green smog

box 67

The dark bags under Hu's eyes contrast the bright color of his hair. It was evident he hasn't slept at all in the past week. Only him and a few heroes were made aware of Zihao's death, the rest were told he was missing in action. They couldn't just throw it at everybody without knowing the exact reason of death. 

After the three days it took for the smoke sphere to dissipate, the two bodies were found lying feet apart. Cuts and burns littered their bodies. Zihao's cause of death was easy to diagnose after an examination. He used all of the smoke in his lungs to suffocate Shigaraki. Professionals assumed the smoke sphere took too much energy out of Zihao and caused him to faint, and then after that the smoke kept moving to keep its shape. Slowly killing the male as he slept through it.

For Shigaraki, his cause of death wasn't as easy. He suffered a tremendous amount of blood loss and blackened lungs. He could have even just died of shock for all they knew. 

But now, it was finally time to tell the students. They deserved to know. They needed to know.

Hu dragged himself from the apartment and down the elevator. His eyes remained dull and unmoving as he walked to the dorms. Even through all of this pain, he felt a slight sense of relief. Relief knowing that Zihao was finally able to rest. 

Not even bothering to knock, he enters through the dorm's large doors. A flash drive sat in his hand. Dragging his feet behind him, he sluggishly moved towards the common room. He texted Aizawa an hour prior to have all the students in one area. 

His arm only raised slightly as he greeted the crowd of eyes waiting for him. Turning his attention towards the tv, he plugs in the USB. A small sigh escapes his throat as he turns around. It was now or never. "Zihao left a message for everyone, he told me to play it if everything went according to plan."

"According to plan?"

"Does that mean Zihao is okay?"

"Did they find him?"

"Where is he?"

Questions fired rapidly across the room as the students sat on the edge of their seats. 

"Just watch..." was all Aizawa could say. Giving a curt nod to Hu, he signaled for the boy to press play.

Hu presses play and takes a seat on the floor near the screen. He already watched the video more times than he could count. 

The screen slowly flickers to life. The students watch with wide eyes as Zihao's figure comes into frame. The background was plain white, the date on the bottom of the screen showed the day before the war. 

Zihao sat with tired eyes. Was he that tired when they last saw him?

And then, he began to talk.

"Hey guys, by now I should be long gone. It's crazy to think that I'd go down this way, but we all can't live life the way we plan." A low chuckle resonates from his chest as he looks down at his hands.

Long gone? What does he mean by that? Where did he go?

"In my bank account you'll find a large sum of money. In two separate accounts there is money for both Kota and Eri so if something ever happens, they'll have something to support them. The main account will go towards kids without homes or ones that need to escape theirs."

The rest of it will all go to Hu. This is going to sound dumb, but when Hu and I were kids he told me that both of us could work together to beat bad guys and get 'super duper rich' well, I did it. You were the only one who saved me, so go buy something for yourself for once. Use the money to become the teacher you wanted to be. Don't feel guilty about spending it.

To the students, thank you for being little brats and god awful at fighting. Otherwise I may not have had the chance to teach you. And Sero, I never hated you for being your parent's son. There will be different letters addressed to each of you coming in the mail shortly.

To Kota and Eri, you two are wonderful children. I know the world hasn't been kind to you, but I swear one day it will be. And if it isn't I'll sue it. Everyday until you are twenty you'll receive a letter from me, I do hope they reach you alright. And do me a favor, keep Hu in line for me.

Goodbye everyone, for the last time Smog is out." Zihao gave the camera a curt nod before moving to turn off the feed.

The students were left with tear filled eyes. All they could do was stare as the screen turned dim. Their sobs got stuck in their throats. They did their best to hold it in yet it all spilled out. Yells, sobs, wailing, silence, disbelief, every emotion someone could possibly show flickered around the room. 

Before any of them could react, Hu was already out of the door. After all, he still had one more message to give. He had enough to handle with himself, he couldn't bare seeing the despair on their face.

And just like he said, twenty-one letters came into the mail that week. One for each student, and then one for Aizawa. 

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Did I mention this was the last arc? 

No?

Whoops. 

Thank you all for reading my story :) I honestly didn't think this book would get very far. I'm glad to see you've stuck around until the end. Maybe we'll meet again in another story, until then goodbye! 

(the second book is in the works, unless stated otherwise)