Flying in an airplane, I watched the snow-white clouds. My constant companions outside of criminal activity—gray headphones—were on my ears. However, my thoughts only briefly touched upon the song playing.
"I feel like I'm almost at the goal,
But I'm not a heap of bones drifting in the silent wind.
I cannot return, remaining in total ignorance,
To this breaking, yet not subsiding voice."
I did it. I killed my fat... no, Akio Neel. He ceased to be my father when he abandoned us. A slight bewilderment—that's how one could describe my state after the last drops of life force entered my body. He was a professional hero with many years of experience fighting villains and criminals.
"You make me go,
You make me drown.
I have nothing left to lose.
You make me go,
You make me drown.
No, I don't want this!
I don't want this!
I don't want this!
But I know that no one is there.
I'm just walking along the abyss..."
And he died at the hands of a thirteen-year-old brat. It's simply ridiculous. He could have run away. He could have called other heroes to catch me. In that case, I would have had to hide and either actually take his wife and daughter hostage or come up with another plan.
"I feel like I'm living in your shadow.
Sadness has settled in my shallow wound.
I cannot throw away my rusty knife.
It seems that the unknown you were there all along."
But the plan to play on his pride worked. He didn't doubt for a second that he would defeat me. To him, it probably looked like a professional boxer who had won several tournaments going up against an amateur who just hit a punching bag at home. If I had used Rejection at the start of the fight, he might have become more serious and even run away when he started losing.
"I will hold you tight...
Taking this breath, I will float away."
And here is the result. After several weeks in the USA, I am flying back to Japan with an unclear attitude toward what happened. I wanted to laugh and cry; sadness and satisfaction spun their whirlpool in my mind. Several years of preparation and searching had partially paid off. All that remained was this organization behind the laboratory. And Giran must help with that.
"I know that no one is there.
I will stay, I will stay.
I know that no one is there.
I know that no one is there.
I know that no one is there!"
And I need to think about how to get this information from him. Torture and interrogation are extreme methods and unreliable at that, as he could simply lie. That leaves only bargaining. He will set his price: money, a mission to complete, or something to retrieve. All other familiar informants just shrugged at questions about this organization. But I need to check again; maybe one of them has learned something new.
"Don't let me go (Don't let me go)
You make me drown (Don't let me go)
I will head forward, toward the shaky answers."
And when I find out what kind of organization it is and where its research complexes are, I will have my revenge. For the fear and horror that are still inside me, for the pain and despair that are becoming my companions. Except, where they once tormented my soul, now they will envelop my enemies and victims. It will be my moment of triumph, the result of my efforts and training. I just need to prepare better, learn their strengths and weaknesses. And when they least expect it, I will destroy their plans, instill despair in them, and let them know pain.
A weightless wisp of deep purple smoke circled inconspicuously around the hand of the dark-haired teenager, whose eyes, like red embers, were fixed on the porthole.
"I know that no one is there.
I will stay right here.
I'm just walking along the abyss..." (milet — Drown)
***
The return to Japan was mundane. Of course, no one was waiting for me at the airport. I simply hadn't told Izuku, and besides, he had school, and expecting a joyful and waiting Giran would be stupid. If that actually happened, I would be firmly convinced of one thing: that I had finally lost my mind and madness had swallowed me whole. So, without any delay, I took a high-speed train to Musutafu and flopped onto the bed in my rented apartment. I started scrolling through social media and the news. Finding nothing interesting, I stared at the ceiling.
"Subject No. 23, do you feel any malaise, weakness, or strange reactions in your body?"
My body was strapped with belts to a metal operating table. There was no familiar sensation of slowly flowing Dark Matter in my body. My eyes flew wide open.
"Where am I? I can't be a test subject. I escaped from here. This can't be happening."
My head was fixed, so the speaker was not visible.
"No. 23, have you forgotten how to address me? Don't worry, I'll be happy to remind you. After the punishment. After all, you were a bad little son."
Akio Neel's face leaned over me with a wide smile. An abyss looked at me from his eyes.
"You did refuse to return to me, after all. So Daddy needs to teach you a lesson. Now then, No. 23, answer the first question. I'll remind you: do you feel any malaise, weakness, or strange reactions in your body?"
"No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No."
"Excellent, so you don't feel anything. I think the new drug can be tested today. No. 23, get ready. This is going to hurt a bit."
"NOOOOO!"
With a scream and tears, I woke up. The air around me was crackling, and deep purple lightning was flickering. My sweaty hands gripped the sheet. I was breathing like a hunted horse. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare.
A few minutes of self-soothing helped slightly. It was night outside, and the city lived its own life. I put on training clothes and left the apartment. I headed to an abandoned warehouse where I often trained. I moved by jumping across roofs. Streets and the lights of glowing apartment windows flashed by, but I didn't care about the view. Here was the old and dilapidated building. Inside were only rotten crates and various rebar. I did a warm-up routine, mentally preparing for a long training session. During all the exercises, I made myself permeable so that it wouldn't make the workout easier. Then I held Rejection with my whole body for as long as possible. Next, I struck the warehouse wall with my fists, trying to keep the Dark Matter projected. The accumulating fatigue dampened the emotions after the dream. Thoughts began to flow smoothly in my mind again. I continued training until total body failure. I didn't care. Моя темная материя усиливает все характеристики тела, в которые входит восстановление. My Dark Matter enhances all body attributes, which includes recovery.
Tiredly, I walked home through the alleys. The voice of some drunkard sounded from ahead.
"Hey, kid, what did ya, hic, do..."
The man dressed as an ordinary clerk broke off, feeling a shiver through his whole body. The teenager walked past him, his red eyes glancing over him. The man could have sworn he saw a dark aura around him.
He is not my victim or enemy. I need to better train the control over my emotions and intentions. The inability to restrain them is a weakness. I cannot be weak.