Origin Prologue: 8. Acceptance

Inko was running through the streets of Musutafu's suburban area, her heart pounding in her chest. She was breathing hard, her stamina long gone from years of being a housewife and a mother.

It was already evening, the orange sky slowly turning dark. The sight of the approaching night made her panic even more. She was afraid that Izuku might have run far away... to a place where she couldn't reach him anymore...!

Blaming herself for being too weak, she cursed her inability to set herself straight. If only she had more resolve, she could have faced her children without making them worry about her and their future. Now, just like Izuku was blaming himself for being weak, she too blamed herself for being weak...

Clinging to her last hope, she needed to find Izuku before it was too late. She tried to remember where he could have gone, then she recalled the park where she would pick him and Chisa up whenever they played with Katsuki. With renewed determination, she ran as fast as she could toward the public park, hoping to find her son there.

Finally, she arrived at the park's entrance, huffing for breath after running so hard. She scanned the area, and there, she found him. Izuku was in the park... talking with Katsuki. She hid behind a tree, close enough to hear their conversation but far enough to not be noticed.

"Even the heroes with quirks couldn't save my dad. They can't save everyone. How could a useless, quirkless kid like me be a hero? I don't want to be a hero!" Izuku's voice was filled with despair and bitterness.

"Don't say that!" Katsuki's voice was desperate. "You're not useless! You can be anything you want to be, quirk or no quirk!"

"Shut up, Katsuki!" Izuku shouted, his voice breaking with emotion. "Just leave me alone!"

"Deku, you idiot!" Katsuki yelled back, tears welling up in his eyes as he turned and ran away from the park.

Inko's heart ached as she watched the scene unfold. She saw the anguish on her son's face, the tears streaming down his cheeks. She saw the hurt and confusion on Katsuki's face as he ran away. The weight of her son's words and the reality of his emotions settled heavily on her shoulders.

As Katsuki ran out from the park, Inko finally came out from her hiding and took a tentative step toward Izuku. Her eyes were filled with sadness... and determination. She needed to comfort her son, to show him that he wasn't alone and that he was loved... no matter what.

"Izuku," she called softly, her voice trembling with emotion.

Izuku turned to see his mother standing there, her expression mirroring the pain he felt inside. He didn't say anything, but his eyes told her everything she needed to know. She walked over to him, wrapped her arms around him, and held him close, letting him cry into her shoulder.

They both didn't say anything, other than letting their tears flow freely.

Inko then heard footsteps approaching from the park entrance. She looked back while still hugging the crying Izuku and saw that it was her in-laws. Her mother-in-law rushed to their spot.

"Inko, Izuku, are you both okay?!" she immediately asked with concern.

While Izuku was still sobbing in her embrace, Inko nodded to reassure her mother-in-law that they were physically fine, despite the emotional turmoil.

"Thank goodness..." Her mother-in-law sighed in relief upon seeing them. Then Inko's father-in-law stepped closer.

"Father...?" Inko asked, slightly worried about her father-in-law's stern expression. He stood near them with his imposing figure, observing the mother and son.

Inko wasn't overly concerned, but Izuku, catching a glimpse of his grandfather, was seized by fear and began to cry harder, seeking refuge in his mother's embrace.

However, to Izuku's surprise, his grandfather... crouched down next to them and gently patted his head. Izuku looked up toward his grandfather... and his kind and gentle face. His expression was silently reassuring him... that everything would be alright.

Seeing this display of comfort from his grandfather, Izuku gradually stopped crying, though he still wore a downcast expression, embarrassed by his emotional outburst.

His grandfather then exchanged a knowing look with his wife as they nodded to each other. Then, he turned back to Inko.

"Inko," he called out, directing her attention. Inko turned to see the serious expression on her father-in-law's face.

"Come live with us in the countryside."