Rising Smoke || A Radioactive Biohazard

Chapter 10: Learning To Be Shadows

Hōsha was slightly walking behind Stain. He was accepted by him to watch and learn which only made him anxious; this was a murderer after all and could easily kill him at any moment. Though some relief was felt as he remember what Stain had mentioned earlier at the bar; this was his chance to be both instead of just a villain. A vigilante. Perhaps some hope was to be had? A vigilante wasn't exactly accepted, but they weren't that frowned upon like a villain was. They killed or hurt others without a hero license, did things for their own morals and what they thought was the greater good. They basically just a hero but one that does so without laws in the way. 

Hōsha backtracked for a second. That sounded a little villainous now that he tried to think of what a vigilante was. Though it was just all the same, they aren't a full villain or a full hero. Maybe, just maybe, he could live with himself if he became a vigilante instead of a villain. Then again, heroes still thought of them as a villain since they don't exactly follow the laws and use their quirk illegally. Would it really be so bad? Yet, the more he thought about it- the more he realized that he'd probably be in the area of hurting rather than helping. Sure, he'd end up saving innocent people but his quirk could cause long lasting damage if inhaled for too long or too much at once. He walk literally a walking biohazard. 

The teen was more fit for a villain than hero, he knew this. As much as being a vigilante meant being on both sides of the law, he technically still very much was on the opposite side of it. Why does he keep getting his hopes up?

"Kid stop thinking and start paying attention."

Hōsha flinched at the sudden demand. What was he doing again.? He glanced behind Stain who stood before him in his hiding spot; a few feet away was a near-dead bleeding out Pro-Hero. This was only the second week out and he felt like he was already starting to grow used to the sight of someone dying...it was unnerving. It still made him uncomfortable and guilty yes, but it was starting to become a little numbing. Hōshasei stood up as he followed Stain in his way to escape, still in his thoughts. 

"You know, I don't need to be doing this. You're last day with me is in a few days. Hosu. This time, you're going to assist in trapping this hero." Stain spoke in an unknown tone of voice. Though it was clear he was a bit annoyed that Hōsha had spaced out during this one particular attack. 

"Right, I'll be at the spot we've talked about.." Hōsha answered back as they reached the spot where the two departed. Hosu...it was a bit far but this was his chance. Shigaraki had told him to go out there and finish his test. That he'd give a nice distraction so he could do it and make his first official kill. 

Hōshasei returned home after a brief meeting with Shigaraki and Kurogiri. The excuse he had given his father was that he was going on late night walks. It was the most pathetic excuse he could come up with and he knew it. His father knew that his son had no social life, no real friends, no where to really be. Yet, when he told his father his excuse- he didn't even bat an eye towards his lame excuses of being out late. Hōsha knew now more than ever that his father didn't really care- all he cared about was that he worked for him and that he did as he was told. In a way, Hōsha was glad he wasn't questioned about what he was doing or why he was going out at night. Though on the other hand he knew now more than ever that his father could really care less. 

Hōsha then laid on his bed, he looked at the ceiling before looking over to a photo on his nightstand. There where two, the one he looked at was a complete family photo- smiles and everything. The other was sometime after he received his quirk..a mask on the child's face. He kept both out on the stand, to show that happy family he missed and the other as a reminder. 

"You'll be proud...I'll make you look at me. You don't know it yet, but one day I'll be on the news. In the paper again. On articles..and you'll have to see me." 

Hōshasei placed his phone to charge for the night and goes to sleep. He had learned to sleep with the mask on; of course he took it off to eat, drink, wash his face and brush his teeth- but besides that his mask was to remain on. Even in sleep, he was held hostage by his own quirk. 

Soon within a few days, will be the day he'll have to assist in killing...murdering a Pro-Hero. He had learned all he needed, where to hit, to stab, to attack and dodge. Stain had made him react faster, move quicker. Silence is key, breathing steady is the way. Death could be loud but when it knocks, but it could be quick like slipping through a window. Hōsha still couldn't exactly land a hit on Stain, but he had become a little close which was miles better than his frozen state at the USJ. The question remained is if he could actually do it. If Hōshasei could actually kill a Pro-Hero. 

As much as he had been training, he had been second guessing himself- constantly giving himself hope to just turn around. That he could turn on Stain, it'd be a win wouldn't it? Even though Shigaraki had tried to recruit the Hero Killer, he didn't like him one bit. If he could just, somehow turn on Stain and the field be even he might do it. It'd actually might appease or please Shigaraki enough to show he could be a villain and yet help the heroes. The only issue was that they isolated Heroes and get them alone...

Hōsha prayed mentally as he drifted off that somehow his mission, his test, would just go sideways. In the favor of his morals and sanity. To just be in the shadows that day and somehow be saved from getting blood on his hands..