ALWAYS || Katsuki Bakugo

78- Welcome Back

Yoshiko slowly opened her eyes to the blinding fluorescent lights, immediately closing them again and knitting her eyebrows. There was a dull ache in her body, especially her back and arms. She opened her eyes when she felt a hand in her hair. She smiled, "Hey, ma."

Tears formed in Yoko's water line as she stared at Yoshiko. She wiped her eyes and grinned, "Welcome back, Yoshi."

"Don't cry, Mama. I'm back." Yoshiko reached to wipe her mother's face, yelping when she felt a painful shock in her arm. She looked down at her arms to see they were in casts.

"You broke your arms with that explosion," Yoko stated, "I've never seen anything like it. The whole port shook from it, and we thought it was an earthquake till we looked at the sea. What was that?"

"That's the result of me and Katsuki going all out without a care." Yoshiko smirked, "We call it hypernova. Nothing like the explosion at the sports fest."

"You kids," Yoshiko chuckled and shook her head, thinking of how Yoshiko had found someone who was perfect for her.

"Is Katsuki alright?" Yoshiko asked.

"He is," Yoko replied, "He had a few minor injuries here and there, but he's alright otherwise."

"That's nice." Yoshiko hummed, "What about the others?"

"We managed to get everyone out of the tunnels before they collapsed," Yoko leaned back in her chair, recalling yesterday's events, "Everyone's fine. The Quirk Elites' leader was rescued along with you and Katsuki. He's doing well at the prison hospital right now." A long pause. "Daisuke got arrested."

"Of course," Yoshiko muttered.

Yoko swallowed painfully, staring at Yoshiko's casts and bandages. If she had believed her earlier, she could have prevented this from happening. Yoshiko noticed her mother staring at her injuries guiltily and sighed, "Look ma," she started, "I know what you're thinking. It would be best if you had believed me when I first told you he was alive- which is true, but it's already happened now. There's no point in thinking about it. I'm fine, Daisuke's fine, even though he's in prison for now. We're both home, and The Quirk Elites got arrested. I'm not mad at you, and I don't blame you, myself or anyone for this. Not even Daisuke. So please, smile for me."

"Yoshiko..." Yoko kissed her daughter's forehead, "I'm still sorry. There's so much I could have done. Even after that, it took me so long to find you. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, mama." Yoshiko kissed Yoko's cheek, "It's alright. Did you get to talk to Dai?"

"I couldn't." Yoko mumbled, "He just hugged me and let himself get arrested. Plus, you were at the hospital, and I needed to be here too."

Yoshiko looked up at the ceiling, "He had his memories erased."

"What?"

"Yeah. Dad told me at the Healer's Realm. I didn't believe him at first, but Daisuke really didn't remember anything."

"The Healer's Realm..." Yoko's eyes widened, "Did you see your father?"

"Yes," Yoshiko explained everything that had happened. Getting kidnapped, trying to talk to Daisuke, the Healer's Realm, Shizuka forcing her to join them, Makoto being the MOQ traitor, the quirk-switching pill Shizuka had swallowed, and finally, the details of hers and Bakugo's fight with Shizuka, "Speaking of Makoto, what happened to him?"

"He wasn't aware of what was happening because he was at work. He got arrested at the MOQ."

"Oh, good." Yoshiko glanced at her mother and smiled, "Mama?"