In My Memories | Suicidal Villain Todoroki x Depressed Bakugou

22 | Hellbound

Shouto Todoroki

Stepping into the crisp air of the night, the frigid air scratches the back of my throat, but it feels rather pleasant compared to the melting warmth of our base clinging onto my skin. I walk briskly towards my destination, brushing through the shadows manifesting from the alleyways of the city. Weaving between various alleyways, I finally reach the apartment complex of my target. I glance down to the fire-proof silver watch on my left wrist and check the time: 10:28 PM. According to the file I received on my target, she never ceases to leave this building at 10:30 PM to head off to a bar.

It seems she has a daughter, but very little is known about the daughter. How unfortunate for her child. I remember when my own mother was torn from my life. That sorrow dwelled in my heart for years. The voice residing in my mind preyed off of me like a parasite. During that time, Endeavor lessened the frequency and intensity of my training for the next month. Tch. He must have been pitying me. Regardless...

After standing in a pocket of casual city ambience for another minute while being tucked behind the shadows of the alleyway created by the side of the building, I can identify my target walking out into the perilous streets of the city. She carries a fairly large bag with her, which piques my interest. Fortunately for me, she approaches the entrance to the alleyway I'm lurking in, allowing me to thrust my arms out and cover her mouth with ice as my hands slip over her eyes. Erratic breathing from her nostrils and the shuffling of the two of us sinking into the darkness procured by the alleyway are the only sounds able to be heard.

Removing my hands from the woman's eyes as I pin her onto the wall nearby, I press my index finger across the slick layer of ice latching onto her lips. "Shh," I hush her, thawing the ice surrounding her lips; she immediately begins to hyperventilate as her body quakes. "My apologies for this situation, but I was wondering if you happened to have any bandages." I spark a small flame from the tip of my left index finger and reveal the bleeding laceration on my right arm. "I was...afraid to walk into a convenience store for my appearance."

Am I convincing enough to deceive you into believing these wretched words of mine are the truth?

The woman, whose eyes are peeled open, reaches into her bag and extracts a long scarf of sorts, wrapping it tightly around my arm. "I-I'm so sorry," she gasps, her trembling voice a whisper.

"Thank you," I sigh in relief, feigning an alluring smile. "I'm sorry if I startled you. Is there anything I can do for you in return?" I take a step back from the quivering woman, a smile still plastered onto my deceitfully blissful mien.

"You really did g-give me a startle," she chuckles in a hoarse voice. "But, well, I have a daughter, and I had to get a job that I'm not proud at all to have in order to earn the money for her." Her shoulders slump as her gaze hangs low to the ground littered with dirt and dust. "Her father was never truly a father, and he abandoned us when she was four. I guess you could say that she was an accident...even though she's the most wonderful thing in my life. I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's only eight, but she has severe anxiety, and I-I'm afraid to lead her out of our apartment just yet. I feel horrible for leaving her alone for the majority of the day, but I have to earn money somehow." The disconsolate, splintered light in her eyes is rather pitiable.

My past was somewhat akin to that. Ah, what a shame. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Don't worry, though. I can cure her anxiety." The woman perks her head up, her jaded eyes large with resolute hope. "Y-You can?" she gasps, her jaw hanging open, as if on a hinge. "Indeed," I reply, offering one final synthetic smile to her. "The answer is truly quite simple, and the method is extraordinarily effective. Ah, I can see the joy in your eyes—rightfully so!"