Izuku in the Rink

Chapter 2: A Mother's Disapproval

Chapter 2: A Mother's Disapproval

Izuku's determination reverberated within him as he stood before the towering figure of Toshinori Yagi. The weight of his decision hung heavy in the air, challenging the delicate balance he had maintained between his passion and his mother's unyielding disapproval. Despite the surge of excitement coursing through his veins, a pang of apprehension gnawed at his resolve.

Yagi's unwavering gaze bore into Izuku, a mixture of scrutiny and encouragement evident in his weathered eyes. "If you're serious, then meet me at the rink tomorrow at dawn," he said, his voice commanding yet reassuring. "We have a lot of work to do."

With a fervent nod, Izuku absorbed Yagi's words, his mind already racing with anticipation for the challenging journey ahead. As Yagi made his departure, leaving behind a lingering aura of wisdom and experience, Izuku couldn't help but cast a fleeting glance toward the rink's entrance, a silent acknowledgment of the looming obstacle he would face in the form of his mother's vehement disapproval.

The evening air had turned chilly, mirroring the frost that settled in Izuku's heart as he made his way back home, the distant echoes of Yagi's parting words resonating within him. Despite the thrill of the opportunity that lay before him, he couldn't shake off the unease that accompanied the thought of revealing his aspirations to his mother, knowing all too well the depth of her aversion to the world of figure skating.

Upon arriving home, the dim light of the living room greeted him, casting elongated shadows across the worn furniture. His mother, Inko Midoriya, sat in her favorite armchair, her weary eyes fixed on a flickering television screen. The sound of her soft sigh as she noticed his arrival reverberated in the silence, an unspoken question lingering in the air.

"Izuku, is that you?" Inko's voice was gentle yet tinged with a trace of weariness, a reflection of the struggles she had endured as a single mother. "How was work today?"

Izuku hesitated, the weight of his secret pressing against his chest. "It was...good, Mom. We had a successful performance," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper as he hung up his coat and made his way into the living room.

Inko's gaze lingered on him, her scrutiny piercing through the carefully constructed facade he had woven around himself. "You seem troubled, my dear. Is something bothering you?" she asked, her voice laced with maternal concern.

Izuku's throat tightened, the words caught in his chest as he struggled to find the courage to voice the truth that had remained suppressed for far too long. He perched on the edge of the couch, his gaze fixed on the frayed edges of the worn carpet beneath his feet. "Mom, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice quivering slightly with the weight of his confession.

Inko's expression softened, a hint of apprehension flickering in her eyes as she turned to face him fully. "What is it, Izuku? You know you can tell me anything," she encouraged, reaching out to gently grasp his hand.

Taking a deep breath, Izuku met his mother's gaze, the words spilling forth in a torrent of emotion he had kept suppressed for so long. "I...I want to be a figure skater," he confessed, the admission hanging in the air like a fragile promise.

Inko's grip tightened imperceptibly, her features contorting with a mix of shock and dismay. The room fell into an oppressive silence, the weight of her unspoken disapproval palpable. "Izuku, you know how I feel about figure skating," she began, her voice strained with emotion. "Your father...he left us for that world, for that endless pursuit of glory. It tore our family apart."

Izuku winced at the mention of his absent father, the wounds of abandonment still fresh within their fractured family dynamic. He knew all too well the pain that figure skating had wrought upon their lives, the bitter legacy that his father had left behind in his pursuit of greatness. Yet, despite the shadows of the past, Izuku couldn't deny the fierce passion that burned within him, the same flame that had drawn him to the abandoned rink time and time again.

"I understand, Mom. But this...this is my dream," Izuku implored, his voice wavering with a mixture of desperation and determination. "I want to make you proud, just like Dad once did. I want to show you that figure skating doesn't have to tear families apart."

Inko's gaze softened, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she regarded her son with a mixture of love and concern. "Izuku, I want nothing more than for you to be happy. But please understand, it's a world of heartache and broken promises. I don't want you to suffer the same fate as your father and me."

Izuku felt the weight of his mother's words settle upon him, a reminder of the sacrifices and pain that had defined their family's history. Despite the turmoil churning within him, he knew that convincing his mother would require more than mere words; it would demand a testament to his unwavering dedication and commitment to his dream.

As the evening waned, the tension in the air remained unresolved, leaving behind an unspoken understanding between mother and son. In the stillness of the night, as Izuku lay in bed, his mind was consumed with the impending dawn and the promise of a new journey that awaited him at the rink. With his mother's apprehension lingering like a shadow in his thoughts, Izuku vowed to prove that his pursuit of figure skating was not merely a selfish indulgence but a testament to the enduring spirit of their family's resilience.