It had been 12 minutes since he had been released from the hospital, taking a car ride home. Inko nor Yamikumo spoke a word, the silence filled the atmosphere as the hum of the car buzzed like static, as they couldn't find a word to say.

Her hands trembled as an indescribable sense of worry filled her being. No mother's son should've been so close with death at 14, and this wasn't the first time either. Yamikumo had been hospitalized when he was 6 due to a small-time villain attacking the mall.

"Mikumo…" She had trailed off, her voice hoarse and raspy, the worry palpable. Her eyes frantically roaming the road, her breathing shallow and laboured.

Trying to calm his mother down, Yamikumo states, "Mom, calm down, I'm fine. Nothing serious happened." His hand rested on her shoulder, a gentle squeeze causing her shoulders to stiffen and her to hop out of her skin, only to relax.

"T-Thank you, Mikumo." She had stuttered out, flustered but reassured.

Yamikumo smiled, reclining the seat of the car. "Always, Mom…" He had trailed off, dazed by a thought scurrying through his mind.

"Have… Have you informed Dad?" He had timidly asked her. He had rubbed his nape, feeling shy for having asked. Father usually is informed and is always acting as a worried wart towards them both.

"Yeah, he was just waking up for work, luckily." Having been calmed down, her nerves are not panicking anymore, her tone now steady. "At least he was getting ready and not during his work hours."

Yamikumo nodded as the car's brakes squeaked, his body jolted as the car parked. It had been 3 minutes since they started talking, 15 since leaving the hospital, yet felt like an hour.

"Did he mention if he was gonna be coming home soon?"

Inko had paused her movements, in deep thought about the conversation she had earlier with her husband. He hadn't mentioned when it would happen, but she knew he was gonna try, especially with the incident happening earlier. He was very protective of them, and in the early stages of their marriage, just before Mikumo was born, had spent every waking second by her side, especially more so when Mikumo was a baby.

"He didn't say when he was gonna be coming back, but he said that he hoped it was before school got out for you."

Yamikumo had smiled softly, but didn't have any hopes, as his father was hardly home, only texting, and calling. He had stopped face timing them back when Mikumo was 6 years old, apparently something had happened to his father, causing him to be afraid to show them his face. Though, despite being away, he tries his best to be there for them, and usually sends Inko money for rent and groceries every month, even some extra just in case; this causes his mother to not have the need to work.

2 days have passed since the 'Sludge Incident' as it is called now. He had gotten multiple texts from a friend— one that he has had since he was about 5 years old— checking on his condition, since she had heard from his mother about what happened. They had planned to meet at the cat cafe— the one that Yamikumo wanted to go to, but didn't because of the incident— that intersected on the way to each other's house. The cafe is known to be one of the very few places that don't discriminate against people with less flashy, 'villainous' quirks as the owner's son has such type of quirk.

He had walked through the cafe doors, the bitter and sweet scents filling the establishment rushed to him. The serene atmosphere calmed his overworked nerves as the jitters of his body stilled. Cats were wandering around the cafe as the cafe doors closed behind him, the hinge of the door squeaking.

His eyes roamed the tables and booths, looking for white hair with specks of red decorating them. After a moment of looking, he spotted her unique hair; guiding himself to the booth she occupied.

Once he had gotten to her booth, he slid in with a soft, barely noticeable smile on his face. "Good morning, Yumi." He spoke in a flat tone.

Fuyumi's head had perked up right at the sound of her nickname. Noticing the muted deep purple hair of her friend, her smile widened. Setting her phone onto the table top, she curled her hands into a fist, resting them on her lap.

In a timid, yet outspoken voice, she said, "Morning, Mikumo, I got you some tea too."

Her eyes roamed Yamikumo's face and body. Sighing in relief at his physical condition. "It's good that you are safe." She had spoken, worry imminent on her face. "Hearing that the kid I used to babysit, and am friends with, almost died." She had paused, collecting herself and thoughts before saying, "it scared me."

Words were caught in his throat as he looked away from the 21 year old girl before him. Guilt gnawed away his heart as he felt her worry in the grasp of his hands, curling the balled fists into his thighs. Despite being 7 years her junior, he felt responsible for bringing worry to both her, and his mother.

A male waiter, looking to be in mid to late 20's, comes up to the table with menus in hand. His hand lingers close to Fuyumi's hand uncomfortably longer than is necessary. With a charming smile on display, he winked at Fuyumi.

She wasn't used to getting this kind of attention, so she was a bit flustered. Her cheeks were bright red, like a Christmas light. Wry smile plastered on her face as she felt a bit uncomfortable.

Jealousy boiled in his heart, filling his lungs with envious smoke. He knew why he was jealous, but didn't have the heart to confess to himself, wishing to deny himself. A sardonic laugh creaked from his lips as he finally looked her in the eyes. His laugh stopped as his breath stilled from looking at her, only for a second before he made a deep breath.

"I'm sorry for making you scared after hearing the news, and worrying about me."

"Don't be sorry!" She had hurriedly exclaimed, waving her hands in front of her face. A blush crept onto her face as she felt shy.

He was about to spout a sorry from his mouth, but held back. His self-deprecating thoughts luckily stopped him, and yet it gave him a thick vibe, hanging over his head, shrouding his being as he looked to his hand, curling his fingers some more until his knuckles turned white.

The cafe was pretty slow this morning, as it was the early hours of the day, the sun just came out. Cats were meowing and purring, rubbing against Fuyumi's feet.

"What are you wanting to get? I am just getting an omelet, I like how the veggies go with the eggs. Plus rice sounds good with an omelet."

Fuyumi nodded to Yamikumo, saying, "I was thinking of takikomi gohan myself."

Yamikumo nodded, setting down his menu, feeling a bit parched. He took a sip of his tea, the warm liquid flowed down his gullet, soothing his jealous heart from the transaction just a second ago. He wasn't used to people flirting with Fuyumi, and his heart couldn't handle it, almost breaking with jealousy and envy.

Fuyumi noticed that he was less shaky, her smile really wide and she looked at him. Her eyes were half lidded as she propped her head up with her left arm. Feeling a little hot on the cheeks, she took a sip of her glass of water, ordering ice in it as she wasn't the biggest fan of warmer liquids.

Shota Aizawa walked in behind his younger cousin– second cousin to be exact– Hitoshi Shinso. They frequently come to the cafe together whenever Hitoshi is visiting him, and plus it's close to Yuuei, the prestigious high school Shota works at.

They both like to come to the cafe as they love cats. And right now Hitoshi and Shota came to have a serious talk, especially about Hitoshi's future if he ever wants to make it as a hero.

"Look, kiddo, you're gonna be in big trouble if you don't actually train your body." Mentioning Shota to Hitoshi, not sugar coating his next words. "I wouldn't be able to see the potential in your ability to be a hero if you keep this act up."

They sat at a table, as Hitoshi purposely ignored his advice, the bitterness from years of being bullied for having a "villain's quirk." He was tired of having to be ridiculed by others his age for having such a quirk in his family.

Waves of irritation and sleepless nights roll off of Shota, bigger than his usual gloom especially because his cousin's bitterness will stunt his growth in heroics. He knows that Hitoshi has promise as a hero, he has seen that drive to help others, but it is slowly being squashed by today's society. It wasn't that bad when he was younger, but he was also in Hitoshi's shoes at his age. He knows how he feels, but can only do so much in the face of stubbornness. Sighing he just waits for a waiter or waitress.

While waiting, Shota tries to sway the nearby kittens to their table, failing with trying his own luck. After trying for 2 minutes the waiter comes up to their table, stopping them both in their luring methods. Sitting up straight, Shota looked towards the younger one of the two then to the waiter.

The sooth, deep tone of the waiter rings out, "What would you guys like to drink?"

After giving it much thought, Hitoshi looked towards the waiter. "I'd like a cup of black coffee."

"Can I have a cup of black coffee with sugar and creamer on the side?" Shota had ordered, getting what he usually got when he wanted to relax after a busy week as a teacher.

The waiter nodded, jotting their orders, but before he sped off, looking at both of them. " Ready to order too?" Asking just to make sure he didn't need to do another trip back unless it was to check up on them.

Shota and Hitoshi looked at each other. Their eyes talking in a silent language that only they could understand, with each head bob as an answer to their questioning gaze. This mute conversation only lasted a minute before looking back at the waiter.

"Yes we are." Shota had said, taking charge. "I'd like souffle pancakes with apple compote on top, please." His tone is gruff and flat, yet soft and calming.

"I'd like toast with strawberry jam on top with a side of rice with nori." Hitoshi had asked, in the mood for something sweet along with umami.

The waiter sped to behind the counter, after jotting more of their order. Hanging up the slip, the waiter had grabbed dishes for a booth two tables away from the duo.

Noticing someone with a similar muted purple hair as him, he turned towards Shota. He discreetly pointed to the booth 2 tables away from them.

"Don't you find it funny that I find a kid with similar hair colour as I, but a lot more curly?" Having mentioned it to Shota.

Shota's eyes trail to where Hitoshi's thumb was pointing at, seeing 2 people lively talking, one with white hair and red streaks and the other with the same purple as Hitoshi. He nodded, finding the coincidence to be funny.

"Who knew, did you have a long lost twin, Hitoshi?" He teasingly asked the younger one of the two, holding a laugh in to not give himself a mild headache, he already got one from the class he teaches that week

Shota usually wasn't one for humor, but he found this situation funny, as from behind, the kid does look exactly like Hitoshi. While looking at the boy Shota turned to Hitoshi, recalling what was said when they got in the cafe.

Sighing with a heavy heart, he told Hitoshi, "I don't think you'd pass the entrance exam, hell I can't see ya getting one of the top scores." Slicking his messy, waves of black hair back. Removing his hand from his hair, he lets it fall, to frame his face. "And before you say anything, this is realistic, especially when there will be kids who have physically bettered themselves."

Hitoshi looked away, an emotion swelling onto his face as he crossed his arms over his chest. The need to get by for being stubborn with his quirk was the need to show others that he wasn't a villain because of his quirk, that he'd never be a villain. There was also the fact that everyone else just flew by with their quirks growing up, so why couldn't he do the same, was a question that always welled in his mind during these talks.

"So, I hear you're learning to become a teacher, isn't that right?"

Fuyumi nodded as she took a sip of her water. The cool liquid chills her throat, satisfying her thirst. "That's right." She set her cup down with a soft, barely audible thud. "I wanted to teach elementary students." She had stated, looking at her reason why she chose this path, Yamikumo.

Determination scribbled on his face. He mentioned with a closed fist, in front of his face. "I still want to be a hero."

Fuyumi wasn't surprised, in fact she figured he was still hell bent on twisting fate to be a hero. His determination and kindness was something she adored about him. In the wake of adoration to his determination and kindness, she found herself ruminating over him a lot. Causing her cheeks to burn red whenever her thoughts strayed towards him, subconsciously smiling all the time as her mind filled up with him, flooding her being.

"I believe in you, Mikumo. You'll always have my support. I'll be your number 1 fan."

Mikumo smiled, his cheeks aflame as she expressed her genuine belief. She was the first person to believe in him, even when his mom couldn't. Her belief never swayed for a second as she already saw him as a true hero. He doesn't think he'd be even here, alive without her support, maybe even on the path of a hero. It was thanks to her that his parents now believe in him.