Key Holder (Boku no Hero Academia fanfic)

4. Lines in the Sand

*song is for part 2

Sometimes, a tragic incident can bring people together and this is what happened. Following that one nightmare, the girl and the young man became good friends, they trusted one another and talked about various topics.

She told him her first name, the only one she could remember, but it brought back painful memories. So, they gave each other strange nicknames: she was Wai and he was Jio. They were the only ones who knew what the names meant, but that marked a new stage in the relationship.

At one point, the man brought up the subject of school.

"You're like what? Almost seven years old... Kids your age are already in first grade by now... Would you like to go to school too?"

Wai was playing the "Floor is lava" game at the time, but answered promptly nonetheless. "Why? I learn plenty of stuff here or from you. And it's not like I'm such of a social butterfly, so I don't need other kids to have fun"

"True... But even I have my limitations. I don't know enough things to teach you and maybe you haven't noticed, but I'm a couch potato. I bet you would have better playmates at school..."

She only chuckled and continued hopping from one piece of furniture to the next.

"How about this?" Jio tried another approach "I sign you up for first grade at the nearest elementary school, you go for a full week, with an open mind... Are you following? And if you see that the people there have nothing interesting to offer, you can just stay home. What do you think?"

Wai still didn't answer, so the man caught her mid-jump, spun her around and she melted in a fit of giggles. Then, putting on a mock-serious face, she stretched out a hand and said "We have a deal."

They shook on it and soon after, the girl was a regular little student who enjoyed learning. That first week, she was completely charmed by the classroom, the teacher, the other kids and the neverending activities and games.

Every day, she went to school on foot by herself and returned with a grin just as big as when she left. Over lunch or dinner, she would tell Jio all about the things she did and saw and discovered and he attentively listened to her stories.

Around three months in, however, she came home, slammed the apartment door, hurled her little bag off to the side and flopped facedown onto the couch. Surprised by her new attitude, Jio asked her what was wrong.

"Today started off as a nice day, you know?" she grumbled "But then, right before we left, we got homework!"

"That's what happens at school. You get homework." the man said, confused.

"Yeah, I know that! But guess what it is?! 'Describe your family'!" she griped on, burying her head in the cushions.

"Oh" he froze for a moment, gauging her state. "So I take it you're not exactly mad, but sad?"

When she rolled to face him, the answer was obvious. Her eyes were wide and unhappy and the tiny pout and lip quiver make it seem like she was about to cry.

"What am I even supposed to say?" she said, rubbing her eyes. "I mean, they're all gone..."

"They may be gone" Jio treaded carefully "But you still have your memories of them, right? They should help you do a great presentation."

"I guess..." Wai retrieved her notebook and colored pencils from where she had thrown them, sat at the table and prepared to draw. "Let's see... my mom, her name was Saki and she was very pretty... she had long white hair, grey eyes and a kind smile" she talked while she drew, as if in her own world.