The Hope Barely Found

Mirroring

"Um, we're playing video games in the main room. Want to join?" Kirishima asked the three new boys.

Lunch had ended a while ago, and they had the day off to get to know each other.

Shinsou looked at him. "A what now?"

"A... video game?" Kirishima didn't understand what Shinsou was asking.

"What's that?" Todoroki asked.

Kirishima stared at them like they had grown two heads. "Mina! Denki!" He called, and the two kids came right up to them.

"What?"

"They..." Kirishima paused to make it sound dramatic, "don't know what video games are!"

Mina and Denki turned to them. Todoroki and Shinsou just stared. Izuku didn't care, and was same as normal, with his dead look.

"You know... games that you play on a tv?" Denki tried to explain.

"Uh, okay, how do you play said games on a tv?" Todoroki asked. He and Shinsou looked at each other amused. They didn't believe them.

"Come see!" Mina said, pulling them playfully into the living room.

Izuku followed mindlessly, slowly behind.

Pulling everyone into the living room, Mina spent the next hour explaining video games, and showing them how it worked. They got some looks from the other kids, but no one interrupted. Even Izuku was paying slight attention to it.

"So... do you get it now?" Mina asked, as they started their hundredth game of Mario Carts.

"Kinda..." Shinsou breathed, totally entranced with the entire idea.

Todoroki didn't respond, full focus on the game.

Izuku gave a slight nod, which caused Mina to screech in excitement, and get a pillow thrown at her by Sero, who was trying to read on the couch.

"Hey, I'd like to check the news for a minute," Momo asked, coming into the room. "Do you guys mind? I can wait if you want".

"Nah. We're at a good stopping point anyways," Shinsou sighed, putting down the controller.

Todoroki, Mina, Denki and Kirishima copied his movements.

"What are you looking for on the news?" Todoroki asked, and he and Shinsou plopped themselves onto the couch.

Momo went slightly pale and didn't respond, and Mina gave her a reassuring hug and smile.

Izuku turned his attention to her now. He recognized her. Izuku briefly wondered if she would remember who he was, maybe even Eri. Izuku shut down those thoughts before they went any further.

"Um, a while ago, over two years ago now, I was kidnapped". Momo gulped, taking a steadying breathe before continuing. "You see, my parents were very wealthy".

"You don't have to tell us if you don't want to," Shinsou quickly cut in.

"No, it's fine". Momo shot down the idea. If Iida was making an effort for them, like at the table earlier, she could too. "I was kidnapped for ransom by a gang."

Both Izuku and Todoroki tensed up at this, even though Izuku already knew what had happened.

"They were awful, and very... forceful. It wasn't just me. I was brought to a hide out only a couple hours away from here." Momo was looking pale. "It was worst there. I was living with the third in command and a women. At night, other gang members would come to rest and recover, and it was..." she trailed off shivering.