hero's shadow // mha

60) match in the rain

The bathrooms at UA are cleaner than any other. Izuku would know, as he's been in a ton of bathrooms all his life, most of them communal and public. Being homeless kind of forces you to not be picky, so before he had running water and electricity at his place, he frequented the shelters all around the prefecture.

He still knows exactly where they are and the best time of day to use the showers in them. It's knowledge he doesn't think will ever truly leave him.

The floor of the smallest bathroom in the west wing at UA is squeaky clean, and it's nicely polished. It smells like fresh linen and a hint of cleaning supplies, too, even right near the toilets.

Izuku knows this for a fact, as he's currently hovering over one, hands gripping the sides of it as he dry heaves.

He's not sure what's wrong this time. He woke up feeling better than he's been in a while, so he thought he was finally okay, but then noon rolled around and Izuku was right back to feeling like a walking zombie. His stomach is cramping, and it's like someone has stuck a nail on either side of his head and is pounding them into his temples with a hammer. All he ate was a couple of sandwiches that Lunch Rush slipped him for helping him clean up the cafeteria, but it seems it doesn't matter.

Not eating at all makes him unhealthy, and eating how he's supposed to with his metabolism screws him over anyway. He can't win for shit.

Izuku trembles, feeling warm all over. When he's sure no more is going to come out, he presses his forehead against the door of the stall, relishing in the cold of it. He grips it, wishing more than anything that his body could just stop for once.

"I gave you what you wanted," he says aloud, voice cracked and exhausted, barely a whisper. "Please give me a break."

The only response he gets is the world spinning again around him, forcing him to put his head right back over the toilet. He hates to admit it, but it's probably a good thing he's been benched from all strenuous activity. He can't participate in vigilante work nor heroics training—and this is a good example why.

I don't think Extract is doing this to you, Shimura says in his mind. She sounds hesitant. It's not like her. This is too sudden for that.

It's a quirk alright, but not Extract, Banjou agrees. It's too loud for Izuku's liking. It echoes inside him, making him want to take a hammer and beat the nails into his body himself.

Shimura hums. You might be able to control this more than you think, kiddo. You should stand up and get some water.

Izuku rubs his hands up and down his arms, hating the prickling sensation he feels on his bad side. "Do—do you both really not have anything better to do than spy on me all the—all the time?"

The silence that follows makes Izuku wince. He doesn't know why he said it, doesn't even know where it came from, but there's nothing he can do about it now.

"Sorry," he says. "I'm... sorry. That was mean."

He gets no reply. Izuku sighs, only to hiccup midway through and cause a few red droplets to land in the water. His stomach drops at the sight of it, as it's been a while since he last coughed up blood, and he eventually moves away from the toilet again and brings his knees up to his chest.

Izuku sits there, ready to wait for however long he needs to until he feels good enough to move.

He doesn't want anyone to see him like this. It's bad enough he has an entire council inside of him watching this go down.

He wonders fleetingly if the vestiges ever compare their lives with each other. Their performances, maybe. Do they rank themselves? Do they judge? From his quick meeting with them, they didn't seem like the type, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible.