Rickety hands gripped the antique bottle of wine, causing the precious liquor to spill as it was poured into a glass. Inko hoped to save it for a special occasion but discovered she needed something to take her mind off it. Tears bloated and ballooned the harder Inko tried to keep them from deluging her cheeks. Quaffing down the maroon elixir, she could already feel the burning sensation on her tongue climb down her throat. "Where did I go wrong?" Inko muttered under her breath; she thought that she raised Izuku right, she thought Izuku knew to stay away from those things. She impugned the veracity of what she saw and hoped it was all just a nightmare. But it wasn't. It was as real as the ground she stood on and the air she breathed.
Pouring another glass, she couldn't help but think about what had led her to this moment. Guzzling down her second glass faster than she should have, she stared at her reflection in the remaining maroon liquor. Memories of Izuku flooded her mind—how he used to light up a room with his enthusiasm. She recalled the times he'd approach her in his All Might hoodie, excitedly reading out his potential hero names. Each one was etched in her memory as if it had happened just yesterday. Izuku would bounce around on the sofa, eagerly listening as Inko listed off his hero names: Captain Might, Almighty, Mighty Man, Super Might. She remembered the grin on his face as he thought of names that echoed All Might's legacy.
A rush of memories flooded her psyche: simpler times when Izuku would spend hours on the computer watching the same video of All Might's debut. Bobbing around on her old office chair with the computer's sound system blaring from room to room, she remembered how much fun her sweet little Izuku had when he watched that video. Memorizing every line and trying to get All Mights laugh down to the tone and pitch. When he wasn't watching All Might's debut, he was watching one of his interviews from Numerous countries. He watched them all from America to South Korea, even if he couldn't understand what they said.
Izuku was once a radiant beacon of hope, a star that inspired Inko to keep going even when everything seemed dark. However, even the brightest lights can dim, and that was the fate of Izuku. His inner flame, once burning so brightly, was extinguished by the harsh comments of the doctor and those around him, who told him to give up on his dream of becoming a hero after they discovered he didn't have a Quirk. Inko wasn't any better; she also said hurtful things to Izuku, words she would deeply regret. She abandoned him and is now suffering the consequences of her actions. What was she feeling? Anguish? Sorrow? Guilt?
Whatever it was, it had a potent, paralyzing effect on her entire body. Her eyes locked onto the bottle in her hands, leaving her incapable of looking at the world around her, the lights so bright she felt as though she was overheating. A subtle tinnitus like the buzzing of a bug flapping its wings, a minor but troublesome whine Inko couldn't locate with her limited view but was incapable of ignoring. Seconds became minutes, and minutes became hours as the buzzing sound grew louder and eventually overwhelmed Inko, breaking her from her paralysis. She slammed the wine glass just hard enough for the base to chip and shatter, her emotions ran high and blinded her to the damage.
When Inko regained her composure, she realized the damage she'd done, and the noise had expired, leaving her in complete silence. Though her hand had no visible cuts or bruises, Inko was acutely aware of how volatile she was right now, 'My goodness, what have I done?' She asked herself internally, panic and alarm gripped the corners of her mind as she observed the damage to the glass. Inko was emotionally volatile and had to do something to take her mind off of everything, "Maybe I should go for a walk?" She said to herself. Maybe it would help her figure out why Izuku turned to drugs, or perhaps it would allow her to recollect her thoughts and realise that what she found was something else, and she was jumping to conclusions.
Clouds swarmed the afternoon sky fast as a Jackrabbit, Cathleen was hiking through a local park to Takoba Beach to meet up with Izuku and hopefully All Might. He said he needed her help with training Izuku, but so far, he'd only shown up a few times to see how she and Izuku were doing but rarely lent a helping hand to her or Izuku. She understood the immense responsibility of being the Symbol of Peace, but All Might specifically called her to help him train Izuku, but so far, he hasn't done much other than giving the kid a book about the food he should eat and the exercises he should do. She had only three weeks left in Japan, and it would've been impossible for Izuku to learn anything if All Might kept this up.
Jogging through the park, people around her looked on with a slurry of reactions: reverence, confusion, and shock as their attention was drawn to Cathleen. They were drawn to her towering size and vast physique, being just shy of All Might by two inches. Cathleen even washed out her blonde hair dye, returning it to its brown colouration and tied it into a ponytail in hopes that no one would recognise her as Star and Stripe. Sadly, this didn't work out as well as she had hoped, though there were few people about it, it was nothing short of awkward. Though none of the pedestrians figured out she was Star and Stripe, she didn't care or notice as she was too deep in thought.
Cathleen's brain buzzed with concern for Izuku, she noticed he was unduly bashful for someone his age, he continuously doubted himself no matter how well he did and apologised incessantly intermittently for the smallest mistakes or things that were out of his control. He visibly blanched whenever she caught him off-guard or got loud when praising his efforts. It was loud and clear what was happening to Izuku, and Cathleen couldn't stand it, her face twisted with ire, and her legs began picking up absurd momentum with each stride. How and why such abhorrent and abominable things would happen to someone as sweet and smart as Izuku made her stomach churn and her heart throbbed.
Far from Cathleen, Inko walked along the concrete path with her head held low. She had taken this walk to clear her mind, but everything seemed to remind her of Izuku. Little kids played on the playground, pretending to be heroes and villains, while the shade of green in the blades of grass reminded her of Izuku's hair. An air of sorrow and decay surrounded Inko as she strolled as if her entire reason for being was withering away. No matter how far she walked, she was constantly confronted by a series of reminders of Izuku that pierced her heart like an arrow – a feeling of sadness washed over Inko, one that would never completely fade.
What was she supposed to do? Should she confront Izuku about what she had seen or pretend she hadn't noticed? The answer should have been clear, but her hands trembled against her chest. He was her baby—her sweet, earnest Izuku. What if she was wrong? What if her actions pushed him away? But what if she wasn't wrong? What if he needed her now more than ever? She loathed this feeling of powerlessness that had overcome her; she detested the thought of Izuku being addicted and vulnerable to people who might take advantage of him. Most of all, she hated herself for letting this situation unfold.
All of this was overwhelming for Inko, her anxiety crept inside of her and complicated her breathing. Her heart was racing faster than a horse as she contemplated her course of action on what to do with Izuku. A fever of Brobdingnagian magnitudes swarmed Inko's body, thinking about what would come next. Nothing seemed clear, everything was foggier than Aso-Kuju National Park, words lost meaning, sounds became cryptic warnings, and the world became a mosaic of clashing colours and textures. She couldn't take it anymore, she wanted to break down and cry in the middle of the street but knew she couldn't, she just had to accept it.
Cathleen was furious, like a raging bull that wouldn't stop until it hit something. She was determined to find those responsible for Izuku's suffering and bring them to justice. Deep within her, a storm brewed much like the one rumbling above her head, and an overwhelming rage clawed at her mind like a predatory bird. Her leg muscles tightened as she transitioned into a gallop, powerful enough to shatter the pavement and send debris flying into the air. The wind whipped against her skin, adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she was too focused on her goal to pay attention to where she was running. Eventually, she collided with something, resulting in a loud THUD!
Cathleen came to an abrupt halt, colliding with something that stopped her dead in her tracks. The sudden shock gripped her mind like the tentacles of an octopus dragging its prey to its ultimate fate. Her eyes struggled to catch up with her mind; she knew she had hit something, but everything around her was an abstract blur as if she had stepped through one of Picasso's paintings. Although her vision was unclear, she could hear faint sounds of painful grunts mixed with stifled sobs. As she turned her head, Cathleen's vision began to clear, and she could see what or rather, who – she had run into.
A petite woman – Inko Midoriya – with a round face, large green eyes, and shoulder-length dark green hair with a small and spiky ponytail at the back that curls slightly at the ends. She had a soft, motherly appearance with a slightly chubby build. Cathleen's eyes widened with fear, 'Oh my god, I just ran into somebody.' Cathleen whispered under her breath. Without thinking, she ran towards the woman to help her, Cathleen had no control of her legs as they ran solely on instinct and adrenaline. She knelt on the concrete and offered a helping hand, she was stricken with guilt and couldn't help but blurt out, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." Cathleen waited with bated breath for the woman to acknowledge her and tell her if she was ok.
Two large eyes met with Cathleen's own; they were a dark green, much like her hair, and she couldn't help but get lost in them. It was as though the woman's eyes were a forest out of a fantasy novel, and they beckoned her with promises of an incredible odyssey that lay within its depths. Cathleen's brain crashed, and her heart throbbed in a way it never had before, "I-I, uh, I-I," Cathleen stammered her words for a few seconds before shaking her head to clear her mind, "I'm sorry, are you ok?" She strung a sentence clearly and calmly with an undertone of attraction and infatuation.
Inko blinked at the Amazonian goddess kneeling and reaching a hand out to help her up, "Um, uh, I-I'm fine." Inko responded faster than Cathleen did and with less stuttering filling the air. She stood up and wiped the grass off her clothes, "A-are you sure?" Cathleen questioned. She was running pretty fast, and she wasn't exactly on the smaller side of women, "I might have just a few bruises, but I'll be fine." Inko answered, her voice weak but carrying enough strength to continue. Outwardly, Inko was calm and collected, a little anxious and awkward but calm nonetheless, but internally, her heart and mind were screaming, the tall brunette in front of her sent her heart fluttering rapidly with no sign of stopping.
Inko wanted to say something—anything—to the statuesque figure before her, and she could tell that the woman wanted to say something, too. When Inko opened her mouth, however, she choked on her words and only managed to whisper absolute gibberish. Cathleen fared no better; she wanted to express something meaningful, but all that escaped her lips was a wheezing breath. They stood in awkward silence for what felt like hours, each trying to find the right words. As Inko tried to mentally articulate what she would say to the woman, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Suddenly, rain began to pour violently over the park.
Droves of people began running to find what little shelter they could, and the wind itself screamed out in pain. Trees shook wildly within the storm, umbrellas turned inside out before flying away, and she felt a strong hand grip hers. It was firm like that of a seasoned fighter yet gentle as a butterfly landing on her hand; the park became a blur as she was rushed along before vanishing from her sight, engulfed by the storm. Inko was left mute as she was dragged along. She wanted to ask the woman who grabbed her where they were going and who she was, but her mouth remained tightly sealed like a bank vault.
Cathleen ran with Inko hand-in-hand, looking for somewhere to take refuge from the raging onslaught of the storm. The rain doused their clothes, and if she took too long, they'd become a second skin. She reviewed the buildings around her and detected a local Coffee Shop, and without thinking, she turned on her heel and ran towards it. Within the time of a lightning flash, Cathleen was already inside the shop, with Inko both appearing as though they had just stood under a waterfall. The shop had a pleasant and retro atmosphere to it and was occupied by a sparse selection of patrons who didn't bother to look at her. The shop was quiet, only interrupted by the occasional strike of lightning from outside or the whirring noises of the coffee machines.
"Hello, welcome to Kawa Café." A voice called over a counter. Cathleen turned her head in the direction of the voice to see a woman with eight eyes and fair skin. "Would you two like to take a seat?" The woman asked, Cathleen was confused, what was this woman talking about? That's when Inko decided to speak up, "Um, uh, I think she's talking about me?" Cathleen looked down to see she was holding Inko's arm. "Agh, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to grab you!" Cathleen said, her voice shaking with fear. "I-it's alright," Inko stated in a diffident tone. "So… Do you two lovebirds want a table or not?" The eight-eyed woman asked. Cathleen and Inko froze, their faces lighting up like fireworks.
"W-We're not in love." Cathleen objected to the woman's claims, her face red as a tomato. "W-we don't even know each other." Inko chimed in, her face somehow redder than Cathleen's. They both denied the eight-eyed woman's allegations of them being in love at the same time, their words and sentences overlapping one another, making incoherent gibberish. The woman gave the two a lazy smile and told them, "Just take your seats if you want to keep staying out of the rain." Cathleen and Inko looked at each other, then straight ahead to the vast collection of tables and walked towards one meant for two.
Sitting across from one another, Cathleen and Inko exchanged glances at the table more than they did at each other. Periodically, their eyes would meet before they both looked away, feeling flustered. Inko took a sip of her Caramel Macchiato, hoping to calm herself, while Cathleen carefully savoured her Matcha Latte. She found herself questioning why she had chosen this drink instead of her usual simple coffee. Was it the stress of training Izuku? The burden of being America's No. 1 Hero while leaving her own country for her mentor? Or perhaps it was the lingering guilt she felt from running into the woman sitting across from her? Whatever the reason, Cathleen realized that it was affecting her in more ways than one.
An oppressive glacier hovered between them, Inko needed to break the ice and fast so neither of them could get bogged down by their earlier interaction, "So.. What's your name?" Inko asked before audibly gulping, her entire body jittered wildly, waiting for a response. "My name? Uh, my name." Cathleen was blanking, her name vanished in a puff of smoke right before her, how could she forget something so simple? "M-My name is… Car… Pipe…" Cathleen cringed as if she could physically catch the words and shove them back into her mouth. Her voice quavered as she realized what she just said. 'Car Pipe!' A name that rhymes with her hero name, 'Star and Stripe'.
Inko blinked, stunned into silence – before an uncontrollable giggle bubbled up. "C-Car Pipe? Oh, no, I – pfft – oh my gosh!" She covered her mouth, but the laughter slipped through her fingers. Cathleen groaned, pressing her forehead against her hand. "I should just leave." Before she could get up from her chair, Inko held her hand out in front of her, "No, no – haha – I love it," Inko wheezed between giggles. "I might call you that forever." Cathleen tried to protest, but she was already grinning. "I-It's not that funny," Inko wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh, but it is. Car Pipe? I'll never get over that."
Inko's sweet and effervescent laughter continued to fill the Coffee Shop, soothing Cathleen's soul, "W-Well, haha – then, my name – pfft – my name is – haha – Inko Mido-haha!" Inko's laugh was so infectious that a chuckle slipped out of Cathleen's mouth. Within this moment of unfettered laughter, both of their previous worries melted away along with the glacier between them, by now, they could properly get introduced to one another without restriction. Her voice could keep Cathleen's attention forever; it was sweet as syrup and gentle as a summer breeze in a memory that had been long forgotten.
"So, pfft – Car Pipe, – haha, what do you do for a – haha – living?" Inko asked, her laughter subsiding for the moment. "Oh, I, um, work in the army." Telling Inko a technical truth, though she could never tell her the truth without special clearance from Commander Agpar. Inko smirked, resting her chin in her palm. "Oh, just the army? I don't know, Car Pipe, I had you pegged as a stunt driver." Cathleen groaned, but the small smirk on her lips gave her away. "I will never live this down, will I?" She asked inquisitively, "Not a chance." Inko replied in a cheerful voice. "Tell me more about what you do?" Inko said, shifting her voice to a more professional tone.
Cathleen paused for a moment, trying to find something to share with Inko without putting her on the American government's blacklist. "I... can't tell you too much," she said apologetically. "Oh," Inko replied, her voice tinged with disappointment as her laughter faded away. "I'm sorry. I just can't share too much without risking your safety in America," Cathleen continued. Inko remained silent, looking downcast as she turned her gaze toward her drink. "Hey," Cathleen whispered playfully to Inko, who glanced back at her. "Between you and me... I'm a bit of a combat expert."
Inko's eyes widened in curiosity, her pupils dilating to an incredible size. "Now, I'll tell you more about my job if you promise to tell me more about yourself." Cathleen, now fully invested, was eager to learn more about Inko. "Y-You want to know more? About me?" Inko was surprised, but Cathleen was determined; she wanted to know more about Inko. "W-Well, I work part-time as a seamstress. It's nothing too big." Cathleen leaned in, her eyes gleaming with interest. "What does your job entail?" she asked, her tone laced with calm enthusiasm.
"Well, I mostly modify store-bought clothes to fit a customer's style or needs." Inko sounded surprised when she talked about herself; she didn't expect someone as big and god-like to take an interest in her. "Now, what about you… Car Pipe… If that is your real name." Inko said in a cheeky tone, "Alright, you caught me red-handed, my name isn't "Car Pipe' it's Cathleen." Cathleen said in a playfully defeated tone. "Cathleen Bate." She clarified, her voice calming down. Inko looked puzzled hearing that name, she swore she heard it somewhere before but couldn't quite place a finger on it. "You ok, Inko? You look lost." Inko felt herself snapped out of her stupor and right back to reality.
"Oh, i-it's nothing, Cathleen. I just feel as though I've heard your name before." Cathleen looked at Inko, smirked and began to tell a little white lie. "Nah, you're probably thinking of someone else." She said with absolute certainty and completely coolheaded. "Yeah, you're probably right." Inko seemed to agree with Cathleen, but she couldn't just shrug off the feeling that she'd heard that name before. As the two continued discussing their careers, Inko could only think, 'Is Cathleen attracted to me?' It was silly, but the more she paid attention to the muscular woman, the more details she picked up.
There were moments of stolen glances before Cathleen quickly looked away. Cathleen would reach out for Inko's hand, only to draw back just as quickly. There were times when Cathleen stumbled over her words or laughed awkwardly. Inko couldn't help but wonder, 'Why would she be interested in me?' She struggled to believe that anyone could be attracted to her. 'Just look at her,' Inko thought. 'She has the physique of a professional bodybuilder, while I look like a flabby ball of dough.' She discreetly pinched a piece of her flab as if to remind herself of what her body felt like. 'I'm incredibly anxious. I can't stand up for myself, and I apologise for every minor inconvenience.'
'WHY WOULD ANYONE BE INTERESTED IN YOU, INKO!' Her mind screamed with such intensity that it felt almost audible. "So, my parents were driving my sister and me to…" Cathleen stopped mid-sentence when she noticed the expression on Inko's face. It was a mix of discomfort and the mournful pain of a wound that had just reopened after years of dormancy. It reflected the deep hurt of wanting to open one's heart but being too afraid of a crushing rejection. Inko's heart longed for love but had forgotten how after years of loneliness. Although Cathleen had never been in a relationship, she could easily empathize with what Inko was experiencing.
Cathleen wanted to ask Inko what was bothering her but was swinging back and forth like a metronome going at the speed of light on whether to ask Inko or leave it. Cathleen was being torn apart; she's a hero she's supposed to help people even if they don't ask for it, so against any better judgement, Cathleen blurted out, "B-But enough about me, tell me about yourself, do you have any family?" Inko leaned back in her chair, surprised at Cathleen's spontaneous question. She looks down at the floor, quietly drumming her hands on her lap. "Well…" Inko tensed slightly as she tried to answer the question. A small nervous chuckle escaped her lips.
"Yes, I do. It's just me and my son." Cathleen was intrigued to hear this. "Just the two of you?" she asked, tilting her head with interest. She watched as Inko's expression changed—pride flickering in her eyes like fireworks before being overshadowed by something more guarded. "I raised him by myself... After my husband died... We were all on our own." Inko's voice grew more despondent and pale with each word, as if it were draining her energy. "My condolences," Cathleen offered, sympathising with Inko, knowing how hard it can be to be a single mother. There was a brief silence between them before Cathleen decided to continue the conversation.
"So what's your Quirk?" Cathleen started, her voice teetering the line between a calm composure and a lively enthusiasm to ebb away Inko's negative emotions but not outright erase them. Inko didn't respond. "Alright, I understand. If you don't want to talk, we can… Just sit here." Cathleen was content with Inko's silence and was ready to remain so as well before… "I can pull small objects to me…" Inko whispered, silent as a mouse. "Excuse me?" Cathleen said, cupping her hand around an ear to hear what Inko said. "I can pull small objects to me…" Inko repeated louder than before, but still not enough for Cathleen to hear. "I can't hear you, can you speak up?"
She didn't speak up. Instead, motioned Cathleen to look at the fork on the table, she was hesitant at first but went along with it. Inko waved her hand over the fork. It shook a little bit. Cathleen looked at the fork with confusion before it started floating up, each time she waved her hand, the fork got closer and closer to it before eventually she grabbed the fork. Cathleen was impressed; it wasn't some big flashy fire quirk, but she liked it. "You're pretty… COOL! I-It's pretty cool is what it is." Cathleen blurted out nervously, her face red as a tomato as she tried to cover up her mistake. Inko slunk into her chair, her face just as red from embarrassment.
"What about you, Cathleen? What's your Quirk?" Inko instigated her inquiry with the intent to explore incredible information about Cathleen's abilities, ensuring a precise interpretation. Cathleen was caught off-guard by the cute and captivating woman, who had enough courage to speak a few words despite being as embarrassed as Cathleen. "Well, you see… I just got a basic Super Strength Quirk like All Might's." Cathleen lied to Inko, but it was all she could do. It was all she was allowed to do. "How strong?" Inko lifted an eyebrow as if doubting the validity of Cathleen's claim. "Strong enough to lift you." Upon realising what she just said, Cathleen buried her face into her hands.
"Don't threaten me with a good time," Inko responded in a flustered manner. The fact she managed to say it without stuttering was an accomplishment and a half. She slumped in her chair, waiting for the moment to pass and get out of the Cafe. Then, a muffled series of giggles filled the room, and then the giggles transformed into a chuckle before giving way to full-blown laughter. Cathleen couldn't control herself, she struggled to breathe in bouts of laughter, "Y-you're a riot, Inko—!" Cathleen gasped between wheezes, barely managing the words through her uncontrollable laughter. Cathleen's laugh was magnetic; Inko couldn't help but be drawn to it.
Laughter bubbled in the back of Inko's throat like baking soda and vinegar. After a few seconds of trying to hold it back, Inko let it out. Her laugh was gentle as a summer breeze but held the maniacal edge of a Hyena. Cathleen's laughter was deep, yet it carried a frivolous spirit. The two shared the affectionate camaraderie between each other as though it were their last. "I haven't laughed like that in ages," Cathleen commented as she wiped a tear of joy from her eye. "Me neither," Inko added as she tried to recover her composure. As their laughter died down, the two locked eyes and couldn't look away from one another.
Looking into Inko's eyes, an otherworldly experience washed over Cathleen. There was a feeling of nostalgia as she gazed longingly into them, almost as though she was ripped from the cafe and into one of the many fantasy worlds she read in books as a kid and yearned to live in. It was comforting, something Cathleen hadn't felt since she first saw All Might, since then, she had dedicated her life to becoming a hero just like All Might. She had given up on having any kind of love life in favour of her mission, and she was fine with it since most people found her size and personality intimidating. But for the first time in a long time, she felt safe, like she didn't need to be invulnerable and could just be herself.
Beams of light penetrated the cafe, hitting Inko and Cathleen right in their faces, "Oh, would you look at that, it stopped raining." Inko pointed to the window that displayed the world outside. "Yeah, it did stop," Cathleen added, her voice tinged with a low level of surprise. Turning her head back to Inko, Cathleen knew what she wanted to say without a shadow of a doubt, "Hey, so I was wondering… If you're free later this week… Would you want to go out with me… On a date?" Cathleen asked skittishly. Inko stared into Cathleen's eyes as her mind ran wild with conflicting thoughts and emotions.
It had been seven years since Hisashi's passing. Inko was so busy taking care of Izuku that she hadn't thought of dating anyone in the meantime. She thought about Hisashi and wondered if dating Cathleen would be a betrayal of her late husband's memory, and what about Izuku? What would he think of her dating someone? Although Izuku is one of the most accepting people she knows, she still has to consider him, her entire life practically revolves around him. As Inko contemplated Cathleen's question as though it was a life-or-death situation, Cathleen sat in her chair, watching the woman across from her unravel like a ball of yarn.
Inko was visibly distressed, her face twisting in pain from her mental anguish. She clenched her teeth, and her breathing got heavy. Cathleen hated herself for what she asked, seeing just how negatively it affected Inko, "Ah, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked, I'll leave." Cathleen sat up from her chair and walked right past Inko, hoping she wouldn't do any more damage to the poor woman, when suddenly she felt a petite hand grab her arm, "YES!" Inko screamed at the top of her lungs. "I-I would like to go out with you," Inko said solemnly, though her tone was sincere. She wanted to go out with Cathleen of her own volition and not because she felt bad for her.
"I'm sorry if I upset you by not answering right away, but I haven't dated anyone in a long time, and I'm just so scared of dating again," Inko said, her tone weak but hopeful, but that didn't help Cathleen feel any less of an asshole. "It's ok if you don't want to go out I'm not gonna be mad or anything." Cathleen hated the idea of Inko going on a date with her because she emotionally guilt-tripped her by accident. "No, I want to go out with you. I want to get to know you better." Never in her life had Inko wanted to do something as much as right now. Despite the haunting thought of betraying Hisashi's memory, she wanted this after the years of loneliness and hardships she faced trying to care for her son.
"Maybe we started on the wrong foot, but we can start fresh." The sincerity in Inko's voice was enough to calm Cathleen's nerves and reassure her that she wasn't a bad person. "Meet me here tomorrow at 11:30," Inko said, leaving little room for negotiation or backtracking. "Okay," Cathleen replied, accepting her fate. With that, Inko left the café and made her way home, her mind distracted by thoughts of Cathleen and their upcoming date. In her preoccupation, she forgot about what she had discovered in the bathroom and Izuku's phone call with Francine. Cathleen stood in the café, realising just how much she had accomplished. "Well, that was faster than I expected," the eight-eyed woman commented. However, Cathleen ignored her remark because she had secured a date, and nothing was going to ruin that for her.