My Neighbor, Deku

Chapter 15: A Hero Among Us

I started to walk back to the orphanage. I felt satisfied, at least with Izuku anyway. There was something still bothering me.

To be specific, it was a certain-Satoru. The way he walked off, the tone in his voice, it all didn't make sense to me. What was worse was that he was planning to influence Izuku.

I forcefully stuffed my hands in my pockets and continued to walk. My feet felt heavy and exaggerated on the concrete. My mind raced as I lowered my head, ignoring my surroundings.

Before I knew it, I reached my destination. I shoved my shoulder into the door as I turned the brass handle.

Hayle was on her computer, as usual.

"You're late." She said, not batting an eye not looking up.

I sucked in a breath and slouched my shoulders. "Got caught up talking to a friend."

Hayle snorted, "Uh huh, a 'friend'. Like you have any."

I flipped her off angrily as I turned the corner and began walking up the stairs. I was not in the mood at the moment.

"Hmph, such behavior," the way she said it made me stop, hand gripping the rail, feet on two separate steps. It was soft, and maybe even-amused?

"No wonder you haven't been adopted." I could sense a small, sadistic chuckle as her footsteps indicated a move to her office.

I clenched the rail harder, my knuckles turning white in hurt and anger. How dare she.

Trying to ignore the bubbling feelings rising in my chest, I rushed up the stairs.

***

I sat cross-legged on my bed, wrapped in a pair of mismatched pajamas. To be honest, they were better than the thin sheets we used as blankets, that did absolutely nothing to prevent the cold wind from reaching our skin.

My eyes traveled to the empty bed beside me.

I haven't seen Satoru since he left. I had assumed he was here, but I guess he'd decided to take a detour.

The sun was setting through the windows, letting rays of warm colored light flutter down onto the orphanage. It looked beautiful. And it was a good distraction because I often got too lost in my own thoughts.

The sound of the door creaking brought me to the present. Satoru's head appeared through the door, and for some reason, I felt impeccably awkward.

He entered the room, taking out an earphone with one hand and placing the other in his pockets.

"Oh, you're back." He said bluntly, giving me a simple head nod.

"Yeah, I live here." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, voice dry and monotone. "Anyway, what was that back there? You stormed off. Plus, you were dead on going to persuade Izuku! Not cool."

Satoru's expression turned sour, and he looked away from me, scoffing.

"You saw him," he shook his head, "he was a mess. You can't just sugarcoat the truth, you know."

"'Sugarcoat it?' I was trying to help him for All Might's sake." I exclaimed, exasperated.

"Yeah? Well if you're trying to help him, then did you tell him what your vision of a hero is?"

I thought about this for a brief moment, a flashback of the conversation going through my head.

"No," I hesitated, "I just told him some general jobs that can be considered heroic."