You Deserve it All

Chapter 8

MIDORIYA'S POV

When my phone notified me that my front door was being accessed, I checked the code while heading toward the main part of my home. Unsurprisingly, it was Kacchan's code. I promised him I wouldn't crawl into bed and stay there as soon as I got home. I did for the first day while I processed everything and had a mental battle about reentering his life, but true to my word, I got up this morning.

The corner of his lips pulled up when he opened the door and saw me standing a few feet away. "Hey," he said quietly as he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.

"Hey," I replied. "How long can you stay?"

"Daizen's job hunting, the twins are at school, and Evan is with my parents. I can stay until the twins get out of school." He held up a plastic bag and walked by me toward the kitchen.

"They're all doing okay?" I asked.

"They're doing fine. Evan misses you already."

I bet she did. But she wasn't the only kid I was worried about. "And the boys?" I asked quietly. "Do they still miss me, or has their sadness turned to rage since I disappeared?"

He sighed, which I didn't take as a good sign. "They miss you, but they didn't understand for a while. It wasn't that bad considering they didn't live here full time, but the holidays that they were here were hard on them."

"Do they understand now?" I'm not sure I want to hear the answer. I told Rachel I'd always been there for the boys and always will be, but that wasn't entirely true. I stopped being there for more than half a year. I missed things they wanted me to do and time with them.

"Daizen understands completely. Kyo and Kaoru do to an extent. It was hard to explain depression to nine-year-olds. They knew you were sick inside, but they didn't understand how. They still call you Dad and ask about you almost every day. Daizen still grills me about you every time I come home." He handed me a takeout box of rice and chicken. "They were upset, and I think they still are. But they don't hate you by any means."

I sighed. I should have expected that. I just up and left their life after promising I would be another parent to them. I fucked up, but I don't know how to tell them I didn't want to live. I don't know how to tell them that I thought I was going to put them in danger.

"Kacchan?"

"Yeah?" He set his food on the counter and gave me his full attention when he heard the seriousness and desperation in my voice.

"I do want to move in with you still. I still want to be a family with you, the boys, and Evan. And obviously, Aimi when she wakes up." She will eventually wake up. I just hope it's before the villain dies of old age and her entire life is gone.

"Well, whenever you're ready, let me know." He walked around the counter and pulled me into a hug. "We can go however slow you need to go."

Wrapping my arms around him, I said, "I think I'm going to start packing now and moving the girls' rooms over, but I want to repair my relationship with the boys before I officially move in. I don't want to do that while living there because it will be a lot to process for everyone."

He nodded. "I think that's a good idea. If you're up for it, you can come to the beach cleanup on Thursday."

I shuddered—the idea of being around that many people doesn't sound fun in the slightest. I haven't talked to some of my closest friends since Aimi had been put into a coma. They're all going to be there, but I don't think I can handle it. Especially if I'm not on good terms with the boys yet.

"Sorry, that may be too much. If you're not ready for that, it's okay. But if you decide to go, I can have the organizers tell everyone to give you space or ask for a corner area so we're not near as many people."