When the goo spit me out on the rough ground, I collapsed, heaving while I waited for sight and sound to return to me. To my left the first sound I heard was Bakugo retching and swearing, and I staggered to my feet as my eyes finally started to work again. What I saw made me wish vehemently that I couldn't see again.
All for One was here.
He didn't look like I remembered - the face covering was a new addition, and the bits of skin that showed through were scared and damaged (All Might's handiwork, I was sure). There were no eye slots in the mask, making me wonder how he could even see, but even so I felt like he was looking into my soul as he stared down at my blindly. Even with the change in appearance, I knew it was him.
"Ah, Hara Mei. What a pleasure it is to see you again. It's been too long, my dear," he said in a raspy, filtered voice that somehow still held a hint of the smoothness his speech had once conveyed.
Around us was debris and settling smoke, and whatever had been here before had likely been demolished quite recently. In the distance there were screams, but in the area of destruction... silence. He'd leveled this entire section of city, and it didn't seem like a single soul had been spared. I felt death like a physical sensation - it was all around, and it was crushing.
"What the hell is going on?!" Bakugo coughed, stumbling to his feet.
"My apologies, Bakugo Katsuki," he told the boy. Meanwhile more of the portal goo was spitting out the League of Villain members around us. Most of them were coughing and complaining as well.
When Shigaraki emerged, he sank to his knees before All for One and bowed his head. "Master."
"So, you've failed once more Tomura," All for One said, and he didn't sound disappointed or angry, but was merely like he was stating the facts. "But you must not be discouraged, you'll try again. That's why I brought your associates back with you, and even this child since you judged him to be an important piece on your game board," he said, gesturing to Bakugo. "But I also must thank you for delivering Hell Fire back to me," he continued, and a chill ran down my spine. All for One stepped forward and extended his hand towards the villain on the ground, and it was like a step back in time to see the way he treated the young man. He'd treated me like that once too. "Start over as many times as it takes - I am here to provide you with help. All of this is for you."
The crime lord stopped suddenly and turned around. There was no telling what expression he may have under the mask, but when he spoke, his voice was amused. "Ah. There you are."
All Might came soaring from the sky and landed both fists in a double blow on the villain's raised arms. All for One held the block, holding his own against the unshakable power of the number one hero. "I'll have you return my students, All for One!" he yelled over the shockwave of energy let loose by the attack.
"Students?" villain replied, not a hint of strain in his voice. "There's only one student here. The vigilante, Hara Mei, is no child. But I think you knew that already, didn't you, All Might?"
The hero growled and pushed even harder, and this time the power of the blow shook the ground and threw everyone back. "You will return her to me!" he shouted again.
The two were blown apart from each other, and I scrambled back to my feet, trying the shield Bakugo in case any other explosions might misdirect and come our way. The minor villains around us were beyond my concern at this point. They were small fish, and I was much more worried about the leviathan that had emerged from the deep. At this point I was running on pure adrenaline, and it was probably a blessing that everything was happening too fast for me to think. The terror in my chest would be crippling were it not for the knowledge that if I let myself crumble now, Bakugo could pay the price. I may die here tonight, but with paralyzing clarity I understood suddenly that I might not be the only one.
Toshinori might die here too.
"You've gotten weaker," All for One taunted, shaking out his hands.
"You're one to talk. It's kind of difficult to ignore that fancy life support mask you've got on." The hero bounced on the balls of his feet, staying loose and preparing to attack at a fraction of a second's notice. "I won't make the same mistake I did six years ago, you hear me? I WILL take young Bakugo and Miss Hara back, and I'll make sure you're locked up for the rest of your sad life! Right along with your despicable League of Villains!" he thundered.
"Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you," All for One retorted, extending an arm that swelled with energy and power as All Might dove for an attack. The blast the villain let loose was catastrophic, and All Might was blown back, tumbling and crashing through building after building from the force of it.
"All Might!" I screamed, unable to help it.
"Don't you worry," my former master chuckled, "it will take more than that to kill him. Tomura," he said, turning his head towards Shigaraki, "get off the battlefield, and take that child with you. But leave Hell Fire here, I think she might be of use to me yet. All Might has a little soft spot for you, doesn't he?" he observed with malicious amusement.
"What about you?" Shigaraki asked, as even in the distance a mushroom cloud of smoke billowed, signaling the number one hero had broken free of the rubble he'd been thrown into.
"You're not thinking, Tomura. There remains much room for you to grow." All for One rose into the air as he spoke, preparing to meet All Might's attack as he came barreling towards him.
"Master!"
"You're mine!" the Pillar of Justice yelled, and the resounding shockwave sent everyone tumbling back again.
"Bakugo, you have to get out of here now!" I yelled.
"Shut up!" he yelled back, and I could see in the way he looked around at the villains that he was searching for a way - any way - just like I was.
The villains came for Bakugo, and I leapt in the way, swiping a flaming blow at Toga as she dove towards him with her knife before following up with a magnetized kick at Compress that sent him flying back. "Just run! I'll cover you, Bakugo, just go!" I screamed as Magne's fist collided with my shoulder, sending me reeling.
"You think I'm just going to leave you behind?!" he yelled back, dodging Spinner as he attacked and going on the defensive rather than offensive. The kid was smart enough to know his best bet was to stay out of reach.
I was mildly surprised by the kid's words. "While I'm overjoyed by your heroism, kid, now is not the time. They're after you, not me! I'm not the person you think I am, Bakugo - I can handle myself." Toga sprang in again and I threw myself between her and the teenager, grunting as the blade sliced the outside of my thigh. Meanwhile behind us I could hear Toshinori battling his nemesis, and while All Might held All for One back, the same could be said in reverse. The number one hero wouldn't be able to come to our aid.
"I'm coming for you!" All Might yelled, trying anyway and being pulled back by the blade like extensions All for One manipulated from his fingertips.
"I don't think so. Because I am here!" he taunted as he dragged him back.
"I've got him, All Might, it's okay!" I called back, hoping he would trust and believe me. He needed to focus on the threat he faced, not on us, if he hoped to win.
"Yes, let my little Hell Fire prove her worth," All for One laughed darkly. "She used to be one of my best spies, did she ever tell you that? And with a face like that, she was great for recruitment."
The breath left my lungs at the villain's words, and I stumbled just enough to catch another blow from Twice this time. Gritting my teeth I jumped away, clutching my shoulder - I was pretty sure it was broken. No, no he can't know. I'm not ready yet, I cried silently.
"Shut up," All Might growled, striking again. "Her past is her own, and does not determine her future."
"Oh, so you do have a soft spot for her. I'm so glad my guess was correct. I do so enjoy destroying the things you love," the disfigured man crowed.
"You won't destroy anything or anyone else tonight - I will make sure of that!" he vowed passionately, determination saturated in every note of his voice.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, All Might," he replied arrogantly.
I never even saw the attack. All of my focus was on keeping the villains off of Bakugo, and it only took a fraction of a second for the black and red blade of All for One's stolen quirk to spear through my turned back and shoot out of my stomach. Blood bubbled up from my throat and gurgled behind my tongue, and as the spear-like protection withdrew, I spat the red mess on the ground.
"Hara!" Bakugo yelled.
"Mei, no!" Toshinori screamed, and the vowel sound on the 'no' was drawn out with rage and despair.
"Keep fighting, you fools," I coughed, staggering and trying to focus past my increasingly hazy vision. It's just shock, I tried to tell myself, You've survived worse than this, Mei. Keep going. I ignited my fist and pressed it to the wound, screaming as my quirk crudely cauterized the bleeding. "Come on!" I yelled my defiant challenge to the villains, shaking the sizzling blood from my fingertips. "Is that all you fuckers got?!"
Everything was pain and adrenaline, and at this point I was moving on pure instinct. I was running out of time and was dangerously aware of that fact. I could hear All Might fighting on, and I just prayed to whatever entity might exist that he would make it through this even if I didn't. The last legs of my energy were close to giving out, and I grunted in surprise when Bakugo grabbed me by the shoulders to yank me away from one of Shigaraki's lunges. "C'mon, Hara. Keep going or we're both dead," he growled, and I nodded. "All Might can't use his full power if we're around. We have to get the hell out of dodge so he can kick this guy's ass."
"I know. But, shit, I don't know if I'm going to make it," I gasped, every breath burning. "Leave me."
"What kind of hero would that make me?" the kid said vehemently, surprising me. "I don't know what they mean calling you a vigilante and saying that you used to be this guy's spy, so you've gotta keep fighting so you can explain yourself. You got that?!"
"Bakugo..."
Just then, the wall behind us exploded outward and a familiar wall of ice shot over our heads. Like skaters on a ramp, Iida, Kirishima , and Midoriya rocket up the ice pillar and launched into the sky.
"Come on!" Kirishima yelled, extending his hand.
Bakugo was fast, I'll give him that. Before any of the villains could even react, the boy slung me over his shoulder and rocketed off from the ground. One hand clasped the red haired teen's forearm and the other arm held me from falling. "You idiots!" the blonde yelled.
"I think he means thank you," I grunted, clinging to the boy's t-shirt for dear life, knowing I didn't have enough energy left to stop my descent if I fell now. Behind us Mt. Lady towered with her quirk, blocking the villains from pursuing us, and within a few seconds we were clear.
We landed further in the city, and Midoriya's quirk combined with Kirishima's hardening slowed our fall back to earth as the two alternated pushing off of buildings as we came down. When we touched down on the concrete of an alleyway, my legs finally gave out and I sank to the ground, vomiting more blood.
"Hara!" Midoriya yelled in concern, and Iida knelt by my side, propping an arm under me and lifting me up.
"We have to keep moving and get her to a doctor," the dark haired boy said.
"No," I coughed. "It looks bad, but it's not going to kill me. G- give me a second to catch my breath and we can keep going. We've got to blend into the crowd of people evacuating in case the villains come looking for us."
"But you're pretty hurt, dude," Kirishima said uncertainly.
"I've had worse, believe it or not," I chuckled breathlessly and without real humor. "I'm guessing you kids were behind that wall for some time in order to come up with that plan, so you probably heard what they were saying. I was undercover at Yūei as a back-up plan just in case an attack like this occurred. I'm not a student - hell, I'm not even you guys' age. I used to be a vigilante," I explained, not meeting any of their eyes for fear of what I might see there. Excluding Midoriya, I'd lied to them and betrayed their trust - they would have every right to be angry or suspicious of me. "Although with this I guess I still am."
"Whoever you are, you're still one of us, Hara," Kirishima said, and I jerked my head up at that. Midoryia was nodding, and Iida looked contemplative.
"I don't condone vigilantism, but Kirishima's right. We're here for you. Are you sure you don't need medical attention?" Iida asked, brow furrowed.
I swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. Give me your jacket, Midoriya. I won't blend in too well if people see me covered in blood." I stood, albeit a little shakily, and donned the offered jacket. Gingerly I buttoned it closed to hide the bloody mess of my t-shirt underneath. "Okay, let's go."
Joining the crowd was easy enough, and we trudged through the streets with everyone else. Midoriya called Todoroki's phone, and I learned that Yaoyorozu had been with them as well. The other two were fine and merging with the crowd in a different section. Foot traffic came to a halt in front of the station, and unsurprisingly they weren't letting anyone on the trains at the moment. With such a disastrous fight going on, they must have deemed it too dangerous to run the rail lines.
The news was being broadcast on the giant screen set in the side of the building, and I watched with wide eyes and trembling shoulders the man I loved continue to fight the greatest enemy either of us had ever known. This feeling was so much worse than when he'd faught Wolfram on I-island, and just like then I felt completely useless. Only, this time it was worse because there was no escaping the undeniable truth that this was my fault.
I'd drug him into this, I'd made him promise to come save me. If not for me, then maybe he wouldn't be face to face with such a great evil right now.
It didn't work telling myself that it might have happened anyway - that it was inevitable All Might would one day face All for One once more. There was also no use in reminding myself that this was all to save the students, because even so this was still my plan and ergo my fault. It was hard to stay selfless when the only thing I wanted was for Toshinori to live.
When Toshinori's face - his real face - showed on the screen, I felt tears roll down my cheeks. The crowd had gone silent as everyone watched the screen in horror.
"What happened?" someone asked bewildered.
"Is that really All Might?" another gasped.
"He looks like a skeleton."
"He looks so sick."
As the murmurs continued the tears fell in greater amounts, and I jerked in surprise when a soft warm touch gripped my hand. Midoriya stood beside me, face grim and green eyes brimming with his own tears, and I gripped his hand back for comfort. We were the only ones here who knew what this truly meant.
"He's going to be okay," the boy muttered, and I felt pathetic being the one who had to seek comfort from a teenage boy, rather than the other way around. I was the adult here, and I should be acting like it.
"I know," I replied, not sure if I actually believed my own words.
The mood turned suddenly, and the crowd began cheering, screaming encouragements that the hero couldn't hear, but I hoped he could feel. The students and I added our own voices to the shouts.
"Win this!"
"Beat him!"
"Come on, All Might!"
We all watched transfixed and spell bound as All Might used the last of his strength - only enough to inflate one arm - and met the villain's powerful attack. I couldn't stop from screaming at the screen when he nearly destroyed his arm, and then cried out again when he finally and triumphantly landed the last blow. A tornado of power swirled to life at the epicenter of All Might's hit, and as the dust cleared and the news helicopter stabilized, a worn figure stood out amidst the settling dust.
It was dead silent as the thin, bloodied man hunched over his opponent, and when he raised a shaky fist in the air, everyone went wild. All Might inflated his quirk one last time, standing in a pose of victory, but his face was grim.
All around us people were chanting All Might's name, but I didn't have it in me to join them. Beside me, Midoroya and Bakugo were silent as well.
It seemed like hours passed as we waited for the station to finally start operating again, and I stood tiredly with the students, watching the news broadcast numbly. There were plenty of things I should be feeling - relief, joy, pain, anxiety - but I was so exhausted I couldn't feel any of it. The news team moved in closer now that the threat of danger was lowered. When the camera trained on All Might as he watched the police haul away All for One, he flinched as he realized the spotlight was on him again.
Toshinori raised his arm and pointed at the camera, face turned away. "Now... now it's your turn," his deep voice rattled through the speakers, and Midoriya froze.
He's talking to his young successor, I realized sadly. Midoriya looked overwhelmed, and tears began rolling down the young teen's cheeks as the finality of it all truly sank in.
The Symbol of Peace was done.
As he cried I put my arm around his shoulder and held the boy, and finally a hint of the heartache broke through the exhausted numbness. "It's okay, Izuku," I said softly. "It's okay."
But even I felt like it was a lie.
We met up with Todoroki and Yaoyorozu, and the seven of us headed to the police after that to give statements. However, as we drew closer I stopped on the sidewalk outside, afraid to go in. The night had given way to morning, and even as the sun shined brightly down on us, I felt a darkness surrounding my soul. "I can't do this," I choked out, and the kids looked at me in confusion. "I... I'm a vigilante. What if they just throw me in jail?"
"But you said Principal Nezu and All Might were aware and helping you on your undercover mission," Iida said.
"Nezu and All Might aren't here," I said quietly, and anxiously I took a step back.
"You have to go talk to the police though. You can't run away!" Yaoyorozu said, clutching her fist to her chest like she always did when she worried.
I gritted my teeth. "All I wanted to do was make sure you all were safe. I- I thought I could live with it then - if they did lock me up, then at least I could live out my days knowing that my sacrifice saved student lives... but..." my voice cracked and I took another step back, "I don't want this to be the end. I'm sorry."
The students shouted after me as I took off running, and while any one of them could have caught up with me easily with my wounds slowing me down, none of them followed. It was for the best.
The small urgent care clinic I stopped in at mercifully asked few questions, and they seemed to chalk my injuries up to my being yet another casualty from the night's battle. No one seemed to recognize me, and I slipped away a few hours later, headed to the only place I had left to go.
Maybe it was foolish to go back to All Might's apartment, but it was the only place I thought I could feel safe. I knew he wouldn't be there, of course. Given the injuries he'd sustained he was likely laid up in a hospital recovering. If I hadn't lost my phone, I probably would have tried to call him, and I anxiously chewed my bottom lip so often that before long it started bleeding.
"Toshi, please be okay," I worried aloud.
The apartment was a wreck, with papers strewn everywhere and dished unwashed in the kitchen. I headed to the shower to wash the grime and dried blood off, thinking maybe I could clean the place up some after bathing. However, when I emerged from the bathroom, I walked down the hall and pushed open Toshinori's bedroom door. I crawled into his bed and curled up with my face pressed into his pillow, breathing in the familiar and comforting scent of him. I hadn't really meant to fall asleep, but it was impossible to stave off the exhaustion any longer.
It was after dark when I awoke, and the apartment was still suffocatingly silent. I climbed out of bed and headed into the main room, figuring I should stick to my original plan from earlier and clean the place up - anything to keep my body moving, no matter how loud it screamed at me to rest. If I stopped moving, it would give me too much opportunity to think, and that certainly wouldn't do me any good.
I froze at the sound of the front door lock rattling and when it opened there he stood, face grim and covered nearly head to toe in bandages. Toshinori's right arm was in a sling, and his left was heavily bandaged as well. Around his head another roll of gauze disappeared into his hair. We both stood there for a moment, neither moving or speaking, and I realized as I began to feel dizzy that I was holding my breath.
"Toshi...?" I asked hesitantly, taking a small step forward.
He came through the doorway, letting the front door swing closed behind him. At the click of the latch, his shoulder sagged. "It's all over," he said, voice broken.
I ran forward as he sank to his knees in the entryway, and cradled his head against my shoulder as the first rattling sob racked his body. He wrapped his one usable arm around me and gripped the back of my shirt tightly, pulling me closer as he cried harder. His breath was hot and shaky on the side of my neck, and the tears fell freely, soaking into the neckline of my shirt. I held him as best I could while trying to be cognizant of his injuries, and yet trying to ignore my own.
"I-it's done. I'm o-officially retired," he choked out.
"I'm so sorry, Toshi," I murmured into his hair, and he shook his head, face still pressed against me.
"It was... inevitable."
"That doesn't make it hurt less," I whispered.
The blonde groaned and shivered with another sob. "I couldn't... I couldn't save you. If the kids hadn't been there, y-you would have..." he trembled harder a moment, choking on the words, "How p-pathetic am I that I had to rely on a group of t-teenagers to rescue you and Bakugo?"
"You're not being fair to yourself," I said, voice cracking as a tear slid down my cheek. "You still won. You still saved the day. Even if you're retired, you're still All Might. The Symbol of Peace isn't dead," I said, willing him to hear my words and believe them.
His hand gripped tighter, and I tried not to wince at the way it was pressing on my injured shoulder to hold him like this; my pain was inconsequential right now. However, I still must have tensed slightly, and he sat back quickly, dropping his arm. "Shit, I'm so sorry, Mei," he gasped, blue eyes instantly searching my face as he leaned back. "Did I hurt you?"
Shaking my head, I ran my thumb under first his left eye, then his right to brush away the tears. "No, don't worry about me."
Toshinori shuddered, and shakily skimmed a hand over my front where the bandages lay underneath my shirt. "How bad is it?" he asked huskily.
"Well, I got to keep my stomach, so we're off to a good start," I replied, half a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth, and he barked out a single surprised laugh. "But seriously, it's not as bad as it looked. Nothing vital was hit - luckily the shards of that quirk were thin, so it only just nicked my small intestine and missed any other organs. Since I was quick to cauterize it, it kept bleeding and infection to a minimum. The doctors put me on some antibiotics and sewed me up, so I'll be good as new in no time." I smiled softly, trying to convince him I was fine. "My shoulder was dislocated, so they put that back in place, and I had a few slashes from Toga's knife that had to be sewn up as well. All small stuff, really, considering I honestly thought I was going to die..." I trailed off, looking down and he leaned his forehead against mine. "I thought you were going to die too," I whispered hoarsely, feeling a drop of moisture slip past my lashes again.
"So did I," he sighed.
Gently I rested my fingertips on his right arm. "How bad are your injuries?" I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"Not as bad as last time," he said. "I'll be in this sling for a little while though."
My inner turmoil was nearing unbearable, and I thought there was a good chance I might be sick. Over and over my brain kept repeating the horrible truth: My fault. All my fault.
He was injured, quirkless, and his secret had been exposed for all to see. If only I had never drug him into this...
My fault. All my fault.
"You should get some rest. Did the doctors give you any pain meds?" I asked, turning my head away and he sat back as I moved.
The blonde's brow furrowed and he searched my face with piercing eyes that still shimmered with too much moisture. "Yes. But I really prefer not to take them."
"They'll help you sleep. You really should, at least for tonight," I suggested, standing up and offering a hand that he brushed away gently (likely thinking of my injured shoulder). He struggled back to his feet, grimacing in pain as he did so.
My fault. All my fault.
"Maybe."
Once in his room, I helped him shrug out of his t-shirt, carefully threading the sleeve over his cast, and once bare, his torso was revealed to be just as bandaged as the rest of him. I grabbed a t-shirt from his drawer for him and paused for a moment. "Pajama bottoms?" I asked, hating the blush that crept into my cheeks.
He grunted, looking towards the corner. "Yes, please," he replied, sallow cheeks tinged pink as well. It really did break my heart that he still felt so self-conscious to have me look at him. Tonight, it seemed even worse than normal though.
My fault. All my fault.
Nodding I grabbed those too, and hesitated another moment in front of him. "Should I...?"
The tall man rubbed the back of his neck with his left arm awkwardly. "I think I can manage my own pants, thank you," he said, cheeks even more red.
I rolled my eyes. "I've seen your underwear before you know. Are you wearing the cute All Might ones again?" I teased, forcing the smirk more than normal.
He coughed, and I instantly felt bad for teasing considering the higher-than-normal volume of blood he expelled. I grabbed a towel from his bathroom, and after clearing the red from his chin he actually chuckled. "Bold of you to assume I only have the one pair," Toshinori said, and that was the closest I'd come to a real smile so far tonight.
I shook my head. "Well, you'll have to model them all for me some other time. Right now, it's time for bed," I replied. "You're sure you've got it?"
"Yeah. Are you... coming to bed?" he asked, hesitating.
Thoughts were swirling in my brain. While his presence was driving away the numbness I'd felt all day, that meant that the emotions I wasn't ready to deal with were creeping back in. The tightness in my chest was a familiar warning to a panic attack. "I slept most of the day, actually. I wouldn't want to keep you up. So, I'm just going to do a little cleaning and maybe come to bed later, okay?" I said lamely.
Toshinori frowned. "You really should be resting."
"So should you. I'm going to get you the pain meds and some water. Promise you'll take them?" I asked, turning away so I didn't have to see the frown deepen further. I didn't wait for his answer as I left the room and headed to the kitchen to grab what I needed. Practicing deep breaths, I tried to center myself enough to make it through the next few minutes. When I returned, he took the medicine silently, watching me closely the whole time. His eyes were still so sad.
My fault. All my fault.
"Mei, are you okay?" he asked softly as I turned to leave again.
I should have told him. I should have been honest and told him what was going on in my head at the moment - maybe, if I had let it off my chest and laid all my baggage out things would have gone differently.
I should have told him of my guilt - my pain. I was dying inside seeing him like this and knowing that this could have been different. If I had been stronger, faster, better prepared... if I'd gone to a different hero, or even journeyed this path alone... He might still be All Might. Maybe it would have been better if I had died all those years ago after all.
I loved Toshinori... but right now, I hated myself more.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, turning back and smiling. "Get some sleep, okay?" and I gently kissed his lips.
It was a kiss goodbye.
I waited an hour, cleaning up what I could and only breaking down into hysterical tears twice (which was less than I would have expected). When I cried, I stuffed my fist in my mouth to keep quiet, and by the time I was sure the medication must have kicked in and put him to sleep, my knuckles were raw and riddled with bite marks.
There were mercifully few things for me to pack, but that also only served to remind me just how much I mooched off of the number one hero. He deserved so much better than me - how could I have ever thought I could be what he needed? I shouldered the duffel bag, and by this point I'd given up trying to hold back the tears. No one would see them now anyway.
I pulled a piece of paper off the legal pad attached to the fridge by a magnet and stared at the yellow paper for longer than I really knew. What was there to say? Plenty, of course, but all of it sounded so flat in my head - so meaningless.
Finally, I scribbled four words with a shaking hand, and laid the note on the counter underneath my copy of the apartment key. I wouldn't be coming back.
Silently I closed the door behind me and using my quirk I leapt away into the night. Once I was high enough over the city that it was unlikely anyone would hear me, I screamed.
"My fault! It's ALL MY FAULT!"
Toshinori hurt all over, and felt quite sick when he woke up. The pain medication made his head feel so groggy (which was why he normally avoided the stuff no matter how bad it got) and with eyes closed he reached out his one good hand to feel the other side of the bed. It was empty, and the sheets were cold.
"Mei?" he called aloud, bleary eyed and disoriented. Had she never come to bed?
He had to pause in his search for her, since as soon as he stood up the nausea hit, and he ran to the bathroom to vomit. God, he hated feeling like this. There was already practically nothing in his stomach, so after dry heaving for a bit and coughing up blood he sat back from the toilet and wiped his mouth.
What a way to start my day, he thought bitterly.
After brushing his teeth, he went out into the main area, listening for any movement or sounds that might give away wherever Mei was. Eerily, the apartment was dead silent, and he started to feel quite anxious by the time he entered the kitchen. When he saw the note on the kitchen counter held down by her spare key, he felt the blood drain from his face. It was like moving through water as he approached it, and with a shaking hand he pulled the paper out from under its weight.
'Forgive me, Yagi Toshinori.'
So that was it then.
He crumpled the paper in his fist and sat down heavily on one of the stools. He let his head lay against the cool granite of the countertop and closed his eyes, trying to remember how to breathe as it felt like the sky was falling down around him. Drowning him. Suffocating him.
In just 48 hours, he'd lost everything. He lost his quirk, his reputation, his job...
And he'd lost Mei.