I Will

⇨ Chapter 21: Unexpected Run-in

"You're evil." You huffed under your breath, though didn't go unnoticed by your friend.

"I just want to know what's up with my girl and what crazy things she's getting into during high school." You looked ahead, realizing you never had a normal high school experience. And this was the only time you did have one. You were always in some mess, leaving others to trail behind you and clean it up. Nonetheless, you're grateful for what you have.

You sighed, feeling defeated by her curiosity (and insistence). "He kissed me." Mirko slapped her hand over her mouth in complete shock, unsure of what to say. Sure, she suspected something like that, but she didn't expect it coming from you. "I had that same reaction."

"You had your first kiss!" Was all she could think about, she gave you a tight hug before assuming the position of a Pro Hero.

You laughed, "How do you know that was my first? I could've had others before you met me, you know..."

"I'm just assuming because you're at the same age that I was when I had my first kiss." Mirko puffed her chest out, proud of her achievement. The meaning in her eyes changed, it seemed solemn, her smile slowly faded into a rueful one. "It was my best friend. We were at a sleepover with our other friends and they wanted to play truth or dare. We were dared to go into the closet for five minutes—alone."

You could assume what had happened just based on the description, but something didn't seem right with Mirko. She almost seemed not there. Like she was stuck in the past, reliving those moments in her head on replay.

The beam in Mirko's smile began to bounce back as the overwhelming glumness disappeared from her body. She grabbed your shoulders, making you freeze in her grip as she stared deep into your eyes. Mirko spoke, "That was a long time ago, now, we have to focus on you."

"Someone help!" Both your heads immediately turned to your left. A man came crashing between you, separating Mirko from you. Behind the masked individual came a woman with straight white hair and glasses. She grabbed Mirko, "Oh thank god a Pro Hero is here. That man, he—he took my purse!"

"We're on it ma'am." You nodded to Mirko, which she returned, signaling you could go after him while she stayed back to help the woman.

You dashed down the street, apologetically bumping into people as you did so. You kept your eyes on the guy like a hawk. He turned down an alleyway, you followed suite, entrapping him in the dark pathway. You stood confidently at the only exit, watching the figure scramble for a way out.

Slowly, you inched closer. He was taller than you, the only thing you could see from the way he was covered was his piercing blue eyes.

"You caught me, hero." His voice was gruff. He spat the last word as if it was filled with venom, infecting you with its deadly hemotoxins. His hands went up in the air as if he was facing a cop, dropping the copper colored purse in the process. "I surrendered. What's your plan now?"

"Take off your mask." You demanded, maintains eye contact. You kicked the purse behind you to keep out of reach from him, "Slowly."

He took his right hand, gently lifting the cloth from his neck to unveil his face. Multiple piercings and scars covered his appearance—you recognized this guy. It was Dabi. He noticed the shock in your expression, to which he snickered.

"Didn't think you'd see me anytime soon, didya?"

"What do you want?" You asked, your words hitting him sharply. "Isn't it enough that you and your heathens torture Pro Heroes, now you're committing petty theft? Pathetic."

"I wouldn't have to do this if you would rebel from hero ethics." Dabi sighed, you could hear the annoyance dripping in his tone, accompanied by an eyeroll. His soft smile captured your attention. It had a sinister intent behind it. "Shigaraki's offer still stands. Not only does he want this, but your parents did too."

What made him think you cared about your parents? You weren't anything like them—you were quite the opposite actually. Just the mention of your deadbeat relatives set something off in you. You felt sick hearing about them. You stalked closer to Dabi, causing his back to hit the brick wall behind him. You concentrated on his deep blue eyes, watching as he examined every inch of your face. Your serious facade covered up the fact of how afraid you were to be face-to-face with a notorious villain.

"I'll never join you." You spoke in a low voice.

"Never say never."

With your brows furrowed, you brought up your fist, swinging it in the direction of Dabi's face. He used his hand to block you, which resulted in his melting state. His figure began disintegrating to brown mush. Before you knew it, he was a puddle of mud on the grimy ground of Japan.

You looked down at the puddle, disappointed at its final state. A breathy "fuck" escape your mouth as you heard familiar foot falls coming toward you. Your body did a 180, only to be met with an individual standing a few feet away from you. She looked down at the puddle behind you, then at your bitter facial expression.

"Mirko."

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