Chapter 34: Injuries and Secret

Rei had been feeling a bit worried since her child, Toya, hadn't woken up early as he usually did. Concerned, she decided to check on him.

When she entered Toya's room, she saw him still sleeping, wrapped in his blanket. But something caught her eye - a bandage around the upper part of his index finger. Curiosity piqued, she pulled down the blanket a bit and discovered that her son's hands were completely bandaged up.

Her bad feelings were confirmed, and she gently shook Toya to wake him up. Toya groggily opened his eyes, his vision blurry, but he recognized his mother.

"Okaa-san?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes and sitting up. "Do you need anything?"

Rei held Toya's hands gently and asked, "What happened? What is this?"

Toya sighed and replied, "I injured myself, but it's nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about?!" Rei's concern turned into anger. "You're hurting yourself. Is this because of that?"

Toya hesitated for a moment, then smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "A little bit, but it's not that serious."

Rei carefully unwrapped the bandage a bit and her worry deepened when she saw that the burn was at the second stage. She instantly hugged her son tightly, causing him to be a bit startled, but he smiled and hugged her back.

"Let's go to the hospital, shall we? We can see Recovery Girl and get you healed up," Rei suggested.

"Mom, it's okay. It can heal on its own," Toya insisted. He had already been treated by Dr. Kim, who advised him to let it heal naturally for a few more days. Although there would be a burn scar, it would eventually return to normal.

"No, listen to me, young man. You're going to the hospital with me and your father," Rei declared firmly.

Toya sighed, realizing that his mother wouldn't take no for an answer. "Thanks for caring, Okaa-san," he said with a smile.

"You're my son, why wouldn't I take care of you?" Rei replied with a warm smile.

....

Recovery Girl Office, UA

As Enji and Rei stood by, an old lady carefully examined the injuries on Toya's hands. This old lady was none other than Recovery Girl, whose name was Shuzenji Chiyo.

"Hmm," Recovery Girl hummed, assessing the severity of the burns.

Rei, concerned like any mother would be, asked, "Is it bad? Will he be okay?"

Recovery Girl reassured her, "No, it has already been treated by a doctor. This is the work of a professional, no doubt." She then turned her attention to Toya and inquired, "Did you see a doctor?"

Toya nodded, recalling the encounter. "Yes, when I was training outside of the house, a doctor came to help me."

Rei's anger flared up at the mention of Toya leaving the house without her knowledge. "You left the house?!" she exclaimed, her frustration evident.

Toya defended himself, saying, "Well, I didn't want to risk burning down the dojo."

Rei's anger only intensified, and she became annoyed. "From now on, you are grounded," she declared firmly.

Toya simply responded with an "okay" sign, showing that he understood and accepted the consequences.

Recovery Girl, seeing that Toya's hand had fully healed but had left multiple scars, planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. Toya felt a wave of fatigue wash over him, but he managed to muster a heartfelt "thank you."

"Next time, don't overuse your Quirk," Recovery Girl advised. "Your body doesn't have enough resistance against fire."

Toya nodded, acknowledging her words. "I know," he replied.

....

On the rooftop of the school, Toya found himself lost in thought as he stared out at the surrounding area. It was a peaceful moment of solitude until someone else arrived on the rooftop. Toya turned to see Kei, his best friend, who appeared to be visibly exhausted.

"What do you want to talk about?" Kei asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and weariness. "Are you planning to confess your feelings to me? I'm sorry, even though you're my best friend, I can't accept your advances. I like women."

Kei smiled as he said this, trying to lighten the mood with a touch of humor. Toya couldn't help but chuckle in response.

"Hell no, I ain't confessing to an ugly ass like you," Toya replied, his smile mirroring Kei's playful tone. They often joked around with each other like this, their laughter filling the air.

"Anyway," Toya continued, his expression turning serious "I have the money to help you pay off your debt."

Kei looked at Toya, his tired eyes widening in surprise. He could tell from Toya's face that he was being genuine, but he couldn't help but feel amazed that Toya had that much money to spare.

"Thank you, but you didn't need to do that," Kei said, gratitude lacing his words. "It's already been taken care of."

Toya furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion in his voice. "What do you mean it's been taken care of?"

'Do I tell him or not... No, it's for the best.' Kei's mind was racing with conflicting thoughts as he grappled with the decision of whether to reveal the truth or keep it hidden. The weight of the secret was heavy on his shoulders, and he knew that whatever choice he made would have consequences.

Kei smiled warmly, placing a reassuring hand on Toya's shoulder. "You don't need to know all the details," he said. "The important thing is that my family and I are safe."

"Huh?" Toya couldn't help but feel a bit perplexed by Kei's cryptic response.

Kei patted Toya's shoulder gently and spoke with a sense of concern. "Don't worry too much, my friend. Whatever you did, take some time to rest. You need it."

Toya nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and curiosity. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Kei's situation than meets the eye, but for now, he decided to trust his friend's words and focus on taking care of himself.

As Kei left the rooftop and opened the door, he was taken aback to find Miyazaki standing there, having overheard their entire conversation.

'I'm glad,' Kei thought to himself, a wave of relief washing over him.

Kei offered a friendly smile and continued on his way down to the classroom, not wanting to dwell on the encounter.

Miyazaki, however, couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered after witnessing that smile. It left her feeling uncomfortable and curious about what she had just witnessed.

"What's with that smile?" Miyazaki muttered to himself, his mind racing with various possibilities. She couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to Kei's words and actions.

Meanwhile, Kei let out a sigh of relief as he walked away. He had come close to revealing the truth about his situation, but ultimately decided to keep it to himself for the time being.