This time I will protect them I won't be a coward

175

Agatha—the name resonated in Denki’s mind, like a distant echo he couldn’t place. His golden eyes widened at the mention of it, but before he could unravel the connection, a blinding burst of light overwhelmed him. He jolted awake, his body slick with sweat, his clothes clinging to him like a second skin. Phantom pains burned at his hands and neck, leaving him shaking and disoriented.

Denki darted his gaze around the empty common room, his breath uneven. Relief washed over him as he realized no one was there to witness his latest episode. He let out a shaky sigh, curling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. Resting his chin on top, Denki tried to steady himself. I need to write this nightmare down before it fades away.

The comforting scent of coffee wafted over to him, pulling his attention to the nearby table. There sat a tray with a steaming cup and a plate of buttered toast. A note was attached, reading: Four shots of espresso and buttered toast.

Denki chuckled faintly, shaking his head. I thought I was hallucinating when I said that to Midoriya, he mused, taking the tray in hand. Folding Kirishima’s jacket and placing it on the side table, Denki carried the tray up to his room, his thoughts swirling. I need a plan to get my hero license card back from that peacock bastard. But first—this nightmare.

As he unlocked his door and set the tray down on his desk, Denki called out absentmindedly, “Fate, pspsps! Where are you?” He searched under his bed, checked the closet, even peeked into the bathroom. No sign of his mischievous black cat. Did she slip past me during my internship? Denki sighed, shaking his head. Fudge! Cats and their flexible little bodies.

Refocusing, he grabbed his Plan Book from the shelf and flipped to a fresh page. While nibbling on the buttered toast and sipping his coffee, he painstakingly recorded every vivid detail from his nightmare, circling Agatha’s name. Tapping his pen against the desk, he muttered, “Where have I heard this name? Come on, brain! Think!” His frustration mounted. “Urgh, I give up. I
can’t think straight until I get my hero license card back.”

Denki tugged at his hair in distress, glancing at the clock. I better hurry up and get ready for this ridiculous date. He groaned inwardly, muttering, “Please let me survive this without catching any weird cooties from that peacock plague bastard.”

Closing his Plan Book and hiding it between his school textbooks, Denki moved to his closet. He quickly grabbed a random outfit, showered, and scrubbed himself so aggressively his skin turned pink—like a walking strawberry. After applying serum to his split nails, he tugged on a white turtleneck top layered with a purple sweater. He paused when the bathroom lights flickered, the eerie static hum catching his attention.

The flicker was subtle at first, like a brief irregularity in the glow. Denki froze, his hands hovering mid-motion. The static grew louder, accompanied by a faint, high-pitched buzz that made his skin crawl. The lights flickered again, sharper this time, casting jittery shadows across the walls.

Denki felt his chest tighten as his eyes darted toward the mirror, his reflection staring back at him. A shiver ran down his spine. Something wasn’t right. The room grew colder, an unnatural chill seeping into his bones. His throat felt dry as he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye—something faint, shifting in the periphery.

Whipping his head toward the source, Denki found nothing but the empty bathroom. He swallowed hard, willing his heart to calm. But the unease gnawed at him like an itch he couldn’t scratch. Slowly, reluctantly, his gaze returned to the mirror.

And then he saw it.

The surface of the mirror rippled like water disturbed by a single drop. Crimson lines began to etch themselves onto the glass, shaky and jagged as though carved by an unseen hand. Denki’s breath caught in his throat as the lines formed words, each stroke deliberate and eerie.

I will appear only when you need me.

The crimson message gleamed under the flickering lights, its haunting presence making Denki’s stomach churn. His knees buckled as he stumbled back, colliding with the edge of the bathtub and tumbling into it. The cold surface of the tub sent a jolt through his body, but he barely registered it. His eyes stayed locked on the mirror, on the words that seemed to pulsate with malice.

His mind raced in chaotic loops. Who’s appearing? What does this even mean? Am I losing my mind? Denki squeezed his eyes shut, willing the apparition to vanish. When he opened them again, the room had returned to normal.

The lights buzzed softly, stable once more. The mirror gleamed, perfectly clean as though nothing had ever marred its surface. The only sound in the room was Denki’s shallow breathing as he sat frozen in the tub, staring at the ordinary reflection before him.

His body trembled as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. Fear twisted in his gut. This isn’t normal. Something’s seriously wrong with me. But his thoughts whirled too quickly to make sense of. His hero license card. Overhaul. The nightmare. And now this. It was too much.

Denki glanced around the bathroom one more time, his hands gripping the edge of the sink as he tried to steady himself. Focus. The card first. The rest… later. With a shaky breath, he forced himself to leave the bathroom, shoving the unsettling experience to the back of his mind.

....

As Denki placed his empty mug and plate into the kitchen sink, a familiar voice broke through his haze.

“What the heck are you wearing?” Bakugou Katsuki barked, crossing his arms as he glared at Denki from head to toe.

“A white turtleneck and a purple sweater,” Denki replied with a deadpan look.

“And why are you wearing that?” Bakugou’s crimson eyes narrowed further.

“It brings out my eyes,” Denki said innocently, blinking up at him. His response caught Bakugou off guard, a faint redness creeping over the blond’s ears. After all, the purple did highlight Denki’s golden eyes perfectly.

“Pfft,” Sero Hanta’s stifled laugh broke the moment. Seated at the bar with his math homework open, he tried to mask his amusement with a fake cough, though his shaking shoulders betrayed him.

Denki sighed, too tired for their antics. He began to walk past Bakugou, only to feel his wrist caught in a firm grip. Bakugou’s expression softened slightly, his voice calmer as he asked, “Where are you off to, sunshine?”

“I need to touch some grass,” Denki replied with a straight face.

Bakugou sighed, releasing him with a grumble as he slouched over to the common room sofa, flopping onto it like an irritated pomeranian. Denki raised an eyebrow at Sero, who simply shrugged, smirking faintly.

Denki muttered under his breath as he left the room. Why can’t they just act like their usual goofy idiot selves for once? He shook his head, brushing aside the thought. No time for this. I’ve got bigger problems.