My Old Hero

34: Eye Contact

Izumi managed to get her ears to disappear, again, and walked out of the bathroom to see Mitsuki and Katsuki's aunt sitting on the couch looking through something. 

"Is everything okay?" Izumi asked. 

"Oh Izumi, you came just in time! Come sit here! We were just about to look through some photo albums." Mitsuki said. 

'Photo albums?' Izumi thought and sat in the middle of the two older ladies. 

They opened the photo album and Izumi froze to see it was old childhood pictures of Katsuki. There were so many pictures of him as a kid, and he was smiling happily. 

"Isn't he just adorable, I just wish I would see that same face now." Mitsuki said.

Izumi looked through all the photos and could remember each and every memory behind them all. 

"I wasn't able to take many photos when he got into U.A., but since he was such a popular kid, he was practically everywhere!" Mitsuki said. 

The last page of the photo album was a very familiar photo that Izumi knew all too well. It was little Katsuki and a little girl with green hair and eyes standing next to him, smiling, and holding hands. 

"Oh look, isn't that you, Izumi?" Mitsuki's sister remarked. Izumi couldn't help but stare at the picture, it was such a happy memory, tears streamed down her face. 

"Ah- Izumi, are you okay?" Mitsuki said.

"Huh?" 

"You're crying, is this too much for you?" Mitsuki asked. Izumi wiped the tears off her face and smiled. 

"I'm okay, really. I just haven't looked at this photo in a long time, it was a memory that I always remembered. I guess it's been so long since the last time I cried at something like this. Sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry, Mrs. Bakugo." Izumi said, rubbing her face. 

"Is there something wrong with this picture for you, deary?" Mitsuki's sister asked. 

"There's nothing wrong with this picture, it's the opposite. This picture was me and Katsuki right before Katsuki got his quirk. We were both really excited about getting one, and how much we admired our Number 1 hero; All Might. Of course, soon after Katsuki got his quirk... but I never got mine." Izumi said.

It was silent in the room, both women were surprised to hear Izumi's explanation; Izumi never got her quirk. 

"That's why I've always looked up to Katsuki, he was always that shining bright light that would lead to a better future. I was always the one following him, and we were always so close. He knew things more than me, so that's why I was always trying to be better. I was never trying to beat Katsuki, but was trying to support him when he needed me. So when I heard he became the Number 1 hero, I was filled with joy. I knew he would become an amazing hero, so I'm happy for what he's become. That's why I never went to U.A., because I knew I could never outshine someone like Katsuki." Izumi said, with a warm smile.

"Oh Izumi, I'm sorry for bringing this up! I never knew you were going through so much, you're so sweet and caring that it's a surprise to hear this!" Mitsuki said and hugged Izumi. 

A few seconds later, Mitsuki's sister even came into the hug. Izumi could feel so much warmth and smiled and hugged them back. 

'I haven't been comforted in a long time, this is nice...' Izumi thought.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay overnight with us, Izumi?" Mitsuki asked.