Mystery from Another World--MHA

Part 50: Hawks vs. a bat man

They walked in. Momo was not sure what she was expecting, but she wasn't ready for a young looking woman with white hair, who looked exactly like Todoroki, and looked incredibly calm. Though slightly uncertain.

"Mom, this is Likstar-San and Yaoyurozu Momo..." Todoroki explained, "And this is my mom, Rei."

"Hi," Shine smiled, "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise..." Rei said quietly, "Shoto's told me all about his friends at UA... I never thought I'd get to meet any... Would you like to have a seat?"

Momo wouldn't have, but the other two did, so she did too. What on earth would they talk about? Todoroki wasn't much help. He was looking at Shine like she might go off like a bomb.

"You look just like your mom," Shine said.

Not the right thing! Momo gave her a look. Todoroki stared at Shine. Rei looked at her oddly, then nodded slowly.

"Anyway," Shine shrugged, "since we're all here, I'll bet you're wondering why I go to UA."

"You're a teacher, right?" Rei said.

Shine shot Todoroki an unreadable look. "Yeah, I am. I love kids... even teenagers."

Rei smiled. "Teenagers can be difficult."

"A lot of fun though," Shine said. "Plus, UA's got the brightest bunch of teens I've ever met in one place."

"With their reputation, I would hope so," Rei replied.

"Sure..." Shine started telling her about the students.

Momo relaxed a little over this. Todoroki just watched and listened. It was plain he got his reserve from his mom; she didn't ask any personal questions about any of them or anyone else. She mostly nodded. There was something fragile feeling about her, like her calmness was a hard-earned trait that could be shattered by the wrong thing, but she also seemed like she'd survived a lot of hardship. Shine kept her tone light and easy, and after 10 minutes or so, she looked up at the clock.

"I think I'll get some coffee. Momo, want to come?"

"Oh, sure," Momo followed her out.

"I like her," Shine declared. 

"This is so sad," Momo said, looking downcast, "She shouldn't be here."

"Maybe. I'm not sure, but even so, it's better than being in her previous situation," Shine muttered, "Anyway, I wonder that she can't leave. This whole thing has a hushed up feel to it."

"Yes... Shine you described our class pretty accurately... You've learned all about us in in only a few months, and they still don't know you hardly at all; doesn't that seem unfair?" Momo said, looking at her sideways.

Shine considered as they stopped at the coffee machine. 

"Well, Yao-Momo, I don't really think in terms of fair where this is concerned. Trust, openness, amity, they aren't fair. There's things you choose or don't, usually over time. I trust people as quickly as I can in order to be able to understand them. It seldom works the other way. Maybe it's only right, that I must fight for it. What's it worth if it's not hard?"

"I don't know why you trust us." Momo looked at her cup. "We can't do much to earn it. We haven't helped you. If anything we hold you back. I think, all this time here, you should be somewhere people would be kinder. Maybe more would happen."

"Listen," Shine said, "more happens than you know. And it'd be the same wherever I was. Success is accumulative, not instantaneous, as I think you know. I'm contented to watch it unfold piece by piece until it snowballs into something big. Excuse my mixed metaphors."