(Start of chapter)
It's early morning at 6 A.M. The night is little by little replaced by a new day's dawn, which slowly obscures the stars and reveals the cloud hiding in the dark. The air is mildly cold with a gentle breeze that gives a very ideal place to do anything.
And now, Deku is exercising by running around the school. That's what keeps his body fit after moving into the dorm. Ever since he got the chance to become, he has worked out quite a lot, even during weekends.
While doing so, he thinks about what he experienced yesterday. A dream about the descendants of One For All.
(Last night, in the dream)
A man opened a hatch to meet another in a confined room. It's All For One and his younger brother, the first user of One For All.
"Ahhh...You're still not eating, Yoichi?..." All For One said with a condescending tone. "...You poor thing. You've gotten so thin."
"I refuse (Cough) to be manipulated by you," Yoichi said while coughing periodically. His body has shown sides of malnutrition.
"Isn't it about time to give up?..." All For One told with a teasing tone. "I've united who wielded their power for petty crimes in my faction. But there was one group that declined my offer. They were a very dangerous existence. And so, they were annihilated." And looked at Yoichi. "...Guess who is the leader of that group, brother?"
Yoichi just looked at his older brother with a slightly dreadful face.
"Athena." That put Yoichi to a surprised face. "What!?"
"Yes. Athena, a pathetic quirkless woman just like you, the one that you refused to accept to keep her safe. And don't get me wrong!" He said with pride. "She was a good fighter with all those fancy gadgets she has. All my followers struggle to defeat her, making me do it myself. Now she's just a corpse. Pity for her, for trying to oppose me." Yoichi looks slightly in terror to hear the news.
All For One then looked down at his brother with a despised face. "It's just like the world of that comic we read together, on that day way back then."
Yoichi showed some minor signs of desperation before he said.
"But you have only read to volume 3. And there are still more to come in that comic. In the world of evilness and fear, the hero of justice never gave up. And in the end, he saved everyone. And that, brother..." He said with determination and to assure his brother that he was going to lose. "...is where you're wrong. Villains always lose. No matter how influential or how powerful they are, they will definitely lose at the end of the story."
That pissed All For One, who drastically grabbed his brother in agony.
"Fantasy has become reality! And in it, things WON'T go like they do in stories." He said with a calm yet intimidating voice. "I WILL REWRITE THE REALITY, IN WHICH YOU REFUSE TO OBEY ME."
"STOP IT!"
Deku then tried to reach his hands towards the younger brother with the hope of saving. He couldn't stand watching the person being tortured but couldn't move his legs.
Then, black smoke obscured them as he couldn't see them anymore
"So, you're the ninth?" Deku could hear the voice of the younger brother. "I want to show you a little more, but..."
"What? He's talking to me!?" Deku focused on the man as he raised his hand towards him.
"Though you could only manage 20% for now, don't worry..."
"You are not alone." And their hands touched slightly to each other.
.
Then, the moment he became awake, he has made a mess in his room so loudly that Aoyama had to check on him. "But that feeling, it was as if a new drastic flow of energy comes through my body."
And the last thing he could see before walking up was all the predecessors looking at him with hope.
.
(The present)
He wonders why he would get that dream that night. Is it that his quirk starts developing? Or something else?
Nevertheless, he might just discuss this with All Might after taking a shower. He's too sweaty now.
.
Having reached the dorm, Deku turns off the light as the sun has emerged from the red horizon. "Still no one comes down yet?" He then walks to the sofa, on which he puts the towel for wiping sweat. While doing so, Deku notices the paper bag right at the elevator's entrance. "That's strange." He remembers there wasn't anything there when he got out this morning. Getting the paper bag, Deku sees that the bag has two holes, which reminds him about Mono. "Why is it here?"
He remembers that Mono would get anxious without the mask. And by observing him, Deku doesn't have a hard time understanding how significant the bag is for Mono."Or maybe it's just his other bag to wear?" Anyways, he will check Mono out if he's doing okay. Last night, he was hesitant to separate from Six, his companion.
.
(30 minutes later)
Deku feels fresh after taking a shower. He wears a casual green shirt with comfortable pants. Then, he puts Mono's mask in his bag and is ready to check him out. Now, I'll go and check if Mono's good with the room.
.
Getting the elevator to the floor, Deku walks down the hall. The hallway is just identical to the other.
"His room is the third room. And next to..."
CLICK!
"...Kacchan's room."
The door suddenly opens, and out Bakugo goes. He wears a dark shirt with a skull on the chest and slightly brighter pants. He seems to be ready to enjoy the weekend.
"Huh!?"
"Hi, Kacchan." Deku greets, to which Bakugo responds with a slightly irritated tone. "What are you doing here?!"
That is certainly scary, but only for his old self. Now, Deku has been used to it after quite a fight with him. Moreover, it shows that his childhood friend still wants to act like that to make himself look strong.
"I'm just giving back this bag to Mono..." Deku says. "...And also check him if he's okay with the dorm room."
"Check on him quick!" Bakugo says as he walks past Deku and to the elevator without saying more.
"Okay, bye."
The elevator closes as Bakugo descends to the main room. Deku then returns to his goal, checking on Mono.
.
(Deku's POV)
Knock! Knock!
"Hey, Mono!" Deku calls.
"..." But there's no reply for a while.
Knock! Knock!
"..." There's still no answer.
"Maybe he's still asleep?" Deku thinks as he looks at the paper bag. "Guess I could ask his friend later then."
*THOOM!*
A loud noise suddenly gets his attention. Immediately, Deku gets the spare key for Mono's room and unlocks it. At his first sight is the messy room with books everywhere. Moreover, the wall is filled with small to medium cracks. And as he moves inside, there's a faint mumbling and breathing.
"No...Don't leave..."
Deku quickly approaches Mono to see if he's okay and lets his hand out to check Mono.
"Hey, Mon..."
However, as Deku's hand touches Mono, he suddenly feels extreme fright. A fright that's like when they first met. A thousand figures stare down at him intensely. And all of them have vengeful eyes, which makes him scared stiff.
His veins suddenly rush as he can feel One For All spreading all over his body instinctively. And...
*BOOM!*
*Thoom!*
Mono's hand unexpectedly creates such thundering explosion that Deku hits hard against the opposite wall. Fortunately, he just has some minor injuries thanks to One For All. Checking himself, Deku doesn't see any serious injuries but some bruises.
.
(Mono's POV)
Mono is awake, looking at the hand and then Deku in confusion. He doesn't know what happened but looking at Deku, Mono can see himself hurt him.
"I can't control it. Sorry! are you fine?" Mono quickly apologizes as he gets closer to Deku, who flinches slightly. Mono then stops approaching as he sees that. His face shows a slight sadness and fear. Fear that Deku would make the same reaction to him as those used to bully him.
.
(3rd POV)
"Don't worry!" Deku says calmly.
"What?"
"I'm fine..." Deku says. "...Maybe some bruise here and there. But I'm fine. Mind a hand?" and extends his hand to Mono, who does help Deku get up while showing a surprised face.
"Aren't you mad?" Mono asks as Deku wipes his clothes.
"Why would I?"
"But I injured you." Mono insists on making himself the wrong one here.
"That? It's fine. Sometimes, people will accidentally injure others with their quirks. And we don't mind as much as you assume." Deku says. "Besides, I have my quir..."
Deku stops for a brief moment looking at his hands. And then changes the topic.
"Anyways, shall we clean up your room? It's a mess here."
Mono looks around the room and sees how messy he makes the room. He nods to Deku's offer.
But then, Mono looks slightly uneasy and then looks around for something.
"Oh! Here's your bag, Mono." Deku says as he gives it to Mono, who quickly puts it on.
.
(Deku's POV)
He and Mono clean up the room. He cleans the floor as Mono reorganizes everything else in the room.
However, they keep doing in very awkward silence. Deku doesn't know what to ask to open a conversation suitable for Mono. In fact, he doesn't know anything about Mono except for his anxiety and fear of something. That's all. He only got to know that much from the night he first met him.
"I have a nightmare." Mono suddenly says from behind, at who Deku looks. Mono still arranges the books to the shelf. Deku sees that Mono doesn't want to make eye contact.
"Are you fine with it now?" Deku asks, wanting to understand Mono more.
"Don't worry." Mono says with a slightly sad voice. "I'm used to those anyways." And stays silent afterward.
"Then, how did you and Six meet?" Deku asks, to which Mono replies in silence.
"Long time ago, and for multiple times, I rescued her from a..." Mono says with a neutral tone. "...Villain, if I put the situation in this world."
"Multiple?"
"Then, how did you two get here? Is it due to..."
Deku flinches as that bone-chilling aura comes back. Taking a glare at Mono, Deku sees him stop tending the bed and stare at his taken-off mask. He acknowledges that he touches on a sensitive topic.
"You don't have to tell if you'd rather not..." Deku finishes the cleaning. "...And done! Let's go, Mono!" But Mono keeps staring at the mask without any replies. But now, the aura is gone back to normal.
"Hey, Mono." Deku touches Mono, who flinches slightly and looks at him after wearing the mask. He can't read any expression behind the mask except the earlier aura.
"Today is the weekend. I can show you and Six ways to enjoy time here. Let's go." Deku says.
"Just give me a moment..." Mono says. "...I'll come down later."
"Okay, then. Come down whenever you'd like.
Deku then gets out of the room with a thought.
"What was that aura? Why is feel like being stared at by overwhelming numbers of figure?"
.
(3rd POV)
(The Lobby)
Deku gets into the lobby. There are some classmates still hanging around here. And he sees Uraraka discussing something with Six and Aizawa-sensei. Then, Uraraka waves at him after noticing him.
"Hello!" He greets after coming closer.
"Hi," Uraraka replies. "Where's Mono?"
"He's still on his room." Deku says. "Maybe checking on something." without mentioning his strange experience. "What's wrong?"
"I will give them suit..." Aizawa says. "...At the Athena Corporation in Fukuoka City."
(End of chapter)