Mystic

Chapter 12

It had been a week since the break-in, and though Y/n had moved back to her dorm, the memory of Ren's intrusion still lingered like a shadow. She had asked Katsuki to help her settle back in, both for the comfort of his company and the security he brought. He'd immediately set to work, checking every corner and crevice, making sure there were no cameras or anything Ren might have left behind. Y/n tried to focus on her desk, tidying up, while Katsuki inspected the rest of her room.

As she opened her cabinet drawers, her gaze froze on a spot where something felt... wrong. She sighed, reaching in and rifling through her belongings. Nothing seemed missing, except... her heart skipped a beat. A small Polaroid picture of herself that she'd taken months ago was gone. In its place was a folded note, the handwriting instantly recognizable. She felt a chill as she picked it up, hesitating before unfolding it.

The words felt suffocating:

"My love Y/n,
I told you I'd come back for you. You are my life, you are my love. You need me, and I need you. I can't breathe without you. I will always find you, wherever you are. And whoever comes between us—I'll take care of them. You belong to me and me only. I'll see you again soon, my love, and next time we will be together. Forever."

Her hand trembled as she read, her heart sinking with a mix of dread and anger. Katsuki came up behind her, having noticed her silence.

"Y/n, what's that?" he asked, reaching over her shoulder to snatch the note from her hand. His eyes moved quickly across the lines, and he let out a low, frustrated growl.

"Jesus, Y/n," he muttered, rubbing a hand across his forehead as he looked at her. "This guy... he thinks he owns you?" His voice tightened with restrained anger. "Calling you his, saying you belong to him? Who the hell does he think he is?"

She offered him a weak smile, trying to brush it off. "I was just about to do that," she said softly as he crumpled up the note and, with a burst of heat, turned it to ash in his hand.

After that, they continued cleaning, Katsuki's eyes sharp and vigilant as he moved through her space. They worked well together, both quietly aware of the lingering tension Ren's note had left behind. Soon, only her closet was left, and they started sorting through her clothes. She laughed as Katsuki grumbled about the mountain of things she decided to let go of, but he helped her fold them and pile them into bags.

As they neared the end, Katsuki reached into the back of her closet and noticed something strange. One stray piece of fabric had snagged on a thin string sticking out of the wall. He frowned, tugging it lightly but finding it wouldn't budge.

"What's wrong, Katsuki?" she asked, glancing over with curiosity.

He shot her a look. "There's a piece of string attached to the wall here. It's weird—like it's hiding something."

"What?" she asked, moving closer. She knelt beside him, and together they inspected the closet floor. Y/n's heart began to pound as she shone her phone's flashlight on the wall. The string disappeared into a small gap, and with a deep breath, she reached out and tugged it firmly. The entire panel shifted, revealing a hidden compartment.

They exchanged a look, both surprised and a little wary. Slowly, Y/n leaned further into the closet, reaching in and pulling out a dusty, tightly shut box. The weight of it felt significant, almost as if it held a piece of her past she had long forgotten.

"What is it?" Katsuki asked, watching as she brought it over to her desk. He stood beside her, his gaze filled with concern and curiosity as she carefully lifted the lid.

Inside lay a collection of photographs, slightly faded but well-preserved. Y/n's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the woman in the pictures—her mother, Mizuki Takara. She held a hand to her mouth, the rush of memories overwhelming her.

"T-that's my mom..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. Katsuki's eyes widened, and he took a step closer.

A tender smile softened his usual scowl. "She was beautiful," he murmured, watching her with a softness rarely seen in his eyes.

Y/n's eyes filled with tears as she gently thumbed through the photos. Some showed her mother alone, others with All Might, and a few had the three of them together—a tiny Y/n, her mother, and the symbol of peace himself, all looking like family. She couldn't help the tears that spilled down her cheeks as she lingered on each photo, remembering the warmth and love she'd once known.

She reached the last photograph, and her eyes fell on a small, gold heart-shaped locket nestled at the bottom of the box. Her hands trembled as she picked it up, realizing with a jolt that it was her mother's necklace. She could barely breathe, her thumb brushing over its smooth surface.

"T-this is her necklace, Kat," she whispered, her eyes shimmering with tears as she looked at him. "I never got the chance to hold it after she passed." Her voice trembled, a hint of sadness coloring her words as she gently traced the heart-shaped pendant with her fingertips.

Katsuki gave a soft hum, guiding her gently to sit on the edge of her bed. He pulled a chair up in front of her, his presence a steady comfort as she clutched the locket. Carefully, she opened it, revealing a tiny picture inside—a young version of herself and her mother, laughing together. The sight shattered the last bit of composure she'd been holding onto.

A sob escaped her, and she buried her face in her hands, the grief of missing her mother suddenly overwhelming. Katsuki reached out, pulling her into a tight embrace, holding her as she let go of the pain she had carried silently for so long.

"I miss her so much," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "Sometimes I wonder... how different things would be if she were still here. I'd give anything just to have her back, just for a day."

Katsuki's hand moved up to rub her back in slow, comforting circles. "I know," he murmured softly, his voice laced with a gentleness he rarely let anyone hear. "But she's still with you, Y/n. Every time you think of her, every memory... that's her with you."

Y/n pulled back slightly, meeting his gaze. "Thank you, Katsuki. For everything. I... I don't know what I'd do without you."

He gave a soft, reassuring smile, wiping a stray tear from her cheek with his thumb. "You don't have to do any of this alone. I'm here for you, okay? Always." He gestured to the locket. "And she's here too. Every step of the way."

She nodded, clutching the locket close to her heart as she felt the weight of her grief ease just a little. With Katsuki beside her and her mother's memory in her hands, she felt a renewed strength rising within her.

The world may have taken her mother away, but here in this quiet moment, with Katsuki's steady presence and her mother's memory so close, she felt that somehow, she would be okay.

authors note:

okay this chapter was a little cuteeee