ECHO (Original)

Chapter 7

"Fucking Deku!"

It was an average afternoon in their first year.

"Stay out of my goddamn way!"

Kacchan was angry again.

"You're just a quirkless little runt!"

The others sat and stared.

"You'll never amount to anything!"

And Izuku...

Izuku was tired.

Bakugou, noticing his victims descent into dissociation decided to do the number one worst thing you could've ever done to the boy.

He took the notebook that was clenched tightly in the younger's hand and used his quirk, charring it severely. And to make sure that the boy would never be able to use it properly again, he threw it out the window directly into the school's koi pond.

Izuku, having lost his only clutch on staying in reality, crumpled to the ground in hysterical sobs. Bakugou stared down at him with a grin and a swirl of emotions in his eyes as he watched his childhood friend fall apart at the seams.

"C'mon guys," Bakugou stormed out of the classroom with his hands in his pockets as if he just walked out of a casual conversation. Izuku remained in the floor, sobbing into his hands as he detached himself from real life, stuck in his own thoughts and memories.

It took about two hours for him to calm down, his chest hurting and his body sore and tired. He just didn't want to move. What was the point? It would only be the same thing, over, and over, and over, and over and over and over andoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverand-

Izuku stopped, his mind fuzzy and tears on the brink of falling again. His phone in his pocket vibrated with a message from his mom.

Mom <3

Izuku?

Where are you?

Why aren't you answering your texts?

Izuku?

Are you out with friends?

Why won't you answer?

Please be okay.

Just text me when you're available.

Izuku paused. Should he text her? He shrugged. He'd see her later, so what was the point. But the thought of seeing her crying face when he got home wasn't something he would be able to confront.

Izuku

I'm okay mom.

I stayed after school for a project.

I'll be home soon.

Izuku sighed and put his phone away, wiping away his face and wincing as he moved his burnt shoulder. He gently pushed himself up to his feet and grabbed his bag, holding it in his hand to prevent harming his shoulder more.

Trapped in his thoughts, he made his way out of the classroom, down the stairs, and out of the building and courtyard, leaving his neglected notebook to the koi fish in the school's pond.

---

Izuku opened his eyes with a gasp, feeling himself sweat from where he sat. There was a firm item behind him, helping him sit up. His vision was static-y and confusing to look at before he realized that he was facing the side of the couch that he had been sleeping on before.

"What-" he whispered to himself before his vision turned black with white letters.

You're welcome.

The screen then turned all black. It was only then that Izuku realized the heavyweight on his head and shoulders. He took his hands and lifted the device off of his head. How he had gotten over to the wall from the couch is something he probably won't find out anytime soon.

Izuku pushed himself up to his feet and looked behind him towards the window that overlooked the city. The sun had started to rise, it looked like. He sighed. Of course, it was morning already! He really should get a scoreboard for the amount of time that he can pass out within 72 hours. He'd probably have the world record by now.

He looked back down at the TV to see that it was plugged into the wall. He froze.

'When did the TV have a plug?' He couldn't help but think. 'Am I just going crazy now or did I not look at it thoroughly?'

Izuku walked over to the wall and crouched down by the plug. He slowly reached his hand out to touch it, but the moment he grazed it, the plug unplugged itself and slithered back into the TV.

Izuku screamed and fell back onto his butt. Moments later, the living room lights were on and Naomasa-san was standing there, clearly had just gotten out of bed due to his attire.

"Izuku!" Naomasa exclaimed. "You're awake!"

The detective quickly made his way to the younger boy and crouched down beside him, placing the back of his hand on the boy's face.

"No fever," he mumbled. He took both his hands and placed them gently on either side of Izuku's face. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Why are you over here? Why is the TV over here?"

Izuku cocked an eyebrow up at his guardian. Now he could see how the rambling could get a bit excessive.

"I'm alright, Naomasa-san," he spoke raspily. "Just a bit tired still. I don't really remember what happened though."

The man smiled at him softly. "I doubt you would. Your fever was so bad, it almost burned me."

The green-haired boy snorted at the joke before rubbing his eyes tiredly. He doesn't know how long he's been out, but god he was still tired.

Naomasa-san noticed and lazily smiled at him. "It's morning right now, so how about we try and get something to eat first and then try and figure out the rest about you living here and such. I kinda don't want you sleeping again since every time you do, it seems like something bad happens."

That made Izuku laugh. "Yeah, yeah. We should probably do that."

TV forgotten, Izuku let Naomasa-san help him up to his feet and the two made their way into the kitchen to eat.