𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐧 | b.k.

Chapter Twenty-Five

25.
Chapter Twenty-Five : Grief

When the sun rose over the town of Mighty River, it was a blessing as the night before, had been host of one of the most horrific serial killings in years. The remaining elders were killed in fires over night; their homes burnt down with them in it. The people of the town awoke at some point when the second house was in the middle of burning, and they tried their hardest to put it out. They were too late.

By sunrise, the people of Mighty River were tired and grieving. Someone killed the last of the founding people, and that could be said confidently knowing that nobody else's homes were burnt down. The neighbors were spared and nothing in town was touched. It was just those three houses.

When the sun rose, those who helped put out the fires met at the most popular saloon to drink away their sorrows. This was a big loss for the community.

Everyone in town knew of the acts of arson and murder before the day had even really begun.

As soon as Y/n and Izuku found out, they set out for the town hall. Dressed in their finest black clothing, they ride into town in silence, grief weighing heavy over their heads.

Izuku is taking the news a lot harder than Y/n. Toshinori was his biggest role mode growing up and upon hearing the news, he became a heaving mess. He hasn't stopped crying since, and rightfully so. Toshinori was like a father to Izuku. He taught him useful lessons as a boy, and he lead him the right away during his years as a growing man. He was the father he never had, and it's a tragedy.

Y/n is of course devastated as well, but she's taking the news a lot better. She can at least drive the wagon without tearing up, so she's doing a lot better than her partner. The elders were the backbone of their community. They were the town's past and the beginning of their future, and they were brutally killed in the dead of night. If anything, Y/n is mad. She wants their killer to face justice.

The town hall will be a hot spot today. The mayor is hosting a celebration of some kind and before the elders are buried, people will be able to come and pay their respects.

When Y/n and Izuku arrive, they're almost surprised to see the countless wagons and horses parked out front. It looks like the entire town is here. There are tons of people hanging outside of the hall and even more feeding into the building. Children are running around, shoving each other and laughing. Most of them don't quite understand what's going on.

Izuku is lucid enough to help Y/n out of the wagon and lead her inside, but as soon as he sees the three caskets displayed up front, he breaks down.

The town hall is an empty building that's usually used as a place for big meetings and announcements. Typically, there are pews set up along the isle facing the front, where a single lectern will stand. Today, the building is empty—in terms of furniture. There's a single table towards the right of the front door, where baked goods and a picture of water sits, and three wooden caskets at the top of the room.

As they get closer and closer to the caskets, they can see three individual black and white pictures of the deceased. Izuku, at that point, is just a weeping mess. His eyes can't stop leaking and there's snot dripping from his nose.

Y/n squeezes Izuku's hand and slowly guides him closer to the caskets. They're closed—of course—but they both know Toshinori is laid softly in one of those wooden boxes. It's then that Y/n begins to tear up.

This isn't the worst thing to fall upon Mighty River, but it's definitely not the greatest. It'll be a stain on the town for a while, at least until the killer is caught and brought to justice.

Y/n furrows her eyebrows. Who was cowardly enough to kill three old people in their homes? Who was cowardly enough to set their homes ablaze in the dead of night, and leave them to burn? Who?

Later, while the town grieves in their own special way, Y/n's friends are gathered in her parlor—sharing a offer of whiskey and chewing on some biscuits while dinner quietly cooks in the chicken.

Together, around the dancing fire, they share stories featuring their fallen elders. Toshinori was the most recognizable from the trio; he played a big part in everyone's lives, teaching them lessons and helping them out in town. Then, of course, you had Mirai Sasaki. He wasn't as recognizable as Toshinori, but he was the previous mayor. And last but not least, David Shield, the town's best retired Doctor. All three men were leading figures for the town in one way or another.

Momo Yaoyorozu would share stories about her time learning under Sasaki's wing. Her family has always played a big part in Mighty River's government, and her mother thought it was important for her to learn from first hand accounts. She spent a majority of her teenage years at the courthouse learning about law. Those were fond memories.

Ochako spent a lot of time with the Doctor, David Shield. She started training to be a nurse around the age of 13, and she worked at the hospital for a few years as an assistant. She, of course, couldn't be a Doctor, but she could be a damn good nurse. She learned a lot from Shield. She didn't just learn medicine. She also learned a lot of skills and lessons that she's applied to her life.

Izuku didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. Everyone knew how Toshinori made a difference in his life. Y/n came in to his life a lot later than everyone else, but she knows that Toshinori played a big role in his life.

Meanwhile, Y/n can hear their story telling from the kitchen. She doesn't try to interfere or to intrude. It's not her place. She wasn't born in the town like everyone else, and she didn't know any of the elders personally. Sure she'd pass them on the street and offer a kind gesture, but it's not like she learned medicine or law from them. Instead, she pours her feelings into her food.