—.All Roads Lead Home: Part 2.—
Ochako settled into the train, gazing absentmindedly out the window as the images of the countryside flew past her eyes. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and her usual shy smile barely curved her lips.
—Am I always going to be daydreaming? —she whispered to herself, her mind wandering between confused memories and the certainty that she was heading towards a future she had never imagined. She was on her way to marry Izuku Midoriya.
The train echoed along its route to Kure, passing through small towns that seemed detached from her own reality. Ochako sighed and shifted in her seat, the silence broken only by the rhythmic noise of the train on the tracks.
When they finally arrived, a kind man was waiting at the foot of the hill, where the coal truck they had taken from the train station was stopped.
—The truck can't go up the hill —he said, greeting the Uraraka family with a smile. Mr. Uraraka thanked him politely, while Ochako shyly stepped out from behind her parents, her heart pounding as she neared the moment of meeting her new home.
—It's an honor to be your dutiful daughter-in-law —she said with a slight bow, feeling the weight of those words.
—The pleasure is all mine —Hisashi Midoriya replied, bowing deeply in return.
The air was serene, and when they reached the top of the hill, Nejire, Ochako's sister, couldn't help but comment:
—We've climbed so high! —she exclaimed, pointing out the view from the hill.
—They live on the outskirts of town —Mrs. Uraraka explained with a warm smile.
—Everyone is here —announced Hisashi Midoriya as he slid open the door. His voice carried a blend of formality and welcome.
Later, both families were gathered in the living room, conversing in low tones. Mr. Midoriya apologized for the simplicity of the wedding, but Mr. Uraraka quickly reassured him.
—My daughter has always liked simple things —he said, and that was enough to ease any worries.
Amidst the conversation, Nejire gently tapped Ochako's shoulder, catching her attention.
—Sister, your kimono...
Realizing she was still wearing her coat over her kimono, Ochako quickly stood up.
—Oh, right! —she exclaimed, beginning to remove the protective layers—. My beautiful kimono won't shine as it should if I stay like this.
—Ochako, wait! —her mother tried to stop her—. But don't undress here…
The wedding proceeded quietly, followed by a small celebration. When the banquet was served, Ochako looked at the table in awe and gratitude.
—What a feast… it looks delicious.
Mrs. Midoriya encouraged her to eat.
—You provided the ingredients, so eat with confidence.
However, something distracted Ochako. Next to her, Izuku remained still, his hands resting on his knees, visibly nervous. He hadn't touched his food.
As the Uraraka family was about to leave, Nejire quietly commented:
—He seems so gentle, but I didn't hear him say a word.
—Well, you're not supposed to make a scene at weddings —Ochako replied, trying to justify him with a bit of humor.
—But your sister's an expert at that —Mr. Uraraka teased as he walked alongside them.
As they walked down the hill, the sunset painted the sky in warm hues.
—Sister! See you when you visit! —Nejire called out, her cheerful voice contrasting with the melancholic atmosphere.
—Yes, see you!
—See you later —said a serious-looking girl with black hair.
Ochako wondered who she might be as she watched her walk away on the same path as her parents.
Back at the house, Ochako bowed before her in-laws.
—It's an honor to be part of your family —she said, her voice trembling but full of sincerity.
—The honor is ours —Inko Midoriya responded with a warm, though slightly weary, smile—. My quirk and my right arm don't work so well anymore —she added—. I'll be counting on you, dear Ochako.
Ochako nodded, determined to help. It didn't take long for her opportunity to arise when she saw her mother-in-law struggling with a large pot.
—Thank you so much —Mrs. Midoriya said as Ochako took over—. Momo always burns the pot when she helps cook.
—I see —Ochako replied while scrubbing the pot—. So, she must be the wife of Izuku's brother who got married before him.
After cleaning the pot, Izuku led Ochako outside. Together, they lit the water heater with a piece of newspaper. Izuku watched Ochako as her curious eyes settled on the lights of a watchtower in the city center.
—It's for radiation training —Izuku murmured, lighting the heater—. Security has been tightened lately.
Ochako wondered what kind of place she had really come to. Her worries melted away as she soaked in the hot water, relaxing. However, when she entered the room she would now share with her new husband, the nerves returned. Two futons were laid out on the floor, side by side.
—Thank you for the new futon —she said, unsure of how to start a conversation.
Izuku, sitting on his futon, fumbled with his notebook, only making the awkward silence more noticeable. Finally, looking up with some nervousness, he broke the silence.
—Um, by any chance, did you bring an umbrella?
Ochako sat on her futon, blushing.
—Yes. I brought one with me and… it's new.
Izuku stood up and asked for the umbrella. To her surprise, Ochako watched as he opened the window and used the umbrella to knock persimmons from a nearby tree.
—I figured you might be hungry —Izuku said, offering her one of the persimmons.
Ochako carefully held the fruit, feeling the warmth of the unexpected gesture.
—You didn't eat anything at the wedding —she softly commented—. I'm glad to see you finally are.
Izuku nearly choked at her words, coughing lightly.
—Ah, I think I swallowed the whole fruit —he laughed, giving his chest small pats.
Ochako averted her gaze, amused and slightly flushed. Then, with a deeper blush, she asked:
—Did you and I… know each other before?
Izuku looked at her, surprised, blushing as well.
—Don't you remember? We met a long time ago.
Ochako's heart raced, feeling an inexplicable warmth.
—I'm sorry, I'm always daydreaming —she said, and before she could continue, Izuku sat beside her, his expression so soft and understanding that the world around them seemed to blur. Gently, he placed his hand on her cheek.
—You haven't changed at all —he said tenderly, running his hand through a strand of her hair—. And I've always remembered how beautiful your hair is.
Ochako barely had time to react before Izuku, with a gesture sweet and full of affection, leaned in and kissed her. It was a timid kiss, full of the sweetness of two people still discovering each other, but at the same time, sharing a deep connection that had taken its time to bloom.
And in that moment, Ochako knew that no matter the doubts or fears, she had arrived at the right place.
In the dim light of dawn, the first rays of sun timidly seeped through the cracks of the windows, painting the room with a warm glow. Ochako gazed at the aged wooden ceiling of the Midoriya house, then let her eyes drift toward Izuku, who was sleeping peacefully beside her. The calm of the moment allowed her to reflect on everything that was changing in her life.
The sliding door opened quietly, and the silhouette of Inko Midoriya appeared at the doorway. With a silent gesture, she asked Ochako to follow her. The young wife carefully got up so as not to wake Izuku and left the room.
—Could you fetch some water from the well?—Inko asked with a kind, though slightly weary, smile. Ochako nodded and quickly went to fulfill the task, grateful to be helpful in her new husband's home.
After bringing the water, Ochako joined her mother-in-law in the kitchen to help prepare breakfast. While stirring the soup, she couldn't help but think about how the war still lingered, with the Liberation Army keeping many families in constant tension.
—It seems like all the men around here work for the navy—she thought, watching Izuku and his father prepare to head out for work.
Izuku gave her a shy smile before leaving, and his father, with a firm but respectful gesture, nodded slightly. Ochako watched them walk away, trying to warm her hands with her breath. The morning cold was more noticeable as she washed clothes in the house's yard.
A little while later, she was interrupted by a neighbor who arrived with a notice in hand.
—Mrs. Midoriya!—the neighbor called out, startling Ochako as she was addressed that way for the first time. The neighbor handed her a piece of paper, and upon reading it, Ochako saw the words "Rationing Schedule." Later, her mother-in-law explained what that meant.
—Be careful with those two—Inko warned, pointing at two names on the list—. They're always fighting.
Ochako didn't have to wait long to witness it when she went to help distribute the rations. Upon arriving, she saw Jiro and Mina in the middle of a heated argument.
—Don't pour that!—Jiro said firmly.
—I'm just measuring it!—Mina complained, ignoring her.
Ochako found herself caught in the middle of the argument, unsure of how to intervene. She looked back and forth, feeling a pressure she hadn't experienced before.
—You always do whatever you want!—Jiro insisted, crossing her arms.
—Of course not!—Mina protested.
Later, all the housewives attended a course given by a veteran hero of the war. He taught them survival tactics in case of a villain attack, and while the hero drew on a board, Ochako couldn't help but think about how the war had changed even the most mundane activities.
—We can't leave anything to chance—the hero said seriously, as he showed them self-defense techniques.
This had become Ochako's new routine, and as she looked at her notes in her notebook, she wondered if peace would ever return to the world.
One day, she was helping Inko clean the old furniture in the house. When she opened a drawer, she found a dress that caught her attention.
—Oh, that's one of Momo's dresses—Inko commented with a nostalgic smile—. She wore it on her first date with Shoto. They went to the movies, a restaurant, and Western exhibitions.
Ochako held the dress with admiration and then found a hat that completed the outfit.
—What an elegant woman—Ochako remarked, looking at the hat—. Look how beautiful it is.
—When Izuku was little, disarmament laws prohibited us from buying support items, and it was a time when these types of clothes were the norm. My husband and all the neighbors lost their jobs. It was a difficult time. But fortunately, Shoto found Momo and a good job at the same time. That was the best news back then.
—Ma'am—Ochako smiled, standing up—I'll work so hard you won't notice the difference between those days and now.
A few days later, the door to the house opened unexpectedly. Momo and her young son, Toya, came to visit. Ochako greeted them with a respectful bow.
—Welcome home.
Momo observed her for a second before handing her a small sack of rice and walking past her.
—How simple—she commented with indifference.
—Simple?—Ochako asked, a bit confused—. But it's rice! It's a privilege to have it these days!
—I was talking about you—Momo clarified, glancing at her sideways—. I always thought Izuku would marry someone with more class.
Ochako felt a slight twinge of insecurity, but held herself back. Toya, on the other hand, walked over to his grandmother with a smile.
—Are you roasting beans?—the boy asked innocently.
—That's right, sweetheart. How are you?—Inko responded kindly.
—Mom's mad about a lot of things that happened today, so I'd better not talk—Toya said.
—Smart boy—his grandmother praised him with a soft laugh.
Meanwhile, the interaction between Momo and Ochako continued.
—And the rice isn't a gift. It's for Toya and me. Don't think I brought it for you—Momo clarified, closing the sliding door of the living room behind her.
Ochako, struggling to stay calm, simply nodded. But Momo's words kept echoing in her head, mixing with memories from her childhood.
—You won't be able to get married if you don't develop some skills—her grandmother had told her years ago.
Then I just won't get married, Ochako had replied as a child, sitting in a corner.
In the present, Ochako sighed as she tried to adjust one of her yukatas to be more presentable for the guests. However, little Toya approached her, asking for some string to play with. She handed him a piece, trying to reconnect with that simplicity which, though criticized, was what truly defined her.
Later, Momo asked for the ration tickets to take care of dinner herself. When the meal was ready, Hisashi and Izuku returned from work.
—You finally managed not to burn the rice—Izuku commented, surprised.
As Ochako passed by, she thanked Momo for the meal, but Momo, with her usual tone, replied:
—Our mother-in-law is seriously injured, and they brought you here to help. It's the least we can do.
The atmosphere grew tense, but the next question made things even more uncomfortable.
—Why don't you go back to your house?—Momo asked bluntly.
Ochako remained silent, unable to understand the reason behind that question. Hisashi, for his part, added:
—That's a good idea.
The rest of the Midoriya family lowered their heads, leaving Ochako feeling even more out of place than before.
It was a quiet afternoon at the Uraraka household. The warm air drifted through the slightly open windows as the sun slowly began to set behind the hills. Silence reigned, broken occasionally by the soft footsteps of Ochako's mother as she prepared dinner in the kitchen. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Nejire entered with energy, despite the fatigue on her face.
—I'm back! —she announced with a smile, dropping her bag at the entrance—. I'm so exhausted...
—Welcome, Nejire —her mother responded with a tired smile—. Oh, it's already eight... Time flies.
In the living room, Ochako, who had been asleep on the tatami mat, began to stir, waking up to the familiar voices. She opened her eyes slowly, the warmth of the afternoon still lingering on her body.
—Ochako, get up already —her mother called from the kitchen as she started setting the table for dinner.
With a single movement, Ochako sat up, rubbing her eyes as she tried to clear the fog from her mind. Her mother smiled at the sight of her in that drowsy state, typical of someone who had overslept.
—Ah... —Ochako stretched, yawning—. What a joy! I dreamed I was marrying a boy in the city of Kure.
The room burst into soft laughter. Her mother, in a playful tone, approached and gently tugged at her cheek.
—Should I wake you up like this? —she teased, as Ochako made a face of mock pain.
—My sister-in-law told me to go back home... at first, I didn't understand much —Ochako mentioned, lowering her head as they continued dinner. Her tone had changed slightly, revealing a hint of melancholy—. Then... the rest of the Midoriya family apologized. They felt bad for not letting me visit earlier. They told me I should rest for a few days.
Ochako recalled Momo's words: "If that's what you want, then leave. I'd be glad."
—Time to bathe, time to bathe! —Ochako and Nejire sang together after dinner, trying to lighten the mood and forget the worries of the day.
As they entered the bath, the steam enveloped the small room, and as they undressed, Ochako couldn't help but ask:
—Tell me, what's the volunteer corps like? —her tone was filled with curiosity and concern.
Nejire, who had already experienced several situations as part of the volunteers, answered naturally.
—I'm used to it by now —she said simply, as she scrubbed her back before getting into the water.
Ochako, already submerged in the hot tub, let out a sigh.
—It must be dangerous... —she murmured, sadness evident in her voice.
Nejire turned to her and smiled gently, trying to ease the tension.
—It's not as bad as going out to harvest seaweed —her sister joked nostalgically—. Now that was awful.
Both laughed, remembering those times when life, though hard, seemed simpler. When they finished bathing and were drying off, Nejire, now much more cheerful, commented while getting dressed:
—And there's a handsome hero who keeps giving me food coupons —she said with a playful laugh.
—Really? —Ochako beamed, catching her sister's infectious energy.
Back in their room, after brushing Nejire's long hair, Ochako paused thoughtfully at a question her sister asked:
—Did you like Kure?
Ochako sighed, still in the process of adapting to everything she had experienced lately.
—I couldn't tell you yet... —she replied slowly—. I'm still learning...
Nejire, while taking her turn to brush Ochako's hair, let out a small squeak and quickly turned off the light, implying it was time to sleep. Ochako settled into her futon, letting the exhaustion lull her slowly to sleep. However, just as she was about to drift off, Nejire's low voice startled her:
—You have a bald spot.
—What? —Ochako quickly sat up, touching her head in worry.
—Just kidding —Nejire laughed, enjoying her sister's reaction.
The next morning, the routine continued as usual. After breakfast, Nejire cheerfully said her goodbyes:
—I'm off to work, see you later!
Afterwards, her parents also left the house, leaving Ochako alone in the quiet of her old home.
—Now everyone's leaving... —she murmured to herself, not really sure what to do with the rest of the day.
She decided to go for a walk around her old neighborhood, recognizing the streets and corners she knew so well. Nostalgia hit her hard when, by midday, she mentally said goodbye to her hometown.
—Goodbye... —she whispered as she headed to the train station, ready to return to the city with her husband.
However, upon arriving at the station, she saw a sign that made her heart stop for a second: all trips had been suspended.
That afternoon, when she returned home, her father greeted her with surprise:
—So that's why you came back?
—I'm worried about the Midoriya family —her mother joked, realizing that Ochako was still just as absent-minded as when she was a child.
Ochako only lowered her head.
—Maybe... —she muttered to herself—. Maybe if I had paid more attention to the announcements... this wouldn't have happened.
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading this far. I hope to continue this story soon! Your comments are always welcome! Thank you so much for reading, following, and liking. It always makes me smile.