They're Not Here: A BNHA Villain Deku Fanfic

Chapter 9: The Before

"I feel really awkward about being here," Deku says nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "I uh...was dragged. So..."

"Eh, don't worry about it." Pikachu pats him on the back. They both ignore the way Round Face side-eyes them from the other side of the room. Glasses keeps trying to get her attention but she's clearly still unsettled. "I mean the more people who care the better, right? Besides, if it makes you feel better, you being here gives us all the perfect chance to tell somebody Asui stories, so it all works out."

"Asui was the girl who..." Deku starts.

Pikachu nods. I drift out of the room before I can hear anything else. Like Deku and Pikachu, most of the kids are in the big living area having tea as they wait for dinner. I still don't get the point of this. It feels so off. Is this a gathering? A mourning? A dinner party? WTF.

I run into Ponytail Girl's mom as I head in the direction of the back patio. She's a very tall woman, no surprise. She looks down at me. "How you holding up, kid?"

I glance away. "Your party's stupid, y'know that, right?"

I can literally hear her smile. It's loud and grating and wet. "I can understand that. I just wanted you kids to have an opportunity to get together and talk and cry about what happened as much as possible. It might not have been the best choice but...like I said, I get how you feel."

"Feel?" I echo. "The hell?"

I walk past her and continue on my escape. I step outside into the dusky air and I realize two things at once. First of all the back patio is unnervingly high up. If I fell...if I fell...and secondly, the patio isn't empty. Emiko is sitting on the railing, swinging her legs. She doesn't want to fall so she isn't afraid of falling. She glances at me from over her shoulder. She smiles but her eyebrows lower. She's pissed. "What's your problem?" I demand.

She laughs.

______

My name is Todoroki Shoto and I am not the main character of this story. My dad seems to think I am. For a while I did too. But ever since I saw the corpses of two disintegrated kids I'm beginning to suspect that that just might be bullshit.

If I was the main character of this story I could've saved them.

They'd be alive right now.

And we wouldn't be having this bullshit party.

I try to put that out of my mind as I stare at the green-haired boy waiting for his response. He seems to think about it for a long time. Too long for the simple response he gives.

Sure.

He leaves Kaminari-san who has seemed to adopt the newcomer in the space of the few minutes he's met him. 'Deku' follows me out of the room, out of the house, and to the front yard which is now empty of anybody.

So. What's up? Who are you exactly?

I tell him my name. I don't ask for his. I ask him about the girl.

Who is she?

I told you...

I sigh. I pull out my phone and I type in the name. Tanaka Rei. I show him the picture. His green eyes become very wide. And very scared. I ask the question.

That's her right?

But...but...

I don't bother choosing my words carefully.

Your friend's face belongs to a dead girl. She went missing about a month ago and her body was just recently found.

He shakes his head and his body starts to shake.