Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Vongrak.
Iori POV.
"Annette, sit down." I ordered her firmly. Annette just flinched and looked at me as if I'd hit her puppy. I just stared at her impassively and raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. I had raised Izumi; that face wasn't going to change my mind.
"B-but-"
"Sit down." I interrupted her once again. Annette just squirmed while biting her lip. It was rare to see a grown woman behave this way, but certainly not… unpleasant at all.
She and Taylor had only just begun to improve their relationship. And despite everything that had happened, Annette cared deeply for Taylor, enough to be a bundle of nerves as the broadcast of the raid on Jeju Island was about to begin.
Finally, Annette pouted as she sat to my left. Even so, she continued to squirm with anxiety. I could only sigh wearily.
"When are you going to start?" Rumi asked impatiently. Her foot tapped rapidly. Like… very fast, the noise was almost a buzz, instead of tapping. Despite how tough and indifferent she tried to appear, she was worried about Izumi too. I could feel a warm sensation in my chest at the thought that Rumi actually cared about Izumi on some level. It was… it was good. My hand went up to Rumi's thigh and I gently squeezed it, stopping her movement.
"They just announced the groups and the overall plan, they said they're heading towards Jeju, so the broadcast should start soon." I said softly.
"I can't believe Taylor was added to the main raid group; she's just a student," Annette said shakily. I stopped.
"She's an S-rank, stop crying. She's just doing her job," Ryuma said dully, lying on the floor and staring at the screen. Annette flinched slightly, and I glared at Ryuma for his insensitivity.
"Taylor is strong. Her quirk is really good for that situation. And she'll be protected by the S-ranks of Korea." I told Annette gently. Annette breathed shakily as I nodded.
"I know, I know, I know, but... it's... it's the first time I've seen her in danger." Annette murmured nervously, licking her dry lips. "I mean... when she was in Brockton Bay for her internships, it was rare to see live streams of her, so I only found out about fights after they were over."
"And I also saw her fight on Kamino. She wasn't fighting against... against that villain with the national ranks, but she was in the middle of danger. And I... I couldn't communicate with her at any point."
"I couldn't look for them or make sure she was completely okay. I... I'm sorry. I know it's my fault, but I'm just... I'm afraid I wouldn't know anything if something happens, or something, or I—" Annette broke off, biting her lip. I just sighed and placed my hand on Annette's wrist to comfort her.
Annette still had many problems to solve. She was on the right track, but it would certainly take time. Annette was a bundle of nerves, and often barely ate. She relaxed more and more with each call from Taylor, but sometimes it was worse. I had managed to get her to eat enough to gain a little weight, at least enough to overcome the malnutrition she had suffered when she arrived in Japan.
But the nervousness and anxiety spikes weren't something that could be resolved overnight, and the incursion into Jeju was too fast for her to get used to.
"How do you do it? Why don't you seem so worried?" Annette asked immediately, looking at me. I just looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I am." I said honestly. Annette looked at me in surprise.
"Are you? I mean... you don't look it." Annette said uncertainly. I just shrugged.
"I was taught from a young age not to show my emotions. I've gotten good at hiding it," I said honestly. Annette looked confused, but I didn't say anything else. Next to me, Rumi just grunted. I smiled slightly but didn't turn to look at her. "But yes, I'm nervous. It's... I don't think it's something you get used to. No matter how strong they are, even if you know it, it doesn't make it any better, not really. Not when your child is out there fighting... fighting villains and dangers that we can't defend them from."
"But... it gets easier to deal with. We just... have to trust them to keep us safe." I said gently. Annette just looked at me and bit her lip. Then she breathed shakily as she nodded.
"It's starting," Rumi said immediately, drawing our attention. Annette and I turned our heads toward the screen. Just as Rumi had said, the broadcast of the Jeju raid had finally begun. I could see Annette tense up completely, and I did too.
I stared at the screen. Everyone, and finally, the screen focused on Taylor. I just stared at her. The broadcast continued as they descended toward Jeju Island, right in the center of the island's volcano, in the middle of the anthill. I tensed up a little more.
Then Taylor opened her mouth and started babbling about anthills with complete nonchalance in the middle of an international broadcast, only to shrink back in embarrassment. Rumi and Ryuuma burst out laughing at the same time.
I could only smile amusedly as I listened to Taylor babble about insects. Annette next to me did the same. It seemed the scene had relaxed her much more than anything I could have said to her.
"Taylor has always been a very talkative girl," Annette said softly. "Especially about insects. She'd make us buy her huge encyclopedias and atlases about all kinds of insects because she loved learning about them. Then, when she found something interesting, she could talk about it for 20 minutes straight." Annette sighed, smiling gently. "She... she's changed in the last few years. She's become quieter, more withdrawn."
"I... I'm glad that a part of Taylor is still intact. Especially her love for insects," Annette said softly. I just looked at her gently and nodded.
"She still has them," I said gently. "The books," I added. Annette's eyes widened slightly. "And she's added more to her collection. She's bought several books about insects native to Japan, and every now and then she adds a new one from other countries. She always has a smile on her face when she reads them," I said softly. Annette looked at me in surprise before smiling broadly. Then she looked back at the screen, much calmer.
The longer the raid went on, the calmer Annette became. Especially since Taylor was handling things brilliantly. She had somehow managed to become the raid group's guide and kept dropping hints about ants from one person to another.
The fights were a bit tense, but at no point did Taylor seem to be in danger. They seemed to have everything well under control.
Until that mutant humanoid ant appeared. I could feel my nails digging into my palm and my foot bouncing anxiously as I watched that ant destroy the Korean group and Taylor in seconds.
I could only let out the sigh of relief I had been holding in when that ant left, leaving everyone alive, although somewhat injured.
"Oh goddess, oh goddess, oh goddess. What was that?" Annette asked, trembling and completely pale. She almost looked like she was about to faint.
"A hidden boss." Ryuma said, frowning, standing completely upright and serious for the first time since the broadcast began. He, too, had moved closer to watch the fight and was slightly tense. "A monster that was born, created, or hidden, and that is equal to or stronger than the dungeon boss." He explained, still frowning.
"That thing just defeated the Korean group! They have to evacuate immediately!" Annette said in a panic.
"She left because of the Japanese. Izumi is there," Rumi said solemnly. I tensed slightly. I almost wanted to curse when I realized there were no cameras broadcasting what the Japanese group was doing.
I could only stare uselessly at the screen as I watched the Korean group argue. I only relaxed slightly when Izumi appeared with the rest of the Japanese group through their shadows.
And that was until the humanoid ant reappeared, and Izumi walked toward it to confront it directly. I tensed slightly as I watched them fight at a terrifying speed that I couldn't keep up with.
"Izumi is winning," Ryuma said easily, staring unblinkingly at the screen. I sighed in relief and calmed down even more at his words. I continued watching the broadcast, even after the ant swarm arrived; it seemed they had everything under control. It was only a matter of time before the fight was over.
"W-what is she doing?" Annette asked tremulously. "She's wandering away from the group!" Annette squealed, worried, almost panicking. My hand went to her thigh to hold her still. Annette clung to my hand.
Just as Annette had said. Even though they were winning, Taylor had yelled at the group before wandering off for some reason. The cameraman was just an A-rank hunter, and they were all surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of mutant ants. And Taylor had jumped into the middle of the swarm while chasing Izumi.
Izumi was in the middle of a fight where you could barely see anything but a blur and a trail of lights as she crashed into the strong mutant ant.
"Being stupid, that's what she's doing." I said, my eye twitching. That idiot. I'd trusted her to stop Izumi from doing something stupid, but the last thing I needed was for her to do something stupid herself. "Both will be grounded. Until the end of the year." I said tensely, looking around. Annette just let out a gasp of surprise as she looked at everything.
The next few seconds felt incredibly long, especially since we couldn't see either Izumi or Taylor while the fight was going on. I could only hold my breath as I watched everything unfold.
After a few moments, a shower of sword fragments riddled and pierced all the ants, killing them instantly. The cameraman finally captured Izumi's body as she controlled the sword fragments and scattered them throughout the anthill.
"Taylor!" Annette screamed in panic as she saw Taylor lying unconscious on the floor next to Izumi and… the mutant monster. The ant had lost its arms and legs and was also unconscious. What… what had happened?
We all anxiously watched the screen as the broadcast continued. Izumi explained a few things, but it didn't help matters. To my dismay, the broadcast cut out just as everyone was boarding the helicopter to pick it up. I stared impatiently at the screen until my scroll wheel clicked slightly.
"Izumi sent me a message," I said immediately. Both Annette and Rumi practically glued themselves to me and looked at the message.
"Traveling back to Korea. Taylor is fine, just unconscious. They'll check her out once we arrive. I'll call as soon as I have more information. Don't worry. I'll be in touch in about 2 hours." Rumi read over my shoulder. She just sighed and slumped back in her seat.
"Okay, okay, Taylor's fine," Annette sighed, trembling even more as she tried to calm herself. I sighed with relief too, nodding. I quickly typed a reply to keep her updated before putting my phone down on the table.
The next two hours felt incredibly long. I had tried to do something else to distract myself—talk to Rumi, make some snacks, watch the news about the raid and any information they might have— but even so, they dragged on.
And mainly for one reason.
"Iori! You have to call them! It's been more than two hours!" Annette said anxiously as she paced back and forth.
"He said approximately. Only five minutes had passed out of the two hours he mentioned." I said, not very patiently. My eye was twitching slightly. Annette hadn't stopped talking for the past two hours.
"That's a long time! What if something happens to her?! What if there's an emergency?! What if there was a complication and that's why she's taking so long to call?! What if-"
"Annette!" I snapped, stopping her abruptly. Once again, Annette pouted as if I'd hit her puppy. I rubbed my temple. "Just... sit down, please. Izumi will call when he has information," I said wearily.
"But—" Annette tried to say before stopping when my phone started ringing. "It's ringing! Iori! Answer it! He's calling! It's Taylor!" Annette screamed in a panic as she grabbed my arm and started moving me from side to side.
"Annette!" I blurted out again. Annette immediately moved and sat in the nearest seat, anxiously looking at her phone. I just sighed, picked up the phone, and stopped. I frowned slightly when I saw Taylor's number and not Izumi's. That meant…
I answered the call while it was on speakerphone. The phone remained silent for a few seconds.
"Mother," Izumi's voice said through the phone. I frowned and pushed away the pang of disappointment at not hearing Taylor's voice. Now I was just more confused as to why Izumi had her Scroll.
"Son," I said simply, holding the phone up to me. The phone went silent. I saw Annette squirm; she was about to speak, but I glared at her to silence her. I just stayed silent. I let the silence drag on uncomfortably. And 3, 2—
"It wasn't my fault!" Izumi squealed in a panic, as he always did when he caught him red-handed doing something stupid. "I mean, it's partly wrong to assume that everything that happened in the fight is entirely my fault. I was just chilling with the mutant ant. And then Taylor comes out of nowhere and says she wants to do something stupid."
"And I want to make it clear that I totally disapprove of Taylor's completely idiotic behavior. But I said, we're husband and wife, for better or for worse, and for idiotic decisions. And she looked at me with that totally cute, pure-determined face of hers. The one she makes when she furrows her brows, presses her lips into a thin line, and opens her eyes wide, completely focused, and I just gave up."
"It's unfair. Totally unfair, I'm telling you. I'm just a man, Mom, this is all Taylor's fault. She came up with the idea, and she was really beautiful, and the adrenaline from the fight wouldn't let me concentrate properly, and-"
"Izumi," I interrupted Izumi's rant sharply. I ignored Rumi's laughter, Ryuma's guffaw, and Annette's incredulous and utterly confused expression.
"Yes, Mom, I'm sorry, Mom," Izumi said immediately, sounding dutifully scolded and resigned. I took a deep breath while massaging the bridge of my nose.
"How's Taylor?" I asked directly. Izumi just sighed slightly.
"Still unconscious," Izumi said, and I straightened up slightly. "But she's recovering. Physically, she's completely healthy, and her aura is regenerating at a good pace. The doctors don't think it will take long for her to wake up. She simply overexerted her quirk; she needs to rest," Izumi said gently. I digested the words before nodding.
"Good. I'm glad." I said with a sigh. "Do you need me to go to Korea?" I asked immediately.
"It's not necessary, Mom," Izumi said gently. "Although I'm sure it will be a pleasant surprise for Taylor, the doctors don't really think it's anything serious. She just needs to rest." Izumi said easily. I just nodded.
"Very well, son. Keep me updated on everything. And... I'm happy that everyone is okay. I'm glad that you and Mai are okay too," I said warmly. Izumi laughed slightly.
"You have nothing to worry about, Mom. I just had a few bruises and scratches that have already healed. A little tired, but nothing out of the ordinary," Izumo said gently. I just nodded and sighed.
"Okay. Make sure you take care of Taylor," I said easily.
"Of course." Izumi said without hesitation and with ease.
"I-" Annette interrupted as she approached. "I-I'm Annette, t-thank you for taking care of Taylor, Izumi-san." Annette said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Annette," Izumi said playfully. "You don't have to thank me for taking care of my wife." Annette visibly calmed down as she nodded.
"Even so... thank you." Annette said, much calmer. Izumi just hummed.
"Hey! You've been holding back during our training sessions, idiot!" Rumi exclaimed as she approached the phone. Izumi burst out laughing.
"You keep insisting on physical and unarmed combat, I told you I was better with my swords," Izumi said playfully. Rumi clicked her tongue.
"Fine, we'll be training properly when you get here!" Rumi grumbled, slightly grumpy.
"Of course," Izumi said playfully. Ryuma finally stood up and picked up the phone.
"It's me. Can you at least tell us if the girl did what I think she wanted to do? " Ryuma asked playfully. I frowned slightly. Izumi hummed.
"With Taylor still unconscious, we have no idea if she was able to control the mutant insect. I was late calling because we're in lockdown. Or rather, the mutant insect is; I'm on guard to prevent it from going berserk if it wakes up... it's been unconscious, just like Taylor."
"We're waiting for Taylor to wake up to see what happens," Izumi said honestly. My eyebrows rose slightly.
"Uh... interesting," Ryuma said playfully. "I see the girl isn't planning on doing anything less than this," Ryuma said with a mocking smile. "When I get back to Japan, I want to see that ant again," he added casually.
"I'll tell her once she wakes up," Taylor hummed. Ryuma just nodded before tossing me the phone again.
"Make sure you stay in touch." I told Izumi once more.
"Sure. I'm calling from Taylor's Scroll because Principal Nezu has mine. My Scroll... just happened to come across some sensitive information that he needs to review," Izumi said easily. I paused slightly before nodding. I could see Ryuma snort mockingly as he lay back down once more. Rumi just frowned dangerously, and Annette looked confused.
Izumi was referring to Goto and the attempted murder. Izumi had been completely transparent with me and Ryuma. And with Rumi too, since he didn't want me to hide anything from her if I was serious about her. It was... appreciated, and it warmed my heart that Izumi accepted Rumi in such a way.
The only one who truly didn't know anything was Annette. Taylor could understand that; she still didn't fully trust Annette again, and frankly, Annette was already a bundle of nerves just from the break-in; she didn't need to have a panic attack upon learning about the assassination attempt.
"I guess everything's okay, right? " I asked vaguely.
"Yes, don't worry, everything's sorted out, there's nothing to worry about," Izumi said casually. I just nodded.
"Good. I'm glad." I said easily. "Then I won't feel guilty about punishing you." I said dryly.
"Wait, what?" Izumi asked foolishly.
"Until Christmas." I said curtly.
"Wait, wait, wait, I thought I was very specific that it wasn't really my fault!" Izumi said in a panic.
"Yes, I heard you the first time. You're grounded." I said easily.
"Oh come on! That's unfair." Izumi complained with a groan of pain.
"Unfair?" I asked curtly. "Tell me. Did you know that what Taylor was planning was going to work? Were you able to see with your elegant Haki that no accident would happen? You could fight the Ant head-on. Taylor wasn't able to keep up. She was in danger, and you let her get close.
"Whether she asked you to or not, it's your responsibility to keep her safe, no matter if she does stupid things or not. In fact, especially when she does stupid things," I said coldly. I could feel Izumi shudder from afar.
"Yes, Mother. I'm sorry, Mother." Izumi said dejectedly.
"Okay. We'll talk when Taylor wakes up." I said, nodding. "Take care, son, and take care of Taylor and Mai." I said simply.
"I will. I'll call as soon as I have any news," Izumi said softly. "I love you, Mom. We'll talk later."
"Me too, son," I said more gently. Then the call ended, and I could finally sigh and lean back on the sofa, closing my eyes wearily.
"Are you okay?" Annette asked as she cautiously approached. I just opened one eye and looked at her.
"Trying to comfort me now?" I asked teasingly. Annette blushed slightly.
"Sorry for being nervous!" Annette exclaimed, embarrassed. I chuckled to myself and sighed. They were fine. Or they would be. It was just a matter of time.