Chapter 28: Doubt
Having a body where I can store anything is the most convenient thing I could ask for, honestly. My phone and some corded headphones are all I need to pass the time before my fight.
It's not that I don't want to socialize with my classmates, but I'm so tired right now. All I want to do is close my eyes and forget about everything.
And as if the Lord Himself had heard me and decided to mess with me, a gentle tap on my shoulder wakes me from my slumber state
I open my eyes to see Mina behind me with that wide smile of hers, showing her white teeth and closing her eyes. I take out my headphones, which were playing some "old" songs,and by old, I mean old.
Even though I've "lived" here for quite some time, music is definitely not this world's strong suit. Seriously, I had to dig very, VERY deep to find the music I used to listen to in my original world.
It's hard for me to believe this place is set 100 years apart from where I come from, especially when the technology isn't all that different.
While I'm lost in thought, Mina was already sitting next to me. Her fluffy hair and pink skin fill my vision, along with a mix scent of sweat and shampoo.
"Akuma, Akuma, whatcha listening to?"
She asks as she slips one side of my headphones into her ear. Her eyes widen in surprise, and a gentle yet dumbfounded smile spreads across her lips.
"You... have some unique taste," she says.
"Is that so? I think I'm the only one who listens to this kind of music nowadays."
"Are you an old man?"
"Rude."
She snorts before a little giggle escapes her lips. She looks at me, and I hold her gaze for a few seconds before silently laughing along with her.
"Are you worried about your fight? I think I can pass to the next stage,"
She ask, swinging her legs back and forth as she stares at the arena where the first fight is about to begin.
"Mmm... I'm not worried. I think I can win easily."
"HA?! Easily?!"
I'm startled by Denki's sudden scream from behind me. I turn around to see him staring at me with indignation all over his face,all while Jiro laughs at him.
"Pfft, dude, he doesn't even see you as a real opponent,"
"Shut up, Jiro! And you! Don't think it's gonna be so easy!"
"Is that so?"
"YES, dude! I'm gonna make you regret what you said!"
Before I can say anything else, Present Mic's voice announcing the first battle between Izuku and Shinsou interrupts me
Everybody in our podium is now with their eyes fixed in the platform below us, the crowd cheers as Izuku enters the stage walking with a firm look on his face
Honestly, I could have given to him a more detailed information of the Quirk that Shinsou has, and while it's true that this would end the fight quick and safely, this is the first time he is going to experience the connection between the carriers of the One for All
The fight quickly start, and to everyone but me surprise, Izuku stops moving after talking with Shinsou
-Hey Akuma, you made team with that guy right?-
Ask Kirishima, looking somewhat perplex and worried for Izuku, I laugh briefly while some of my classmates start to turn around to hear me, specially Ojiro
-Yeah, the dude's Quirk is brainwashing-
-HAAA?!-
A collective scream and some worried looks are fixed at me, Ojiro bite his lips in anger as Uraraka screams at me
-What?! You knew he has that kind of quirk?! Why didn't you tell Izuku?!-
-And why would I do such thing?-
-Dude, Are you serious? He is your friend!-
Some others join to critize me for not delivering the information to Deku, I'm not going to back down since I know everything they don't, but I have to explain it if I don't want to be seen as a fucking asshole
Uraraka is the most worried, even little tears get form around her eyes, she is seeing me like I betray our friendship, Ojiro doesn't say anything, but I can sense his anger at me, Todoroki and Bakugo are looking at me with no visible emotion but I can sense more animosity than usual, even Mina is looking at me with doubt, like wanting an explanation
This is not the first time I realized, but seeing them, characters from a manga I used to watch when bored, being real people, with feelings, thinking and acting as their personalities were formed, it's amazing, it's something so amazing I cannot put it into words
I get up from my seat, where Uraraka is question me more and more as Deku is very close to the line, even Lida got closer to me and is almost scream talking about friendship and bounds
-Why, if a friend you are,doubt him?-
My words are delivered with calm, looking down at Uraraka who is stunned to respond which gives me time to continue
-Help him you say? Why? Do you think he is weak? Do you see him as someone that needs to be helped?-
She tries to form a sentence, but my words hit her like cold water, it's time to stop seeing Izuku as nothing but a upcoming menace
-Answer me Ochako, why do you think so low of your so called friend?-
-Thanks enough, Akuma-
Lida interrupts me, looking me at me with a very serious gaze, Uraraka is very close to me, looking at the ground, everyone around is dead silent
At that moment, the crowd screams as a torrent of wind reach the podium
-Hey Uraraka....you might wanna see your little sugar win this round-
I say with the more mischievous smile I can get as she almost broke her neck to see behind her
At that same moment, Izuku is slamming Shinsou out of bounds, the whole stadium explodes in screams of joy
I laugh proudly as the whole class looks at me weirdly
-How....did you know?-
Says Lida looking stunned
-I was confident on my friend Lida, you shouldn't underestimate that guy-
-You don't talk that often with him! You totally bet! He could have lost!-
-But he won right? That's what matters, everything else is non important-
To be completely honest, I was having my doubts, but everything went smoothly so no need to worry much, Todoroki and Momo look at each other before leaving the podium to move at the respective wait room
The next match is about to start