Behind the Smile | TodoBakuDeku | Book 1

Chapter 23

Shinso's POV

As Midoriya removed the noose and stepped off the ledge of the tub, the violent purple orb slammed back into his chest. I saw it happen the first time on the news, right before they cut the feed. He seemed to be in more pain than when it had collided with him then, but no one would have known. Well, no one except me.

I had been working on my quirk extensively with Aizawa and had expanded my quirk's abilities. Instead of simply brainwashing my opponents, I was able to literally take a step into their minds and experience firsthand their inner workings. Though I had been working to master the technique, I was nowhere near ready for what I experienced with Midoriya.

There in the midst of a black void stood Midoriya, screaming in agony. Anyone watching the scene from the outside would never know...never see the fear and sheer pain he was enduring as a purple mist encircled him. To Bakugo and Todoroki, it probably looked like he was in some kind of weird paralyzing trance.

I tried running to him but every step closer was a step further away. "Midoriya, I'm here. It's Shinso...follow the sound of my voice." No matter how much pain he was in, he was still forced to comply with the brainwashing. I knew I was just trying to help him, but I felt disgusted with myself in the process. I've always been pegged as a villain because of my quirk, ever since it first manifested. But I never wanted that. I wanted to be a hero for as long as I can remember. Midoriya was the first one to tell me my quirk could be used for good. He was the first person to actively voice their belief in me. I would do anything I could to help him.

Midoriya began walking towards me; the purple hue surrounding him grew dimmer the closer he got. Finally, he lunged into my arms and sobbed. I felt a wave of relief come over me. The worst seemed to be over, as he looked up at me, "Shinso...th-thank you."

"Why are you thanking him, you fucking moron? He's just using you. He's brainwashing you for Christ's sake!" The voice was filled with evil tone, though oddly enough it reminded me of...

Out of a shadow appeared another Midoriya, but not the one we all know and love. This one was sinister and cruel. His eyes were a dauntingly deep purple instead of the bright emerald green. Other than the eyes, they looked nearly identical.

"Who the fuck are you?" I demanded answers, but he only chuckled as Midoriya gripped onto my shirt tighter.

"Why, I'm Deku of course. The side of him brought out by that lovely quirk he was drawn to. We've become quite close friends, he and I."

"You stay the hell away from him!" I screamed, shielding Midoriya from Deku's line of view.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, you see? We're stuck together until the very end, which is coming sooner than I expected, believe it or not." He pranced around as if he had no care in the world, while I clung to my friend and he to me.

"What do you mean by that?"

There was no answer.

"What the fuck do you mean by that?!"

Again no answer. He just smiled, a grin from ear to ear, while cackling to himself. Then, in an instant, he was gone.

I had no time to think about what had just happened. "Midoriya, it's time to wake up now." Normally, at that point, we would have both been back in reality but he was resisting.

"No, I c-can't...I can't face them," he sobbed.

"Face who?"

"I love them so much. They must h-hate me. I keep trying to die, and I don't know why. They're my world. Why am I trying to leave them? Why aren't I stronger? That damn voice! I can't take it. I don't want to leave them, but I can't take it anymore. It's too painful. There has to be a way to end it...but I don't want to leave them...but they'd be better off without me. I need to–"

"Enough," I gently interrupted him. "Heroes need to come home, too. They have loved ones waiting for them, just like all the people they save. It's time you come home."

"But they'll be so disappointed at how weak I am. They shouldn't have to see me like this...I don't want them to see me like this anymore. Just let me stay here. I'm better off this way...they're better off this way."

"Midoriya, Bakugo would straight up murder me if I left you like this, and Todoroki would be right there with him. They need you to come back to them. You three are...you three are imperfectly perfect together," I joked, trying to lighten the mood. "They'd be lost without you."

There was a long pause before, "I really do love them, you know?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I think we all know."

Wait, was that a smile?

"And you're right, Kacchan would totally kick your ass," he chuckled. "I don't know about Shoto, though. He–"

"Oh trust me, he is the silent but deadly type. At least I'd hear Bakugo coming from a mile away!"

He chuckled, "Yea, he's a little loud isn't he?...But I still love him...them."

There was another bout of silence before, "Shinso?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm ready to go home."