The Aftermath and the Path Forward
It's been a day since the festival ended. It turns out that even though I wasn't aware of my quirk evolving on its own, Bakugo still had some words for me.
"I told you to go all out against me, you piece of shit! What the hell was that?!"
Sigh... I have a lot to prepare before I run out of time, so let me explain what I meant when I said, "I have to kill Akuma Matsumoto." I obviously didn't mean it literally, since I can't actually "kill" a being that doesn't really exist.
This failsafe works in a strange way. I don't really know how, but my guess is that after the U.S.J. attack, and after the Wanderer gave me his gift, my core started storing a secret reserve of these new black threads without my knowledge. So when the core gets damaged and my consciousness fades, this state uses that emergency reserve to fight.
The problem is, as I can see in the recorded videos I downloaded, this consciousness attacks anything in range, almost in a blind rage. I almost killed Midnight. I can't let my body go around murdering the people I'm supposed to save. Therefore, returning to the starting point, the way of "killing" this Awaken State—as I've named it—is by forcing myself not to disappear after my core gets damaged.
The way to do this, after a lot of thought, could be by entering this state multiple times a day until I'm capable of at least seeing what the hell is happening.
The metro shakes violently as we get closer to my station. A little kid loses his balance and grabs my leg. I only look at him briefly. He's a normal Japanese child, around ten years old, with black hair and black eyes staring at me curiously. It takes him a while before he screams.
"AH! IT'S YOU!"
"Come again?"
He doesn't repeat himself. He literally pushes my leg away, muttering some words while running to his mom. She lifts him and looks at me.
"I'm sorry, he saw you on TV and he thought you were... scary? I'm so sorry, really."
And, as I realized while walking down the station, still in shock, a lot of people thought the same thing. A kid so young being so indifferent to harm surely makes them anxious. Well, that was part of what I expected. My quirk isn't the most pleasant to see, really, and using it so carelessly surely got me the attention I wanted. But that is for the future.
The rain pours down heavily as everyone around me uses umbrellas and raincoats to avoid getting wet. I, on the other hand, have no need for those kinds of things. I can't get sick, and my clothes are covered by a thin layer of thread, preventing any kind of liquid from touching it. Very convenient, if you ask me.
I can hear the bystanders looking at me, using my name, or rather, the verb "Akuma." They all say the same; the name is a fit for me.
Jerks…
Entering the UA is, as always, a good sensation for the heart. I look at the sky as I take a breath of fresh air, taking my time to exhale it. Unfortunately for me, this time it didn't take long for someone to interrupt my moment of solitude.
"Akuma! Thank God I found you early, Principal Nezu wants to talk with you."
The sweet yet authoritative voice of Kendo enters my ears as I open my eyes. Pointing my finger at myself, I ask, "Me? Did I do something?"
"Eh, Midnight just told me to tell you if I saw you. She didn't tell me why, though."
Kendo says, scratching her cheek and looking away. After a moment, I laugh and close the distance between us in a few steps.
"Will you be kind enough to show me where the office is? I already forgot."
"Hah? Well, I don't have anything to do right now, so sure, let's go."
Hmm, I lied, thinking she would reject me, but I guess it's fine. Maybe she's a little too kind?
We walk through the still-empty corridors of UA to the office, since it's still very early. After a moment of silence, she speaks first.
"Akuma?"
"Hmm? What's up?
"Don't you feel pain when you fight? I saw you, and hurting yourself like that… worries me. And then you lost control. Are you sure it's okay to abuse your quirk that much?"
She stops walking. To my surprise, she's genuinely looking at me, worried. I scratch my head, walking to her while locking eyes.
"I'm sure you think I'm hurting myself by doing what I do, but Kendo, if I do it, it's because I love it. To fight, save lives, and see myself getting stronger day by day—that is what makes me. I was blessed with a quirk capable of evolving, a quirk so versatile it makes me wonder how much I can grow. I'm not especially normal, I know that. My body is different from everyone else, but I still want to help them. I want to be a hero."
She stares at me for a moment before sighing, her eyes now more calm. She grabs my hand and smiles softly.
"Don't push yourself so hard, okay? I have enough to worry about just taking care of my own class."
"Understood then. I don't want to cause you any trouble either."
She lets go of my hand and then uses her fist to push me in a friendly way. We laugh in silence as she turns around.
"Okay, then I have to go to my class. The principal's office is right in front of you."
I silently watch her go away. When she disappears behind a corner, I finally turn around and walk the few meters left. Knocking on the door, I'm received by a mountain of a person.
All Might was there, in his buff form. After all, he's still trying to maintain appearances. Anyway, at the desk directly in front of the door is Principal Nezu, and sitting on the couch nearby is Midnight. I enter the room silently, asking myself if they are going to expel me.
"Young Matsumoto, please take a seat."
All Might's deep voice shakes the room as I sit down on the chair in front of the desk. We stare in silence before Nezu starts the conversation.
"Akuma-kun, first of all, your participation in the Sports Festival was exceptional. Not a lot of students do what you did, and, to be honest, I was impressed by the control you showed in all three stages of the tournament. However, the rapid evolution of your quirk has become a concern for us teachers."
"It only took a moment for us to realize what a prodigy you are, being able to control such a complicated quirk with an efficiency so high it matches even some of the best students we ever had. But the way you fight—being so reckless and, well, unnatural—can be compromising for our school. The press doesn't like having to watch a kid losing limbs with ease. It's similar with Midoriya, but your case seems to be even more visual."
I sit there as the Principal talks. Well, I think I know where this is going, but I guess from now on, I have to keep an eye on when to go all out, which gives me more reason to get rid of the failsafe.
"Young Akuma, everyone saw you lose control over your quirk. We are no one to judge you, since we are aware that the power you bear is quite problematic. Hmm…"
All Might stands up beside me, rubbing his chin while thinking, with that always present smiles of his.At that moment, Midnight intervenes. I turn to see her without saying a word.
"We discussed your situation, and we came to the conclusion that the best thing we can do is ask you to contain yourself when you act in front of the public. You'll understand it later. Here in our training, you are free to use your quirk to the fullest; that isn't going to change. So, what do you think?"
"Mhm, well, Midnight-sensei, I'm going to do as you tell me. If the school thinks it's for the best, I'm going to obey."
All three of them stare at me with a gentle smile as I stand up. Bowing to them, I am prepared to leave when Nezu speaks again.
"Ah, Akuma? Recovery Girl told us about your way of recovering. Feel free to grab as much food as you need from the cafeteria."
"Oh… that will be so helpful. Thank you, Principal Nezu."
As I was leaving, the sound of the office door made me stop. There she was, Midnight, walking toward me with a confident smile.
"Akuma, can we talk?"
"S-sure?"
She came closer, her aroma filling the air. I wasn't sure if she was really angry at me. Her soft voice made me stare at her.
"Let's put everything that happened at the festival aside, shall we? I know it wasn't your fault, okay? So erase that worried look from your face."
"Midnight-sensei, thank you so much."
I bow my head in silence. She stares at me and then hits me on the head softly as she laughs slightly. We talk a little bit before she says goodbye, and as I stare at her, I can only think of one thing.
I'm definitely going to save her.
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I get to the classroom, and it's already packed. Aizawa is still missing, but he's always late, so whatever. I sit in my usual spot, looking at the window as drops of water come down from the sky.
I look at the window as I think about everything that's happened today and…
Well, fuck.
So now I'm getting restrained? Okay, sure, my quirk is somewhat creepy, but prohibiting me from fighting in my style? That's rude, if you ask me.
Anyway, it's not the end of the world, and honestly, I was expecting some kind of repercussion. Since they let me off easy after the U.S.J. attack, this was probably the last straw to get me in a collar.
Sigh... this sucks.
Even so, I need to keep going. Planning my day is a great way to do so. First is this "event," then I'll try to talk with Mei Hatsune, and then after all that, it's my reunion with Karma. We have a lot to discuss regarding this upcoming act.
As I'm mentally preparing, Aizawa opens the door, and as always, he goes straight to the point.
"Good morning. This will be a very different day for all of you, since today marks the day you will choose your hero names."
The class explodes in emotion, lifting their seats as they cheer. It's not that I'm not excited, but doing that kind of thing always feels strange to me, so I just stare at my notebook with a smile as they explain.
"This is a very important step in your careers, since this marks the initial emotion for your future. Some of them might be forgotten. This is now the nomination count."
Looking at the chart, I can't help but feel disappointed to see I didn't make it. Bakugo and Todoroki are leading, and surprisingly, this time Midoriya managed to gather thirty nominations. Impressive, really.
This means the black sheep of the classroom is probably me. But alas, people fear what they don't understand, and I'm also a quite difficult fellow, after all.
Midnight enters as everyone pays attention to Aizawa's speech. She looks at me and I maintain eye contact, tilting my head in confusion. She flinches and looks away with a twitch of her lip. I don't think much of it as she smiles and screams for the classroom to pay attention.
"Now! Tell me what is the name the world is about to see! The name the world is about to learn!"
'The name you select is going to be the way people perceive you.'
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"Absolutely no!"
"What?!"
So here I am, standing with my chosen name, presenting it as the whole class stares at me.
"Mayhem? Really? Isn't that a little too much?"
"I'm named Akuma. I think it fits me pretty well."
"That is not the point!"
Midnight stares at me while crossing her arms. It's not a serious discussion at all, but since we are already here, what the hell, let's push it a little bit.
"Do what you want. My name is Mayhem."
"HAH?!"
And so I was sent to the principal's office once again. We discussed a little bit—more like a friendly talk, to be honest—and he accepted my name after I reassured him I would never use my quirk in a reckless way in public. I also accepted to participate in a little event he was preparing. I have no idea what it is; I don't recall anything similar happening, but oh well, I got the name I wanted.
"I can't believe you said that to Midnight-sensei, Akuma. Even Aizawa was perplexed."
The one talking to me was Jiro, in front of me. Beside her were Denki and Kirishima. On my side was only Mina. Jiro was pointing at me with a spoon while talking.
"Like, jeez, you can't talk to a teacher like that, you know?"
"But Mayhem! That sounds so cool! Isn't that right, Kaminari?"
"That's not the point, Kirishima!"
As Mina and Jiro tried to make Kirishima change his mind and Denki was just looking away, I was about to finish my fifth plate of the day. Hey, Nezu told me to grab whatever I want, and I will.
"I'm going to get some more before the break ends."
I say as I stand up. My classmates look at me like I'm crazy.
"Didn't you already eat more than all of us combined? Aren't you full already?"
"Well, first of all,I didn't eat, I consumed, so no... I'm about two-fifths of my reserve."
"Just come back quickly, we need to keep scolding you."
"Yes, yes, I know you will miss me if I leave for too long."
"Oh, please."
The hero in charge of the cafeteria looks at me like I am a psychopath as he serves me my sixth meal of the day. I grab it and walk to a different table. Sitting down without warning, I stare at the pink-haired girl playing with a screwdriver and an unknown creation.
"Hey, can you spare a little time for me, Hatsune Mei?"