My Old Hero

63: House of Cards

Izumi saw that the message was read and she slumped in her bed. 

"It's done, hope you have fun today, Kacchan." Izumi said. She could tell her body wasn't feeling great, but it's not like she had a date to go on anymore. She looked back at phone and Emra had just texted her too. 

Sorry Izumi, Saeko finally is able to eat again, but Takashi asked me to spend the day with him. Will you be okay by yourself? 

Izumi sighed when she saw those words; by herself. 

It's alright Emra, I want to be by myself today, I need a break from everything else. 

Okay, just please make sure to eat enough today, and don't overwork yourself. 

Thanks cousin, I'll see you later.

Her head was pounding and her eyes were swollen. 

'I guess I cried last night and didn't even realize it. It's fine... maybe I can go visit mom today?' She got up from bed and changed her clothes to something casual. She looked at herself in the mirror, she looked like a mess with her large frizzy hair and her swollen eyes. 

'I'm sure mom won't mind me coming over, hopefully she doesn't ask me why I look like a train wreck.' Izumi thought.

She knocked on the door a couple times and waited for someone to answer. 

"Izuku?" Izumi heard a voice coming from behind her and slowly turned to see her mom, Inko, standing there. 

"Izuku, what are you doing here?" 

"Hey mom, mind if I bother you for a bit today?" Izumi said with a tired smile.

"You look like you haven't eaten anything in days!" Inko said, making her daughter a late brunch. 

"Sorry, a lot of things have been going on lately that I didn't notice." Izumi said. 

"And why are your eyes so swollen? Is work stressing you out?" Inko asked. 

"N-No... it's something personal..." Izumi muttered. 

"Personal? Did Katsuki say something to hurt your feelings again?" Inko asked. 

"Ah- no... nothing like that. It's just- if you loved something and your friend wants that same thing, would you give up everything for your friend to have it?" Izumi asked. Inko stopped to think this through and looked at her daughter.

"As much as I usually would say I would give everything up for my friend, have they ever considered that I might want that same thing?" Inko said. 

"T-That's... but what if you had no choice and wanted to make them happy?" 

"Izuku." Izumi looked at her mom. 

"You have always put everyone before yourself, you know that, right?" Inko asked, Izumi nodded. 

"You and your cousin are one in the same when it comes to your friends. You will do anything to make them happy, but have your friends ever thought of what could make you happy?" Inko asked.

"I-I-" 

"Now tell me what exactly it is that you want but are giving up to your friend." Inko said. 

"Well... it's Kacchan... today I was supposed to go on a date with him, but the plans changed when my new friend, Uraraka, told me she liked him and wanted to go on a date with him. So I gave up my chance so that she could be happy, and now I'm starting to regret it, a lot." Izumi said.