My Hero Academia: Split Path

Chapter 7: Family Matters

The next morning, after the meeting, after the interview, after the horrendous experience that was the old man's death, Sora can barely bring himself to sit up. He lays there, unable to sleep any longer as the hell he experienced haunts him. Those who watched the security cameras that night witnessed the boy's tossing and turning. The sparks that flew from his body every time he screamed. His position in the open holding cell is threatened though when the door to the cell block opens and three people walk in. One he recognises. The officer, Tsukauchi. The others were foreign to him. A danger. Another officer with the head of a cat walks behind Tsukauchi as the bell around the cat officer's neck jingles. The third figure walks in last. A woman with slit pupils, noticeably sharp teeth, a bandana holding most of her hair back though she still maintains her blonde fringe that covers her right eye.

The woman notices that Sora is watching her and smiles kindly at the boy. "Good morning, Sora. How was your sleep?" Tsukauchi questions the boy as he saunters into the cell without a worry in the world. "Better than normal." The boy responds in a somewhat amicable manner, surprising the three of them, though that cat officer merely meows. "Ah, I should introduce you all." He motions with his hands towards the cat officer. "This is my partner, Sansa Tamakawa." The cat officer, now having been introduced, purrs as he bows. The action causes Sora to be at a loss for what to do but relaxes when Tsukauchi motions for him not to worry about it. He then points out the third visitor, the woman. "This is Ryuko Tatsuma. She's a hero, like Allmight." The woman introduced as 'Ryuko' is taken aback by the introduction, flustered by the perceived praise. "I-I don't know if I can be compared to Allmight..."

She laughs nervously until Tsukauchi correct her. "Sorry, I said that because the only other hero Sora's seen is Allmight." "A-Ah...haha." She rubs the back of her head in embarrassment. A few moments later, she snaps out of it and walks towards Sora with a determined expression. When she's within arms reach of the boy, she kneels down to the seated boy. Her stern expression becomes a warm smile. She was nervous. Even Sora could figure that out but what is she nervous about? What could she be planning? "I heard about what you've been through. You're strong. Especially so for a child." "What's your point?" Sora mutters without any tact, cutting off the heroine. "Sorry. I...the truth is, I heard that you don't trust heroes. We failed you. But that's why I'm going to do my best to make it up to you, okay? If there's ever anything you need, don't be afraid to ask me." She smiles sweetly with her sharp teeth showing. A normal child might have been scared but to Sora, they seemed strong, as did she.

                                  ~~~~~

A small breakfast later, the four are on their way to the home of Henso Sakkaku and his family. Sora sits in the back of the police car with Ryuko sitting next to him and the two officers in the front. Music plays on the radio but it goes in one ear and out the other as the boy watches the scenery outside the window. The shops that just opened, the people who rise early for their first pick of the sales and the smell of fresh food as it wafts in through the partially opened window. "Sora, how are you feeling?" Sora looks back at the heroine with a blank expression. "I'm fine." "Do you want to go over what to say to your father?" "No." The boy goes back to looking out the window.

Ryuko sighs as they pull up at a stop light before noticing Sora seems surprisingly focused on a particular sight outside. She follows his line of sight, seeing a group of children his age, enjoying themselves as they explored the morning streets. The three 12 year old girls, a girl with pale skin and blonde hair, a girl with brown hair and a girl with pink skin and hair with two small horns protruding from her head. The third girl seems to be the most excited for whatever they had planned, though the other two quickly got swept up in her enthusiasm. "It won't be much longer until you can make friends like that." Sora turns to face Ryuko once again, this time showing an honest curiosity she had yet to see on his face.