After two more weeks had gone by, things had begun to move on to the next thing. Of course, everyone remembered, everybody knew Yamaguchi was missing, and a select few had known of his fate. 

Tsukishima had returned to school. He was quick to kick the two newer students out of his and Yamaguchi's desks before even greeting anyone. To say the two weak ghouls were offended would be an understatement, and several wondered why their teacher never seemed to be around to step in. 

"Who do you think you are, showing up suddenly and trying to push us around?" Nobuta sneered.

"This was my seat before you got here, and I want it back," Tsukishima said with a scowl. "your friend can get out of the other seat while you're at it, too. You're stinking it up."

He wasn't just talking, either. The two of them smelled funny, like houses built in the twenties and cheap chapstick. One of them also smelt of cheap cologne, and Tsukishima wanted to gag lightly at the scent. 

The two stood up, a feral look in their eyes. Todoroki and (Y/n) stood as well, not wanting this to get ugly. Of course, everything happens before or after school when no adults are around. It was alright at first, but it was just beginning to get on everyone's nerves at this point. They'd gotten tired of relaxation-free mornings.

"Back off guys," (Y/n) demanded. "give Tsukishima a break. It was his seat, to begin with anyway."

"Why should we?" Chōsuke sneered.

"Dude's friend just died," (Y/n) uttered, looking down slightly. "so it'd be better for you not to sit in a dead man's seat."

Todoroki gave Tsukishima a sympathetic look at (Y/n)'s harshness. The blond had flinched, being reminded of what he had tried to hard to forget. Luck just hadn't been in his favor recently, though, it seemed. He'd purposely stayed out late in hopes of some accident happening, but he'd made it home every single time. 

None of the ghouls in the room missed the scent of blood, only a little less than fresh, coming off of him. 

┈

"It's been over a month, Shouto," (Y/n) stated, reaching under his cousin's bed.

"He's only been gone for three weeks—"

"No. It's been over a month since Shiota and Akabane last went hunting," (Y/n) said.

"Oh, right... I forgot about that with all this crap going on."

"I only remembered 'cause I was smart enough to set a reminder."

"Wow, you did something intelligible."

"Ha. ha," (Y/n) laughed sarcastically, tossing Todoroki his mask. "let's go out tonight. We might see them."

Tokoroki grunted in response and pulled the black mask over his face. If he was honest with himself, he wasn't even hungry. His school life had suddenly become so eventful since school began; eating and hunting were by far the last things on his mind. That said, he might not get the chance to learn a better way to do this again. God knew his father couldn't show him such a thing.

┈

"Kaminari, have you heard?" Kirishima whispered, pulling the blond back from the rest of their friends.

"Of what?" he asked, annoyed.

"One of the ghouls in Itona's class died like... a few weeks ago, I think. They've been good at keeping it on the down-low, but someone from the top class has been telling people."

"Holy crap, really? What happened?"

"What are you two assholes talking about?" Bakugou turned to them, glaring.

"Yeah, share your secrets guys~" Sero teased. Mina giggled.

"Nothing guys." Kirishima waved his hand dismissively. "just a rumor we heard from someone."

Sero and Mina turned around and kept walking, pulling the group along. Bakugou didn't look convinced in the slightest. Those two were bad liars when it came to it being on the spot. Whatever. Rumors spread around eventually. 

┈

"Monoma, you need to stop this," Uraraka urged. "it's getting out of hand, and it's plain wrong."

"You're too nice Uraraka," Monoma stated. 

"You're too insensitive! Imagine how his friends feel."

"But Uraraka, what if, somehow, the Crows get wind of this? Knowing them, they'll be pissed about a young ghoul being killed like this! The Crows will come find me and then I can a way for us to join!"

"That's a real hypothetical you've got there, buddy," Karma teased, leaning over Monoma's shoulder. "I don't get your deal with the Crows, but you had best back off the Yamaguchi thing. You wouldn't want any of his friends on your back, would you? And just think, there's no telling how many are on the volleyball team alone."

Monoma scoffed, "Whatever. This could be my ticket in."

"Or it could be your ticket to hell, but that's your decision chief."

"A- Karma... why are you, um, harassing Monoma?" Yachi asked quietly after walking over.

"He's the one who's been talking up Yamaguchi the past few days." 

Uraraka watched the situation unfold nervously. The last thing she wanted was for Monoma to get in a fight with Karma. Sure, Monoma can hold his own against several, but she doubted he could against Karma. She was dense enough to not see his closeness with the blue-haired ghoul in the other class. The only ghoul duo that fit that description was Crimson Raven and Coluber Constrictor. She had no idea who Yachi was, though.

"Oh..." Monoma, surprisingly, felt a pang of guilt at Yachi's expression. She didn't even look angry; she looked more like she was lamenting than anything. "well, that's something, I guess... I'm gonna finish my lunch with Tsukishima."

┈

This was easily less than ideal. The last thing (Y/n) and Todoroki wanted when they went out that was night was to be cornered by Doves. Much less did they appreciate the fact that Enji Todoroki was among the mix loud and clear. There wasn't anywhere for them to run without risk, either. This was bad. This couldn't get wors-

Five of them were pierced with sharp, almost feather-like ukaku spears at once. Neither (Y/n) or Todoroki could do that, but Todoroki quickly recognized that the ghoul from Yamaguchi's apartment could. He saw the black hair and the Crow's mask, then more of the small spears flying like wild. 

Just the other day this guy had shot one of those through (Y/n)'s knee, and now he was saving them? So many things were running through his head, but Todoroki chose not to question it too much. The teen signaled (Y/n) to start moving, and they quickly started to scale the wall and get onto the roof, the attention no longer on them. 

Todoroki and (Y/n) hadn't had any time to stop and thank the stranger in the moment, but they surely would have had they ever gotten the chance. Right now though, all that was on their minds was getting out of there. They needed to get home and cleaned up before Endeavor got back. If they didn't... they could be in serious trouble.

(Y/n) saw a pale blue shine in the night out of the corner of his eyes. His body shot around to catch another glance; he didn't think twice before heading to follow it. Todoroki, seeing what his cousin was chacing rather quickly, joined him and even led the way. There weren't too many people, much less many ghouls with that hair color.

Then they saw ruby red and a pale grey and blond. They sped up, wasting no time in catching up to the other ghouls, which didn't sit well with all of them.

Rio Nakamura went to a small high school in town. Her parents had arranged such a thing in the hopes that it would help her gain her focus back further. She'd planned to go out with her friends that night and hunt together. That sounded like fun, but she didn't think being chased down was part of the deal.

"Guys! We're being followed!" Rio said urgently, looking back to find the ghouls out of sight. 

"I don't see anyone," Itona replied.

"Yeah well last time you didn't see anyone your identity got found out," Nagisa stated.

"Below the belt, Nagisa."

"There!" Rio stopped and pointed, only to lose sight of them again. She had only seen a glance of a kagune as well.

Nagisa stayed still for a moment before turning back around to continue. He sighed. After recent events, the last thing he needed was for someone to be following him for whatever reason. There were only two thoughts that came to mind, but as far as he knew, neither were threatening. 

"Let's keep going. If we pick up the pace, they'll probably fall back and give up."

┈

"This is seriously aggravating..." Karma muttered. "who the hell is tailing us?"

Todoroki pulled out of his hiding place first, coming up behind Nagisa and tapping his shoulder. (Y/n) stood next to him, chuckling at Nagisa's reaction at the surprise. Needless to say, their joking stopped when one of Rio's kagune nearly ripped Todoroki in half.

"Seriously?" Itona asked, unimpressed.

"Yeah," Todoroki said. "Shiota and Akabane said to find them next time they went out."

"That doesn't mean tail us!" Nagisa growled. "now is especially a bad time! I thought Crows were coming after us."

"And watch it, blondie," (Y/n) hissed. "why so violent?"

"She doesn't know you guys, that's why."

"Even I don't think that's a good reason, but whatever you say Nagisa."

"Who are you guys anyway?" Rio questioned.

"I'm Todoroki Shouto. This is Okina (Y/n); we're in Shiota and Horibe's class," Todoroki answered.  

"Kira Koneko." (Y/n) smiled under his mask. "nice to meet you."

┈

"Where the hell-" Endeavor held in a gasp. "what the fuck is this? Where have you been?"

This was the worst possible position to be in. Enji Todoroki, Todoroki's dove father had caught them coming in through (Y/n)'s window, the blood on their clothes plain as day. Panic rose in their eyes, mentally cursing and coming up with excuses. 

Todoroki felt like he was being pulled through the floor and his lungs were being squeezed. He wasn't prepared for this. He'd never be prepared for this. Enji was a smart man and could connect the dots. They were going to die tonight, weren't they? This was the end of them.

He looked over to (Y/n) and saw him frozen. What he wouldn't give to take back going out that night. His idiot cousin, more like a brother, was going to die today because Todoroki didn't know what to do. How had his father gotten home so fast? 

The sinking feeling took over his entire body and he sobbed. (Y/n)'s eyes darted to him as shock took over Enji's mind. He hadn't seen his son cry in years. 

It was weak of him to resort to this so quickly, but he had no other ideas in the moment. Todoroki could give up his pride to get them out of this. (Y/n) didn't need to die and their mothers didn't need to starve because Todoroki was too proud. He could give himself for them, and so that's what he did.

Another low sob exited his throat roughly as he stepped forward. (Y/n) was still in shock, Enji didn't know what to make of this. His son and nephew sneaking in, covered in blood, an his son bursting into tears at the sight of him. 

"Dad," Todoroki cried, his internal compass going wild. "Dad I'm sorry. We went to a party and ghouls showed up."

"Shouto..."

"Then I heard you ran into Kira Koneko and a crow and things are really bad at school," he continued, doing his best to keep the act up as his tears tried to stop flowing. "I know Yamaguchi was a ghoul but he was my friend and he died, Dad, he's gone! Everything's so bad..."

"I can't handle it either..." (Y/n) lied. His next comment felt like a punch to his gut. "why is our so bad? Why are the ghouls so terrible?"

┈

"I can't believe you had to come up with that on the spot..." Yachi said sympathetically.

"Yeah, but now we'll have to be even more careful," (Y/n) grumbled. Todoroki nodded.

"Look on the bright side," she uttered sadly. "time will start to fly now that you've got something else to focus on."

┈

(2100 Words)