Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles
"How far does history go?
I reckon that one day,
Even I'll be described by those passages."
Tomura Shigaraki POV
The city of Kyoto lay bathed in an eerie twilight, the sky a heavy gradient of indigo bleeding into black. Neon lights blinked in the distance, casting fleeting reflections across slick streets. The faint hum of evening life still stirred—commuters returning home, the distant chatter of tourists—but there was a simmering unease in the air, a tension that electrified the atmosphere.
Or perhaps that was the fire that had overtaken the nearby building.
Tomura Shigaraki stood atop the ruins of a small police station, destroyed by his hands, his fingers twitching absently at his sides. His pale blue hair fluttered gently in the wind, barely concealing the manic gleam in his red-rimmed eyes. His hand, poised like a predator ready to strike, hovered over a crumbling wall.
The air around him crackled with anticipation as the decayed remains of the police building creaked beneath his weight.
"It's all just so fragile," Tomura murmured, barely above a whisper, as his fingers ghosted across the stone. The instant his skin made contact, the structure dissolved, decaying into dust that swept away in the wind. A chilling smile curled his lips. "I wonder how they all feel being trapped in this system? How do the citizens feel about being stuck in a system that ruined this once great city."
Kyoto was a hallmark of Japanese culture once upon a time ago.
Now it stood as a monument to Heroes like All Might.
He glanced down at the street below, where the remnants of the local police force were scrambling. Sirens wailed, and officers barked orders in desperation, but their fear was palpable. Shigaraki could feel it—a tingling sensation that ran up his spine, feeding his insatiable desire for destruction.
Tomura's gaze drifted over to Dabi, who was striding calmly through the chaos, his hands in his pockets as flames flickered lazily from his fingertips. The ground around him was scorched black, the air thick with the acrid stench of burning flesh - And Tomura watched as Dabi grinned like a mad dog, Police officers and civilians alike lay sprawled in his wake, their bodies charred beyond recognition.
"I always hated this city," Dabi muttered, his voice low and gravelly. He didn't even look at the carnage he caused, as if it were beneath him. His pale eyes reflected the dying light of the flames that leapt from his hands, blue and unnatural, like the fire of a dying star. "Just how long do we have to keep doing this for? Sure, I got a lot more in me, but it's getting kind of boring."
Suddenly, a brave police officer tried running up to Dabi-,
Though it was futile in the end.
"You think they'd learn by now," Dabi continued, almost to himself, as he burnt the man alive - His corpse screaming in anguish as you could see him try to reach to Dabi in his last moments of his life, only to fall on the floor, revealing a pile of ashes. "They all burn the same. As if I'd allow even a single one of you to reach me. None of you are the big man himself, so don't get too cocky-,"
A rookie Hero—a small-timer barely old enough to be out of training—rushed at him from the side, a baton charged with electric energy swinging wide.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"
Dabi didn't bother to dodge. Instead, his flames erupted in a brilliant burst, engulfing the Hero in a flash of blue fire. The Hero screamed, flailing wildly as the heat consumed him, the sound tapering off into a choked gurgle as the flames did their work.
This time, his charred corpse was enough of a deterrent to make the other officers and local heroes walk back in fear.
Dabi smirked at their response.
"Pathetic. Just what I'd expect from you, trash."
Meanwhile, Himiko Toga danced through the chaos like a twisted ballerina, her bloodied knife gleaming under the neon lights. She giggled as she dodged a swing from a local Hero, Toga's form fluid and graceful. Yet, the Hero's pitiful face only made Toga grin in excitement as her eyes sparkled with manic glee as she darted forward, slashing at the Hero's abdomen which they had left open either out of foolishness or fear in one swift, lethal motion.
Blood sprayed out in an arc, painting the streets crimson.
"Oopsie~! Looks like I cut a little too deep!" Toga sang, twirling on her heel, her schoolgirl outfit drenched in the Hero's blood. She watched the Hero collapse, his lifeblood pooling around him as he gasped for breath. "Don't worry, you'll go to a better place soon! And then maybe, when you're reincarnated, pray that you never make the same mistake again. Is there anything you want to say?"
The Hero growled, trying to stand back up.
"You… How dare you attack this city! Villainous scum!" The Hero yelled. "Don't think you can make it out of this city alive-,"
Toga crouched beside him, her head tilted in a mockery of concern.
"It's such a waste, though," She pouted, bringing her knife up to the Hero's lips. "All this blood, and you just had to go and die so fast. You decided that your last moments of this life would be cursing me. Boring!"
Even Tomura had to look away from the gory mess that Toga partook in next.
Yet, not before long, she darted off, eager to find her next victim, her laughter echoing in the chaotic streets.
Overhead, Twice stood atop a broken street lamp, surveying the devastation with a manic grin. Tomura didn't have to speak to him to know that his split personalities raged inside his head, each side clashing for dominance as he spoke aloud to himself.
"They all deserved it! Every last one of them!" Twice screamed, his voice cracking. "No, no, NO! They didn't! Some of them were just innocent bystanders—don't kill them! Wait, how about we just make sure that they learn their lesson? Haha."
His clones swarmed the streets below, a chaotic flood of identical figures, some armed with guns, others with whatever they could scavenge from the rubble. Civilians ran in terror, but there was no escape. A clone cornered a small group of them—two office workers, a middle-aged man, and a teenage girl.
They trembled as the clone raised its gun.
Twice's face twisted into a snarl, pointing at them-,
"No mercy!" Twice cried, and the clone fired, the crack of gunshots cutting through the night air. "Kill them all!" But then, in the same breath, his voice softened, almost pleading. "But we don't have to kill everyone, do we? We could just scare them a little… right?"
The conflicting voices in his head were maddening, but the destruction around him continued, his clones relentless as they swept through the city. Twice's erratic nature only seemed to fuel the chaos.
And Tomura could only grin at this requiem of destruction.
Below, a group of pro heroes finally arrived—a local force led by a Hero in a gleaming white uniform, his fists crackling with energy. He called out orders, rallying the few surviving heroes and police officers. They charged toward the League with renewed vigour, determined to protect the city.
"The League of Villains?! Give me a break," The Hero yelled. "Hold the line and don't let even a single villain go further into the city! We've already sent out evacuation orders, not to mention the HPSC is sending its finest! All we have to do is keep them at bay for an hour and their reign of terror will be over! Even if it costs our lives, we can't give up now!"
Tomura watched them from his vantage point, his expression impassive. He flexed his fingers, feeling the pull of decay waiting at his command. His mind buzzed with thoughts of all the destruction he could still unleash.
"More Heroes," He muttered to himself, his gaze cold and calculating. And they clung to whatever hope they had, almost like ants who hoped that the humans stepping on them would show even an ounce of mercy. "Always more hope to crush."
That wasn't the case with Tomura Shigaraki.
Leaping down from the ruins, landing lightly on the cracked pavement below, Tomura's eyes locked onto the lead Hero, whose eyes burned with righteous fury. Tomura smirked, already envisioning how the Hero would crumble, how his skin would flake away beneath his touch-,
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, VILLAIN!"
Ah, it was ironic that the oaf couldn't even stick to the plan he had set out.
As the Hero rushed him, Tomura's hand shot out, faster than the eye could follow. The Hero's fist met Shigaraki's decaying grip, and the man's confident expression shifted into one of horror as his arm began to disintegrate.
"What… You-, I'm the defender of this city! I can't lose to you-," The Hero gasped, trying to pull away, but it was too late. Tomura grinned as the Hero began to plead for his pathetic life-, "Hold on, hold on-, I'm not actually going to-, Wait, please I just-,"
The decay spread rapidly, and soon, he was nothing but dust in the wind.
Tomura turned his attention back to the city, watching as fires raged and chaos spread like a virus.
"Kyoto is falling," He whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "And soon, everything else in this country will too. This system will be changed… Right, Zero? And all our fates will be avoided? Is this what you wanted?"
But no one answered.
Because Zero wasn't there with them.
The night stretched on, filled with the screams of the dying, the roar of flames, and the unholy symphony of destruction. They moved like wraiths through the carnage, unstoppable, untouchable. They weren't just killing for sport or power—they were tearing down the very fabric of society. Tomura Shigaraki grinned to himself, proud of the destruction he had created with his fellow members.
And in that moment, amid the flames and blood, Kyoto became a requiem for the old world—a world soon to be reborn in darkness.
What?
The TV was loud as everyone's eyes were glued to it, out of shock and surprise as the headline was something I couldn't believe. Just what the hell was happening?! It came as a surprise the morning we were supposed to leave for London that breaking international news made even Aizawa drop his phone in confusion.
Kyoto is attacked by the League of Villains!
"Dude…" Mineta whispered. "Tell me this isn't real?"
"I-, Why would they?"
Everyone was confused as I felt my hands clench up into fists watching the footage that was captured. Shigaraki destroyed a few buildings, Dabi burnt a lot of innocents alive, Toga was as trigger happy as ever as she turned into lovers and children to murder people with a gleeful look on her face, even Twice and his reign of terror by forcefully capturing a building and throwing all the innocents inside from the windows.
"Ultimately, it was thanks to numerous Heroes from the Hero Public Safety Committee including Endeavour and his agency that managed to drive the League of Villains out. Not without the city of Kyoto suffering-,"
We were all stunned into silence at the footage captured.
Here we were while our country suffered-,
Tch.
This fell right into the enemy's hands, the enemy Hachi had told me about just before we were sent on this 'vacation'. Her plan had gone to shit while we were out of the country unable to do a damn thing to protect it and save some face.
…
I growled, turning away from the TV as I reached into my pockets and lit up a cigarette.
Bullshit.
We couldn't even have a month of peace within Japan without some fucking cunt deciding to blow shit up for fun. It was funny that we weren't even in the country, yet I could already see that Japan was beginning to question why Hachi had sent us away internationally, if our presence was even necessary if the League of Villains would start to become even more brazen than before.
"Hey - You alright?"
Kaminari ran after me as I angrily kicked the door open, allowing the Australian winter to wrestle with my body. The only thing keeping me warm was the cigarette stuck between my fingers as I could see my breath despite it being August.
It was an unusually cold Winter, even for Australia I had been told.
"Would you be alright?" I asked Kaminari, annoyed. "I mean think about it from my perspective. It's been nearly three months since I uncovered the corruption in Musutafu, and I thought shit would change, you know? I thought we'd finally be able to move together into the future, but I mean-, Fuck man. And to top it all off, he ain't even there. I-, Damn it. Where is he?!"
"...Who?"
"Zero," I spat out, chucking away the fresh cigarette I had just lit up as I ran my hand through my hair. "I mean - come on, man. The news is reporting the League of Villains attacking Kyoto, but he's not there. Why isn't he there? Why aren't they reporting on what he's doing, on where he is?!"
And Kaminari didn't respond.
And why would he?!
Why the hell would he have the answer to that question?
"...Do you think he's not in Japan?"
"Do I think-, How about I tell you what I really think, Denki," I whispered anxiously. "...Everyone keeps on asking why I care so much about taking him down. Why is he my rival? I'll tell you exactly why, because of shit like this. Because under that mask, I have no idea who he is. He could be a random guy, someone that you'd walk past the street and never think twice of, he could be someone I know. Where is he, Denki?"
Denki shrugged his shoulders at that.
"Why would I know? Why do you care so much about finding out who he is under that mask anyway?"
I blinked at him in confusion.
"Huh? Why wouldn't I care?"
"He's a villain, Sora. He's not your friend," Denki explained to me, a serious look on his face. "How many times has he tried to kill you? How many times has he tried to kill Kyoka? How many times will he continue to oppose you? At this point, why does it matter if you find out who is under the mask? It won't change a thing. He's the Villain, you're the Hero."
Yet, I shook my head at him.
I disagreed with that.
"It's never as simple as that. You know, I've had a good few theories on who he is, yet all of them just don't make sense," I told him honestly. "If he's Raiden, my brother, then how come he wears that mask? Why does he lie and say that he's dead? But if he's a member of Class A, then I get why he wears a mask. But if he's a member of U.A., then why would he know so much information about Raiden? Why's he even still helping the League of Villains if that's the case? Surely by now, if Zero was a student wouldn't he feel at home with us?! I just don't get it."
"Maybe you can't get it."
"...What?"
Denki sighed, shaking his head at me.
"Zero wears a mask - He's not someone you just have a drink with every Friday, you know. He wears that mask because it separates who he truly is from the outside world," Denki replied, lighting up his cigarette. "...Despite what you may think, maybe you don't get who the real guy is on the inside. You don't get him because you don't know or understand him, that mask of his prevents you from ever truly getting to know him. Stop pushing what you want him to be on, that's not logical. But instead, you'll cast doubt on your friends to convince yourself that a villain is a decent guy on the inside?"
"I-,"
"Sora, maybe you're looking far too deep into this."
I sighed loudly at that.
"Y-yeah, maybe."
But I still couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at stake here.
More than even Denki could comprehend.
It wasn't just that I was 'casting doubt' on my friends - It wasn't that I wanted Zero to be someone who he wasn't! At the end of the day, Zero and I were on two different but parallel paths in life.
Just as I went to U.A. and became a rock for Class A, so did Zero with the League of Villains.
I knew that it was wrong to trust Zero.
To trust a villain.
But, more than anyone else in this world, if there was one person who I could count on and understand their actions no matter what, it was him. And I knew that he also understood me, that behind his mask there was a person who realised just how similar our paths in life truly were-,
That's why our fates are intertwined.
That's why…
I have to kill him.
Chapter
Eighty-Seven
'Like a Grain of Sand'
"Woah!"
Cairo was…
Cairo was…
Cairo was…
"Holy shit, this place looks crazy!" Mineta exclaimed loudly as we left the airport. And I couldn't blame him, it truly was a fascinating sight. Rows of cars that all looked like they were parked but were stuck in traffic, the impressive architecture - And more importantly the pyramids in the distance that loomed over us. "Aizawa-sensei, when are we going to the pyramids! Please can we go now!"
Aizawa sighed at that.
"We were just on a twenty-hour flight. Everyone else in your class is nearly asleep."
That was also true.
"Listen, it's only nine in the morning! I'm sorry to say, but you have your duties to roam around the city. Thankfully, since we're one final stop away from London a lot of Heroes from back home will be joining us here in Cairo before he heads out to England," Aizawa explained. "Therefore, the group sizes will consist of two students and a teacher. We'll just drop off our bags and suitcases at our hotel, in the meantime please divide yourselves up into small groups of two. Or three."
Cough.
Cough.
I shrugged my shoulders, ignoring my cough as I walked over to Setsuna.
"What do you say?"
Setsuna rolled her eyes at me, dragging her suitcase across the ground.
"Well, aren't you like a dog? Couldn't spare a day without me in your life?"
"Never."
The blistering Cairo sun beat down on the sprawling city, and I found myself squinting into the golden haze of the streets. This was supposed to be a patrol, an important one. But instead of scoping out potential threats, I was tagging along with Setsuna as we wandered through the bustling heart of the city.
She wasn't exactly focused on Hero work, though.
Then and again, neither was I.
"This way, Sora!" Setsuna called, already weaving through a sea of people like a lizard in its natural habitat. Funny considering her name and her Quirk. I tried to keep up, but navigating the packed streets of Cairo was easier said than done. It reminded me of New York, though in a different way. "C'mon, let's just go have some fun for the day! When's the next time we'll get the chance to view Cairo while our 'supervisor' is tired?"
I glanced over to the left where Aizawa was too busy talking to the locals.
"We're supposed to be on duty," I reminded her for the tenth time, though by now, it was half-hearted at best. "But… Well… I am still a bit jet lagged. And it's not like I particularly care…"
Setsuna turned, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Let's relax then! We're in Egypt, Sora. You think I'm gonna waste this on standing around and being a freakin' Hero?" Setsuna asked me, and I couldn't exactly disagree with her. "Everyone else just wants to give a good showing to the world, to show that Japan is safe. Personally, I couldn't care and I know that you don't either."
I frowned at that.
"Most of Kyoto was trashed."
"Most of a Kyoto district. And more importantly, the reason you're frowning isn't because the League of Villains made their move, it's because he wasn't there," Setsuna pointed out. "...But you already look like someone's talked to you about that, so I won't even bother. You're a real handful, you know that? I don't know whether I should encourage or discourage you."
"What's the difference?"
"At the end of the day, you're the one closest to him. If there's one thing that everyone else doesn't understand it's that fact - If the circumstances were different, you and Zero could be good friends," Setsuna told me. "But everyone else, including you and him, get too caught up in labelling one another as a 'Hero' and a 'Villain'. Yeah, he wasn't there. And I know what you're thinking-,"
"Do you?"
"I do," Setsuna added, resting her hand on my shoulder. "Which is why I want to distract you from those feelings. Because I know you. I know that you'll get far too caught up in them, and you'll withdraw from everything - Or even worse, you'll get too caught up in trying to prove yourself right. Maybe someone here with us is Zero… Maybe he's Raiden… Maybe his identity doesn't matter right here and right now."
All I could do was nod at that.
She was trying to distract me from my own thoughts.
"Besides, Aizawa-sensei hasn't noticed that we're skiving off work. He's probably too busy sulking in some dark corner, right?"
I stifled a laugh.
"You mean like he always does? That man isn't a sulker. And if he heard you say that he sulks, you'd get detention for every single day of school we have left till' we graduate," I told her with a grin. "But you're right. There's no point wasting the opportunity we've been given, so let's just enjoy Cairo before we move on to London. The greatest city in the world, might I add."
"Seems a bit biassed."
"Me? Never!"
Setsuna shot me a mischievous grin and pointed toward a small vendor's stand.
"You have to try these. They're like Egyptian donuts. I think."
Za… Za…
Zalabia?
I glanced around, realising we'd somehow ended up in a market full of colourful fabrics, spices, and - apparently - donuts? The smell was incredible, but still…
"Are you sure? I mean I don't mind taking a small break but I did promise Hachi that-,"
"Shh!" Setsuna waved a finger in front of my face. "Don't jinx it. I know, alright? It's important that we make sure that the world knows we are here. And yeah, we should have been in Japan. But we're not. We're on a mini-vacation right now."
"Mini-vacation?"
"Exactly. Feeling guilty about what happened while we were thousands of miles away is stupid. Now eat."
She handed me one of the pastries, and I couldn't argue with her logic—or the taste. Warm, sugary, fried dough? Yeah, that was definitely better than keeping an eye out for bad guys.
Or thinking about him…
After we had gorged ourselves on pastries and haggled for some trinkets (well, Setsuna did the haggling while I watched, amused), we found ourselves standing near the Nile River. The river was beautiful, its waters reflecting the afternoon sun in a way that made the city around it shimmer - Yet, all I could do was stare at Setsuna.
She shined brighter than the sun reflected in the water.
I couldn't take my eyes off her.
Not once.
"Let's take a boat ride!" Setsuna suggested, though it was more of an order as she pointed toward the small felucca boats lined up along the riverbank. "I wish we did a boat tour of Venice while we were there…"
I raised an eyebrow.
"In Venice we were punished for our little escapade."
"You mean going to the casino?
"Yes. Anyways, shouldn't we at least do one patrol? Just in case."
She shot me a look that said, Are you seriously asking that question right now? I cleared my throat, looking away from her as I saw my face flush red in my reflection. Scowling, I threw a pebble in the river.
"Come on, Sora! It's not like the world's gonna end if we take one little boat ride. Besides, it's part of the cultural experience," Setsuna added. And it was her excitement that won me over. I didn't want her to lose her smile. "If Aizawa truly cared, wouldn't he be telling us to get back to work? We shouldn't overlook a gift like this. And I know that you think it would be cool to go on the boat, so why are you hesitating?"
"...You just don't want to do Hero work, do you?"
Setsuna giggled at that.
"You know me so well."
I sighed but didn't argue as she dragged me toward one of the boats. Before I knew it, we were gliding along the Nile, the cool breeze a welcome relief from the heat. I leaned back, taking in the atmosphere as Setsuna sat beside me, snapping photos of whatever view she could find as a man we had paid some Egyptian pounds rowed the boat for us.
As Setsuna looked up, a goofy grin on her face, I couldn't help but smile at her.
"I didn't know you liked photography so much."
"Yeah, well, when you're terminally ill and can't get out of a hospital for an entire lifetime you start to appreciate the sights you never saw in person before," Setsuna replied. "You should be more grateful for these sights, you know! Make as many memories of these places before you go back to Japan."
"Why? Because I might die?"
"No. Because you're only young once. There is literally no better time to goof off and take photos of your life," Setsuna replied. "In five years, this'll be your past. In ten years, if you have kids, do you want to tell them about your life? Or do you want to show them? Time only marches forward, Sora."
I hummed in response.
"This is nice," I admitted, watching the cityscape pass by. "But, when everyone else finds out-,"
"They won't find out," Setsuna interrupted, casually brushing her blonde dyed hair away from her eyes. "They're probably on the other side of the city, grumbling about how much they hate the sun. Besides, we're Heroes. We deserve a break. They're idiots if they don't agree. The entire flight over I had to hear Midoriya yap on about showing the world that what happened in Kyoto was a freak accident, that they won't stand up for it. I couldn't care less."
"Unbecoming words for a Hero."
"So what? The world is going to think whatever it wants. Showing them anything doesn't change a single thing - Those innocents died because the systems put in place weren't strong enough to repel them."
I didn't exactly disagree. And, if I was being honest, it beat patrolling a dusty street corner with something to prove. More than that, as I leaned back and took in the atmosphere, I too began to loosen up.
We spent the next half hour drifting along the river, occasionally making ridiculous comments about what kind of villains might be lurking underwater much to the dismay of our tour guide - I guess he just didn't understand our humour as we spoke about the horrific ways we could potentially die.
Setsuna stretched out in the boat like she was on vacation in the tropics, and I had to avoid staring at her-,
Tsk.
"See, this is what Hero work should be about. Travelling the world, helping people, and occasionally…" Setsuna gave me a knowing smirk. "Hehe. You know, if you want to look at my body, you can take a peek. It'll only cost you one-thousand Yen per second."
"I-, You-,"
Setsuna laughed at my expression.
"Ah, this view is to die for."
I shook my head, trying my hardest not to scowl at her..
"You've really got this slacking-off thing down to an art."
"Says the man who skips classes he doesn't like."
"I prefer to think of it as 'creative education.'"
"More like creative relaxation."
The Khan El-Khalili Bazaar was bigger than I thought.
An ancient, sprawling market filled with narrow alleys and endless salesmen and women, even kids, trying to convince you to buy the next best item.. The vibrant atmosphere made it hard not to get lost in the excitement - For someone who loved to shop at random shops, I had to reign Setsuna in like a dog by her collar. Brightly coloured fabrics hung overhead, creating makeshift canopies, and the air was thick with the smell of incense, spices, and grilled meat-,
Oh lord, the food here was incredible.
"I could really get used to this," I said, glancing around as we wove through the stalls, holding two meat sticks in both hands. Both for me. "It's so cheap and it tastes so good! You sure you don't want a bite?"
"Nah, you enjoy your food. And I told you! Cairo is amazing!" Setsuna grinned, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward a stall selling shiny, intricately designed jewellery. "Oooh, maybe we should buy something for Aizawa-sensei. Think of it as a gift so he doesn't completely berate us later for ditching our duties. Think he'd wear a necklace?"
I snorted.
"Aizawa? Jewellery? Maybe if it was a 'Do Not Disturb' sign. Then and again, I think he'd probably arrest us if we got him to wear one," I told her, making her laugh. "Maybe we should get him something gaudy so he drops it in embarrassment? Like, I don't know, something like an massive insect-,
"I'm going to regret asking this, but… why are you two here?"
My stomach dropped. Turning slowly, I saw Aizawa standing a few feet away, arms crossed, looking as exasperated as ever. My brain went into panic mode. Busted. Setsuna didn't fare any better as she squealed in surprise-,
"Uncle?!" I stammered, but Setsuna was quicker on her feet.
"Hey, Aizawa-sensei!" Setsuna chirped, completely unfazed. "We were just, uh, surveying the area. You know, making sure everything's in order. I got a bad feeling about this shop, so I went to check it out! Uh, you know! Patrolling the area and all!""
Aizawa raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
"Yes!" Setsuna nodded enthusiastically, nudging me in the ribs. "Right, Sora? We're totally working."
I nodded along, trying to keep my cool.
"Uh, yeah. We were just… doing a perimeter check."
Aizawa didn't look convinced.
"And the donuts and boat ride were part of this 'check'?"
I winced. So he had seen us. This was bad. But before either of us could dig the hole we had dug any deeper, someone else entered the scene-, Not without latching onto Aizawa's arm like a clingy girlfriend-,
"There you are, Shota!" That cheerful, familiar voice and blindingly lime green hair could only belong to one person: Ms. Joke - Emi Fukukado. She popped up right next to Aizawa, wearing a huge grin and sunglasses, looking like she had just stepped off a beach. "Oh, it's your students! I thought you said we'd leave them on their date, what are you doing here? Oh no, did your date go poorly?!"
Aizawa's face twitched in what I could only describe as pure discomfort.
Setsuna's eyes widened.
And I sighed.
"...Date? We were on a patrol."
"Hm, but you two were so close! I'm pretty sure you two went on a date," Ms Joke told me, tapping her finger against her chin deep in thought. "What kind of patrol involves a romantic boat ride? Or shopping in a jewellery store?"
"Sorry, maybe batty old ladies shouldn't speak on dates. When was the last time you were on one?" Setsuna passive-aggressively asked. And I sighed as Ms Joke stilled at the question-, fuck-,
"Hahaha! Oh, that's a good one!" Ms Joke laughed, clapping her hands in response. "Your students are a riot, Shota. Anyways, didn't you say you would show me more of Cairo? I didn't expect you would have an entire tour for me."
I watched as Aizawa grumbled at that.
Though it was half-hearted at best.
"It's not for you. I simply used Google to look at the best attractions for my spare time to look at this city-,"
Ms Joke simply sighed, dragging him away from us.
"Yep, that's a really interesting story but let's continue with my little private tour!"
"Ugh… Fine."
…
…
…
Huh?
"Oh my God, this is perfect."
"Perfect?" I whispered back, unsure where she was going with this. "What the fuck are you on about?"
Setsuna leaned in close, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"We're totally setting them up. I mean, can't you see?! She likes your uncle! And he likes her back!"
I sighed.
"We're on patrol-,"
Cough.
Cough.
"...Yeah, and Aizawa already caught us slacking off. At this point if we're going on patrol, it'll be to patrol their date!" Setsuna replied. "Instead of Heroes, why don't we try our hand at being angels of love?"
Before I could respond, she was already dragging me alongside her.
But I didn't mind one bit.
Not when I was with her.
"So, what's the plan here?" I asked, dodging another cart, this one filled with fruits. We had been tailing Aizawa and Emi for a good fifteen minutes, hiding behind stalls and camel-drawn carriages like a couple of spies. "Because I won't lie to you, I do want to see Aizawa be happy but I'm not so sure about Ms Joke. I know they dated when they were teens, but that was before we were even born."
I had no idea what the endgame was, but Setsuna's enthusiasm was contagious.
"Simple," Setsuna whispered, peeking over a barrel of dates. "We set them up. You saw the way Ms. Joke was smiling at him. This is destiny, Sora. We're just giving it a little push."
"By stalking them?"
"By observing," Setsuna corrected slowly, looking far too pleased with herself. "There's nothing wrong with a little
We watched as Emi made some exaggerated jokes, and, of course, Aizawa didn't laugh, but he did… smirk. A little. Maybe. Just a teeny bit that reminded me of when I did something stupid, but then there was that look in his eyes-,
Setsuna's eyes lit up.
"Did you see that? He's warming up!"
"Are we watching the same guy?" I muttered, but I couldn't help but smile. As ridiculous as this was, it beat standing on a street corner, waiting for something to happen. It beat Hero work any day of the week. "...Maybe you're right. Still, let's just keep our distance ya' know?"
A loud shout interrupted my thoughts as a vendor spotted us crouched awkwardly near his stall.
"You kids! What are you doing? Are you trying to steal from me?!"
I froze, while Setsuna -cool as ever -just stood up, brushing off her pants as she held onto my arms like we were a couple.
"Oh, just browsing with my boyfriend!"
She tossed me a wink before strolling away like we hadn't just been caught. I scrambled to follow, my face burning.
Bitch.
Turns out, Aizawa and Ms. Joke decided to check out the Cairo Museum. It was a perfect plan for a date, right? A museum full of priceless artefacts and probably tons of security cameras to catch us not being on patrol.
"This is a terrible idea," I whispered as we ducked behind an ancient sarcophagus. "I mean, surely we should be browsing the museum looking at the cool shit in here. Instead, we're looking at their shitty date."
"Nonsense," Setsuna grinned, peeking around the side to keep tabs on Aizawa and Emi, who were admiring a display of mummies. "This is actually comedy genius. Look at them! Aizawa-sensei is actually listening to her. He can't keep his eyes off her."
I glanced over.
Sure enough, Aizawa was nodding along as Ms. Joke rattled off some facts about ancient Egypt, though his face looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. Is what he presented to the world with his face - But I could see it in his eyes, he was totally engrossed in what she was saying to him.
"Okay, fine, maybe this will work," I admitted. "But still, I'd rather be looking at the museum myself than watching over their date. There's some cool things in here, you know? It'd be a waste to just not explore it."
Setsuna hummed at me.
"...You like history, don't you?"
I nodded in response.
"Yeah - It's my favourite subject. History has always been my favourite for as long as I can remember," I replied honestly. "When I was younger, in my old life, I always wanted to be a history teacher. Then I found out teachers were paid like shit. And consequently, they treated their students like shit. Then I wanted to become an excavator or something. Go and hunt for some old treasure."
But before Setsuna could reply, a small child that was running around accidentally bumped into one of the exhibits - Knocking it over. It was funny that I moved before the sarcophagus could hit the floor, summoning my Nimbus to shield it from the loud crash it would make that would alert Aizawa and Ms Joke that we were here.
I sighed in relief as the two adults simply moved on to the next room without even noticing what had happened.
Phew.
"Sorry, Mister," The kid apologised to me as I gently lifted the sarcophagus back to its place, Setsuna giggling in response. "I didn't mean to cause you any trouble on your date. Uhm, sorry!"
Date-,
Guh-,
I sighed, ruffling the kid's hair.
"Nah, just be careful next time, alright?"
The kid nodded as he ran away to his family with a smile on his face.
"...You're really good with kids," Setsuna told me with a sly grin on her face. "Practising for the future, eh?"
"Who, me? I'd be a horrible father. Short-tempered, brash, arrogant, I'd be one of those fathers that has a daughter who hates em' and he doesn't understand why," I replied jokingly. "But no, I just think that treating kids with care is like the only standard you can have for someone. I mean, it's the standard. Cuz' once we're all old, it's the kids who'll be the next generation to change things around - Like Hachi once said in one of her speeches, if life is a chess board then we're the most important piece. Because we're the future."
Setsuna hummed at that.
"So then, what's your favourite period in history?"
I clicked my tongue in response.
"Probably the Russian revolution."
"Oh yeah?"
"Actually, I really liked learning about Germany throughout the late nineteenth century to modern-day-, Or what was our modern day," I added. "But then and again, I did love learning about Britain's development over the course of a thousand years-, Or the American Civil Rights movement! And I can't not mention the Sengoku period! Fuck, I nearly forgot studying both the World War's, or even the Meiji period! Oh, did I mention Victorian England? I mean even Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece was cool - And we are in Egypt, which is still fascinating to this day-,"
Setsuna giggled as I continued to yap on about history, and I couldn't help but smile in response as she listened to what I said. She didn't interrupt me or tell me to shut up, and every now and then she asked questions about why I liked those era's as much as I did.
And eventually we lost track of Aizawa and Emi.
We lost track of the time as we browsed the museum, together.
"What about you? What interests you?"
"Me? Well… If I have to say, it's photography," Setsuna answered truthfully. "A lot of people just think it's taking photos. That anyone can do it. But photography is more about taking a snapshot of the moment - The thoughts and feelings that no one but you can understand when looking at the picture. I guess I was alway enamoured by photos when I was a kid, stuck in a hospital bed with no hope of ever leaving the place alive. Photos were what helped me explore the world, then came stories as I explored fantastical worlds in my imagination. So if I could do that to even one kid… Well, it'd be worth it."
It was funny.
Looking at Setsuna, even though she was a Hero, I saw the most unheroic person I knew outside of myself. And it wasn't that it didn't suit her, it did! But the way her eyes sparkled was different from when she talked about being 'Lizardy', it was different when she saved someone or helped beat up a villain-,
"...Do you ever wish that we could just start over?" I asked her. "Like, get the chance to do everything all over again and make different choices. Sure, our lives would be different, but wouldn't we be happier?"
Yet, Setsuna shook her head at me.
"Maybe we would be happier. But I'm me because of everything I've done, because of the people I've met who have changed me for the better - And that brings me joy to know," Setsuna replied, smiling at me. And it was that smile that made me grin in response. "Why are you smiling, Bakazaki?"
"Nothin'. Just that I agree with you."
We both laughed at each other-,
"That's all good, but what are you two doing here?"
I froze. Aizawa cleared his throat, a stern look on his face. Beside him, Emi had tilted her head to look at us in confusion, or perhaps she was trying to figure out what was happening as I sighed.
"Er… You know, I don't have an answer, Uncle."
Setsuna and Emi left right away.
Since Ms Joke was staying at our hotel, she offered to take Setsuna back while Aizawa spoke to me - Something my Uncle greatly appreciated as we stood on the balcony of the museum overlooking the sun setting on Cairo.
It was a beautiful sight.
"You should have taken Ms Joke to this balcony right about now, you shitty geezer," I told Aizawa with a grin. "Instead, you're here with your nephew. Idiot. Don't you know anything about girls?!"
I didn't get a response.
"Hey! Hello! Uncle! Uncle-,"
"The day I take advice from you about women is the day the Earth's going to explode," Aizawa replied with a sigh. "Seriously, it wasn't a date. I was just catching up with an old friend, if you can't see that then-,"
"I can see that you were staring lovingly into her eyes."
…
"Sora. These are adult matters-,"
"I'm eighteen, you dumb fuck. I'm an adult too," I cut him off, shaking my head in disapproval. "I've been put in life or death situations since I was fifteen, if I'm still a kid then you're only just a teenager. C'mon, I know that you aren't blind - You saw the way she looked at you, and I saw the way you looked at her. 'Gotten over my ex' my perky ass, you still love her, don't you!"
…
Aizawa sighed, rubbing his temples as he muttered under his breath.
That's when I knew I got him.
"Sora-, It was-, You-,"
I laughed at him, clapping his back as I passed him a cigarette.
"You don't need to say a single thing."
"No, I do!" Aizawa hotly replied. "I-, Emi's my childhood friend. Her mother knew my mother, we grew up in the same neighbourhood, we went to the same primary school, and yeah, eventually we dated. And yes, it ended poorly. But she still wanted to be friends with me despite it. It was simply a case of right person but the wrong time."
Hm.
"So… Isn't now the right time?"
"What?"
"Fuck you mean 'what'? Isn't right now the best time for her."
"How? Did you not see what happened in Japan while we were away? Or the fact that the U.N. is thinking of-,"
I smirked at him, shaking my head in response.
"Shut up."
"You don't tell me to shut up-,"
So, I punched Aizawa in the face.
I punched him so hard I knocked him flat on his ass.
"Listen here, I'm only going to say it once, Uncle!" I told him seriously. "You're in your thirties. And you love to push people away! You do! But you changed. You don't push people away anymore, and you have become a reliable adult! Whenever I'm in trouble, I know the first person I ask for help from is you! So believe me when I say that you shouldn't be worried about the state of the world! Yeah, Japan was attacked while we were away. Yeah, the U.N. has given us enough warnings and who knows what they'll do now - But you can fuck right off if you think that any of that is important right now."
"Sora…"
"Let me finish, asshole!" I added angrily. "Right now is the right time for you to go back to Ms Joke and tell her you want to see her again. Another date. Without two shitty brats following you around. And you're going to tell her that you do like her. And if it's rejection you're afraid of, grow the fuck up. If you're afraid of being loved, well I have news for ya' buddy - Everyone already loves you! And if you're afraid of fucking up again, well think again."
Aizawa's face scrunched up at that, his hands balling into fists.
"There is no guarantee that I won't-,"
Once again, I hit him in the face.
Though this time he caught my fist, wrapping it up as he flipped me over even while he was on the floor. I growled as I leaned forward to punch him, but he used his long legs to kick me in the face-,
This bastard!
I summoned my Quirk as I tried to suffocate him-,
But he used his Quirk to nullify my Nimbus.
"Grah! You're impossible!" I yelled angrily, jumping at the man as I headbutted him on the head, the two of us tumbling over the balcony and onto the street down below. I summoned my Quirk to soften our landing, but not before we landed on a car - Crushing it entirely. "...Fucking hell. Look at what you've done, Uncle! You've gone and broken some poor bloke's card, and for what?! Because you're afraid of fucking things up again?!"
"I-, I'm still the same as I was before!" Aizawa yelled at me. "Oboro's out there, he's a villain! What if-, I don't want to grow complacent. He is still my friend, alright? I-, I'll fuck things up with Emi. I know I will. Just like before-,"
"And I'm telling you, that won't ever happen again!"
"HOW DO YOU KNOW?!"
…
I smirked, lighting up a cigarette.
"Because, you dumb cunt, I'm here," I told him. "I'm your stupid nephew who'll fight you if you make a mistake. And when I tell Hinata and Gekko, they'll scold you too. Not to mention Hizashi and Nemuri, oh, and you can't forget about Class A - They'll be sure to call you a stupid teacher. You fucked up back then cuz' you didn't have us, asshole. It's the same thing with me. I know that I could fuck up, but it'll never get to that level ever again. Because I have you guys. So what's your excuse?"
I watched as Aizawa's eyes widened.
"You…"
"Shota… You're basically my family," I told the man honestly. "And yeah, I make you happy. And so does the rest of my class. But you're lying to yourself if you say that the date you just had with Emi wasn't something that you didn't enjoy. You deserve love too. So stop being a cunt, and go speak to her, alright? I swear, you won't fuck up. And if you do, you'll fix it. Like an adult. Because right now you're running away like a shitty teenager - And you haven't been a teenager in a long time."
Aizawa sighed at that as the two of us stared at the sky.
C'mon you stubborn bastard, just-,
"...Fine. You win."
"YOU IDIOT THIS ISN'T ABOUT WINNING OR LOSING!" I yelled at him. "I'LL BEAT YOU UP AGAIN IF YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT! I WANT THE BEST FOR YOU JUST AS YOU WANT THE BEST FOR ME, SO JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!"
"Heh. When did you become so wise?"
I laughed at that.
"Since I met you, Uncle."
"Now you're flattering me. Doesn't mean I won't give you a detention for this."
"Like I care."
"I know, I know. Thanks… Sora."
Grinning at him, I couldn't help but nod in response.
Hehe.
I was glad that he could be happy too.
"...Hey Uncle."
"Yeah?"
"I love ya'. Really."
"...I love you too, Sora," Aizawa told me with a grin, hugging me. "You really are the most unruly nephew in the world. But truly, thank you. Now, how about we talk about the date you had with-,"
"It wasn't a date!"
The sun was dipping low over Cairo, bathing the city in a warm, orange glow that made everything feel alive and ancient all at once. The streets buzzed with life—street vendors calling out to passersby, the sound of cars honking, people weaving in and out of the crowds.
Despite the noise, the patrol felt strangely quiet.
Then and again, considering my company, I couldn't complain.
Shoji and Aoyama joined me as we moved in our own little bubble through the city.
"Egypt is cool, but Paris is far more exciting!"
"Mmh."
Shoji was walking beside me, quiet like always, his mask pulled up to cover most of his face. Aoyama strutted ahead a few paces, glimmering even without his usual dramatic flair. Though, one could say his costume had enough dramatic flair as both tourists and natives looked at him like he had grown an extra head. It was almost amusing how he seemed to glow wherever he went.
After yesterday's debacle, Setsuna and I were banned from teaming up again.
Sadly.
"Sora! Which city is better? Egypt or Paris?"
"Firstly, Egypt is a country. You mean Cairo."
"Yes."
"Well, neither. London negs both."
Aoyama's jaw comically dropped to the floor at that.
"C'est impossible!"
"It's quite possible. Believe it!"
"Non! You aren't Naruto!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
After a while, Shoji sighed.
"You know... You two are quite childish."
"C'est impossible!"
"Yeah, how are we childish?!"
"C'mon guys, don't be difficult," Shoji replied with a sigh. "I mean everyone is looking at you. They probably think that the three of us are childish Heroes. And I've been thinking a lot about how people see us. How they see me."
I glanced over at him.
"What do you mean? You're a great Hero."
"If I took off my mask right now," Shoji continued, his voice even, but with a weight to it, pausing as his eyes scanned the crowds, watching citizens and tourists walk by. "People would think I'm a demon. Or a monster. Out here - anywhere really - I can't afford to be seen like that. Not even in Japan. It doesn't matter how great of a Hero I am, considering I'm a mutant."
I frowned at that.
The thought of Shoji feeling like he had to conceal himself from the world - while never being at ease with himself - was... messed up. Really messed up. And it wasn't as if I never knew that he struggled with this problem-,
"That's wrong," I said, more sharply than I intended, my hands balling up into fists.. "If anyone ever makes fun of you for how you look, tell me, alright? I'll deal with them. I'll show 'em a real monster."
Shoji chuckled, though it was soft, almost nostalgic.
"You were the first one to say that to me, back when we were first years. That stuck with me," Shoji told us with a smile - Even despite his mask, I could see it with the way his eyes crinkled up. "You know, I was always so afraid of others finding out my appearance. But you didn't care. You were the first person outside of my family who didn't care. And so did the rest of you. So yeah, even a small girl I might have helped once hurt me by thinking I looked like a monster, when I'm with our class, with you all... I don't feel like I have to hide anything. Because I'm not a monster."
I blinked.
"Really?"
"Yeah. It meant a lot, you know? It still does," Shoji replied, raising his left hand to reach the sky. "...You know, when you left, you called me a monster. That it was a good thing I wore my mask, because if you looked at me unmasked ever again you'd have jumped off a bridge out of disgust."
I flinched at that.
"I-,"
"You don't have to apologise. Because, well, even back then I knew you were lying," Shoji told me with a laugh. "Even if I had to draw up a list of people who hurt my feelings, you wouldn't even make the honourable mentions. If anything, I felt like I was a monster because you were clearly in pain and I didn't reach out and offer my support. Really, it's not something you need to apologise for. And here you are, and we've never been better. Though, we don't really speak much, do we?"
I chuckled at that.
"To be fair, we aren't really the type of friends that need to speak often, right?"
Shoji nodded at that.
"Yup! I think we're both quite chill where we can spend months not speaking much and when we do we'll just slip right back to how we usually are," Shoji replied. "You know… More than anything I have to thank you for what you said to me. Because it was my biggest fear. And it was just words. Ever since, I've started and endorsed so many charities when it comes to-,"
"I know. I've even donated a few thousand Yen to the charities you set up too."
Shoji blinked at me in surprise.
"...You… Did?"
"Why wouldn't I? Even when I hadn't come back to Class A, I still wanted you guys to succeed," I told him. "I tried my hardest to not be involved in your lives, but I guess I failed at that. Horribly. You know, seeing you work hard to make it so mutants are more accepted in society is great! I wish I could do more instead of just sharing the real stories of the discrimination and donating. Oh, and making sure that those who discriminate get beat up."
Yet, Shoji laughed at that.
"Sora that's more than enough. Truly… Thank you. I mean it was because of you that I got the strength to stand up and fight for what I believe in," Shoji said. "Ever since I met you, I have gained the courage to think about a future where kids like me don't have to hide their faces in shame. Where they won't have to wear masks just to avoid being feared."
For a second, I didn't know what to say. Shoji had always been someone I admired for his strength - his quiet resilience. But hearing this... it made me realise just how much he carried with him.
No, I always knew that.
And I always knew that he was strong enough to make it happen.
"You'll make that future happen," I told him with certainty, grinning at him. "And when you do, I'll be right there with you. Batting away any naysayers with a sword, threatening to stab 'em if they talk shit."
"Hehe. Sounds good to me."
Aoyama let out a dramatic sigh, spinning on his heel to face us.
"Oh, mes amis, don't forget that I'll be there dancing like a bright star!" Aoyama added dramatically. "And if anyone dares to disrespect you, Mezo, I'll put them in their place! They'll be sure to know that if 'mutants' are demons, then the rest of us are monsters!"
"...Thank you."
Heh.
"Still, you speak of hiding and acceptance, but what of him?" I said, pointing at Aoyama. "The public sees him as a shining star, a flamboyant and eccentric Hero, but a great one at that. So don't take too much stock on what they think, because we'll always think of Aoyama as a French fucker who's a bit of a weirdo but loveable either way."
"True."
"Heh. Well, it's better than thinking of me as a villain."
I frowned, stepping closer.
"Aoyama-,"
"I can't escape the past," Aoyama said, his voice softer now. "My connection to All For One... it's not something I can just forget. Sometimes, I feel like I'm always one step away from being a villain in everyone's eyes. My parents begged the man to give me a Quirk, and even though I was outed as a traitor two years ago - I can't help but feel like you all must think I'm still a traitor. Even if it's stupid and just my own fears playing against me."
The air felt heavier with Aoyama's words, his usual flamboyance gone, replaced by something more vulnerable. I exchanged a glance with Shoji, who gave a small nod.
"You're not a villain," I said firmly. "You've worked hard to make things right, to move forward. Sure, you're... well, odd at times," I couldn't help but smile a little, "But you've got a good heart. Remember what you told me at camp two years ago now? You said that you wouldn't let that fear take hold of your life, that you'd continue to push through it no matter what. You've come this far, so just ignore that shitty voice and face the facts."
Shoji agreed.
"We see you as someone who's trying. Someone who we are close with. You're still our classmate, still our friend. Not a villain. That's how we perceive you."
Aoyama looked between us, his eyes shimmering—not with the usual flair, but with gratitude. "Thank you," He whispered, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "It means more than you know."
I nodded, feeling a warmth spread in my chest. But at the same time... it made me think. If Shoji felt like he had to hide his face and Aoyama carried that kind of guilt, what about me? I'd never cared much about what the public thought of me, but... what did everyone else think?
"I… dunno," I started, voice a little unsure, "I've always tried not to care about what the public thinks of me, but... I don't know how everyone else sees me. I try to do my best, but sometimes it's hard to tell if it's enough. Ya' know. And I know that not everyone still wants to be friends with me, and I'm fine with that. But I-, I…"
Shoji tilted his head slightly, considering my words.
"You're a hard worker, Sora. You do what you think is right, and that's what matters. Even if not everyone in Class A gets along with you perfectly, they all want the best for you. That's what matters, right?"
Aoyama nodded enthusiastically, his glitter returning.
"Oui! Everyone thinks you're wonderful. You're kind, Sora, and that shines through everything you do."
I couldn't help but grin at that.
"Thanks, guys. You really know how to make a guy feel appreciated. But... looks like we've got our work cut out for us," I said, pointing at the thief in front of us. "Hey, asshole! Just because we are having a heart-to-heart doesn't mean we'll let criminals get away with stealing! Are you guys ready to catch this cunt?"
"Of course!"
"Oui, mon ami!"
"Man, I can't wait to go to London tomorrow."
"Yeah, thankfully it's a five hour flight."
"Yay!"
It was our final night in Cairo as we gathered in the hotel lobby. And we were all going to a fancy restaurant considering everyone dressed nicely, the ladies in dresses that would make any man swoon, and all the male's wearing sharp suits - Even though I wasn't wearing a suit, I still wore a nice shirt and jeans.
Yet, my nasty cough wasn't going away.
"Uncle," I interrupted Aizawa's conversation with Hizashi. "Do you know where Recovery Girl is?"
They both looked at me in concern.
"Er… Do you feel well?"
"I'm probably fine, just got a cold," I replied. "Still, I know that she flew to Egypt with us to go to London as well since she's going to be one of the healers for the tournament. Mind if I go and let her take a look at me now and then meet up with you guys at the restaurant later?"
"Sure. She's on our floor, room 102."
"Got it."
Whistling to myself, I made my way up the stairs to the tenth floor as the elevator was out of use in the hotel. It didn't take long for me to reach Recovery Girl's room as I politely knocked on the door, patiently waiting for her to open it.
"Oh, Yamazaki. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at a restaurant by now?"
"Eh, I feel kinda rough. Mind if you take a look at my-,"
Cough.
Cough.
Recovery Girl rolled her eyes at me, widening the door so that I could come on.
"Over dramatic. Just because they're going to a seafood restaurant doesn't mean you need to feign that you're sick to avoid eating fish! Fish is nutritious for you, boy!" She lightly scolded me. "Now, sit down on the chair while I look over you. Really, you shouldn't be too much against fish anyways - Where is that Japanese pride that you claim you have?!"
"Hey! I just don't like fish, alright?"
"But you'll eat teriyaki salmon any day of the week."
"That's different!"
She sighed, shaking her head at me.
"Now, now, sonny. Just relax and then go eat your veggies and salmon," She told me, pressing her lips against my cheek. "Now, let's heal you up till you're better. My Quirk can get rid of the common cold since it accelerates your body's properties in terms of healing. There, all better?"
…
But I didn't feel better.
Cough.
Cough.
"Er… Do you have any aspirin?"
Recovery Girl frowned at that.
"Yamazaki, this isn't a good sign," She told me. "Usually, your cold would be dealt with. Or I'd be able to prescribe medicine to whatever you are feeling. The fact is that right now I can't do a single thing to alleviate your pain - In other words, this is because of your other problem."
I-,
What?
"But… I've been taking the medication you've-,"
"Stay still and breathe properly," Recovery Girl told me seriously as she measured my heartbeat. "Breathe in as much as you can. I'll take your blood test right after, okay? Just don't worry about it and let me take care of this."
"Okay."
I nervously sat down on the bed, allowing Recovery Girl to continue to take more tests as I followed each and every instruction she gave me. But, as the clock kept on ticking, I gulped whatever bile I had rising up in my throat as her frown deepened-,
"..."
Minutes turned into an hour as I awkwardly waited for Recovery Girl to explain just what was going on.
"...Sora…" She eventually began. "Do you understand what's happening to your body?"
"Er, it's breaking down, right?"
"Technically correct. However, a more correct observation would be that your body is deteriorating - In a sense it's fighting against itself and destroying itself in the process," Recovery Girl explained to me. "For example, a common cold may take your friends a week to get over but for you it'll take longer and you'll feel far worse. Your immune system simply isn't working like it used to because it's breaking itself down."
"So, is that what's happening to me?"
She sighed, slowly shaking her head in response.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"If that were the case, I'd be able to do something about it - But I can't," Recovery Girl told me, refusing to meet my eyes as she turned around, her hands scrunching up her coat tightly. "Even if I gave you immunity boosters, even if I used my Quirk on you as many times as possible, the fact is that your body is now breaking down at an accelerated rate. My Quirk nor any medication I can prescribe to you works fast enough to pause the illness inside you, Sora."
The clock in Recovery Girl's hotel room rang at that.
Silence filled the room.
"W-What are you saying?" I asked her, standing up from my seat as I felt like I was going to be sick. Everyone was waiting for me at the restaurant-, I had to-, "What does any of this mean?! This isn't making sense-,"
"It's terminal, Sora. I-, I hoped I could have slowed it down for you. But you probably won't make it to twenty, perhaps in a year you won't even be around," Recovery Girl whispered to me. "...As your doctor, I would recommend you sort out your affairs as soon as possible. I urge you to not take part in the tournament. Fighting will only speed up the inevitable - You don't have to spend the final year or so of your life in pain."
I-,
I-,
"Oh."
I slumped at that as Recovery Girl gave me some space, leaving the hotel room.
And I was left all alone.
Staring at the broken clock, all I could do was watch as the minute hand tried its hardest to move, to keep going, but for whatever reason it didn't. It was stuck. I wondered how long the clock has been in this room for? How many people stared at it as they drifted off to sleep or used it to know when to leave their room? How many people noticed a clock ticking away, did any of them ever stop to think about…
Think about…
…
I lost my trail of thought as hot tears streamed down my face.
Even though I rested my face on my knees, even though I opened the window to cool myself down, the tears wouldn't stop spilling. A small flicker of my cigarette wasn't enough to set my cigarette on fire, the fire just wouldn't come out-,
Either from the wind outside.
Or the tears spilling from my eyes.
It was unfair.
I… I just want to li-,
…
I hate the rain.
Yeah.
…
I fucking hate the rain.
…
This chapter changed a lot from what I initially conceptualised. I was going to introduce the foreign schools here, but I decided against it - The attack was initially going to be from Stain and Yozora, not the League of Villains but that changed for various reasons.
And more importantly, this final stretch of the chapter wouldn't have existed.
However, times change.
I conceptualised this chapter when I was 18, nearly two years ago now. I'm now 20, and well, the darker and more personal shift is reflecting more personal things I'm unwilling to get into right now. Perhaps at a later date once I've sorted through those emotions out.
I would like to apologise for the 2 days delay for this chapter, I know it's not ideal but I was somewhat busy with real life shit and couldn't update/edit the chapter in time. It should be a one off occurrence.
But I would like to add that this chapter is a turning point for Part 2's direction on the whole.
See ya soon!