Unwanted || Tomura Shigaraki

Chapter Eight

My throat burned as I gulped back another mouthful of the expensive liquor. A warmth filled my cheeks, and a tingling sensation spread throughout my chest and all the way to the tips of my fingers. I had never drunk alcohol before, it was all so foreign to me. It was one of Kai's many absurd rules...

Control freak.

The feeling was surprisingly pleasant like my body was somehow lighter and all the stresses of Kai, of my past, of everything, was being lifted from my shoulders. It made me feel like there wasn't a single worry in the world.

"Don't be greedy, lemme have some!" Toga snatched the large bottle from me, throwing her head back as she loudly gulped back large mouthfuls of the liquor. Vodka dribbled out from the corner of her mouth, a trail of gold specks staining her chin.

The street was quiet, with not a single soul in sight. Just the sounds of our heels clicking against the pavement and our tipsy laughter filling the air. We carry on passing the bottle back and forth. After Toga had taken another swig, eyebrows pulling together as the harsh liquid moved down her throat, she turned to hand me the bottle.

"So, what's the deal with you and bird face? It's obvious you're not with him by choice," using the back of her hand to wipe away the vodka remnants on her chin.

I held the rim of the bottle up to my lips, pausing, not knowing how to respond to the question. A question that even had me at loss of words.

"It's complicated," I muttered, parting my lips to allow the intoxicating liquid to flow in and down my throat.

"Complicated? You know you can talk to me, it's not like he's gonna find out. I just want to understand you," she admitted, turning her head to the side, honey-yellow eyes now full of curiosity.

My arm slumped down, knuckles tense and white from the tight grip I had on the bottle. The liquid sloshed around as it bounced against the soft skin of my thigh. I let out a long sigh and gave in, unsure if it was the effect of the alcohol that was making me finally speak out. Forcing me to go back to the beginning—the reason that paved the way for my miserable life.

"I don't remember much from when I was young. I have these weird dreams, they never make sense though, I'm not even sure if they're memories or just nightmares."

Images of blood and a dark looming shadow invaded my thoughts. I shivered at the reminder of the blood-curdling screams that haunted my dreams nightly.

"My earliest memory I have is waking up cold and hungry under some bridge, I knew my name was Mina and I was ten years old but that was it. The next few years I spent travelling around Japan, sleeping wherever I could and stealing anything I could get my hands on to keep alive. No one would take me in, why would they? I couldn't even control my quirk when it manifested, attacking everyone that tried to help me, like some feral stray. I was alone."

Toga's face softened hearing the low whimper that managed to slip through my now quivering lips. She stayed silent. Reaching a hand out, she laced her short fingers through mine—squeezing gently—prompting me on. I took another swig, filling me with the liquid courage needed to finish this conversation.

"As I got older I learnt that being on my own was the only option. There were a few exceptions, some decent people in similar situations to me, but I was always cautious. I got stronger and my quirk was becoming a lot easier to handle. When I turned eighteen I ended up getting involved with the wrong kind of people, they were bad news. I ended up doing.... well a lot of bad shit. I was good at it and it paid well. Then one day, I was sent on a job, the target was some guy from another neighbouring gang. However, someone tipped them off and I was ambushed. They left me bloodied and beaten in the gutter, I was pretty certain I was going to die. Until he appeared."