The walk back to the house isn't that long, but it sure is tiring. I shouldn't be complaining though. I'm the one who decided against taking the bus. Kiri and the majority of the others stayed at the hospital after we all had that talk with Midoriya. I don't know if they're actually crazy enough to do it, but if they do I hope everyone gets back safely. I wanted to help, but I left since it wasn't my place to talk. Yeah, Bakugou is one of my best friends, even if he probably doesn't consider me an acquaintance, but what was I gonna do in a fight with villains? Go stupid?

It's not like I can get any dumber.

I try not to think about it, but the thought always passes my mind. What if I can't go back to normal? I know it probably won't happen since I'm not even using half of my power, but it's not terrible to be worried. Though I should probably have more confidence in my own quirk. I'm too tired to even exert that much energy.

I guess the lack of food, which seemed like a good idea at the time might I mention, and the weight of my not so heavy, but basically is like thirty pounds bag is not a good combination. I feel sluggish, more than usual. I'm definitely walking down the street as if I'm high. I don't have any snacks with me at the moment, but maybe there's a not so moldy apple at the house. Cause that's obviously edible. It's not as if I can just open my fridge to fresh fruit. Mr. Akagi rarely buys food that expires within three months and when he does the expiration date had already passed. The only reason he buys it is because it's on the cheap shelves and even though it's price was probably half a dollar, he still won't let us throw it away. It's just like he says 'If I have the heart to buy you brats some food, you could at least return the favor by eating it. No expiration date should stop you from eating, what else do you have to lose?' I hate it when he does that. He forces the kids to believe that they are worthless, as if Mr. Akagi is the best thing to ever happen to them. I can't stop them from eating the expired food since it's all we have, I can't stop him from saying those words to them either. Thank All Might the kids don't get sick from it.

Anymore

The kids have been on my mind ever since I called Mr. Eto. I'm always worrying if they're okay, but they're with their "grandpa", they should be fine. Which looking at the time means I have to pick them up soon. I don't want them to stay overnight unless I have to. Mr. Eto has early shifts in the library for college students and I can't have the children keep him up.

They do like him better than you

The thought crosses my mind for a second before I quickly erase it.

Just don't think about it

I unlock the door to the house and enter as quietly as I can. Who knows if Mr. Akagi is here? I don't want to wake him up if he is. I don't know his work schedule that much since I work so I'm barely home after four. I walk through and slowly push the door behind me.

"Well look who decided to show up." The voice was deep and full of malice coming from the pitch black entryway which made it scarier than usual. I reach behind me to flick the light on.

"Mr. Akagi, is that you?" My eyes take a moment to adjust to the brightness, but after a while I could see him sitting on the couch with a beer. His hair is sticking up and everywhere making it look greasy, his t-shirt is basically soaked in sweat, and the fact that he only has his boxers on is concerning.

"Who the hell would it be? Your father?" He stands up after placing the drink on the table. 

"So you've been sleeping around huh?"

My breathing hitches. "W-What?"

"You got a check in the mail. Like hell you go to work. It's from some pervert isn't it? You let them touch you for money, is that it?"

My face is full of dread. After looking at my reaction he just assumed he was correct, which he isn't. I don't even think he knows I'm bisexual, so how could he come to the conclusion that I'm sleeping with grown men?! Doesn't he ever see me leave off to work?! Has he seriously never noticed?!

"You heard me." He stumbles over to me. Clearly he's drunk or high. I haven't figured out which one. "Look at all those hickeys as well."

Oh you have got to be kidding me

"I-I don't understand." I take my eyes off of him to steady my breathing. If I could talk to him, we could come to a peaceful understanding. It's just like what Mr. Aizawa taught us the other day. When facing a villain check your surroundings and try to understand the situation before engaging. Mr. Akagi is intoxicated. Not with alcohol since he's not flirty, so maybe we could have a civil conversation.

"Of course you don't. Did you ever understand anything? Is that why your grades look like crap?! Why am I paying for a school that you aren't even succeeding in?!"

"The school is free and about my grades, I'll bring them up I swear! I just need more time during the day to study and ever-." He slapped me on my right cheek. Hard.

"Who said you could talk back?!" I stared at him with wide eyes as a layer of liquid glossed over them. He's angry. Really angry.

"I got a dumbass and a whore. Just like your mother."

"DON'T CALL HER THAT!" Mr. Akagi immediately wraps his hands around my neck and slams me to the wall. He lifts me up a bit only to the point that my legs are able to dangle off the floor. His face is close to mine that I could see a vein popping out from his rage.

"You know why she left you, right? It's the only smart thing she's ever done."

No, not again.

My hands are locked on his wrist as I keep pulling upward. With all the training I've done at U.A. this should be a piece of cake, but I'm struggling to keep myself up.

"Slept with so many men she didn't even know who the father was. That's why she couldn't keep you."

Stop, STOP IT

I should use my quirk. Knock him out in a second, but he squeezes even harder that the idea leaves my mind because if I hurt him he'll hurt them. I shut my eyes to concentrate, but they only fling back open when my grasp slips.

"If she watched you grow up then realize who he was, she wouldn't live with herself."

I'm gasping for the little air that I so desperately need, but can't even reach.

"Surely death was the only option. You already know this part of the story, right?"

Everything has gone hazy. My eyes swell up with tears.

Is this it?

"She got rid of you. Brought you over to me when you were still a newborn."

By now I've given up. I let the words sink in as the last thing I'll hear. 

I want to see them one last time.

"I TOOK YOU IN, YOU HEAR ME?! SHE DIDN'T WANT YOU! I WATCHED YOU GROW UP, I GAVE YOU FOOD AND SHELTER! WHO DO YOU THINK IS PAYING ALL THIS SHIT?!"

He pulls me closer to his face only to spit in it. I don't have the strength to turn my head to the side.

"AND HOW DO YOU REPAY ME?! YOU GO OUT AND DO THE SAME THING SHE DID! SLEEPING WITH OTHER MEN!"

He finally drops me so that I can heave. Greedily gasping for the air I was deprived from. I'm staring at the floor as the tears keep running down my face. I try to get all the air in my lungs as I can, but it only leads me to choke and cough.

"If you like it so much, why don't you come here." It takes me a moment to process what he said, because it has been at least a week since he took advantage of me like this and I don't think I'm fully recovered nor will I ever be.

"n-n no. please, I don't." I keep on rambling. I'd rather him be angry with me than this.

"No? Then get out of my fucking house."

Then again it doesn't seem like a bad idea.

"I give you 3 minutes to get your shit and leave." He walks into the kitchen and the fact that he isn't staring me down anymore already gets me feeling safer, but I quickly brush it off to hurry up the stairs.

I run into my room to hastily put on a change of clothes. A dark blue flannel under a white long sleeve shirt. I take the first jeans that I could see, a random pair of sneakers, and a small box from the corner of my room. After that I rush into Sumie's room to grab a spare change of clothes and her bag. I do the same with the boys. I'm running down the stairs with five bags thrown over my shoulder. I shouldn't have taken that long grabbing the things, but when I make it down the stairs Mr. Akagi is at the door with something in his hand.

"That was longer than 3 minutes don't you think?"

"I'm sorry. I tried to grab everything before I left an-."

"Don't give me your dumb excuses. Since you didn't listen to me, you'll have to be punished."

"I- I thought leaving was the punishment?"

"You thought wrong. Now give me your arm."

I walk cautiously over to him. He's never asked me to give him my arm. There has to be something else.

He takes out whatever he's been holding and I connect the dots.

I thought I hid it. How'd he find it?

Mr. Akagi rolls my sleeves up showing my left arm.

"Let this sink in. It's gonna be the only punishment you get this easy."

He slowly runs the knife diagonally across my arm. It's not as deep as I feared, but it's nothing to scoff at either. I wince and almost pull my arm away, but he quickly finished and rolled my sleeve back down.

"Think of it like that day in the summer." No. Those things are entirely different.

 "Now get out." 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The kids are off this week, so would it be okay if they stay here?" I'm lie to Mr. Eto. I hate to make them miss school, but it's safer this way.

"We're off?" Sumie pops out from behind him. A confused look is on her face. She's too smart to believe there isn't school.

"Yeah, no school." I don't look at her cause I never could lie to her face.

"What about Den Den?" Sumie asks Haru, who is on the other side of Mr. Eto, but instead of answering he looks at me as if he was waiting for me to tell him the real answer.

"I have a field trip. Don't worry I'll be fine." I smile at her to assure everything's okay, but of course she won't believe me. She never liked being away from me for long.

"You didn't tell us before, you always tell us before!" Her eyes start to water.

"I'm sorry, it was a surprise. To keep us on our toes." I kneel down to hug her, but I quickly pull back out once she comes in contact with the cut. I need to find a way to wrap it.

"On your toes?" She looks puzzled which amuses me.

"I'll explain another day." She takes the answer and walks back into the house with Haru.

"I can watch them, it's no problem." Mr. Eto finally says.

"Thank you. I just don't want to leave them with Mr. Akagi since he doesn't get home till later in the day." I place the bags to the side of him with the box inside Haru's.

"Yeah, that's the reason huh?" He studies my face once again to see if I'm hiding anything which I am, but I can't exactly let him know.

"Of course, what else?" I look away from his stern gaze before I do something stupid.

"How'd you get that bruise? Are you shaking?!" He holds me by my shoulders which pulls my eyes back to his face.

"Yeah just a bit nervous for the trip. Last time villains came and one of the students was kidnapped." Which would be true if I was actually going on a trip.

"And the bruise?"

 I stay quiet before looking at my phone which would only arouse suspicions, but I can't think of a good enough lie at the moment, so silence it is. 

"I'm sorry, but I gotta run. I'm already late as it is." I start to walk away only to hear Mr. Eto whisper.

"Please, Denki. Don't do this to yourself."

I'm fine, it's just a bruise.