Raito sat alone in his room, his gaze fixed on the large window that framed the night lights outside.
His eyes, empty and numb, reflected the aftermath of the painful incident.
The room bore a heavy silence as the external lights painted a stark contrast to the internal darkness that enveloped him, creating a poignant scene of solitude and introspection.
The boy's room held a quiet atmosphere as the door slowly opened, revealing the entrance of his father.
Without turning, the boy sensed his father's presence. The father walked silently towards him, kneeling in front of his son.
In his eyes, a mixture of love, worry, and sadness reflected the depth of emotions he felt.
The room became a canvas for a tender moment between father and son, marked by unspoken understanding and a shared journey of healing.
"Raito."
The boy heard his name spoken softly by his father, causing him to look down.
His lips began to tremble, and his eyes turned glossy, but he held back the tears that threatened to escape from his heterochromic eyes.
The room, filled with unspoken emotions, captured the struggle of a young heart wrestling with pain and vulnerability while maintaining a stoic facade in the presence of his caring father.
The father enveloped his son in a hug, radiating care and love.
Breaking the embrace, he tenderly cupped his son's left cheek, tracing the line of stitches that descended from the eyebrow to the middle of his cheek.
In that gentle touch, the father conveyed a silent promise of protection and comfort, acknowledging both the visible and invisible wounds that marked their shared journey of healing.
"How did this happen?"
The raven haired boy gulped thickly, a palpable tension in the air as he realized he couldn't reveal the truth to his father.
The weight of unspoken words hung between them, adding to the complexity of the moment and the internal struggle faced by the boy.
"I fell down the stairs while I was playing softball."
The father, despite the explanation, looked concerned.
He could sense that what his son told him wasn't the whole truth, a parental instinct honed by years of understanding his child.
The air carried a weight of unspoken worries, as the father grappled with the knowledge that there was more to the story than met the eye.
"Hmm, You being okay is enough for me. Why don't we go outside? Just two of us. What do you say?" The father looked at his son with a warm smile as he suggested going outside.
The boy responded with a smile, but the sparkle in his eyes seemed absent.
Despite the outward agreement, the traces of recent pain lingered, casting a shadow over the usual gleam in his gaze.
"I needed to buy a book." Raito said looked down.
The father smiled at his son's words, a recognition of the uniqueness that set him apart.
He knew his son was different, a genius among the other children.
Pride swelled within him as he glanced around the room filled with books, a testament to his son's intellectual curiosity and voracious appetite for knowledge.
The father reveled in the pride of having a remarkable and gifted child, cherishing the distinctive qualities that made his son stand out.
"Let's go then."
The father-son duo stood in the bookshop, browsing through the shelves, selecting various books to purchase.
The quiet ambiance of the night-time bookstore provided a serene backdrop as they explored the vast array of literary treasures.
The shop, not crowded at this late hour, allowed for an unhurried and contemplative experience, with each chosen book adding to the shared moments of discovery between the father and his son.
Raito was immersed in the shelves, found books that captivated his interest.
His eyes lit up as he discovered literary gems that sparked his curiosity.
Each selected book held the promise of new worlds to explore and stories to unravel, creating a moment of excitement and connection between the boy and the boundless realm of knowledge within the pages.
After searching for a few minutes, the boy finally settled on only two books that intrigued him.
He picked them up and made his way to where his father was sleeping in his sleeping bag near the reception.
The quiet surroundings of the bookstore embraced this simple moment of a son sharing his newfound treasures with his peacefully resting father.
He sighed at his father as the receptionist is looking at him awkwardly.
"Sorry about him. He just likes sleeping too much." He handed him the books.
"Oh no, it's alright. Here." He handed back the books packed up. " You're total money -"
"Here, take the card." They both looked at the person and saw the man still in his sleeping bag.
"Did you find the books you like?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you. Visit again sir."
After buying books, the duo headed to a small restaurant, surprisingly bustling with customers.
They managed to find an empty table and settled down before placing their order, the aroma of food wafting through the air as they anticipated a shared meal in the cozy atmosphere of the eatery.
Few minutes waiting there orders came. Raito took the bowl of Udon while his dad took the bowl of Ramen and start eating while talking about random things and .... heroes.
On the other hand, the mother appeared restless, consumed by thoughts of what might transpire if her son revealed everything to her husband, contrary to her explicit instructions.
While guilt nagged at her for the impulsive actions, her feelings of hate and disgust toward her son remained firmly rooted.
The internal turmoil played out on her face, reflecting the complex emotions she grappled with, as the weight of secrets and strained relationships continued to cast a shadow over her restless demeanor.
The mother reminisced about a conversation with her colleague, Endeavor, the number two pro hero.
He had suggested that she should handle her son strictly, much like his own approach with his children.
Endeavor emphasized the importance of discipline, advocating punishment for mistakes as a means of ensuring their betterment.
The echoes of this advice lingered in her mind, contributing to her conflicted emotions and influencing the choices she made in her relationship with her son.
To be continued...