◤ Turbulent ◢ k.bakugo

FOUR

The asphalt is hot beneath your shoes. The soles of your sneakers are so worn down that you can tell the sidewalk was hot enough to fry an egg. The humidity in Japan was horrendous, but you had adjusted to it through your childhood. That did not prevent the filthy clothing from sticking to your skin when you began to sweat. The second your armpits slick over you curl your nose. What's that smell?

Oh.

It's you.

You look at Mizuki. You know she can smell you, but she hasn't said anything. Her smile still hasn't fallen, and her facial expression hasn't changed, either. She looks at you again, and flashes you a bright smile.

"We're almost there. Not too much further, now."

You lower your gaze nervously. You don't know what to expect when you get to wherever she was guiding you. Would her parents be nice like her? Would they be mean and send you away? What would she do about it?

Slowly the main road turns into a neighborhood, and a nice one at that. There are a few cars on the road still but not as many as before. Less passerby as well. This gives you the confidence to walk beside her again and take in your surroundings with wide eyes. The houses are big and beautiful. Some are traditional homes, but a majority are modern. All of them have an array of beautiful, colorful flowers and nicely trimmed bushes and others with tall shiny fences that hide the front yard from your view. You don't think you've ever been in a place like this.

Mizuki stops at a house at the far end of the neighborhood. In the driveway are two vehicles, one silver and one black. The front yard has nicely tended chrysanthemums of warm colors, and a short solid wooden fence halfway back. She leads you to the gate and opens it, pulling you through by hand. After closing it behind you, she jogs to the front door and puts in a code. You can't help but stare at her pretty blue hair when it sways as she bounced up the front steps.

"I'm home!" Her voice is cheerful when she calls inside the house. She steps in and waits for a moment, stopping to look at you. She hasn't taken off her shoes yet. "Mother, we have a guest!"

You wait at the doorway. You don't want to step inside. The house, even the foyer in front of your filthy sneakers is spotless. You feel too disgusting to even be standing on the front porch, honestly. You feel tears brim the corners of your eyes. This is embarrassing.

Only a second goes by before a woman who looks like Mizuki comes down the hallway. Her blue hair is up in a half bun, the rest falling behind her shoulders. Instead of white eyes hers are light blue. She's tall and beautiful; it must be genetic.

"Welcome home, baby!"

She greets her daughter with a hug, kissing the top of her head. Her eyes drift to you, then back to her daughter. Then they pop open in realization of what she was looking at. You still haven't moved from the doorway. You cower and lower your gaze. She straightens and her face falls from surprise to one of calm.

"Mizuki, who is this?" Her voice is soft and you can't tell if it holds harm or not.

Your friend goes back to your side and takes your arm, forcing you into the house before closing the door behind you. It almost felt like she trapped you here. "This is my friend, [Name]! I met her at the park." She says happily when she looks back up at her mother.

Her mother doesn't know what to think. The child standing at her clean and spotless ten-year-olds side is covered from head to toe in dirt and mud. Your hair is tangled, as well. A lot of them look to be more like mats than anything else. She can feel her motherly instincts kicking into overdrive, but knows she should speak to her husband about what her brain is thinking before making any final decisions. Her light blue eyes close and her face explodes into a warm smile.