Red

The next day came and went. Makoto was free to go and left with instructions to not overwork his brain lest he wants to make his concussion worse.

He came home to a very relieved father and to an equally relieved but furiously scolding sister.

Komaru's reprimanding voice grated on his ears. But turning to mom for help was fruitless since the moment he turned his head he was only greeted to the sight of her nodding in approval! And Dad on the otherhand is already in the other room watching the news.

On top of that, he'd gotten a second lecture from his mom. Because of course there's more.

And so when he was finally free from his hellspawn sister and mother, he flung himself straight into bed facedown.

Before he knew it, the sun was gone and replaced by the soft light of the moon.

But despite his boredom, he was met with no sleep. It was to be expected having slept almost an entire day yesterday. But nonetheless it didn't make it all more convenient for him. Especially since he's returning to school in the morning.

And so, Makoto lay sprawled across his messy matress, his room completely dark save for the faint moonlight escaping through his curtains. His eyes glued to the ceiling.

He felt restless. And thoughts raced around in his mind.

It takes him back to where this all started. When he woke up in the middle of that crowded street. In the middle of this strange city. This strange world.

It takes him back to the mysterious doppelganger. To his "mission". And wow, had he almost forgotten about that.

He thinks about home. He questions if he's ever really going to get back. If he's willing to do what it takes.

A little quiet voice in his head asks if it's even worth the trouble. It wasn't like his world was a great place. Far from it.

He grimaced at the thought. He doesn't feel like thinking about that right now.

"What a mess." He said aloud, to no one in particular.

He turned on his side again and saw a boy with tired grey eyes staring back at him. Eyes that pierced his soul and left a hollow mark in his heart.

His reflection in the mirror that was left stashed in the corner, was ever still as he was.

The mirror wasn't even his. It was actually Komaru's once. Only for it to be left abandoned after receiving an ugly scar of a crack through the length of it.

Coincidentally Its uneven surface lines up perfectly to him. Painting a hideous crooked line across his blank face.

He'd find it oddly poetic if he weren't busy scratching at the bandages still wrapped round his forehead.

He looked at himself for a few more seconds, contemplating.

When all of a sudden, Makoto sat upright from his position, leaning against the headboard of his bed while his gaze never wavered.

Except he didn't actually move...in fact, he's still lying down.

He could even feel the pillow below his cushioned head.

His thoughts of confusion skidded to a halt when a gasp escaped his lips at the revelation that had just came to him.

His reflection-

It-it moved!

But before he could say another word the reflection actually spoke for him.

"Relax, it's just me."

But relax he did not. In fact, he did the opposite.

From a distance you can make out a flock of birds dispersing, as they frantically fly away in the night sky. Spooked by a loud noise. The street lights highlights them a pretty yellow as they pass by.

"SHUT. UP!" hissed the reflection. He held his index finger over his lips with a glare that could kill.

Makoto, who now fully grasped the situation, -lie- immediately held his hands over his mouth.

But he was evidently too late as he heard two pairs of rapid footsteps approach his room door.

Knocking ensued before he heard his mother's voice laced in concern, "Makoto? Are you alright in there?"

He would have said he was fine if his parents hadn't basically shove the door open.

And now he found himself in quite an awkward predicament as he sees his two worried parents looking over him.

"Uhhh..." He stammered, as he shielded his eyes from the bright glare of a flashlight coming from his father's phone.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" His father aksed as he approached, checking to see if his son sustained any injury.

After all, that was quite a loud scream.

"I'm fine I'm fine!" He said quickly, his hands up in defense.

His mother sat at the side of his bed. Seeing that he doesn't seem to be in imminent danger she says, "Sweetie, did something happen?" Her voice soft and as sweet as honey.

Makoto stole a quick glance at the mirror, it seemed like it was just mirroring him again. Just like a reflection should.

Quickly turning back to face his mother he said, "I'm alright, really."

But from the look on their faces, they didn't seem convinced in the slightest.

Makoto knew he wasn't all that good a liar. But that doesn't mean he isn't going to try.

"I just got startled. It's..." he chuckles. "kinda emabarrasing now that I think about it."

"..."

"I really am fine. I just got spooked is all." He insisted.

Whatever it was his parents were looking for in his eyes, they didn't find it. Then they eventually relaxed.

"Alright son, if you're sure." His father said.

"We just wanted to make sure you're alright." His mother added.

He nods.

"We can talk more in the morning. Goodnight."

Said his father, and he took the initiative to leave and held a hand over his wife's shoulder to signal her to do so as well, before exiting the room.

But to Makoto's surprise his mother didn't move from her spot. Her eyes lingered upon him. Relaxed, but concerned.

"Really, it's fine." He assures again with a smile as he laid his hand atop hers.

Finally his mother seemed to take it. "Okay, If you say so. Just...be careful okay? Goodnight, sweetie." She smiled and left the room, closing the door gently behind her.

But Makoto didn't miss the tightness of her smile.

"Ugh. Booooring."

He jumped. But luckily he made no sound. His eyes land once again at the mirror. His reflection once again moving of its own volition and no longer truly a reflection.

"Wow, jumpy much? Careful with that. Or you'll be stealing greenie's brand."

"Who- ...d-doppelganger?"

"'Sup?"

"Wh- gh- h-how???" He asks, gesticulating his arms wildy.

"Magic, baby!"

Said the reflection, making a show of fluttering his hands in a mock show of presentation.

"How?!"

"Shh! Quiet, you dumbass! Or you'll have to make up another sorry excuse to your npc parents."

He moved his mouth to bark back a response but the reflection shut him down each time with a "shh!" and a finger to his lips.

"Alright, so now that that's out of the way let's start, shall we? Yes, it's me again. The man of your dreams. Literally."

The reflection held a hand over his chest, posing dramatically like a clown.

Makoto couldn't decide whether to feel confusion, disgust, or horror. He settled on all of them as he watched the boy who had his exact face act in such a drastically different way than him.

There was a pregnant pause.

"Well? Aren't you going to say something?"

"But you said to shut up."

"Well, genius. I just wanted you to pipe down not become mute."

As the doppelganger jabbed back, a thought came to Makoto.

This is definitely not how the doppelganger acted before. Back then, he was stoic. Cold. Eyes that held no color. Duller than his own.

He even threatened him.

So what the heck is this?

"You know, you really did a number on that Bakugou guy."

The boy said suddenly.

"N-Not really. He did as much damage to me."

His eyes light up. "Oh? Is that what you think?"

That tone doesn't bode well. "What do you mean?"

He laughs.

"You have no idea how much you've changed, have you?"

"Changed?" What is he going on about now?

The doppelganger gave a demeaning laugh. "Thats right! I forgot they left you here with nothing. Ah well, they make the decisions not me."

They? "What are you talking about?"

"No matter. You'll see. Or maybe you won't. Either way we'll both have to wait."

The reflection copied Makoto's pose and stopped moving.

"Hey wait! What do you mean "change"?

There was no asnwer.

"Hey!"

Makoto moved his hand and waved it around. The reflection followed.

It was normal again.

"...what the heck was that all about?"

Unlike the last few times, the thing was at least helpful to a degree. Answering questions and giving him info on what he needs to know. But now? No questions were answered. No information given. Just more questions.

What "change"? How is he even here in real life? Could other people see him? What is up with his personality?

Is Makoto going insane?

"What even is my life?"

He fell flat on his back and screwed his eyes shut.

Sleep would be his only comfort right about now. So he waited.

It did not come.


A few days earlier...

"Don't you dare think you can intimidate me! Die!" Bakugou lunged and struck again, this time in the face.

The extra stumbled back just as he had stood up again.

And Bakugou had never felt so mad.

No, that was a lie. He'd been angered much more by Deku more than once.

But he's still so goddamn pissed that he couldn't restrain himself from kicking Deku's copycat with a luck quirk right into his temple and knocking him to the ground.

Fat lot of good that quirk gives. He'd hardly call this "lucky".

Maybe those kids from earlier were onto sonething. Copycat could've been lying about his quirk.

He huffed and balled his hands into fists as he watched the boy hold his hands over his ears.

Tch.

He should probably back off now. Besides, a crowd is begining to gather so he better end this quickly.

Luckily, any moment now and the extra will start blabbering apologies and begging for forgiveness before running off like they always do when they cross him.

The boy stands up slowly, making him smirk.

"..."

Silence.

"Well?"

Silence still.

Internally, he's frustrated. But outwardly, Bakugou forced a wicked smile.

"You want some more, huh?" He jeered.

But the boy simply said nothing and continued to just...stare. Oddly enough, there was a strange sort of calm about him that wasn't there just a second ago.

But something about that look he's giving him...he hates it.

"Hey! Are you just going to stand there? Either you fight back or you scram!"

Nothing.

"Can you even hear what I'm saying?! I said fight or go away!"

Looking closer now, there was an odd distant look in the boy's eyes. Yet at the same time he felt the tingling sensation of pricks and needles crawl up the nape of his neck. This uncomfortable feeling strengthened as if the boy before him was staring right into his soul.

Nothing.

Enough of this. There is too much attention now and the last thing he wants is a blackened record.

"The fuck is up with you?!" Bakugou shoved at him, making him stagger back a few feet but again he didn't say anything.

"Kacchan, stop!" Yelled Deku as he felt him grab at him, trying to pull him back.

"Get. off me!"

Surprised and caught off guard that Deku of all people would even dare, Bakugou instinctually elbowed him hard enough that he might actually stay back for once.

He heard him groan in pain but there was no time to look closer when he heard the sound of running footsteps. He turned back just in time to catch a blow directed toward him by the extra.

Oh, now you enagage? He wanted to say. But what he saw made him stiffen.

His eyes.

Never had he seen eyes so distant yet so focused. The pinpricks of irises shrunken and sharpened like tiny knives. He felt heavy lead weighing him down. The world screeching to halt. Deafening him. Grinding in his ears. The blood rushing through it like a pump.

He shoved the boy off and shook himself.

For a second he'd have (had?) mistook the boy in front of him for a predator.

He's being scrutinized like a marksman's target.

Like a puzzle to be solved.

Like a broken piece of a whole.

He's being looked upon like prey.

...

How fucking dare he?

Bakugou lunges at him and attacks. And the boy just stands there as he takes blow after blow.

All the while he feels heavier and heavier under that scrutinying gaze.

"Stop looking at me like that!" He attacks again, hoping the kid would give up and finally just fuck. off.

He fires with his quirk for the second time. Hoping the power of it would be enough to scare him away.

But nothing.

He hits with his quirk again. This time stronger. Its hit blasts the boy away a little, his skin skidding across the ground.

Nothing.

Nothing but that empty yet calculating look in his eyes.

And it's not fair. He's the one getting beat up. He's the one that is losing here. He's the one bleeding!

But he continues to stare through him. Calm and poised despite the already darkening bruises. Looking at him as if he was in control. As if he'd always been in control. Looking as if he had already won.

This. fucker.

"Don't you dare look down on me!"

He attacks.

Nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

He'd stop. He would. He would. But he can't stand for this. This blatant disrespect.

He would show him. He would show him one way or another that he can't win.

He attacks.

His reasoning and self restraint melting away to give way to a fiery rage.

It's all red now.

He attacks to prove a point. Up until Makoto dodges his first hit.

Red like his eyes.

Now, Bakugou attacks to wipe that smug look off his face.

Red like his blood

Deku watches on in horror. Conflicted. Unable to move.

And despite it all...

The boy flies back from the impact of his fist.

He doesn't stand. His eyes don't open.

It's all red

"I...w..in."

He falls.


Written: 7/16/23

Edited: 9/17/23

Published: 9/17/23

Hi again!

Gotta say, the first part of the chapter had been in development hell for a long time. Longer than what's stated in "written"!

The second part though, was relatively new. And I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Lastly, thank you for the likes and reviews, you guys! Still kinda shocked that I get notifications for new people popping in now and then. A pleasant surprise.

Anyways with that said, Have a good day/night!

Edit: Holy smokes! 69 likes? Nice!