The Hero Agency Internships was an overall great experience for us students. We learned what it felt like out on the field and to better handle situations related to villains.
It was great but...
"Hey Setsuna," I spoke.
"...Yeah?" she replied.
"You sure nothing happened between you and Marcus?" I said as we walked to school together, "The guy has been coming to school by himself ever since the internships."
"How should I know what's going on?!" Setsuna said oppressed, "It's not like I know everything about him Juzo."
"...You got me there," I said as we both sigh, "What do you think happened to him?"
"Beats me," Setsuna said pouting, "he's been avoiding us lately."
Just like she said, recently, our good friend Marcus has been acting strange. He was usually very outgoing and would hang out with us, but something happened and changed the guy we once knew into a social introvert.
Normally, the three of us would go to class together and start our day. As of now, it was just me and Setsuna, and he keeps avoiding eye contact. He also runs off somewhere during breaks and lunch which is also starting to get annoying.
I thought it was just Setsuna and Marcus being awkward in the beginning but it doesn't seem the case after hearing what she had to say. It's gotten to a point where our classmates are wondering what in the world is going on.
"You think he'll avoid us today?" Setsuna said as we arrive at our class door.
"Hope not," I said opening the door, "don't think we should get our hopes up."
We greet everyone and look over at Marcus as his seat was empty.
"Marcus called in sick today," Kendo informs us, "maybe it's just me, but Marcus has been acting strange lately."
"Tell me about it," I said rolling my eyes, "something's definitely up."
"I just hope he could tell us what's going on..." Setsuna said with slight sorrow, "Stupid Marcus..."
Setsuna held tightly on her skirt and left for her seat.
Ever since the sudden change of Marcus, Setsuna has been gloomy. It was obvious just from her sudden change in personality much like someone I know who has been avoiding us lately.
Kendo and I watch as Setsuna just rested her head on her arm and aimlessly looked out the window.
"Marcus' absence has been a big impact in class," Kendo said shaking her head, "what am I going to do with the handouts he missed out on?"
I look at the handouts for a bit and make a decision, "I'll give it to him."
"You sure?" Kendo asks hesitantly, "I'm okay with it, but I don't think Marcus would be very fond of-"
"Well he doesn't have much of a choice," I said taking the handouts.
"You're right about that," Kendo said looking at Setsuna, "good luck."
"Yeah..." I said with a sigh, "thanks."
I get back to my seat and stuff Marcus' handouts into my bag.
This awkwardness has been going on long enough and I'm going to put an end to this today.
•••
"This ends today," I said in front of Marcus' house, "you hear me?"
The only response I got was silence.
"Well... I'm going in," I said in front of the gate, "You sure about this?"
Behind me was an uneasy Setsuna looking down holding her bag with both hands.
"Honestly... I don't know," Setsuna said with a heavy sigh, "but I want to see and talk to him and get some answers."
"That's the spirit," I said as she gives me a smile, "let's teach our classmate here not to ignore his friends."
Setsuna nods as we enter and knock on his door. There wasn't a response so I knocked again and I could hear some rustling and footsteps.
"I thought you told me to stay put today-" Marcus said opening the door.
"Hey," I said as he stared at us.
"...Hey," Marcus said as he let go of the doorknob.
"You gonna let us in?" I asked, rather forcefully.
"Sure... Come on in," he said.
Setsuna and I walk in and sit down on a couch. Marcus sat across from us as none of us knew what to say.
"Have you guys had dinner?" Marcus asks, "I was in the middle of making some."
"Why not?" I said.
Marcus left for the kitchen as we wait for him to finish. Setsuna was still in her uneasy state as she hasn't looked Marcus straight in the face and was only taking glimpses of him when his back was turned.
When the food was done, we sat down and ate in silence. Only the sounds of utensils could be heard as no one said a word.
It was then I had just about enough of all this silence and asked the real reason why I came today.
"I'm just going to ask straightforward," I said looking him in the eye, "what's up with you recently?"
"Nothing," he said continuing to eat, "I was sick these past few days."
"Bullshit," I said slamming the table startling everyone, "stop avoiding the question and answer me. I deserve an answer."
"I'm not avoiding anything!" Marcus said in an outburst, "I have my reasons!"
"Than tell us!" I said confronting him, "I thought we were friends man!"
"I..." Marcus looks away and sit down, "I can tell you about it right now.
I rest my hands on my hips and proceed to ruffle my hair in distress. I look over at Setsuna who hasn't said a word since arriving.
"Come on Setsuna," I said, "say something..."
"..." Setsuna stays quiet and just looks at her plate.
I bit my lip and flopped down on my chair, "Maybe coming here was a mistake..."
The silence I couldn't stand started once again as I was about to lose my mind. As I was about to speak again, Setsuna steps in an finally started to speak.
"Marcus..." she said faintly.
"...Yeah?" Marcus said in a similar tone.
"We're your friends, right?" Setsuna asks.
"Yeah..." Marcus said, "The best friends I ever had."
"Than can you please tell us what's going on?" Setsuna said placing her hand on top of his, "Whatever's wrong, we want to help."
"I-I... can't," Marcus said as he gently moved Setsuna's hand, "I don't want you to get involved."
"Getting involved in something dangerous or not is our decision," I spoke up, "all we want to do is help."
"Please Marcus," Setsuna said placing her hand again, "tell us what's going on."
Marcus looks at us turning his head left and right contemplating on what his answer would be.
After a heavy sigh Marcus spoke.
"What I'm about to tell you know is something that may change your perspective of me," he said worryingly, "are you sure you want to hear it?"
"I'm all ears," I said.
"Same here," Setsuna said.
"Alright," Marcus said with a gulp, "this might take a while..."
I didn't think his reasons were going to be very interesting, but it was far from it.
Marcus told us about his past as he grew up thinking her didn't have a quirk as he realized he had one that was beyond any other quirk I had known. The power to take, give, and copy a quirk was something that sounded impossible, but it was here right in front of me.
As he thought he was the only one in possession of this quirk, he later found out that it was also in possession of the person behind the recent accidents with the creatures that had multiple quirks.
The person with these powers: All For One.
He had a dark path using his quirk to create his own empire as he named himself after his own quirk.
"The only ones who know about this is All Might and a close detective and now... you guys," Marcus said, "so, what do you think? I must look like some kind of villain to you guys."
"Marcus..." Setsuna said, "How could you have kept this to yourself for so long?"
"I guess it's a burden I have to bear," he said, "I don't want somebody I know to get hurt being involved."
"You idiot!" Setsuna said as she slapped Marcus in the face.
It was a shock to both me and Marcus as we looked at each other with our eyes wide open.
Setsuna then pulled Marcus into a hug as she started to tear up.
"If you had something like this going on you should've told us," she said in between sniffles.
"C-Come on now Setsuna," Marcus said rubbing her back, "I've got you guys now."
"Just know that you can depend on your friends every now and then," Setsuna said, "like Juzo said, whatever decision we make is our own choice."
"Okay," Marcus said comforting Setsuna, "I'm sorry about keeping you guys in the dark."
"Geez," I said as they look at me as I scratch my head, "now you're making me feel bad."
"No problem," Marcus said with a light chuckle, "I kinda deserved it."
"Really now?" I said.
I walk up to Marcus and slap him in the head.
"Hey!" Marcus said, "What was that for!?"
"What?" I said sticking my tongue out, "You said you deserved it."
"Yeah, but... not like this man," Marcus said wincing at the pain, "we even?"
"Why not?" I said placing a hand in his shoulder, "Welcome back."