My Hero Academia Imagines/One-Shot Compilation

The Straw [Toshinori] (Angst)

Ichijiku (Tigress)

Toshinori knows almost every part of me. Strong arms brace me when my knees are too weak to stand. Weathered hands soothe me when I laugh so hard my sides cramp. Even when I'm ranting and irritable, he listens to me vent about injustices I face.

He sees the good, the bad, and the ugliest parts of me and still holds on tight.

I hold onto that promise when I make my bi-weekly phone call to my mother to check in. It's always a coin flip if a phone call home will end in drama, depression, or deceit. Needless to say, I don't have high hopes as the dial tone rings in my ear.

"Ichijiku?" Grandma's voice is the first to come over the phone.

Which wouldn't be odd except my mom always answers her phone, and Grandma sounds out of breath. Is she okay? Is one of them in the hospital? My chest hurts as various scenarios play through the projector of my mind.

"Grandma?" I hop onto the kitchen counter where I have the perfect view of Toshinori through the cracked door of the study. The soft curve of his lips into a smile dampens the anxiety clawing at my heart. "Is Mommy there?"

"Your mother," She begins, and I know there's trouble. "Left her phone here and has not been seen or heard from since this morning!"

Bubbling irritation replaces sheer panic in seconds. This isn't new for my mother, and immediately I jump back off the counter to find something to clean. Focusing my attention on something else helps distract me from my emotions in order to first find my mother. Even from a country away, I'm already strategizing.

"Do you know where she might have gone? Like, did anyone see a car pick her up or did she just sneak out?" I question, chewing at my lip as I turn on the water and start dishes. "Has she been acting strange this week?"

"She's been doing what she normally does and staying cooped up in her room all day on her phone. But it must have been this morning because I went to check on her at about eight and she was in bed." Grandma huffs. "Ami's out there driving to see if she can find her on the trail, but you know I can't go anywhere because I can't leave Grandpa here while he's sick."

"I know, Grandma. I'll see what I can do." I tell her, hearing a beep on the other line. The number is unknown, but my mother has been known to call me and tell on herself. "Hang on, I think she might be calling me from a different phone. I'm going to see who this is."

"Alright, bye."

I swipe on the number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, baby, how are you doing?" Even over the phone, my mom doesn't hide the dull monotone she speaks with. She's learned if she sounds depressed enough, people will give her the attention she so desperately craves.

"Hey, Mommy, what are you up to?" I ask, pretending like I know nothing while I put her on speaker so I can text my aunt after drying my hands. On the phone with Mom now. Will let you know if she tells me where she is.

"Oh, I'm just walking. Trying to get out of the house." She sighs. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing much, just washing some dishes while Toshi reads in the study." I tell her. "You walking on the trail? Is the weather nice?"

"Yeah, I'm over here near the boat ramp...just watching the boats." Every exhale she makes sends static through the phone. "How are you and Tosh...Toshi...nomi? Ah, I can't say his name."

"Toshinori is good." I correct her. Said she's at the boat ramp watching the boats. "Is the water up today? Does it look rough?"

Thank you, pumpkin. Headed that way.