Chapter 5: Going out for a smoothie

Sunday was a special day-a day made of resting. Many people find different values in it. Free time, no obligations, no cares, no school. Izuku found a value in it that many people don't see: sleep. He took any chance he found to sleep as long as he could. Still, there's a limit to how long he can sleep; an annoying alarm reminded him.It didn't take long for the alarm to annoy Izuku enough to make him get up to shut it off. A slight breeze met him through an opened window as he walked in front of it. Expect a breeze; there's nothing more to witness. No shouts or crushing noises; it was peaceful for the first time."It's quiet."A mutter in between breaths came as he took the clothes hanging over the chair. Dressing up and attending the bathroom was a quick process every morning, with this one being even faster than usual. He found no one in front of the doors, no one inside the bathroom."There is no one home."With no energy, he dragged every limb as he made his way to the kitchen. Izuku was in desperate need of a coffee to wake him up, but breakfast was first in order. He took out a pan, oil, and eggs, and it hit him what he had said minutes before."There is no one home."While caffeine could jolt him awake, a shock served the purpose just as well. Energized, running from one end to the other became less of a problem. Draws, cabinets-he searched everywhere he could remember; he wanted to find a piece of paper, a note that his mother has a habit of leaving when she is out of the house.He was desperate to find that paper-for many reasons, the main one being the possibility that he needed to do something that was written on it. Inko always had a reason to leave that paper, for instructions, tasks, or just a heads-up. If the contents of the paper aren't done before she comes back, it results in trouble.Izuku searched everywhere, hoping to find out what his mother might have written on the paper. The note typically rested on the kitchen counter, but this time it was nowhere to be found, not even when he prepared breakfast earlier.It did not make him panic; it was more of an uneasy feeling that grew stronger with each search, but the outcome remained the same. A few minutes passed until he finally got his answer; it was a piece of yellow paper that lay in the hallway. The paper managed to break the feeling that he couldn't get rid of it on it's own."We left for the city. Be back soon."Izuku gave it a read after picking it up. Figuring it out, that note fell from the shelf.And he was in need of coffee once again. Relieved and disappointed, he dragged his body to the kitchen again, making breakfast with everything already prepared. It didn't take him long to make one. After years of cooking experience, he couldn't go wrong with a simple meal like fried eggs.Even though Izuku called it breakfast, eating at this late hour in the morning couldn't be considered as such. All he made were eggs, nothing special; he couldn't be bothered, or rather, it was his laziness. He placed the pan in the table's center, adding books nearby, attempting to study.At least he thought so. His contraction only lasted for about half an hour. He found himself attempting to write a written apology for Agatha. Keyword attempting."Cheesy, cold, stupid..." Izuku announced differently every time while switching papers. Each paper had a few words written on it that were mainly scribbled over or erased. At first, he wanted to write its core and improvise when he would face her. Of course, Izuku wasn't planning to give her a written apology. It's rude, and he will later find out that lacking the talent for writing has a say as well.Izuku checked the clock from time to time. He was waiting for Izuna and Mom, but also waiting for the clock to hit five so he could meet up with Momo and Fumikage.Neither Momo nor Izuku were particularly close to him. The reason is that they didn't know each other for a long time. Fumikage was new to the town; he had just moved in a few weeks ago. Their so-called special meeting created some kind of friendship between them-close, but not close enough.The sound of brushing keys with each other and one entering the keyhole got Izuku's attention."Finally, they are here."It didn't take long before doors opened, reaveling a woman holding two bags and behind her a girl holding three. Bags mainly contained groceries. Just looking at the top of the bags, Izuku could spot three meals.When Inko entered the apartment, she gave Izuku a quick hug before she turned into complete mom mode."Izuku, move the books from the table.""Izuna, finish your homework.""Clean a little, both of you.""Mom, we are getting high school application forms. I'll need your signature." Izuku's question gave a worried frown to Izuna's face, probably reminding her that she needs to find her's wherever she lost it."It's only June; high school doesn't start in ten months." Inko exclaimed while picking up dirty clothes around the house and placing them where they should have been in the laundry basket."Don't know, don't care. They just sent it early.""Did you decide what school you are going to?" Inko asked, now picking up the dirty dishes and washing them. "It wouldn't kill you to clean the dishes sometimes.""No, I didn't.""Izuku, do you remember what we talked about?""Yes, mom, I remember.""I believe you are going to make a wise decision.""No more talk about this until you decide." Inko placed the last clean dish before taking a breath to call his sister. "Izuna!!" A thunderous shout rang through the whole apartment."You know she isn't deaf." With his hands covering his ears, Izuku protested about a sudden change of tone."She might as well be."Izuku didn't say anything; he stood there for the sake of filling the space. He was lost in thought about his mother, which was a completely new concept to him. Whole his life, his mother was there for him; she always supported him; all decisions were for him to make; she would just give advice from time to time; she wouldn't interfere.But this is different-way different. This time, she did more than interfere. It felt like she was hastily trying to control him. Izuku couldn't shake this feeling, no matter how insane it sounded. It feels like she is afraid, and her judgment is clouded about this topic."Izuku, why are you ruining this chance?""You can do it, even if you don't know.""I know that your opinions oppose it, but there is more than meets the eye."...Their past conversations flashed rapidly; Izuku didn't remember a lot, but the memory was enough to conclude that something was happening."Mom, you called." Izuna's voice interrupted his lengthy train of thought. Now aware of the fact that he had been standing aimlessly for the past few minutes, he tried to cover his awkwardness, but no one noticed in the first place. Inko was lost in her own thoughts, and Izuna was desperate to find a valid excuse for losing the enrollment paper. Things weren't going well for her."I am hitting the showers.""Clen the table first." Inko's shout followed him, waiting for the response.Izuku glanced behind him, making sure that Izuna wasn't watching. With a few hand gestures and different incantations, the table felt like it wasn't even touched."I already did it.""I meant without magic!" Inko whispered while taking steps to get closer to him. "Why are you showering? You are going somewhere?""Yes, with Momo and Tokoyami-san.""Tokoyami?""Fumikage Tokoyami, new kid.""When are you going?""Five.""Choirs, homework?""Done.""Magic practice?""Done""Do you need any money?""No." Izuku answered after he remembered all the money scattered in his room, determined that he had enough."Be home by nine.""Ok," Izuku answered before hurried into showers. It doesn't take too much for him to get ready, and even faster, he could use a spell. The thing is that Izuku hates being late, even when it means getting ready a few hours before the actual meeting time.Fumikage was a shy, silent, and unsocial person. He is your stereotypical introvert. At least his personality. Deep inside, he is kind-too kind. The only reason he considers Momo and Izuku his friends is Izuku's stubborn convincing that he agreed on simply out of kindness. Possibly out of annoyance at Izuku's constant bugging, he could just say yes to get him off his back.He first met Izuku at Agatha's lessons. Agatha's so-called students have their lessons separately for unknown reasons, with few exceptions. One of those exceptions led to their meeting. Actually, that is how Momo and Izuku became friends. Her magic was terrible back then; it still is, but not as much as five years ago due to Izuku's help. Her magic is still undeveloped due to her quirk. People born with both quirks and magic are anomalies, and for good reason. Those people either have weak magic or quirks, and their lives are always endangered because of that.Momo's and Izuku's friendship led to her going to public school. They didn't expect the same situation with Fumikage. He seemed like a great friend, but there wasn't much time for them to get too close, so he would switch schools for them. Maybe high school, but middle school, no.He was ready with half an hour to spend. He wore a simple, baggy white shirt and black cargo pants. His wardrobe is very simple, and it does the one and only thing that it needs to. It hides his height. He is short. Even saying that is an understatement, and it always will be. And it didn't help that he is self-conscious about it. How he can't be everybody he knows, around his age, is taller than him, except Fumikage. Yes, it boosted his ego, but not enough.He said bye to his mother and sister. Inko replayed, but Izuna took this opportunity to tease as usual."Found a new friend?" Izuna teased, standing in front of him as he was putting on his shoes. "Two, that's your new record.""Real funny.""No, for real. Who is that Tokoyami guy?""Met him at Agatha's lessons.""So, he is special as well?" Izuna asked, containing her laughter."Call it whatever you want," Izuku answered as he tied his last shoelace. "But I need to go. See you at dinner.""Can I go?""You are asking me, can you go out with me?" Izuku said, shocked. "My twin sister is asking me if she can go out with my friends.""Yea, what's wrong with that?""Nothing," he answered in a dull tone. "I am just curious. What happened to Bakugo and Miya?""They are busy today.""And you have no other friends?" He asked."Yes, I have, but I am interested in that Tokoyami guy.""No.""What?""You can't come.""You're so mean," Izuna whined before adding, "I won't bother your special meeting."Izuku sighed deeply, unfazed by Izuna's antics. "I'm going. Bye.""Bye, Izuku. Have fun."He hurried down the stairs, aiming to be as fast as possible to avoid whatever Izuna might say in the hallway for neighbors to hear. Closing the doors of the apartment building, he continued strolling through the streets of Musutafu City. It was late May, almost June, and the days were getting longer. The sunlight wouldn't disappear until 7 p.m., making the day relatively nice with a clear sky and slight winds - a perfect day to spend outside.It didn't take him long to pass the necessary blocks to the park, where they would meet. It surprised him to see both Momo and Fumikage there talking. Taking into consideration that he was 15 minutes early, it was quite a pleasant surprise.He started walking towards them. It didn't take them long until they noticed him; he didn't even have a chance to step on the small park."What gives?" Izuku asked, skipping greetings, considering them useless, and both of them followed his example."What?" The only one to respond was Momo."Both of you are usually late, at least twenty minutes.""I got used to your horrible habit of being early, so I contacted Tokoyami-san to meet thirty minutes earlier than originally intended. Actually, you are the one who is late." Momo said it with a wide smile from ear to ear."What?" Izuku said, dumbfounded in all ways possible. "I have so many questions.""Shoot away," Fumikage answered."First, how did you get here? I sent you a location at most thirty minutes ago.""I live close by.""Makes sense.""And how am I late?" Izuku asked, turning to Momo."You were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago," Momo answered simply. "But it's fine. We forgive you.""By what logic?""Anyway, let's go for that shake you promised. It's on me as usual," Momo exclaimed as she jumped beside him. As she jumped, a thin jacket that was tied loosely around her waist followed her figure. She didn't dress up; a simple shirt and jeans were enough for her."Is it okay for girl to pay for us?" Fumikage asked as he and Izuku followed Momo a few steps behind. "In a normal situation, no," Izuku answered before he took a deep breath, "but when you are loaded, as Momo is to be expected.""I never imagined you two as gold diggers," Momo said in a playful voice."Us, never," he answered, mimicking her.Izuku could swear that he caught a glimpse of a smile on Fumikage's face. There are two reasons why that is such a rare occurrence. First being the more obvious one out of two, his nature and personality. The second is his quirk. Fumikage's quirk is special by all means. His quirk, 'Dark Shadow' consisted of two parts:First, it mutates his head to imitate the head of the crow. Basically, his whole head was covered with feather-like hair with an expectation of a mouth, or better said, a bird beak. That part makes sporting his smile harder.The second part of his quirk is that he is a sentient being consisting of shadows that live inside his body. The being shares the same name as quirk and has free will. The same being grows stronger and larger when exposed to darkness and shadows. But what makes Fumikage's quirk even more unique is the fact that his mana circulatory system is expended on the dark shadow. Because of that, both of them can use and detect magic. But that part is still unexplored. The main reason behind that is that a combination of quirk and magic is always a bad idea."I was kind of planning on staying outside.""We can do that after a smoothie." Momo whined back."You are seriously getting hooked on them. Are you sure they aren't putting anything else in it?""You think I wouldn't notice that?""You are right," Izuku answered before pausing for a second. "So you drink them on purpose even when there is something in your drink.""There isn't anything in them." Momo answered."What do you think, Tokoyami?""I think she is just getting addicted to them.""She is getting addicted to smoothies alone. Congratulation, Momo; you developed the lamest addiction.""At least I don't eat chocolate like my life depends on it.""Take that back!""Here we are. Are we all heading in, or should we designate someone to take orders for the group?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement. The local sign, adorned with a giant pink neon "My Smoothie," welcomed them."We're all going in. Can't afford to lose you out of our sight; you'd stir up trouble," Izuku replied with a grin, and they all entered the vibrant smoothie shop. Despite the long line, Momo's enthusiasm pulled Izuku, Fumikage, and the rest along, almost against their will. After placing their orders, they planned to spend the rest of the day in the park, giving into Izuku's protests.