MHA: SHADOWS IN UA

Warmth.

It seeped into my skin like sunlight on a lazy afternoon, the kind you didn't want to end. My eyelids felt heavy, but not in pain—just that cozy feeling that begged you to stay in bed a little longer.

I let out a slow breath, my chest rising and falling evenly. When was the last time I felt this. Felt at peace?

The scent of coffee and freshly fried eggs drifted through the air, a comforting aroma that pulled me from the clutches of sleep.

"A...z...ari..a"

I shot up from bed, my heart pounding as I glanced around, scanning for the voice. But all I could see was plain walls with cracks spots,

A cluttered desk with loose papers,

A bookshelf packed tightly with manga volumes.

I was back in my room.

The mattress beneath me was soft, far better than the cold, unyielding gym floor I'd somehow dreamt of. That was a nightmare, wasn't it?

I dashed to the window, fully adjusting the curtains. I was met with the warm sunlight, bathing the city gold as it was bustling with life. There was no dark, suffocating rain that seemed to destroy life.

It was normal. But it felt weird. What dark rain?

"Wasn't I... somewhere else?"

I rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the lingering haze. What I remember last was being beaten, I was bruised and bleeding. Except I couldn't find anything: no cut, bruise or blood.

Was it all just a dream? I mean you can't tell the difference between a dream and real life, it all seem too vivid.

"Azaria!" The voice hit me like a thunderclap. "Breakfast is ready."

That voice, I'd recognise that voice anywhere. I took hurried steps as I opened the door and traced it to the kitchen. As I entered, the familiar figure of my mum standing by the stove greeted me.

I froze in my steps, soaking the scene in, She was humming a tune I couldn't place. I ran to her, hugging her from her side as warm tears rolled down from my cheeks.

"Azaria, what's wrong?" She stopped, a bit shocked.

"Nothing." I said, taking a step back as I dried the tears. "I just had a long nightmare."

She smiled, her voice light and cheerful "Sorry about that. I was about to wake you up as you sleep quite late."

"Is that Azaria?" A voice called out. I left the kitchen and walked to the living room.

At the table, my dad sat with a steaming mug of coffee and a newspaper occupying his vision, as usual.

"Finally awake, huh?" he teased. "You've been out for hours."

I scratched the back of my neck, forcing a sheepish grin. "Yeah... guess I needed it."

The smell of breakfast pulled me toward the table. Pancakes, eggs, toast—it was all there, steaming and perfect. My stomach growled loudly, and I didn't hesitate to dig in.

The first bite was heaven. Warm, fluffy pancakes drizzled with just the right amount of syrup.

"This is amazing" I said, my words muffled by food. "Not like the food I had recently."

There was brief silence as my Dad moved to the next page. "Are you saying your Mum's food is bad?"

"N-no, that's not what I meant." I quickly replied. "I was served food somewhere, I can't really remember although it was usually plain food I got to eat."

"You sure you haven't been eating in your dreams?" My Dad said, taking a sip. "You eat and sleep a lot, I won't be surprised if you eat in your dreams."

Letting out an awkward laugh, I scratched the back of my head. I don't know how that came out from my mouth, it felt so real but hazy, like a dream.

Looks like what ever bad dream I had, I woke up from it. Not like I can even remember much of it.

For now, I'll just focus on this food right here.

———

The warm, buttery scent of pancakes still lingered as I stepped outside. The sun kissed my skin, and the gentle chirping of birds filled the air.

I walked to the park across the street, where the familiar palm trees stretched toward the sky, their long leaves swaying softly in the breeze.

I sat on an empty bench, breathing it all in. The world seemed brighter today, more vivid.

Kids laughed as they raced around the playground, their carefree joy contagious. I couldn't help but smile.

The couples and families were all having a good time. Laughter occasionally echoing in the air from all sides.

Everything felt carefree and perfect like we were in a movie. Too perfect. I felt a weight on me, like I was ignoring something important.

Shaking off the thought, I left the park and

wandered further. The streets were just as I remembered—quaint shops, friendly neighbors waving as they passed, the faint aroma of freshly baked bread from the bakery on the corner.

Was it really like this? I mean was everyone this nice? It all felt like it was fake.

Or was I just the one who was salty about having a nice day?

"Az..aria!" a voice called out. It was a female voice but breaking, like a static.

I quickly turned around, hoping to find the source but I couldn't. Instead, I saw a figure jogging towards me, it appears he was grinning?

"I've been calling you." He said as he playfully hit my back. "Bro, it's been a while."

"Yeah, it has." I replied automatically, though the reply felt off. He felt familiar but distant. I couldn't place it.

Someone familiar but distant, I had felt that before. A face flashed in my head, it felt like a woman's but it was blurry.

The figure in front of me cocked his head. "How far, are you good?"

"Yeah," I nodded, rubbing my forehead. "I just thought of something."

"Want to take a walk? We could catch up on things."

"Sure, I mean. I don't really have much to do at the moment."

"I heard there was a mansion around the corner, want to explore it?"

"Explore? What are we? Eight?"

"Bro, you're so boring. You gotta live your life before you die."

I froze in my tracks. "What did you just say?"

"That you are boring? And we gotta live before we're old and grey?"

"You didn't say anything.....about dying?" The words came out hesitantly, to my own surprise.

"No," He chuckled. "You sure you're not hearing things?"

I didn't say anything, just smiled. There was a gnawing feeling I couldn't shake off.

"Let's go then," I said, smiling. "Lead the way before we're grey and old. "

———

While on the walk, He launched into stories about his new job, his girlfriend, and how we needed to link up more.

I nodded along, but the longer we walked, the more distant his voice became, like it was fading into the background. The gnawing feeling was still growing, clawing at my mind.

By the time I came to, I saw a different scenery. I stood on soft grass, feeling a harsh and cold wind on my skin.

A scent of rain lingered in the air as it was pouring down. But it wasn't rain. It was a thick black liquid falling from the sky like oil, splattering the earth.

It was unsettling, but not quite overwhelming as I strangely felt calm around it. The black liquid pooled on the ground, coating the earth.

There was no flood.

No rushing water.

Just rain.

The landscape seemed vast, yet deserted. There was a mansion towering above us, reaching towards the dark sky. The kind of mansion that looked grand, though oddly out of place here, standing alone in the vast nothingness.

"Where the fuck are we?" I turned to him. "How on earth did you discover this place?"

"It just happened," he shrugged, a smile on his face. "Fate, I guess."

I frowned, something tugging my brain. 'Black rain? Haven't I seen this before?'

Another memory flashed in my brain, causing me to let out a groan. This time it was more vivid. I was in my apartment, trying to escape the black liquid that rained.

"What was that?" He asked. "You alright?"

"Yeah." I lied, raising a palm to give us some distance as he wanted to come closer. "Probably a slight headache."

I rattled my brain, as I was swimming in confusion. Where were we? Why did I come here?

And from what just flashed in my head, I was trying to escape the liquid, now I'm the one entering the area with the liquid? What the hell?

And why did I even feel comfortable with this eerie scenario in front of me?

All those questions popped up in my head and strangely an answer came:

The mansion in front of us. it was strangely drawing me towards it, the gnawing feeling, the voices, the images flashing in my head. It might provide the answers to everything.

I exhaled, trying to fight against the anxiety building up in me, I thought of running away but strangely my feet moved forward to the gate.

"Let's go." I said, not waiting for him to respond.

———

The mansion was dark and eerie, with the rain not making it any better. The light I had on me barely cut through the oppressive darkness, casting long shadows across the cold walls.

The house was too old—and the flickering light only seemed to highlight the decay. The walls themselves groaned as if the mansion was alive. It felt like the house was death itself as it looked like no one had stepped through its doors for years.

Something about this place kept me moving, as if I was being pulled by something strong. The rain outside rattled against the windows, the sound chilling as the wind echoed like deathly woes.

The silence inside the mansion was suffocating. Heavy. It was like the very air was pressing against my chest, making each breath harder than the last, but despite it all, there was an odd sense of calm within me.

Or was I just extremely weird like this building?

"Az...ar...ia"

I heard a voice again. It was barely a whisper carried by the breeze, but it felt like it came from the very walls themselves.

I froze. My heartbeat skipped. That voice I had heard it before. It was distant, fading in and out. The voice was softer this time, almost pleading, but the edges of it were bitter.

Sometimes I would hear voices with hints of sadness, anger. Occasionally,I'd hear a voice with contempt, all calling my name.

'Why are they calling me and how do they know my name?' I asked myself, unable to find the answer.

I shook my head, trying to shake off the lingering unease that was starting to creep up my spine.

I forced my legs to carry me forward. There were too many shadows in this place. They stretched across the room like they were alive, crawling across the floor, over the furniture, as though trying to swallow up any last remnants of light.

I walked further into the mansion, the echoes of my footsteps deafening in the silence. Each room seemed to blend into the next.

No matter how far I walked, the layout of the house never seemed to change. There were no hallways to turn down, no doors to open. The mansion just kept going, defying logic.

My thoughts went to my friend that was with me. I hope he would find his way in this extremely dark place but wasn't he behind me?

I turned, flashing the light but I was met with furnitures. No trace of anybody behind me as the thick darkness made it impossible to see anything.

"Are you there?" I shouted.

I was responded with the silence, just the darkness staring right at me. I was about to call but then I realised...

I don't know his name.

I never did. He didn't say his name, neither did I call him by one.

Thinking back on it, from the moment I woke up, I didn't even see my parents face. I tried to remember but each moment I thought I saw their face, it was fuzzy.

My legs trembled in fear as my eyes widened in fear, I reached for a table, steadying myself. Then I heard it—faint at first, like a whisper through the walls.

"Azaria…"

Again. The voice was more insistent this time, but it was still that faint whisper, like it was coming from the very walls.

Each repetition of my name felt like it was tugging on my soul, pulling me deeper into the house.

And why did I feel quite familiar with the house? The sensation was dizzying. The sense that I knew this place, that it had been a part of me for longer than I could remember. But how? Why?

I walked, slowly, towards the source of the sound, trying to control my breathing. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, but one thing kept circling back—this place, this house. It was too familiar.

It felt like I had been here before.

And then, just as I was about to cross into the next room, something caught my eye—a portrait on the wall.

It was an old painting. The frame was cracked, the colours were faded, but the faces within the painting were unmistakable. Me and my parents.

The realization hit me like a wave as my memories flooded back without warning. My death. Ruki. Yumi. AFO. My ongoing fight. My breath was caught in my throat.

The air felt even thicker now, my legs gave out and I collapsed on the floor. The house felt like it was closing in on me, its walls pressing in, the darkness thickening.

The portrait was of us, we all looked so happy. The image froze them in time, just the way I remembered.

Before everything changed.

Before I died.

The figure suddenly appeared before me, his face was now a thick shadow. "You tried to run, deny reality but you know the truth. You're dead."

"What...is this? Why...did you..do th..is?" The words came out of my mouth weakly.

"This? I didn't do anything." It's voice cold and piercing. "I've been stretching my hand out, trying to reach out to you. You've been pushing me away. Denying me."

"What...what do you-"

"It means I've been calling you to take this power." It interrupted me, its voice a bit louder and chilling. "The dreams you've been having, what do you think they were?"

I slowly got up, my legs still trembling "Motherfucker, you tried to drown me!!".

Its face slowly morphed, changing from an unknown figure to a teenager with yellow eyes and hair even split between light blond and green as it face palmed.

"I can't drown you. I'm you."

"What? What do you mean by that? How can I be...this?"

The figure sighed and with a snap, the room instantly changed. We went from a room to an indoor cinema, something was displayed on the huge screen.

Taking a good close at it, it were events I went through from the first day I got into this world till losing the fight and being knocked out by Hizaki.

The Figure, already seated gestured me to sit. Taking a seat, he cleared his throat. "I'm you because I complete you. All For One gave you a quirk right?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Thank you and since that day, you have been seeing weird dreams? Doesn't that click something to you?" He yawned. "I mean, you said it that you were sure but you didn't know how to activate it."

I nodded. "Yes because it didn't come naturally and quirks are supposed to come naturally and also you tried to drown me."

It chuckled. "Azaria, I couldn't drown you. You tried to fight against me instead of accepting me. Us." It stood up, pacing in front of me "You said quirks come naturally. What makes you think you are the same as others?"

"Huh?" I blinked. What was it trying to say? Don't all quirks just activate by itself? There was no case throughout the story of something like this.

It stopped and leaned closer to me, like he read my thoughts. Honestly, it is really creepy when someone with your face is all up in your space.

"Thinking back at your journey, don't you think you're different from the others?"

I shot up to my feet. What did it mean by that? Was it aware that I'm not from this world? How much does it know?

"It seems like you have a lot to ask." It said, smiling. "Let me give you a tip as we don't have much here seeing how you might die soon. What do trained swimmers do?"

After he said those words, he slowly merged into the darkness, still wearing that ugly grin. Black liquid rose up from the ground, swallowing up everything in its path.

I was panicking now. My instincts screamed to run, but my legs refused to move, rooted in place as if the shadows themselves were holding me hostage.

My breaths were short and shallow, the air thick with the overwhelming sensation of doom.

'What do trained swimmers do?' That question echoed in my mind like a relentless drumbeat.

"Fucking swim?" I shouted, glancing around crazily. "Is that the answer?! FUCKING ANSWER ME!!"

I was met with silence as the shadows surged upward, swallowing me whole. The whole scenario familiar as the black liquid crept up my legs, cold and oppressive, like hands pulling me into an abyss.

My body reacted instinctively, thrashing and fighting against it. My hands clawed at the floor, searching for anything to grab onto, but there was nothing—just darkness.

"Get off me!" I shouted, my voice echoing uselessly into the void.

But the more I struggled, the more the liquid surged upward, wrapping around my waist and chest, tightening its grip with every movement.

It was relentless, an unyielding force intent on consuming me.

"Stop!" I screamed, twisting and turning, my heart racing in panic. "I said stop!"

Yet it didn't stop. It never hesitated, as if it knew my resistance was futile.

The words of the figure came back to me, sharp and chilling in their simplicity. What do trained swimmers do?

I shook my head, trying to block out the memory, but the question gnawed at me. The black liquid surged up, swallowing me whole. It was a cold, suffocating tide.

"Azaria…"

The faint voice echoed again, soft and familiar, barely audible over the cacophony erupting in my mind.

"You can't run."

Another voice. This one colder, sharper.

"You're weak."

The words struck like daggers, each one laced with contempt.

"No!" I shouted, though my voice was muffled by the liquid pressing against my lips and throat.

I clawed at the darkness, my hands finding nothing as I struggled to keep my head above the rising tide.

"You'll fail them all."

"Why do you even try?"

The voices multiplied, overlapping in a chaotic chorus. Some were taunting, others bitter, and some…some were crying.

"Azaria…"

The faint, familiar voice called again, cutting through the noise, but it was quickly drowned out by the others.

"You're not good enough."

"You'll never be strong enough."

"It's your fault."

My head throbbed as the words echoed endlessly, bouncing around my skull like a twisted symphony. My breaths came in short, panicked gasps as I kicked and flailed against the liquid.

"Shut up!" I screamed, but the voices only grew louder.

"What do trained swimmers do?"

"You can't escape this."

"You'll always be a failure."

The voices weren't just attacking me—they were inside me, burrowing into every insecurity I'd ever had, amplifying them until I couldn't think straight.

My vision blurred, tears mixing with the black liquid as it rose over my head, submerging me completely.

"Azaria…"

The faint voice was still there, persistent yet distant. But I couldn't focus on it. The weight of the darkness was crushing me, and the voices were deafening.

"Why do you resist?"

"You'll drown anyway."

My body convulsed, my lungs burning as I fought for air that wasn't there. My arms flailed uselessly, my legs kicking against the void.

The more I struggled, the tighter the liquid gripped me, like it was feeding on my resistance.

"Azaria"

The words came softer this time, like a whisper through chaos.

"What do trained swimmers do?"

I froze, the last of my strength drained. My chest heaved, but there was no air, only the suffocating cold.

"Azaria…"

The voice again. Stronger now, clearer, cutting through the storm like a beam of light.

"Stop fighting it, Azaria. Think."

I stopped moving. The liquid still held me, but I no longer fought it. The voices didn't stop, but their sharp edges dulled, becoming a background hum.

"Azaria...what do trained swimmers do?"

'They don't fight against water. They flow with it.'

I closed my eyes, letting the weight of the words settle over me.

"Then stop fighting it."

The realization hit me like a tidal wave. I wasn't supposed to resist. The darkness wasn't here to destroy me. It wasn't my enemy.

It was a part of me.

I could see it now.

The darkness surged, but this time it wasn't crushing me. It was strengthening me.

When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer drowning. I stood in an endless void, surrounded by an ocean of black liquid that rippled softly around me.

The darkness began to rise, coiling like smoke, swirling until it surrounded me entirely. It pressed against my skin, cold but not suffocating, as if testing me.

"Take it," the voices whispered in unison.

My heart pounded as the darkness waited for my answer. Slowly, I extended my arms, palms open.

The liquid surged forward, sinking into my skin. It was cold at first, chilling me to my core, but then it burned like fire, coursing through my veins.

My entire body trembled as the energy filled me, becoming part of me.

And then, I woke up.

"AZARIA!!"

A loud voice piercing the air brought me back, and the sharp sting of pain shot through my body as I gasped for air.

My vision blurred before settling on a single image—Hizaki, towering over me, his hand raised for the final blow.

I quickly rolled away as it came down, crushing the place where I used to stay. Quite terrifying but I tried not to pay attention to it.

This time, something was different. I had a quirk this time, I wouldn't be killed by a tin can.

Hizaki's grin faltered as I pushed myself up, my body still aching. My breath was calm, my gaze unwavering despite the pain.

"Let's finish this," I said, my voice steady and cold.

———

AN: I apologize for the grammatical errors in the previous chapters(⁠༎ຶ⁠ ⁠෴⁠ ⁠༎ຶ⁠). I also didn't expect this chapter to be this long, although it hasn't finished like I promised(⁠´⁠-⁠﹏⁠-⁠`⁠;⁠)

Like I said in the last chapter, the original idea for this arc is quite long but hopefully we round it up in the next chapter.

• if you like the story, please leave a review.

• kindly push the story forward with your power stones.