It had gotten a lot colder in the last few months, with winter beginning to wrap it's icy claws around Musutafu. Midoriya had tried to put the creeping cold out of his mind, but he hadn't been able to keep still during his patrols else he freeze. His original vigilante uniform was meant for warmer months and therefore allowed the boy very little protection from November's dropping temperatures.
But, doing something about it without wrapping himself in three different hoodies meant calling Giran again, something that the boy had been avoiding for the last two months. The broker had still yet to call in the favor that the vigilante owed him, and as time passed Midoriya had grown increasingly worried about it. He knew that the man wouldn't soon forget about the debt the boy owed, but not interacting with the broker made it feel like he had.
But, Midoriya needed a winter uniform, and to do that he'd have to go through Giran if he wanted something even remotely good enough to match the quality of the gear he has now.
The vigilante sighs, he'd been putting it off long enough. He wouldn't survive doing patrols like this, it split his attention between his bodily needs and everything else around him. Which, was a dangerous position to put himself into. The fifteen year old pulls out his phone, reluctantly finding the man's contact.
"Piper," Giran drawls over the speaker. "I must say it's been a while. You haven't been avoiding me have you?" On the other side of the phone a cheshire smile slips into place unseen.
Izuku grimaces. He really hit that one on the head, didn't he? "Not at all, I just haven't needed anything. Not to mention that I've been busy."
"So I've heard," the broker huffs a laugh, "Ruining the lives of criminal scum, yes?" Midoriya lets a smirk slide into place.
"Vigilante extraordinaire, it's in the job description."
Giran offers his empty office a gap-toothed smirk. "So, you said you hadn't called because you didn't need anything. I assume that's changed?" The man leans back in his seat, eyes aimlessly roaming the room.
"It's gotten colder recently," Piper says instead of an actual answer. "It's been cold," Giran corrects him.
On the other side of the line the vigilante grimaces, choosing to the skirt the statement. "I was thinking that it's about time for me to get some warmer gear."
"Ah— I was wondering when you'd call about that. That stuff you have now is meant to keep you cool so I was wondering how you were holding up."
"Aw~ You weren't worried about me were you?" Piper teases.
"Of course I was. Not only do you give me money. But, every time someone new comes in they're all Piper this and Piper that, and Piper threw my brother in jail, and Piper threw me in jail." Giran lets out a quiet laugh. "You're great villain incentive."
The vigilante huffs a breath through his nose, a half smile rising to his lips. "Glad to know business is booming for you Giran. Now... I was thinking of another hoodie. Something with a similar material. You were right about this stuff holding up really well..."
Musutafu Vigilante On The Rise And What It Means For The Community!
By Akihito Jun November 29, 2231
If you're familiar with my writing then you will know that this is not my first time bringing up the topic of vigilantes, nor even my first time mentioning this one specifically. But, this is most certainly my first article where you will find me addressing the topic of vigilantism so directly.
By now many of you may have heard of the name Pied Piper as it's being spoken in relation to Musutafu's newest vigilante. Or, at the very least, heard of some of the things that he has accomplished. Now, while I in no way support or condone the actions of this individual, seeing how he so clearly stands outside of the law. I feel that it is necessary to explore the topic of his accomplishments and what they in turn mean for our community at large.
Pied Piper has been considered an active vigilante for well over half a year now. But, it wasn't until June of this year that he truly began rising in popularity. The cause of his sudden notoriety being due to a video depicting a fight between Piper and a pro hero by the name of Death Arms. Since then there have been dozens of videos and images of the vigilante circulating the internet as more and more people fall in love with the deeds and personality he has displayed.
But, some of you may ask how such an outlawed figure could ever serve as someone to be admired by the public, and my only answer lies within his actions. While Piper's deeds have landed him in the dog house with the law, they've done nothing but land him in the hearts of the public.
If any of you reading this have had time to familiarize yourself with Musutafu, you will understand that not all of its areas are not as dazzling as our tourist advertisements might lead one to believe. And, if you have happened to live in or visit one of these less desirable parts of the city you'll have surely noticed the lessened pro hero foot traffic. Some may find this fact surprising, disturbing even. Some may think that these parts of the city should be patrolled just as much as others, if not more. But, this happening is no different than any other city one could find around the world.
It is because of these unfortunate circumstances that Pied Piper has been given the ability to thrive within the public eye like he has. If you were to layout a map, and stick pins in the locations of every reported incident Piper was involved in, you would find that much of Piper's acts of vigilantism can be found to take place within and around these underprotected areas that I mentioned above. And, while his actions are wholly illegal. You will find that there are many people who live and work within these areas that are thankful for what Piper has done. They are thankful for the villains that he's stopped, and for the trafficking rings he's helped bring down, and for the overall sense of peace that he has brought to many even if his deeds are considered illegal.
In less than a year Pied Piper has put an end to a multitude of criminals ranging from petty thieves to well known murders, and within the last few months his capture rate has only been going up as his activity spikes. Each new incident earns the young vigilante more notoriety and fame within the community, his popularity rising with it everyday.
And, the fact that this outlaw has become so supported within the communities that he is helping delivers to us a silent message, one that speaks more loudly than words ever could. With every life he saves, with every criminal he puts behind bars, Piper reminds us that there exists a void, one that must be filled. Piper is not the first to have seen it, nor is he the first to have taken note of the dwindling number of heroes protecting these crime ridden areas. And, neither is he the first to see it and take action against it outside of the law. But, he is one of the first and only people to have taken frequent and continuous action against it, for the betterment of those around him, and at the risk of his own life.
Perhaps you will find me strange for saying this, but I have hope that Piper will inspire others within our community and those around the world to follow in his footsteps. I have hope that, after receiving the proper training and certifications, perhaps others will study the precedent he has set and return to help the areas that his mere existence draws our eyes back towards.
I believe that Piper's presence sends a message out to everyone who is watching. A message which exists to inform others that there exists a gap, a void, one that Piper will never be able to fill alone. This man acts as a beacon, drawing others into these crime ridden areas with the silent message that 'there are still people to protect here'.
I have not been able to come to a firm conclusion of what his existence means for our community, but one thing is certain. The people here feel safer now more than ever, they feel protected, they feel remembered. And, while everyone may not agree on Pied Piper's methods, no one can deny the astounding effect he has had on the local communities.
© 2231 Musutafu Hero Reporting, a division of Musutafu Daily Network, LLC.
A week after the vigilante had placed his order, he once again arrives at the broker's nondescript warehouse. There's another wad of cash tucked into his cargo pants and a dam of worry slowly
building within his chest.
Giran glances up when the boy appears. "Piper," the man drawls when he sees the vigilante leaning in his office's doorway. "I've gotta say you look comparatively better than the last time I saw you."
The vigilante's eyes crinkle slightly at the corners, hinting at the dangerous smile hidden beneath his mask. "I would hope so."
The broker leans back in his seat as Piper slips into the room, taking a seat at one of the chairs positioned in front of the man's desk. "I hear you've amped up your search for that Yakuza group over the last few months," Giran mentions casually.
The boy raises a brow. "What of it?"
Giran's eyes narrow behind his glasses, but he keeps an easy smile in place. "I underestimated them. They've been slowly gaining power as of late. They've become more dangerous."
The vigilante breathes a sigh. "That won't change anything for me." The boy's own pied eyes narrow with malice for the group. "I don't know the full extent of what they've done. But, it's unforgivable. " Midoriya spits out the word like a curse, acid building in his throat when he remembers the look in that girl's eyes. Much of that night's memories had begun fading as time passed. But, those vermilion eyes had been burned into the backs of his eyelids. They kept dragging him back into the same nightmares, but they also kept him surging forward, desperate for clues as to where she'd been taken.
Is she even still alive? His heart stutters in his chest, the voice in his head taking advantage of his sudden weakness, tar slick maw pulling into a cheshire grin.
" If only you had managed to save her, " the voice intones, " Maybe then she would still be alive. " The vigilante's hands clench in his lap as Giran watches on in mild interest.
" Well, you can't save everyone after all ," it hums, " She'll just be another casualty of this despicable world that you're trying so foolishly to save. "
Midoriya shakes his head, trying to dispel the voice. I can't afford to think that she's dead. The Eight Precepts haven't been shown to kidnap people without a reason. She must be important to them.
"I'm not letting them go unpunished," the boy informs Giran, resolve hardening. Whether she's alive or not. I won't let them go unpunished.
"So," the broker starts, "You'll be going after them no matter what I say?"
"I'll be going after them no matter what anyone says Giran."
The man sighs, "I might as well tell you then. I'm sure you would've found out about it eventually anyway. And, there's no reason for me to not tell you... I'm just speeding up the process a little bit."
Midoriya's brows furrow. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Giran's pink eyes bore into the vigilante's. "There's a post that's been circulating on the internet as of late. I've been keeping my eye on it."
"Why are you trying to tell me about some internet post?"
"Because Piper," Giran drawls with just a hint of sarcasm, "You're one of my precious customers."
The fifteen year old leans back in his seat, cautiously eyeing the villain. "What post?"
The man breathes a sigh, pulling out one of his phones to send the vigilante a link. "I'm going to have to destroy this phone now you know."
Midoriya feels his own device vibrate in his pocket and pulls it out to carefully inspect the message.
"It's got possible info on the Eight Precepts whereabouts," Giran tells him quietly.
The boy's head whips up to gape at the broker before quickly tapping on the link to read through the post.
"Technically I wasn't the one to give you the info. I'm just making you aware of its existence." Giran looks at the boy over the tops of his glasses. "You've impacted a lot of people out there. Most people aren't bold enough to take action themselves, so when someone else does so outside of the law people respect that, people respect you. If anyone asks that is how you got this info." Giran raises is hands, feigning a surrender gesture. "I had nothing to do with it."
Midoriya can feel the backs of his eyes burning. This is a lead . And maybe it wasn't a good one, maybe it would turn out to be nothing, maybe it would lead him nowhere. But, it gave him something to do other than chase after shadows. His months of searching had yielded him little to no results. He'd chased down bad guy after bad guy, asking them question after question. He'd thought that all of it had gotten him nowhere. But, the people had been watching, listening. They'd seen what he was doing, had heard what he was looking for. All those months he'd been building up his reputation, building up the respect the people of Musutafu had for him, the vigilante Pied Piper, the quirkless Deku.
He holds back his tears, if only because he's still sitting in front of a villian.
Midoriya sets out for the 7th district immediately after slipping on his new gear. He pulls open his gps and types Hasu Park in the address bar, following the path that it has laid out for him.
The boy studies the swatch of green labeled 'Hasu Park' on his phone, the fifteen year old turning in place. He looks up, taking in his surroundings. "Which way is South though?" Izuku murmurs quietly, gazing jumping from place to place. "I wish they could've given me a more specific location, a block number at the very least." Midoriya shakes his head venomously, he couldn't afford to be picky in this situation. This was the first genuine bit of information that could lead him to Eri's location. There was a possibility, for the first time in months, that he could save her tonight and have her in police custody come morning.
The vigilante tries to settle his suddenly racing heart, excited at the prospect of finally seeing the girl safe.
All I need to do is find the house.
He can't find the house.
He'd been wandering the area for hours now, carefully studying every house that he passed. It was hard to tell some colors apart in the dark, because of this he was left staring prolongedly at white houses that looked gray, but could also be a light blue. There are a lot of houses, Midoriya comes to realize, that could pass as pale blue if only he had better lighting to check.
The hope that he had started his search out with was slowly dwindling. The vigilante pauses to study another ambiguously colored house.
" Why did you think you could save her? Why did you think you can save everyone with just an extra push of hard work? " The voice in his head laughs, taunting him. " You know she's already dead, right? You missed your chance to save her long ago. You failed her. "
Midoriya grits his teeth, marching forward to get a closer look at the building. "I know I failed her," he grinds out, "I don't need you to tell me I've fucked up every time I fuck up. I know when I mess up, I know when I fail. I knew I ruined my chance the moment I ruined it." The fifteen year old turns away from the house, deeming it an unsuitable match. "You don't need to tell me."
Midoriya stares ahead of him defiantly, turning the corner to continue his search. But, there's a man there, walking down the street. He's facing away from him, but the sight sending the vigilante scrambling back around the corner to hide.
He presses himself back against the brick fencing. This was the first person he'd seen in the area.
Midoriya peeks his head around the corner, trying to take in the man's appearance when his head shifts and the vigilante is privy to a glint of gold in the overhead glow of a street lamp. The tip of a beak-like mask the man is wearing flashes in the dark like a hazard beacon trying to ward him away.
But, Izuku would not be warded away, because it was one of them, one of the Eight Precepts, it had to be. It was a different man this time, not the one he'd first fought. This man is thinner, not as muscular, and on his head rests a crown of short, dark, shaggy hair. His back is to the boy, a wreath of purple fur collaring the jacket that he's donned.
The man twists his head around further, the rest of his body moving with him as he looks in the boy's direction. The vigilante eyes widen, disappearing back around the corner, but he doesn't retreat fast enough, his head whipping back around the wall seconds too late.
Piper leans his back against the corner's brick fencing, breathing out a curse under his breath as his heart rate spikes. Unless the man has a quirk that would prevent him from doing so, it'd be easy enough for Midoriya to disappear into suburbs maze-like system of streets and alleys. But, the man is a clue in his own right, a possible way for him to find out where Eri is. The best option would've been for the vigilante to tail the man. But, he'd already been seen and with as late as it was and as suspicious as Midoriya had probably looked there wouldn't be any viable way for him to do that with things as they are now.
I need to diffuse the situation.
Midoriya sets his staff aside, leaning it against the wall for safekeeping as he quickly strips off his gloves and hides his utility belt beneath his new hoodie. I need to look as non vigilante like as possible while still hiding my identity. He sucks in a breath, holding it there for a moment before he quietly releases it and steps out.
"Sorry about that! I probably look super sketchy right?" Izuku scratches at the back of his head in mock embarrassment. "I was just thinking that your mask was really cool, and I didn't want to
bother you or anything!" Midoriya casually strolls closer to the masked man as he turns to fully face him. "Though, I guess I ended up bothering you anyway, huh? I don't usually see a lot of people out this late around here, so I was a little surprised! Sorry if I spooked you or anything."
The man scrutinizes the other's appearance. "Don't lie to me, boy." The villain's voice is low, dark. It has Midoriya pausing mid stride. This time it's the man who approaches the other, the yakuza member gently slipping off one of the gloves from his hand. Izuku is too busy locked on this man's golden eyes to notice its removal. "I know who you are."
The man stretches out a hand to the fifteen year old and the boy throws himself back instinctively. But, their fingertips brush against each other's and there's a moment where Midoriya simply stops existing.
He comes back with heaving sobs wracking his frame, brain scrambled and still in pieces. His memories struggling to tape themselves back together. He knows only fear.
There's a man standing before him but the boy can't for the life of him currently remember who it's supposed to be. "I've heard you've been looking for something that belongs to me, Piper ."
The vigilante knows only to fear the man, knows like primordial instinct. He throws himself off the ground, up and away from the man, desperate to put distance between himself and the other's hands.
"There's a specific kind of powerlessness that radiates off of you."
Midoriya keeps himself low to the ground like some sort of feral animal, hyper aware of any move that the man before him makes. His pied eyes are blown wide with terror and his limbs shake violently beneath him.
"You're the one Hojo met, that's what the police reports said at least. I did some research of my own you see. I have to when someone starts threatening my plans. And, during my research I realized something.You're one of the twenty percent, are you not? It's only a guess of course, but if it's true then you're something that this filthy world needs more of; powerless people."
Izuku flinches back at the words, recoiling as if struck.
"Because of that I can't say that I particularly hate you Mr. Vigilante. And, I think that perhaps you'll be useful to me in the future..." The man slips a glove back on his exposed hand like it's the sheath of some dangerous weapon. "But, remember this child, if you come looking for my things again, you'll find that any usefulness you may have once had will have run out. Consider this a warning, Piper."
Chisaki Kai turns from the vigilante, staring down at the hand he'd touched him with in disgust as he walks away. The media has begun to turn its attention onto him. Vigilante's like him reside in a morally gray area that the disease lovers like to fawn over and that the diseased like to chase after. The more popular he becomes the less attention there will be to go around. While he continues to draw the scrutiny of the spotlight, we will fall further into the shadows. The dark is, and will always be, the best place to strike from. The villain adjusts the sleeves of his coat. If he loses his nerve after this then we'll see no more of him. If he does not... then may his spotlight grow ever brighter, blinding the likes of those who would even attempt to peer into the shadows.
Midoriya watches the man walk away, disappearing around a corner through his hazy vision. Every part of the boy is screaming for him to run, to flee. Flee before the man has a chance to come back. So, he does.
He lurches to the side, struggling to bring himself back to his full height as he turns back the way he'd come, shakily retrieving his things before rushing on.
Midoriya stumbles away, breaking apart at the seams. His mind roars with a multitude of voices so loud that they drown at reality, so loud that they drown out each other and bleed into nothing but screams of static. Tears stream uncontrollably down his cheeks as his mind shatters and falls to pieces like the shards of a broken mirror, all of the fragments reflecting the dark void that he'd experienced at the mercy of that man's hands.
Above the static a voice rises.
A broken sob forces its way through his lips.
̒̍̈̄̽́ ̈͑ ̆ ̊̀ ̎̐͒͒̉ ̃̊ ̈̇̌͗ ͌ ͛̽ ̿̆̿̈́̌ ͑̇̔̐ ̽͐̿ ͌̉ ͐́̓ ̌̽̍͑ ̇͗ ̌̏
̳̾̽͜ ̙̊̓̇ ̨̫͙͉̈̔́̃̒̈́ ͗ ͓͊͆͂ ͈ ̓̔͑ ̑͂̚͝ ̧͚̾͊̄ ̣͆ ̝̰͑̈́̎ ̻ ̢͖͙̃̽ ̡͙͔̿̿̄̉ ̳ ̘̈́̾̔ ͖̌̉ ͍̋͌̽ ̳͑ ̊̔̀ ̜̍̎ ̱͜ ̯̙͈̙̪̔̐̆̉̍̈̆́̈́̓̈́͌̈́͜ ̋̋ ͠ ̤̈͂̓͜ ̹̝̘̋̎͗͆ ͌̅̓͆ ̤͂ ͖̇̌ ̧͔ ̓͋ ͉̄̌ Y ͔ ̵ o͌ ̖ ̶ u͗ ͘ ̬ ̶ '͛ ̜ ̶ l ̴ ̳ ͅ l̋ ̷ ̐ ͔ ̷ ̴ n̓ ̅ ̗ ̶ e̍ ̋ ͕ ͅ ͍ ̷ v ̿ ̸ ̟ e ͓ ̵ r̦ ̌ ͠ ̆ ̷ ̟ ̴ ͒ ̵ ͅ s͑ ͙ ̶ a͂ ̣ ̴ ͅ v̽ ̐ ̃ ̴ ̭ e ̵ ͐ ̛ ̪ ̵ ̐ ̴ ä́ ̴ n̏ ̣ ̶ y̌ ̢ ͇ ̸ o̲ ͠ ͍ ̿ ̴ n̛ ̈́ ̏ ͝ ̷ ̨ ̙ ͅ e̲ ̤ ̴ ̪ ̶ ̈́ ̬ ͈ ̵ l͠ ̞ ̶ i̾ ͐ ̽ ͘ ̷ ̨ k͆ ̠ ͝ ̮ ̶ e̽ ͊ ̗ ̛ ͠ ̰ ̻ ̵ ̶ ̈́ ̐ ̛ y ͌ ͅ ̼ ̷ ͇ o̠ ̿ ̡ ̕ ̵ u̓ ͝ ͍ ̵ ̹ ̛ ̐ ̞ ̶ a̕ ͝ ̷ ̤ r͆ e ͆ ̶ .͗
͕͉̼̠ ̲͙̯͇̤ ̰̩̲̱̠ ̙̹̮̳̬ ̹̘ ̳̝͈̗̻ ͈̳̱̞ ̳̙ ̝̗͕͓̻ ̞̗̟ ͔̠̣̙̚̚ ̜̼͖̤ ̩̭
̯̤̻̻ ͎͖͎̘͇ ̮ ̠ ̪̠̘̿ ̠̺͉̙ ̉ ̯̝ ̱̦͓ ̖̘̫ ̮̳͖͍ ̉ ̗̭̬̮̤̬ ́̚ ͉̯ ̣
Midoriya lurches forward, barely stopping himself from tripping over his own feet.
͆ ̉
̒̍̈̄́ ̈͑ ̆ ̊ ̅̔ ̿͐̊̍ ̈̈́̈́̑͊ ͂
̼̖ ̯̩̲̖͕̣͓
̹̝̘
͕̟̠͖
̭͕͊ ̃ ̰̪̏̈́ ̛̆̈́̎ ̃͝͝ ̛̛̒͐̽ ̯͙̽̂͆ ͝ ͑͑͗̿ ̡͕̟̓̔̇ ̀ P͠ ̶o̯ ̵w̐ ̷͎̬ͅe̷̻͇ͅrl̴͘e͗̏̕ s̸̭s̵͝.̛͐̋͛
͂͐ ̌͗
̄ ̂̇͛̏̽
͗
̽
͋̓̆
̏̇͐̏
̨̨̳̙̫͙͉̫̬̽̾̽̊̓̇̈̔́̃̒̈́̀͊͆̌̆̚̕͜ ̧̢̡̛̙͓̖̲̭̝͍͊͌̇̍̾͌̐̏̌͂̀̋̂̄̄̾̓͝ ̆͋̈́ ̧̨̧̣̟͎̜̟̜̠̹͍̋̈̂͋͌͌͗̇̋͋̋͒̇̈́̒̃̄̈́̒̓̒̔̏̕͜ ̡͙͖̲͔̞̮̔̒̍̍̿̽̋̌̒̂̄̌̕͜ ̨̲̻͉̪̰̃͌̓̾̓̃͒̍͐͋̃̏̈́̕ ̆ ̢̩̯̒͊͋̌̽̂ ̡͕͐͑͑͗̓̔̇̀͝ Y̵͔o̶̖͌u̶̬͗͘'̶̜͛l̴̳ͅl̷̸͈̋̿n̴͔ěv̵̻͝ę̷̊̈́ṟ̸̵̢̠̩͕̻ͅḃ̵̺͍̮͛e͖̋ ̷̧͍̇a̕n̶͓y̸̫͋t̶͔͝h̴̭̃͘i̵̘͠n̴͐͋ĝ̷̶̗̭̽͝m̷͚̣͊̆̉̃̕o̵̫̳r̴̼͌e̵̵̹̖͐͋̽͠͝t̸̥͖̊̒͜hą̸̩̜ń̵̶̛̩̖̃̇̉͝ͅp̶̑͛o̵̪͘̚w̐ ̷͎̬̎̈́ͅe̛r̴̟l̴͙͗͆͘e͗̏̕s̸̭̿s̵̟͝.̛͐͛̋
͕͉̼̠ ̲͙̯͇̤ ̰̩̲̱̠ ̞̩̠̳̬ ̦̙̲̺ ̖͕̥̯̲ ͕̮͈̬̫ ͉ ̬̚ ̣̺̚ ̻̖ ̳ ̞̙͕̩̥ ́ ̘̥͓ ̝͕͈̞ ͇͚͔̺̬̳ ̳̥̪̣͍ ́̚ ̪̺ ͕̥̝ ̝̯͕̳͈ ̅ ̳͔͈̭̰͔͓ ̙̳̥̱̱ ̚ ͙̭̪ ̀ ̼̖ ̯̩̲̖͕̣͓ ͓̤̫̹͙ ͕̟̠͖ ̜ ̙̙̳̭̙̻̹
The boy doesn't stop walking, doesn't stop crying. He pushes himself to the next street, the next block, the next part of the city. He's in a constant state of motion, unable to stand still, unable to stop moving. He's scared of the consequences that inactivity could hold.
Part of him whispers that, only the dead stop moving , and Midoriya Izuku was not dead. At least... He wasn't dead anymore.
Despite this the boy does not head home. He can't head home, not in the state he's at the moment. So, the fifteen year old flees to the only other place that he can go.
At exactly 3:43 AM Midoriya arrives at the top of Reo's fire escape, knocking shakily on the older boy's window. When there's no response he does so again, louder this time. Tsukauchi appears
̿͋ ̌ ̏̇͐̏͐
behind the glass a few moments later, hair ruffled and eyes bleary with sleep as he pulls it open with a yawn. "What're you doing here so late? Usually you're asleep by now." Reo steps back, letting the boy in as he switches on the lamp at his desk. The seventeen year old turns back around to see the vigilante step inside with his boots still on. "Dude, come on. Check the shoes."
Izuku doesn't respond, merely kneels down to try and unlace the boots with trembling fingers. Tsukauchi takes immediate notice, sobering up almost instantly to crouch down in front of the boy, worry swirling in his amber eyes. "Midoriya?"
The vigilante doesn't look up, still attempting to unknot the laces on his shoes.
"Midoriya," Reo calls his name softly, "Look at me Midoriya."
Midoriya does not look at him.
Tsukauchi gently places his hands over Izuku's trembling ones, holding them still, ceasing his motion. "Midoriya, are you okay?"
The fifteen year old ignores the question in favor of staring down at their hands.
Only the dead stop moving.
But, Midoriya Izuku was not dead... not anymore.
"I... I think I died," the boy murmurs quietly, distraught. His voice barely above a whisper until
his words begin to take on a more hysterical note, "I think he killed me."