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

180

"Where did you leave Fate?" an albino girl yelled at her sibling, stomping her little feet on the wooden floor. Her red-rimmed eyes betrayed hours of crying, and her snowy white hair flew in every direction as she glared at her twin brother.

He sighed and replied calmly, "It must have wandered into the woods."

"Go find it then!" she screamed, her voice cracking as tears threatened to spill again.

"Don't be ridiculous, Agatha! It's snowing outside," her twin brother chided, his tone firm.

"Fate is my familiar—it was your duty to look after it today, but you… you on purpose… p-p-purposely—" Her voice faltered, and she dissolved into fresh sobs.

Her brother sighed heavily, running a hand through his equally white hair. "Fine, I'll go and look for that damn cat," he muttered.

As Agatha sniffled, her brother tossed a rug at her face and teased, "Wipe your ugly face. You look ridiculous." Without waiting for her reply, he stepped outside into the snow-covered path.

The woods were eerily silent. No wind, no rustling leaves—just an oppressive quiet. Snow fell steadily, blanketing the earth in white. The boy sighed and called out, "Fate, where are you? Come out, you bastard cat! If I go home without you, my sister will kick my ass."

He trudged deeper into the woods, his tattered gloves offering little protection from the biting cold. The snow fell heavier now, making it harder to see. His breaths came in visible puffs as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.

The townsfolk didn’t like them—him and Agatha. That’s why they lived in the cabin near the forest, away from prying eyes. The whispers of the townsfolk still haunted him: “They’re evil. A devil birthed them, and their powers are unnatural.”

He wasn’t evil. He was just… different. It wasn’t his fault he had a quirk. They all bled the same red blood, didn’t they? So why…? A tear escaped his eye and slid down his cheek, freezing as it hit the snowy path. He wiped his face roughly, shaking his head.

And then, he felt it—a soft touch against his ankle. He looked down to see Fate, the black cat, rubbing its chubby face against him. Relief washed over him. Crouching down, he scratched the feline under its chin, earning a soft purr.

"Only you care about me, Fate," he whispered, his voice breaking. The cat looked at him with unblinking eyes, as if it understood.

Just as he reached to pick up the cat, his vision blurred. A horrifying image flashed before him—a premonition. Blood covered his hands. Their cabin was engulfed in smoke and flames. Agatha… Agatha lay lifeless, her heart pierced by his scythe. And then, a shadowy figure emerged, stepping closer and whispering in an eerie tone, "Finally, you’ve come to your senses, boy."

The vision vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The boy collapsed to his knees in the snow, a gut-wrenching scream tearing from his throat. The quiet woods echoed with his cries, sounding like the wail of a wounded animal.

......

Denki jolted awake, cold tears sliding down his golden eyes. His heart ached. He felt cold.

"Midoriya…" he whispered.