Chereads / The Life of Izuku Midoriya / Chapter 5 - Chapter Five: Through Other Eyes

Chapter 5 - Chapter Five: Through Other Eyes

TIME - 2:37 AM          2 hours after Kirishima's shift

Kirishima stands, terrified from his place on the roof of his apartment complex. Explosions fired off in the distance, green light flashing. In Kirishima's mind, he knew exactly what was happening. Mina, half dressed, is surprised to find Kirishima standing, staring into the distance.

Mina: Kiri? Everythi-

She is interrupted by a recognizable explosion in the distance. Kirishima gasps as he sees it as well. Howitzer Impact pierces through the night, leveling the nearby buildings and waking hundreds of his neighbors. Kirishima, knowing for certain what is happening, nose dives off of the roof. Falling, he activates his quirk, Hardening. Slamming into the ground, he smashes concrete with his powerful body. As he stands, he sees green lightning flashing through the sky. Kirishima, afraid for Bakugo, begins to sprint through the streets and making his way to the mayhem.

Mina sees Kirishima running towards the battle. She grips her shirt, replacing it on her body. Leaping off the building as well, she produces an acid bridge as she pursues her stubborn boyfriend. She follows quickly, traveling only shortly behind, to prevent burning him. Kirishima, having noticed the pink woman pursuing him, shouts out to her.

Kirishima: Mina, go back inside! It isn't safe for you.

Mina: No way! You know what that green light was! I know, too. We have to help Bakugo!

Kirishima grunts, recognizing her statement. If it is what he thinks, though, they won't be able to do much. Kirishima halts his mad dash, reaching into his pocket. Mina sinks to the concrete, stopping. She peers over his shoulder. She sees him dial a number, and hold the phone up to his ear. Kirishima waits patiently, the phone ringing. As it rings three, four times, he swears. Finally, the man answers, angry.

Unknown: Hello?

Kirishima: Sir! We need your help, there's a fight happening on (insert) and (insert)! We know it's a tilted match, and we won't be able to help without your quirk.

Unknown: ...Is it those two? Quickly, Riot!

Kirishima: Bakugo and Midoriya! They aren't holding back either! We've already seen Howitzer Impact.

Unknown: Shit, I'll be there in 5 minutes!

Kirishima: Sir! Bring her. She can stop Midoriya!

The man grunts, hanging up the phone. Relief sweeps over Kirishima as he quickly turns, explaining the situation to Mina. Kirishima and Mina begin their marathon again, him on the ground, her in the sky.

At the battlefield

Kirishima gasps, seeing the state of the gym. It might as well have been completely demolished. Half of it had been leveled by the Howitzer Impact. The rest was not much better. Piles of rubble lay everywhere. He kept running. He sends Mina ahead to scout. She rose into the sky on her acid bridge. Ever since she'd learned to ride her acid, it had become her main mode of transportation. As she arose into the sky, she felt terror creep into her stomach. Gazing at the scene before her, she felt as if their crusade was hopeless. The fight between Midoriya and Bakugo had destroyed a large portion of the area around the gym. Although this part of town was mainly warehouses and chain restauarants, she knew that Kirishima's thrift, the one he worked at, was also gone.

Kirishima runs through the rubble, searching desperately for survivors or other signs of life. A thunderous blow causes him to trip. As his foot falls to catch himself, he hears a quiet voice, barely more than a whisper.

Unknown: Help me, plea-please.

Kirishima turns, search and rescue his priority. As he turns, round and around, trying to locate the voice, it comes again.

Unknown: Down...here....

Kirishima looks down, discovering that his feet were planted on the ruins of the thrift store he had left just earlier tonight. As he peers down, he sees a man's face hidden beneath the rubble. Quickly, he steps off. As he hooks his hands under the edge of the large piece of rubble, the voice calls out again.

Unknown: Kir-Kirishima?

As he hears the voice, really hears it, his blood freezes. Then, he remembers who was supposed to be the next shift. He recognizes the man immediately as his coworker. He had just started a few days ago, and Kirishima was supposed to be showing him the ropes. He heaved, using every ounce of his strength to move the piece of concrete. It creaked and groaned, budging slowly. Finally, it moved, falling back and away from the man. Mineta lies on the ground. Kirishima gasps.

There Mineta lies, impaled on a large piece of metal rebar, his eyes closed. As Kirishima grasps the young boy, only to feel his skin is cold. As Kirishima picks the boy up, pulling him off of the rebar. Careful not to injure him further, he checks Mineta's pulse. His mind racing, he checks the boy's wrist. Nothing. Panicking, he puts his finger to the boy's neck, checking the pulse there. Nothing, nothing, nothing!

Kirishima: No...no, no. Mina! Get over here!

Mina hears the call of distress, flying towards it. Kirishima still hovers over the body, doing what he can to keep the boy alive. He presses his lips to the boy's, breathing into his lungs, inflating them. Kirishima pulls away, and begins compressions. 1,2,3,4,5. He breathes into the boy's mouth once again. Chest compressions, 1,2,3,4,5. Mina lands nearby, acid falling to the ground with her. As she approaches, a gasp escapes her lips. She crouches next to Mineta, trying to help. As her hands touch the boy's arm, she shivers. He was cold. She tried to move his arm, but it stays in place, stiff.

She glimpses at Kirishima, his desperate look. She grabs his arm, stopping his motions. He peers into her eyes, and she sees the fire within them go out. She pulls him in, hugging him tightly. He sits within her grip, arms still extended. A tear falls down his cheek. His arms wrap around her. He cries, sobbing into Mina's arms. He failed to save someone for the first time, and it had struck him deeply.

Just then, he heard cackling. Maniacal, hysterical cackling in the distance. Breaking out of Mina's hug, he listens intently. He stands, still weeping silently. Fueled by rage and adrenaline, he sprints towards the laughter, tearing through a concrete wall. As he passes through his body hardens, eyes glowing red. He hears Mina call out, ignoring her warnings. He follows the sound of movement. Rounding a corner, he finds the culprit. His body creaking quietly, he steps forward. Suddenly, a hand falls on his shoulder.

...

Midoriya peers into the sky, through with his laughing fit. Bakugo lies in a pile of rubble, bricks surrounding him as they fall from the wall above the impact point. He hears a quiet creaking in the distance. Ignoring it, he speaks.

Midoriya: Hey Mina! What's up?

Silence follows, as Mina sits on the roof of the gym. She is terrified at how badly Bakugo is beaten and by how close Midoriya is. She knew that Midoriya was pissed but damn.

Midoriya: Alright, don't talk. But I know you're there.

As Midoriya spoke, he noticed the green lightning around him dissipate. Party pooper... He peers around, searching for the culprit. A red glint catches his attention. Finally, his eyes settle on an area that is just barely hidden around a corner. His gaze falling on a piece of glass. In the reflection, he can clearly see a red glare coming from around that corner. As Midoriya walks silently towards the corner, he hears slight whispers. Finally, he stops. He stands, just 2 feet from the corner. The whispers continue, as they can't tell where he is now.

Midoriya: Who was it that taught me stealth, again? Come on out, Sensei.

A man appears, walking out from around the corner. Black, messy hair standing on end, over a pair of yellow goggles. Red, glowing pupils, eyes with bags. A grim smile spreads over his face, combat scarf unraveling. Arms raised, the U.A. teacher steps from around the corner, greeting the student warmly. A little girl runs along the roof with Mina, hidden from sight.

Aizawa: Hey, kid.

TIME - 2:45 AM