Triple Nightmare /Bakudekutodo

Chapter 71: Things become clear pt.1 !

Midoriya POV:
"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" "I am sure Mr Midoriya. As much as I appreciate the offer I doubt that there will be enough space for all of us. On top of that I am determined to find my way out as quickly as possible. Now that I know you are in good hands I won't have to protect you any longer." Mr Thunderhoof bowed down. "I hope we'll meet again someday, my dear Friend. It was a pleasure being at your side." "Good bye Mr Thunderhoof. Make sure to stay save!" I bowed down as well. As I straightened up again he smiled. He nodded a goodbye towards the still suspiciously glaring Kacchan. Mr Thunderhoof turned around and slowly walked away getting smaller the further he walked. "C'mon Deku." Right. I took the compass and put it in the opening. The door unlocked and I opened it. Our room was relatively small but had an extra door leading to a bathroom. Not much more but two beds fit in. One double bed squeezed into the left corner of the room. Over it was a second bed hanging from the ceiling. "A bunk bed?" "Not quite." I answered. "Tsk." Kacchan carried Sho into the Bathroom. I closed the door behind us and as I put down my jacked I spotted our backpacks. They really did bring them here. I had been kind of scared we lost them. I followed the others into the Bathroom. It was minimalistic but at least big enough for a bathtub. "Help me clean off all the sweat, will ya!"

After we were done cleaning Sho, Kacchan put him down into the bottom bed. "You think all three of us will fit in it? It seems like a tight squeeze." I asked him. "It seems to be a size right between a single bed and a full double bed so it might be tricky. Then again you two cuddle up to me so much all the time, that I doubt the space we usually claim would be any bigger" I laughed embarrassedly. "Kacchan?" "Yes..." "Mr Thunderhoof..." "What's with him?" "He told me something concerning earlier today..." "And what might that be?" After I told Kacchan about what Thunderhoof intentions were and what the Hotel we carelessly walked into might be he slowly walked over to the singular armchair in the corner of the room and sat down. He went silent. "Is everything alright?" "HUH?! Why?!" Kacchan was obviously in a foul mood now. "You seem upset. Is there anything I can do to make you fell better?" "I'm fine! Leave me be!" "Is it about what I sai-?" Kacchan jumped of the chair and walked towards the bathroom. "I'm taking a bath. Don't follow me. I need to think." He said harshly and loudly closed the door behind himself. I stood there like a statue which wasn't sure how to pose. Was I the one who screwed up here?

Todoroki POV:
I felt the exhaustion in every single of my bones. I carefully opened my eyes. "Hi, again Friend." Benji was sitting on the floor next to me. I sat up. "Benji! Sorry it took me so long to come back here." "It is ok. You came back either way." He gave me a slight smile. Then it disappeared and he stared at the ground in front of him. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Benji?" He looked up at me. "Friend Shoto... are you going to leave me for good?" "What? Why would you think that?" I tried placing my hand on his shoulder but he pulled away. "The other day when 15 caught us and you left, he went to the others and told them about you. He said you did not belong here. 19 was supper angry at me and 11 said I was dumber than a jellyfish. They do not even have a brain. 3 of course did not say anything but 15 tried to calm everyone down at least. But... then they started saying mean things like you were just using me to get to 42. Or that you would stop visiting eventually... and more. Even though those guys are mostly mean and rude to me they never lied. I am a part of them so they do not want harm to fall upon me. So tell me friend, were you the one lying?" I wasn't sure what to say. Even though I had never thought of Benji as a means to an end they weren't wrong either. If I wouldn't have the hope of him helping us I would probable not bother with him either.

"I'm sorry Benji. The truth is, I didn't lie but I also didn't tell you the whole truth. The thing is that me and my friends are being trapped by who I believe is 42. We don't know why and all three of us just want to go home. You understand that?" He nodded. "I was hoping you could maybe help me find out what we can do to get home and why 42 is really keeping us here. He told us a reason when we first got here but we don't believe that that is the truth. Because trapping people in a dream world to test them if they were worthy of the world he tries to create seems like an excuse for something else. You're right I should've told you sooner but could you perhaps help me anyways?" he seemed to think about what I said for a moment. Then he suddenly spoke up. "I am not sure. I do not know 42. 19 is the closest to his number so he is also the only one wo knows him." He hesitated for a moment. So, I waited patiently. Trying my best not to pressure him regardless of my desire for informations. "Well as I said, I do not know a lot but I overheard a conversation between 11, 15 and 19 once. I did not understand what they were saying but 42 was definitely one of the topics." My muscles tightened. Would this finally bring us the Informations we needed?

"They said that the longer 42 stayed in his world the more it would fall apart. That he pulled new ones in and that a glitch gave them some kind of advantage over us. Each of them have some kind of ability. One is caused by the unstable wall separating his world from the outside. The other by 42s lacking overview, causing anomalies he apparently can not fix in time. And another caused by 42 being away from reality for to long, wich started breaking his mind giving someone, I don't remember who, to be able to access something. I do not know what! I do not remember! I did not understand what they were saying!" Benji covered his head with his arms. "Hey, It's okay don't pressure yourself." I carefully took his arms down and smiled at him. "I'm sorry Benji, I don't want to force you but is there anything else you left out? Try to remember one last time for me, okay." He thought about it for a second then he said: "There is one more thing, but if I tell you.. then you will leave me right?" Benji eyes were filled with tears. "I don't know. I... Listen Benji, if I'm able to visit you one last time before we get to go back home, I promise I will return to say good bye. But I can't promise that I will get the chance to." He hesitated. "Well they said something about the world being too broken. It can not be fixed anymore. Not enough at least. It will soon fall apart. 42 plans on leaving it behind. But first he needs to get out. But only he can get out once it is time. I do not know what it means and I do not know anything else either. I promise." All of this was way too unspecific and mixed up for me to make any logical conclusion out of it. I knew now how we got these special abilities and know that the Spectator is apparently also trapped but for finding a way home none of this was useful, right? "Thank you, Benji. You are really brave for telling me. I'm grateful." I hugged him. "Are you leaving again?" He asked. "Yes, I'm sorry. I have to." I gave him a smile. He looked back with a sad expression. I felt bad. I got up and started looking around. Hopefully there was another way to get out then getting beat up or someone having to wake me.

To be continued ...