Izuku finds himself stranded in a corrupted land with nothing but gunslinging, untrustworthy hunters as the only living people. He must make learn to survive within the treacherous Louisiana Bayou, and take on all challenges, and all bounties availi...
Bakugo Katsuki had a tear run down the side of his face as the time ticked down. He had no choice. No alternative course of action to take. He couldn't find any clues... and dark sight didn't seem to work with him. He'd tried everything... but... Mina had a wellspring. Only one of them could have it, and he was running out of time. Even though the Bayou's curse seemed to affect girls worse than men, he still didn't want to go through that hell. He was already sorrowful at what he did to Izuku, having never had a chance to apologize... and now? Now he'd have the same exact thing happen all over again, except this time, he was the one pulling the trigger. With nothing but a meek "...sorry..." he fired a shot right through the back of her head. There was no way she would survive that. He'd just shot Mina in the head, after all. Feeling the wellspring empower him, he couldn't help but think: I actually did it. I survived... but at what cost...?
Two Days Before:
Katsuki Bakugo sat outside, away from the town center, but still within the walls. Everyone here hates him. And it all stemmed from his own actions. Who knew his condoned actions had consequences? That Izuku, the person who always accepted apologies would refuse his now, after so long? Because Izuku wouldn't accept his apologies at all... nobody else would either. And, despite what others thought of him, he appreciated the quiet. Nobody shouting at him like the Old Hag, or Dunce Face... It allowed him to think. About everything that was going on. He was genuinely scared, like the others, but hid it well. Well enough to fool the others. But his solitude was interrupted by a familiar voice. A feminine one that actually tried to get to know him. Mina Ashido, the hater of bullies, was his only true friend, despite his brash personality. "Hey, Bakago." "Tsk." Despite his reaction, he appreciated her company. She didn't judge him. Not even after Izuku's negative reaction, nor his class's reaction. Normally, the pinkette despised bullies, but it was clear that he had changed.
She smiled, although her unique black and gold eyes conveyed what she actually felt. "Worried? I know I am. If you don't get a wellspring, you won't survive... I'm terrified of the thought of not getting one." She shivered, remembering the Hives in particular. Imagine that growing inside you, and violently bursting out. Even Bakugo wouldn't wish that on his enemies.
"I can't imagine what would happen if we didn't..." He thought for a moment. "If you couldn't get a wellspring, would you kill one of us to get one?" "I don't think I could." Mina said bluntly, and honestly. After the USJ, and villains? Nobody really wanted to think about the desperate measures involved here. "You?" He agreed, but was uncertain of his own actions in the same scenario. "No. I don't think I could either..."
Present Day:
Izuku waited at the town gate. It was an ugly morning, with rain pouring down. Most of Class A survived. There were a few exceptions, of course. Minrou Mineta was shot with the second rift. Koda's pacifism made him hesitate against a pack of hellhounds. Aoyama was devoured by a duo of hives. He grimly thought about the situation, and grimaced. All painful ways to go, but nothing too special out here.
There were just two students left... and two wellsprings between them. Hopefully they'd survive... considering if they didn't get it in the timer... well, they wouldn't live for long. A unique feature of Wellsprings is that when fully absorbed, they teleported the holder to safety, but killed every animal in a radius. So people who didn't have it that were close would be instantly killed. Another teleported in, not from the class. That leaves just one wellspring left. Who will arrive, Mina, or Bakugo? I hope it's Mina...
The last flash of light revealed the blond.
Damn it.
Izuku walked forth, in front of the class. Many had started to cry, and with good reason. Mina was popular, and everyone else wanted as many of their class to survive as possible. Right now, they needed reassurance, that they would go on. "Well, Class A, all of the wellsprings have been claimed... those who aren't here... are lost forever. I'm sorry that not all of you made it. Mineta. Koda. Aoyama. Mina. Those four are now claimed by the corruption forevermore. We'll each grieve in our own way. Rest up. You'll have the day off. Every one of us understands the stress. Meet up at the research hall first thing tomorrow. We'll go over the future then." He watched all of them leave... except Bakugo. Based on the face he made... Izuku knew exactly what happened. It was obvious that they were close, but now... now... there was no going back.
And, despite his current opinion of the blond... he wasn't a heartless bastard. He needed companionship, even from him.
Toru Hagakure wanted to ask Izuku something when she saw him approach Bakugo. He spoke, quietly, but with horrifying detail. "Look, I can only guess what happened... but I have an idea. You were forced to, right? I won't blame you for that. I've killed far more hunters than you have. But never forget that you did that. I bear my sins, you'll bear yours. Congrats, you survived... by condemning others. It's just the way things work out here. Just don't break down when you see her resurrected as a grunt, ok? I don't forgive you for anything you've done, but I can sympathize. Just don't let it gnaw your soul. Move on. I won't push it. I won't tell. Because I don't need to." He watched the blond, his eyes watching the pain in the other's, as he started to actually cry, the tears hidden in the now pouring rain. "I'm surprised Katuski... You do care." He walked away as Bakugo cried, more and more. He ran away, to the inn, and to his room.
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As she thought about what Izuku said, it finally clicked. Shocked, she cried more, as Mina was her best friend. Anger clouded her thoughts as she walked back to the inn. Mina was her roommate here, and her BFF. And he... He killed her. He Killed HER! I... I need time to think about this...
She entered the inn, passing by the others, who were all sitting quietly at the main table. Mina was the life of the party, the one who best lifted their spirits. Besides Toru and Uraraka, of course. With her passing, everyone was somber. The class never really liked Mineta, Yuga was a bit odd and never really made friends with them, and Koda kept to himself, so Mina's death was the biggest impact. However, none of them tried to stop Toru from going to her room. They understood it well enough.
They had a bond the other's didn't. They were like twin sisters in spirit. They didn't quite realize how right they were.
A figure stepped into the Maw Battery. Their footsteps thunked quietly on the old boards, approaching a corpse of a young girl. Interested, it decided to take it away from the shuffling bodies around the exterior. They wouldn't bother it. After all, what puppet attacks its master?
