Downward Spiral (Izuocha)

Chapter 26 Appreciate

Midoriya P.O.V.

After all of us eating at the restaurant that Uraraka had chosen for us, they all decided we would head to the beach, to which I didn't oppose but didn't really want to go. It was a place that marked the beginning of everything, and even if my hard work had payed off, and I got to form a bond with my idol, I still believe that it shouldn't have been me on this beach, and it still shouldn't. I was walking slower, behind the rest of them, having involved myself in as little small talk as possible as to not destroy the mood, when ai suddenly bumped into a tall robotic friend. "I-I am s-sorry Iida." clearly embarrassed by my lack of attention and clumsiness, I look to the side to see the sandy shore, staring right back at me, flooding my nose with the salty smell and my mind with a feeling of nostalgia as my mind traveled back to those memories many months ago, like it would usually do when I came here.

A small tap on my shoulder, makes me turn around to see the rest of my friends all going down towards the sand, while only one bubbly girl stood by my side. "Um......." I was at a loss of words, not really understanding what I should say or what to do, but it felt like I had to do something, anything, only to be beaten by her. "Deku, really, thank you. It means a lot to everyone that you did this, your actions brought a lot of happiness to the people that now come here." she stated, but with a frown  rather than the usual smile, until she continued. "But why don't you want to come here?, and why don't you accept that you did something good?" I couldn't lie to her, and I couldn't mention One for All either, even if I trusted her as much as my own family, but she could still see right through me, as she always did, just like that night when we talked.

I gestured her to start going down to meet with our friends, but we walked at a slow pace, so that my words would only impact her. "It's just something anyone would and could have done Uraraka. And.... I also don't deserve the recognition, not this power, that I can't seem to control. I come here, and I am left alone with my mind, and I can't help but wonder, if I deserved all the luck that I received." We had reached our friends, after my small monologue, as always, telling only half the story, but I wished I could tell all of it, and have someone that understands other than Kacchan. But still, that would only make me more of a burden to her than I already am, so I put on the smile effortlessly and played around with the rest, enjoying the chill breeze contested by the beaming sun. At some point, we all got tired of our activities and sat down, enjoying the view, while I was off place, a few meters apart.

Uraraka P.O.V.

I watched him while we goofed around with them, while we talked and he would occasionally join in, while we would laugh and he would let out the smallest of chuckles from time to time. But still, his eyes never shining the way they used to before. I stood up from my seat in the coarse sand that was next to Iida and Yaomomo, while Todoroki sat at the other side of her and walked over to sit next to Deku. Feeling the comfortable silence trap us there in that moment, he not acknowledging me ever since I sat down, lost in his own thoughts. "You know Deku, you keep pulling yourself down, and you shouldn't do that. Nothing bad that happened is your fault, and all the good you did is seen by others, but not yourself. Why?" My mind spoke by itself, quickly covering my mouth, as if the words I just spoke had pierced him right through the chest even if he showed no signs of being harmed.

He just sighed, as if he couldn't formulate the words to express himself, while I stared at him, trying to understand what he tried to convey. He finally opened his mouth, and with that, his thoughts on the matter "It is easy to pull yourself down when the rest would do it for you before. And yes Uraraka, it is my fault for not being enough and all I did is what anyone would do." His words seem to weight more than they should have, packing built up guilt and sorrow, that also seemed to be put in his head, as he lowered it, putting his gaze into the sand. "You are the only one I open up to. Remember that my quirk appeared after cleaning, so I was quirkless and therefore treated as useless. But no matter if I got my quirk, I still carried the useless with me." and with that, silence fell on us once again.

But I couldn't keep the silence, not after him thinking of him like that. "Deku you should open up to all of your friends, not only me and you aren't us-" "I should go Uraraka, thank you for today though. I had fun, really. But I am sorry." He cut me off, as he stood up and started to walk away. "For what?" I asked before he got to far away from us, from me. "For putting you through this." He stated as he once again walked away, as I saw a small tear appear in his eyes after one last shared glance. I felt my eyes swell up as well, but wiped them off as I went to sit with the rest of my friends, trying my best to enjoy the last moments we had, but my mind was still with Deku, as I couldn't truly understand his situation, only feel the despair in his words. "Why did Midoriya leave?" asked Todoroki, worried for his friend, but not as much as him. "He wasn't feeling well. We should head back to, it'll get dark." They nodded and we each went our ways, Todoroki with Yaomomo, and Iida with me. He had thanked me, but he had also brought my mood down, even if it wasn't his intention.

Heyoo. I'm sorry, I'm not great writing events that don't involve feelings. I feel like that is where I do best, and I want you guys to read the best I can give. Either way, remember that you as a person, hold more value than anything, and your life shouldn't be traded for anything. I hope you had and have a wonderful day, and I'll see you tomorrow.