𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍. 𝐦𝐡𝐚

𝟓: 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄: 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

I've been getting used to seeing Eli when I got back from school, normally he would be in his hero uniform, but today he was in training clothes. I threw my bookbag at the stairs like usual, every afternoon I did that the homework piled up more and more. At this point, it'll never get done.

Eli was quick to catch the door before I closed it. I just furrowed my eyebrows before asking where he was headed too. With his ranks climbing on the boards every day his schedule became more and more packed. "The gym of course."

I let out a laugh as I crossed my arms in disbelief. "Since when do you go to the gym? You normally just work out in your room, that's why it smells like ass." I took a step away from him after my words. "Have fun dumbass." I put a hand on the door to close it, but he looked like he was missing something.

"You should come with me."

My eyes grew wide and I shook my head. "You should think of better ideas."

"It couldn't hurt, bring a friend or something. You're about to start training, you should start building up your stamina."

"Please, walking to the train is already a struggle enough." I grab my backpack to take a look at all the homework piling up. "I have homework."

"Like you'll ever do it." My brother crossed his arms and look at me with an honest face. He's right, I was one day away from telling Mr. Aizawa a dog ate my homework. I threw my backpack at the end of the stairs before walking up them to change. I heard my brother walk over to my backpack and take a look at the work.

A few moments later I came down in training clothes. I put my headphones over my ears as I walk out of the door before Eli. It was rare that he went to the gym, but when he did he always walked. It was a good way to get your body warmed up, and it's quicker than driving. Surprisingly a good amount of people stopped us on the way to the gym. All of them were asking for autographs and pictures of Elias.

"You've been quiet..." Elias lingered out his words, I'm not surprised he noticed my mood. Even when I tried to hide my feelings he knew something was off. I do the same to him. "Is everything at school really fine, you've only been there for a few days Nana..."

"Leila is in the regular class." My words were blunt. I remembered all his friends, he knew all of mine. His eyebrows pinched together with my words, he kept his hands in his sweatpants pockets. "Jian thinks she dangerous, I want to talk to her, but she did seem off."

Eli processed my words for a moment, pondering how to respond with the best advice. "As a hero, I'd recommend keeping your distance when something feels off." I sigh at his advice. "But as an older brother, I know how curious you can get, and you always find your way out of trouble so I say just talk to her. It's been years Nana, even you've changed. Talking can't hurt."

I was so wrapped up in his words I didn't notice that we arrived at the gym. Elias gave me freedom while we stretched and warmed up our muscles, but soon enough he volunteered himself to be my personal trainer. He dragged me from machine to machine, weight to weight. It made me realize how much work got in the way of the time we spent together, our lives were just so busy now.

Tonight was one of the rare nights where all our schedules created an opening for us to have dinner together. Usually one of us cooked and we all grabbed some when we had time, recently it's been every man for themself. Yesterday was my third-day eating cup ramen for dinner. Dad was back in the kitchen today, he loved helping mom cook. He loved watching her effortlessly make amazing meals, he clearly wasn't the cook of the family. When I was little the way they looked at each other made me sick, but after everything they've been through, I admire what they have.