[Location: Midoriya's Residence]
[Time: 7:42 AM]
Inko felt absolutely hammered. Like she had drunk so much wine last night, but she hadn't drunk wine in years, so why did her head feel so miserable? She tried sitting up, but seeing Ikumi next to her in her new python body startled her, making her scream and drop the wet towel that was originally on her forehead.
"Ah! Oh, it's you, Ikumi. You almost gave me a heart attack." Inko said, calming down her breath, while grabbing her chest.
"Sorry, Mama. I didn't mean to scare you." Ikumi apologized, looking down with eyes like a begging puppy.
Inko could only smile at her daughter, telling her she doesn't need to apologize. Inko told her that fear is a human emotion that no one can fully control. She just gets scared very easily.
"Do you think heroes feel fear, mama? Heroes are supposed to be brave, so they must not feel fear, right?" Ikumi asked. But before Inko could answer her daughter's question, someone walked out of the hallway and spoke for her.
"Of course, heroes feel fear, Ikumi. They are as human as anyone else. You can be both brave and scared, but neither excludes the other." The stranger said, her voice sounding very familiar to the Midoriya matriarch.
"Wait. Yamato?!" Inko asked in shock, unable to believe the woman she was looking at was the tiny little python, but her voice and the way she spoke were very similar to her.
Standing in the hallway was a 6-foot-tall, slender woman with heavily tanned skin and tar-black curly hair. Her eyes were a warm amber color, and her fangs protruded over her bottom lip, yet they did not hinder her ability to speak. She also had a long and thick tail, which was not as long as Ikumi's. Inko then noticed the clothes Yamato was wearing, which were her own. Yamato's new body was different from Inko's; much taller, slender, and more curvaceous than her, so the clothes were very tight on the python's human body. The shirt and shorts tightly hung on her form. The shirt was so small that her torso wasn't fully covered, leaving her stomach exposed. Yamato's tail also caused a problem, as the shorts she picked out, which were already straining against her skin, were hanging a little lower from behind, pushed down by her exposed tail. At least she had the decency to place a towel over that part to protect Ikumi's innocent eyes.
"Good morning, Inko. You had quite the fall earlier, so I took it upon myself to give you the help you needed to rest up." Yamato said, walking closer to Inko.
"Sorry for taking your clothes, I didn't want to walk around naked with Ikumi around. I hope you don't mind." Yamato asked, and Inko waved her hands, saying it wasn't a problem, then she offered Yamato to go to the store later in the day after she finished working to get some clothes for herself.
"Um, Yamato-san." Ikumi tapped Yamato's tail, gaining the adult's attention.
"Yes, Ikumi dear, what is it?" Yamato asked, kneeling down to Ikumi's height.
"In the park, where we met, you said something about only using your small body? Like you use less energy or something?" Ikumi asked, which made Inko confused, but Yamato knew what Ikumi was asking and cleared the air for them.
"Oh, well, you asked why I was so small, I explained that my magic reserves were shrinking rapidly, and the only way for me to preserve as much as possible, I needed to stay in my small Python form." Yamato explained, shocking Inko.
"Wait, so you're using more magic than before. Why? You should go to your small form. I'm alright now, I don't want you risking losing too much energy for me." Inko said, but Yamato said she'd rather help Inko first to repay her kindness.
"I understand, but please, go back to your small form. I don't want you to lose the little amount of magic you have left." Inko pleaded, and Yamato had a smile on her face.
("Just like her daughter, caring for others before themselves.") After voicing her thoughts to herself, she began to transform back, showering her body in a yellow light, as her form began to wrinkle and the clothes loosened and fell to the ground.
When the light dispersed, Yamato was now back in her small python form, lying flat in the fallen clothes, her breathing noticeably heavier.
"Are you alright, Yamato-san?" Ikumi asked. Yamato said she is fine, only a little exhausted.
"Being in my human form doesn't use too much energy compared to the other forms I have. I just that transforming takes a lot out of me, and after transforming twice can be very draining for a whole day." Yamato said, slithering onto Ikumi's shoulder when Ikumi held out her hand for her.
Inko asked how much magic she has left, and what would happen if she ran out of magic. Would she?
"Oh, no, of course not. If my magic reserves ran completely dry, I would just be unable to use any magic, and I would be stuck in this form permanently. For how much magic I have left, I have enough to last me for a couple more decades, so I'll be fine. I was lucky I found Ikumi this early." Yamato explained, allowing Inko to sigh in relief, knowing Yamato wouldn't die.
"You will get your magic back when we find the fountain, right?" Ikumi asked, and Yamato nodded, saying that she will have to first show the fountain she can become a hero, and only then, can she and Ikumi locate the fountain's whereabouts.
It was then that the kettle began to whistle, which made Yamato remember that she was making some tea for Inko once she woke up. Yamato offered to grab some for Inko, but Ikumi said she'll do it, saying she knows how to make tea, saying her mother taught her as soon as she was able to use her hands properly.
After Ikumi poured her mother a cup of tea, she passed it to her. Her mother took a long and deep sip, feeling the hot tea fall down her throat, allowing the flavour to calm her nerves and relax her mind. With her first sip finished, she let out a sigh, relaxing her body more. She thanked both Ikumi and Yamato for the tea, saying it was the best tea she has ever had.
"Thank you, Inko. I try my best." Yamato said, bowing to Inko.
Inko looked at the clock and saw that it was nearly time for Ikumi to leave for kindergarten. With her soul fully rejuvenated from the sweet tea, she quickly put on her clothes and took Ikumi to kindergarten, where she would be able to show off her new "quirk" to all the children. Yamato decided to stay back, wanting to rest after using her human form, but for some reason, something was telling her that this day wouldn't be a happy one.
[Location: Ikumi's Kindergarten]
[Time: 8:12 AM]
On their way, Ikumi encountered problems with her new body. First, it was much more uncomfortable to slither around on the concrete ground outside, and she had trouble going down stairs, as her body kept falling down each step, while dragging across the sharp and uneven floors. Inko told her she will have to learn how to go down the stairs, and she will buy her some new clothing that matched her new body.
They met another roadblock with the car. As Ikumi's new body is four times longer, sitting in the car was a hard task to muster. Ikumi decided to bundle the majority of her tail on the seats next to her, while the beginning of it fell below her and met up with the rest of her tail.
Once reaching the kindergarten, Inko helped her daughter out of the car, gently placing her on the ground so that Ikumi didn't puncture her skin on some sharp rocks or rubbish. After that, they entered the reception, where everyone began to stare at the two green-haired matriarchs. They all recognized Inko but not Ikumi, believing it was a different child. Inko could feel the occupants' eyes on her and her daughter, but she silently spat at everyone's disrespectful behavior and walked up to the desk, ready to register her daughter for the day.
"Hello, I'm here to drop off my daughter." Inko said, talking to the receptionist across the desk, who, from hearing Inko's words, made an annoyed face.
Inko was confused for a second, but her brain caught up with her, and she showed off her daughter, telling the receptionist that this was Ikumi."Her quirk came in overnight. It was such a sudden change that I passed out from shock after I saw her in the bathroom." Inko joked, all the mothers and staff knowing how easy it is for women to faint and cry.
"Um, sorry to ask you this, Mrs. Midoriya. But who's the girl, a second child?" The woman asked, pointing at Ikumi, mistaking her for someone else.
Inko was confused for a second, but her brain caught up with her, and she showed off her daughter, telling the receptionist that this was Ikumi."Her quirk came in overnight. It was such a sudden change that I passed out from shock after I saw her in the bathroom." Inko joked, all the mothers and staff knowing how easy it is for women to faint and cry.
"You're joking. That's not how quirks work. You cannot suddenly manifest a mutation quirk out of thin air. Plus, the doctor you went to confirmed she was quirkless. Toe joint and everything." The receptionist tried to argue, not believing this child was Ikumi, because if she was, she actually had to try and do her job for the little girl.
"Well, I haven't made an appointment to the doctor yet, so I have no idea what kind of quirk she has." Inko said kindly, but her eyes then morphed into a glare, freezing the receptionist in her chair and causing a sudden shift in the air.
"I also know that you have been allowing the other kids to pick on my daughter because of something she can not control. If you ever treat my daughter like that again or because of her new looks, I'll bury this entire school district in so many legal fees, you'll be wishing you picked a different career. You hear me?" Inko quietly threatened, her smile not wavering and her calm, yet cold demeanour making everyone freeze in place.
Everyone knew that messing with Inko was a bad idea. Something everyone knew, either from stories or from first-hand accounts. Back in her younger years, during her time at middle and high school, Inko was the type of girl who gave no shits about anyone, only caring for those who got picked on or bullied. It didn't take long for the women to keep the halls of her school bully-free, as anyone who stepped out of line had to deal with her cold icy glare at best or the creative use of her quirk at worst.
No one seemed to be able to calm the girl, even her close friends like Mitsuki, could never reach the warm soul inside her, if that even existed in her at that time. But one day, a new student came into school, named Hisashi. Just like his daughter, he was small, timid, and was helpful to anyone who asked. Then, when he helped Inko with her homework; as she was so busy with maintaining the halls of her school, she began to warm up around him, either because she was attracted to the boy in some way, or maybe because of his fire breath quirk. Neither really mattered, because Hisashi did what many thought was impossible, make the resident ice queen smile with joy, after he gave her, her favourite flowers during prom.
Nowadays, Inko looks to be the opposite of what she was back then: kind, sweet, and lovable. Nothing hints at her icy cold past, but the retired ice queen still knows how to bring back her icy cold heart, her glare and chilling voice creeping up everyone's spines, putting the fear back into them of who Inko was and still is.
"Do I have your word that my daughter will be treated fairly and just while under your and your fellow co-workers' care?" Inko asked again, the receptionist feeling like she was being frozen from the inside.
Without hesitation, not wanting to upset the mother whose vicious glare was still on her, she sat up straight and bowed her head, saying that she and her fellow co-workers would make sure Ikumi would have a lovely time here, and that they'd treat her with respect.
"Wonderful. Alright, Iku, I'm going to go now. If anyone ever picks on you, just tell me. Mama will make sure they won't make that mistake again." Inko promised, hugging her daughter, who hugged her mama back, using her new tail to wrap around Inko.
To spend the time waiting, she picked a small corner to sit in and write in her little notebook, noting down things she learned about her new quirk. She did see Kacchan walk in with Auntie Mitsuki, but she believed it was best for her to wait for break to show her new quirk to him, wanting to surprise him. Their eyes did meet, Ikumi quickly plating her face back into her notebook, but when she looked at Kacchan again, he was no longer looking at her, so she thanked he didn't recognise her.
When the first period was ready, the teachers told everyone to line up for their separate classes. The children in Ikumi's line were confused, asking who the new girl was and where Deku was. She even had Kacchan's eyes on her for a brief moment, feeling his eyes burning the back of her head. The teachers already knew who she was, getting a heads-up from the receptionist and other staff members who were present when Inko and Ikumi entered.
"Alright, everyone, sit down. Time for roll call. When I call your names, respond with 'here' or 'hi.' Okay?" Ikumi's teacher said, and everyone nodded their heads.
The children still stared at her, but she paid no mind to them, making sure she was focused enough for when her name was called, because once her name was called, everyone would know who she is and be surprised that she finally got her quirk.
As the teacher listed names, each responding to their name, Ikumi waited with bated breath; because her name started with an M, her name was further down the list.
"And..." The teacher took a deep breath, her face visibly scowling, but returning it to a cheery smile, calling out for Midoriya Ikumi.
"Here!" Everyone turned to see where the voice came from, because no one saw Ikumi at all today, only the new snake girl, but instead of the quirkless girl they loved to tease, they saw a very snake girl they thought was new.
Before any of the children could scream obscenities, make accusations, or try to accuse her of lying, the teacher greeted the girl, congratulated her on getting an A.
"Wait, Deku has a quirk?!" One child exclaimed.
"But wasn't she quirkless?" Another asked, surprised.
"I thought you couldn't get a quirk past the age of 4?" Another questioned, thinking back to all the times their parents and teacher taught them that you could only get a quirk at the age of 4, and no older.
"Midoriya is what is known as an abnormality. Which means she is different from everyone else." The teacher explained, trying her hardest to keep her happy cheery smile.
To her, no matter what kind of quirk Ikumi could ever get, she still disliked the girl for how annoying and troublesome she is, being quirkless was just an easy scapegoat to punish her.
"I call bullshit! It is impossible to get a quirk after turning 5! She must have hid her quirk from us!" Katsuki yelled, having the teacher yell back at him to mind his language, but she didn't stop the boy from approaching Ikumi, his palms popping.
"K...Kacchan, wait! I c...can explain?!" Ikumi tried to calm down her friend, but his angry face made her cower under him.
"Shut it, you liar! You had your quirk all this time and hid it from me! Do you think you are better than me?!" Katsuki shouted, his toddler anger boiling to the brim.
"B...but, K..Kacchan. I didn't hide my quirk. I did get it last nig..." Ikumi tried to tell Kacchan the truth, but suddenly, she was hit with a surge of hot pain, and then a loud bang that almost ruptured her eardrums.
*BOOM*
"Shut up!" Katsuki roared, finally releasing two explosions and slapping Ikumi in the face and chest, making Ikumi coil her new tail tighter, as she hid further into the crevasse between her coils.
"You really think I give a damn about what you say? Everyone knows you get your quirk at four. No earlier, no later." Katsuki yelled, the kids rallying behind him.
"Yeah, Bakugou's right! No one can get their quirk after turning 5. My dad told me before." A girl shouted.
"Me too. And I heard mutation type quirks come in when they are born." Another boy said, which made everyone inch closer to Ikumi.
"Deku looks like a monster! Why should we believe what a monster says?" One boy shouted, which made all the children finally jump on her for being a monster, a villain, someone who shouldn't be allowed to be with them, calling her slimy, ugly, terrifying, creepy, and dangerous.
One girl even said she could be a good handbag, maybe a nice pair of shoes. Another joined in and said her fangs could make for some cool earrings, or maybe use her as pest control, because snakes like to eat rats, right. Why don't they feed her rats?
Ikumi couldn't handle all the insults and laughter; tears quickly flowed from her eyes. Not even the teacher was stepping in, like always. She didn't even have a chance to defend herself because whenever she spoke, Kacchan would smack her cheek with his quirk, and she'd quickly shut up, the explosions leaving small handprint-shaped scars.
From the classroom window, Yamato was watching the entire affair play out, her anger reaching the highest it has ever been in centuries. She couldn't understand why. She knew how cruel humans could be, but that was from adults. But from children? How could such hopeful souls be filled with such malice and hatred for someone that was so kind and caring. She almost busted through the class window to take Ikumi away, but she knew better. She knew she had to do something else to get her out of there.
Thankfully, she was recording the whole thing on Inko's phone, which she temporarily "borrowed". When the matriarchs left the apartment, Yamato found Inko's phone, which the women accidentally left behind, and took it with her to Ikumi's kindergarten by taking a ride on Inko's car and looked for Ikumi's classroom.
("Why, why must the human race be so cruel? I'm sorry, Ikumi. I'm sorry I put you into this situation. I'll rectify this immediately.") Yamato thought, stopping the recording, knowing what she had recorded would be enough for any legal business they would need for the future for blackmail.
She really needs to thank her rodent friend for the knowledge he taught her about manipulation.
Making her way to a nearby public restroom, she transformed into her human form. She scratched open a rift in space-time, a technique that literally cut space and time open. It took a lot of magic when she used it. Magic should be sacrificed to help her save Ikumi.
Reaching into the space rift, she pulled out a long Kalasiris. It was made to fit her taller stature and had a hole in the back to fit her snake tail through. The garment was decorated with gold accents that lined the edges of the cloth, and it included a pair of gold-accented saddles for her footwear.
During her time in ancient Egypt, she gave many gifts to the residents of the kingdom, even a few to their Pharaohs. In return, she received jewellery, riches, and everything she could think of. One gift was the very clothes she was wearing, made to fit her exact size and embroidered with patterns that told of her ventures from the viewpoint of the Pharaoh who gave her this fabric.
Yamato knew she would attract a lot of attention from wearing such a dress, but she had already experienced such trivial matters before, and all she cared about now was taking Ikumi out of that place before her injuries became too severe that even her minimal healing magic wouldn't be able to heal her.
She didn't waste time and rushed out of the restroom and straight to Ikumi, her speed being that of highly professional heroes, but the cries of the people around her didn't slow her down. Before entering, she stopped just by the door, brushed off a bit of dust she picked up, and entered the reception.
Thankfully, no one was around but the receptionist, so she could make this exchange quicker.
"Hello, I'm here to pick up Ikumi Midoriya. Her mother asked me to pick her up for an unexpected family emergency." Yamato quietly said, boring her eyes into the receptionist's own.
"Huh, Ikumi? The freak? Sure, whatever. Let me just call her teacher to bring her here." The receptionist said, not looking away from her phone.
"I beg your pardon, but it is common courtesy to look at someone when talking with them." Yamato said, gripping the counter hard enough to crack the wood, making the receptionist finally look at her, "And it is rude to insult someone's child when they are standing in front of you." Yamato spat, glaring at the girl with a fiery fury.
The receptionist already had to deal with Inko's cold, looming glare, like looking into the eyes of a beast, but Yamato's eyes were the complete opposite. Hot, blazing, and filled with so much rage that it was impossible to fathom.
"I...I...I, sorry miss?" The receptionist sat upright in her chair, meekly asking the woman across her desk for her name.
"Yamato. And if it's not too much trouble, could you guide me to her classroom? I'd rather pick her up myself." Yamato asked, and the receptionist happily said it was no trouble, quickly guiding her to Ikumi's classroom.
On their way, Yamato heard how silent all the other classrooms were, but as they approached Ikumi's, she could hear such foul and horrid words, along with the sounds of screaming, cries, and explosions. She will make sure this school pays for allowing such horrid behavior to fester in such young souls.
"H...here we are, Miss Yamato. H...hope you and Miss Midoriya have a safe trip home." The receptionist said, allowing Yamato to enter the classroom.
"Like wise." Yamato simply said, not meeting the woman in the eyes, in case she accidentally turned the woman into stone.
Grabbing the door handle, she turned it, but she made sure to wait to open the door, because as she predicted, when she turned the door, the noises from inside the room quietened or just stopped. What didn't stop were the explosions, and the cries for help.
Wasting no more time, she opened the door, where the first thing she saw was the teacher writing on the board, her back turned to the children. Her face was just like the receptionist before she put the fear of God into her. To her right were the children, who were scattered across the room, but she didn't see Ikumi. That was until she saw Ikumi's green scales and a boy she knew too well blasting her with his quirk.
"Excuse me, who are you? Why are you interrupting my classroom?" The teacher demanded, her grip on the chalk in her hands almost snapping.
Her voice also made Katsuki stop his attack on Ikumi, causing him to turn to her, confused. All the other children were also confused, but most were awestruck at her beauty, if she would have to guess. No matter how vulgar these children's behavior was, they were still children and were still easily amazed by the small things around them.
"I'm here for Ikumi. Her mother asked me to pick her up because of a family emergency." Yamato said, walking towards Ikumi to take her away from this place.
"Hold on! Do you have a permission slip on you? And what kind of emergency does Midoriya have? I can't let any adult take one of our children." The teacher said, surprising Yamato at how professional she was being, with how incompetent she was before.
"Why would you care now? Wouldn't you be happy to get her out of your hair?" Yamato said, glaring at the teacher.
Her words made the teacher freeze, unable to make up a response. Yamato just ignored her, stepping by Katsuki, not even bothering to look at him. When she stood above Ikumi, she noticed her shadow alone made the young girl flinch, breaking the older woman's heart. How could anyone hurt someone so much that they flinch from the sight of a shadow.
Kneeling down, she told Ikumi it was time to go, lightly touched her tail, but that was even worse than the shadow. As Ikumi yelled that she was sorry, saying she wasn't lying and that she didn't want to get hurt anymore, Yamato couldn't believe the words coming from Ikumi's mouth. She almost attacked both the teacher and Katsuki for putting such a sweet girl in pain, but it was best for her to keep her anger inside and let the police take care of this after she leaves.
"Ikumi, it's okay. It's me. I'm not going to hurt you." Yamato said, gently stroking Ikumi's tail.
Ikumi realized who was talking to her, so with hesitation, she uncoiled a little to see who was stroking her tail, and saw the beautiful face of Yamato, who was giving her a reassuring smile.
"Y…Yamato-san?" Ikumi asked, her voice quiet as a mouse, only Yamato could hear with her enhanced hearing.
"Yes, it's me. Don't worry, you're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you again." Yamato said, making sure to continue stroking Ikumi's tail, her soft hand tracing over each of Ikumi's rough and charred scales.
"Why, why are you here?" Ikumi asked. Yamato whispered to her that she is getting her out of here and that she'll explain when they get home.
Ikumi nodded, uncoiling herself, but coiling back when Katsuki roared at them, the act from both making Yamato sad and angry.
"Oi, extra! Who the hell are you?! I've never seen you before!" Katsuki rudely asked, approaching the woman.
"Learn some manners, boy. It isn't nice to yell at someone." Yamato said, protecting Ikumi from the boy.
"Answer my question! Who are you?!" Katsuki asked again, a vein popping on his forehead.
Yamato decided to ignore the brat, not wanting to speak with him anymore. Instead, she tried to make Ikumi uncoil, so they could leave, but Katsuki didn't like the idea of someone ignoring him, so in a blind fury a 5-year-old can muster, he tried to attack Yamato with an explosion, but she caught his hand with her tail, stopping it inches from her.
"Hey, let me go! Let me go, you villain!" Katsuki screamed, trying to pry his hand away from Yamato, but failing.
Not only that, but his sudden attack finally made the teacher do her job again and pull him away, scolding him for his brash actions. Yamato couldn't help but take in the shock Pikachu's face Katsuki was making after being scolded for once in his life.
But with the teacher and the bully distracted, Yamato asked for Ikumi's hand, who uncoiled and gave it to her, and without a sound, made their way out of the classroom, down the hall, and out of the building, where Yamato took Ikumi home to take care of her wounds.
[Location: Midoriya's Residence]
[Time: 9:16 AM]
When they got home, Yamato placed Ikumi on the sofa, checking over her body for all the bruises, searches, and burns she accumulated today. It was even worse than the injuries she got yesterday at the park. Her healing magic wouldn't be able to heal all of it at once, so she would have to do it the old-fashioned way.
Taking all the emergency med kits around the house; which seemed to be as common as a Zubat in a cave, she made sure to focus on the serious wounds like the burns and the few open cuts. Thankfully, her tail was hard enough to take the brat's mini explosions, protecting her skin underneath from burning or bruising, but there were a few chipped and scratched ones, but they'll repair themselves during Ikumi's first moulting, and it will hurt Ikumi to pull them out.
For her other wounds, like small bruises, she healed with her magic, which thankfully wasn't a lot, as Ikumi made the smart choice to coil up when she was attacked, but no amount of physical protection could shield her from the insults and laughter she endured. Yamato couldn't imagine any adult handling any of that, let alone a child just starting life.
"Will you tell mama about this?" Ikumi asked, making Yamato look up to her, seeing small tears in her eyes.
After she finished bandaging one of Ikumi's burns, she looked closely into her eyes, a smile nowhere to be seen on either of them.
"I'm sorry, Ikumi, but I have to. Inko deserves to know that her little girl is being hurt. She's your mother, and it is her right to know." Yamato said, her words making Ikumi's tears build up more.
"B...but, I...I...I don't w...want to w...worry her." Ikumi sobbed, her tears trickling down her face.
Yamato sighed, seeing how important Inko was to her, but she needs to show her how important she is to her mother. Taking Ikumi's hands into her own, she asked the little girl why she doesn't want to worry her mother. Ikumi was silent, only her sobbing filling the air.
"Be...because, s...she d...does so m...much. I m...make her l...life so m...much h...harder. E...everyone t...tells me h...how s...sad my m...mama feels, t...taking care of a D...d...Deku like m...me." Ikumi said, her words filling Yamato with both sadness from the fear and sorrow in Ikumi's words, but also anger like she felt when she watched her getting tortured.
"Listen, Ikumi. Whoever says that to you, certainly doesn't know what a mother's love is. A mother's love is a powerful thing, and it can give so much strength, not even the power of quirks or my gifts can give." Yamato said, her words stopping Ikumi's sobbing, yet her tears still flowed.
"Mothers are strong when they want to be, braver than anyone, and can do so much. I have seen it, over my many thousands of years of living, I have seen the beauty, horror, and strength of many hundreds of mothers. Your mother is no different. Just watching how she takes care of you, tells me she cares about you, loves you with all her heart, and would do anything to keep you safe, even if it ends her own." Yamato explained, raising her voice to make sure they are put into Ikumi's head.
"B...but I d...don't want M...mama to l...leave m...me!" Ikumi said, now scared that her mother would leave her because of how useless she was.
"And she won't! Inko will protect you and let you live. A mother's will is stronger than anything I've seen. If she wants you to live, she'll do anything to keep it that way, and your mother has been doing that. Raising a child that is shunned by everyone around her, she could have easily joined them and thrown you out, I have seen mothers throw away their kids for more petty reasons, but your mother is not like that. She is giving you the best life she can afford, and she'll do anything to keep it that way, as long as her baby girl is happy and safe." Yamato explained, making Ikumi tear up and sob even more.
"But she can't if you hide things from her. Saying you are okay and happy, when you are not, will only make it harder for her to give you a happier life. So please, when your mother comes home, I want you to tell her the truth. Tell her everything, if not for you, but for her. A true, happy life, can only be obtained by being open and truthful to those around you." Yamato finished, hugging Ikumi who hugged her back.
"You don't have to fear anything when I and your mother are with you. We'll protect you, and teach you to be a good person, so you can protect yourself and others." Yamato whispered, hearing Ikumi's sobbing lighten up, her breathing also slowing down.
The two stayed like that for who knows how long, but eventually they separated, Yamato asking the little girl to promise her she will always stay open with her mother, and Ikumi said she would, holding out her pinkie finger, which Yamato raised an eyebrow.
"Um, what is this, Ikumi?" Yamato asked, and Ikumi explained it was a pinkie promise.
"When someone makes a promise, you link pinkie fingers. But you cannot break a pinkie promise, or the world will shatter into millions of pieces! But I don't know if that is true." Ikumi said, questioning the legitimacy of the pinkie promise.
Yamato laughed, happily linking her pinkie with Ikumi's, promising her she "Will you tell Mama about this?" Ikumi asked, making Yamato look up to her, seeing small tears in her eyes. do her best to teach her to become the greatest hero so that Yamato can regain her magic from the springs. And Yamato promises her she will be the best teacher she can be and help her whenever she needs it.
[End of Chapter]