Chapter 3: Algopsychalia Chapter by Luketwo

Summary:

Life is equal to suffering, as suffering is equal to life.

Notes:

Like I said, this isn't a happy story.

Chapter Text

Inko Midoriya 2113-2153

A beautiful woman

taken far too soon.

Izuku sighed as he read the grave again.

He hated how simple the inscription was, it had too few words, it didn't describe her in any way at all, it wasn't unique enough, but then again, nothing ever could be. He slumped down next to her grave as he felt some tears coming on.

"I've uh, graduated middle school, at least I think I did. I don't think my near-perfect grades would be ruined just cause I missed a day ... even if that day was my graduation." Izuku let out a small laugh. "I know you'd be disappointed to hear that I didn't go to it, but this day was far more important to you, and I just ... I couldn't do it today." Izuku moved the hair out of his eyes once more but it simply fell back into place due to the rain. "Looks like I need a haircut Mom, I know how much you loved giving me those ... sorry I always fought you on that. I just really wanted to have cool long hair you know? And you didn't like the way long hair made me look."

Izuku paused again as he breathed out.

"Anyways Mom, I'm doing good. I'm going to apply to U.A. tomorrow, I'm going to become a hero, just like you wanted. I don't know if you'd be proud of me or disappointed, but I graduated 2 years ahead of schedule. I'm sorry I cheated with my quirk but ... it's, it's really hard to stop it, and my teachers won't let me use my earphones in class so I can't stop the voices, I promise I studied really hard too. Even if my studies weren't exactly why I got 100% on every test I ever took, but I promise I'll use any info I get from people for good, I haven't done anything wrong with it so far, at least I don't think I have. I did use it to stop a bully once though, he uh, he kinda had a big secret I used to blackmail him into stopping what he was doing. I'm probably gonna have to do stuff like that pretty frequently, so I hope it doesn't make you roll over in your grave knowing your son is hurting bad people. I promise you I'll never use it to hurt people who don't deserve it, or at least well, I'll try too."

Izuku promised that, but he knew there was no way he'd ever be able to keep said promise. Anytime he ever used his power, he was violating somebody, and he knew it. The villains he caught, the people he saved, the people he lied to, he'd always been using their knowledge to his advantage, and he'd keep doing it. It was his only advantage, after all, then again when looking at it like that, everybody else was using their quirk to their advantage too, Izuku's was just a bit more personal than the rest.

"Lastly I guess Mom, I know this won't make you happy, but I found your killer and ... I'm going to avenge you, I swear that much. I've already learned everything I could about how awful the human who took your life is. You weren't his first victim, it wasn't even close, he's taken so many others, but I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone else ever again. I know you wouldn't be happy about your son being driven by vengeance, but I can't just let him get away with the things he's done, especially as a hero in the future. He's hurt too many people, I won't let him hurt anyone anymore if I can stop him, and I can stop him. I - I just need time to build my case. In the meantime, I promise I'll keep helping others, I'll save people, I'll use my gift to save them. Just like you wanted, I'll be the great hero you wanted me to b-"

"DEKU!"

Izuku didn't even have to take his headphones off to hear the voice of who was coming, they were just that loud. As the boy turned and saw his worst nightmare personified, Midoriya did the only thing he thought of.

He ran.

As he ran the greenette could feel the malice coming from behind him, slowly getting closer, why did he have to run into him on today of all days? Why did the universe hate him that much, Midoriya couldn't handle the spiky-haired tormentor at the moment. Thankfully it seemed like something must've prevented the other from chasing, maybe the rain made his getaway easier? As the thoughts kept getting further and further away Izuku started relaxing more and more. Though right at his range limit he heard one last thing, just enough to ruin the rest of his night.

"I'm going to kill that fucking nerd, he won't get away next time! Stupid fucking hag stopped me. Thinks he's better than me, Auntie Inko dies, and then he suddenly fucking thinks he's better than everyone. Deku should've been the one to die, not Auntie!"

Izuku hated his quirk sometimes, the raw truth the world threw in his face hurt. Sure he'd long since abandoned viewing Bakugo in literally any positive light, but hearing his old friend outright wishing for him to die hurt. Especially because on a base level the mind reader agreed, as he stumbled through the rain, a small part of him wouldn't hesitate to jump at the chance to die if it meant his Mom could be saved, he was the one who ruined her life after all. His father left because of Izuku's quirklessness, even if he ended up not being quirkless, the man hadn't been in Izuku's life since he was like five. If only his stupid quirk had come in sooner, maybe they'd still be a family, maybe his father would've been able to save his Mom from the fire.

The boy shook his head, he shouldn't be thinking of what if's, he had to focus on his goals and the future.

Izuku wasn't even paying attention as he stumbled through the rain and straight into a person wearing a hoodie, though he couldn't see their face he instinctively focused on them and hated that he'd once again accidentally read someone's mind because he couldn't turn the stupid thing off.

"The fuck? Why did he bump into me ... huh, he looks like his hamster got run over by a truck."

"Hey, kid. Stand the fuck up. You okay?" Their raspy voice cut out from underneath the hoodie as the person extended their hand and as Izuku looked up he saw what looked like a person with a serious skin complexion and blue hair poking out from his hoodie.

Though realizing he once again got lost in his thoughts, Izuku reached out and took the hand of the other person, though they had some strange gloves on, they only covered three fingers, instead of all five like a normal pair. "Oh, uh yeah sorry, been having a shitty day." Izuku weakly stammered out.

"I can tell, you look like a drowned rat struggling in a gutter or one of those beggar NPCs a game puts in to make you feel bad."

Izuku shook his head at the strange comparison but ultimately responded. "Oh yeah, I guess so. Might as well be, stumbling about out here in the rain." Izuku muttered that last part as he once again tuned in to his new acquaintances' thoughts.

"Brats gonna catch a cold, tch, bleeding fucking heart. I can't leave him out here as those rotten heroes did for me."

Izuku almost cursed as he once again read the other person's thoughts, they seemed to be nice, if a bit rough around the edge, and had some kind of grudge against heroes, which Izuku could very easily understand. They weren't the kind of person he should be reading the mind of.

"Tell you what brat, I got a bar around here, why don't you come in and relax for a bit. You can dry off and then head out when the rain stops." The raspy voice said in a way that sounded almost comforting if not for the tone in which it was said.

So far the person had been nothing but nice but the offer still worried him a bit. "I mean, uh I don't want to impose, I should probably just get home," Izuku said as he rubbed his hand through his drenched hair.

The blue-haired teen just shrugged and started to walk off. "Suit yourself kid. Have a nice night."

Izuku watched the weird teenager start to leave before realizing that he was getting soaked and that staying out in this rain was probably a bad idea. He quickly caught back up with him. "Hey uh, is that offer still standing?"

The teen just shrugged again before gesturing with his head to follow, which Izuku quickly did. "So you own a bar? Aren't you like 17?" The boy asked as he tilted his head.

"I inherited it. Along with everything else I own." He then paused. "Also I'm 18."

The tone left Izuku not to ask any further questions on the subject, the other person didn't want to talk about however he got his stuff, and Izuku was doing everything in his power not to read his mind. So the boy just changed topics. "Sooooo, what are you doing out?"

The teen simply gave him a light growl. "Well I can tell you what I was not doing, I was not trying to be pestered by some kid." He then turned his head and tch'd. "Though I guess I was the one to ask you to come with me and Sensei HAS been trying to make me act nice towards my subordinates."

"Sensei?" Izuku asked as he tilted his head again.

"Think of him like my adoptive father, he took me in when my actual father died. As for what I was doing out, I was just taking a walk in the rain. Sue me." The hooded teen paused as he thought. "What about you?"

That question caused Izuku to freeze. "I uh, don't wanna talk about it."

The other teen stopped to turn and look at the greenette who had frozen like a deer in headlights. The teen in the hoodie then turned and laughed. "Seems like we both got our shit to deal with. Don't worry I'm not the prying type."

Izuku regarded the laugh as sounding pained. "Seem like we do," Izuku said as he caught up to the teen.

The other teen then turned into an alley as they walked by. "It's right back here."

Izuku regarded the teen a tad warily and then decided to peek into his head. Because quite frankly, walking down an alleyway in the middle of the night while it's raining with a stranger is not only scary, it can be outright stupid.

"Why the fuck is he so worried looking? Does he think I'm going mug him or some shit?"

"Hurry the fuck up, I want to be out of this rain too." The other teen angrily called out behind him as he noticed the kid had stopped again.

Izuku just breathed a sigh of relief and followed behind him, after about half a minute the other teen stopped in front of a door. "Were here."

The elder teen then paused. "Oh and don't ask the bartender about his appearance, he's sensitive about it."

Izuku just tilted his head again. "Okay?..." As soon as he stepped into the bar he could see why. The bartender was dressed in some kind of tailored suit and seemed to be a formless void of black energy? But what confused Izuku and made him stop in his tracks was the silence. He couldn't hear any sound coming from the person, it was someone he couldn't mindread! Izuku had never encountered anyone like that before, he got so excited at the idea he could talk to someone without having to constantly listen to them speak twice.

The other teen loudly snarled at the green-haired kid. "What the fuck did I just say?! Stop staring at him, kid!"

Izuku quickly shook his head, realizing he had been staring. He then bowed as he apologized to the man? "Sorry."

The mass? Just shook their head. "No worries, I understand I can be quite the shock to look at it." He then turned. "And master Tomura, might I inquire as to who this is?"

"He's just some NPC I picked off the street, he reminded me of me when Sensei found me so I let him come back here to get out of the rain." The boy said he loudly slammed into one of the stools at the bar. "A gin and tonic for me, and kid? Do you want a drink? Oh, also get him and me a towel Kurogiri."

Izuku watched the sight with some level of confusion before responding. "Uh, just a water, please."

"Man you space out all the time, you fucking okay in the head?" Tomura? muttered under his breath.

Izuku watched as the man approached him with a towel he seemed to pull from underneath the bar. "Ah thank you, Kurogiri was it?"

"It is no worry." The bartender replied before walking back over to the bar and attending to the other boy.

He then remembered his question. "Sorry, I don't normally. This has just been really weird to me. Um, Tomura was it? Thank you so much." Izuku bowed at the teen.

"Don't mention it, and call me Shigaraki." The teen said as he went to sip on his drink. "And to formally introduce you, this is Kurogiri. He's like my butler, been raising me my entire life. He also takes care of my messes when I get mad."

"Get mad?" Izuku looked at the figure questioningly who just sighed before removing a glove but was stopped from gripping a nearby glass by Kurogiri speaking up.

"Ah Master Tomura, could you perhaps not give the boy a live demonstration?"

Shigaraki just ignored the bartender and wrapped his hand around the glass, disintegrating it nearly instantly.

Izuku watched as the bartender sighed in exasperation before getting a broom to sweep the dust-up.

"I can't turn it off, shits fucking annoying when I don't want to use it, I often forget that when I get mad."

"Oh, I know about how painful that is..." Izuku muttered under his breath.

"Oh, your quirk can't be turned off either? Lemme guess. It's why you keep spacing out?"

Izuku froze as he had not meant to say that out loud. "Ah, I'm uh, I'm q-quirkless." He stammered out quickly, trying to hide his earlier blunder.

Izuku also hated himself for what he was about to do, but he couldn't help it. Like he didn't just make a promise 30 minutes ago not to do this. He focused on the other person, simply curious how they'd judge him for being the genetic freak.

"Ah makes sense, Sensei might be interested in giving him a quirk though."

What the shit did Izuku just hear. Giving someone a quirk?! What the fuck does that mean?! His Sensei can give people quirks?! The implications of that sentence, is it like a medical procedure or?-

"Kid."

Izuku shook himself out of his thoughts, which he'd been doing a lot since coming here. "S-sorry, I'm really spacy today."

"No worries, that's probably why you bumped into me right? Remember? And now it got you out of the rain. Anyway, let's forget about that stupid topic. You like video games at all?" Shigaraki asked as he took a large swig of his drink.

"Uh, they're not my biggest thing, but I have nothing against them either," Izuku responded.

"Good, then I'm gonna beat your ass at Mario Kart." The boy said as he grabbed his drink and walked over to a game console in the corner of the bar. "Gotta waste time somehow right?"

The other teen then smiled for the first time the entire night, and Izuku couldn't help but think it was the creepiest smile he'd ever seen. So creepy it almost made him forget about the other teen knowing a person who can give others quirks, almost. Instead of trying to question the other teen or doing anything suspect he instead obediently walked over to the game console and sat down next to the other person.

"Who's your favorite driver?"

"I uh, don't have a favorite but I'd have to say Mario since he's the only one I recognize." Izuku then turned his quirk on the other boy again, he had to learn more about this mysterious Sensei.

"Ugh, a Mario fan."

"Ugh, how can you like Mario, he's so fucking basic. At least pick Luigi or someone who has an actual personality. Hell fucking Link would be better and the only thing he fucking says are grunts." The other teen loudly voiced their disdain.

"Haha, yeah sorry. I did tell you I didn't know much about the franchise." Izuku kept his quirk up, but at this point, it didn't seem like the boy thought about anything other than video games while playing them.

"Well, blank slates can be taught."

"Alright lesson one, fuck Mario. If anyone says they like Mario, they're wrong, or stupid. Probably both."

"Wario though, Wario's a fucking badass."

Izuku sighed mentally as he realized he was going to be here a while and also probably learn nothing in the meantime.

He was just about to start the first game when the other boy snatched the controller from his hand. "Huh?"

"See this shit." Shigaraki pointed at the 3 little options below his character. "These are the fucking training wheels, can't fall off the level bullshit. We're turning that off, it's like bowling with the guard rails up. Makes no sense." He then handed the controller back to Izuku.

"Thanks," Izuku responded while continuing to use his quirk on the other teen but the only thing he was learning was that Shigaraki took video games beyond seriously, that and the position he was in at all times during the race, as well as the weapons he had, and other slight advantages Izuku could use to win.

For the first hour, the mind reader was getting destroyed, but as he learned how to use the information he got from his opponent, he quickly caught up. Even managing to beat Shigaraki at around the 2-hour mark.

"Damn kid you learn quick. Fuck that's a hit straight to my pride." Shigaraki whined as he started flexing his glove-covered fingers.

Izuku stared at his fingers with mock horror realizing just what those could do to him.

Shigaraki looked between him and his fingers. "Relax, I'm not gonna fucking dust you."

Then the vilest thought Izuku had ever felt crawled in his skin, nay his entire body.

"͠Yo̧u͞'r͞e͡ no҉t ̨on͏ th̴e bad e҉nd̢ ͝r̵out͢e̛ yet͜ ͏k̛id.̕"

Izuku shivered in his skin as that not so veily hidden threat clawed its way into the Mind Readers skull. The greenette decided it was time to go. He didn't need to learn any more about Shigaraki's mysterious sensei, he just wanted to leave before the other teen tried to fucking murder him.

Shigaraki seemed to notice something as he turned his head, when Izuku followed the other's sight he found the rain had ended. "Ah damn, I hate to leave it on a loss, but it's pretty late and you need to get back home right?"

"Oh yeah, I guess the rain did end, I barely even noticed." Izuku then paused before quickly standing and bowing back.

"Thank you so much for letting me stay here, if there's anything I can do to help you, just let me know." Izuku kept up the bow, his body screaming at him to run but his mind forcing him to stay as calm as possible. Midoriya shouldn't know that the other teen had no qualms about murdering him, and alerting Shigaraki that Izuku somehow did was a horrible idea.

Shigaraki tapped his forehead for a second before having an epiphany. "Eh, no problem, one thing though kid. What's your name? I just realized I have no idea what your name is, and it's been a while since I've had someone around the bar I don't detest."

"I also want Sensei to do a background check on you, the quirkless are always so desperate for a quirk. You could make a great addition to our cause. You could be brought in, just like I was."

'Alright good news Izuku! Shigaraki doesn't want to kill us. The blue-haired teen just wants to recruit us! Fuck he's waiting. Give him a name Izuku! Literally any name but our real one!' The boy panicked as he thought to himself. "It's u-uh Akatani Mikumo! Nice to meet you!" Izuku bowed to the other teen again.

"Jeez your so high-strung kid, just chill out." Shigaraki shrugged again.

"Ah well you're my elder, so I figure-"

Shigaraki sharply cut him off. "Stop that, I hate that sucking up bullshit. Just call me Shigaraki."

"Got it ... Shigaraki," Izuku.

"Good, here's my number. Call me if you wanna chill or need to get out of the rain again."

Izuku stared at the piece of paper before tentatively taking it. "Thanks, I'll definitely call later but I really need to get going." However, Izuku would in fact NOT be calling the other boy. But Shigaraki didn't need to know that.

"Cya." Shigaraki just turned and went back to playing the game he was playing before.

"And thank you for the towel Mr. Kurogiri." Izuku bowed again as he brought the wet used object to him

"Think nothing of it, anything for an acquaintance of Master Tomura. Have a better rest of your day Akatani." The formless bartender gave a polite nod as he continued polishing a glass.

Izuku as calmly as possible walked out the front door, and as soon as he was out of the building he almost, ALMOST bolted. Barely managing to control himself, he shouldn't run away like he was panicked, if they were still watching him, and they were probably were, that'd tip them off that something is wrong. He forced himself to walk in as normal a gait as possible to the train station, barely making it in time for the final train home.

Izuku slammed the door behind him, shaking as he walked into his apartment. Anyone who saw him, late as it was, probably saw a ghost, he raised his hand and stared at it for a moment, he couldn't calm himself. The killing intent from Shigaraki shook him to his core, it wasn't evil, it wasn't even full of malice. Izuku would know, he's felt that plenty of times, whatever the fuck emotion Shigaraki was feeling was just ... wrong. It was twisted, broken, and Izuku had no idea what that meant. On top of that, they had a person he couldn't mindread, while elated at the prospect at first, after what transpired. Izuku wanted absolutely nothing to do with anything even remotely related to that bar ever again.

He took a few shaky steps before collapsing onto his couch, now that the adrenaline had worn off. "What the fuck was that?" Izuku asked out loud to no one in particular.

A knock from the door caused the boy to jump to his feet. 'Could it be them? Did they follow me here?' Izuku thought as he started looking for a weapon, anything he could defend himself with, a knife, a bottle, hell a fucking fork would do right no-

A woman's voice interrupted his manic search. "Hey Izuku, it's me, Auntie Mitsuki. Will you let me in? I know you don't want to but, could you at least hear me out."

The familiar voice almost brought relief to the mindreader, almost. Several silent seconds passed as Izuku pretended to not be home but then they spoke again.

"Izuku, I know you're in there. I'm sorry but I waited outside, I know it was wrong of me for doing that, and trust me kiddo, you made me wait for like three hours but I really needed to see you. Please, you're all I have left of her."

The familiar voice almost brought relief to Izuku, almost. He sighed before breathing in, steadying himself, as he walked towards the door. "Um, is it okay if we talk like this A-auntie? Now's not really a good t-time."

Another few seconds passed. "Y-yeah, that's okay. I didn't bring Katsuki so you don't have to worry about him. I promise I won't ever try doing something like that again. I still can't believe what he said."

Izuku almost reflexively said it was okay, that he didn't mind but it was such an obvious lie he didn't bother, instead he just kept quiet."

"Um so, I saw you at Inko's grave, don't worry I kept my brat from chasing you. I, I guess I'm just glad to see you haven't given up. I heard you graduated middle school today, 2 years early. I'm super proud Izuku, I know Inko would be prou-

The boy cut the woman off. "Mitsuki, I don't want to be rude, but I had a really rough day and it's like midnight, is there something you wanted or?" Izuku trailed off.

There was more silence. "No, nothing. Good night Izuku."

The boy listened for the distraught woman's steps to fade away. Thankful for the fact he had a barrier between him and the person he was talking to, it made keeping their thoughts out much easier. And Izuku had enough going on in his own mind to be worrying about somebody else's right now, even if they were just trying to help. He didn't need mind-reading to hear the pain in the other woman's voice.

As soon as he was certain she wasn't coming back, he walked straight to his room and grabbed the one thing that gave him any sort of comfort. He cradled the object as he laid against his bedframe, weeping into the only thing he had left in memory of his mom.

A charred All Might onesie.

"I wasn't there."