Ripples of Fate

Chapter 63: Shadows of the Past

Mailins POV

It’s the first day back from winter break, but the air is heavy. The new year had barely begun when Shota, Hizashi, and I were summoned to Tartarus prison. Shota received the call early that morning, his face darkening with every word. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

I sit beside him in the car, the silence between us thick. Hizashi is in the front, chattering nervously to fill the void, but Shota remains stoic, his eyes fixed ahead.

“Hey, we don’t know anything for sure yet,” Hizashi says, turning in his seat to look at us. “This could all be a mistake, right?”

Shota doesn’t respond. His grip tightens on my hand, though, his only sign of unease. I give his hand a gentle squeeze in return, trying to offer what little comfort I can. I know how hard this is for him. Tartarus isn’t just any prison. And what they’re asking him to confront today… it cuts deeper than any wound.

When we arrive, Naomasa Tsukauchi and Gran Torino are already waiting for us. They greet us somberly, their expressions grave, as if they know the weight of what they’re about to reveal. I can feel Shota’s tension rising beside me, but he keeps his face neutral, not letting anyone in.

We’re led into the depths of the prison, the cold walls echoing with every step we take. Finally, we reach a heavily fortified cell, and that’s when Naomasa drops the bombshell.

"Kurogiri’s Warp Gate Quirk bears an uncanny resemblance to Oboro Shirakumo's Quirk."

My breath catches in my throat. Oboro... the name alone feels like a punch to the gut. I glance at Shota, his expression hardening as Naomasa continues.

"We believe Kurogiri was created using Oboro’s body as a base."

There’s a long silence, and for the first time in a long while, I see Shota falter. His eyes, usually so sharp, dim with the weight of the revelation. Hizashi is equally shaken, his usual energy drained. The memories of their past—of Oboro, their friend, their classmate—hit them hard. They had dreamed of becoming heroes together, and now they’re standing here, being told that their friend has been turned into… this.

Gran Torino explains how the Nomu are created, how Oboro’s body might have been taken before it was cremated. It’s twisted, cruel, but it’s the reality they’re facing now.

“Why us?” Shota’s voice is low, gruff. I can tell he’s trying to keep his emotions in check, but the tremble in his tone betrays him. “What do you expect us to do?”

“We need you to try to reach him,” Naomasa replies. “See if any part of Oboro’s consciousness remains.”

Shota scoffs. “You want us to bring him back through the ‘power of friendship’?” There’s bitterness in his voice, a mask for the deeper pain underneath.

But despite his words, I know he’ll do it. Shota never lets his emotions show, but I can feel the storm raging beneath the surface. I take his hand again, grounding him, and he doesn’t pull away. Not this time.

As we enter Kurogiri’s cell, the familiar black mist of his Warp Gate swirls lazily around him. The sight of him sends a chill down my spine. Shota steps forward, activating his Erasure Quirk, and the mist dissipates slightly, revealing the figure within.

“Kurogiri,” Shota begins, his voice steady despite the emotions he’s wrestling with. “Do you remember me?”

Kurogiri’s hollow eyes turn towards Shota, and for a moment, there’s no recognition. But then something flickers—something small, almost imperceptible.

“I’m here because of Oboro,” Shota continues. “Do you remember him?”

I can see the struggle in Shota’s face, the pain of dredging up old memories he’s tried so hard to bury. Hizashi stands beside him, his usual loud persona gone, replaced with a quiet determination. And me—I stay close, ready to support him in whatever way I can, even if that just means being there.