Inko gave Izuku a big hug and a kiss on the forehead before he got on his train and left for Niigata with a slight ache in her heart as she watched him go. It wasn't as hard as it used to be when he first started traveling for work but she did her best to remind herself that it was a good thing because she dreaded the day she'd be apathetic about Izuku coming and going.
Returning home, Inko tidied up a bit and puttered around the empty apartment since today was her day off. Mitsuchan had been badgering Inko about having a girls' day for months now and she had doubled down since Izuku has been traveling. Inko had done her best to put it off but she hadn't had the heart to completely deny Mitsuchan and broke, agreeing to go to a spa today.
As lovely as it was that Mitsuchan wanted to treat her, Inko knew she had to put her foot down otherwise Mitsuchan would absolutely spoil her and Masachan would let her, the two of them were too nice to her sometimes.
Inko jumped when the front door suddenly slammed open "You ready to go you inky little bitch!" Mitsuchan shouted at a volume that the neighbors could probably hear "M-mitsuchan!" She cried shocked and quickly found herself in a headlock with Mitsuchan laughing as she aggressively ruffled her hair.
Mitsuchan let her go relatively quickly and Inko exhaled before she tried to fix her hair. Mitsuchan let her straighten herself out before she grinned "Well, Inky?" Mitsuchan questioned teasingly "I've got my bag packed. I-it's by the door." Inko bashfully explained pointing to the bag Mitsuchan had unintentionally knocked over with her big entrance.
"Perfect! Well, what are we waiting for? Let's hit the road already goddammit!" Mitsuchan declared with her hands on her hips. Inko quickly went to grab her bag and locked the apartment after she and Mitsuchan exited "Oh, um Mitsuchan, just where are we going?" Inko inquired as they walked down the steps, Mitsuchan had been purposely vague, refusing to give her any details other than telling her to pack an overnight bag.
"I booked us a night at Daito's onsen over in Kakegawa." Mitsuchan replied and Inko balked "W-what!? That's way too expensive Mitsuchan! Daito onsen is ¥47,760 per person a night! You shouldn't-" her protesting was cut off as Mitsuchan grabbed her by her shoulders and pushed her towards the car "Nah ah, I've already paid for it and it would just cost me more money to cancel the day of Inky." Mitsuchan smugly informed her much to Inko's despair.
"But Mitsuchan-" she tried to argue but Mitsuchan just forced her into the passenger seat "Nope! No arguing you bitch! You've been running yourself into the fucking ground for years now to keep a roof over little Izu's and your head. And I'm going to pamper the fuck out of you!" Mitsuchan told her leaving Inko no way to protest as the car started.
A few hours later, Mitsuchan had checked them in and they dropped their bags in their room. Mitsuchan had planned the whole day for them and the first thing to do was to swim down at dunes, Inko admittedly found herself self-conscious and unsure what to do as she trailed Mitsuchan around.
It had been years since she went out to have fun without Izuku, she was too busy with work to do anything outside the apartment that wasn't preplanned, and for Izuku's sake.
Thank goodness for Mitsuchan being there to drag her around and help her have some fun. Hours later after swimming, exploring a nearby park, and some attempted beginners yoga, she and Mitsuchan were soaking in the hot springs with facials that smelt like lemons. Inko felt like a weight had been taken from her shoulders, though that might be more because Mitsuchan talked her into getting a massage that helped her back.
"Ahh... Fuck yeah. I definitely needed this Inky.~" Mitsuchan groaned as she stretched her arms before relaxing back into the water and Inko hummed in agreement as her body felt so good right now "I don't know how you've survived working six days a week without a chiropractor." Mitsuchan commented and Inko couldn't stop an airy-sounding laugh from slipping past her lips "I don't either Mitsuchan." She cheerfully replied.
She was probably too wound up making sure Izuku had everything he needed to give half a thought over her physical health, something that had come back to bite her now that Izuku was traveling. Maybe it might be that Izuku was no longer helping as much around the house but life, in general, was just harder.
Especially coming home and making herself dinner, the apartment just felt so hollow without her son there to liven it up. She had no doubts that it was empty nest syndrome that was causing her to miss Izuku's presence so much.
Inko would also reassure herself that it would pass one day when Izuku was older and that she couldn't expect her son to live in her pocket forever. Now if only she could say the same about her work.
Nursing had been her dream since she was old enough to know the difference between a doctor and a nurse wasn't gender and Mitsuchan would testify to the gods themselves she fought hard to get her medical doctorate and license. Perhaps for the first few years, it was exactly how she imagined her dream job would be.
Then she met the best terrible mistake of her life, Hisashi. The man was goofy in a way she found humorously endearing if a bit immature and she certainly loved how spontaneous he was back then but in hindsight, Mitsuchan was probably right in calling their relationship a hurricane rather than a whirlwind romance when they got married only three months into their relationship.
They hadn't been together a year before Izuku came along and Hisashi had stepped up to the plate somewhat when it came to parenting. Of course, they had their fights before as any couple would but any hope of their marriage lasting forever as previously hoped was crushed the night she returned home early to Hisashi holding two plane tickets, a plan to move overseas to America, and papers to put Izuku up for adoption.
Gods above that moment still haunted her dreams and for the first time, she saw Hisashi for exactly what everyone was telling her he was, a man child who simply couldn't face or handle reality.
Inko has never regretted throwing Hisashi out or the divorce that came shortly after. She'd rather bare the "shame" of being a single mother than stay with the cowardly man who'd throw her son to the wolves. Signing away full custody of her son was the only thing Hisashi had ever done right by her after that.
Alimony would have been nice though, maybe she wouldn't have had to work so much overtime if he paid that-
Suddenly Inko received a wave of warm water to the face and she sputtered "Oi! Stop thinking about that bastard!" Mitsuchan demanded and Inko felt herself flush "H-how did-" she tried to ask but Mitsuchan cut her off with a tsk "Even if you weren't running your mouth, Shit-ta-shi is the only fucker that makes your face look like that." The blonde answered rolling her eyes.
"Sorry Mitsuchan, I know you paid a lot of-" her apology was cut short by another wave directed at her by the annoyed blonde "Shut it Inky! We came here to have a good time and if you apologize one more goddamn time, I'm going to buy a whole buffet's worth of room service!" Mitsuchan threatened as she waved her credit menacingly at her face.
Not trusting another apology wouldn't slip out of her, Inko slapped her hands over her mouth. Mitsuchan nodded "Good! Now c'mon, it's time to get our nails done by that living cocktail." Mitsuchan told her already moving to get out "Mitsuchan! You can't call her that just because she has a Peacock quirk!" She argued quickly following after her friend.
After getting their nails done, Mitsuchan finally deemed Inko pampered enough to return to their room with a bottle of wine and a box of little white chocolates she secretly adored. Mitsuchan didn't have much alcohol tolerance so she was buzzed as she sipped away at her second glass of wine. Inko, on the other hand, had learned she had a surprisingly high tolerance during Mitsuchan's Bachelorette party and happily poured herself a third glass.
Midway through drinking her glass, Inko paused to consider her life and looked around the room Mitsuchan had rented for them before hesitantly turning toward her dearest friend and fueled by alcohol asked "I've been thinking-" "Do it." Mitsuchan interrupted and Inko's sweat dropped "Mitsuchan, I didn't-" she tried to speak but was cut off again "Fucking do it!" Mitsuchan yelled back.
Inko stared at her friend, she had a ditzy smile on her face and her slightly red cheeks but Mitsuchan was still aware enough to be a voice of reason. Mitsuchan burst out laughing once she saw how Inko was looking at her "I may be tipsy enough to fall off my ass, but I know if you're bringing it up then you've thought of it enough for it to be a good idea. So just fucking do it you inky little bitch!" Mitsuchan told her.
Inko blinked then with her friend's blessing took her phone out and dialed up her boss "Hello Akira-San. I will be officially turning in my two weeks notice tomorrow. Goodbye." She calmly informed her superior then hung up with a self-assured nod. Mitsuchan, however, sobered up upon hearing her call and the blonde stared at her horrified.
"Inky what the fuck!?" She questioned and the woman was about five seconds from grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her "Being a nurse has been your dream job since fucking ever! Why the hell would you quit!?" Mitsuchan demanded. Inko couldn't blame her, if her past self was told that she was going to quit before she retired in the future, she would have thought they were crazy.
But that was before she divorced Hisashi. Since then, an awful bitterness had grown to ensnare her when she thought of her work in the hospital. She was a nurse in the children's ward and she couldn't help her growing disgust with the parents who took their children for granted. She had never thought this way until she couldn't see Izuku every day because she had to work herself to the bone.
These days, she could barely stand to get ready in the mornings and put on a mask for the children she took care of. Not one ounce of her bitterness or scorn was ever directed at them and she would never let her feelings affect the children, but oh did she mentally lash out at the parents that weren't taking care of their kids the way they should. How could she not when their sickly children needed them and their best excuse was a half-hearted whine of "I'm busy".
She had always had a problem with those parents but after the divorce and personally being on the other side of things, Inko truly couldn't help herself from growing such venomous feelings. Things got a bit better after she discovered what was happening to Izuku, but it got better and worse when Izuku started traveling. Izuku had made more money than either of them would have thought and Inko hadn't needed to work so much.
As hollow as the apartment felt without Izuku lately, she had found an unexpected outlet. Izuku had the tendency to bite off more than he could chew and he needed her help to balance his finances with his properties, and that work was surprisingly fulfilling considering she was just running a bunch of numbers for him and making sure deposits were made on time for everyone.
And as of the recent acquisition of some more properties, Inko wouldn't need to work and if they wanted to they could afford to live just off the income from that with Inko just being a stay-at-home mom. Though that wasn't quite what she had planned on doing, quitting was something she had been considering since yesterday.
Inko just smiled back to Mitsuchan feeling even lighter than she had in years "Don't worry Mitsuchan, everything is going to be just fine. Let's order some of the shrimp, it looks so good Mitsuchan.~" she assured waving off her friend's concerns for now.
Mitsuchan stared at her dumbfounded then shook her head "Fuck that! We're getting a damn seafood platter to celebrate you telling those chucklefucks to stick it where the sun doesn't shine." Mitsuchan told her with a huff then moved to grab the phone, something that made Inko smile just a touch brighter and she began giggling.
Mitsuchan really does love spoiling her.