Hey all! Chapter 19 is finally out! That was... A long one to write. Motivation wasn't at it's peak, so it was slow. But now that my motivation is back, I will try to work quicker!
Since there's no review to respond to, I will end my rambling here, and let you, reader, enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 19: Joint Activities (Part 1)
/
After the lunch break, Aizawa came to find them, hands in his pockets, and after organizing them into a semblance of a line, led them outside, bringing them to Gym Gamma.
Class 1-B was already waiting for them, along with their homeroom teacher, Vlad King. Present Mic was also there, and not far off, Midnight and Cementoss were chatting near the entrance door.
Izuku's eyes immediately scanned everyone like a robot, and he was already able to deduce several quirks.
However, while Aizawa continued moving forward to greet his colleague, the rest of the class stopped.
Everyone looked at each other. Izuku exchanged a confused glance with Iida and Uraraka, who returned worried looks.
Indeed, judging by the expressions of the students, some were analyzing them, trying to figure out what they were capable of... This immediately put him on guard, and once this was noticed, everyone assumed a defensive stance. Some even paired up with people they fully trusted in combat, like Denki and Jiro, Kirishima and Mina... and him... Unconsciously, he joined Iida and Uraraka, and the three stood close together, almost in formation.
Only two people broke away from the formation… Todoroki remained cold and calm as he stepped out, casting a disdainful glance at their sister class as he went to wait by the entrance, giving a cold greeting to the two nearby teachers in the process.
Bakugo was the second; he was pissed to be there, as there was nothing to blow up for the moment. He moved forward, glaring at everyone, both from his class and the other. He gave an especially pointed look at the green-haired boy, who returned it. He didn't give a damn about his image, and if others didn't care, neither did he.
One thing to note, though: while Todoroki chose to walk around Class 1-B, Bakugo went straight through, forcing the students to step aside. Anyone who took too long to move was met with a pitbull-like growl from the explosive blond.
Aizawa-sensei gave the blond a disapproving look.
Then, Momo stepped forward, Lock by her side like a bodyguard, casting a particularly wary look at a blond student from 1-B who was staring at them arrogantly.
/
Momo felt all eyes on her as she took some steps.
Her heart was racing, stressed as she was, but the presence of her vod right behind her reassured her and helped.
Lock had an aura about him, an aura of caution, wariness, and extreme focus. His footsteps behind her made no sound despite his rigid posture, tense like a beast ready to pounce.
The raven-haired girl knew her classmates were no longer the cheerful teenagers they once were; she herself was no longer the same. One battle had been enough to change them, and deep scars didn't heal quickly...
She stopped two steps ahead of her class and about three meters from the other class. A red-haired girl, her hair tied in a ponytail on the right side of her head with two tufts sticking up, was scrutinizing her with blue eyes. She also seemed on guard, probably because Lock was as well, fearing a sudden attack from him.
"Uh...", Momo started hesitantly.
The other girl's gaze shifted to her.
"Hello… I'm Yaoyorozu Momo, vice-representative of Class 1-A."
The redhead seemed to relax a bit, and Momo had to nudge her vod in the ribs. The tension left his shoulders all at once, though the wariness remained.
"Nice to meet you, Yaoyorozu-san. My name is Kendo Itsuka, representative of Class 1-B."
The girl extended her hand for a handshake, which Momo took. Kendo-san had a firm grip for someone her age, and her hands were almost calloused, much like Momo's… Martial arts, perhaps?
A voice then rose behind the raven-haired girl as Izuku stepped forward. Momo noticed that his steps were filled with caution. Damn, it was the second time she noticed how much Focus and Warden had affected him. He moved almost silently, his black and red sneakers making no noise on the gravel.
"Kendo-san, right? I'm Midoriya Izuku, class representative."
/
Itsuka Kendo was a very observant girl. It had started manifesting when she was very young, in the dojo her parents owned.
It wasn't a very big one, yet it had taken up a large part of the teenager's life. Her father was a former MMA world champion, and her mother was a world champion in Aikido. Thus, martial arts had been something she'd always known. And with martial arts came an impressive ability to read movements, to analyze muscles.
So, when Class 1-A arrived, she had instantly noted the rigidity as they noticed her and her class watching them. They weren't fully relaxed. Then, the boy who followed Yaoyorozu-san, apparently her adoptive brother and a boy whose rumors made him quite easy to figure out. He moved by her side like a bodyguard, and Kendo had never seen someone have such control over their body, except for her parents and elite athletes. He had relaxed while still staying on guard, which was... impressive…
Then, Midoriya-san.
The green-haired boy had a gait similar to that of the other boy, though slightly less controlled.
However, when he spoke, she noticed how everyone finally relaxed.
The redhead realized they were almost like a gang, with one or several prominent figures who had a certain effect on everyone.
She smiled back at the boy and extended her hand in return.
"Nice to meet you, Midoriya-san."
Alright, introductions were done. Now... it was time to get Class 1-A out of their shell...
/
Lock was surprised by Present Mic's sharp voice, although loud, for once it wasn't unpleasant.
"ALRIGHT LITTLE LISTENERS!"
He clapped his hands, creating a resounding crack in the silent air.
"WE'RE HERE TO HAVE SOME FUN TODAY! YEAH! SO WE'VE DECIDED TO HAVE YOU DO SOME LITTLE ACTIVITIES! AND HERE'S THE FIRST ONE! A LITTLE COOPERATIVE OBSTACLE COURSE! FEEL FREE TO HAVE SOME COMPETITIONS BETWEEN YOURSELVES THOUGH! AFTER ALL, WE'RE HERE TO HAVE… FUUUUUN!"
The last word shattered everyone's eardrums, although Denki had the brilliant idea of covering Jiro's ears when he noticed how the man took a deep breath by Present Mic.
While Class 1-B turned their attention away from their sister class to burst out in uncontrollable joy, Class 1-A did the same but more timidly... though still enthusiastically now that they were less on guard.
Lock, however, didn't shout at all. He was the only one. He kept an eye on his surroundings.
/
For Mina, this enthusiastic 'Yay' from her class didn't sit well. It was too timid, too quiet. That wasn't like her. For her, it had to burst with joy!
That's why she cleared her throat and raised her arms, yelling.
"COME ON GUYS! THAT WAS TIMID! LET'S DO IT LOUDER! COME ON! HIP HIP HIP?"
"Hooray!", her classmates responded, playing along. She laughed a bit, amused by the shyness.
"COME ON, AGAIN! HIP HIP HIP!"
This time, Kirishima took the lead, shouting on his own.
"HOORAY!"
The class followed along, louder this time.
"STILL NOT LOUD ENOUGH! HIP HIP HIP! LET'S BREAK RECORDS, COME ON!" the pinkette encouraged.
"HOORAY!", the class shouted this time.
/
"HOORAH!"
Although the enthusiasm was there, and his throat hurt, he decided to shout as well.
"WE STAND TOGETHER! ONE FOR ALL!"
"AND ALL FOR ONE!", his class echoed back.
No one would be left alone; if the USJ had one positive outcome, it was that the experience had brought them all closer. They shared the burden among themselves.
That's why Izuku felt confident about this race. He would make sure everyone made it to the finish line.
/
Such unity was common within Republic units. The most traumatic experiences always created the strongest bonds between people.
It had always been like that.
Lock had already predicted that the class would be united. The fact that everyone played along was indisputable proof. Momo was all smiles, sharing the excitement of everyone, almost bouncing on her feet.
He had been young once, but hadn't had the chance to experience life the way they had. The rapid emotional shifts like them. They had gone from interest, to nervousness about meeting their sister class, wariness, and now to almost complete excitement.
He didn't show it, though he was excited too – it had been eons since he had done an obstacle course, after all… But he only showed his caution. That's why he stood near Momo, mostly silent.
He glanced over at the teachers, who were talking animatedly amongst themselves. For once, Aizawa didn't wear a blank and tired expression on his face, but instead had a more relaxed one. Even their teacher was letting loose.
It was a strange expression to see on his face, marked by his dark circles. A serene expression.
The captain deduced that he too needed a bit of rest.
/
"Kendo-san! You can't be serious! Shaking hands with those people? Look at them, as enthusiastic as they are! They think they can brag about beating us?"
Monoma exclaimed, staring at the redhead.
Kendo sighed; ever since the announcement of the attack, Monoma had been obsessive about his ideas. Since Class 1-A had survived a villain attack, he thought they would look down on everyone else. The rumors of the almost military-like speech, which Monoma had unfortunately witnessed, had only strengthened his convictions.
"Monoma, you saw it yourself, our classmates are traumatized… How could they brag about anything?", the redhead replied.
"Dude, seriously, stop, your nonsense is starting to get on everyone's nerves.", Tetsutetsu groaned from the side, massaging his temples, which were starting to hurt from a headache.
"Traumatized? Really?! That blond and Endeavor's son walked right past us without a single 'traumatized look' in their eyes.", the blond hissed in response, "It only proves my point.", he concluded.
"Monoma, that proves nothing, peoples cope differently from each other.", Tokage intervened, "Seriously, I don't get you at all, do you have a personal grudge against 1-A or something? Jeez! I've never seen someone so stubborn!", the sharp-toothed girl exclaimed with a long, exasperated sigh.
"I'm not stubborn! I base my words on—"
—SPACK!—
Kendo sighed, grabbing Monoma by the collar before he collapsed to the ground, the boy completely knocked out after taking a knifehand strike straight to the carotid artery... under the surprised stares of his classmates.
"Nice one, class rep!", Rin exclaimed after a moment, giving her a thumbs-up.
And that's also how started the chopping tradition in Class 1-B…
/
Bakugo let out a 'Tssk', his expression twisting into an annoyed scowl. What a bunch of losers, both classes… They were all so enthusiastic, but it wouldn't last. He'd show them what he was capable of, and shut them all up… Especially Deku. Damn it, now that he had the chance, he'd show him that he was nothing but a piece of gum stuck to the sidewalk. Annoying, sticky, and useless. After this, he'd make him lick his boots like the dog he was. All those insults…
As he thought about it, a quiet anger started boiling in his veins, a rage that nothing could quell… Two small explosions crackled in his hands as everything flashed before his eyes. He would be Number 1 in this activity, and nothing would stop him.
"Don't think it'll be that easy, Bakugo Katsuki.", said a voice, completely neutral and cold.
"Did I ask for your opinion, half-n-half bastard?", Bakugo growled, turning his blazing red eyes to Todoroki, with such intensity it could have set the other boy on fire. The other boy had proven to be a strong opponent, but that didn't stop him from being a mere pebble on the side of the road. He'd beat him too.
"No.", replied Todoroki, keeping his tone calm, continuing after a few seconds of silence, "But don't think you're the only one aiming for the Number 1 spot, even if it's for different reasons."
Bakugo suppressed a snarl, but his grin widened, now filled with mockery.
"You? First place? Don't take me for a fool, Icyhot. You've got two quirks. Another one related to fire or something that you don't even use."
The blond then pointed a finger at Todoroki.
"Because you're a damn loser, a piece of trash. How do you expect to get to the top if you're only giving half of your effort? And even if you did give it your all, I'd still be above you. I'm the most powerful one in this whole damn school, and if I want to, I could blow everything up. You're good for nothing but being a walking freezer. Know your place, trash.", he spat, baring his teeth like a dog baring its fangs.
Todoroki merely raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to the side.
"What childish words you spew, Bakugo. You don't impress me in the slightest. Your threats are nothing but hot air. I actually agree with Yaoyorozu Lock for once, when he said this last time: 'You bark more than you bite'. And it's true."
This remark infuriated Bakugo even more. He wasn't used to being talked back to, and it drove him crazy.
"That extra? That little pebble with his pathetic clones? He's wrong. You wanna fight? Here? Now? Bring it on, and I'll crush you. I could even crush your whole family and ancestors if I wanted to!"
That seemed to strike a nerve with the dual-haired boy.
"Kill my father if you want, but if you so much as touch a single hair on the heads of my family, I'll make you regret being born on this earth.", Todoroki growled, clenching his fists.
"Oh, look who's getting mad! Yeah, that's right! I'm not scared of you, you little piece of shit."
Bakugo responded, another explosion crackling in his hand, before his eardrums were once again blasted by Present Mic's piercing voice…
One…
More…
Fucking…
Damn…
Time…
/
Present Mic once again amplified his voice to make himself heard and shouted.
"ALRIGHT, KIDS! ENOUGH CHATTING! HEAD TO THE LOCKER ROOMS AND CHANGE INTO YOUR GYM UNIFORMS! WE'LL MEET AT THE START OF THE COURSE!"
/
Ten minutes later, the students finally exited the locker rooms, the girls chatting amongst themselves, some of the 1-B girls pulling the 1-A girls out of their shells, the boys carrying a sense of rivalry, and two knocked out cold: one blond and one short guy.
Aizawa hid his smile under his scarf, though the bandages always covered his face. It was nice to see his students behaving like something other than empty shells…
Some of the boys were already issuing challenges to each other, with the only ones standing a bit apart being, unsurprisingly, the quartet Midoriya, who were watching their classmates carefully, Bakugo cracking his knuckles with a mix of irritation and impatience, while giving dirty looks to everyone, Todoroki as cold as ever, and Lock, who was trying to study the course ahead of them. Aizawa could have sworn the boy had already mapped out an entire route through what he could see.
Kirishima and Denki were already challenging other boys, specifically Tetsutetsu and Manga, with Iida trying to organize them, saying some of the challenges weren't respectful toward one another (especially the brawl that Kirishima had proposed to the boy with the metal quirk), Shoji, Sato, and Koda were chatting amongst themselves, the first dragging Monoma and Mineta behind him. Tokoyami and Kuroiro were talking about shadows and darkness… Meanwhile, Ojiro and Kaibara were discussing martial arts…
The girls of 1-A were chatting about makeup and all the topics teenage girls tend to have… Uraraka was probably the only one standing a bit apart, not really used to that kind of conversation… She quickly joined Midoriya anyway.
Vlad suddenly leaned over to the raven-haired teacher and asked,
"Why is one of your students completely knocked out?"
Aizawa immediately looked over at Mineta… Oh boy… The kid must've taken quite the beating to be in that state. He had a big black eye and bruises all over… Especially, there was a huge bump on the side of his forehead…
"He's fine," Aizawa simply replied, shrugging. He was aware of Mineta's issues, but he hoped the kid would improve. "What about yours?"
Monoma, on the other hand, had a bit of a bloody nose and bruises on the body and a mark on the back of his neck… In fact, Aizawa noticed some blood on Lock's knuckles and roughly pieced together what had happened.
"He probably said something stupid. Since the USJ attack, Monoma hasn't stopped criticizing your class… Saying how they'll act all arrogant and everything… And that 1-B will outshine them. Which is true."
Aizawa sighed, knowing what would come next.
"What's the bet?", asked the tired teacher in a neutral tone.
"Hmm… Alright, if I win, you make my coffee for a week, grade my papers, and dress up as a dog for the last week of school."
Aizawa groaned and rolled his eyes… Oh no… Not the dog costume… He much preferred cats… He could go a week without coffee, although by the end of the week, he knew he'd be in a terrible mood… And grading exams wouldn't help either…
But, fine…
"Bet accepted… And if I win, you owe me a ticket to a cat café at the end of the year."
"Which one?" asked the silver-haired teacher.
An eerie aura surrounded Aizawa, making the other teacher shudder.
"The most expensive one, and you better pay up if I win."
Vlad nodded frantically, a bead of sweat dripping down his temple. Damn, he didn't expect his colleague to take it that seriously.
/
Lock carefully studied the course... Or at least tried to. It was hard to tell; he thought he could just make out some sort of bridge, concrete blocks, and, of course, the very first obstacle, a large wall about 4 meters high.
This promised to be hard… He was almost going in blind…
Then, Present Mic's voice rose again, echoing loudly in the enclosed space.
"OKAY, YOUNG ONES! WE'RE GOING TO DISPATCH YOU INTO GROUPS! WE NEED TO MIX THE CLASSES A BIT, RIGHT?"
Midnight handed out sheets to the five teachers, a big smile on her face, while Vlad, Aizawa, and Cementoss seemed a bit surprised, not expecting this.
"YOU'LL HAVE ONE OF THE TEACHERS PRESENT HERE AS YOUR LEADER! FIVE TEAMS, FIVE TEACHERS! ALRIGHT! TEAM 1! WITH ME! OJIRO! MIDORIYA! TSUBURABA! ASUI! KUROIRO! URARAKA! TODOROKI! FUKIDASHI! AWASE! COME TO ME!"
The called students stepped forward, exchanging hesitant looks, some looking a bit shy.
Midnight then stepped forward, striking a pose that made some sensitive boys blush.
"TEAM 2! COME ON! KODA! TOKAGE! ASHIDO! SHIOZAKI! TSUNOTORI! HAGAKURE! MONOMA AND IIDA!"
Then it was Vlad King's turn, who spoke in a slightly calmer voice than the other two teachers, still surprised by this initiative that he hadn't been consulted about… And if Aizawa and Cementoss's expressions were anything to go by, they hadn't expected it either.
"Team 3? Honenuki, Kamakiri, Komori, Kendo, Bakugo, Yanagi, Tokoyami, and Sero."
The called students took a step forward. Next was Aizawa.
"Team 4…", the teacher began, looking at the sheet, "Nemuri, you still don't know how to write…"
The heroine shrugged, completely unoffended by this.
"I didn't have my glasses when I wrote."
Aizawa blinked twice, looking at her.
"What? I lost them!", the woman protested.
Aizawa rolled his eyes and sighed…
"Anyway. Jiro, Bondo, Sato, Yaoyorozu L, Shishida, Kaminari, Rin, and Kodai. Come."
Lock quickly scanned the faces of his classmates. His classmates posed no problem, but the 1-B students were complete strangers… But well. He would get used to it. He cracked his knuckles and stepped forward, warming up his shoulders and neck, producing another satisfying pop.
The captain let out a slight sigh of pleasure at the sound. Damn, sometimes he felt like he was rusting…
He studied the 1-B classmates who were with him…
A boy of considerable height whose head looked like a sort of glue bottle cap.
An absolutely gigantic boy, towering over Lock by at least three heads, with an extremely beastly appearance, sporting fur and prominent canines, though he wore glasses.
A boy with black hair tied in a small braid, with reptilian eyes.
And finally, a girl with black hair cut in a bob, with cerulean eyes, who didn't say a single word, unlike her classmates who were trying to engage in conversation.
They talked about everything except the exercise, understandable since no one knew each other… Then suddenly, everyone turned to him.
"And you, dear friend? Will you introduce yourself to us?", the beast boy asked suddenly. Lock was caught off guard by the way it was asked. The way the boy spoke reminded him of old tales, the language of ancient nobles.
Lock remained silent for a while… Before sighing and speaking.
"Alright. I'll be brief. I'm Yaoyorozu Lock, adopted son of the Yaoyorozu family, captain and creator of the Horn Company, those soldiers you've probably seen walking in the hallways. They are manifestations of my quirk, combined with my passion for the military field."
After his introduction, he turned his gaze to his 1-B classmates. The boy with reptilian eyes nodded with a smile.
"Nice to meet you then!", he extended his hand, and Lock hesitated before shaking it. Then the giant furry boy also came to shake his hand, surprising the clone with the boy's ability to control his strength.
"Likewise.", the captain quickly replied.
/
Izuku was honestly very happy. He had Ochako in his group, after all.
The two had to suppress the urge to hold hands and dance in a circle while laughing. Well… Yeah… Apart from that…
So yes, he was glad to be with the brunette but felt a bit anxious… He hadn't been able to see what the obstacle course was like, and he found himself feeling quite shy. That's why he stayed close to Ochako, and vice versa, while their classmates attempted to start a conversation. The only one who didn't seem particularly interested in all of this was Todoroki… Izuku couldn't figure him out; what was his problem? He knew it had something to do with his quirk, given that he didn't use it, even though his power could be amplified…
And he was rambling. He could never shake that habit; it was too ingrained in his mind.
He decided to change his thoughts and focus on the 1-B students. He had a very good memory, so he had managed to put names to each face…
Or what was close to it for Fukidashi…
A dialogue bubble in place of a head, probably related to his quirk. But what was it? Probably something related to speech or writing; could he manifest things? Did he need to write on the bubble for his quirk to take effect?
And he fell into a whirlpool of theories.
/
Ochako looked at Izuku with wide eyes, who seemed to have started murmuring for no apparent reason, as he usually did, dissecting the quirk until reaching a conclusion, or until someone told him the answer and how it worked. (And even from that point, he could apparently continue murmuring).
But now, he had become the center of attention for the entire team 1.
"What's wrong with him?", asked the boy whose quirk was apparently the ability to create solid air surfaces, if Ochako believed his claims.
"Nothing… It's just a habit he has when he encounters new quirks.", the brunette replied.
She sighed and leaned in, placing a hand on the greenette's shoulder to gently shake him. This seemed to bring him out of his trance, as he looked around, a bit lost and confused, as if he had lost all sense of direction.
Eventually, there seemed to be a lightbulb moment, and he composed himself, turning to the brunette.
"Yes? Is there something…? Ah… I did it again, didn't I?"
Ochako nodded, a slight smile on her face.
"Yes. You got lost in your mumblings again."
Izuku seemed to freeze for a few seconds, squinting as if trying to understand what she was saying. Ochako worried for a moment; what was happening? Then the greenette's eyes widened as he finally understood.
"Oh, I see."
Izuku also raised his hands and adjusted his hearing aids properly, as he apparently hadn't heard what she said, or not very well, before turning to his 1-B classmates.
"Please excuse me; it's a habit I have; it's stronger than me. I hope I didn't surprise you."
The boy with the dialogue bubble burst out laughing.
"Oh no! We already have Monoma, who does enough of that!"
The greenette raised an eyebrow.
"Monoma?"
It was now the turn of the boy with the bandana, who had remained quieter than the others, to speak.
"Yeah, Monoma, the guy with a huge fucking inflated ego. The blonde. He keeps claiming that you guys are a bunch of little shits who look down on everyone. Damn, he's the one who fucking thinks he's better than he is."
Although the glance was subtle, Ochako noticed it. It was directed at Bakugo, who seemed to be having trouble with his group, likely if he was sending them off like dogs.
"We know another one… Is there a recurring problem with blondes here or is it just an external factor?", Izuku grumbled, causing Ochako to burst out laughing. Tsuyu giggled, covering her mouth with a hand.
The manga boy crossed his arms and said in a teasing tone,
"Lost bullet for your comrade here present."
Izuku turned his head, and his expression changed entirely.
"It's not against you, Ojiro! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!"
The blonde boy in question wagged his tail, with a pout on his face.
"Yeah, yeah. Apologies accepted."
/
Well, then…
Team 5 was made up of whoever was left… Momo was part of it…
That is to say… Aoyama, Shoda, Kaibara, Shoji, Kirishima, Mineta, Tetsutetsu, and her.
In short… She didn't really have much to talk about… because the majority of the boys only talked about bodybuilding… And as for her, aside from her vode's training… She didn't have much affinity for that… The only person she could talk to was Aoyama about fashion, but the blonde with French origins… was a bit peculiar… It wasn't exactly Momo's favorite style of clothes.
For her, although it should be elegant, it should also be… a bit understated. Good grief, everything about him shone so brightly, even his costume gave her migraines just by looking at it.
And then… Well… it was more about something to do rather than someone to talk to… Threatening Mineta to keep his perverted tendencies in check. Even though he had already been knocked out in the boys' locker room (there had been a new boom against the wall), and ended up with a black eye, bruises, and a bump, he still needed to learn the lesson from a girl's hands…
Resulting in a second black eye, and the short boy with purple hair bawling his eyes out while having an existential crisis two meters away from their group.
The raven-haired girl sighed and glanced over at her vod. Lock seemed to be talking… At least he had someone to talk to, and a subject too…
Well, either way, she needed to get ready…
Momo took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly… The raven-haired girl needed to let off some steam. She hadn't had the chance since the USJ, which still, nonetheless, lingered somewhere in her mind, without her being able to do anything about it.
Sometimes, the sound of the drills still filled her dreams as she was torn in two by the villain, unable to do anything… Or when she saw Tarrenn getting his guts ripped out again…
A shiver ran down her spine, making the hairs on her neck stand on end.
The raven-haired girl closed her eyes, slapped her cheeks twice, and exhaled.
Ready to go.
/
A dull thud echoed through the dark room as a controller exploded against the wall, almost disintegrating under the force of the impact, scattering pieces everywhere.
"FUUUUCK!"
His scream pierced the silence, hoarse from the rage that choked him. His fingers began to furiously scratch at the skin of his neck, tearing the flesh raw. His bloodshot eyes gleamed with a fury so visceral it seemed like it could set the room on fire.
He began pacing the room like a caged animal, his ragged breathing betraying a mind on the edge of collapse.
Fuck, Fuck, FUCK!
His fist slammed into the wall, creating a new dent, one among many others, his body trembling under the strain. The pain in his knuckles brought him back to reality, but it barely calmed the storm within him. His shoulders rolled under the tension, and slowly, he regained a semblance of control, leaving behind shreds of bloody skin clinging to his nails. His neck was now nothing but exposed muscle and blood.
He collapsed heavily onto the couch, a ragged sigh escaping his lips.
How much longer? How many hours, days, spent trying to beat this damned level? These cursed guards… minions, summoned by that boss, endlessly spawning to protect that stupid city...
It was like that failure at the USJ. Always these pawns, these obstacles, standing in his way.
Always...
"Raaaah...", he growled, running a hand over his face, his fingers trembling slightly. How could he beat that boss? He was as unreachable as... All Might. The boss in real life.
"I hate them… both of them...", the young boy hissed.
Suddenly, a purple portal materialized with a silent whoosh, and Kurogiri stepped out, holding a bottle of disinfectant and a piece of cotton. He approached his young master without a word.
"Shall I tend to your wounds, young master?", asked the bartender in a polite tone, almost too calm for the oppressive atmosphere of the room.
Shigaraki grunted without raising his eyes.
"Do it, and leave me alone after."
Kurogiri didn't react to the acidity in his words. Nothing ever seemed to reach the misty man, even when he was at the mercy of, or potentially within reach of, total disintegration. His movements were methodical, almost ritualistic, as he dampened the cotton with disinfectant.
Shigaraki gritted his teeth when the soaked cotton touched his raw skin, a shiver of icy pain running down his spine, but he didn't flinch. The tension in the room grew thick, the pain nothing compared to the frustration filling him.
Once the quick treatment was done, Kurogiri stepped back silently. He opened another portal, disposing of the soiled items somewhere before pulling out a glass and a bottle of whiskey from the bar.
"Would you like a drink, young master?"
Shigaraki glanced at the bottle for a moment, his thoughts distorting like the reflection in the amber liquid. Maybe a drink would help numb the pain… and stifle a bit more of the rage threatening to overwhelm him.
"A glass. What is it?"
"Canadian rye whiskey."
"No, that gives me heartburns. Give me Dalmore."
Without a word, Kurogiri bowed. A portal opened, and as if by magic, the Canadian rye disappeared, replaced by the bottle of Dalmore as the bartender reached through.
With unsettling ease, he poured a generous amount of alcohol into the glass he handed to Shigaraki, who carefully avoided touching it with all five fingers.
The young man downed half the glass in one gulp. The liquid burned his throat, but not enough to wash away the bitter taste of his frustration. He stared at the rest of the whiskey for a moment, swirling the glass before asking,
"Any news from the 142's men?"
Kurogiri shook his head, his glowing yellow eyes betraying nothing of the man's thoughts.
"Nothing concrete. The captain remains… elusive. We must assume they have not yet found Stain."
Shigaraki gritted his teeth and emptied the rest of the glass before glancing at the television, the screen frozen on his character, broken, surrounded by hordes of NPC guards. A cruel mirror of his real-life failures.
"Making progress in your game?", Kurogiri asked, following his master's gaze.
"No. Damn boss...", Shigaraki spat, "Always the same damn guards keeping me from reaching him. It's just like the USJ with those damn ranged NPCs."
Kurogiri's silence lasted a moment too long, creating an oppressive void, before he finally responded in his calm voice.
"Have you considered taking a break to rethink your strategy?"
Shigaraki shook his head violently, his eyes blazing with defiance.
"No, and I won't. This game is a metaphor for my situation. If I beat this boss, I'll figure out how to beat All Might… and this rotten society."
Kurogiri simply observed, still as calm as ever, but something in his body language shifted subtly.
"Your Sensei wishes to see you."
Shigaraki rolled his eyes. He wasn't in the mood for monologues, even from the one man he respected. But something in Kurogiri's voice… that subtle note of warning…
"Call him."
The bartender approached the couch silently, picking up the remote with his misty fingers. After a certain combination, the screen flickered before shutting off. Then, a voice emerged, deep and insidious, filling the room like a creeping shadow.
"Ah, Tomura... Finally, you're willing to respond."
Shigaraki clenched his teeth.
"Sensei."
The voice smiled, or at least, that's what Shigaraki imagined.
"You seem... troubled. Am I interrupting something? Or are you still brooding over that crushing failure?"
A cold shiver ran down Shigaraki's spine. Sensei... He always knew. He always knew what he felt, what haunted him. As if he had direct access to his deepest thoughts.
"Yes..."
"Black Mist told me a lot about your attack after you went to be treated for your wounds. A missed opportunity, wasn't it? Did those pawns, those obstacles, slip away from you, my boy? But tell me... what do you plan to do now?"
Shigaraki remained silent for a moment, fighting the urge to scratch his neck. These allies, these tools that Sensei himself had suggested...
"I'm going to recruit new members. And attempt another attack."
Sensei's laugh echoed like a funeral bell, cold and distant, yet strangely affectionate.
"The twenty killer robots you hired aren't enough for you, Tomura?"
"I don't trust them; I think it was a mistake.", his words cracked like a whip in the air, dry, almost spat out, "They have their own objectives. They follow mine for now, but I think they'll try to ditch me as soon as I'm no longer useful. I want loyal men."
A silence stretched out, followed by an icy laugh that filled the room, chilling Shigaraki to his core. Sensei continued, his tone almost mocking.
"You learn nothing, my boy. Tell me... Have you lost at your game, where you're usually so invincible? Why did you fail?"
Shigaraki, his gaze vacant, stared at the dark screen before responding.
"The final boss is out of reach... his guards protect him."
"Interesting... That sounds a lot like your situation, doesn't it? Those pawns, those insignificant soldiers, are they really the key to the problem in your game?", Sensei's voice reverberated through the room, sickly sweet and twisted, seeping into Shigaraki's mind like a venomous snake.
Shigaraki gritted his teeth, his fingers trembling slightly, a burning sensation rising in his throat.
"They... they're just obstacles.", he replied, his nails digging into the flesh of his arm, leaving marks on his skin, "They stand in my way; they stop me from reaching him."
Sensei let a heavy silence settle. The darkness in the room seemed to thicken with every passing second, engulfing Shigaraki, as the voice resumed.
"And if I told you, Tomura... that you're wrong? That they're not the real obstacle?"
Shigaraki's heart tightened. He hated that feeling, that insidious doubt that Sensei managed to plant in him, always there, always playing with his thoughts like a puppet master.
"You focus too much on those pawns, on what you perceive as obstacles. But the truth... the truth, Tomura, is that the real enemy, the one you can't see... is you."
Shigaraki froze. His lips tightened, his eyes, reddened with anger and frustration, narrowed.
"Me?", he muttered. Did Sensei think he was a complete fool?
"Yes.", Sensei's tone lowered, now only a rumble in the room, "Your weaknesses are your impatience... your obsession with wanting to control everything, to destroy everything without strategy. That's what's holding you back, Tomura. Not those insignificant pawns. That's why you failed at USJ. I didn't want to tell you that day because you seemed to be in a 'good mood,' but here we are."
Shigaraki clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening under the pressure.
"I'm strong.", he growled, but his voice lacked confidence, "I... I'll destroy them all... Both those guards in the game, and those cursed heroes and their society."
A cold chuckle echoed through the speakers, a sound that seemed to pierce straight into his skull.
"You're strong, yes, but not invincible. And until you accept that fact, until you learn how to manipulate those pawns, you'll be nothing but a child playing a game of chess you can't win."
Shigaraki felt his breath shorten.
"Then tell me.", Sensei continued, his tone turning almost mocking, "What is your next move? What are you going to do now that you know it's not the pawns you need to destroy, but the player you've become, Tomura?"
Shigaraki remained silent, his thoughts swirling in his mind like shards of broken glass. Doubt gnawed at him.
"I... I'll find a way. I'll make them all bend. And when I do... I'll destroy everything."
A heavy silence followed, but this time, Sensei didn't respond right away. As if the darkness itself held its breath, waiting for something.
Finally, a response came, slow and measured.
"Very well, Tomura. But remember... destroying for the sake of destruction will lead you nowhere. If you truly want to reign, you must learn to control. Let me give you a riddle... Black and white, I dance in the ripples. With my peers, I set the pace. Sing my hymns, laugh at my luck. I sail like a spear."
And with that, the connection abruptly cut off, the TV's microphones crackling. Shigaraki remained still for a moment, his thoughts clashing against each other. The silence in the room felt heavier than ever.
What did Sensei mean by that riddle...?
And anger welled up inside of him.
He compulsively scratched his neck, feeling the warmth of the blood under his nails again. Then, with a sharp movement, he stood up, angrily sweeping the objects off the coffee table.
"What does he want with his riddle? With that damn RIDDLE?!", he yelled, before his raspy breath mingled with the darkness.
In his mind, the image of the boss he couldn't reach merged with that of All Might, unreachable, invincible.
Damn society, damn game, he hated everything, he wanted to destroy it all.
His primal scream of rage filled the building.
Looks like Shigaraki is throwing a fit of anger... Well anyway.
It was kind of hard to actually decide what to do... And a new thing to experience! I think I never saw anyone do that kind of thing with a traumatized Class 1-A, so... Yeah... That was a little bit of stress on top of that hehe...
Anyway, I speak a little too much about me, so I'll leave y'all here. Hope you enjoyed, and see y'all next chapter!
BlackHound560 out.