(Written while listening to: "Hated by life itself. english ver. [Oktavia] 命に嫌われている.[英語で歌ってみた]" by Kanzaki Iori on YouTube)
----------------------------
"At that time, no wishes, no visions was all I could afford"
- Of Yogami Laito's recounts on his second childhood's memories.
<<<>>>
[5 days later]{Late evening}
Yogami's household living room was seeped with silence, with only an alone 10 years old boy who was laying quietly on a couch while staring lifelessly at the ceiling.
–
Laito has not attended school ever since he lost his mom.
Although he did his best to maintain a healthy lifestyle, keeping his eating/exercise habits and supporting his father to the best of his abilities through these rough times.
He simply felt he had no strength anymore really.
He wasn't supposed to feel "tired" per se. As he wasn't doing any actual "labor".
Yet he was feeling tired nonetheless.
Ever since Yogami Hikari passed away, together with her unborn daughter which Tomio has named "Akari".
Laito had serious trouble sleeping lately. And when he finally managed to, it didn't help.
Each time he woke up even more tired than before.
Feeling like his soul left his body.
From his perspective Yogami's were a genuine family for over ten years and he developed, whether he liked it or not, a genuine feelings of love and gratitude towards his current parents.(Oxytocin does it's things)
Of course he hasn't forgotten his "original" ones. But he had enough time to process it.
And his ROB's reassurance was enough to give him a peace of mind in retrospect.
But this was different.
A fresh and gaping "wound" which directly influenced his life in years to come.
He tried to turn to his typical coping mechanism.
"Joking". As in, Klein Moretti's "Clown method".
Somehow it wasn't working this time really well.
–
His dad was really busy with formalities.
Apparently the loss of a family member results in a lot of "paperwork".
It's a very complicated and tiring process both physically and emotionally.
So unfortunately, he hasn't really had neither time nor strength to emotionally support his son's emotional wellbeing.
But Laito wasn't really alone.
Though not because of Masaaki, he just locked himself in his room and kept "going to school", like always.
But because of Mineta who kept visiting to keep him company, every day after school.
In Laito's opinion, these visits from his friend were really the only thing that kept him "sane" during these times.
Though it only could count as a "band-aid" that was put onto a festering stump from poorly removed limb.
It helped greatly still.
–
"Dad is late again." He muttered glancing with his under-black baggy eyes at the wall clock.
Though him being late was normal lately. It made Laito worry each time, despite himself.
His dad was perfectly healthy, though it hadn't stopped Laito from subconsciously being scared of something bad happening to him.
He really didn't want to become an orphan at ten years old…- or at all in fact.
"I have to stop stressing so much, or the worry will put me down faster than any villain could."
He tried poorly to convince himself.
–
–
–
"
"LAITO!" Yogami Tomio stumbled through the home's front door.
Laito involuntarily jumped in fright from this scene, his first thought being:
'What the…- Is dad drunk right now?'
It wouldn't really be a surprising thing all things considered.
Each person copes differently.
But Yogami Tomio didn't drink alcohol.
Never really did.
And indeed, he wasn't drunk.
"Laito, I just got a call from the police! It's about Masaaki. We are going!"
–
Laito felt at this moment something shatter inside him.
–
[Musutafu Police Station]{1 hour later}
–
Laito's mind felt completely numb at this point.
Obviously not because of some disgusting, edgy "I don't care".
Quite the opposite.
He cared too much.
So at this point, he was quite overwhelmed.
Still, the reincarnator fared better than one would expect from a "normal" 10 years old. At least he hoped so.
That is why he was allowed into the police morgue with his dad for "body recognition".
And indeed they recognised it.
–
–
–
His older brother Masaaki he gained in this world.
From Laito's perspective, at first, it was quite refreshing to have an older sibling, considering that in his first life he was the "older one".
But soon, he realized that his older brother of this world was a bit of an immature asshole…- and not really the good type.
Laito never "hated" him though.
And still, he was his brother and he cared for him regardless.
So.
Now he was lying in front of them.
Dead.
The police explained to them that he's apparently been skipping school and was hanging around some "questionable figures", that's what they learned from their initial investigation.
He apparently was going to some weird parties. With alcohol… and drugs.
That's also what has killed him.
He overdosed. Allegedly.
According to what they learned it wasn't a suicide, despite a potential motif.
Just an accident.
The police also had absolutely no idea what kind of drug it even was yet.
–
But at one point in the middle of the conversation, some dots randomly connected inside Laito's head.
'Drugs?'
'No fucking way in hell…- But the timeline…- It's still to early! And the city is wrong! Also he was quirkless!!!'
But still.
Without asking for permission he sneaked closer, reached for his late brother's head with shaky hands, while the police-issued doctor and his dad weren't paying attention.
He carefully opened the corpse's mouth and peeked inside.
–
–
–
The tongue was indeed…
–
Black.
[Yogami's household]{2 days later}
Laito was lying inside his room.
Not on the bed though.
Just in the middle of the floor.
Why?
He couldn't be bothered.
One could think that somebody carrying the title of a "reincarnator" should have sought vengeance, or justice, or at least do SOMETHING.
Using his past memories, his guile and other "tools" as an assets to reach his "goals".
But at this moment Laito simply couldn't bring himself to any "action" or anything really.
He was facing his reality.
He was, by all means and purposes too…- weak.
No riches.
No good looks.
No influential acquaintances.
No fame.
No strength.
No super intellect.
No strong quirk.
Nothing.
He only had his "future knowledge".
But.
Even if he told anyone about the "future events" would anyone actually believe him?
Sure. He knew a lot of sensitive information that he wasn't supposed to know. So he could use that to make himself at least somewhat believable. Like he had some "vision" or whatnot.
But that doesn't mean that anyone with influence would think that the rest like the "events" playing out would "play out" accurately to his words.
No.
These were just excuses.
The real reason that he did nothing really yet, was much more simple.
And embarrassing…- but real still.
He was scared. And confused.
Laito being emotional at that moments was understandable.
And doing anything recklessly would only paint a giant fucking target on his back and he really did NOT wanted to get hunted by All-for-One and his goonies for screwing around with his plans.
So, he needed time to sort things out in his head.
Even though the clock was ticking and soon, within a few years a nationwide scale "problems" will start to occur.
And Musutafu city…- was basically at the center of all of it.
He didn't ask his dad whether they should move away, despite now being scared shitless.
He didn't want to just…- run away.
Yet.
And so he laid in the middle of the room, unable to move from the mental pressure he had put on himself.
–
–
<...Tic-tac tic-tac tic-tac...>
–
–
–
–
–
"Yes?" Laito called out weakly.
The door to his room slowly opened. His dad's head peeked out from behind them.
–
"Hey, bud. Just… checking out, if…- you…- need anything?" He asked hesitatingly.
–
–
"I'm not starving myself or anything… though I could use a bit of sleep."
–
"Yea, that looks… rough. Want to get you a doctor appointment?" Tomio asked, entered the room and sat on Laito's desk chair.
"
"Yes please. Could use any help with that right now. I feel like I have tried everything to fall asleep…- even mEdiTatIOn…- but nothing just works."
"Sure thing. Gonna call to make you an appointment in a moment." Tomio confirmed.
–
–
"...Ehhh..- Is there anything…- else, you would need?"
–
"Tell me dad, how's work going. It sucks you couldn't get any more days away from having to go back to it."
"Oh…- It's kinda going well…- i got promotion just recently"
"Oh!...- Congratulations."
"
"Doesn't really matter, you gotta take what you can." Laito pointed out.
"Yea…- Now I'm the brigade leader…- so that's much less physical work for me from now on. A good thing considering I'm not so…- springy anymore. Years catching up to this old man."
"
"Much, much better. Like ten times."
"No shit?" Laito asked surprised.
"I know. They have sent me for some courses and additional "education" though, so still gotta earn it." Tomio added.
"Still, sounds like it's an overall upgrade." Laito admitted.
"Yea…- it is." Tomio concluded, though without much enthusiasm and for a moment a silence hung between them.
–
–
–
–
"Say son..- Would you like to go to watch the UA Sports Festival? It starts just in few weeks."
–
–
"And I've got tickets."
–
"Three of them. So we can take Mineta-kun with us…- If you want."
–
"Yea. That sounds great." Laito got actually interested and smiled weakly.
The UA sports festival was a huge nationwide event. Aired on national TV and all. Nezu was always paying a huge buck to assure the event's popularity.
Though the UA principal spent a tons of money…- pretty much on everything that was related to that school. So yea.
"Great! I thought we could use some… distraction…- and all." Tomio revealed his reasoning.
"Nice idea dad. And Minoru will love it…- after all Midnight is working for UA."
"
"Trust me. I have no clue."
–
–
–
"Alright I will leave you to your rest…- I know that you really can't but try please to get some sleep anyway." Tomio stood up and turned to exit.
"Sure thing. And you…- be careful. If something bad happened again…- I would seriously crash out." Lato responded, each word slightly quieter than the last, like he has started to fall asleep.
"Of course…- and right back at you bud."
Tomio left the room and started closing the door slowly.
–
"Dad?" Laito called and Tomio's head peeked from behind the closing door.
"What's up?"
–
"I...- WILL…- become a…- hero~." Laito muttered dazed, his eyelids heavy.
Tomio smiled warmly at his son declaration.
"Sure thing bud." he responded without a slightest hint of hesitation or doubt in his voice.
"Now, climb on that bed of yours or you'll get a cold…- again. Good night." And with that he closed a door behind him, while turning off the lights.
"Goodnight." Laito muttered and with the last push of his strength he climbed on top of his bed.
–
As soon as his head touched a pillow he instantly fell asleep.
His consciousness pulled into the darkness of slumber.
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
And then, in the darkness, a very "excited" voice rang.
[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell! Prepare for your First T̷̪̞͝r̷̫̽í̸̠̮͠a̶͖̿̇l̵̡̯͘…]
<<<>>>
[5 years left until MHA plot beginning]
[Chapter End] The story is not over yet
---
Author notes:
Chapter 7.
Seven.
I like the number 7.
It's a good number.
–
I like number 8 more though… or 0 is also cool… or 1.
0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21…
See? No 6 and no 7 there. But 0 1 3 and 8?
–
Focus,
Observe,
Remember,
It is all by design.