Linked Paths

Arc II - Many Firsts [Chapter 2: Dates]

"Urgh.", I groan, because my temples are throbbing suddenly. My head drops down powerlessly. I feel strange. A kind of anxious apprehension spreads through my insides and I don't even know why. I also don't know why I'm taking this next action. Something instinctively tells me that I should let someone know. Someone who isn't Tamamushi. And at this moment, despite having a few other, more logical options, I can only think of one person.

While my body already becomes noticeably weaker and it is getting harder for me to carry out movements, I activate my HeCom and open our private chat to contact him.

》276《

A sharp stabbing pain shoots through my skull, making me groan again. Something's very off. What's it? My secondary?

I understand that it's important to return to the U.A. as soon as possible. Swiftly, I send Kacchan my Live location. In case I can't go on my myself anymore, I want him to know where I am.

》I need you《

I don't know how I can admit this to him. It's true though. I'd just like to have him here with me now. But it'll have to be enough for him to meet me somewhere along the way. It's not that far from here to the U.A. Shit! I don't even know if he's there. Maybe he's out and about somewhere else...

The pounding in my head is almost unbearable now. I must set off immediately!

I lift my head with difficulty. The way I'm feeling, Tamamushi will understand. He won't get angrier with me, will he?

To set off is going to be harder than I hoped. Even getting myself up from the toilet lid is now taking abnormal effort. In general, maintaining the tension in my body. Shit. I think I need a cab.

With tiny steps I work my way to the bathroom door, and each time it becomes more strenuous. To make any progress at all, I have to constantly lean my shoulder against the wall.

"T-Tama-mushi?", my voice barely obeys me either.

It gets even worse. I stagger against the door, lean my forehead against it and barely keep myself upright. I try to lift my hand to the lock panel, but it's so hard. Somehow, I manage it. Only thanks to my strong willpower do I manage to unlock. Now just the handle...

For support, I reach for my last resort and try to apply my primary to the door handle. But it has no effect. The completely natural connection to my quirk is as if erased, I am denied any access. There is nothing. I don't understand all this. Why?!

With despair in my heart and using the last spark of my arm strength, I grab the door handle. Unfortunately, as I try to push it down, I lose the last body tension left in me and collapse like a wet sack, landing hard on the floor. My breathing becomes shallow as I'm lying on the cold tiles. During my action, I must have opened the door by coincidence. At least that's what I assume when I realize in my peripheral vision that Tamamushi is approaching me. That's good. He'll help me.

I can't move my head to look at him. I can't even lift a finger. I can't even speak. My whole body is as if paralyzed. I've never had anything like this before, but it just has to be related to my secondary. There's no other plausible explanation at the moment. Yet I don't feel dizzy, and my head is clear. That doesn't make sense to me.

Tamamushi now leans over me. His head enters my direct field of vision. I look at him for help, but when I see the expression on his face, my hope is instantly squashed. What I see shakes me. And there is neither concern for me nor confusion about my condition. He is composed. He doesn't say anything either. He...grins?

No...He's not going to help me. The grueling realization smashes into my brain and tears almost simultaneously spring to my eyes.

When he bends down next to me, slides his arms under my body and lifts me up, everything inside me ripples. Every fiber of my system wants to resist being touched by this man, but I'm defenseless and can't do a damn thing. Tears are now flowing freely down my face.