Arch 2: 「Act 2」
"Whoa, easy there, try not to eat fast, you might choke."
He chuckled as he watched Eri happily munching away at her sweet apple pancakes. She immediately paused at his comment, a small blush creeping onto her face as she slowed down, clearly embarrassed.
"Sorry," she mumbled, glancing up at him sheepishly.
The boy smiled and shook his head. "It's okay, just enjoy it. I'm glad you really like it." He leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of satisfaction watching the girl eat, the atmosphere in the kitchen much lighter now.
The girl watched him intently, her gaze filled with a mix of curiosity and awe, as if she were taking in every detail of him like he was someone she had never seen before. The sight tugged at Izuku's heart, and Izuku instinctively raised his hand, gently patting her head.
"Go on, Eri-Chan. Just don't eat so fast, okay?" He spoke with a warm smile, his voice soft and reassuring.
Her eyes widened in surprise from hearing his kindness. For a moment, she tried to smile, but it didn't quite come through, her lips faltering before she glanced down, her expression turning uncertain. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to smile at you, but it's hard."
As the girl continued to gaze at Izuku, a gentle warmth spreading in her chest, Nana appeared behind him, her expression thoughtful as she watched the interaction.
"Look at her," she said quietly, a hint of frustration lacing her voice. "This is exactly why I can't stand people like Overhaul and All For One. They ruin lives all for their so-called dreams." She shook her head, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the pain and suffering those villains had caused. "They don't see the damage they have cause."
Nor did they even care.
They were just too blind.
"It's alright, Eri-Chan." He softly pat her head again.
Too blind to see their broken road.
So blind they couldn't see their end.
He shook his head mentally.
He began slowly lowering his hand from Eri's head and gestured toward her plate. "Go on, you can keep eating," he said gently. Eri looked up at him, her eyes lighting up with a hint of excitement.
With a small nod, she returned to her pancakes, her little fingers gripping the fork tightly as the girl eagerly took another bite. The sight of her enjoying the food brought a warm smile to Izuku's face. He couldn't help but feel a swell of happiness of watching her savor each bite, her earlier worries momentarily forgotten.
~Creak~
His ears perked up at the soft creak of a door opening, followed by the quiet shuffle of footsteps approaching. He slowly glanced toward the sound, spotting his mom entering the room.
Inko yawned, her hand was covering her mouth, and he noticed the puffiness around her eyes, along with dark circles beneath her eyes. Did she have trouble sleeping? Izuku wondered, a pang of guilt tugging at his heart.
Inko blinked a bit as she took in the scene, her tired eyes widening slightly at the sight of the food already set out on the table. "Oh, you made breakfast?" She murmured in surprise, her gaze sweeping over the plates.
But her expression quickly shifted when her eyes landed on Izuku. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her brows furrowed deeply as Inko noticed the scars on his hands and arms.
For a moment, Inko just stared at her son, her emotions caught between concern, confusion, and sadness. Izuku looked down briefly, as if trying on hiding the very things he knew she couldn't ignore.
He shook his head, pushing the weight of the moment aside, and gave his mom a small, warm, and reassuring smile. "C'mon, Mom. You should eat too," he said softly. "I made your favorite, even added a bit more cinnamon, just how you really like it." His voice was gentle, almost teasing, as if trying to lighten up the mood.
Inko continued on staring at her son, her eyes searching his face, as if trying to find the right words. There was a brief flicker of something in her gaze—shame, maybe, or regret. She looked down for a second, her lips pressing together tightly, before glancing back at him. "Okay."
She sat down quietly, and picked up her fork with a sigh. She stared at her food for a long bit, almost like she was all lost in thought. Then, finally, she cut off a small piece, bringing it to her mouth. As she began on chewing it off, her expression have softened, and a small smile slowly crept onto her face.
"It's really good, Izuku," Inko spoke, her voice was gentle. "You've gotten better, much more better." She looked up at him, her smile lingering, though there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Izuku chuckled softly, his gaze drifting back to his own plate. "You know," he began, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face, "I had a really good friend who'd helped me learn how to cook for someone back in my time." He slowly took a bite of his food, savoring the flavors for a moment before continuing.
The boy glanced at Inko, who was now listening intently at him. "Really, I guess I just wanted to be able to make something nice for you and Eri. It feels good to share a meal together, you know?"
Inko stared deeply at Izuku, her eyes wide with surprise. It struck her just how much her own son had grown up—his confidence and maturity were evident in the way he spoke, a stark contrast to the shy boy she used to know. The realization filled her with pride.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as Inko leaned forward, curiosity sparkling in her gaze. "So, who is this someone you've been cooking for?"
The boy let out a light laugh, a hint of embarrassment creeping onto his cheeks as he scratched the back of his neck. The boy took some moment, gathering all his thoughts, and then quietly pointed over at Eri, who was still happily munching on her apple pancakes, blissfully unaware of their conversation.
The sight of the girl enjoying the meal was warming his heart, and Izuku couldn't help but smile at how carefree she looked. "That's who I've been cooking for," he said softly, feeling a swell of protectiveness and affection for the little girl who had endured so much.
Her expression softened a bit at the sight of Eri, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she looked back at Izuku. It had filled her with warmth to know that her son remained as kind-hearted as ever, if not more so. Even after everything he had been through, especially coming from a future that she can only imagine was difficult, his compassion hadn't wavered.
"You really are something special, Izuku," she said, her voice laced with pride. "No matter what happens, you always find a way on helping others." The weight of her words settled between them, and she felt grateful that he was still that same caring boy she had raised, just with a little more maturity shining through.
Inko sighed quietly, the earlier warmth in her expression fading slightly as she glanced at him. "I called the police last night," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I told them you were here, safe. But they're going to be questioning you later—around 3 PM."
She hesitated for a moment, Inko was searching for the right words. "So, what should you do? I don't want you to get in trouble, but they're going to want answers. I didn't know on how else to handle it." All the worry in her eyes was visible, and Izuku could see how much this weighed on her.
He shook his head gently, offering his mom a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry about all this, Mom. This might actually work in my favor." He leaned back slightly, his voice calm and steady. "I could use this time to meet someone very important. My mentor. He should be able to help me figure out how to handle all of this."
Inko frowned, was still looking concerned at her son, but Izuku continued before she could protest. "It'll probably take a little while before he sees the message I sent, but once he does, I'm sure we can come up with a plan." His eyes softened as he reached across the table, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Everything's going to be okay. I'll get through this."
Inko stared at the boy for a moment, taking in his calm confidence. Slowly, she nodded, her tension easing just a little. "Alright, if you're sure."
~Burp~
Both Izuku and Inko had froze, slowly turning toward the source of the sound.
There sat Eri, her cheeks is puffed slightly as she stared back at them, wide-eyed like a deer caught in headlights. Realizing what she had just done, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly looked down, fidgeting with her hands.
Izuku's lips twitched before a soft chuckle escaped him. "Hey, there's nothing to be embarrassed about," he said warmly, leaning a bit towards the little girl. "It just means that you enjoyed the food, right?"
Inko couldn't help but smile at his words, watching as Eri peeked up at the boy from under her white bangs, still a little flustered but starting to relax. She gave a tiny nod, as if saying, Yeah, it was really good.
"See?" Izuku smiled. "All good. Happens to everyone."
It didn't take long for them to finish eating. Izuku leaned back in his chair, chuckling softly as he glanced over at Eri. She looked content, her cheeks slightly puffed from the last bite of her pancakes. And while though the girl wasn't smiling, there was a calmness in her expression that made him feel good.
Standing up, the boy stretched his arms above his head, feeling the satisfying pop of his joints. As Izuku lowered them, he turned to his mom with a warm smile. "I've got the dishes this time, Mom," he said, rolling his shoulders casually. "You've had a rough night, so just sit down and relax for a bit. You deserve a break."
Inko blinked, clearly not used to seeing him this way—so mature and thoughtful, and grown-up. A soft smile soon tugged at her lips, both proud and a little bittersweet. Oh how she wished that she'd get to see those two years of his life.
The woman began on shaking her head gently, a hint of a smile still lingering on her face. "No, no, I can take care of the dishes. You don't need to do that," Inko insisted, but before Izuku could respond, she continued, "Maybe you can help Ryūko-chan with her things instead. She just moved in last night, and I'm sure she could use an extra hand."
Izuku went still at the mention of Ryūko's name. Ryūko? Could it be the girl who was with his mom last night? He recalled her vibrant blue-black hair and fierce demeanor. It made sense; she had helped his mom stay calm when he had vanished. Still, he couldn't recall a Ryūko living in this building. Strange.
The boy slowly looked at his mother, curiosity shining in his eyes. "What's her room number?" He asked, eager to lend a hand.
Inko smiled appreciatively, happy to see that her son so willing to help others. "Ah, she's on the fourth floor, room 402," she replied. "I'm sure she'll appreciate any help you can offer."
The boy paused at that, his heart racing at the mention of the room number. Room 402? Ah, that was strange. The Tofei family had lived there for as long as he could remember, and none of them had a name that matched Ryūko. His brows furrowed as he replayed the last few days in his mind, a sense of unease creeping in.
Izuku felt a wave of numbness wash over him. This was the past, right? So why did everything feel so different? Izuku had fought a new enemy in Overhaul's compound, and now there was a new girl moving into this building? It was as if the past that the boy remembered was now shifting right before his eyes.
Shaking his head to dispel all the unease, he focused on the task at hand. "I'll go help Ryūko-san now," Izuku said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. With a small nod, the boy began on heading toward the door, pushing aside the strange feelings swirling in his mind. He had a job to do, and he wouldn't let himself be distracted.
But first, Izuku quickly wore his blue with white stripes jacket.
Izuku opened the door, stepping out into the hallway. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off all the lingering doubts in his mind. Just as he was about to take a step forward, he heard a familiar voice.
"Well, look who's awake." He blinked and turned around, surprised to see Ryūko standing there with a playful grin on her face, holding a big box in both of her hands. "Sup, dude," she said, her tone casual and friendly.
Izuku blinked at her playful demeanor, a bit taken aback. He had expected her to be more stern like she was the night before, but maybe she was just tired or something. Shaking his head mentally to clear out his thoughts, he decided to ask, "So, uh, are you Ryūko? We didn't really get to introduce ourselves properly last night."
Ryūko blinked at his question, then her eyes widened in realization. "Oh right, that!" The girl exclaimed at Izuku, her mouth was forming an O shape. "Guess I'd forgot to tell you my name last night." She paused for a moment before grinning again at Izuku. "Well, my name is Ryūko Matoi, but just go stick with Ryūko, alright? None of that Matoi nonsense—makes me feel all weird and formal."
She gave the boy a playful smirk, her tone relaxing and sharp, as if daring Izuku to even think about calling her anything else.
Nana began on materializing beside Izuku, her presence barely noticeable until her left arm casually draped over his shoulder. She leaned in, her playful grin reflecting a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Heh, she's got some fire in her, doesn't she?" Nana remarked with a soft chuckle, her voice light but amused. "Well, I like her already," she added with a smirk, nudging him slightly.
Izuku glanced sideways at Nana, feeling her nudge, but he just rolled his eyes with a light smile. Typical Nana. He shook his head slightly before looking back at Ryūko, who seemed completely unaware of the little exchange going on. "Well, Ryūko-san," Izuku started, scratching the back of his head, "looks like we're neighbors now. Need any help with that box?"
Ryūko's lips pressed into a thin line at the sound of the -san after her name, but she quickly brushed it off with a casual wave of her hand. "Eh, well it's whatever. It's good enough for me," Ryūko replied with a nonchalant shrug, trying to mask any annoyance. "But hey, if you're up for a little workout, sure, I could use some extra set of hands. There are a couple more boxes by the stairs. Think you can handle it?" She smirked.
Izuku chuckled under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. The boy knew better than to be overconfident, but really, how hard could a few boxes be? After all, Izuku'd carried fridges, couches, and even a mountains of trash off the beach back in his own time. Which, now that the boy thought about it, he'd have to do all over again.
His smile had faltered for a moment there. Oh,right. The Dagobah Beach isn't cleaned at all yet. Great. This is just wonderful. For once, Izuku had felt annoyed to clean the beach. Not that Izuku didn't mind it all, really. It was just pretty idiotic that they threw everything at the beach. It's thanks to them though that he gets to trained his body.
He gave Ryūko a friendly nod. "Yeah, no problem. This'll be easy." Then, with a small smirk of his own, he added, "Lead the way, Ryūko-san."
Ryūko raised a brow, her smirk deepening like she could sense a bit of the challenge in his tone. "Heh, easy, huh? We'll see about that." The girl jerked her head toward the stairwell and started walking.
Izuku followed her, adjusting his pace to match hers. As they walked, he couldn't help but wonder — how exactly did the girl ended up here? And honestly, why now, of all times? Something about this whole timeline just wasn't adding up anything at all to him and it irked him.
Ryūko's left eye twitched as she watched Izuku casually hoisting not one, not two, but three heavy boxes without breaking a sweat. The way that the boy balanced them so effortlessly, like they were pillows instead of packed containers, made her eyebrows shoot up. She was sure that he could've stacked more if the ceiling wasn't in the way.
Meanwhile, the girl was haulingone box—and even that took a little shifting to keep a good grip.
"Show-off," Ryūko muttered under her breath, as the girl was half-impressed and half-annoyed.
Izuku chuckled softly at that, catching Ryūko's muttered remark. "It's just the training," he said with a small shrug, adjusting the boxes in his arms. "You get used to it after a while." His tone to the girl was casual, but the amused glint in his eyes didn't go unnoticed.
He shook his head gently, shifting the conversation. "So, uh, if it's alright to ask — why'd you pick an apartment in this area?" Izuku slowly glanced at Ryūko with genuine curiosity as they made their way down the hall. "It's not exactly the busiest part of town."
Ryūko shot him a sideways glance, blowing a stray lock of hair out of her face. "What, this place? It's cheap, and I ain't exactly rolling in cash," Ryūko said bluntly, her tone laced with a dry humor. "And the pictures looked decent enough. Figured I'd go give it a whole shot and see if the place's as good as it looked."
The girl shifted the box in her hands again, adding, "Plus, I've heard some things about U.A. High. Thought I might try my luck there."
Izuku blinked, clearly taken aback. "U.A.? You're aiming for U.A.?" Izuku asked, genuine surprise lacing his voice. He adjusted the boxes slightly, keeping pace with Ryūko as they continued down the hall. "What course are you thinking of going into?"
Ryūko glanced at him from the corner of her eye before a confident grin spread across her face. "Obviously, I'm gonna go for the hero course." She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Me aiming on any other course? Eh, pfft, not really my style and vibe."
As they continued down the hall, she took a second, her eyes flicking over to Izuku. "So," Ryūko began, her tone a little more curious now than before, "I heard it from your mom, she said that you're planning settling for the hero course too? And after seeing you with that costume last night, I mean, it's gotta be set in stone, right?"
The boy glanced at Ryūko, his green eyes was deep with thought for a second, before a soft chuckle escaped his lips. The boy slowly turned his head away at her slightly, looking ahead as they walked. "Yeah, you're right," Izuku said with a quiet laugh. "The hero course, it's all I've ever wanted. I'm definitely set on it. There's no plan B or even C."
The boy shifted the boxes in his arms, then gave Ryūko a sidelong look, his expression a little more serious now. "Anyway, about the costume," he trailed off for a second, slightly scratching the back of his head awkwardly with his shoulder. "Could you, uh… keep that between us? I'd rather not have any more people knowing about it. Kinda complicated."
Ryūko raised an eyebrow, her grin quirking up again, but there was an understanding glimmer in her eye. "My lips are sealed, dude. No biggie."
The boy let out a soft sigh of relief from that, feeling the tension ease from his shoulders. "Thanks, Ryūko-san. I really appreciate it, and sorry for the trouble," Izuku said, flashing her a grateful smile.
She shrugged casually, her grin was still in place. "Don't worry about it. If anything, I'm the one that's putting you to work here, y'know?" The girl replied to the boy with a playful smirk, nudging the box she was carrying.
It didn't take long before they reached her door. The girl shifted the box to one hand and reached into her pocket for the key. "Alright, home sweet home," she muttered as she unlocked the door, pushing it open with her foot.
Izuku stood behind her, still holding the stack of boxes, and glanced into the apartment. "Well, looks cozy," he commented, glancing around the small but neat space as he prepared to set down the boxes.
Izuku's gaze was swept across the apartment, his chest tightening with unease. This is the Tofei apartment, no doubt about it. But something was off — way off. There was no pictures on the walls or shelves, and not even a single trace of the family he remembered. The personal touches, the knick-knacks that used to clutter the place, were all gone.
It was as if the Tofei family had never even existed.
Izuku's brow furrowed. What the hell is going on here? He knew that this was the past, but it felt like it was slipping through his fingers, twisting into something unfamiliar.
Izuku swallowed the lump hard, forcing himself to focus as he slowly placed the boxes down near the door.
"You okay there, dude?" Ryūko's voice snapped him back to the moment. She gave Izuku a curious look, tilting her head. "You look like you've seen a ghost or something."
He blinked, shaking his head quickly, trying to push his thoughts aside. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine," he muttered, though he knew that was far from the truth.
She studied Izuku's expression for a moment, her brow slightly furrowed. "You know," she said, her tone shifting to a more casual one, "I still haven't decorated it enough. That's kind of why it looks so empty in here now." Ryūko stepped further into the room, her hands on her hips.
The girl stepped further into the room, her hands on her hips. "Honestly, I've crashed on the couch last night. Not exactly the best fucking sleeping arrangement."
Izuku blinked at that, his attention shifting from the eerie emptiness of the apartment to Ryūko. "You slept on the couch?" He echoed, his voice laced with surprise. "That must've been uncomfortable."
She shrugged at Izuku, a grin tugging at her lips. "It's not the worst thing ever, y'know. I mean, it's way better than the floor, right?" Ryūko began to walk around the space, gesturing her hand to the bare walls. "Anyway, once I get everything unpacked and sorted out, it'll feel more like home. I just need some posters or something to liven it up."
He nodded, imagining her enthusiasm bringing the place to life. "Yeah, that would definitely help. Do you have any ideas for what you want to put up?"
She shrugged at his question, her playful grin widening. "Honestly, I don't know yet. I'll figure it all out later." She then gestured towards the remaining boxes piled in the hallway. "But for now, we should probably grab the rest of these boxes. Once I'm all done unpacking, I can think about all that decorating stuff."
Izuku smiled back at Ryūko, feeling the lightness of her energy. "Alright, then let's pick it up," Izuku said, stepping back toward the door. "So, how many more of boxes are we dealing with?"
"Just a couple more by the stairs," Ryūko replied, rolling her shoulders as if getting ready to work. "They're not as heavy as these, though, so it should be a breeze."
"Good to hear!" Izuku said, eager to help. Together, they made their way back to the stairs, as both were ready to tackle the rest of her belongings.
Ten Minutes Later
He wiped his hands on his jeans, brushing off the dust from the last box they had carried. They had managed to settle all of Ryūko's belongings in her apartment, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.
"Finally!" Ryūko exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air with a dramatic sigh. "It's all done! I can actually eat now. Geez, I was starving!"
Izuku chuckled lightly at the girl, catching her infectious enthusiasm. "Yeah, you've really worked up an appetite moving all those boxes," he said, glancing around at the still-bare walls and unpacked items scattered about.
Ryūko eyed Izuku up and down, her arms crossing over her chest as she studied him with a raised brow. "You're telling me that you've lifted all those boxes without even breaking a sweat?" She shook her head, her expression flat. "Not even a hint of heavy breathing?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little sheepish under her gaze. He could almost hear Nana chuckling in the back of his mind, teasing the boy about that natural stamina. "Uh, well, I've just gotten used to it, I guess," he replied, trying to brush it off casually.
Ryūko chuckled, shaking her head. "Guess I really need to step up my training regime, huh? I can't go on like this if I want to get into U.A.," she said, her playful demeanor shifting to something more serious. "And, I'm not weak, obviously — I've been training a lot. But clearly, I need to kick it up a notch."
The boy smiled at her determination. "You'll get there for sure," he encouraged her, sensing Ryūko's commitment. "Training's important, especially if you're aiming for the hero course. Just make sure that you'll be taking care of yourself along the way."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," she replied, rolling her eyes but with a grin on her face. "Just means I'll have to push myself harder. No slacking off if I want to keep up with the likes of you."
Izuku raised an eyebrow at her comment. "Wait, what do you—" He started, but Ryūko cut him off with a smirk.
"I'm quirkless too, just like you, dude," she said, her tone was surprisingly upbeat. Resulting his eyes to widened in surprise. "I've actually heard it from your mom, so I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who's gotta give it my all to make it," Ryūko continued, her enthusiasm shining through.
He blinked, still processing what she had said. It wasn't often that the boy met someone else without a Quirk, let alone someone who wanted to be a hero. A small smile slowly tugged at the corners of his lips. "That's — really impressive, Ryūko-san."
She snorted, waving off the compliment. "Tch, don't get all mushy on me, dude. I'd just gotta train harder, simple as that."
Izuku chuckled softly, feeling a strange sense of kinship with her. "Yeah, I get that."
Izuku stood still for a moment, his gaze fixed on Ryūko as she bent down to open another box. His mind was racing, yet oddly calm at the same time. He'd only ever known one other person who was quirkless — Melissa Shield, a brilliant and kind girl who could rival her father with her tech skills.
She had proven that even without a Quirk, was she could stand on equal ground with the best. And now, standing before him was another—Ryūko Matoi, another quirkless person, standing in front of him, determined to carve her own path toward becoming a hero.
Ryūko Matoi, huh, the boy thought to himself, Izuku felt a strange mix of admiration and curiosity. She was kind of different from his friend, fiery and brash in her own way, but that same drive, that same refusal to let something like being quirkless hold her back—it was there, clear as day.
As she pulled out some items from the box, he couldn't help but wonder what her adventure had been like up to this point. It wasn't easy for someone without a Quirk to get this far, especially with such a bold ambition. Izuku understood that very well. Maybe a bit too well for him.
Izuku's thoughts lingered for a moment longer, before he finally broke his gaze, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Ryūko Matoi…" The boy muttered under his breath with a faint smile.
Ryūko turned around, raising a brow as she caught Izuku muttering under his breath. "Huh, you said something?" She asked, her tone casual but curious as she tossed an old jacket onto the couch.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Nah, it's nothing," he replied, brushing it off with an easy smile.
She stared at him for a second longer before shrugging, turning her attention back to the box in front of her. "If you say so," she said, not pressing the issue further as she continued unpacking.
Izuku glanced at Ryūko again, watching her dig through the contents of the box with a relaxed focus. Just then, a sharp beep echoed from his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. He instinctively reached for his phone, pulling it out to check the screen.
A message flashed across it, causing his expression to shift in an instant—his brows furrowing, eyes narrowing with quiet intensity.
Ryūko glanced over her shoulder, noticing the sudden change in his face. "Yo, everything good?" She asked, pausing mid-unpack.
Izuku blinked, the seriousness fading from his face as he began scratching the back of his neck, feeling a bit awkward. "Uh, I might need to head out now," he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Sorry I can't help you unpack everything."
Ryūko gave a casual shrug, her expression as easygoing as ever. "Eh, no big deal. You already helped me lug all that stuff in, so it's fine," Ryūko said, waving it off like it wasn't even worth worrying about. "I'll go figure the rest out. I owe you one though."
Izuku smiled at Ryūko's response, feeling a small wave of relief. "Thanks, Ryūko-san," he said earnestly.
With a simple goodbye and a polite nod, the boy slipped out of the apartment, the door clicking shut behind him. Izuku exhaled deeply, feeling the cool air of the hallway wash over him, as if he was trying to clear the jumble of thoughts in his mind.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone once more, unlocking the screen. His eyes locked onto the message that had pulled his attention moments ago:
Today, 10:00 AM
All Might: Alright, got it, Young Midoriya! Let's go and meet up on Dagobah Beach as you said!
Read 10:00 AM
His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment, his heart tightening with a familiar mix of anticipation and anxiety. He closed his eyes for a brief time, steadying his thoughts. Focus, he told himself. He took another breath, pocketing his phone. There was no turning back now.
"Okay, time to go."
TO BE CONTINUED