"My boy, wake up. You're having a nightmare," I heard the gentle voice of my hero and I wanted to reach out for him but it was more of a shock to feel myself being lifted up. For once I wasn't met with empty silence when I reached out, All Might's words whispered gently in my ear and his arms hugged me while I cried.
"It's okay, my boy. It's okay I'm here now. Dad's here," his whispers found my ears and I just cried into his chest while he tried to soothe me. When I opened my eyes all I could see were my tears, they were flowing far too heavily for me to see through and I had to wipe them away for a bit before I could see anything. Kacchan was sitting where I left him looking guilty, not meeting my eyes. Somehow I was still in Dad's arms while he rubbed soothing circles on my back.
"What-?" I started to ask but then I hiccuped. What? Why am I so unbalanced right now? Why do I feel so overwhelmed and most of all. Why did I have to dream about that day? Of all the days, of all of my memories it had to be the day my father made me feel like I was less than human. I mean am I really human at all? Am I even good enough to be considered human? What if I do something else? What if something else happens all because I was just there? What if I really shouldn't have been born at all like he said?
"Shh shh shhh, it's all right. You are my son. If I could go back in time just so I could meet you all sooner then I would. I swear that I would," Dad rocked me gently in his arms.
"Deku, we were hit with a quirk while we were on the mission. Just hold on for a little while, okay? All the bad thoughts and memories will go away," Kacchan spoke up and I turned my attention back to him. Now I understand why he looks guilty. He must have been hit with the same quirk. It explains why his eyes were so red and how his voice was so raw even though we just woke up.
"Oh my boy," All Might kept whispering as if he couldn't believe something terrible but I don't know what. Why is he crying? Did I do something terrible again? I really must be some kind of monster.
"No, you are perfect just the way you are. Come on, I'm taking you both to see Hound Dog, right now." He lifted me up a little higher before helping Kacchan out of his seat and gently guiding him out of the dorms, never once even moving to put me down.
"Dad, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, you can put me down. I'm sorry," I kept repeating but he just hugged me tighter.
"I'm not so old that I can't carry you, let me have at least this. Please," he asked and for some reason he sounds even more upset than I feel. Oh God, I really am terrible. I made All Might cry! "Hush, you are an angel and I will fight anyone who tries to say differently."
***
I still feel so embarrassed. Turns out that I was talking in my sleep that day and everyone in the dorms pretty much heard me crying about my father leaving me. They heard me asking why I wasn't good enough and weirdly enough, they all seemed so much nicer than before. Before we came back in time even. I don't really understand but Kacchan says that it's because they finally got an overdue wake up call and that life isn't all flowers and rainbows for anyone. But I don't really understand that either.
Who thought life was all flowers and rainbows? We are constantly getting hurt and dealing with some really shitty situations and even more our class has seen at least that much even if they haven't had to fight for their lives like the first time around but I'm probably missing something obvious.
Right now Kacchan and I are packing for the summer camp it's been a couple months now and the attack during our internships wasn't nearly as big as I remember but then when I watched it on the news, maybe it was? Maybe I'm just jaded from the years that we fought in the future and neither of us are addressing the elephant in the room. The fact is, he will probably be kidnapped again, he was just as destructive during the awards ceremony this time as last time and they did have to chain him to the first place alter. Only his legs were free and he had to use one of them to catch me when I passed out, but we both refuse to let Dad lose this time. Hell, we won't let Dad even get to the fight. We will take care of All-For-One once and for all.
"Bro! I'm so excited, I mean so many of us still have to do remedial courses but still," Kirishima walked into the room to find us both closing our suit cases. "Uh, Yagibro? This is Bakubro's room?" I laughed at his confusion while Kacchan scoffed at him.
"What do you want, Shitty Hair?" He grumbled while glaring at our friend.
"Bro, I've been thinking this for a while but you two get along really well. I mean yeah, you still fight a lot but you even keep things in each other's rooms!" Kirishima was getting a little over excited at his revelation but oh well.
"The fact that we still have to spell it out for you all at this point is just sad," Kacchan rolled his eyes.
"Spell what out?" Ashido asked while walking in with Kaminari and Sero.
"Why the hell are you all in my room?" Kacchan glared while setting off a few explosions.
"Take it easy man, we're just chilling," Sero shrugged and now I frowned.
"I don't like you chilling in here," I answered and Kacchan pointed at me but didn't say anything else. They all looked at me confused. I felt my eyebrow twitch in irritation. I'm overreacting aren't I? But no matter how I try to reason it out, they are violating our space and I really don't like it.
I let OFA flood my body and the green currents of energy crackled around me making them all flinch back. "Get out," I smiled at them and they traded looks before running out of the room, tripping over each other, all the while Kacchan laughed.
"I don't see what's so funny," I pouted at him.
"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad they get to see the jealous side of you this time around," he kept chuckling before setting both of our suitcases on the floor for us to roll out.
"My friends saw me jealous last time?" I tilted my head at him, even more confused but he just shook his head no.
"Don't worry about it. It's a good thing, I promise," he grinned at me and I let out a small huff but smiled afterwards. If Kacchan says it's a good thing then I won't worry about it. Now that I think about it, he has been a lot calmer this time around and I don't think it's just because we had sex before we came back. I wonder if he has a secret that he hasn't told me yet? Maybe a secret way to stay calm but with his quirk?
Just like last time Aizawa Sensei's let us out of the bus way far away from the camp site all but Kacchan and I whined but we just shouldered our bags and ran off, not listening to all the complaints and I swear I saw Aizawa Sensei's smile at us while we ran past him. The fact that Toshi and Shoto were right behind us didn't hurt either. I'm glad that Toshi was able to join our class early this time, it's nice.
By the time we arrived Kacchan and I were laughing, racing each other and doing different kinds of tricks along the way, at one point we were trying to see who could do more spins in the air before landing. I won but only because I used the float part of my quirk at the same time but then again he was using his quirk too so it was still fair.
"Deku! I'm going to get you!" He huffed, still out of breath even when he started chasing after me and I didn't respond fast enough so he grabbed me and was tickling me before I could really even try to get away.
"No!" I gasped, but I was too out of breath to fight him and he easily had me pinned and laughing like a mad man.
"I swear you two are monsters," Toshi shook his head when we finally just collapsed on the ground.
"Said the one that kept up with us?" Kacchan smirked at him and Toshi just grinned in response. Hmmm, I wonder if he likes the idea of being looped in with us.
"Only because he cheated and rode on my ice before it could melt. He even used his new capture scarf to grab a hold of me to stay close enough on the more solid ice," Shoto pouted but then again he was smiling. Is he teasing Toshi? Oh my God! He is! He is playing with him!
"If you didn't want me to you could have shook the capture WEAPON off," he retorted, over emphasizing the word weapon. Oh! This is fun to watch! They bickered a little more but it wasn't long before we heard laughing behind us. Dad was standing there with Aizawa Sensei with our host too. They gave their introductions and Aizawa Sensei's finally gave us our instructions.
"Wait, really?" I asked cutting him off mid sentence.
"You could have waited until I was done Yagi," Aizawa Sensei groaned at me but I'm not concerned about their instructions.
"Today is a free day? As in no homework? Training? No obligations at all? As if we weren't in school at all?" I asked anyway and his eyes narrowed as he eyed me suspiciously. I don't blame him though, after all, I love school and I'm always excited to learn something new, especially my extra lessons with Nezu and all the extracurriculars that Aizawa Sensei has found for me. I never knew that was even an option the first time around.
"Just for today, Yes," he said slowly and I jumped up cheering and swing my suitcase off my back and taking Kacchan's from him and ran off still cheering much to everyone's confusion. When I came back from literally throwing mine and Kacchan's bags onto our beds I grabbed Kacchan and pulled him towards where I already knew was an excellent hiking trail.
"Come on Kacchan! You heard him! We aren't in school right now," I smiled and I saw as he finally realized why I was so excited and his smirk grew to match.
"Oh hell yeah," he didn't hesitate anymore.
"Now wait just a second!" Dad yelled, panic rising in his voice as he figured it out.
"Talk to Mom about it! Bye Dad!" I yelled back, not stopping already holding Kacchan's hand and we ran far away.
"YOU CAN'T KEEP USING YOUR MOTHER AS AN EXCUSE! BOYS! BOYS COME BACK HERE!" Dad was really starting to panic now but I kept running and Kacchan and I were openly laughing but he didn't chase us. We all know what would happen if he did and none of us wanted that!