"..."
No chatter, no yelling, and certainly no laughter. Only dead silence. No one dared to lighten the mood, not even the brightest and cheeriest of them all. In this kind of situation, you would expect a green-haired boy hopping in to take control, trying his best to make them smile.
If only he was there to do that.
The door slid open, Aizawa would quickly tell them to return to their seats and be quiet. But it seems like today was an exception, and he knew exactly why. They all did.
"I'm sure you're all aware of Midoirya's...death. I know it has taken a toll on all of you, including myself as well." The pro hero said grimly. The whole class was silent, a few blinking their tears in. The atmosphere was depressing, the giddy class of 1A was now nowhere to be seen.
He sighed. "I won't tell you to get over it or anything of that matter, but please do remember how Midoriya would think if he sees you all acting like this." He looked at each of them staring at the desk with their head down low, some with sorrow and some with guilt.
"Moving on, we have a new student today," he stated, earning the class's attention.
"A new student?"
"Already-?"
"I hope it's a girl-"
He cleared his throat, silencing the murmurs. "Please come in and introduce yourself," Aizawa said.
Stepping inside the classroom, he steadily made his way beside the pro hero, wearing a nonchalant expression. "I'm Ahane Tsukiro." A simple introduction was enough for him, no need to complicate everything. Walking to his seat, he sat down as the class continued.
"That was short."
"His hair and eyes are all white...I wonder what his quirk is."
Bypassing the mumbles regarding his introduction and appearance, he stared at the desk that once belonged to a certain student, and now his seat.
So this person died...
He thought to himself, observing his 'classmates'. Their auras were not welcoming at all, it was rather hostile, especially the student in front of him. Taking the first spot in the Sports Festival, he was known for his explosive nature, both quirk and personality.
Maybe they were close
He gave himself a reason for the student to dislike him. After all, he was there to essentially replace him, it must seem rude to introduce a new student so soon. It was almost like the school wanted to cover up his death.
Class went by fairly fast, with some students sneaking a few glances at him. He noticed all of that of course, but there was nothing he could do, he wasn't really bothered anyway.
And in a flash, it was lunchtime. The students were now chatting with each other and the classroom was a bit livelier. But it was merely just for show, there was no way they would get over his death that fast.
"Ahane-kun, was it?"
He nodded, turning around to see a student voluntarily talking to him which slightly surprised him. Perhaps not all the students wanted him gone.
"I'm Yaoyorozu Momo, nice to meet you." She bowed politely. The way she talked led him to believe that she was from a wealthy household.
The boy bobbed his head, "You too." he gave a short reply.
"O-oh..is that so..?" The girl appeared to be a bit troubled by his direct answer. He sighed,
Why start this conversation if you don't even know how to continue it?
"Well then, see you later, Yaoyorozu-san. Have a nice lunch," he interjected, ending the conversation before it gets awkward, like it wasn't already awkward enough.
"Ah yes- you too, Ahane-kun..." she said, but the boy was already long gone. Feeling slightly dejected, she wasn't expecting the interaction with the new student to go so poorly.
"How did it go?" Jiro asked after seeing him leave.
She shook her head, "Not so well, he's not very...sociable." she stated. "I was hoping to get to know him, but it seems like he had other plans."
Jiro shrugged, "Maybe give him some time? Todoroki-kun was like that too, right? Before-" she abruptly stopped midsentence, and they both knew why.
"Before Midoriya helped me." Todoroki chimed in, finishing the sentence.
"Todoroki-kun..."
With his cold expression gazing at them, he looked away. "Aizawa-sensei is right, we shouldn't act like this." his eyes landed on Ahane's seat.
"He wouldn't like that."
Yaoyorozu looked over to his seat, biting her lip as she lowered her head. "He wouldn't."
Jiro hummed, "He'd probably panic if he saw us like this and would try to cheer us up." Todoroki nodded in agreement, imagining the scene.
"Though I would imagine him failing that terribly."
Jiro chuckled in response, "He definitely would, probably would start his mumbling fit too." recalling the times when he would stare intensely at his notebook, rambling to himself without a care in the world.
"Yeah-"
Hic-
They both turned their heads, seeing Yaoyorozu covering her nose to stop the sniffling. "I-I apologized. I know we promise to not act like this...but-" she wiped her tears, "I just couldn't control it...the tears..."
"They just started dropping."
Jiro pulled her into a tight embrace, "I know, it'll take time. We're all slowly adjusting to his absence." her eyes slowly tearing up as well.
Todoroki watched as they cried into each other arms, his eyes once again couldn't help but trail back to his seat. The seat that he sat on while wearing a bright smile, such a smile that it pained him that he couldn't see it anymore.
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"Todoroki-kun, I'm glad you're opening up more! It's nice to see you smile."
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, to stop looking at the memories that were flashing before him. Or perhaps he was just making up an excuse just to close his eyes to act as a barrier for his tears. His vision was a bit blurry once opened, he gradually took his time to accept the truth.
The truth that Midoriya Izuku was no longer with them.
___________________
Ahane entered the canteen, everyone was lining up to purchase their lunch. He stared blankly at the crowded place, a place filled with strangers, packed with people who didn't know him, people who didn't care to bother him. It felt...
Refreshing.
He heaved a sigh, he didn't have an appetite. He strolled along the empty hallway with an empty stomach, guess they both found something in common. Exploring the building, there were still some parts of the school that hadn't been introduced to him.
Quickly passing the many rooms that he didn't care to remember, there was one that stood out the most.
There's a music room here...?
He glanced around him — not a single soul. His hand reaching for the doorknob, he twisted open it to reveal the room. The room lit up automatically, as expected of UA, everything was advanced as hell.
Shutting and locking the door as a precaution, he examined the area. It was surprisingly clean despite the messily place instruments, some on the chairs and even some on the floor.
So whoever did this cleaned the place but never bothered to put them back...? Who does that-?
He sighed, deciding he should at least treat the equipment better than the previous person. "Who just leaves the drumsticks on the floor-?" he grumbled under his breath.
Lounging on the seat, he figured that he should just chill here until recess was over. He took his phone out to fast forward time, it was better than talking to people.
_______________________
.
.
.
Where....am I?
Am I...dead?
He opened his eyes, or at least it felt like his eyes were opened. Opening and closing them multiple times, the difference was insignificant, they were both swallowed by complete darkness.
He was petrified, where was he? Was this once again a dream? He had a feeling it wasn't just a mere dream, he could still feel the slight sting in his abdomen. His hand hovering above it, the knife was gone; so was the wound. He couldn't feel anything at all,
Even his own body.
A rush of realization finally showed itself, he didn't want to face it. But what can he do besides facing it? Regret, he regretted stabbing himself. But he didn't have a choice, it was either that or the villains would get their hands on his quirk.
He could've just run away instead of stabbing himself, but it doesn't change anything. The risk of his quirk getting snatched was still high.
...he wanted to cry, he wanted to yell. He was confused and terrified, was this his fate? He wanted to pin the blame on someone, anyone. It was all their fault, the villains for wanting to take his quirk, his friend for ratting him out. He wanted to take his anger out on them.
But he couldn't even if he wanted to.
Perhaps he was too soft, too sensitive for his own good. To him, everyone has their reasons for doing everything, they become villains for a reason. To avenge a death, to express their anger for the unfairness of the world. To try and understand why their loved ones despise them, why people judge them. They all have reasons.
So who can he blame?
Their parents for abusing them? Their friends for bullying them? The world for its unfairness? But what about them? There's no doubt that they also have their reasons, and thus the cycle continues. It made him wonder,
Who's the real bad guy?
Maybe there were people born evil, maybe. But it would all just go back to the start.
A reason.
Everyone has a reason for doing something, whether it is good or bad, right or wrong. It has a reason. That alone was far too complicated for the boy to comprehend. So the only thing he could do is accept that fate of his.
But could he really?
No...of course not.
I can't die yet...I can't- Not now, I can't leave this world yet...I need to return. My friends...Kacchan, they...they need me
I need to leave
I need to leave this place
This darkness
This void
He looked around him, it was shrouded by nothing but darkness. Darkness, is it really all filled with darkness? Or was it all just his imagination? He needed to find out.
If this is all my imagination...
He focused, taking deep breaths as he gathered his thoughts and concentration.
I just need to imagine a way out, anything would do...just let me out of here
Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine an exit. An exit that would get him out of this darkness, darkness swallows everything, so there was only one thing he could think of.
Light.
His eyes fluttering open, his theory was tested correct as he could see a small glistening light in the distance. Hand reaching for it, he wanted to leave this place desperately.
Please
Let me leave
I don't care where this leads
Just don't leave me here alone.
His mind got fuzzier as he approached the light. He could've sworn he saw someone within that light, but his eyes had already given up on him.
...
De...
....ku
DEKU-!
Snapping his eyes open, he jolted up as he looked around him. Where was he? Was he...back? Messaging his throbbing head, he tried to stand up. It seemed like he was in a forest, using a nearby tree to support him. He yelped as his hand passed through the tree trunk.
"E-eh?! My hand...went right through it."
Pulling it back, he stared blankly at it. "Am I...a ghost?" Regaining his composure, he noticed that he was floating in the air instead of standing on the ground. He exhaled deeply, clenching his hand.
"At least I'm not stuck in there anymore."
Deciding to explore the place, he was shocked to see a familiar building in front of him.
U.A. High
Going near the compound, he looked at the wall, slowly putting his hand against it as it went through smoothly. Closing his eyes, he flew right through it, he was in one of the hallways of the school. He glanced around, making his way around slowly even though no one can see him.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
He flinched, turning around abruptly as he panicked. "Uh, I-I was just-
"Thank God you're here, I got lost." a voice said behind him.
The boy sighed, putting his hand on his chest. "I should get used to this..." Going through a random room, he needed some time to clear his head.
"So I'm back...but as a ghost. It looks like no one can see me, but why am I back? There must be a reason for me to be back here..."
He crossed his arms, "Should I go check on them...?" he asked himself, he knew they weren't going to handle his death well. But he wanted to see them just this one time.
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
"You fucking dumbass...why...why did you do that-?!"
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
The memories playing automatically, he lowered his head. "Kacchan...I need to see him...but he won't even be able to see me..." he sighed.
"Stop overthinking it and just go visit him."
He hummed, "Yeah, I should...huh?" he raised his head, he was too busy rambling to notice that a student was in the same room with him.
"Are you talking to me-?" he pointed at himself. How was that possible? There shouldn't be anyone that could see him.
"No."
"...e-eh?! You can see me?! Who- who are you?"
The boy looked up from his phone, his chin resting comfortably on his hand. He stared at Midoriya's speechless face.
"Tsukiro Ahane, pleasure meeting you."
"Midoriya."