The Way Through Stone Village (Naruto)

44: Rain

[OP: "This Will End"--The Oh Hellos]

Day 46:

When dawn came, everyone was cold and stiff, but worse, they were still discouraged.

It actually seemed worse now. The first shock of the events had kept them from fully sinking in yesterday or the day before--it had all happened so fast.

The effect of leaving the place had cleared up the adrenaline, and survival mode had ended.

Now they were all replaying the events over and over in their heads and getting more pissed the more times they pictured it.

Shoto especially was one to obsess over things that went wrong, and he got angrier the longer he thought of it. The danger they'd been in, the cruelty of it, the way they'd all been so afraid for that space of 24 hours.

But the disconnect, for some people, made it all seem unreal.

"It almost is like a dream now," Momo admitted to Camie and Bakugo and Dabi. "I can hardly believe it happened. Did they really drive us out?"

"As Naruto would say, 'believe it,'" Dabi said dully. "But hey, chin up. A lot more people will hate us before our lives are over, no doubt. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Nothing new to me."

"Bro, that's not even a little comforting," Camie said. "Heroes are supposed to be respected, except by bad guys. I don't like this. People not liking me is not fun."

"A lot of people don't like you," Bakugo said.

"Gee, thanks," Camie pouted.

"So when did you even care about that?" Bakugo said. "Their opinion doesn't matter. I'm used to being disliked by stupid people."

"I don't know if that comparison is valid," Momo said, a little miffed at his tone. "Not everyone likes the way you target others."

"Why's this about me all of the sudden, Ponytail?" Bakugo said.

"That's just what I mean," Momo said. "For once, could you act like a friend instead of making everything about being stronger or not needing help?" She sounded like she might cry. "I just...I wish..."

But she trailed off.

"But he was trying to help," Camie objected. She'd understood perfectly. "He's not wrong about me... Normally I don't give a crap...but this time it was important to be accepted. It's not just that we annoy them--I could take that part--but it's the sheer craziness of what they thought about us. I can't even with that."

"Can't be helped," Bakugo said.

"Do you ever have feelings about this kind of thing?" Momo was still upset with him.

"What did I do to you?" Bakugo snapped at her, though he didn't curse, so perhaps he was still a little intimidated by Momo.

"Leave her alone." Shoto had had enough. Though he was in a dark mood, he wouldn't allow someone to disrespect Momo.

"I didn't do a freaking thing to her--she started it." Bakugo didn't like this.

"No need to double down," Shoto pressed.

"Frick you, Icyhot!" Bakugo snapped.

"Stop it, stop it, please," Momo began to say in a hurried voice, like people do when they're at the end of their patience.

"What on earth?" Wally and Shine heard the commotion and came over.

"What's happening here?" Shine asked.

"Nothing," Bakugo said. "They're just on my back for no reason."

"He's being a jerk, Shine," Shoto protested. "And upsetting Momo."