Muted Voices (A BNHA/MHA x OC Fanfic)

Chapter 4: New School and New Friends

It felt like the moment I got out of a hole, I fell back in. My thoughts were going around and around, but I forced myself to stay positive. I couldn't let myself fall apart. Not when I had just gotten myself back together. But I was wrestling a feather pillow with no stitching, grabbing feathers out of the air and shoving them back in, only to push more out the other side. 

I dropped to the ground and let myself cry. Mic handed me the tissue box from my bedside table, then walked out of the room and came back 30 minutes later with pizza, ice cream, a laptop, and three movies. He had gone to the store and bought Disney movies for me. 

Though with Grandma gone, that whole collection is mine now, I thought to myself, which made me cry even more inconsolably. I don't want it! I've only known it as hers! How can it possibly be mine?!?

We sat on the bed and watched The Lion King, Frozen, and Cars while stuffing our faces. He let me eat most of the food though. He claimed to have already eaten, but I knew better. He was just much too stubborn to eat a fourth slice of pizza. 

I woke up the next morning, tucked in, with all our scraps of food gone. Well at least he's responsible. Even if he does own this Playboy mansion. 

I got up and took a long shower before getting dressed and finishing unpacking the last of my clothes. 

"Hey, Koto! Are you ready to go shopping today or are you not feeling it?!?" He shouted as he walked down the hall to my room. I opened the door and nodded. I needed to do something. In my head, I was still grieving heavily. How could I not be? But I guess I didn't have a home back in the US anymore. My home was here. I had to accept that as my reality. I drearily continued living through the week, gliding around as a ghost of my old self. 

When the weekend came around, we woke up to my other boxes of stuff being delivered. There were some that I recognized, but I didn't know we had sent. 

"What are the Disney boxes doing here?" I signed to Mic. 

He sighed and started heaving them inside. I helped, but I was very weak and could only lift the light ones. "Your grandmother told me to send them as well. She was trying to put on a brave face for you, but she knew she wouldn't have much time left. These were left to you in her will, so she just had me send them with the rest of your stuff. I hope that's okay."

I wiped the tears out of my eyes and signed, "thank you."

On Sunday, I had finished unpacking my last box of electronics I'd been tinkering on, so I started looking through the Disney boxes and placing them in the proper order in the corner of my room. Tucked down the side of Disney VHS Box 1, there was a wrapped present with a note stuck to it. I opened it to see Grandma's writing. 

"Dear Koto,

There was one more thing that we had passed down that you didn't know about. I feel a bit selfish now, having kept it away from you. There were so many good memories we missed out on just because I kept it to myself. It's an iPod nano that my great-grandmother had. While her daughter collected the Disney movies I know you love, she collected the music she loved that came out when she was growing up. They teach you about the 1970's and 80's in school, but you might not have been taught about the music. In my opinion, it was some of the best to ever be made. And every song she loved is on here as well as some of Grandma's odd finds that she added later. I hope you love listening to it as much as I do. I worry that the poor thing is getting worn out, though. Maybe you could transfer the music to a more reliable device. I know you're good with technology. 

I want to remind you that I love you so much. I know Grandma and Great-Grandma are watching over you right now as well as your parents. By the time you read this, I probably will have joined them. But don't worry, I will never really leave you. This is my way of saying that. You will always have a part of your family with you even if we aren't physically there.