Chapter Five
The small room they were in was dimly lit, the only source of illumination being the soft glow from the laptop screen. The silence that had settled between them was comfortable, a rare respite from the chaos and uncertainty that had become their lives. Kagome's head rested on Shigaraki's shoulder, and he found himself growing more accustomed to the warmth of her presence with each passing moment.
As time ticked away, Shigaraki continued to work on his laptop, digging through files and contacts, trying to identify the traitor within their ranks. The weight of their situation pressed down on him, but he refused to let it crush him. He had promised Kagome he would protect her, and he intended to keep that promise.
Kagome, on the other hand, found solace in the simple act of leaning against him. His presence was a stark reminder that she wasn't alone in this nightmare. She had lost her father, her home, and her sense of security, but Shigaraki was here, offering his support in his own awkward way.
"Tomura," she whispered, breaking the silence, "I know this is all my fault. My connection to my father is what led the heroes to us."
Shigaraki clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face twitching under the hand that covered it. "It's not your fault," he replied, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You didn't choose this life. And we can't change the past. What matters now is what we do next."
She nodded against his shoulder, her fingers absently tracing patterns on her borrowed shirt. "What's our plan, then? How do we find the traitor?"
Shigaraki leaned back, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated their options. "I'll start by narrowing down the list of possible suspects. Dabi will help with that. We'll also need to rebuild our organization, but this time, we prioritize loyalty over numbers."
Kagome's fingers stilled on the fabric of the shirt. "What about me? What's my role in all of this?"
He turned to look at her, his crimson eyes meeting her watery blue ones. "You're my priority, Kagome. I won't let anyone harm you. But you also have a powerful quirk, one that All For One entrusted to you. You'll need to learn to control it, and when the time is right, we'll use it to its full potential."
She nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "I want to help, Tomura. I don't want to be a burden."
A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of Shigaraki's lips. "You're not a burden. You're family."
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions. Kagome had lost her biological family, but in that moment, she realized she had gained another one—an unconventional, chaotic, and flawed family, but one that would stand by her side.
As the night wore on, they continued to discuss their plans, their voices growing softer and more intimate. Shigaraki found himself opening up in ways he never thought possible, sharing stories of his past, his struggles, and his dreams. Kagome, in turn, shared her memories of her father and her own hopes for the future.
In that small, dimly lit room, two damaged souls forged a bond born of necessity and loneliness. They were determined to rise from the ashes of their pasts, to seek vengeance on those who had wronged them, and to build a new world—a world where they could find their place and protect each other.
As the first light of dawn began to creep through the cracks in the curtains, Kagome rested her head on Shigaraki's shoulder once more, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer, and they both allowed themselves a moment of respite in each other's presence.
Their journey was far from over, and the challenges ahead were daunting, but they faced them together, united by the scars of their pasts and the promise of a better future.