The muffled whispers resonated behind a paper-screened door, as three young children find themselves clustered close together in a storage closet as they attempted to be quiet as possible. At the moment, the little tikes had been in the middle of playing a round of hide-and-seek against their mother, as the awful storm made it difficult for them to venture outside. Rei had seen the solemn look on their faces, feeling the need to boost up their morale, she proposed the idea of the game. With Natsuo napping in the other room close by, she didn't see the harm in playing the innocent game, it had actually even made it easier on her with keeping the volume to a minimum. Frowns turning downside up, they quickly agreed. Once the white haired woman had turned around to the closest wall to start counting down, she could hear the scuttling of tiny feet coming in contact with the tatami mats.

The oldest of the bunch, Toya, had been too busy contemplating which part of the house had the best hiding spot, that he didn't notice the twins, Fuyumi and Yosuke, following close behind. Knowing that his mother should be nearing to counting zero, Toya-kun quickly pushed a random shoji door open on his right side. Once inside the narrow area, before shifting to shut the door, Toya had been knocked into from behind with such force, he had found himself on the ground and feeling heavy weight on his back.

Immediately, pushing her brother, Yosu-kun, inside the closet, Fuyumi closed the door. As she had leaned her ear against the door, she could hear her mother exclaiming, if they were ready. Cracking the door open a little, she hastily replied ready and slid the door shut once again. Leaning into the door once more, she heard her mother's footsteps going in the opposite direction of the house.

Letting out a sigh, Fuyumi quickly said, "wahh lucky, that was close. Right guys?" she questioned, turning to face her brothers only to see them in a tangled mess. "Uhh...are you okay?"

Only receiving muffled grunts in return, Fuyumi stood up to help them off each other, which she found quite difficult with all the junk inside taking up most of the space, in the already small room. With limited movements, she had separated them but now that her aniki and nii-chan weren't conjoined together, the limited space became completely occupied.

Seeing the uncomfortable position his sister was in, Toya grabbed her from her tiny waist, making her emit a tiny squeak in return. Quickly placing a hand over her mouth, shushing his sister, he lifted her unto his lap. The small of her back slightly pressing against his chest.

"Be quiet," he whispered into her ear, "or else kaa-san will find us." With a nod of her head, he steadily removed his hand. "So why are you two following me? Couldn't you go hide somewhere else?"

"Yea...but we wanted to hide together with onii-san." Fuyumi replied while fiddling with a white strand of her hair in a shy manner.

"Are you going to hide somewhere else now aniki? Do you not want to be with us?" Yosuke spoke out, catching his older brother off guard.

Although the older red head couldn't clearly see their faces even with the small amount of light streaming through, he caught the glossy glint of tears in his otouto's gray eyes. He could also feel the slight tremble come across his torso and lap, most likely from Fuyumi emotionally acting up as well. Completely not understanding why, as he didn't mean for his statement to come out harshly, he quickly tried to dissipate the gloomy atmosphere.

"No, no, no...it's that's not it. I love hiding with you guys," adding a smile to give them some comfort, "so don't be such crybabies. If you cry, I will leave you two here," his smile twisting into a teasing smirk in the process.

At the mention of being called crybabies, both the twin's faces had been cleared of any previous emotion. Suddenly being replaced with narrowing eyes, flaring nostrils, and throbbing veins, they turned on him, completely forgetting about the game.

"Hey! Take it back! We aren't crybabies, you meanie," Yosuke retorted back, quickly followed by Fuyumi. "Aniki, you're a meanie. We're going to tell okaa-san."

Not taking the "measly" threat literally, Toya-kun had taken it upon himself to keep teasing the duo. "No you wouldn't. Besides, I'm older than you guys. Who do you think kaa-san will believe, you crybabies or me?"

Yosuke stood up abruptly- slightly knocking into his sister's leg, pointing his chubby finger straight at the red head. "She would believe us, baka aniki," a triumphant smirk making its way unto his face, "don't you know that two are better than one." Swiftly taking his nee-chan's hand in his, dragging her up in the progress, he slid the door open and ran with his sister in tow.

"Kaa-san! Aniki is being a big meanie to me and nee-chan!"

Recovering from his dumbfounded state, Toya gave chase after them. With a bead of sweat running down his face, he honestly didn't think that Yosuke was daring enough to follow through with it. Crybaby or not he sure doesn't disappoint, he thought to himself, while he ran after the pair.

Catching up rather quickly to the two, "ah-ha I caught you", Toya scooped the both of them up in his arms not knowing that the twins weights' combined would bring all three of them. Taking a moment to realize what had just happened, all three of them started giggling in the middle of the living room. Toya took the opportunity to attack them now for threatening him earlier. He rolled Yosuke and Fuyumi over on their backs and began to tickle them until they couldn't breath. The twins began to screech in laughter, writhing their little bodies to escape the hands of their older brother.

Hearing the sound of laughter, Rei couldn't help but smile. The older bunch of her children seemed to have been having fun all on their own. Sneakily making her way to the middle of the house, Rei looked around the corner to find out why her babies were laughing about. She found her oldest mischievously grinning from end to end while tickling the twins to the point of exploding. Letting out a giggle out herself, Rei thought the twins needed a break from all the laughing, so she walked into the laugh party making herself known.

"I think they've had enough Toya, don't you think," Rei said gaining the attention of the children. Quickly seizing the attack, Toya let go of his siblings. In turn he raised a hand to scratch the back of his neck out of embarrassment, for being caught by his mother. Yosuke and Fuyumi on the other hand seemed relieved to finally catch their breath after laughing so hard that their tummies hurt.

"Now why are you three having a tickling party without me," Rei said while pouting her lip, "didn't we agree to play hide-and-seek."

"Gomen okaa-san but these two deserved it," Toya said accusingly pointing at his siblings. "This was just pay back for what they did," he finished off while lifting his chin in the air and crossing his arms.

The twins were left gaping at their older brother, not believing what they had heard.

Not letting Toya get away with it, Yosuke let out his side of the story. "Aniki called me and nee-chan crybabies kaa-san," he pointed towards Toya, "he's lying right Yumi?"

She quickly nodded her head. "Yosu-nii is telling the truth." Rising up from the floor, she ran towards her mother hugging her legs. "You believe us right kaa-san," looking upwards to Rei with a pouty face for extra effect.

Seeing his sister downplaying the act, Yosuke grabbed his mother's other leg, bunching up her skirt in his tiny fists, pressing his face against it.

Now it was Toya's turn to gape at his younger siblings. 'How could they act like that for five year olds' even though he was only seven himself. Getting his act together, Toya went up to his mother and hugged her from behind. "Okaa-san who do you believe," letting out a fake sob to gain her attention, "me right?"

Rei could easily tell that they were all acting up but being the playful woman she is, she decided to go along with their little act. "I don't know honey," placing her hand against her forehead and sighing, "let's see who loves me more than I will decide." Hell broke loose from that point, fighting and gripping for their mother's attention. Kneeling on her knees, Rei brought all of them into a big bear hug. Laughing at the touching moment, a wailing in the background brought the family to look over their shoulders.

"Well it seems Natsuo doesn't like being left out either," looking at the three with a loving smile.

Hearing her younger brother's name, Fuyumi's eyes seemed to sparkle. "I can take care of him okaa-san," she offered willingly towards her mother. Fuyumi loved looking over her younger brother. Sure she had Toya and Yosuke, but she felt the need take care of him and someday he would look up to her in return.

Seeing Fuyumi's eagerness, Rei couldn't possibly deny her, "Alright sweetheart, but if he needs a diaper change or his bottle just let me know." "Now I would love to keep playing with you boys but I have to start on dinner soon."
She shifts her head to look at Toya, "besides it's time for you to start heading to the training room, before your father gets home."

"But.."

"No buts Toya. You know what'll happen if your father doesn't find you training. Now go." She said it but with defiance dripping from her voice and a pointed look. Rei was serious.

A side that Yosuke hadn't really seen any other time. Only when he or Fuyumi got scolded when they were out of line but this time was different. Behind Rei's eyes there was hint of weariness that didn't go unnoticed by Yosuke.
"What will happen okaa-san?" Yosuke's curiosity shined through. His comment brought his mom to go stiff and rigid.

Rei didn't know how to respond. Her other children were too young. Although Toya was seven years old and had a very powerful quirk, it did not mean that she wanted the rest of them to be trained until they dropped from exhaustion. Enji was a very strict man. The reason why they had married, was only because of her ice quirk. She wasn't a hero or in a position where her quirk could be put to good use, but it was strong enough to be. However in Enji's eyes, she was to be the one who gave birth to his children. Powerful children. One that would be gifted with not only Enjis's quirk but Rei's quirk as well. Their only purpose in life would be to surpass All Might. It was cruel idea, bringing children into the world with a predestined destiny that they mostly won't want, but their happiness would be shoved to the side. Rei knew all about it. She born and raised to be a housewife to a person of high stature. Her parents didn't take into account what she would've liked to do with her own life. Her life was their property just waiting to be auctioned off.

Rei was lost in her thoughts. It wasn't until a tiny hand touched her cheek, wiping a tear that had been making its way down. She made eye contact with Yosuke. "Okaa-san are you okay?" He was worried. His face and tone of voice said it all. How could I let my true emotions show through' she thought to herself, 'I need to dissipate the situation before it starts escalating and this time I won't be able to holdback. "It's nothing to worry about sweetheart, probably just allergies," finishing with a sweet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Pressing her cheek into Yosuke's small hand, she stood up, smoothing any wrinkles on her apron, and made her way into the kitchen. Stopping by the paper door, Rei turned over her shoulder, "Yosuke go help your sister with Natsuo. I'll make my way to the room and get you for dinner in a bit." Letting her son through, she fixed her eyes on her oldest. "You should head to the training room. Your farther will be home soon." Letting his head drop, Tora nodded his head in acknowledgment and left the room. Rei's eyes trailed after him, with a heavy sigh, she went back into kitchen to prepare the rest of the dinner.