"𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚐𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝."

- 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚢𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚜

16


Bakugou's Point of View

Damn, its good to feel like myself again—all thanks to her. I can tell she's more focused than ever, her eyes are brighter than usual, more determined. What she said to me about wanting to work hard and make the other heroes acknowledge her, it makes me like her even more than I already do, which is frustrating as fuck.

We sped over to the location, arriving after about 10 minutes. I could see them up ahead, Deku, Iida, Sero and Kirishima... but the scene was chaotic. I slammed on the breaks and stopped the car abruptly.

"What the hell...?"

Just as Rei and I rushed out, I heard it. It was this loud, guttural scream... it sounded almost human, but not quite. It was as if there were multiple tortured voices all wailing in unison.

"BAKUGOU!" I barely saw Iida running towards, he was moving so fast "MOVE!"

"BABE!" Rei cried, before grabbing me and hauling us backward with one loud explosion.

Babe...?

"What... what are these things?" She asked, her voice shaking "T-They're everywhere!"

I looked back at where I was standing a moment earlier. I saw this... thing there. It was fleshy, and had skin like a human, but no definitive shape other than legs and arms that protruded from it at odd angles. It must have been at least seven feet tall. It had several eyes, none of which were the same size or looking the same direction—and they were slimey, each oozing a vile green fluid.

The monster picked up my car with such ease, it took me by surprise. It tried to launch the vehicle at Iida, but he and Sero took it down.

MY FUCKING CAR!

I'LL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE DAMN THINGS!

We sprang up and ran towards where Deku was.

"DEKU!" I sneered

"K-KACCHAN!" He yelped

"WHATS THE SITUATION, YOU DAMN NERD?! ONE OF THOSE BASTARDS JUST TOSSED MY CAR INTO THE AIR LIKE IT WAS A GODDAMN BASEBALL!"

"AHHHHHHHH!" Rei screamed as she zoomed past us

She launched herself forward with 4 bright explosions, right up to another one of the creatures. She landed on top of it and wasted no time making its head explode. It's limp body fell to the ground.

I love watching her fight.

"FUCK YEAH! NICE ONE, BABE!" I cheered

I guess I'll use it too? Babe...

I don't understand any of this shit.

"THANKS—AHHHHHH!"

I turned my attention back to Deku as Rei started to attack another one of the creatures.

"DEKU, WHAT THE HELLS GOING ON?!"

"Well—AGH!"

Another much larger one charged towards us.

"DIIIIIIEEEEE!"

"DETROIT SMASH!"

Him and I both attacked it, causing it to explode entirely—sending chunks of flesh and entrails spewing into the air, they landed on the road with a loud, wet splat.

"These things are fucking gross." I said, glaring at its parts strewn about the road.

"Yeah... They showed up about half an hour ago. I counted 15 of them. There haven't been any more reports of them, so I'm thinking this is just an isolated incident." Deku said

"I hope they're actually just contained to this area and you've done confirmed that, damn nerd." I muttered

"I did!"

"These things aren't that smart... but they're strong." Kirishima explained as he ran up to us "Some of them are easier to take down, others are more, uh..."

His pointed back in the direction of where my car once was.

"L-Like that..." Deku stammered

Rei, Sero and Iida joined us as we all looked at the ghastly beast. This one stood at least 15 feet tall, letting out that same awful cry and giving off a putrid stench.

"Hey! What'd I... miss...?"

We all looked to see where the new voice came from. Then, I spotted Todoroki jogging up.

"Tch. You're late." I said

He rolled his eyes.

"Oh! Todoroki! Pleased to see you." Iida said, giving him a salute

"Hey Iida. What is that thing?" Todoroki asked

"WILL SOMEONE FILL THIS DUMBASS IN SO WE CAN GET BACK TO KILLING THESE SHIT STAINS?!"

"Bakugouuu..." Kirishima groaned

"WHAT?!"

Reiko's Point of View

"Okay—enough. We need to clear whatever the hell these things are out of here." I interrupted

Deku nodded in agreement.

"Rei-chan is right. Take them down before they destroy anymore property. There shouldn't be too many left. We'll assess after." He said "Work together, if anyone needs anything, just shout!"

"Damn nerd—thinking he can just waltz in here and make the fucking rules." Bakugou grumbled under his breath, but with my hearing, it was clear as a bell.

I reached down and gave his hand a squeeze. I know being around Deku is frustrating as hell for him, but he's doing his best to keep his composure...sorta—in his own way.

It could be worse.

"Bakugou and I will take the big one." I said "Right?"

He glanced over at me, giving me a mischievous smile.

"HELL YEAH!"

"LETS GO!" I shouted "AHHHHHHHH!"

"DIE, YOU FLESHY BASTARDS!"

We blasted ourselves forward like bats out of hell, leaving trails of fire in our path.

"They're a little scary together..." I heard Deku say from behind.

"I HEARD THAT YOU DAMN NERD!"

We headed straight for it—its figure was hunched over, lurching forward with heavy footsteps. It was surprisingly quick with its movements. It would swat and swing, but it was no match for us.

"I'M GOING FOR THE LEFT!" I shouted to him

"I'LL GO RIGHT THEN! DIIIEE!"

The air was filled with the sounds of deadly explosions as we sent pieces of the creature flying. We continued this pattern of screaming and attacking wildly for 3 more of them—then it got quiet.

"Is that all of them?" I asked, breathlessly

"I don't see any more—I think so."

We turned back, seeing that the only one still fighting was Deku. He'd cornered one that wasn't much larger than him.

"FULL COWLING!"

He delivered a powerful kick from above, effectively splitting the beast down the middle... but we all froze as the creatures flesh tore apart. We heard a blood curdling scream. Not like the awful cries of the creatures—this was one voice, a human voice.

"HEY...! HEY!" Deku shrieked "CALL FOR EMERGENCY BACKUP!"

"I'm on it!" Iida called back

We all ran to over to Deku.

"Deku, what'd you—" Kirishima stopped talking abruptly "What the hell—WHAT THE HELL?"

"Whats going on ove—" Bakugou's voice also stopped just as abruptly

What's happening?

I shoved past him a little bit... my knees went weak at the sight before me. From out of the center of the creature that Deku had slaughtered, someone had fallen out of it's body cavity—a man. He was covered in the rancid smelling ooze that came from the monster. Hey looked as if... he was barely alive, if at all.

"Oi oi oi... i-is this some kind of sick fucking joke?" Bakugou choked out

"I don't think so..." Todoroki replied "Thats... that's definitely a person, right?"

"Is he breathing?" Sero asked

"Who would... How would...?" Iida said, trying to collect his thoughts

"Wait... Let me see him." I said

Deku leaned back slightly, giving me a better look. Todoroki lit his left half, providing some light. I studied the figure that was in Deku's arms. It was almost encased in the green substance.

Why does that look like...?

No. No. That isn't.

I dropped to my knees, beginning to claw at the disgusting slime, throwing the excess aside wherever I could.

"Hey—you can't just..!" Kirishima

"REI, CALM DOWN—WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Bakugou asked, attempting to pull my arms away, but I jerked away from him fiercely.

"D-Do you know who this is?" Deku asked

But I couldn't answer him.

I kept frantically peeling gunk away from the body. My vision was getting blurry, my breathing was labored and shallow. Part of me already knew exactly who I was looking at. I just needed to see the face completely clean, so that there was no doubt in my mind that it was—

"...Dad?" I said

"...DAD?!" Everyone repeated in confusion

"What... What the fuck is this?" I asked, horrified "Are you controlling these things, you bastard?"

Bakugou kneeled down beside me.

"Rei, This guy... this is your...?"

I nodded slowly.

"ANSWER ME!" I shouted, shaking him violently "DID YOU SEND THESE THINGS HERE?!"

"Reiko-chan..." He croaked weakly "You... have... to stop... Ichi...ro..."

"You're telling me Ichiro did this? Ichiro is the one who sent these things out here?"

He gave what I figured was a nod, as much of one as he could muster.

"Wheres Reiji?" I asked

"He's... safe..."

"Safe? What the fuck does that mean? I asked you where he is."

He started looking around, he let out what sounded like a chuckle.

"You're... a... hero...now, hm?"

"WHERE THE FUCK IS REIJI?!" I yelled

"...You're... just... like her. Your mother..."

"You don't get to talk about her." I spat

I could hear sirens coming our way in the distance.

"Follow... your... silly—" He paused, coughing up quite a bit of blood "—dream. In... your fantasy world... stupid girl... you'll end up dead."

I shook my head at him. Even on his deathbed, he insults me.

"The irony of this is pretty amazing, isn't it, Dad? You're about to die because of the son you adored so much, and yet, you still can't find it in you to see the good in your daughter. I feel so sorry for you." I said "I hope you burn in hell."