Linked Paths

Arc I - Closer to You [Chapter 1: If I were You, or am I?]

Mom: “Sweethearts!!! Come in, fortify yourselves first. We thought you must be very hungry. So Mitsuki and I have organized plenty of food!”

Kacchan doesn’t hesitate. With his typical behavior he takes a seat on the table opposite his mother and vigorously fills up food. I shake my head in disbelief. Auntie Mitsuki is saying what I am thinking.

Auntie Mitsuki: “Seeing you in Izuku’s form with your manner is the strangest thing I have ever witnessed.”

Kacchan: “Hah!? It’s bad enough to be stuck in his damn body, so at least the rest ‘me’ is allowed to stay, isn’t it?!”

He’s right. The body swap is bad enough. Having to restrict your behavior, just so that the others don’t feel out of place, would simply be too exhausting for me also.

My mother and I take a seat shortly after. With relaxing a little now, I realize how hungry this body already is. I help myself to a good portion of the curry. The curry looks like a mild type, nevertheless I can’t help but wonder if I would mind the spiciness in Kacchan’s body at all. Before my mother takes her first bite, she sighs loudly.

Mom: “I’m so sorry for both of you. If we are already so overwhelmed with the situation, I don’t even want to imagine what it must be like for you…”

Auntie Mitsuki: “Yeah, it must be really tough, but nothing we can’t fix. The U.A. will pull out all the stops to help you. Things certainly won’t be like this for long.”, *motivating*

Mom: “Of course, we are there for you if you need our support. Just a phone call away.”, *loving gaze*

“Thanks, mom and auntie.”, I smile thankfully.

Auntie Mitsuki: “Ha~, my brat’s calm voice is so beautiful. What a waste that he’s always yelling.”

I suppress a giggle rather badly. You really don’t get to hear his calm voice often.

Mom: *chuckles*

Kacchan: “Tch.”

Everyone, except Kacchan, starts laughing due to his reaction. I haven’t heard Kacchan’s laugh in decades either. It’s so weird!

Auntie Mitsuki: “Even if the situation could be better, I am happy to sit and eat together with you three. We haven’t done something like that in a long time…”

Mom: “You’re right! Maybe we four can get together like this more often again.”

I’m very ambivalent about this statement. Even though Kacchan and I have known each other since I was four years old, we were something like friends for only a short time. In fact, most of the time the exact opposite was the case. Something that our mothers, as best buddies, denied, ignored, or didn’t clearly see. Plus, they simply don’t know everything.

Things have gotten a tiny bit better with Kacchan and me since we started at U.A. I mean, at least we completely ignore each other in peace and stay out of each other’s way, and as long as it doesn’t get as bad as it was at a previous point, I’m already relieved.

On the other hand, it’s nice to get together again as it feels kind of nostalgic.

Then there is the current situation with our body swap that makes me want to see as few people as possible.

Anyway, we enjoy the meal together and talk about everyday things. As best I can, I try to distract myself. The curry is delicious, the atmosphere as relaxed as possible. About one and a half hours later, we say goodbye to each other. Our mothers assure us anew that they would be there for us in this complicated situation if we needed them.