Hemora || BNHA OC Fanfic

chapter 6.5 ➵ memory

"Mom? When was the last time we've cleaned this room?" asked Himura, as she stepped into what was presumed to be their study room. Small particles of dust immediately welcomed her as she opened the door, causing her to sneeze. "It's ... really dusty in here."

"Can't remember," her mother replied, holding up a lambswool duster. "Let's clean together, Ko-chan. You don't have school today, do you?"

Himura looked into the room, seeing the piles of boxes and books stacked around randomly, and imagined seeing her mother cleaning up by herself. A heavy feeling manifested in her chest, and she sighed.

"Nope." Himura flicked on the switch, seeing the colors in the room come to life. Everything felt warm and welcoming.

"I've been meaning to look for your baby pictures, actually." Her mother smiled gently and began to pace around the room, searching through all the books and folders. Himura helped organize them in the bookshelves that they had, which were mostly empty. "I wonder where they are..?"

The peach-haired girl found herself looking into an opened box filled with stuffed animals and quietly picked up the penguin. It was soft, colored in a light blue and had a white belly. She found herself frowning at the toy, feeling a bit nostalgic at the memories she shared with said animal.

—-—

"What does Mr. Penguin say, Koemi?" her father asked with a warm smile.

"He says that I always have to do whatever papa tells me to do," recited little Himura, as she hugged her beloved stuffed animal. "Because that's what a good child does."

"That's right, Koemi." Her father lightly ruffled her hair, and she smiled up at him. "Good children should always listen to them. Okay?"

"Okay," Himura quietly said, as her father picked her up and spun her around. She let out a short giggle.

Her mother went up to them with a glare. "Nagisa, put her down," she stated, coldly.

He turned to her, stopping his movements midway. Himura looked over at her mother with a look of visible confusion, wondering why she was acting so cold. 

She looked back towards her father, who stared back at her with a slight frown gracing his features.

"I need to change her bandages," she stated, gently bringing Himura to her side. "They're starting to bleed through again."

"I'm fine, mama," reassured Himura.

"You're not, Ko-chan. You just can't feel it," she replied, kneeling down to her height and checking her arms.

"She'll be fine by tomorrow," stated her father, staring daggers at the woman. "The more we practice her Quirk, the better she'll withstand the damage done to her body. Stop babying her so much, woman."

"I'm not babying her! I just don't want her to die!" she yelled at him, startling Himura. Her eyes glinted with an unknown emotion—something that little Himura couldn't describe.

Himura looked at her father, who was staring back at her again. "Koemi, go to your room," he ordered.

And with that, she left, bringing the doll with her. As she closed the door to her room, she immediately heard them screaming at each other, like they always did. Himura had always wondered why no tenants came to check in on them. She knew that her neighbors were always out and about, but then there were the people who lived above and below them. 

Did they not care? Were they not worried?

She tried to hold back her tears as she scurried to her bed, holding the stuffed animal close. They continued to scream and yell at each other, as if doing so would eventually slap some sense into them.