We left the small hotel, and the morning chill touched my pale cheeks.
It was clear my mother held my hand tightly, as if she feared I might get lost in the crowded streets.
We walked for long distances, moving through alleys and corridors, her eyes never stopping as she scanned the signs hanging on doors for the word "For Rent." However, every place we passed was either insanely expensive or average in rent—which was still far more than what we took from my father, that cursed man.
We stopped at a narrow street corner, where two old women sat on wooden benches, exchanging conversation. My mother slowed her pace to rest for a moment, and the old women's voices drifted toward us.
"I'm telling you, sister, that house is cursed! I wouldn't set foot in it even if they offered me all the treasures of the earth," said the first old woman, her face twisted with disgust and fear.
The second one nodded sadly: "You're right.. who would have enough madness to live in a haunted place? They say ghosts live there!"
I moved quickly from my spot, much to my mother's shock, and stood before the two old women who cut their conversation short and looked at me in amazement. I said in a calm voice, "Where is this house? Please, tell me where it is."
The two old women exchanged looks filled with fear and hesitation. One of them said, rubbing her chest: "My boy, are you crazy? Didn't you hear what we said? It's a terrifying place!" They tried to ignore me and return to their talk, but I stood before them again and insisted: "Just tell me the location; we have nowhere else to go."
After my persistence, the second old woman gave in and pointed her hand toward a road stretching behind the distant hill on the outskirts of the city: "There.. the house with the pale gray walls, you'll know it as soon as you see it."
I hurried back to my mother, who was watching the situation anxiously, and grabbed her hands firmly. I said excitedly: "Mother, let's go! Let's go to that house quickly!"
She looked at me in shock, signs of fear clear on her face. She said: "Doma, are you crazy? Didn't you hear what they said? It's haunted by ghosts! I won't risk you in a place like that."
I smiled inwardly with sarcasm. [Ghosts? Really?] I thought, remembering the laws of this world I was reborn into. [We are in the world of My Hero Academia, where every strange phenomenon has a logical explanation tied to someone's Quirk. These ghosts must be nothing but someone's skill used to keep people away, or just ridiculous rumors.]
I looked into my mother's red eyes and said in a reassuring tone: "Mother, there are no such things as ghosts. I don't believe in that nonsense. The house is likely abandoned, and that's exactly what we need right now."
My mother looked at my face for a long time, then said in a worried tone: "Alright, Doma.. we will go and take a look. But I promise you, if I feel any danger, or if we see anything suspicious, we won't stay for even a second. Do you understand?"
I looked at her and felt a strange warmth flood my chest. I couldn't help myself, and a smile formed on my face before I nodded my head.
My mother froze in place. Her eyes widened in shock, and her expression exploded with amazement.
She whispered in a trembling voice that was barely audible: "Doma.. can.. can you smile again?"
I looked at her in surprise, not understanding the reason for her shock at first, so I smiled at her again. At that moment, my mother's features changed, and tears began to flow profusely from her eyes.
She pulled me toward her quickly, and I fell into her warm embrace while she sobbed quietly, kissing my head and murmuring: "Thank God.. finally I saw you smile.. I am truly happy that you can live like others."
After a few seconds, my mother wiped her eyes with the edge of her scarf and regained her composure. We set off quickly toward the outskirts of the city until we reached the hill the old woman had pointed out.
There, in the middle of the green hill, the gray house emerged before us. It wasn't as small as I expected; rather, it was an old two-story house. Its pale walls suggested that no one had lived there for years.
We pushed the wooden door before entering.
The place was completely covered in a thick layer of dust, and cobwebs filled the area.
"Stay behind me, Doma," my mother whispered, holding my hand more firmly, her body visibly trembling. We began exploring the first floor; we entered the living room and then the spacious kitchen.
I was looking around calmly, and despite the chilling atmosphere of the house, I didn't feel any real fear. [It's just dust and neglect,] I thought coldly. To be honest, my only feelings were directed toward my mother; otherwise, I only felt emptiness or the hatred I felt toward that man.
Suddenly! "CRACK!"
The sound of something ceramic breaking echoed in the corner of the dark room. My mother gasped in terror and recoiled, nearly falling if I hadn't supported her. I turned with extreme coldness and speed toward the source of the sound.
It wasn't an evil spirit.. it was a slender black cat that jumped from a broken shelf and escaped through the shattered window.
My mother sighed deeply, placing her hand on her heart: "I.. I almost died of fear. I thought it was one of those spirits they talked about."
I looked at her calmly and felt something strange.
I looked at her again and noticed her face had turned even paler than usual as she swayed in place. It seemed that the psychological pressure and her exhausted body had reached their limit.
I rushed to her and supported her before she fell: "Mother! You are very tired."
I led her with quiet steps toward an old sofa covered in thick dust. I brushed off what I could and made her sit down. She was breathing with difficulty, her hand still shaking. I looked at her seriously and said: "Rest here for a bit, Mother, don't move. I'll go out to see if there is a water tap working in the garden or nearby; I'll bring you something to drink to regain your strength."
She nodded weakly, barely able to get her voice out: "Be careful.. Doma.. don't go too far, please."
I reassured her with a slight, fake smile, but as soon as I turned and walked a few steps into the hallway, that smile vanished completely. My expression changed to one of absolute calm.
I didn't head for the exit.
Instead, I leaned down and picked up an iron rod that was lying among the rubble. I felt its weight in my hand and raised my eyes toward the wooden stairs leading to the second floor. The silence of the house suggested no one was there, but my senses told me something else; that cat didn't get startled on its own, and there were spots where dust hadn't settled.
[Ghosts?] I thought mockingly as I gripped the rod tightly. [Now I'll see what kind of ghost is hiding upstairs.]
I began climbing the stairs with light steps like a cat, without making a single creak, my eyes fixed on the door at the top.
"Let's see what we have here."