Chapter 22 : Hallucinations

That school day was a normal one. Kukeiko, despite being tired, enjoyed that day. She loved when everything was 'normal'. During 'normal' days, she could finally work on her skills, work on herself without anything disrupting that process. Mei decided to complete her schoolwork in Kukeiko's dorm. Usually, them working together was much more efficient that individual study time.

"Who the f-... Who did this?", said Kukeiko, clearly trying to contain her anger.

"Did what?", asked Mei curiously.

Kukeiko remained silent, trying to refrain herself from cussing.

Mei went to where the girl was to see what the matter was. Kukeiko's window was carved and it spelled: "Can't wait to see you again!"

"Alright.", said the green haired girl as she stood up. "I'm reporting this to the teachers. If this is some sick prank, whoever did this will be in big trouble."

Mei was silent and watched as Kukeiko put on a hoodie and went for Midnight's room.

Kukeiko was surely mad. Though it was odd for Mei. She couldn't wrap her head around the reason why she would be mad. If she had known about those carvings, she would've seen her scared. Her getting mad wasn't necesarily a bad thing as she would finally learn how to stand up for herself much easier, but it was surely uncommon. Kukeiko must've really had a troublesome night.

No longer after those thoughts entered Mei's mind, Kukeiko was back with Midnight. The homeroom teacher looked at the carvings, shared a word with Kukeiko, left the dorm and the student continued to do her schoolwork, as if nothing happened.

This was so unlike Kukeiko. Something must've really happened to her, but what? Did that incident from the License Exam still haunt Kukeiko's mind? It would be logical for this to be the reason why she's changed. It has only been a week since it happened. It would be impossible for her to have already got over it.

But yesterday, she seemed like herself. Was she pretending? Was she hiding her feelings and today she just decided to stop trying? It was very hard to read Kukeiko. Mei knew that if she were to ask her, the girl might not want to talk about it, or beat around the bush.

Unfortunately... things started to go downhill for Kukeiko. Every night, she had trouble sleeping. She would either stay up late for schoolwork so she could catch up to her classmates or hear noises and see things that made her stay awake.

The latter of the two happened much more often. This went for a week. For Kukeiko, the night that made her scared to sleep was in the third night after returning to school. That night, she experienced sleep paralysis.

She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She couldn't yell for help.

She started to panick and slowly cry.

"No... Not this again! I don't want to die! Why can't I talk?! Anyone? Can anyone hear me???

Don't leave me here! I don't want to die!

Please... someone..."

All for nothing. No one could hear her. Her cries for help went unheard.

"What's going to happen now? If last time I was stabbed, now it would be the perfect time to kill me."

She heard nothing, but feel something heavy on her feet. Kukeiko couldn't move her head and could only see the ceiling. She had no pets so what in the world was that?

A large disfigured being arose in front of her, sitting on her chest. Kukeiko's fear was unmeasurable at this point. That... monster was sitting on her chest and breathing was getting harder and harder for her. It seemed like eternity until Kukeiko finally got a hold of her body and activated her quirk to push it off of her, only for her to realise she was fighting with air and that the monster disappeared. The girl was gasping for air and went to reach out for her inhaler, only for it to not be there.

'How can it not be there?! I always put it there!! I need my inhaler. NOW. WHERE IS IT?!'

She could feel her view fade and black dots to appear in her vision. Her necklace started the alarm and Recovery Girl, together with Midnight appeared at the scene. The woman injected the girl with a substance which calmed down her breathing.

"WHO TOOK MY INHALER?", said Kukeiko aggresively once she got a hold on her breath. "I always keep it on my nightstand for a damn reason and I'm sure as hell that I put it there! I wouldn't be caught dead without one near me!"

"What are you trying to say, Midoriya? That someone took it from you?", said Midnight assertively.

"Yes!"

"Give me a reason why anyone would take it!"

Kukeiko remained silent and lowered her head in shame.

'What a stupid thing to say! Why did I say that? Come one Kukeiko, THINK FOR ONCE!'

"My apologies, sensei. It was my fault. I shall look for the inhaler."

'Now you messed up big time! You should've just shut up! Why didn't I just shut up?!

Midnight sighed.

"What happened here? You can't be mad for no reason, right?"

"I... No! I'm just... I apologise. I have to better control myself-"

"Don't beat around the bush."

From that day, Kukeiko stopped talking. She would stay locked in her room. At school, she desperately tried hiding the bags under her eyes with makeup and mostly stood alone in her desk, staring into space. Her energetic vibe was nowhere to be found. When anyone tried cheering her up, she showed no reaction.

There was a night. Only Kukeiko and the homeroom teacher know what happened then. But for the rest, it was a mystery. That night changed Kukeiko. She was never going to be the same as before.