[Point of view: Third person].
The night completely permeated the busy city of Musutafu with its dark black veil.
A tranquility like no other reached every corner of the city, but unlike the others, one apartment building in particular was about to experience unconventional events and revelations.
"What just happened?" was the light whisper of confusion that escaped Hades's now wet lips.
The gender reveal, of what he thought was a boy with particular tastes, left him thoughtful.
Now many of the mortal's actions and gestures made more sense from his point of view.
To give an example: This explains the real reason why her chest was so soft, or even the reason why her hips grew larger compared to the rest of her body.
But even so, those answers do not allow his thinking to be fixed.
Her heart beat violently as an indescribable heat covered her cheeks.
I didn't understand what that feeling was.
"This is also... Fear?" Hades whispered to himself as he brought one of his hands directly to his chest.
And as he made contact, he could feel his heart beating so violently, it sounded like a tribal war drum.
I was completely confused, I couldn't escape this feeling, the more I did it, the more I thought about the figure of the mortal.
For a moment, he associated this sensation with fear, since, just like the first time he experienced fear, his heart beats erratically.
This feeling was completely different from the time he met his ex-wife.
Because when he first saw her, he didn't experience these kinds of feelings, he didn't feel this kind of internal conflict.
Everything was strange to the now mortal.
Feelings never before imaginable for a deity now rage in an all-out war against his worldview.
"Hades-san, dinner is served," Midoriya's voice echoed from the other side of the door. "Did something happen?" she asked, slightly concerned, as she opened the door by pulling the handle.
And the first thing he found was the imposing back of Hades, completely frozen in the same place where he left him.
This made him wonder about his well-being, and sliding along the side, he was able to see the face of the aforementioned.
And what he found caused a wide, playful smile to spread across his freckled face.
-My my... Who would have thought that a Tsundere like you would have such an expression... -he began, getting closer to one of her ears-. Sweet -he finished his sentence, exhaling directly into her ear.
Those subtle words, along with Midoriya's exhalation, caused Hades to wake up from his daydreams.
"Don't come so close, mortal," she said as a blush took over her features.
And holding her shoulder, he pulled her away from her personal bubble.
Still, the playful smile on Midoriya's face never faltered, and raising a hand, he pointed toward the exit.
-Come on, Mom is waiting for you.
"Don't order me around, Akemi," Hades said as he walked out of the bathroom.
Midoriya watched Hades's back as he walked away, and brought one of his hands to his cheek.
-Ara... So, he finally said my name - he whispered as he followed the embarrassed boy's steps.
The walk wasn't very long, since the dining table wasn't far from the hallway that connected to the bathroom.
Upon arriving, the first thing Hades could see was the same woman from a few moments ago, but, unlike before, she was no longer wearing her red vest.
This caused Hades' heart to race once again involuntarily.
It felt strange, he brought one of his hands directly to his chest, and squeezed lightly.
Hades was angry with himself for being afraid of mere mortals.
And without further hesitation, he took one of the seats opposite the kind lady.
It wasn't long before Midoriya also took a seat next to the slightly nervous Hades.
The smile she wore never faltered or wavered in the face of the confused boy's beautiful reactions.
She hadn't had this much fun since the pranks she played on her former subordinates.
A light silence filled the room as they settled into their seats to enjoy this wonderful dinner.
"Bon appetit!" said Midoriya, completely breaking the small silence that formed.
And along with her comment, her mother put both hands together and said exactly the same thing as her daughter.
After doing so, she looked expectantly at the boy in front of her, but she wasn't the only one, as Midoriya joined the little staring competition with the only man in the house.
Hades raised an eyebrow slightly in confusion, as this expression still seemed strange to him from the first time he heard it from the brown-haired girl.
He blinked a couple of times, slightly curious at the looks the pair of women were giving him.
Their expressions made it clear that they expected something from him.
And sighing, Hades clasped both hands together and said.
-Enjoy...
Both women nodded, seemingly pleased with what Hades had said, and began to eat using the chopsticks that were on the side of the steaming bowl-shaped plate.
The food inside appeared to be lightly fried rice with a generous portion of breaded pork.
And to accompany, a tall glass filled with ice water.
Hades looked expectantly at the family's eating habits.
For him, the way she ate using those strange chopsticks was strange.
In fact, the mere act of eating seemed strange to him at first.
Because, for the Gods, the act of eating is not a necessity, but rather a whim or the effect of gluttony.
But now that he was a mere mortal, eating became a necessity above all else.
At first, Hades was slightly confused by his new needs, but over time, he got used to eating.
Still, he had never eaten with these wooden chopsticks, as he usually did so with his bare hands, or by threading the mushrooms onto a stick.
"Is something wrong, Hades-san?" Midoriya said, realizing that his future partner hadn't touched his plate yet.
"I... I don't know how to use these things," he stated with a slight frown, while lifting the chopsticks with one hand.
"Didn't they teach you how to eat with chopsticks at home, Hades-san?" the woman asked, still unaware of the true background of the boy in front of her.
-No, I never had the need to use these wooden chopsticks.
"It's easy! Come, let me show you," Midoriya said, moving slightly closer to Hades's side. "First, you have to hold the chopsticks with your fingers like this..." he instructed, taking Hades's hand.
And with truly impressive skill, he placed the chopsticks perfectly in the space created between his ring finger and thumb.
"Now, try closing and opening with the chopsticks like this," he added, repeating the movement he had just instructed.
The movement he formed was so subtle and refined that it expressed years of practice eating with chopsticks.
Hades, on the other hand, tried to recreate the same movements, but his chopsticks fell to the floor.
The light crash of wood against the floor resonated with a melody filled with defeat and incompetence.
Light giggles from mother and daughter cut through the silence caused by the fall.
"Mere mortals are laughing at me..." Hades muttered in resignation.
Although, sadly, he stopped being a God a long time ago, and, being now a mortal, he was fine... Right?
"Don't worry, Hades-san, I'll get you a spoon so you can eat," said the grass-headed mother, who was trying and failing to contain her incessant laughter.
"You must keep practicing Hades-chan..." Midoriya murmured as he approached the dejected God slightly.
-Be quiet...
-Hahaha... By the way... I have to talk to you about something tonight - he said, taking on a more serious tone as he returned to his seat.
A growl came from Hades' mouth in response, and he saw the woman walking towards him with a spoon made of metal.
"So... Could you tell me more about yourself, Hades-san?" Midoriya's mother asked as she sat down once more. "Akemi didn't tell me much, she just said you needed a place to stay for a couple of weeks."
Hades nodded as he received the metal spoon.
And, unlike chopsticks, he had knowledge of how to use a spoon.
"Well... Where do I start?" he said, bringing a portion of the breaded pork to his mouth. "I'm an orphan, and I was living under a bridge until a few days ago."
The older woman's eyes widened at the revelation.
-I... I'm sorry for the previous question Hades-san.
"It's okay, you didn't know, and I don't really care," Hades stated as he savored the dish in front of him. "This is delicious..." he whispered to himself as he slowly chewed the juicy pork.
-And... how did you meet my daughter?
Hades swallowed the food in his mouth, and taking the glass of water that was at his side, he drank it first before answering.
-If my memory serves me right, she was fighting and losing against a blond-haired mortal.
-Yes! Hades-san came out of nowhere and gave Katsuki a shock.
"That's new, I heard a while ago what he usually does," the woman said as she placed one of her hands on her slightly chubby cheek.
Hades nodded as he now tasted the slightly warm white grains of rice.
The aroma of garlic and ginger filled her palate as she chewed.
"That mortal dared to call me 'extra,'" he continued, with food still in his mouth.
And, at his action, a small blow to his side made him squirm slightly.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Midoriya ordered as he ate his own plate.
Hades looked back at him with a deep frown, but with a nod, swallowed his food first.
-Anyway, do you have any other questions, ma'am?
-You can call me Inko if you don't mind, Hades-san.
Hades nodded and tried to remember her name as he continued eating from the small bowl of pork rice.
-By the way, Akemi, you haven't told me about the entrance exam, did it go well?
-Of course, Mom, besides, there I also met Hades-san again and, together we defeated a huge robot! - said Midoriya while raising both arms to exaggerate his height.
-It sounds fantastic, but... How did they do it?
-Well, I used my quirk and jumped as high as I could, and then, I ran into Hades who did exactly the same thing as me, but unlike me, he was carrying a huge sword! - he cheered enthusiastically while remembering his reunion.
»After that, I threw a full-power smash and Hades-san swung his sword and BOOM!
-Haha... I see... You're very excited about the memory, darling - Inko added, placing one of her palms on her cheek while giving her daughter a look full of understanding.
-Hehe... It's not that bad, Mom.
"And then we plummeted to the ground," Hades continued, taking the glass of cold water.
"Yeah, I thought we were going to die, and that's when we showed up and... and..." Midoriya mumbled as a light blush appeared on his face. "A girl saved us with her gravity quirk!" He continued his tirade, pushing away those feelings that threatened to make him blush in front of his mother.
But, that didn't escape the sharp eyes of a mother, and giving her daughter a knowing look, she looked back at the boy in front of her.
-It was certainly an amazing experience, and you, Hades-san, what do you think of my daughter?
Hades frowned slightly and looked down directly at the bowl.
And looking at the now empty plate of food, he remained contemplative before such a question.
The last experiences with that mortal had left a big knot in his stomach and many irrational thoughts about her.
And raising his gaze, he spoke.
"I don't know, she's very annoying, for some reason my heart beats faster when this mortal gets too close," Hades concluded as he took the small, semi-melted ice cubes from the refreshing glass of water.
At such words, the mother and daughter duo smiled from ear to ear at Hades' statement.
Because they thought that the little teenager confused love with fear.
"How sweet..." Akemi whispered, having finished dinner just like her mother.
"That's... certainly interesting, Hades-san," Inko said as she stood up and cleared the dirty dishes from the table. "I'll leave you there for a while while I wash the dishes," she continued, winking at her expectant daughter. "Don't scare him too much, hahaha..."
Akemi nodded at her mother's small mockery, but far from feeling embarrassed like any teenager her age, she felt a sense of anticipation at her companion's words.
-I guess I'll try not to scare you so much... Hades-chan.
-Get away from me, you foolish mortal.
-Oh... No, I won't leave you, since you are a living anomaly - he said, as he moved closer to the confused Hades.
-What the hell do you mean by- Hades tried to speak, but was silenced by one of Akemi's fingers falling directly onto his slightly oily lips.
-I'll tell you later.
-Ara... I see that my daughter is the one taking the initiative - Inko commented as she entered the dining room once again to see her guest's actions.
At this, Hades blushed slightly and again, his heart began to beat strongly inside him.
"Well... If your opponent is as dense as rock, it's essential to be aggressive in the attack," the girl replied, moving away from the slightly blushing Hades.
"What the hell just happened... Again!" Hades thought to himself as he stood up from his seat, still stunned by the two women's words.
One of them just called him an anomaly, and the other is making fun of him.
But, in the midst of his racing thoughts, a hand rested on his shoulder.
"Please, I apologize for my daughter," Inko said, in response to Hades's disbelief. "My daughter... She lived excluded for so long that she had to pretend to be a boy. Please don't take her personality the wrong way now that she's tired of being trampled on by others."
Hades turned slightly and stared into the eyes of the mature woman, and taking her hands, he continued.
"It's not a problem, just... I don't understand what happens to me when she says or acts like that," said the boy's second personality.
But, a thought struck him directly.
-Why am I acting this way?
Hades was completely confused by his own actions, since he would usually tell these impertinent mortals to fuck off.
But look at him now, acting like an innocent boy.
Something inside him is forcing him to change drastically, and he doesn't know how or when it started.
-Oh ho ho... Sometimes emotions are very complicated and you don't know what to do or how to act, just... Let yourself go and witness where they guide you.
Hades nodded reluctantly at Inko's statement as he took a couple of steps away, but, unlike the woman's intentions to clear her discomfort, he only became even more confused.
"Well, I'll leave you two alone for now, just..." Inko began to whisper. "Don't make a big deal out of it or get too affectionate behind my back."
Hades gulped unconsciously as he watched Inko's dangerous figure walk straight into the kitchen.
Her slender figure bounced with every step she took, and the small skirt she wore only made her milky thighs stick out slightly.
The view was hypnotic, her eyes wouldn't look away, then... Inko turned around.
But, far from being bothered by Hades's gaze, she just smiled and winked at him seductively.
Hades blushed at the actions and decided to walk towards the couch Midoriya was on.
-No doubt... It's cute... Oh ho ho...
Time passed quickly as Hades and Akemi stared at the television.
The girl spent some time explaining how television works while denying the fact that humans enslaved other, smaller humans for the entertainment of the masses.
That was... A weird but fun conversation.
-I still can't believe the people there are just images.
-Haha... You better believe it, before starting a revolution for the rights of the dwarf people, Hades-chan.
-Tch.
"Akemi, Hades-san, I'm going to sleep. Don't spend too much time watching TV." Inko said as she brought with her a fluffy-looking pillow and a blanket for Hades.
-I'm going to sleep now too, Mom.
"Okay, then... Hades-san, would it be okay to sleep on the couch next to you?" Inko asked, pointing to the couch next to the boy.
Hades nodded at the request, as the couch seemed very comfortable, unlike sleeping on old, worn-out clothes.
"Very well then, sweet dreams, Hades-san," Inko said as she left after arranging the sheets and pillows for her guest's comfort.
"Yes, I hope you sleep well here," Akemi continued as she leaned closer to Hades's cheek. "Sweet dreams, Hades-chan."
Faced with the attempt to approach, Hades moved away as far as he could and took distance.
-Don't get so close, Midoriya!
-Ho ho... It reminds me of my youth... -Inko murmured, expectant of her daughter's interactions.
Although, while it was true that it bothered her slightly that Hades was a bum, she completely ignored it upon learning that he would be attending UA.
That news made her see him in a new light, and she accepted the young men's advances for now.
-Don't get away from me!
"Get out of the way..." Hades tried to say, but he tripped over the very couch he'll be staying on tonight.
"I'll visit you when Mom falls asleep..." Akemi whispered as she finally reached Hades' cheek.
This act seemed to be a small kiss for the mother, and feeling a hint of embarrassment, she took a few steps forward to grab her daughter by the shirt collar, so... dominant in her opinion.
-Akemi, leave the boy alone!
-Hehehe... It was just a little game, Mom.
"No! You must respect Hades-san's space, just like your own," she retorted as she led her daughter down the hallway. "It's time for a little talk, young lady."
And at her mother's last words, Akemi felt a chill run down her spine.
-No... I don't think it's necessary...
"Mom?... Mom!"
All pleas were completely ignored by the now angry mother as she carried her daughter straight to her room.
And left alone once more, Hades blinked a few times at the interaction of the small family of two.
-Damn... Inko is scary too.
....
Hours passed, and the once bustling room next door had finally fallen silent.
The "talk," as Inko called it, lasted over an hour, and by the end, Akemi's mind was slightly disturbed.
After all, he had more than enough knowledge on related topics.
Still, beyond that inconvenience, nothing else happened until midnight arrived.
The heavy rains predicted by professional meteorologists finally arrived, and the only person asleep to the sound of raindrops hitting the walls and windows in that apartment was Inko.
Hades was still awake due to the intrigue of the last words he dedicated to him.
Akemi, on the other hand, was still slightly disturbed and sleep-deprived by the "talk."
Still, she pushed those thoughts away for the moment, since she had to talk seriously with Hades.
And taking courage, he got up from his warm bed.
It was certainly cold and she was slightly reluctant to leave the warm embrace of her bed.
A heavy sigh came from the girl's mouth as she carefully left her room.
Because, although rain muffles sound, she wouldn't be too sure of the senses of a single mother.
Light footsteps echoed down the hallway, and finally, she could see the silhouette of the man who had caught her attention so much.
[2 minutes before]
The house was calm.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the room.
Outside, the world slept to the lullaby of thousands of drops.
But inside the Midoriya house, the peace was about to be broken.
Hades lay on the couch, his head hanging over the edge, one arm folded across his chest and the other slumped to the floor.
He shifted uncomfortably, kicking at the blankets Akemi had left him with obvious mockery.
-Tsk... Damn... -he growled through gritted teeth, moving again.
The cushion under his head was a torment; the back of the sofa was a death trap for his back; and his leg, dangling uncomfortably, hit the table every time he moved.
Everything was peaceful until he decided to turn around. That gesture caused his toes to hit one of the table legs.
-Fuck!
Hades sat up abruptly, massaging his fingers, his eyes squinting from exhaustion.
Then, a small but soft noise echoed rhythmically through the dark corridors.
It was subtle, but enough to make her body tense.
Someone was walking by the house.
With light, barely audible steps.
Instinctively, he pretended to be asleep.
He controlled his breathing, relaxing his muscles, but keeping his senses alert.
The footsteps stopped right in front of him.
The silence stretched, and small whispers broke it.
-Hades.
The boy did not react when he recognized the owner.
-Hadeees.
Not a single movement.
-I know you're awake.
Hades remained unreacted, his face a canvas of feigned seriousness.
Then, he felt something warm and wet running through his ear.
His skin prickled almost instantly.
-What the fuck, Midoriya!
He jumped off the couch, stumbling and falling onto the coffee table, knocking over a couple of magazines and a glass of water in the process.
Akemi, standing in front of him with a huge smile, was doubled over with laughter.
-Hahaha! Oh my god, that was so easy! Who would have thought the "Great God of the Underworld" would fall with a single breath from a beautiful girl?
Hades glared at her as he straightened, readjusting his posture.
-Damn mortal...
-Yes, yes, whatever you say. Now sit down, we need to talk.
Hades clicked his tongue, rubbing his face in frustration.
-Does it have to be now?
-Yeah.
-Can't you wait until tomorrow?
-Nope.
Hades watched her with one eye narrowed.
-Isn't it important enough to wait?
-Nope.
Finally, with a resigned sigh, Hades sank down onto the couch, arms crossed.
-This better be worth it.
Akemi took a deep breath, her smile slowly fading.
-I died at 25.
Hades raised an eyebrow.
-Uh-huh...?
-Ten years ago.
-It makes sense.
-And someone who shone like a god brought me back to the past with a quirk.
Hades stared at her for a long second.
And then, quite naturally, he shrugged his shoulders.
-I believe you.
Akemi blinked, her brain taking a second to process her answer.
-Like... like that?
-Yes. Now tell me... who was the idiot who took my place?
-... Your place?
"Do you think I call myself Hades for fun? No! I'm the true God of the Underworld!" he said, raising his hand and looking up at an unknown point on the ceiling.
Akemi was silent for a moment, staring at Hades's raised hand as he spoke with complete pride.
And then...
Akemi burst into laughter.
-Hahahaha! Please tell me you're serious! Tell me again with more conviction!
Hades frowned at her.
-It's not a joke.
Akemi wiped away a tear of laughter.
-Oh, sure, sure. And tell me, Oh Great God, what was the God of the Underworld doing living under a bridge and eating mushrooms?
Hades was silent for a moment.
-That was... a phase after being stranded in this mortal body.
-Hahahaha! Yeah, right! The iron-deficient beggar phase!
Hades growled.
-Listen, damn mortal, I swear I'm a god!
-Of course, Lord God who was choking on mushrooms.
-My identity is real!
-Not my patience!
-I ruled the Underworld!
-You ruled a cardboard box in an alley!
Hades clenched his fists.
-Unbearable mortal!
-God, faker!
The air in the room became tense.
They both stared at each other with narrowed eyes, as if waiting for the other to give in first.
Then, Akemi took a breath and softened her tone.
-Hades, listen to me. You didn't exist in my timeline.
Hades blinked.
-That?
-Before he died, I never heard of anyone like you. There was never anyone with your powers at UA. There was never anyone called Hades.
The boy frowned, intrigued by what had been said.
-That doesn't make sense.
-He has it. Something changed, something brought us to this moment, something that brought you here with me.
Hades crossed his arms, leaning back against the couch.
-Are you saying it was fate?
Akemi snorted.
"No, it wasn't fate, you stubborn bastard! Someone moved the pieces! Maybe it was the same woman who brought me here!"
-And what does it matter?
-It matters because if so, many things will change!
-Good.
Akemi grunted and grabbed a cushion.
"Good ass!" he shouted and threw it at her with all his might.
Hades dodged it with a slight movement.
But, she took another one.
-Face it, you imitation Greek God! You're an anomaly on legs!
-That's irrelevant!
-None of this should be happening!
-Well, it's happening!
POF!
The cushion hit his face.
Hades slowly pushed him away, his eyes narrowed.
-So war, huh?
-War.
The cushions flew.
The room became a battlefield.
Hades dodged one and returned it with a fluid motion.
Akemi ducked, picked up another one, and rolled it on the ground before throwing it back.
The cushions hit walls, furniture and...
BANG!
The door swung open.
-Wow, what the hell are they doing in the middle of the night?
Akemi and Hades froze.
Inko stood in the doorway, her eyes blazing with the fury of a sleep-deprived mother.
Akemi smiled nervously.
-Uhh... reflex practice?
Hades pointed at Akemi.
-She started it!
-Liar, he provoked me!
Inko massaged her temple.
-If I hear them fighting again at this hour... they're both sleeping outside.
The two looked at each other and answered in unison.
-Yes, ma'am!
As the door closed, Akemi sighed.
-Tsk...
Hades looked at her with superiority.
-They silenced you, mortal.
-You too, idiot!
-... Details.
Akemi crossed her arms.
-Things will happen soon.
Hades looked at her.
-What are you talking about?
-Attacks, terrorism, destruction and the collapse of everything.
Hades fell silent, processing everything he just heard, but quickly shook his head and sighed.
-This sounds annoying.
-A lot.
-Are you going to drag me into all of that?
-You grasp things quickly, I like that.
Hades grunted, massaging his temple.
-Do I have another option?
-Don't even think about it.
Hades stood with his arms crossed, watching Akemi impatiently.
-So, tell me the reason why you were reincarnated years before your death.
Akemi exhaled deeply before taking Hades's arm and forcing him to sit next to her on the couch.
Her eyes, normally calculating and sharp, now showed a vulnerability that bothered the boy.
-I... am the only one who can kill that jerk and his stupid system quirk.
-System? What the hell do you mean?
"In a few weeks, there will be a massive attack on all the hero academies," he declared, evading the question with a firm tone, but with a slight tremor hidden beneath. "Several criminal organizations will be involved."
Hades didn't respond, ignoring how she evaded his question, just listening.
-I don't know who is behind this, nor the exact time it will happen, but... I clearly remember that, that day, a large part of my classmates died at the UA.
Hades nodded slowly, processing the information.
Unconsciously, he moved his body a few inches further away from her, trying to maintain his personal space.
But Akemi came closer.
-After that incident, the tragedies didn't stop. There were more attacks. More deaths. Heroes, civilians, even All Might...
Hades raised an eyebrow, barely interested.
-Did that muscular mortal fall too?
Akemi looked away.
"Yes..." Her voice grew softer. "Before he died, he left me as his successor. He entrusted me with the weight of his legacy, the responsibility of becoming a symbol of peace."
A brief silence stretched between them.
"But then that villain appeared," he continued, his tone now more somber. "No one could stop him. He knew everyone's Quirks. He knew our weaknesses. He had multiple Quirks that allowed him to escape and switch bodies."
The air in the room became denser.
"Nothing was left. No one stood a chance. It wasn't just the heroes who died... their families too. Every time I cornered him, he escaped and switched bodies..."
His voice began to crack.
-I wasn't enough. Everyone... everyone... everyone died because of me...
The words died in his throat.
Her shoulders trembled, and for the first time, Akemi looked fragile.
-And when I killed him... there was nothing left... only ruins of a prosperous country.
Hades watched her silently, his expression unreadable.
And then, with a firm movement, he put his arms around her.
Akemi tensed for a moment, surprised.
"Nothing like that will ever happen again," he declared in a deep voice, filled with unshakeable conviction.
His grip tightened.
-Because this time... I'm here.
Akemi felt something in her chest loosen.
Her pain, her guilt, her anger—it had all been a burden she'd carried alone. But now, for the first time in so long, she wasn't alone.
She pulled away slightly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
Akemi nodded slowly.
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was a pact.
And then, a smile formed on her face. Not a fake smile, not a forced one... but a genuine, warm, and bright one, defying the darkness that surrounded them.
-Thank you... for believing in me.
Hades gave a small smile, almost imperceptible, but real.
-There's nothing to be thankful for, Akemi.
For the first time in a long time, they both found something they could trust.
The beating of their hearts echoed in the room in a steady rhythm, like a single drum beating in the stillness of the night.
The shadows of the lamp created an intimate atmosphere, enveloping Akemi and Hades in a bubble oblivious to the rest of the world.
Their gazes locked, caught in a moment impossible to ignore.
But then...
-Ara, ara... My little Akemi, taking the first step again behind her mother's back...
A treacly, dangerous voice cut through the air like a knife.
Akemi froze.
Hades felt a chill run down his spine.
The light came on, revealing a small, but imposing figure.
Inko Midoriya watched them from the doorway, her smile too sweet to not be terrifying.
And the worst part... she was wearing her teddy bear print nightgown.
-M-Mom, I-I can explain.
"Oh-ho-ho~" Inko laughed with feigned innocence, crossing her arms. "There's nothing to explain, dear."
Akemi swallowed.
-But, but, it's not what it seems...
"Oh, of course it is." Inko tilted her head, her eyes still closed, but her murderous aura still emanating strongly. "And since it's already midnight... go to your room."
With a casual movement, he jerked his thumb back.
Akemi felt the ground crumble beneath her feet.
-W-what? Wait, Mom, you can't!
"Oh, yes, I can." Inko's tone was pure sweetness, but with an implicit threat. "I have to have a little chat with your 'little boyfriend' here."
Hades felt something cold crawling down his back.
The last time he felt this, he was in the Underworld itself.
Akemi looked at Hades with an expression that screamed "see you in the afterlife" before disappearing, shuffling as if walking to her execution.
TO BE CONTINUED.