𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴

10. tempest

[kill your heroes]

It had been a long time since Rin had come to her grandparents' home. The garden walkway up to the sliding doors had changed, more care dedicated to them these days. The walk was short, but still, Rin couldn't muster the courage to march  up to the door with her surprise visit on her two days off. She felt weak in the knees, too nervous to reach for the door that seemed so far and foreign. It loomed before her like a ghost, and she was caught in paralysis before it.

The chance evaded her when it swung open and a girl with black hair like Rin ran out, followed by her twin brother with silver, dreadlocked hair in a short ponytail.

Yuki stopped in his tracks upon seeing Rin, watching Mizu bump into her by accident with her lack of attention.

It had been two years since she'd last seen them in the flesh, their heights sprouted up since they were nine. They were just as surprised as she was, then ran back inside with joy and chants leaving their frozen sister outside.

From the door her mom appeared, a slender Japanese woman with her hair tied back for housework, freckled with warm, hazel eyes that were yet piercing as ice.

Her jaw hung in surprise. "Rin..."

Rin couldn't hold herself up anymore, dropping to her knees. Choked on her own tears, she began to wail and howl in the garden.

Rin had managed to hold herself together through the semi-finals. Shaking was the worst of her problems throughout the matches. She'd been terrified, confused, anxious, scared, beat down by Bakugo and the crowd but she'd only shown a solemn expression, with her encouragement stemming only from her parents who'd she'd try so hard to become an individual from. She didn't want to be a burden on anyone, but now she felt so alone. Torn between what she thought she wanted and what she ached for.

"Oka-san!" she choked at her feet as her mother approached. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I tried so hard, I tried but... no one will support me now..." she heaved hard as her mother's hand rested on her head. "I... I..."

Her mother knelt and embraced her, drawing her daughter's head into her shoulder as if protecting her from the world. "I support you, I always have no matter what. Don't be sorry, you have nothing to be sorry for. I've placed my troubles on you for so long, I'm so sorry. You're growing up just fine—you will be a hero in no time and no one can stomp out your dream. Rin, it's you I see now."

Fuyu felt the sting at her back where Rin gripped harder, realizing their reconciliation from their unspoken past had come. Rin's ice-cold eyes were different from the storm of Raiden. At first, she couldn't get over the trauma but understanding that their actions were different meant a whole lot more. Not to mention she was the adult, and she'd rejected her own child, as Rin had rejected her quirk. It was time to own up.

"I'm making dinner, so you can go unpack. How long are you staying? We can all sleep together in the room downstairs. Your grandparents are in the back garden. Mizuko, Yukiko, help your sister with her bags! What's up with your school uniform? You have great legs you're supposed to show off, most girls don't choose longer skirts. Have you been eating well? You should go take a bath, there's hot water, and wear something comfier! Damn, you must still be recovering--oops, pardon my language. Do you want anything specific for dinner?" her mother bombarded her with questions, disallowing Rin to even finish standing up, let alone answer.

"Pickled plum?" Rin ventured, letting her younger siblings excitedly grab her stuff and run off.

"Okay! And you like natto, don't you? I'll put some out too! You like fish too, so I'll fry some!" her mother patted her on the back as she lead her inside. "O.K! You remember where the bathroom is? Don't forget to say hi to your grandparents!"