My dreams have been stressing me out for a while. Every now and then, I wake up crying. The only thing I'm able to remember was a mere whisper and my eyes staring at the ceiling from my room. I don't know why I would cry. It's very confusing.

·𖥸·

I passed the final. I did. Bakugo did too thanks to me. He doesn't want to address it but I'm okay with that. I would like to continue the distance between us.

The only thing that I can grasp is my hatred for him. Keeps me grounded.

"Since we're off tomorrow, and we just finished our exams, why doesn't Class A all go shopping together?!" Hagakure suggested. She was talking to the whole class.

"Oh, good idea!" Kaminari agrees, his excitement transmitted on to the other students. "Wouldn't that be the first time we all hung out together?!"

Kirishima invited Bakugo, but he declined.

"Y/n, you're coming too right?!" Mina practically begged.

"I don't know," I answer. I was seated in my seat. Unenthusiastic about the trip. 

Kaminari put his hand on top of my head, "Aw come on Y/n, it'll be fun!"

"I will if you stop touching me." I sneer. Flashing my eyes.

Kaminari's hair stood up, he carefully detached himself from me. "Scary."

"Ahh! I'm so excited!" Mina jumped up and down.

·𖥸·

That was a dumb comment I made. Why did I have to open my mouth?

At least half the class didn't even go.
It was only Tokoyami, Jiro, Kirishima, Hagakure, Kaminari, Yaoyorozu, Uraraka, Iida, Mina, and Shoji.

They all were arranging a meeting time at 3 pm. It was enough time for all of them to buy supplies for the 1 week getaway to a forest arranged by the school.

I went off on my own. Mina was too busy smiling to notice my absence.

I didn't need anything so I was planning on just leaving early and texting Mina that something else came up.

"Oh, it's someone from UA. Cool!"

I hear a voice. Familiar. Raspy and dry. Somewhere near my ear.
I look around and before I could react, this man places their arm over my shoulders.
I couldn't see his face because of the black hoodie he was wearing.

"Let me have your autograph!" He continued. "You were the one who got all beat up at the sports festival, right?"

"Fuck off," I say. Trying to yank their arm away but it stiffened in place.
This is weird...

The guy didn't budge."And weren't you also one of the students who ran into the hero killer in the Hosu incident? That's so cool!"

The way his hot breath brushed against my neck, leaving a tingle behind, made me very uncomfortable. He was too close.

Child molester on loose like this? He's just targeting me in the middle of the crowd? Is this his first attempt or something?

"Man, I seriously can't believe it. I can't believe I'd see you again in a place like this. It makes me feel like there's something to it..."

Again?
I use my Quirk.
Fuck. No way. Why? How?!

Shigaraki Tomura's hand, which was over my shoulder, slithered up to my neck. "...something like fate, or destiny."
All of his fingers were placed firmly around my throat, all except one.
"But well, from your perspective, I guess we haven't met since the attack on UA, huh?"
Shigaraki lifted his head to show me his face for the first time. No fake hands on himself.
His blood-red eyes were much like Stains. Though, for reasons unknown, I found myself looking at Shigaraki's eyes for more than necessary.
His skin was dry under his eyes and he had a particular mole on his chin, leaning towards the left.
"Why don't we have tea or something, Y/n L/n?"

"Tea? The fu—"

"Act natural, like I'm an old friend. Don't make a fuss, okay? Calm down and catch your breath." There was no need for him to sound like he was threatening me...The hand on my neck gives that effect to his words already.

Although I was a bit frightened—a lot frightened—I kept my cool.

"I want to talk to you. Just try something funny." Shigaraki's middle finger circled my throat over and over like it had a consciousness of its own and its only purpose is to touch me. "It's simple. The instant all five of my fingers touch your neck, you'll start crumbling from the skin of your throat. You'll turn to dust in less than a minute."

A vague memory of Mr. Aizawa's elbow popped into my head.
"You touch me and heroes will kill you the moment I'm dead," I said. Calm and steady but little of my voice was holding back. I was careful not to tense up too much.
If I showed vulnerability, he will overpower me.

"I'm sure. But look at these guys...!" Shigarki pointed to the people around us. They were all minding their business. Laughing. Enjoying their time. "Even though anyone could wield their Quirk at any time, how can they smile and gather like that? When it comes down to it, laws and rules assume that individuals have morals. They're convinced that there's no way anyone would do it. Before I'm caught I could crumble twenty—no, thirty people..."

Does it look like a give a fuck about how many people you kill? I got nothing to do with them. I would be dead!
Still calm, "What do you want to talk about?"

Shigaraki tightened his grip on my neck.

He felt my body tense up and Shigaraki giggled. "Very nice. Since we've got this chance, why don't we sit down and have a chat?"

"Okay.." I agreed. Not like I had much choice.

The villain led us to a plant decoration where the bricks surrounding it are available to sit on. His hand never left my neck.

"I hate everything." He started. "But what pisses me off the most right now is the hero killer."

"You're not...working together?" I ask. Yes, I was wary to not talk too much so I don't end up fucking up.

"I didn't acknowledge it, but that's how it ended up in the news. That's the problem. Almost everyone is looking at the hero killer. The attack on UA and the Nomus I released on Hosu city...Everything was upstaged by him. No one's looking at me. Why is that?  No matter how much he boasts, in the end, he just destroyed what he didn't like, right? What do you think the difference is between me and him, Y/n?" Shigaraki got close to my ear, whispering my name, nice and slow. It gave me chills...

"There isn't none..." I talk. "You're both criminals who want to display some kind of message but I'm guessing the Hero Killer: Stain got the attention this time because he wants people like All Might to keep living...You want to destroy that. He saved me. You want to kill me. He likes justice, you like chaos." I glance at Shigaraki. I hoped that I hadn't angered him.

Shigaraki exhaled out of his mouth. His hot breath hit my neck, "It's like a weight off my chest. I feel like I've connected the dots. Why the hero killer pisses me off. And why you irritate me...I feel like I understand now. Everything's because of All Might. Yeah, that's it. When all's said and done. That's where I ended up. What was I worrying so much about? These guys are able to smile thoughtlessly because All Might is smiling thoughtlessly as if there was no one he couldn't save!"
Shigaraki gripped tighter. Preventing less airflow to go in or out of my lungs.

A whimper slips out of my mouth.
I was surrounded by strangers and yet...No one noticed me. And my widened eyes. Not a single eye glanced my way.
No one.

My hand twitched as I become angry. Why the fuck is it always me who has to struggle. Why do I always have to save myself?

Shigaraki smiled, "Don't struggle. Do you want to die? You think it's okay for the masses to die?"

"I don't care about the masses." I wheeze. My head was lifted up.
Does the universe want to kill me? Am I not worthy to live after all? Was I right to think that Stain was wrong about me?

"Y/n?" Uraraka stands in the distance.

Uraraka...?

I saw Shigaraki almost slip out his other hand from his pocket.
I said I didn't care for the masses to die. I didn't care if I die but...not my classmates. Or at least not in front of me. I'm not a fucking hack.

"I'm hanging out with my friend, do you mind?"
This whole time, I was hoping she didn't question the hand on my neck. I hoped that she would excuse it with the fact that I'm kinky.

Shigaraki released me and raised both his hands to show his innocence. "Oh, you had another friend with you? Sorry 'bout that. I'm off then." He got close to my ear once again. "If you try following me, I'll get very angry at you." And just like that, he walked away.

I took long breaths until I was able to calm down. My hands trembling.
So now they start shaking?

"Y/n, who was that?" Uraraka sits next to me. I could tell she wanted to caress my back but she knew better.

"No one," I answer too quickly. Wince,
and slow my words. "Just a friend." I get up. "I'm going to the bathroom."

Uraraka didn't follow me.

The public bathrooms for women were empty. Which is rare.
As the opportunist I am, I wash my face while staring at my reflection.

Lifting up my chin, and touching my neck.
Red marks in the shape of a hand were starting to appear.
As if water would fix it, I tried to cool it down. It hurt but I didn't stop. I didn't want marks. I didn't want a reminder. 

As I finally gave up, I stare at myself. I could have smashed the mirror. Not because I hated the mirror itself but what it was showing me. A detestable sight.

A weak, pathetic, piece of shit who thinks they can save people. What a joke. I can't even save myself. That's what Gran Torino had said to me. He was right.

I didn't stay at the mall.

Not bothering to text Mina about my disappearance. I was only at the mall because she asked me to. Yet she didn't even notice I was gone. That's what I get for thinking I could have such things as friendships.

·𖥸·

I called him. "Hey. Can I meet you, somewhere?"

Monoma agreed to meet me at our usual park. It was night and the scenery was comforting.
Just him and I sitting at a wooden bench. 

"What did you do today?" He asks.

"Nothing much," I said. I had time to think, so I was calmer now. 

Monoma was quiet for a second. "Are you sure?"

He saw right through me. I knew it. But I kept up the lie. "I went to the mall with some of my classmates," I answer again, truthfully this time.

Monoma got closer to me. "Aww, no invitation? Do you really forget me that quickly?"

I tensed up and prayed he wouldn't see it. "You don't even like them."

"But I like you. That's reason enough to go." He says with a smile. His blue eyes stared straight into mine.
An exhale was taken away from my lungs. There's something about tonight. Maybe it was the previous encounter making me feel like this. Or the fact that it was night. I don't know but I was feeling weird.

"Don't say that," I tell him, looking away because I felt odd about it.

Monoma was silent. Too silent.

I look back at him and he was staring at me with a shocked expression.

Fuck. I sigh, "It's nothing." I tug on my hoodie to try and hide my neck.

Monoma sits way too close to examine it. "The fuck do you mean nothing? Who did this to you?"

I bit my lip and tried not to be a little bitch. Like hell, I was going to cry. Not in front of him. Not because of a villain. Not because he shows he cares about me. "I don't wanna talk about it." 

Monoma grabs my face and forces me to look at him. It was a little rough but I kept that thought in my head. "Y/n, you can tell me." 

I started to contort my eyes because I knew what was to come. There was no stopping it now. My tears started to come down, trickling down my cheeks and to his hand. Once Monoma saw my tears, he let me go.

I felt stupid so I wiped them off but they didn't stop. My body was betraying me.

"Y/n, it's okay to cry." He told me. "Cry." Monoma embraces me, he places my head on his chest and I did as he told me.

Once I could control my sobs I apologized for calling him. "I thought hanging out with you would make me forget."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe because you make me laugh a lot." I smile, wiping my eyes once more.

Monoma gladly took the compliment. "Really? What else." 

I roll my eyes. "Don't get too carried away. It was one compliment."

I didn't want this night to end. It felt nice. It felt different. I felt okay. 

Monoma chuckles and then grins. 

I smile too.

Then he kissed me.

·𖥸·

During summer vacation, the first day of Training Camp arrived.

Both classes A and B were going. Though, in separate buses. We were all outside of the school grounds, ready to get inside the buses and leave.

Monoma and I held hands as we talked. I liked touching him. It made my chest tingle in a good way. Every time I even laid eyes on him, my face automatically smiled. It must be a sore sight to see but I don't give two shits. I can do whatever I want. When it was officially time to leave, he kissed my cheek and got into his bus.

Inside class A's bus, I sat next to a window. Todoroki sat next to me.

He said nothing and moved only once during the whole 1-hour drive.
I didn't either. I was purposefully avoiding any talk from my classmates by listening to music with my earbuds on. Whatever their opinions were about my dating life was not my concern. 

Unexpectedly, our bus stopped at a resting area and we were told to get off the bus.

It was a cliff guarded with a rail so no one jumps off but it was practically pointless. It's like they forgot people can climb small railings.
Beyond the cliff, an endless amount of trees stretched all the way to the horizon.
A forest.

A black car was parked on the same cliff. It looked very suspicious. That was until two women came out of the creepy car and talked casually with Aizawa.

The two girls were pretty petite. One had reddish brown hair styled to a bob and wore a red dress, a fake cat tail, and cat gloves. Mandalay, aka Shino Sosaki.
The other girl was blond with long hair styled into a ponytail. Wore the same thing as the other one but her color was blue. Pixie-bob, aka Ryuko Tsuchikawa.

"These pro heroes who will be working with us during the camp, the Pussycats. Everyone, greet them." Aizawa orders.

I noticed a creepy kid standing aside. He wore a hat with horns.
I thought he was a ghost for a second until he made eye contact with me, glared, and looked away. No ghost would have a death wish like that.

"We own this whole stretch of land here." Mandalay pointed to the forest, "You all will be staying at the foot of that mountain."

Then why are we stopping here?

Sero nervously laughed, "Why don't we get back to the bus, huh? Quickly."

Kaminari too. "Yeah...Let's do that."

"It's 9:30 am right now. If you're fast...Maybe around noon?" Mandalay smiled. Stretching the corners of her mouth all the way to her eyes.

I caught up. Oh shit...

"BACK TO THE BUS GUYS! HURRY!" Kirishima screamed and ran back to the bus. Some of our classmates followed his lead.

Pixie fucking Bob used her Quirk to rise the ground and throw all of us off the cliff.

Mandalay mentioned to us—she was leaning against the railing looking down at us—"Since it's private land, you can use your Quirks as you wish! You have three hours or else you don't get to eat! Try and get through The Beast's Forest!"

There was a patch of flat land, and then the forest began. Already, we were all dirty. We hesitated to walk into the unknown. Especially into a forest that had the word "Beast" in its name.

Mineta gave no fucks, he had to pee so he booked it into the forest. But as he entered, a massive creature made of mud emerged from there.
Mineta peed his pants.

Koda rushed to Mineta's aid and tried to talk the beast down. That was the first time I heard him talk.
The beast didn't seem to listen to Koda and I made the kind effort to save Mineta by kicking his stomach and sending him flying into a tree. He started to cry.

"I didn't kick you that hard." I roll my eyes at the sight. Then actually focused on the beast.
If Koda's Quirk didn't work...Then that means it's not a living animal. Someone is controlling the mud.

Todoroki immediately took action and froze the monster's legs. Iida Recipro-Bursted the beast's head and Bakugo exploded it with a final blow. 

I saw mosquitos everywhere. I was too busy swatting them away to engage in battle. Once the monster was defeated, another beast was heard from a distance."Guys, I can't do this. There are so many mosquitos here." I quiver and slap my arm to kill a bug. "I hate insects."

"We won't get to eat lunch if we wait for too long!" Sero advances further into the forest.

"CLASS A! LET'S DO THIS!" Iida screamed and gave the class the push they needed to keep going.

Why did I accept to come on a trip where insects are everywhere...