Book 1- The Jade Phoenix

Prologue

Inko sighs into her tea cup as she tucks her feet beneath her.

"Izuku called today... He wants to know about Hisashi. That was strange because he stopped asking about his dad years ago," Her eyebrow arches as she meets her friends' eyes. "I wondered why. Until he mentioned you, Shota."

In response, the man huffs a piece of hair out of his face and shrugs sheepishly. "I didn't mean for him to overhear the conversation I was having with Toshinori."

"Do you remember how hard we worked to keep him out of this? Do you remember all the corners you had to cut?" Inko snaps. With a heavy sigh, she relents, "I guess I should've told him sooner. It's just been so long. I buried that part of me so long ago."

They both look uncomfortably at the lockbox on the table. A pandora's box of evidence. Newspaper clippings, photos, documents- it was all there. An entire life packed away in a box, stuffed in the back of a closet for over a decade.

"It would have been more convenient had he not heard. But maybe this is the right time. Or maybe it's not and your problematic son is just too nosey for his own good." Aizawa cast her a sideways glance.

With a sarcastic chuckle, Inko smooths her skirt and shrugs, "I wish he'd have picked Endeavors' agency. Why did he want to work with you and Michael?"

Without missing a beat, nor looking back her way, Aizawa muttered, "Must be a family thing."

~~~~~

There's not much to do besides wait for Izuku. Inko wishes that was her biggest problem right now. Her green eyes dart from surface to surface, room to door to cabinet. Everything has been dusted, mopped, vacuumed, reorganized- and it's only noon. She glances once more at Izuku's message.

Izuku: Hey mom! I'll be over after I drop off my paperwork to Aizawa. I should be home at 2:30. I love you! (10:14)

That's still two and a half hours!

With a groan, she uses her quirk to pull her remote towards her. Maybe she shouldn't watch the news but there's a new expose out on All Might and Izuku was going to bring it up. She could watch it now and maybe they'd talk about it. If he still wants to talk to her after this.

~~~~

Izuku puts a big smile on his face as he turns to Bakugo and Todoroki. He couldn't place the odd feeling he got before he left the dorms but it put him on edge enough to spook both of them.

"Thank you for walking me here. I don't know why I was so freaked out."

Bakugo rolls his eyes, "There's a difference between anxiety and instinct, dumbass. Trust it."

Todoroki nods quietly in agreement.

They turn towards the door as it creaks open, revealing Inko smiling up at them. She has to actually tilt her head to see them. Izuku hadn't realized how tall they were getting.

"Oh you boys, would you like a cup of tea? It's chilly outside, maybe some cocoa? We even have some marshmallows and there's probably some cream. I have to set some-"

"Mom!" Izuku interrupts her, "It's okay, they were just walking me here."

"I wasn't going to let him walk alone, Auntie. Even if he has powered up some," Bakugo says with a small reassuring smile.

"Thank you, Kacchan. And you as well, Shoto. Thank you for helping him home." Inko grins so wide tears form and she hugs them all tightly. "Oh, you kids grow up so fast."

With that (and five minutes of each saying that no, they did not need hats or mittens) goodbyes were sprinkled with 'see you soon' and 'be safe', and the door closed behind them. Inko leads Izuku into the living room and sets him down at the coffee table. He eyes the lockbox for a moment before looking back to his mom.

"I thought I'd just get you something to drink for right now, we can make dinner later. Is that alright?" She says, and Izuku can tell she's anxious and distracted.

Izuku grabs her hand as she passes him and pulls her to sit down.

"Mom. Why are you so upset? I know dad has been a touchy subject but you're never this put off by it."

Finally, she lets the items in her hand float gently to the table. With a deep breath, she faces him and calms herself.

"I wish I believed that's all you came here for. When you called, you mentioned specifically his family and some of their... relations. But you were saying something when you rang," she's speaking more quickly and her hand fumble with her sweater, "I don't think you meant me to hear and I'm sorry but I knew that-"

Izuku cut her off, "You heard me say he knew All for One."