A Silent Kind of Strength

Chapter 62

He couldn't hear the exchange at the counter but he was surprised to see Shiokaze's ever present smile falter for a second. But then the young woman was turning away to make their drinks and the teen was left wondering if he had imagined it.

After a few minutes, with their refreshments acquired, the two he was waiting on made their way over to his table. "Izuku! It's so good to see you!" His mom bubbled at him, though he noticed the tense set to her smile. She turned to her companion with a small hand gesture. "Kurai, this is my son. Izuku, this is Meishu Kurai, my new boyfriend."

The teen blinked up at her in shock for a moment before finding his voice. "B-boyfriend?" The short woman waved off the question with a flippant hand wave. "Yes. Boyfriend. I'm an adult and I'm allowed to date!"

"Oh. Th-that's not wh-what I-"

She cut him off with a small glare before he could finish. Once she was sure that he wouldn't continue 'arguing' Inko pulled out the chair across from him and sat, before waving Kurai into the seat next to her. "Anyways! We are here to talk about you! So spill, how is that school treating you? I heard you got hurt again a few weeks ago?"

"O-oh. Uhm, yes? I w-was unl-unlucky enough to be in H-Hosu when th-the nomu attacked… but that w-wasn't UA's fault!" His mom scoffed. "I disagree. You shouldn't have been anywhere NEAR Hosu that night. But they just HAD to feed into your hero obsession and let you go on those dumb internships."

"Mom I-" she cut off his protest with a swipe of the hand. "Whatever Izuku. I'm not here to argue with you today. I'm here to make sure you aren't DEAD and to let you get to know the new man in my life."

"Oh- I-uhm-" Honestly the teen was floundering, unsure of how to deal with this new situation. And kept off balance by the woman's comments. Luckily for him the man in question, Kurai, chose that moment to step in. Dark eyes glared at the boy from under a heavy brow, a small frown seeming to be his resting face. "So. You're Inko's kid? The quirkless one?"

Izuku felt himself flush behind his freckles, embarrassed by the direct question. But still he nodded politely, determined to make a good impression. "I see… you really aren't much to look at huh? At least your mom is pretty enough. You must take after that useless father of yours."

Ok forget about making a good impression. Large green eyes stared at the man in incredulous silence. Shocked by the audacity. Apparently that was taken the wrong way though as Kurai kept going. "But who knows, some girls like plain guys. So? You have any one you're interested in at that fancy school of yours?"

Izuku's thoughts immediately went to Shinso and something must have shown on his face because the man instantly started ribbing him. "Oooh he does. So, who is she? A pretty little hero student?"

Izuku looks down at his empty coffee cup, flustered at the conversation but still eager for this all to work out, he played along. "U-uhm yeah h-hes in the hero c-course…" He smiled to himself, once again thinking of a sassy smirk and sparkling purple eyes.

But he didn't get the reply he expected. Instead of more teasing there was silence. After a moment he looked up, confusion on his freckled face. He was met with strained expressions that he couldn't quite place. Eventually Inko spoke up once more. "...he?"