Mute

4 | Sleeping Bag

I followed my uncle insistently, showing him the paper repeatedly. I'd lived with him for 2 months now, and hadn't been in this school for an entire month.

"No! I don't want to! It makes no sense!" He whined.

I flashed the paper once more.

"But he has like a hundred!"

I sighed and scribbled something else on the paper, showing him. He read aloud as we walked.

"He'll love it, yeah but he'll never use it! I want to get him something he'll use! That way he wont forget about it like last year and the year before!"

I went to write something else on the paper, but the wind snatched it out of my hands. Both Present Mic and I began chasing after it. Fortunately, someone managed to snatched it out of the air and we quickly caught up to him.

"Yours?" Todoroki offered the paper to us. I nodded with a small smile and took it.

"Thanks Todoroki!" Present Mic grinned. "I was almost afraid we'd have to run down the stairs to get it!" The stairs were still several feet away.

"I didn't think I'd see you here." He addressed me this time and I shrugged.

Present Mic grinned. "She's helping me! Would you like to join us?"

"What are we doing?" Todoroki fell into step beside me as we followed my uncle.

"We're finding out what Aizawa likes best so I can get him the best birthday present!"

I scribbled something on the paper, showing it to the male. "We're snooping."

Todoroki sighed. "I don't think we should be doing that sir, but you could get him a sleeping bag."

My uncle groaned. "Did Emiko tell you to say that? He already has like a hundred!"

"He only ever uses one."

"Doesn't matter!"

I pulled my book out of my purse and wrote something down before showing it to Todoroki. "He won't listen, he wants to get something Aizawa will use on a daily basis."

"Oh." He thought as we walked, and I was aware we were nearing the teachers lounge. "Sleeping pills."

I shook my head in frustration as Present mic sighed, loudly. "Man! I've thought about that! But he might take too many in an attempt to sleep through his life!"

I held up the paper that had originally said 'sleeping bag'. Again i was ignored. Present Mic walked into the teachers lounge, and I smiled slightly at Todoroki as he held the door open for me.

"Aizawa! Whats up buddy! We were just talking about you!"

"Please don't." Aizawa sighed and glanced at Todoroki and myself as we walked over. I flipped to a new page in my pad and wrote, showing him the words.

"Sleeping bags."

I nodded and showed Todoroki the pad when he glanced at it. I'd asked what he wanted for his birthday. "Is there anything else you'd like sir? Something you'd use often?"

Aizawa considered that. "Ear Plugs." He eventually decided, we all ignored my uncle as he continued talking, completely oblivious to our conversation.

I sat on the couch, fully aware we could be here for a while. Todoroki stood beside me, and we listened to my uncle happily cheer while Aizawa gave short replies. I wondered how he dealt with my uncle for so long.

Our rather amusing listening and conversation was interrupted by a small 8 year old boy bursting into the room with a grin. "Hi! Emiko! I got you a present!" He bounced over to me, completely ignoring everyone else as he hopped onto my lap and held up a bright pink flower. "Isn't it pretty?"

I nodded with a smile, taking the flower from him.

"The ladybug flew away, but I thought it was cool! It matches your curtains right?"

I nodded, agreeing. It was the same shade too, which was cool. I tucked the flower in my hair, smiling as he turned his attention to the still talking adults.

"What are they talking about?"

I tapped his arm twice, on the elbow and upper arm, rubbing his pinky with mine to finish. He nodded in understanding.

"I thought Uncle Yamada was getting him a sleeping bag?"

Todoroki leaned on the back of the couch curiously, "You understood her?"

My brother stared at him like he was stupid. "Well yeah, its our secret code! Emiko doesnt talk! So we invented this way so she didn't have to!"

I nodded when he glanced at me. Present Mic suddenly spoke up. "Right! We're getting a birthday cake!"

"Cool! We should get a superhero themed one!" My brother bounced off my lap to cheer excitedly.

I stood much slower, smiling slightly as I watched him run around our uncles legs. Todoroki followed us into the hallway, walking beside me. "I'll be going then, Midoriya asked me to pick up a book for him."

I nodded, fully understanding. I flashed a smile and I quick wave as we split ways, quickening my pace in order to catch up with my family.