My Neighbor, Deku

Chapter 9: Fear is the Answer to all my Problems

I wiped my hands continuously on my black shirt and tried to make the goo stop. The more I panicked, the more ooze came out.

No, no! Why? Why here? Why now? This has to stop. Stop. Stop!

I closed my eyes and waited for a few minutes; praying that my misery would end.

"Are you ok, (Y/N)?" Mrs. Akari voice rang through my ears.

My eyes shot open and I quickly looked at the window. Grey eyes, black hair, regular lips. I looked at my hands, shaking a bit.   Just dirty fingernails caked with dried glue and glitter. Normal.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said distractedly.

"Well, all right. It's time for recess, so you are excused."

I quickly nodded my head and went out the door, still staring at my body as I passed countless windows and polished doors.

Was I just dreaming?

I went out the double doors of the school building and walked into the crisp morning air. Kids ages four through twelve were playing on the field and blacktop. I went over to the foursquare area and picked up a red rubber ball.

"Hey! That's ours!" Said a girl in a blue school dress. I looked at her and hugged the ball. "What? No, I got it first."

A few other people came by. "Yeah, that's ours!" They claimed as I slowly started walking backwards. The girl in the blue dress went up to my face and grabbed my hands. She was incredibly strong for her age.

Oh no, she must have her quirk.

"Let go!" I yelled, struggling as I tried to break free.

"Not until you give us the ball!"

"Why should I?! You just want it so that I have nothing!"

My knuckles started to ache and the pressure made them turn pinkish-white.

"Give us the ball!"

Anger boiled inside of me as I dropped the stupid thing. "Fine! Have the stupid ball. Why does it matter? Gosh, you're all so dumb!" I screamed as I walked away, wishing I had better comebacks as they cheered as I left. I went next to a bush nearby and sat down on the asphalt. I picked up a few broken pieces from the cracks and chucked them over the metal fence. "I hate everyone." I muttered to myself as I threw more chunks, hitting the metal in the process.

BOOM

I froze as the sound echoed nearby. I knew that sound. I slowly got up and walked to the source of the noise. I turned to my right and saw Kacchan and two other kids I've never seen before. 

The one on his left had a quirk that gave him long fingers, while the other boy on his right had devilish looking wings. In front of Kacchan was Izuku, fists raised, trembling as tears filled his eyes. 

A boy was crying behind his as he said, "Enough Kacchan! I won't let you. You already made him cry... Stop it!" 

Another cackling laugh escaped from Kacchan's lips. "So Deku, the quirkiness wonder thinks he can play hero, huh?" He made another explosion with his fist. Izuku whimpered as Kacchan's eyes narrowed. "Let's get him."

All three of them sprinted towards Izuku. The boy with the long fingers grabbed his head and yanked him violently backwards.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I clutched my fists and yelled at them at the top of my lungs before I could think. "STOP IT!"

Kacchan turned around and glared at me, eyes full of rage. "Who the heck are you?!" He asked as he looked from me back to Izuku. "You..." He said as he grabbed Izuku by the collar and punched him forcefully to the ground. 

"No!" I screamed as I ran to him and stood in front of Izuku. Bruises, cuts, and soot stained his drained face as he looked at me. "What did he ever do to you?!" I cried, outraged as Kacchan walked slowly towards me while he gritted his teeth. Every step he took made me feel shivers down my spine. My heart was racing, accelerating. I could feel my skin pressing itself with goosebumps.

The two other kids joined him on his left and right side like minions. "So, Deku made a friend, huh... Well, I never thought this would happen. Deku the dumb, quirkless, nerd made a friend with a villain!"

He made a fist of sparking fire and attempted to punch me in the face. I screamed, expecting a burst of pain, but nothing happened.

"What the-?" Kacchan started as I opened my eyes. The goo had appeared on my hands again, but this time something strange happened. It started to expand like a bubble. 

The bubble quickly swallowed me up as well as Izuku. Its purplish-black essence was like opaque glass that gradually became translucent. Kacchan seemed to finally snap out of his surprised stance. 

"This won't stop me. You're pathetic!" He yelled, voice muffled by the bubble. He punched the bubbled forcefield with his quirk, but nothing happened. After several moments of pure frustration, he resulted in kicking it and cursing. I let out a sigh of relief and looked at Izuku.

"You ok?" I asked as I slowly turned to face him. He stared at me with a grateful look.

"Yeah. Thank you." He replied shakily.