'She's still following me?' Kiyotaka thought internally as he realized that Chiaki Matsushita was still pursuing him. They had traversed another half a mile. And yet, the supposed stalker hasn't shown any signs of quitting. It's not if he could just tell her to go away. That would only fuel her suspicions further. Plus, Ike was known to be interested in a vast array of girls. If he was still alive today, then he would be all too accepting of Matsushita following him around like a lost puppy. And anything different would be out of character for him.
That's right. All Kiyotaka Ayanokoji was doing was playing a role. He can't have any semblance of a quiet life unless he sticks to this role like glue. But no amount of acting would work at making Matsushita scram. And if there wasn't anything he could say that wouldn't break character then the only choice he was left with was to do the opposite. That being-
'Step! Step! Step!' To get away from her by increasing his speed. He couldn't run using his full potential since that would definitely attract unwanted attention along with making Matsushita suspect him further. Not that he could even if he wanted to since it would cause the contents of the cups of yogurt he was carrying to spill. However, by jogging at a normal speed accomplishable by even Kanji Ike then he could elude her with ease.
'Crap! He's fast!' Matsushita thought internally as she attempted to run after Ike in an effort to not lose sight of him. But naturally Matsushita wasn't that great of a runner. She excelled in academics, (Or at least she would if she were to stop holding back) but this wasn't the case for athletics, which she wasn't all that great at even compared to her friends. And this allowed Ike to escape by covering enough ground and taking a right.
'W-Which way did he go?!' Matsushita thought internally while sweating profusely over overexerting herself. This prompted her to take more than a few sips of her water bottle until she drained it of fluid completely.
"Haaaah…" Matsushita sighed out of exasperation while leaning against a nearby wall. But as this was going on, Kiyotaka wasn't all that far away from her since he had stopped jogging quite a while ago. He was walking away from her to the right, just a few meters away. And yet, Matsushita was none the wiser of this. This only made Ayanokoji think she was more pathetic than he gave her credit for as he soon covered more ground until he escaped her grasp. But as Matsushita leaned back on the wall and thought back to what she saw-
'Huh. That's weird. He was carrying… not one… but 'two' cups of yogurt.' Matsushita thought internally with a puzzled look on her face. There's no way Ike needed that much yogurt. And considering the fact that he started jogging… no way! Could he actually be planning to see someone!? There's a chance that it could be at this person's apartment but that seemed unlikely. After all, there weren't any rumors of Ike being involved in a romantic relationship. But even so, if he was going to meet with someone then there would be no point going to a café if he was bringing a dessert with him. And if that's the case then he would probably go to the-
"Sacchin! I lost him. But I think I know where he's heading! It's probably the park!" Matsushita spoke as she grabbed out her phone and speed dialed her friend in one fell swoop. That's right. A public place like the park where there wasn't anything to buy other than maybe an occasional street stand would be the perfect place to eat some yogurt! That has to be it! There's no other possible explanation! Then again… if he's planning to go to Sudo's apartment then that would make her assumption go up in smoke. But if he's planning on seeing a girl or more likely wooing one then he would have to go to the park! Because anything less would cause rumors of something explicit! Even still there's a chance she might be wrong.
"Got it. Me and Yamauchi aren't too far so we'll go there." Sacchin replied as Matsushita was surprised that her friend believed her theory which was half baked at best. Though it did make her smile to herself.
"Ok. I'll see you in a bit." Matsushita replied before ending the phone call. She then looked around and spotted a convenience store. With her water bottle empty and no water fountain in sight, Matsushita decided to just say screw it and buy another one. It wouldn't hurt to have a spare was her reasoning for doing so. Though she was just making excuses and was really thirsty over running so hard. Since there was no line, it didn't take her long at all to buy a new water bottle and get out of the convenience store. But just as she was about to take a sip of her water-
'Ring~Ring!' Her phone rang, it's usual jingle. Matsushita reached for her phone out of her pocket with one hand while using the other to drink her water. She was under the assumption that Sacchin and Yamauchi were calling to say they arrived at the park and nothing more. But then…
"Holy crap! Matsushita! Get here quick! Like right now! We found Ike! And he's with a girl!" Sacchin yelled out from Matsushita's phone. At the same time the latter snorted water out of her nose as she couldn't believe her deduction was right on the money. But Shinohara heard the sudden noise made Matsushita when the water went out of her nose, prompting her to say her friend's name a few times out of confusion.
"I'll be right there." Matsushita declared with a grimace and a voice that matched the look on her face. This is because at the same time water came out of her nose, so did the water bottle in her hands as its contents spilled onto the ground below her. Her brand-new water bottle, wasted. Now she was pissed. And she was going to give Ike a piece of her mind and have him buy her a new water bottle while she was at it too. Though now that she had no water left, Matsushita was forced to go back inside the convenience store and purchase another one. However, she was left with the question of just how any of this was happening.
A few minutes prior…
'Looks like we lost her.' Kiyotaka thought internally as he had covered substantial ground in the time that he started jogging away from Matsushita. Though he had to be careful not to run or the yogurt that he had procured would go to waste. Along with the fact, the girl he was going to meet up with was probably waiting for him since he only had three minutes left until their agreed meetup time. Not that he intended to be late. Plus, he could easily jog and protect the cups of yogurt at the same time considering that was just proven. But even still, the demon inside of him was left with another question. And that was-
'Just why on earth did you go to the trouble of making the yogurt yourself?' Garaki spoke internally with confusion emanating from his voice and a look that surely matched it. The Doctor was a certified genius and capable of creating monsters that were literally out of this world. But even he couldn't comprehend the thought process of Ayanokoji's decision to not simply buy yogurt from a store. They had already passed by several shops that sold yogurt. Some of which were their specialty. Not only that but he had bought a yogurt machine the other day for no good reason. But as he tried and failed to read Kiyotaka's thoughts, the latter decided to elucidate him.
'If you must know, a yogurt machine has plenty of benefits. First of which, is the freshness. The majority of store-bought yogurt has preservatives and additives that make it incredibly unhealthy. This isn't the case with homemade yogurt as you can easily avoid such things. Furthermore, there is the sheer amount of customization which is practically endless. It's also cost effective because it's far cheaper in the long run compared to buying it from the store. Not to mention the convenience of it all. I can have yogurt anytime I want. Don't you understand how wonderful such a machine is, Garaki? It is the best purchase I made in my entire life.' Kiyotaka thought internally with a smile on his face. Quite possibly the first genuine smile he has made thus far.
'Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it! You really like your yogurt machine! Good for you! Anyway, if you like it so much, why on earth are you treating that specimen to it?!' Garaki snapped back internally but even though he heard his obnoxious voice plain as day, Ayanokoji's smile did not waver in the slightest. Not only did he rather enjoy his yogurt machine and the wonderful dessert made from it, but he also enjoyed having answers that others didn't have. Especially when they happened to be so obvious. Things like this made him feel superior to everyone else on this planet. It was sufficient to say that it was a very empowering feeling.
'You still misunderstand, Doctor. I'm not simply giving away this yogurt. Think of it as if it were a tradeoff. I'm giving her something and in return she's going to give me something. It's equivalent exchange at its finest. Oh, look. There she is now.' Kiyotaka thought internally as he made his way into the park and spotted the girl waiting for him. She had waist length chocolate-brown hair that was adorned with three hairpins one of which was in the shape of a sunflower. Her name was Nazuna Asahina. She's a second-year student in Class A and she's decently well liked. Though in Ayanokoji's opinion she was a bit 'rough-looking' in more ways than one. For example-
"Oh, hey Ike! Wow, is that yogurt you got? You must be really trying to charm me with such a sweet surprise." Asahina declared with a mischievous smirk on her face as if her judgements were facts. She has a habit of judging people way too quickly. Though this actually worked in Ayanokoji's favor as all he needed to do was act genuine enough for her to believe in him.
"Of course. You did mention to me that you really like yogurt. You even without of your way to specifically say that chocolate was your favorite flavor. Though considering how much you like chocolate that isn't that much of a surprise. Your hair might as well be made out of it." Kiyotaka said while using Ike's personality to his advantage. He was a known flirt, so this way of talking was all to be expected of him. Though by tweaking his usual comments for witty banter, it was all too easy to obtain Asahina's interest. And that he did considering her responding laughter.
"You're so funny Ike. Thank you… yum! This is really good! Which store did you buy it from?" Asahina replied with an enthusiastic look on her face, a voice that matched it. Though considering how carefree and laidback she normally is, then it's a given that he's doing extremely well at having her fall head over heels for him. It would only be a matter of time before he's invited back to her apartment. And there he would be able to perform equivalent exchange on her without her even realizing that she had been played like a fiddle.
'What a stupid girl.' Kiyotaka thought internally as he was still genuinely smiling. He was in too good of a mood to do otherwise. Even still he was playing her, and she didn't even know it. It was certainly a waste to have some of his delicious homemade yogurt be ingested by such a moronic imbecile. But considering what she was going to give him in return, he supposed the trade was fair. Even so, he was rather surprised at how she didn't suspect him in the very least. But whatever. It made things easier for him so oh well.
"Unfortunately, you won't be able to buy it at any store. It's homemade. So, if you want some more, you'll have to swing by my place to get some." Kiyotaka said before whispering that last part a bit seductively. It was worth a try to get her to his apartment since it would certainly speed this prolonged romance to its natural conclusion. But even though he was quite sure of himself that she wouldn't say anything but a 'yes.' He was actually proven wrong by what she said next.
"Oh… isn't that kind of extra? I mean, I'm thankful! Don't get me wrong. But… you know you could have just bought it from some store. You don't need to go out of your way to make yogurt yourself if you want to impress me. So, thanks. But I really like the store-bought stuff too." Asahina replied with a bit of a surprised look on her face before regaining her carefree smile as soon as she took another bite of the delicious chocolate yogurt in her hands. However, as she did, she was closing her eyes so that she could bask in its natural flavor. So, as this was happening, Ayanokoji didn't hide his resentment for her whatsoever.
'This girl… I'm going to kill her myself.' Kiyotaka thought internally as his smile had long since vanished without a trace. In its place was his usual emotionless look though his eyes told a different story. They were glaring daggers at the nonchalant girl in front of him. If he had no intention of keeping his true identity a secret, then he would strangle this girl to death in broad daylight without any qualms about it whatsoever. And Garaki knew this by reading Ayanokoji's merciless thoughts as if they were written for all to see.
'Not yet. Your cover would be completely blown if you were to kill this pathetic specimen in front of all these people! Not only that but Izuku Midoriya would pursue you to the ends of earth if he figured out you were abducting the students here and bringing their corpses back to the hideout so that they could be turned into precious Nomus! I will not have my factory be exposed again!' Garaki snapped back as he recalled a certain incident that took place shortly before the defeat of his Master at the hands of All Might. An incident where Midoriya and his friends found the Nomu factory! All of his hard work… soiled! In the blink of an eye! But for once Ayanokoji was in complete agreement with the Doctor.
'Don't worry. I have no intentions of destroying my quiet life just so I could kill an utter buffoon such as herself. She's a waste of space but soon enough she will be a valuable tool. So, this is simply a means to an end just like how everything else I've done has been.' Kiyotaka replied internally as he held back from letting his killing intent take over. Even still, he clenched his free fist as hard as he could as the veins bulged from his hand. Though he refrained from doing so the moment Asahina opened her eyes.
"But I got to say, this is incredibly sweet of you to do for me Ike. Perhaps I really will 'swing by your place' sooner than later." Asahina commented with a seductive look on her face and a voice that matched it. Not that Ayanokoji was charmed by her. Her attempts at flirting back were utterly pathetic and did nothing for him whatsoever. Combine that with the fact that her face was rough looking didn't make things better. Though her bust was a bit more than to be expected. Not that he planned to act on any sexual urges. He had already done such a thing once and it didn't feel good whatsoever. So, it was sufficient to say that he would be perfectly content with eating yogurt anytime he wanted then to engage in any sexual activities with someone who might as well be nothing more than a termite.
"Yeah. That would be gr- Kiyotaka spoke but was cut off right before he could finish as he was poked on the nose by Asahina who responded with a 'Just kidding. Tee hee!' That grinded his gears to the point that he wanted nothing more than to slowly suffocate her and watch the light drain from her stupid purple eyes! But he held back and laughed it off knowing full well that her murder in such a public place would only create inconveniences for him in the near future. Still, it was taking a significant amount of willpower just to prevent himself from acting on his instincts. But all of that was unknown to Asahina who noticed something else entirely.
"Hey, aren't you going to eat that? It's starting to drip a bit?" Asahina commented as Kiyotaka was unaware of that fact until the moment, he noticed it for himself. His delicious yogurt losing some of its contents all because of the foolish woman in front of him only fueled his resentment for said woman. But even still he could tell at a glance that she was eyeing the yogurt in his hands. He then decided to play a prank on her.
"Do you want some more?" Kiyotaka asked with a smile that matched the look on Asahina's face as the latter's eyes went wide out of sheer excitement.
"Oh boy! Do I!" Asahina replied while Ayanokoji was about to hand her the yogurt as it dripped and so did some of the saliva from Asahina's mouth. She was practically craving more. But just as she was about to get her hands on it-
"Sike." Kiyotaka said before pulling it away from her and taking a spoonful for himself much to Asahina's surprise. Though that didn't last for long as she quickly pouted and said, 'No fair!' While playfully hitting Ayanokoji's arm. Though even if she were to punch him as hard as she could, he highly doubted that it would make him feel any semblance of pain. An emotion that he hasn't felt in quite some time. But even though the delicious yogurt cooled him down a bit, it didn't completely relieve him of the immense anger he felt for this woman.
'Like hell, I'm going to waste any more of it on someone like you.' Kiyotaka thought internally though he had no intention of acting on this emotion. He had no plans of utilizing his emotions at any point in the future since they only made him and everyone else weak. So, he continued to bury his emotions deep inside of him just as he had always done before. Though this woman definitely didn't make things easy for him. He already didn't like her whatsoever. But her 'opinions' surrounding yogurt and her general attitude were almost intolerable. Though one thing did catch his eye about her. And that was-
"Is that a necklace?" Kiyotaka asked as he looked at the chain that was wrapped around Asahina's neck knowing full well, he was incorrect about it being a necklace. Though if he was right about everything then that would be considered completely out of character for Kanji Ike, so he begrudgingly said something that was obviously incorrect. And of course, Asahina shook her head to indicate just that.
"Close. It's an amulet. But to me it's a good luck charm. My grandma gave it to me right before she passed away. She told me that this amulet is supposed to give me great mental strength whenever I wear it, whatever that means. Apparently, it's also a harbinger of destiny that not only watches over romance but brings people together in a fated encounter. Pretty sweet right?" Asahina asked with a smug smile and a wink of her right eye. As for the amulet itself, she pulled it out of her shirt to give me a better look at it since the actual 'good luck charm' was being obscured by it.
That was when I got a good look at it. The chain that was wrapped around the supposed charm was nothing special. But what made up the amulet was different to say the least. It was a red heart, something that would be typical for a high school girl to wear, so there was nothing strange there. But what was slightly above that was a small engraving of the cross from Christianity. Was Asahina a devout believer of God? No. I highly doubt that. The only person I met who has any semblance of belief in a higher being one would call God would be Shirou. I wouldn't be surprised if he's currently pursuing a career of becoming an apprentice of a priest. Even still-
"It's beautiful and suits you really well." I replied with a smile that was just as fake as the words coming out of my mouth. I had no belief in what could be considered as good fortune or misfortune. The concept of 'luck' is rudimentary and has no basis on reality. For example, if a person was on track to becoming a star athlete only to suffer an injury that makes it no longer possible for them to continue, would they be lucky or unlucky? The answer is neither. You see they have been born with the right qualities to achieve what they sought only to have it stripped from them just when they were about to achieve their dream. You can't honestly consider someone like that lucky or unlucky, can you?
Then what about the people here all around me? At first glance you might think of them as just average regular people. However, if you consider the fact that children on the other side of the world are being used as pawns in war or sex trafficking, then by all accounts the students of ANHS would be considered blessed, wouldn't they? But that can't be right. Even though this school has been designed to contribute to society by having Ike's classmates and everyone else graduate with the guaranteed result to achieve their 'dreams' there is nothing 'guaranteed' about it. Not only can they be expelled, but their 'fate' may be worse if I choose them to become Nomus.
And there lies the contradiction between lucky and unlucky. A person's 'fate' can change at the drop of a hat with no prior indication that would make them even consider that their future would be pointless. Anything can happen in life. Good or bad. Anything at all. Not a single person has what would be a 'destiny.' Saying that, there is one single exception. And that would be me. I'm destined to achieve my dreams because I will not let a single person prevent me from winning in the end. You might call that a contradiction in of itself and certainly you and everyone else are entitled to their own opinions just like how I'm entitled to mine. But know this. No matter what will happen next…
… I WILL BE THE ONE TO END IZUKU MIDORIYA. I CAN'T ALLOW SUCH A PERSON TO EXIST!
'Neither can I. And that's why we are in agreement for that singular purpose. Our shared purpose! Our glorious purpose to cause what will be the death of Izuku Midoriya! But something so glorious cannot begin until everything is set up perfectly! Think of what happens in the inevitable future as a play, not unlike Romeo and Juliet or Othello! A grand tragedy that will guarantee a world rid of Izuku Midoriya! But like all dramatic productions orchestrated to be viewed by mankind there needs to be an ensemble of actors who will perform their role to utter perfection! Only then can we achieve our glorious purpose, Kiyotaka!' Garaki declared as if his words had already been written in stone.
But while I may have rejected such a notion in the past, I found no part of me that would disagree with such an outcome now. Perhaps it's due to how long I have observed Izuku Midoriya? Watched over him, every step of the way. I can't allow things to end anticlimactically like how they did with my father. When I killed him, I felt… nothing. It was as if I had been programmed to do so, so when I did there was no pleasure to be gained by it. The same thing could be said when I had sexual intercourse with Yuki. I've barely felt anything that could be considered to be 'pleasure' in my life. Though yogurt has been an exception. Will Izuku Midoriya's demise bring me the same feeling? Only time will tell. Until then I will perform my 'role' to utter perfection to ensure that future.
However… if that's the case… if my 'destiny' is to succeed and cause Izuku Midoriya's demise… then… why did I see him standing above me with his fist raised high into the heavens while the sun rose above him?
"Earth to Ike!" Asahina yelled out as she poked me on my forehead. It was only then I realized that I had been deep in thought all this time. How much time had passed by? I could not decipher such a thing. But the face that the girl in front of me was making was an all too clear indicator that she was a bit annoyed. I must have ignored what she had been saying right after I looked at her amulet. But even if that's the case something like that would have been impossible. I've been able to hear other people while also setting up several plans like building blocks within my head up to this point. So why on earth had I not been able to do the same here? I had no answers. None at all. Though that wouldn't be the first time such a thing has happened. I only need to learn the truth why such a thing even occurred in the first pl-
"Ike… you feeling alright? You look kind of… scared?" Asahina asked with a concerned look on her face. Gone was the carefree expression that I had become so familiar with. Not that I cared whether she was happy or sad. But what I did care for was me. Specifically, that I would keep my emotions in check no matter what. I've done just that, while faking emotions like the actor I am. However, I was not meaning to act like I was afraid in the slightest. I don't even feel what can be described as fear. Though if that's the case…
Why would my face betray me at this very moment?! Nothing makes sense anymore. How could I have slipped up in front of this moron?! No! I'm incapable of making a mistake! Such a thing is impossible for a perfect lifeform! But when could I have revealed anything resembling fear?! Think back! It must have been when I was explaining my philosophy on the baffling concept of 'luck!' But it couldn't have been that! It must have been right after that! Right when I was thinking of-
"Yo! It's been a while, Ike." The voice of one of Kanji Ike's friends spoke in my ear as I recognized it immediately. At the same time, it was as if multiple exclamation marks appeared right above my head. It might as well have happened since I had no recollection that the idiotic buffoon named Haruki Yamauchi was anywhere near me or the park for that matter! I genuinely had no clue when he showed up! But that shouldn't have happened! I had been surveying the park this whole time with not just my eyes but by using the Search Quirk! I had made doubly sure that none of Ike's classmates were here! So, how in the hell could he and Shinohara have slipped under my nose?! Speaking of Shinohara-
'W-What is he doing?!' Sacchin thought internally as before she knew it, Yamauchi walked away and met up with Ike even though she told him NOT to do that until Matsushita arrived. But it seemed like Yamauchi's curiosity got the better of him, so he left the alleyway, they were both in that wasn't all that far away from the park. Though Shinohara had to use binoculars just to be able to see what was going on there. But since the alleyway gave her some cover from the eyes of others no one noticed her. But even still, she watched on the sidelines while biting her fingers not knowing what would happen next.
"Eh? Ike. What's with that scary face you're making? Ha! You must have never expected in a million years that I would have found you and your secret girlfriend hanging out like this! Man, that look on your face is priceless, dude!" Yamauchi whispered into my ear while wrapping his arm around my shoulder before laughing. At the same time my eyes twitched as now he too has seen me in such a way that I would not allow him under any circumstances to witness. But all of this is getting me nowhere. These are the faults of my emotions. So, all I need to do is contain them deep inside me so that I can't get out. I normally do such a thing by taking in a breath and blowing it back out. And that's exactly what I just did.
"Very funny. For the record she's not my girlfriend. We're just hanging out as friends. Right, Asahina?" I asked with a fake look on my face as I managed to skillfully contain my emotions by putting back on my metaphorical mask. That was close. If this had gone on any further than I might have done something that I would have instantly ended up regretting. Something like that must never happen. Not when I'm destined to achieve my dreams. All of my memories that have shaped me into the man I'm today, the essence of what makes up anyone and everyone are the reason why I'm here today. And my dreams will only continue to pave the way for my inevitable Fate to achieve all that I desire! And I won't allow anyone to change that! Not even you! Izu-
"Oh, you don't need to be shy about it. You can deny it all you want, but you're practically smitten with me. And who says… I'm not either?" Asahina spoke with a grin on her face as she was obviously messing with me to anyone else. Or at least normally that would be. But Yamauchi is a special kind of exception who does not have the ability to read between the lies. So, what would be taken as teasing, was now being construed as something else entirely! And the look on Yamauchi's face made that crystal clear!
"Huh?! There's no way you landed such a babe! I refuse to believe it! You've got to be a rental girlfriend or something!" Ike yelled out while looking at me before turning to face Asahina while pointing at her. And since he was struggling to contain his sheer surprise at the fact that Kanji Ike and a girl who might be considered attractive in his eyes may have something going on behind the scenes, it was causing quite a commotion. To make matters worse, he was blatantly accusing Asahina of being something that she's obviously not. She might not care all that much about what others perceive to be. But that's crossing a line.
"R-Rental girlfriend?! Are you insane?! You honestly think that I would stoop to selling myself off to guys and make money off them? Who the hell do you think you are?!" Asahina snapped back as the looks of the other people around me became all too noticeable without me even having to look back at them. Combine that with the fact that she's pissed and now we have an audience at the edge of their seats waiting to see what will happen next. The exact opposite of what I intended for. And it's the fault of both of these idiots for making it that way! How in the hell am I supposed to live a quiet life when I'm right at the center of all of this?!
"Look. I think it's a respectable profession. In fact, I'm more than willing to make it worth your while! And all I want in exchange is some hand holding and a hug once in a while. I'm a simple guy, you see?" Yamauchi said with a smirk on his face. I knew him too well after all the time I had spent with him as Kanji Ike. So, he's just joking. But just like how he construed what Asahina said, the reverse can also happen!
"Like hell I'd ever even touch someone as despicable as you! You've got some nerve trying to buy me like I'm some trophy! You pathetic piece of shit!" Asahina snapped back once more while glaring daggers at Yamauchi. The once warm and inviting atmosphere of the park had been replaced by animosity. I could practically feel the resentment she held for Yamauchi coming off of her. I doubt he felt it. But he clearly heard it. Not even his thick skull could have construed what were blatant and harsh insults. And that became all too evident by the look in Yamauchi eyes and what he did next.
"Why you little bitch!" Yamauchi snapped back with an expression of rage and a voice that matched it before grabbing Asahina by her arm! He's an idiot so he definitely wasn't thinking straight. But his sudden act of getting physical with her made people gasp in the background. Even if they didn't, it was clear that the tension between them became much worse. At this rate, the espionage personnel that are disguised as the police might step in! There's one not too far away from me! For now, they haven't realized that 'Kanji Ike' still lives. He does look like your average high school student so that works in my favor. But that could all change the moment they catch a look at me! I can't let that happen!
"L-Let go of me!" Asahina shouted and the moment Yamauchi heard it he lessened his grip on her, realizing his mistake immediately. But by then it was already too late.
'BAM!' I slugged him right in the face and knocked him down like when a bowling ball knocks down a pin! It all happened so fast! I didn't expect him to let go that quickly! Not to mention that this altercation had become physical mere moments prior! I couldn't let the espionage personnel find out that I'm still here in ANHS when I'm supposed to be back in the White Room! It was that possibility that made me panic and hit him! Thankfully, I held back so he shouldn't be left with nothing more than a bruise and a busted lip. But even still what I just did caused people to scream! A scenario where everyone was looking squarely at me! The exact thing I wanted to avoid at all costs! This made me click my tongue before realizing that I had no choice but to-
'Step! Step! Step! Step! Step!' Run away! The only way to avoid the attention of any passers is by getting far away from them! But that fake cop must have noticed me too due to the sudden shriek! I have no other choice but to get out of here and use Warp Gate! But to do that would be exposing myself to everyone here! That's why I need to get to the closest alleyway! Thankfully, there was one such alleyway not that far away! And since they didn't have the budget to put up cameras in every single location there were a few blind spots! The alleyways were the perfect example of this! It's how I was able to trick everyone into believing that Karuizawa was killed by Manabe after all! And now it will be my perfect getaway! But just as I made my way into it-
"Wow! You… *huff* run really… *huff* fast Ike." Asahina spoke as my eyes shot wide open as she stood behind me. It's not that if I was using my top speed. But even still I was running just about as fast as Kanji Ike would have been able to pull off at his best. I didn't think this girl was capable of keeping up with me. Was that because I was still under the impression that Matsushita left me when she failed to as so much as come anywhere close to doing the same thing? Either way I completely miscalculated on that part. But maybe this is for the best. Now that we are someplace where there are no cameras, I can finish things a lot quicker than I might have been able to otherwise.
"Well, I was trying to get away from everyone else." I replied as I turned around to see that Asahina was still gasping for breath. Her forehead was practically dripping with sweat. She must have pushed herself quite far to keep up with me. Not even knowing that it all led to her downfall. I wouldn't have been able to lure her here since it would be considered really suspicious and creepy at best, and a borderline threat to ask a woman to accompany you to an alleyway. But now she has done just that for me. And I didn't even need to say a word about it.
"Perhaps there really is such a thing as luck after all." I spoke with my usual face as there was no point in continuing this façade now that she has no possible way of escape. Even though the alleyway's entrance is not far away from her to the point that if she ran away now there's a chance she could escape. But like the stupid idiot she is, she didn't expect anything until it was too late.
"Ike… uh…ah." Asahina said my name quietly before dozing off and falling onto the ground below her. It was only natural now that my Gas Quirk was in effect. Though I had to shut it off as quickly as hitting a light switch so that no one else would be affected by it. My, my. That was easier than I thought it would be. To think that such she would be rendered like this in such an anticlimactic way. Perhaps Yamauchi was more useful than I thought he was. After all, if it wasn't for his intervention then none of this would be happening. Perhaps sooner or later I'll decide to make him my next pawn. But just as I closed the difference between me and the pathetic girl lying on the ground like the piece of trash she is, I heard something.
It was the slightest sound. Probably nothing more than someone exhaling a breath of air. And that was all I needed to know, that I was not alone in this alleyway. I immediately turned around and started heading deeper into the alleyway though I didn't need to go that far to see that this was the place where Shinohara had been hiding. To be more exact it was a small corner of the alleyway that allowed her to hide her body with ease. I wasn't trying to use the Search Quirk so if she didn't make a sound, I would have never noticed her. Perhaps that was another stroke of luck?
"I-Ike… what were you doing?" Shinohara asked as her voice was almost a whisper while her eyes twitched nervously. It was sufficient to say that she was incredibly confused and a bit afraid too. Though she didn't seem like she knew what to do in this situation. She thought for sure that the man named Kanji Ike wouldn't lead some girl to an alleyway, much less have said girl pass out due to something she couldn't possibly understand. Combine all that with the fact that he also punched one of his best friends and you have a recipe for contradictions stacking onto each other like the most extravagant set of Jenga blocks. And just like Jenga blocks…
… It was all about to come crashing down the moment I closed the distance between us. And then…
"Ah." Shinohara let out a small gasp as I touched her face. At the same time, I placed a rather small piece of metal on her known as-
'BOOOOOOOM!' A bomb that was produced by my Quirk of the same name. The same Quirk that had been responsible for blowing up Karuizawa's apartment sky high. Though like any Quirk this one has its own set of limitations. The farther away I am from the bomb, the more destructive it is. The reverse is also true as the bomb that just blew apart Shinohara's head wasn't nearly as explosive as the one from back then. But it still packed a wallop as I walked past her, I was also caught in the explosion. More specifically my face was. At the same time, I heard someone fall to their knees.
'BAM!' I immediately turned around and used the Solid Air Quirk I had in my possession to entrap the person who made their way into the alleyway. As this happened my regeneration Quirk began healing the part of my face that blew off and revealed my skull while I fixed my tie. But to my utmost surprise the intruder was Yamauchi. It didn't take long for the effects of the Quirk to cause him to fall to his knees trying to gasp for breath that would not reach him. But that couldn't be right. I know I heard someone just fell. And that couldn't be Yamauchi. So, then that would there is another intruder who saw what had occurred. And that can only be-
'Snap' I snapped my fingers the moment I closed the distance between me and Yamauchi. But I made sure to clench his mouth shut. In the process of doing so I made sure that he wouldn't be able to say another word since his life depended on it.
"Don't try to scream. The moment you do… I will kill you. You saw what happened to Shinohara, did you not?" I asked while Yamauchi nodded vigorously in affirmation while tears dripped from his eyes and snot came out of his nose.
"Good. Now I need to make sure of something. Matsushita is right behind that wall, isn't she? If that's the case, then I doubt that Maya Sato is far. I want you to tell me the truth, Yamauchi. Are my suspicions correct?" I asked while Matsushita was doing exactly as I suspected of. She was right near the entrance of the alleyway on the ground with tears streaming down her face. She knew full well that the moment she asked for help that I would know, and I would kill her the moment after. But if that's the case then she's much smarter than I gave her credit for. Interesting. And just as I suspected-
"M-Matsushita is over there. B-But Sato s-she said she couldn't make it! I swear! Please don't kill m- Yamauchi spoke but I cut him off right before he could finish as he was getting a bit louder than I desired him to be. If he were to raise his voice any higher then he would gather some truly unwanted attention. But there was nothing to fear. After all, I have plans for him now. He has proven his usefulness albeit while selling out an innocent girl in the most shameless way possible. But that's exactly what I need.
"Oh, don't worry Yamauchi. I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to reward you. I'm going to give you power beyond your wildest dreams. Because now you work for me. And as my first order of business, I want you to pick that stupid girl off the ground and bring her through that portal. It's just a gate that will take you somewhere else. You trust me right, Yamauchi?" I whispered in his ear while snapping my fingers and opening Warp Gate. Yamauchi then nodded in affirmation before doing as he was requested to do. But the moment he entered through the purple vortex, Asahina's amulet fell off and hit the ground below her. The chain must have broken the moment she hit the ground. No matter.
"Now, come out come out wherever you are, Matsushita." I spoke with a bit of a pitch to my voice as I was beginning to enjoy this sudden turn of events. Just a little bit. It didn't take long at all for Matsushita to stand back up and enter the alleyway with a petrified look on her face. She must have been thinking that I was about to kill her. But the moment she saw Shinohara or more specifically what was left of her, Matsushita projectile vomited all over the floor. This was to be expected though. She must have seen her friend's head get blown up. But to see the aftermath of it, that being her poor friend's blood splattered against the wall and ground, such a graphic display of violence must have been too much for her to handle. Not that I cared. In fact-
"Whenever people are emotional are when they are at their most pathetic." I declared while looking down on her like the emotional and pathetic person she is. In that respect she and Yamauchi aren't all that different. But just like him, it would be pointless to kill her now. Not when she has showcased how useful she can be.
"I've got to admit, you're more resilient than I gave you credit for. Sure. This isn't one of your brightest moments. But it's quite a surprise that you didn't scream your lungs out the moment you saw your precious friend's head blown up. It's as if you knew that you would share the same fate as her if you were to do so. That kind of quick thinking isn't to be expected by someone who barely manages to get by in class, don't you agree?" I asked with a bit of a smirk on my face. I couldn't help it. It was as if I found something truly… fascinating. There aren't many people with that kind of willpower out there. And for that reason, along with her intellect that she managed to keep hidden until now, are both things I desire for myself. All for me… All for…
Chapter 61: All for a Certain One: Part 2
… A certain one that is I and I alone.
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about." Matsushita replied while averting her eyes from me as tears slid down her cheeks along with her vomit. But I wasn't satisfied with such a response. So, I grabbed her by her chin and forced her to look at me dead in the eye.
"Oh, but you do. And even if you didn't, I can't just let you off the hook after what you now know. But you needn't worry. I'm not going to kill you. I have a certain use for someone such as yourself. You see, if you already started suspecting me over such trivial details like my attendance or lack thereof then Izuku Midoriya will surely get the same idea sooner than later. I can't have that happen. Not when I'm really just starting to enjoy myself." I whispered while she glared daggers at me. I wonder if my face was now my real one and not Kanji Ike's. Without a mirror I can't tell. But even so, she's seeing me for the real me that I am.
"So, here's what's going to happen. You're going to become my girlfriend. But don't worry I won't be requesting anything sexual. I have no desire for such a thing. What I want is for you to stir suspicion away from me by playing your role as Kanji Ike's girlfriend. His sweet and kind girlfriend who always has his back when others are thinking less of him. You can do that. I know you can, Matsushita." I continued with straight face while she cringed at the very sight of me. She must have thought that I was some lowly being who deserves to be on the ground. Oh, but she's so very wrong about that. I'm someone destined to become God. So, I have no purpose of being on the ground with foolish ingrates such as the corpse behind me.
"… Fuck you." Matsushita replied while gritting her teeth and glaring daggers at me. Such a look would make any man feel extremely ashamed of themselves. But I am no man. She knows the terms as well as what will happen to her without me even needing to say a word. Perfect. Chiaki Matsushita is way more useful than I originally gave her credit for. Now with that out of the way it seems like there is still one more person that I have yet to deal with. I then turned around, not before grabbing Matsushita's hand as I noticed someone truly unexpected as made their entrance. A man that I know all too well, by the name of Rokusuke Koenji.
"Now this is a surprise. To think that you were foolish enough to have joined forces with Matsushita here. I honestly didn't expect you to associate yourself with anyone, Koenji." I replied while not hiding my enjoyment over such a pleasant surprise. Is being faced with one exciting twist after another what others call happiness? Perhaps. Though I would be lying if I said I didn't find any enjoyment out of all of this. And especially considering the reaction that Koenji is giving me. That being is usual confident smug grin. Even faced with the demise of one of his classmates he didn't seem to even bat an eye. Impressive. But what was even more surprising than even that was that he turned his head in a way that indicated that I was mistaken.
"You have the wrong idea. I had no intention of helping out that smart girl over there. Nor any of her friends. I simply happened to overhear what they said the other day. And I've got to say not even I certainly couldn't have seen this coming even if you were to say it right to my face." Koenji replied as my lips curled with dissatisfaction. So, it was a mere coincidence he showed up. Perhaps I was giving him too much credit. I was thoroughly convinced that Koenji was hiding his true intellect just like Matsushita was. But it seems as if I was mistaken. That's too bad. But I have to know one more thing just for sure.
"Then tell me… who's side are you on Koenji, mine or Izuku Midoriya?" I asked knowing full well that someone as prideful as Rokusuke Koenji wouldn't be able to lie straight to my face. But even if he had no intention of joining me surely, he will be considering what just happen-
"Neither. It is just as you said. I have no desire to associate myself with anyone else as it currently stands. But don't misunderstand. I'm no snitch. I won't be saying anything to anybody, I can assure you of that. Ha. Not that you could kill me even if you tried. You would be making an enemy of the Prime Minister if you dared to even lay a finger on me." Koenji replied while casually advancing toward me. At the same time my eyes went a bit wide out of surprise. Koenji noticed that.
"Now for what I actually desire that is rather simple. You see, I have two conditions for not saying a word about this to anyone. First, I want you to give me one of those superpowers. I'm sure they have a proper name. But I'm not aware of that. Elucidate me if you would." Koenji declared while pointing at me as Matsushita audibly gasped. Even she couldn't have figured that this would happen. But you could say the same thing about me, can't you? The only way I would have been able to have foreseen this would be with the Foresight Quirk. But that is no longer in my possession and in the hands of Suzune Horikita. Even still this is quite intriguing if I do say so myself.
"They are called Quirks. But if you're not going to fight as my pawn or for Izuku Midoriya for that matter then what use do you have for it?" I asked while Koenji closed the distance between us. Even now that man's thought process remains a mystery to me. I haven't met someone this unpredictable as Yuki. How intriguing.
"I'm a selfish man. I want everything that I already don't have. That includes something that may or may not be tangible in its nature such as a 'Quirk.' But you must have observed that side of me for quite some time. So, that shouldn't be all that surprising for you, faker." Koenji declared as he already realized that I was not Kanji Ike. It seems like once again I had misunderstood the man named Rokusuke Koenji. If he has no intention of opposing me then there's no reason to not give him one.
"And the other?" I asked. But that wasn't all he said. That's right. He said that there were two conditions. And just what else could he possibly want? But Koenji looked back at me in a way as if I was still having the wrong idea about things before responding.
"The other condition much like the first, is something that has no monetary value whatsoever. It's more of a 'what if' per se. 'If' Izuku Midoriya were to figure out that you have assumed the identity of a dead man then I will join his side. But only IF he deciphers the truth without having to be told the answer. Once again, that's only IF he really is someone who could find their way to the truth of his own accord. Am I making myself clear?" Koenji asked while holding out his hand as I nodded in affirmation. But one other person did not like where this was going.
'I don't trust him. He's made it clear that he has no problem betraying us in the future. Just kill him now and be done with it, Kiyotaka!" Garaki ordered. But I had no intention of listening to him. So, I firmly grasped Koenji's hand while giving him a Quirk of my choosing. A Quirk that I believe suits him best.
"Huh. I don't feel all that different." Koenji commented but that's only obvious since what Quirk, I gave him isn't one that changes one's physical appearance. Certainly not like those barbaric heteromorphs. Such a Quirk would only ruin Koenji's looks. Something that he clearly holds much pride in. Even still, I had no intention of telling him what Quirk, I gave him. But he seemed to figure that out for himself. This was made evident by what he said next.
"I suppose some things are better left as a mystery. Anyway, it seems we are in agreement with each other. Now I will be on my way. I have much better things to do after all." Koenji replied before walking past me and leaving the alleyway. This meant that only me and Matsushita were in the alleyway aside from Shinohara's dead corpse. But I will do away with the remains by using them for the next Nomu to go along with the one that will soon be made from that idiot girl. But I've got to say, she sure left me something that may have made all of this possible. That amulet of hers. I made sure to pick it up and put it into my pocket. I'll simply fix the broken chain some other time. After all…
… Why would I waste such a good luck charm as that one? One that brings all sorts of people together.
To Be Continued…
Next Chapter: Hiyori Date
Go Beyond!
Plus Ultra!