.

Wild eyes swung around until they fell on me, then she collapsed onto the mattress with a groan.

"Go away."

It was muffled through the glass, but the message was clear. Unfortunately, I couldn't do that, not after seeing what I had earlier.

I tapped again and she dragged herself out of bed, one hand shielding her eyes as the other fumbled to open the window.

After a minute, she managed and I spoke before she could.

"Are you okay? She looked…really mad."

She snorted. "When isn't she?"

Usually I let her avoid topics she wasn't comfortable with, but this was too important.

"Akane, please."

She sighed and waved me in. "If you're going to do this whole intervention thing then at least get inside, before a neighbor calls Mom home from work."

A shiver trailed down her back at the thought and I didn't need to be a genius to know what would happen in that case.

Scrambling inside, I waited for her to get back in bed before sitting on the floor next to her head. She put the pillow back over herself and grunted.

"Alright, go on."

I didn't waste time. "Do you need anything? Food or water?"

She squinted an eye open and flicked a finger toward the kitchen. "I won't be able to stomach anything now, but if you could check for money on the counter, that'd be appreciated. I'll order food soon."

I did as asked, the air feeling heavy as if the abuse she'd suffered leaked into the walls themselves.

When I saw the bills where she said they'd be, I snatched them and bolted back to her room, needing to get away from the oppressive air.

Shutting the door firmly behind me, I offered the money and she took it with a soft sigh of relief.

"At least she left some this time. She's been forgetting more and more often lately." Her stomach growled as if to back that up and my worry doubled down.

"Akane, I know you don't want to hear this, but please get help. Tell Mom, tell anyone."

She buried her face into the pillow and turned away. "It won't do any good. She'll just lie and then I'll be in for hell afterward. It's best to just coast through."

Moving around to be inches from her face, I argued. "Not having food is awful on its own, but it's even worse when paired with everything else she does to you. This isn't healthy and there's only so much you can take!" She flinched at my volume and guilt twisted through me. "Sorry."

She waved off the apology and sat up, her head turned away from the light while an arm clutched around her middle with a grimace.

"Look, I know you're just being a good friend, but please leave this alone. There's nothing we can do. The only person who stands a chance against her would be my biological father, and even then I'd need proof to show when she tries to lie her way out of it."

Hope flashed through me that she was at least thinking that fat ahead and I pushed my advantage.

"Mom has a camera, we can use it and take pictures of what she does to you. As for your dad…" This was a touchy subject on a good day so I chose my words carefully. "You don't know, he might be willing to take you in."

Akane scowled. "Get real, Izumi. He left before I was born and honestly, knowing Mom how I do? I can't blame him in the slightest. She's awful. If I had the option to leave her, I would too."

Fisting my hands in the sheet, I fought to keep my tone level. "You might have the option, if you tried."

Uncertainty wedged into her expression, only to disappear in the next second.

"I know what to expect here. For all I know, my father could be worse. Just drop it, alright? If it makes you feel better, we can take pictures of the damage she does, but most of its using her quirk and there's nothing to document there."

She had a point…

I hated it when she had a point.

Knowing there was no point in dragging this out when she was already exhausted and hurting, I gave in, at least for now.

"Okay."

She relaxed and gestured to the window. "Thank you, now head home. I'm fine, but I won't be for long if Mom comes back to find you here again."

Reluctantly I moved toward the window, only to pause as something caught my eye from the corner of the room.

It was the news article, though it looked in worse shape than earlier. It was nearly shredded, the entire thing holding together by a thread.

Carefully picking it up, I put it on the bed next to where she'd burrowed under the blankets.

I had to try one more time to get to her before leaving.

"He might turn you away, but he might not. Isn't it worth the risk to at least try?"

The words were a hushed in the otherwise silent room and she scoffed from her hiding place.

"Easy words coming from someone who has an adoring mother."

I bit my lip and looked away. "Yeah, I do and I'm only just now realizing how lucky I am to have her. I want you to have that too."

She sighed and dragged the pillow off her face to look at me.

"It's not going to happen, Izumi. Now please, just go."

I did, but as I climbed out the window, I saw a flash of Akane's hand shaking out to pull the news article closer. She pressed the ripped edges together before smoothing them down, staring at the picture with open longing.

Then she tucked it closer in a hug and I turned away to give her privacy.

She wasn't willing to tell anyone about her mother yet, but it seemed I was making progress. Maybe soon, she'd agree and we could get her out of there.

Hopefully it'd happen sooner rather than later. I hated seeing her in pain like this.

Hope you all enjoyed it! If you're interested in being a beta reader, shoot me a message. I always have a few chapters in advance done that need someone else to look over first.