Chapter 21: Don't worry Kacchan
The journey back was proving to be far more treacherous than when we had first set out. As we trekked along the river, I couldn't help but notice how much steeper the terrain had become compared to the relatively gentle slope we had navigated at the start. We found ourselves navigating a veritable obstacle course - twisted, horizontal trees blocking our way, their gnarled roots snaking across the ground like vines intent on tripping us up. The lush, green overgrowth that had once seemed so vibrant and alive now threatened to swallow us whole, tendrils of foliage grabbing at our clothes as we pushed forward.
Navigating the rocky ground beneath our feet became an increasingly perilous task, forcing us to pick our steps with the utmost care. The once-tranquil river that was guiding us now roared with a ferocity that seemed to mock our struggle, its currents churning and twisting in a way that made my stomach turn. I found myself gripping, hugging Kacchan's backpack tightly, my eyes glued to the ground, terrified of losing my footing and tumbling down the near-vertical stretch that lay before us.
Yes, you heard that correct. I am carrying Kacchan's backpack and he is carrying mine. I didn't have to argue too much to get him to agree to this arrangement - he protested at first, of course, but relented when I explained that I wanted to keep my certificate close to me. We decided it made the most sense for me to carry all the scrolls, as well as one bottle each of the Aravac extract, Actortium roots extract, and water.
Kacchan packed the tent neatly into my bag, well as neatly as he could and then set out to find another sturdy-looking branch that I could use as a makeshift crutch. Again. I was grateful for his willingness to help, even if he grumbled about it under his breath the whole time.
When the river suddenly transformed into a towering waterfall, spilling over the edge of the cliff in a thunderous cascade, Kacchan quickly decided that attempting to scale down that treacherous descent was far too risky. Instead, he opted to take the long way around, sticking to the winding dirt paths that snaked through the rugged terrain.
I couldn't help but wonder if this decision was fueled by the weight of my bag or perhaps a concern for me. I knew that even with the sturdy rope Aizawa-sensei had provided, I wouldn't have the strength to make that perilous climb down the cliff face. Regardless, I was grateful for his prudence, even as I struggled to keep pace with his longer strides.
With each step, I found myself following Kacchan's footprints. I quickly learned that a single glance away from the ground, a single moment of distraction, a shift in perspective, and I would be careening sideways. My right side twinged with a sharp pain with each step, and the simple act of drawing a breath had become a laborious task, like there was something lodged deep in my throat, choking me. No matter how much I coughed and sputtered, I couldn't seem to expel whatever was causing this discomfort. The only option was to stifle the urge to cough.
Without warning, a searing jolt of pain gripped my chest, like someone had stabbed me right through the heart with a scorching hot iron rod. The agony was blinding, stealing the breath right from my lungs as I gasped and froze in my tracks, my hand clutching desperately at the spot where the pain radiated. I stood there, paralyzed, rubbing at my chest and willing the pain to subside so I could keep moving. But the torment lingered, a pulsing ache that made my vision swim and my legs tremble.
I couldn't help the small whimper that escaped my lips, drawing Kacchan's attention who paused abruptly and turned to face me, his usual scowl deepening as he fixed me with a piercing, scrutinizing gaze. I knew that look - he was silently demanding to know what's wrong.
Swallowing hard, I forced a wide, reassuring smile onto my face and lied through my teeth, "I'm fine. I just thought I was going to trip." Kacchan's raised eyebrow told me he didn't believe a word of it, but I kept up my grinning facade, determined not to slow us down further.
Steeling myself, I made a move to continue following him, praying the pain wouldn't flare up again with the motion. Mercifully, it didn't - at least not right away. We can't afford to stop now, not when the sun has already began its descent.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt gnawing at me, knowing that If only I hadn't gotten injured back there, we could have taken the more direct route along the river and scaled down the cliff face like Aizawa-sensei had instructed. I should have stood up to Kacchan, insisted that we follow the plan instead of veering off course. How much worse could the pain have been, really? But in my cowardice, I had been too afraid to even try.
Now, we were forced to take the long way around, my weakness slowing us down. Why am I so weak? Such a coward? How will I ever become the heroic figure I aspire to be if I continue to run away from problems? This needs to stop, and it needs to stop right now. We have already covered a long way. So telling Kacchan to stop and go back all the way we came is out of the window. The only option is to push onward as fast as possible, without any breaks.
The path had grown slippery, thanks to the rain that had fallen earlier, our clothes caked in mud as we pressed onward, the sun dipping ever lower on the horizon. Yet, the river remained elusive, nowhere in sight.
I have a sinking suspicion that we are hopelessly lost, but I would rather die than admit that to Kacchan - I could practically hear his scathing remarks, the derision in his voice. We would need to find a suitable place to set up camp soon, before the last vestiges of daylight disappeared completely.
I would have felt guilty for not completing the assignment by the end of the day as I promised but I can hardly watch my step. My vision was already blurry from the beginning, and now it had descended into a complete hazy blur. My whole body felt like it was on fire, burning and aching with each movement. It was a strange, numbing sensation - my limbs felt heavy and sluggish, yet the pain was excruciating, throbbing through my veins. I could hardly bear it.
Kacchan would occasionally glance back at me with a frown, his concerned gaze betraying his worry even as he gruffly asked if I needed a break. Oh, how I yearned to just collapse onto the ground and beg him to let me rest. I wanted to sob out that I couldn't walk another step, that I was terrified my limbs would simply give out. The pounding in my head felt like it would split my skull open, and I swore I could hear my own heartbeat thundering in my ears, threatening to burst from my chest.
The words were right there, begging to spill out, but I forced them back down. I knew that if I voiced these fears, Kacchan would understand, would let me take a breather out of pity. He'd grumble and complain about the wasted time, that we would've already reached home by now, but he'd eventually relent.
And I just couldn't do that to him. I can't let him down now. Not after everything he'd done for me, not when I had promised we'd make it off this hill by the end of the day. When I promised that I will stop bothering him. I couldn't be the thorn in his side, the hindrance in his path anymore. When we are so close.
Instead, I always tightened my grip on that walking stick, stood up as straight as I could manage, and firmly said "No" each time he asked. The first time it happened, Kacchan looked surprised, eyes widening as I rarely decline his command. He would frown but never ask why, never push the issue, never comment on my stubborn refusal.
And so we pressed on in silence, save for the occasional cough that racked my body and the grunts of effort from Kacchan as he sliced through the branches and bushes in our path. I dared not speak, for fear that if I opened my mouth, I might spill out more than just words - my very organs felt ready to come crawling out. So I suffered in silence, focusing every ounce of my energy on putting one foot in front of the other.
The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in a deep, velvety gloom, when the uneven, sloping terrain finally gave way to a flat, open expanse. With a weary grunt, Kacchan unceremoniously dropped my bag under a towering tree, the silent command in his actions clear - we would be taking shelter here for the night. Without a word of protest or even a simple acknowledgment, I all but collapsed to the ground in a boneless heap, blinking past the stabbing pains that wracked my body.
With unsteady hands, I retrieved the water bottle, desperate to quench my parched throat - the incessant coughing had left me utterly dehydrated. I dared not open the bag earlier, terrified that in my weakened state I might accidentally drop the most precious cargo it contained - the clues and certificates. No, those could not be risked, not when we had come so far. So I trudged on, my throat dry as kindling and the relentless cough only making matters worse.
After a brief respite to catch our ragged breaths, Kacchan rose and got to work, setting up the campfire and tent for the night. I wanted to assist him, but my limbs felt as if they were made of lead, and even the simple act of breathing was sapping the last vestiges of my strength. Silently, he completed the task, then retrieved two cup ramen from my bag, handing one to me.
"I'm not hungry," I murmured, shaking my head weakly. How could I tell him that the very thought of food was enough to send my stomach roiling with nausea? But Kacchan would have none of it, his brow furrowing in concern. "How could you not be hungry? You barely ate anything all day, and what little you did manage to keep down, you just threw right back up!" he snapped. When I failed to respond for another long moment, he simply thrust a mint candy and an apple into my hands. "Finish this. That's an order," he commanded, leaving no room for argument.
As we finished up our meager meal, I knew it was time to take watch for the night. Turning to Kacchan, I announced with as much confidence as I could muster, "I'll take the first watch." I could see his brow furrow immediately, a clear sign that he was not pleased with my declaration. "Hell no," he fired back, his voice dripping with irritation. "You look like you'll drop dead any moment. I don't want to be exposed to the hungry beasts out there in the middle of the night because you passed out on watch." Wow, he really didn't hold back - his response came so quickly, without a moment's hesitation.
I knew I had to convince him. "Kacchan, I'm awake right now. I slept a lot today so I'll be able to last through the night." I said. I could see the dark bags under his eyes, the sheen of sweat glistening on his features in the light of the campfire - the physical toll of our journey was written all over him. "And you...cough...you need the rest more than I do. You've already been so helpful, and I just want to return the favor"
He tilted his head slightly, eyeing me skeptically, as if silently asking, "Really?"
"And?" he pressed, his tone gruff and unyielding.
Taking a deep breath, I replied, "I can take the first watch." I licked my dry lips. "Just a few hours of sleep, and I'll be sure to wake you. You really need the rest."
I could see the internal struggle playing out on his face as he frowned at me, his brow furrowed in thought. He was clearly in pain, trying his best to hide it, but I could see it plain as day - the way he favored his right leg. He needed the rest, and I was determined to convince him to let me take this shift. He just need a little nudge.
"I...I know I've been a burden to you," I admitted, my voice wavering slightly. "I've always been a hindrance in your path, but I don't want to be that person anymore. Please, let me do this for you." till I can, I thought to myself.
Kacchan scoffed, but I could see the reluctant acceptance in his eyes. "Fine, wake me up when you start dying and not a moment early," he grumbled, before retreating into the safety of our tent. With a deep breath, I settled in for my vigil.
As the pain slowly became more manageable and I drifted in and out of consciousness, I knew I needed to do something to keep myself alert and functional. I forced myself to drink some of the bitter Aravac extract. The nausea it induced was awful, but it helped keep the excruciating pain in check.
I couldn't tell how long I had been sitting there, but suddenly, the faint rustling of leaves from just behind the tent snapped me fully awake. All traces of drowsiness vanished as I heard the sound again, my senses on high alert.
Sensing potential danger, I gripped the handle of my blade tightly and forced myself to stand, wincing as the pain shot through me. Each step sent shockwaves of agony through my battered body, but I pushed through it, driven by a surge of adrenaline. The forest around me was pitch black, the thick canopy of trees blocking out even the faintest moonlight. I slashed at the branches, desperate to see what was out there.
At first, I half-expected it to be just a small animal scurrying about. But what I saw instead made my breath catch in my throat. There, emerging from the inky blackness, was the unmistakable silhouette of a person - and not just any person, but Tomura Shigaraki himself, that severed hand still attached to his body.
As he stepped into a shaft of moonlight, I could see the familiar features, the tousled hair, the unsettling grin slowly spreading across his face. "What do you want?" I demanded, surprised by the strength in my own voice. When he didn't immediately respond, only tilting his head and letting that grin widen, a chill ran down my spine. It was clear he was here for me, and without hesitation I hurled the blade at him.
But with lightning reflexes, he simply ducked, dodging the attack. "I will never let you get me!" I shouted defiantly. "Oh," he said, his tone almost childlike in its innocence, "but who said I'm here for you?"
My brow furrowed in confusion - if he wasn't here for me, then what did he want? Before I could voice the question, he smirked again and uttered the words that made my blood run cold: "I'm here to take the most precious thing that you hold close to your heart...your sweet friend Kacchan."
A surge of adrenaline and fury coursed through me, and without a second thought, I activated 50% of my Quirk and charged at him, bellowing "I'll never let you take him away from me!" But as I closed the distance between us, Shigaraki remained motionless, his twisted smile unwavering.
"DETROIT SMASH!"
Suddenly, Shigaraki sprang into action, leaping backwards with a speed that caught me off guard. And then, before my very eyes, something truly shocking unfolded. His body began to melt, dissolving into a thick, white, molten substance that oozed from his form. This viscous, lava-like material evaporated into a swirling cloud of black smoke, until there was nothing left - Shigaraki had vanished completely.