Haze
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Fumei said as he jumped off the stairs to walk beside Hitoshi, "but I'm actually excited to start classes again."
Half a month has passed since All-Might retired, leaving society without a Symbol of Peace and the people uneasy. In that same time, Hitoshi and the rest of 1-C lived moved to Heights Alliance. After they settled in their rooms and agreed on a system to rotate the responsibilities around, life in the dorms soon became normal, and summer vacation was essentially back on track.
While the others locked themselves in their rooms, playing games, or cracking open watermelons. Hitoshi spent his last few weeks of summer focused on training. He made sure none of the other hero aspirants found out where he'd disappear too, but that too much wishful thinking.
It took Nusumi two days to figure out where he went, and practically invaded the compound.
Hitoshi had to apologize to Aizawa for not being careful enough with them, but the hero had no problem sharing it with his 'friends' "Make sure they keep it clean and spotless. Any damages incurred goes directly in their pockets, got it?" was all the hero had to say.
Following the clear instruction, Okami and Tatsumaki who had the worst quirk control were forced to stay outdoors in the ravine. Koharu joined Hitoshi in the bunker to add free running to his repertoire, while Nusumi jumped to wherever she felt like at the moment.
Nagai often switched between locations, depending on where he was needed most, juggling all their progress by himself because Fumei made himself scarce ever since they moved in.
No one really knew where he'd run off to, especially with strict rules against leaving the campus unless allowed by the faculty or their parents/guardians. They only saw Fumei in the evening, or on rare occasions, in the morning while he prepared himself some breakfast. After which, he'd be gone for the whole day.
People started to worry, so Fumei, perceptive as always eased their concerns with the bare minimum of what he told Hitoshi. "Family problems," he said, and most left it at that.
The remaining few that called bullshit on the excuse were divided into Shirogane, who vaguely had an idea of the truth because of her quirk, and the gossip crew, led by Nusumi who insisted that Fumei was running off with his girlfriend or something while they all rot inside the campus. It was honestly preposterous.
A couple of days later, Fumei started disappearing less. He even stayed to train them again, or if Hitoshi were to be more specific, him and Nusumi. It wasn't his usual pace too, Hitoshi felt it in the way he carried himself and his voice.
Fumei was stressed about something he can't share and was letting it out on them. Hitoshi vaguely recalled passing out during training, then being forced to try again without break. He shuddered at the mere thought of it.
"Please, as if you weren't having fun torturing me in training."
Fumei laughed. "That was fun too! But I need to start taking something in or I'll become a vegetable like Tatsu."
From his spot in the dining table, Tatsumaki chucked a precise burst of air at Fumei, who effortlessly crouched under it and ended up blow drying Kuchisake's hair. "Doing better with those, Tatsu."
Tatsumaki flipped him off while Fumei grabbed a cereal box. The blond sat beside Kureito who offered a weak "Good morning" while he scrolled through his phone and dipped stale bread in hot coffee. Hitoshi helped himself with a small portion of cereal as well, and walked over to the living room, where Kimura and Shiosai were eating their breakfast and watching the morning news.
It currently showed a lackluster interview with the new Number One hero, Endeavor, who had his arms crossed over his chest, showing up a very intimidating set of muscles, and a very angry glower. "Man," Kimura sighed, "He's such a scary dude."
Shoisai nodded then motioned something with his hands. He stopped half-way, realizing his mistake and very softly said, "He's scared too...?"
"That does not look like the face of someone scared. He's been number two for a decade, maybe more. You'd think he'd be happier about the promotion."
"Not his way," Shiosai refuted. "All Might retired. No victory there."
Kimura grumbled, somehow agreeing with the orange haired teen. Hitoshi stared at the screen that now showed a reel of Endeavors past achievements.
As the class' resident All Might fanboy, everyone pretty much knew what his opinion on the Flame Hero. He respected a lot of heroes, but Endeavor was not one of them. Endeavor was strong, yes, and he had the best and most consistent track record in modern heroics, but when put beside All Might and the symbol he represented, Endeavour was nothing but a matchstick.
Endeavour may have inherited the Symbol of Peace but he didn't inherit the values that made the title so revered. He wasn't kind and approachable like All Might, and he certainly didn't provide the sense of hope All Might's presence did.
Despite this, Hitoshi knew how important it was for someone to inherit All Might's responsibilities. He, the world, had to move forward. Immediately after All Might's fall in Kamino, the Leagues of Villain's vanished, but in their wake they left a kind of power vacuum that motivated lower criminals to band together against heroes.
They were nothing compared to what the League were capable of, but it caused many to worry.
To some, Endeavor became that light in the darkness, but was still far too dim. It was not enough to reassure all of Japan. Perhaps, if All Might had retired under better circumstances, the world would heal faster.
"Akusa!" Tenmei's voice suddenly cried halfway across the room as a blue haired teen waltzed in the dorm with half-lidded eye checking around the new roof. "You were supposed to move in two weeks ago!"
Akusa sighed, waving a dismissive hand at the class representative. "I have the right to practice my autonomy. Unlike you, I have no obligation to mindlessly follow orders."
"They're not orders!" Tenmei said. "It's for the safety of all Yuuei students after everything that's happened to our school!"
"The hero classes you mean, not our school."
"What if something happened to you out there!"
Akusa placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you." He patted the other's shoulder and walked on. "Worry about someone else, headlights. Perhaps then you'd feel useful."
Tenmei's eyes flickered in offense. "That's not – I don't – I could report you for being disrepectful!"
"Why haven't you, then?"
Tenmei bit his tongue. "At least wear your summer uniform if you're moving in late!"
The request fell on deaf ears as Akusa slotted himself into the living room, stopping right in front of Hitoshi, with eyes smiling down at him. "Good morning."
Warning bells rang at the back of Hitoshi's mind. It would be proper courtesy to return the greeting, but Hitoshi didn't trust his approach to come without underlying motives so he kept his mouth shut.
Akusa chuckled at his response then turned away, signing something to Shiosai that made the latter's eyes grow wide. Akusa handed out a red box to Shiosai, who tried to open it, but the latter stopped him before he could pull at the string. "Not here. Let's go somewhere more private."
The two of them left, passing by Fumei as they headed for the stairwell. Their eyes lingered at each other for quite some time, making the whole floor shudder at the intensity behind their muted gaze. It was different from their usual dislike for each other. Even Hitoshi, who witnessed their relationship completely derail off the tracks over the break, felt like he was missing something else between them.
When they finally broke eye contact, Akusa disappeared into the upper floors while Fumei stormed out of the dorms. Hitoshi watched Fumei slam the door behind him, thinking it best to leave him alone for the time being to cool off. However, Katagiri sent him that look that roughly translated to 'Don't lose him'.
Hitoshi sighed and followed after the blond, who surprisingly only walked as far out into the lawn and paced. His left eye twitched when he spotted Hitoshi a few meters away. "Pres sent you after me, didn't she?"
"Can you blame her? You've given her more trouble these past week than ever before."
"Yeah, I… You're right…" Fumei ran his hand through his hair and sighed "He's never going to give me a damn break is he?"
"It's Akusa, he's always been out for you."
"Yes, but Nara was his fault, and now he has the gall to be angry at me."
"Did you forget he does this to piss you off? He doesn't have to have a reason to do it. Just seeing you be pissed off makes him happy." Fumei grumbled at Hitoshi's words. "Just ignore him, you'll be better off then."
"I'm taking another piece of advice from Hitoshi Shinsou, who would've known."
Hitoshi scoffed. "Next time it won't be free."
Fumei punched his arm and breathed. "I just hate how he always looks at me like he knows everything. But I know he doesn't. I just can't help feeling a little paranoid. Especially when he comes to talk to you."
"Me? How am I part of this?"
Fumei blinked, fully alert, as though he just said something he shouldn't. Then he smiled, eyes hiding the truth yet again. "Maybe I'm jealous, who knows?"
He likes you too much.
A memory, too hazy to make sense of, suddenly came to mind.
You're his favorite. Don't trust your memories.
Hitoshi grabbed his head as his vision swayed. Something akin to a heavy curtain dropped over the memory, forcing his mind back into a chair, watching nothing but blank space. He subconsciously tried to reach out for what was behind it, until a blinding white hot pain struck him through the head.
Was it just him or was the sun suddenly too bright?
Fumei was still talking, but he couldn't hear any of it. There was only static and the vague image of a person behind the curtain. Hitoshi didn't recognize them. They opened their mouth – Ly - n -g - y-u.
"Toshi?" Fumei placed a hand on his shoulder, and the touch felt like a much needed anchor to stop Hitoshi from spiralling out from his thoughts.
Br - k -ut -is control.
"I'm fine."
"Did you remember something?"
"No, I – I just suddenly feel under the weather."
Fumei tapped his hand on Hitoshi's forehead and gaped. "Jesus, you're burning up! Were you hiding the fact that you're sick the whole morning?!"
Hitoshi tried to shake his head but it only made the sensation worse so he just waved his hand. "I'm not – sick."
"The fuck you aren't." The blond guided him back to the balcony and gently sat him down. "I'm going to get Kamimura. Wait here."
Hitoshi's hand flew to his wrist, holding him back. Fumei frowned. "Look, it's her or Recovery Girl, your choice."
No heroes, whispered a ringing voice in his mind. "No," he hissed through the pain. "I'm not getting scolded on the first day."
"Kamimura it is," Fumei said with finality and momentarily disappeared to call for their medic.
Kamimura quickly went to work, wrapping her half finished braided hair around his head and assessing the situation. "Gosh... He's really hot. Are you sure you don't want to stay in and rest? We can grab medicine in the infirmary." Hitoshi shook his head, which made Kamimura huff. "No rest, and no infirmary? What am I to do?!"
Her hair glowed, easing the static that threatened to dull out everything in Hitoshi's mind. For a brief moment, the haze filtered away giving him time to watch a memory he wasn't even sure was his own – Akusa grabbed his arm, pulling him close enough to whisper, "Stop running. He's lying to you."
By the time Kamimura finished with her healing, their situation had practically reversed. Now with a clear mind, Hitoshi let out a slow sigh of relief. The noise had gone and he was finally able to think again. Kamimura on the other hand fell back, breathing heavily as sweat fell down her face.
"I did–" she breathed, exhausted, "the best I could. You have got to take care of yourself more, Shinsou. I'm not always going to be there you know?"
"I'll keep that in mind… Thanks."
Fumei handed Kamimura some glass of water before she headed out with Katagiri, who briefly asked about Hitoshi's situation. A couple more peers asked about him, but Fumei pushed them away to give Hitoshi space to recover.
When they arrived in the classroom, Hitoshi went straight for his desk and sat there in complete silence, watching the clouds pass by as he tried to piece together… something. What was he trying to do again? He tried to remember, but the haze just dulled out his thoughts.
Hitoshi heeded it.
From the corner of his eyes Tatsumaki and the other's tried to snap him out of it, but Fumei kept them back. Kamimura kept stealing glances at him from her desk, keeping an eye out for him in case his fever came back.
Hitoshi assured her that he was fine. At least, he felt fine.
His mind was a little all over the place, not quite able to focus, but other than that he felt alright. It was a lot like waking up from a long relaxing sleep, and when he woke up, he wanted nothing more than to dissolve back under the covers.
A cloud passed over his head, too silent, and too incomprehensible to be worth his attention. A voice not his own, but familiar whispered something to his ear.
He's locked you in a cage.
Don't trust your memories.
Something or someone shifted on his left, and Hitoshi very groggily lifted his head to catch Tenmei looking at him with worried eyes. "Wow, they weren't lying. You should've stayed in bed, Shinsout."
"And I keep telling everyone, I'm fine." he growled, making Tenmei fall back.
"Alright, hero. We're just worried about you. I don't want you to force yourself if you don't feel like it, but we're mobilizing. Katagiri wants to split into three. She's at the back, I'm taking the middle. Mind taking the front?"
Hitoshi hummed, his mind drifting back up into the clouds. Tenmei tilted his head, recognizing how out of it he was. "I'm having Kamimura's shadow you from behind just in case you pass out."
That sounded reasonable enough. "Sure," he mumbled almost robotically, not quite feeling up to say otherwise, nor think for that matter. He passed by Fumei on his way out, unaware that the latter narrowed his eyes at him as he left.
By the time Hitoshi reached the door, he stumbled on his own two feet and fell over. Fortunately, Akusa was right around the corner to catch him. Hitoshi would've pushed him off, but he didn't have the energy in him to do so.
What the fuck was happening to him?
Akusa stared at him for a moment, and his eyes smiled. He helped him stand upright, as he talked, a memory flashing over reality for a split second."Keep fighting, Shinsou. You're far too close to lose now."
Don't trust him, the voice in the haze, which now sounded suspiciously like Akusa echoed much louder than before. Hitoshi wasn't sure what the warning was meant to be about or for and groggily turned to question Akusa more about it. Unfortunately the latter had already disappeared with Shiosai, who was mysteriously missing his noise cancellers, inside the room.
Kamimura tapped his shoulder, noticing him stare at Akusa for far longer than normal and got him to work.
Hitoshi mostly led the class towards the open field on autopilot. He moved completely through muscle memory while his mind remained in the clouds, with Kamimura close behind him to keep him straight and grounded with the feeling of her hands on his back.
It felt a little odd having her hand's support him from behind, but he was too lost to care. A loud laugh, followed by someone's condescending voice, pulled him back from cloud nine. Kamimura peeked over his shoulder. "What are they doing?"
The hero classes were huddled up together in the hall, teasing each other or something, completely unaware of their surroundings. A low growl erupted in Hitoshi's throat, his frustration over the hero class' mindlessness somehow winning over his lack of focus.
"Would you attention whores hurry the fuck up?"
They all turned to him, shocked by his vulgarity and Tenya Iida jumped with a hand chopping the air. "Sorry, very sorry! Enough idle chatter everyone! We're holding up the procession!"
"You guys are fucking lame," Hitoshi growled, making the hero kids whisper about him. A few even called out his name in recall. The kid from general studies that lost to Midoriya.
Kamimura gently urged him forward. "I know there's some lingering resentment for the hero course in there but that was pretty snappy even for you."
"They were blocking the way."
"Yeah…" she drawled. "I still think it's a bit much using that kind of language to push them along." She raised her hand to his forehead, feeling up his temperature again. "Your temperature's still stable so… maybe you're just naturally cranky?"
Hitoshi rolled his eyes at Kamimura who looked offended that he didn't even react at her comment. "Laughter is the best medicine you know!"
The ceremonies passed by without a hitch but Hitoshi could hardly remember what was said. There were some bits and pieces of Principal Nezu rambling about his fur, and of course the unfortunate loss of All Might, but that wasn't enough to make a coherent picture.
Hitoshi found himself drifting off to sleep more times than he could out throughout the entire day. He stopped trying to fight it halfway through the tired period. With the amount of rest he's been allowed to get in class, one would think that Hitoshi would be in much higher spirits and a sound mind once school was dismissed. Oddly enough, he still felt like complete shit.
"I dont know what the fuck is going on," he mumbled his thoughts aloud gathering the attention of those seated close to him.
"Damn, he's alive?" Tatsumaki jeered. "I thought I'd never hear him again." Fumei slapped his arm, telling him to lay off. Kamimura crouched beside Hitoshi and once again tapped the back of her hand on his forehead.
"He's not burning anymore, but, he's definitely got the cold sweats now."
"Is that bad?" Fumei asked, and Kamimura shrugged.
"Not really sure… I hoped my quirk would help him but maybe it's more serious than we think. We should just drag him to Recovery Girl."
A bell chimed. Anything but a hero. He shook his head. "She'd just give me medicine. I have plenty of those."
"Obviously it's not just a headache now is it?!"
No heroes. "No," he hissed.
Kamimura bristled, running her hands through her hair. She turned to Fumei, "In times like this, he only listens to you. Something is very wrong with him and he needs a doctor."
"No. Fumei promised."
"Promised what?" Kamimura asked.
"He started getting these headaches since we trained a week ago. I told him we should go to Recovery Girl, but he told me it was nothing."
"How many?"
Fumei hummed. "Five to eight times, maybe? I honestly lost count."
Hitoshi frowned. That didn't make sense. He didn't, couldn't, remember having any dizzy spells since they moved in. Even if he did have them, he was pretty sure he'd remember them regardless of how small or bad they were.
"Why haven't you forcefully dragged him then?!" Kamimura cried. "It could be a tumor. or worse!"
"Tumor's a bit much isn't it?"
"With the way you train him, I wouldn't put it off."
Fumei grimaced. "Well, if you put it that way." The blond wrapped his arms around Hitoshi's side, and the latter weakly pushed off him. Fumei unfortunately kept a steady hand on him.
Recovery Girl greeted them with that warm smile of hers, followed by a low chuckled that recognized trouble from her years of medical experience. "What has Giro gotten you boys to do this time? Hm?"
She circled around Fumei and Hitoshi, looking them over from head to toe, before turning to Kamimura with adoring eyes. "You boys seem fine to me. Kamimura dear, I thought I shared the basics of healing with you already?
"Yes!" she nodded fervently. "They're kind of hard to understand but I think they helped me keep these guys out of your office for a long time, right?"
Recovery Girl nodded. "You've done well looking after them. Then, to what do I owe this untimely visit?"
Hitoshi waited for that off ringing in his mind to hold him, or tell him to lie and keep the real reason for his consultation a secret, but it never came. The haze that's been bothering him all day seemed to just miraculously stop.
For the first time since he could remember being plagued by this mysterious sickness, Hitoshi felt like he was in control again. Funny how he, someone with a mind control quirk, felt that way at the moment. "I've been… having headaches recently, apparently." Recovery Girl raised a brow at his uncertainty. "I don't really remember having them."
"He's been, like, really out of it the whole day," Kamimura added. "He slept through most of the classes, which he wouldn't do on a normal day. And he's been, like, extra pissed off today, like Shinsou had PMS."
Fumei gagged at how casually she said that word aloud, while the girl continued. "He also had a fever earlier. I managed to cool it down, but I don't think it's fully healed."
"Hm.. Very well, come, come, let's have a look at you."
Hitoshi followed Recovery Girl behind the curtains and sat patiently through the simple screening tests. After a while, the hero drew back the curtains and walked to her desk. Fumei sent him a look, to which Hitoshi just shrugged at.
"How often have the migraines been happening?" Recovery Girl asked while filling up her patient charts. Fumei reiterated what he told Kamimura then, and the hero wrote it down. "And he can't remember these attacks, yes?"
Hitoshi nodded, which made the hero tap her pen on her chin, probably to list off diagnoses on the top of her head. "Have there been any indications, or signs that you think might have caused them? Food maybe? Activities?"
"Not really, no. Just talking after training, and I guess, well... I ranted to him about my family a couple of times the past week? Maybe he's shutting off his brain to not listen?"
Hitoshi chuckled. Oh, how he wished he could do that, but no, he wouldn't do that to Fumei. He offered to lend an ear about that thing after all.
"Today though..." Fumei continued. "Today, we were talking about Akusa."
Akusa grabbed his arm. Hitoshi gasped, pulling back on instinct, as though present in the moment of his memory.
They all looked at him oddly. "Shinsou?" Kamimura's voice called for him, sounding so far away.
"Stop running," The blue haired student's voice rang. "He's lying to you."
Who…? Who was lying to him?
Hitoshi didn't even notice when his fingers started to claw at his scalp, until Kamimura moved to pull his arms back. Hitoshi moved along with her pull, leaning forward to burying himself deeper into his knees, attempting to curl up into a ball.
The haze, the curtain, whatever it was, crawled it's way back to his mind, attempting to cover it up. It didn't want him to know about Akusa. But… What about Akusa?
Kamimura yelled for Fumei who grabbed Hitoshi's other arm and forced him back into the bed. Hitoshi whined helplessly as the pain increased and Recovery Girl flashed something over his eyes to check how he'd react to light.
"You know who he really is, don't you?"
Yes. No.
"He's molding you"
Shut up.
Someone kissed his forehead, and suddenly Hitoshi felt very weak. He stopped struggling against Kamimura's hold. The flower haired girl fell to her knees, terrified, while Recovery Girl hurriedly absconded to her desk. She called for Kamimura again, and sent her out to fetch something.
Fumei remained at his side, golden eyes briefly glancing to Recovery Girl before he placed two fingers on Hitoshi's temple. Hitoshi gasped, somehow familiar with the action.
He suddenly felt scared.
He didn't know why, he just had a feeling he already knew what was going to happen next. He's lying to you, the voice,whether it was Akusa's or his own, Hitoshi couldn't tell, said..
He couldn't do this again.
He was tired.
"No –"
"Shhhh," the blond whispered almost soothingly. "You should rest, Hitoshi. Go to sleep, please."
Gentle wind chimes rang in his mind. Hitoshi stopped fighting, falling pliant in Fumei's arms, grasping at the smallest bit of consciousness he could muster as the haze began to overwhelm his thoughts.
"You really should stop fighting me every chance you have. It'll be easier that way."
Kamimura slid the door open and practically shoved Fumei out of the way just so she could shove a pill inside Hitoshi's mouth and force fed him a bottle of water. Fumei's eye twitched, and the haze once again retreated. Whatever Kamimura fed him, it ended up being his saving grace.
Hitoshi wanted to thank her for that, but all he could think about was fulfilling the request. As Hitoshi's consciousness slowly fell to darkness, his mind replayed one single thought. over and over – Fumei can't be trusted.
A/N: Crawling out of my hidey hole, holding FUMEI AT GUNPOINT. Honestly, this wasn't supposed to be the chapter for this, but the penultimate draft convinced me there was no other way to go about this. I was getting a little bored too with my pacing, and having a difficult time writing Hitoshi in situations where he was a passive protagonist. I'm throwing him a bone here to act on his own. Also, yipakayey, Hitoshi has actually been a low-key unreliable narrator this whole time. How unreliable? Who knows.
Read the next chapter to find out. Comes out, in another 500 years. See you!