PRESENT TIME

SHOUTO

"Get. Out." Aoi sneered at me.

Her rage felt like a pail of ice cold water poured on my head. My anger dissipated.

What have I done? Why did I say those things!?

"Aoi I'm sorry, I didn't why I said--"

"Get out!" Her shaking eyes were glowing. "Or I'll make you."

Her right arm was pulled back, ready to push me out of the room with all its might. I had made a grave mistake.

If I try to refuse, she would use the air around us to force me out of the room. My head can't find any valid explanation of what I'd done. It was just too emotionally stupid.

But I can't give up.

"Please listen to--ughh!"

The wind threw my body away from her.

I can't give up!

A glacier formed on the japanese doorway. My back slammed against it before I fell down the floor. The lights of the room shattered, darkening the place.

"Leave me alone."

The ice shattered into pieces. The ice spikes pointed their tips at me, waiting for the command to pierce all over my body.

The ice shined as the moonlight entered through the window, giving light to this dark place.

"You can't kill me."

"Don't make me."

The ice spikes moved closer. However, I didn't feel afraid.

"If you want to stab me, go ahead. You can stab me all you want until you're satisfied. I don't care. You would never kill me."

"What makes you so confident?"

"You need me. If you didn't, you wouldn't stay here alone with me in this house. You clearly need me in the mission."

Aoi's eyes widen. The ice spikes fell to the floor like hail. She took a step towards me, but it didn't make me falter. She stopped her tracks when she reached right in front of me. Her head was looking up at me. Her golden eyes were shaking as they stare at me. It felt like she was searching for something in my eyes. She parted her lips.

"Stop acting."

"Huh?" I was taken aback by her words.

"Stop acting. Stop being clingy. Stop being territorial. Stop being overly-affectionate. Just stop it." She commanded.

"I'm not act--"

"Stop acting like you have feelings for me."

My voice abandoned me.

"What's with that reaction? Don't be surprised. You're right. I need you. But you should remember why I do. You love Yaoyorozu. You're here for her. I need you to help me save her. So stop acting."

My throat was dry, but I managed to speak, "I'm not acting."

"Then why are you doing this? You're so affectionate. And then suddenly you become jealous of Shin, of a guy who's not even here. Do you know how frustrating it is for me to hear how jealous you are of him, when all he did was care for me the way you can't take care of me!? I chose you back then but you threw me away. And now you're back? Why are you doing this to me!?"

"I..."

I couldn't stand her eyes staring at me intensely that my head turned to the side.

I don't want to lose you, Aoi. I'm afraid that if I take my eyes off of you, I won't ever see you again. This mission is too risky for you.

I wanted to say that to her. But why am I so afraid? Was it because of the guilt? This pain I was feeling was too heavy for just guilt and remorse.

I heard Aoi sigh, her hand covered her face for a moment. We stood there in silence. Then she calmed down.

"Shou-kun." Her voice was gentle. Her hands reached out to hold both sides of my face. "Shou-kun, look at me."

She gently turned my head to face her. My eyes looked down.

"Look at me, Shou-kun." Her voice sounded sweet as she pleaded.

I clenched my teeth. My eyes looked at her.

"You don't love me."

My heart sank down.

"What you're feeling right now is only guilt. But you don't have to push yourself into taking care of me. I am no longer the Aoi who knew nothing. And I am no longer the Aoi whose world revolves around you. So please, just wait and focus on the mission."

Why am I so confused? Why am I so afraid of losing her? Why do I care so much for her? Is it really just guilt?

My hands reached out for her cheeks.

"Shou-kun, what are you doing?"

I don't love Kiseki Aoi

I said that a million times. I've proven that countless of times. I love Yaoyorozu. I want to see her one more time. I miss her so much.

So why?

"Shou-kun, stop. Let me go..!"

Why are my arms embracing Aoi right now? She's pushing me away, but I can't let her go.

Why can't I let go?

She kept on pushing me away, but she then stopped resisting.

"You don't love me... You never loved me... Maybe you cared. But you care about yourself more than me." Aoi muttered under her breath.

I pushed her away that time because I didn't want the Quirk marriage that she proposes. I don't want anyone, especially my children, to experience the pain that I felt.

Then, I soon hated her for it, for not letting go of that plan of hers. Worse, she was planning to become a hero. I don't want her to become a cold hero like my father used to be. She is not his daughter, but she's following his foolish footsteps.

At first, my father liked her for it, but when he saw his mistakes, he also tried to change Aoi. But she didn't change. She didn't want to change. All of us tried to persuade her to change but it didn't work.

I hated her. How can she not see her wrongdoings? How can she remain too stubborn? What should I do to stop her foolishness?

An idea came to me out of desperation. I asked Yaoyorozu for help, and when she saw Aoi, she knew that I really need her help.

Then I got to know Yaoyorozu more. I couldn't believe how understanding and supportive she was of me. I really enjoyed her company. And when she got defeated by Aoi, I realized her sacrifices for this desperate plan of me. I realized how much she cared for me.

And I've realized that I had fallen for her.

But because of Aoi, because of her, Yaoyorozu disappeared. It was all because of her.

I hated her. I hated her more and more. I despised her so much that I wanted her to kill her in that hospital, but Kuroiwa was there, always watching over her.

I wished she would fade away and die, but she didn't. As I started watching over her, my hatred towards her slowly shifted towards myself.

If only I didn't find her in the temple. If only I let her go back to the orphanage. If only I didn't make that plan. If only I didn't involved Yaoyorozu in this mess.

She would've been alive and well.

When Aoi woke up, I was surprised that she didn't remember anything, but I liked it. With this, she could start again. When her Quirk disappeared, it made me more happy. Now they won't try to take her.

Once the heroes find and defeat them, Aoi would live happily. She might still want to be a hero, but I'd rather let her become a normal citizen. I would persuade her to live normally.

It was perfect. It was supposed to be perfect. However, something in me has changed. I learned to enjoy my time with the new Aoi. She became so lovely. No, she became lovely again, just like how she was when we were kids. The Aoi that I once cared for, the one that I had forgotten because of the past, came back. And I've started to truly cherish her.

I wanted to protect that innocence. I wanted her to stay just like that, but it was impossible. Truth will always find their way.

And now, truth came back. The Aoi I loathed came back. Or so I thought.

This new Aoi, hates me as much as I hated her.

"Shou-kun...are you done now? Let me go."

This new Aoi is full of guilt just like me. She's full of pain.

I took a step back, and let her go. She looked up at me. Her pale-blue hair reflected the beautiful moonlight. Her golden eyes were pulling me in like I'm a moth dazzled by candlelight.

This new Aoi, is more beautiful than ever.

~*~

A/N: Shou-kun what are you thinking? I don't know how I end up writing this chapter. Shou-kun, what have you done to me? 🤣