Chapter 40: I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Meee

It's times like these that Izuku truly wishes that he were dead. Surrounded by hundreds, maybe thousands of people would be bad enough if he didn't also have twenty extremely excited and loud hero students practically yelling directly in his ear.

He scowled with crossed arms as he felt a light poke on his cheek. "How did I let you drag me into this?"

"Oh, stop moping Izuku. It's not very attractive on you."

"I wasn't asking for your opinion."

"Well, you should, because you'll never find a girlfriend with that look."

Izuku turned to glare at his friend who was studying his frown lines very closely. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I've got other things to deal with. I don't exactly have room in my life for romance."

"Hmm, that's true. Still though, if you keep on frowning like that, you'll develop wrinkles."

"If I have my way, I won't live long enough for that to happen."

"Touché."

Much to Izuku's dislike, he had to clear his face as a very loud blonde quite literally bounced over to him. "Dude! It's so cool that you're here with us!"

Izuku let out a small laugh that was very clearly forced, "Yeah…"

"So, what are you doing here exactly? Looking for some clothes? Shoes? Girls? Boys?" The boy wiggled his eyebrows at me him as he said the last option and Izuku couldn't help but roll his eyes catching Hitoshi snickering beside him.

He took a breath and put on a smile. "Nope. Just along for the ride, I guess."

Hitoshi slung his arm over the boy's shoulder and gave Kaminari a lazy smile. "I dragged him here. Dad thought that he needed to get some more social interaction now that it's summer."

Izuku immediately stiffened under his friend's arm. "He's not my-"

"Shh…" Hitoshi shoved his finger in Izuku's face to silence him as he rubbed his head with his other hand. "We all know that you two are father and son, there's no need to deny it."

"But we're not-"

"He's not ready to come to terms with it yet." He said to Kaminari who looked like he was about to explode with laughter but tried to keep in for Izuku's sake.

The tiny head of broccoli turned to argue with his friend and didn't notice as another joined their little group until he spoke. "Izuku."

The boy jumped slightly at the call of his name, especially because it was his first name, but relaxed when he saw that it was just Shoto.

"Oh, hey Shoto."

"I haven't seen you since-"

"Yeah…" Izuku cut him off before he could say anything else. "I've been busy. How have you been? Excited for summer?"

The boy nodded, his face remaining neutral as always. "I'm excited for this summer camp my class is going to. Means I won't be alone with him as much."

"Oh yeah, that's good." Izuku paused for a minute as he thought over his next question. "Has he been…"

"I've been getting better at avoiding him. And I've started to visit my mother which has helped a lot. Saturdays are usually my day with her, but I needed some camping supplies, so I came."

"I'm glad."

It hurt Izuku's heart. Knowing what Shoto was going through, but not being able to do anything about it. He just wished that there was some way that he could help and get him out of that house and away from that bastard.

"Oh, Izuku," Shoto's monotoned voice called Izuku's attention back to him, "It looks like we're scar buddies."

It took the boy a few seconds to realize that his new scar on his neck wasn't covered. Honestly, it was getting exhausted just trying to keep all of his death scars covered, let alone coming up with fake stories on how he got them.

He would've tried to blow right past the topic, but Kaminari jumped in and made his own comment to which Izuku had to give him some bs excuse that really wasn't that believable, but the boy didn't call him out, so he just let it be.

The class began to split up and the four boys ended up staying together. The three of them talked about the things they needed to get and came up with the route they needed to take to get to everywhere they needed to go, while Izuku just sat back and tried to enjoy the ride.

Hitoshi would literally have to drag Izuku to some places as their group bounced from store to store, before the boy claimed to have to use the bathroom and split off from the rest of them.

He let out a sigh as he walked away. Going to the bathroom actually did sound like a good idea, so he found a directory and located the closest bathroom. As he was making his way there, he couldn't shake off this feeling of just…wrongness.

It was this pit in his stomach and chill up his spine that he had been feeling ever since the class split up. He periodically looked over his shoulder and kept an eye on all of his surroundings. After being a vigilante for so long, you develop a certain intuition with situations, and you learn to trust it as it might just be the thing that saves your life.

That intuition increased ten-fold after his time with Stain. It was almost as if the boy could sense trouble from a mile away, although he wasn't sure if that meant anything considering that it was him that seemed to attract that trouble.

As he was walking and doing his best to look normal, he pulled out his phone and shot a quick text to Hitoshi, telling him that he had a bad feeling and to make sure to keep him and the other boys away.

His friend's text shot back, and it took three more from Izuku for the boy to finally comply and promise to stay away until he said so. As much as he wanted to protect Izuku, Hitoshi knew better than to go against him when he was in vigilante mode and that even if he ended up getting hurt, nothing would keep him down for too long.

Didn't make that sinking feeling in his chest go away though…

Izuku continued to walk, subtly glancing over his shoulder until he finally saw it. Someone in all black and a hood over their head that covered their face was following him. He looked forward and tried to look as relaxed as he possibly could.

Okay, okay, okay-

His mind began racing as he tried to come up with plan after plan of how he could get out of this without letting anyone get hurt.

Right, if I just stay calm and act normal, then I can lead them somewhere less populated. Good thing I memorized the directory when I looked at it…

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Izuku picked up the pace just a bit, but not enough to look suspicious. He bobbed and weaved through people, checking over his shoulder every few seconds to make sure that they were still following him and playing it off as him looking around at the shops.

His heart was beating out of his chest and his blood was rushing in his ears. Small beads of sweat had begun to form on the back of his neck and slowly tricked to his back, sending a shiver up his spine. He wasn't stupid. He knew how dangerous his lifestyle was and it would be stupid for him to think that his night activities wouldn't follow him into the day.

It was why he took whatever this was so seriously.

He took in where he was at and let a small smile form on his mouth. They were almost to a bathroom that was down a hallway that also happened to be an exit.

As they approached the hallway, he prayed that whoever was following him believed he was going to the bathroom and not trying to leave because he caught onto him. Luckily for Izuku, this was one of the less popular bathrooms and so there was practically no one when they turned down the narrow hall.

He kept walking, walking and walking, passing the bathroom and making his way to the door with the bright exit sign above it. No way to hide it now. Either the person following him would prioritize him and go outside with him or get irritated and take it out on one of the poor souls in the bathroom. He prayed with all that he was that it was the former and let out a large breath as he heard the door open again once he got outside into an alleyway behind the mall.

The door closed and he turned around. Standing in front of him, hood covering his white-blue hair and shadowing his face was Tomura Shigaraki in the cracked flesh.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"You had to stalk me all throughout the mall? That seems a bit sus my guy-" Izuku crossed his arms and leaned his back on the alley wall behind him. "How did you figure out it was me?"

No use in beating around the bush or acting stupid. Izuku wasn't one to sugarcoat things either…at least not anymore.

"It was pretty easy actually. But I won't bore you with all of that."

"Why are you here?"

Shigaraki pulled his hood down and frowned, "Is it so hard to believe that I simply enjoy your presence?"

Izuku shrugged, "Well, considering I made it clear that I don't enjoy yours, I assumed that you'd take the hint."

"You wound me Serpentine," The man put his hand over his chest and began to slowly pace in front of Izuku. "Actually, it was Toga who convinced me to go ahead and find you. I was going to wait a bit longer, but she insisted…talk about not taking the hint."

"You're point is?" Izuku was getting irritated. All he wanted was some peace in his life, was that really so much to ask for?

"I wanted to talk." Shigaraki stood beside Izuku and mimicked his posture, leaning his own back against the alley wall and letting out a sigh. "Stain's gone, but he's still everywhere. It's really pissing me off. He's taken all of the attention away from my Nomu attack and nobody is paying me any mind. How is that fair?"

"I don't think that the people who got hurt and killed in that attack thought it was fair either."

"I just-" The man slammed his head back and groaned, "I just don't understand what everyone sees in him. Why they all like him so much."

Why was this happening? Why him? Izuku squeezed his eyes shut and silently cursed the world for putting him in this position of villain therapy. "Well, Stain has vision. His goals are clear, and he is unwavering in his convictions. The same can't be said for you and your little League. How do you expect people to pay attention to you if they can't understand you?"

Shigaraki hummed beside him and placed his hand on his chin in thought. "Interesting…"

"Why are you trying to kill All Might anyway? Why attack a class of first year hero students? Why unleash a bunch of monsters in Hosu? You do things for seemingly no reason."

"I have a reason! I want to kill All Might because I hate him! I attacked 1-A to get to him. And that night in Hosu was to get noticed and to instill fear into the people's hearts."

"But why? What is your overall goal?"

"To destroy hero society, starting with its number one hero and pillar of hope. Once All Might crumbles, so too does your precious system and all of your false beliefs."

"Okay, but why though? Because you're a villain?"

Shigaraki glared at Izuku and let out a low growl. "Heroes ruined my life. They left me alone. Left me unloved. They took everything from me. I'm simply returning the favor."

Izuku looked at the boy's eyes that were practically glowing with conviction. He really and honestly believed the words he was saying. He truly thought that what he was doing was right.

And Izuku knew that he couldn't disagree with him…

Obviously, he didn't approve with his methods, but he was right, hero society sucked. The system was corrupt and put way too much faith into people who were only human. Things needed to change, but this wasn't the way to go about it.

"I-"

"Serpentine~" A high pitched voice called out in a sing-song voice from the mouth of the alley. Soon, Himiko Toga's skipping form became visible and Izuku's body immediately stiffened.

She made her way to the two boys and as soon as she got close enough, she jumped for Izuku. Her arms latched on to the back of his neck and refused to let go as he tried to throw her off. Her face was way too close for comfort, and he watched as her hungry eyes scoured his face and she licked her lips.

"Did you miss me? I missed you," She leaned her forehead down to touch his and he tried to shake her away, but her grip around his neck was too strong.

"Get off Toga." He seethed out as he finally managed to prey her arms free and throw her across the alley.

She twisted and landed in a crouch before looking back up at Izuku with a small pout. "You're no fun Izukuuu," She whined and began to walk back over to Izuku and Shigaraki.

Izuku stiffened and glared over at Shigaraki who merely shrugged at him and looked away before he caught the glare that was burning into his face.

"Toga-" The man-child tried to speak but was cut off by the blonde skipping to his side.

"Did you talk to him? Did he answer some of your questions?"

Shigaraki let out a sigh, "Yes…"

"Oh yay! Does that mean that it's my turn?"

"What could you possibly have to talk to him about?"

"What do you mean? I have lots to talk about!" Without warning the girl was again up in Izuku's face and leaning forward causing him to lean back. "Like what's your blood type? Do you taste as good as you smell? If I stabbed and bled you dry would you come back and let me do it again? Are you seeing anyone?"

Izuku put both hands on the girl's thin shoulders and shoved her away, "Back off."

"Oh, but I just like you so much. Do you like me too Izuku? Please say yes!"

"What? No!"

Toga pouted at him again before returning to her usual smile, "That's okay! You don't have to like me right now."

"Ugh! I already told you-" Izuku was cut off as the door opened and a tall boy with purple hair walked out before stopping in his tracks with wide eyes. "No…"

"Izuku?" Hitoshi stared at his friend who was with two villains. Tomura Shigaraki and Himiko Toga…were they trying to get him to join the League again?

Izuku's heart spiked, and his composure crumbled to pieces as his mind ran through scenarios of just how bad this could all turn out. "Hitoshi, I told you to stay away until I texted you! Why are you here?!"

"I-I'm sorry. You were just gone for such a long time, and I saw from your location that you were here and-"

"Who's this? A friend of yours Serpentine?" Shigaraki pushed off the wall and took a step forward before he stopped as Izuku's hand latched onto his shoulder.

The boy let out a growl and glared at the villain so menacingly that Hitoshi got goosebumps. "Don't. Touch. Him."

Shigaraki's mouth quirked into a slight smile as he looked back at the terrifying boy. "Toga."

"On it!" In a flash, Toga was running at Hitoshi with a knife ready to slight his throat.

Izuku disappeared from behind Shigaraki and seemed to blur through the air as his body collided with Toga's sending them both to the side. He wrestled with her and ended up throwing her to the ground and pining her on her stomach.

She let out a laugh that made him very uncomfortable from beneath him and glanced over to where Hitoshi was. Izuku followed her gaze and his heart stopped.

Shigaraki had gone for Hitoshi and had his hand around the boy's wrist.