Chapter 11: Across the Ocean
The alarm blared at 4:30 a.m., a harsh jolt that dragged Izuku Midoriya from a dream of skyscrapers and flashing lights. He groaned, rolling out of bed in the dim pre-dawn glow, his hair sticking up in odd angles. Today was the day, mid-July, the start of their trip to America to see Hisashi in New York. Down the hall, Inko was already up, her slippers shuffling as she hummed nervously in the kitchen. Izuku stumbled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. Fourteen hours on a plane, he thought, staring at his freckled reflection. Gonna be a haul, but worth it. New York's the first big stage, gotta show up ready.
"Sweetie, you up?" Inko called, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and jitters. "We need to leave by 5:30 and the cab's coming soon!"
"Yeah, Mom, I'm moving!" Izuku shouted back, toweling off. He tugged on a light gray T-shirt and khaki cargo shorts from their mall haul, slipping the black cap over his head. Light, cool, sharp, he thought, checking the mirror. Perfect for landing in New York heat. His suitcase packed with more T-shirts, shorts, socks, and a spare pair of sneakers sat by the door, a sleek black roller Inko had fussed over the night before. He grabbed it, wheeling it to the kitchen where Inko stood, zipping her own bag.
She wore a white floral blouse and beige skirt, her straw hat perched on the counter. "Oh, you look nice!" she said, beaming as she handed him a rice ball wrapped in plastic. "Breakfast on the go and we won't have time to sit. Did you pack your toothbrush? Sunscreen?"
"Got 'em," Izuku said, taking the rice ball. "You good? Got your hat and stuff?"
"Yes, yes," Inko said, patting her bag, a soft blue carry-on stuffed with clothes, a novel, and snacks. "I triple-checked! Passports, tickets, wallet, all here. Your dad's meeting us at the airport, oh, I can't wait!" She clapped her hands, then paused, frowning. "The cab, I should call now."
"Go for it," Izuku said, munching the rice ball. salty salmon filling waking him up. Hisashi at the gate, he thought. Three calls in weeks, now face-to-face. Wonder if he's as loud in person. Inko dialed, her voice chirping into the phone as she confirmed the pickup, 5:30 sharp, Narita International Airport, two passengers. Izuku finished eating, brushing crumbs off his shirt, and double-checked his backpack: manga, headphones, a water bottle. Fourteen hours stuck in a seat, better stay sane.
The cab rolled up right on time, a yellow sedan with a tired-looking driver. Izuku and Inko locked the house, deadbolt clicking, windows secured and piled in, bags squeezed into the trunk. The ride to Narita was quiet, the sky bruising purple as dawn crept in. Inko fidgeted beside him, twisting her fingers. "Nervous?" Izuku asked, glancing her way.
"A little," she admitted, smiling sheepishly. "It's been a while since I've seen your dad in person. And flying so far oh, I hope the plane's nice!"
"It's Japan Airlines," Izuku said, shrugging. "Direct flight, thirteen, fourteen hours. They've got movies, food it should be fine." Long as no turbulence, he thought. Last thing I need is Mom freaking out mid-air.
They hit the airport by 6:00, the terminal a sprawling maze of glass and steel, already humming with travelers. Izuku wheeled his suitcase, Inko clutching her carry-on as they navigated check-in passports scanned, boarding passes printed: JAL Flight 006, Narita to JFK, economy class, departure 7:45 a.m. Next came security, a bottleneck of lines and bins. A sign overhead read "Quirk-Registered Passengers: ID Check Required," and Izuku perked up, patting his pocket for his updated ID—Telekinetic Flame officially listed since Dr. Sato's evaluation.
At the Quirk checkpoint, a uniformed officer short, stern, with a tablet waved them over. "IDs, please," she said, voice clipped. Inko fumbled hers out, hands shaky, while Izuku slid his across with a cool nod. The officer scanned them, her tablet beeping as Izuku's Quirk popped up. "Telekinetic Flame, huh?" she said, eyeing him. "Ten years old! late bloomer ? Any fire use today?"
"Nope," Izuku said, keeping it casual. "Just telekinesis if I need it. Won't be lifting anything here." Not unless someone pisses me off, he thought, smirking inside.
"Good," the officer said, handing it back. "Rules are strict. no active Quirk use past this point unless it's an emergency. Telekinesis is fine for bags, but keep it low-key. Next Mrs. Midoriya?"
Inko's ID showed her minor telekinesis, and the officer waved her through after a quick glance. "Same deal no floating stuff unless it's your luggage. Move along." They shuffled to the regular line shoes off, bags in bins, metal detector humming. Izuku's cap went through the X-ray, and he sailed past, no beeps. Inko clutched her hat, giggling nervously as a guard waved her forward. "All clear," he grunted, and they grabbed their stuff, heading for Gate 23.
The boarding area was packed businessmen tapping laptops, kids chasing each other, a couple arguing over a map. Japan Airlines staff in crisp blue uniforms herded passengers, and soon the call came: "Flight 006 to New York JFK, boarding now." Izuku and Inko joined the economy line, tickets scanned, and stepped onto the plane a Boeing 787, sleek and wide. A flight attendant with a tight bun greeted them, bowing slightly. "Welcome aboard," she said. "Seats 32A and B down the left, window and middle."
"Thanks," Inko said, bowing back as they shuffled down the aisle. Overhead bins clicked open and shut, passengers jostling. A man in a suit grumbled to another attendant, "No overhead space left really?" The attendant smiled, tight-lipped. "Sir, we'll check it at the gate if needed plenty of room below." Nearby, a mom hushed her toddler, who whined, "I want the window!" The attendant knelt, offering a candy. "You'll see clouds soon, little one sit tight."
Izuku slid into 32A the window seat stashing his backpack under the chair. Inko took 32B, settling her bag and hat with a sigh. "Oh, this is cozy!" she said, wiggling into the cushioned seat. "Not too cramped good thing we're not so tall, huh?"
"Yeah," Izuku said, peering out the tiny window at the tarmac planes taxiing, workers waving wands. "Fourteen hours here's doable. Got my manga, headphones should keep me busy." Long haul, but it's New York at the end, he thought. Big city, big dad, big chance to scope the scene.
Inko pulled out her novel, flipping it open. "I've got this to read, and they'll feed us, right? Your dad said the food's decent maybe sushi or something fun." She glanced at him, eyes sparkling. "You excited, sweetie? Seeing New York, your dad and it's a big trip!"
"Definitely," Izuku said, grinning. "New York's gonna be wild, skyscrapers, hot dogs, all that. And Dad... been a while. Wonder if he's got any hero stories from there." he thought. Better bring the heat, literally and figuratively.
"Me too," Inko said, squeezing his arm. "He's so proud of your Quirk he'll want to see it, I bet! Oh, I hope the flight's smooth fourteen hours is a long time up there."
"Should be," Izuku said, buckling his seatbelt as the plane's engines hummed to life. Smooth or not, I'm ready, he thought, settling back. Next stop: America.