113: 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍
There wasn't any word. Looks like Nova was skipping school.
Obviously it wasn't out of the ordinary for her to skip classes. Her attendance was the worst in the whole class. But This time there wasn't any call or explanation from anyone. She just didn't show up.
The majority of the class had no idea what could be going on. She already missed one day that week. Now she was absent again?
Iida glanced to the side. Her seat was empty. He felt a pang of disappointment in his chest. He couldn't understand why she wasn't here. Was she alright? She had seemed so... Different yesterday.
He should have asked about it. But he always had the feeling Nova didn't feel comfortable with him. He didn't want to be pushy.
Now he was worried.
Why wouldn't she come? Was it a family issue? Something to do with Zoey? Or their guardian... Come to think of it, Iida hadn't heard a thing about who they live with. Maybe he could ask his brothers tonight if Zoey said anything while in class with them.
He found himself doing something he never did. Zoning out in class. His attention stuck on her chair.
Then there was a movement infront of him. He turned his head. Shoji, who was all the way in the first row reached to his pocket and opened his phone.
Iida's first instinct was to be appalled over him having a device out in the middle of class. He even considered telling Mic. But he... Didn't.
Shoji looked at the phone. Then in two seconds he was out of his chair, bolting out of the room.
"Yo yo yo wait my man-"
Their English teacher, present Mic tried to call out but Shoji left anyways. Shoji who was Nova's closest friend.
Iida immediately stood up. "I'LL GO AFTER HIM BECAUSE I'M CLASS REPRESENTATIVE!" He loudly volunteered.
"That's not necessary-"
Iida ran out before Mic could finish his sentence. Both boys were gone quicker than the class could keep up with. Suddenly it was quiet again.
"Well then..." Mic mumbled, letting out a sigh. "Let's hope they come back."
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"Wait!! Wait!!!" Iida ran after the boy. While Shoji was strong, Iida was definitely the faster of the two.
He sped forward and intercepted him. Standing infront with waving arms.
"Get out of my way." Shoji mumbled in a threatening way. Iida shook his head.
"Please-"
"I'm not going back in class. You might be class rep but you don't have any actual authority over me." Shoji started to push past Iida. Who let him, walking beside him and keeping pace.
"I-i don't want to stop you!" Iida said, Shoji raised an eyebrow. Seemingly shocked by this news. After all, Iida was a stickler for the rules.
"I'm just- I'm worried about Kurayami... About Nova. Is something wrong?" Iida asked, his voice pleading.
"I'm trying to find out. She won't answer my calls." Shoji showed Iida his phone. "She just randomly sent me this message."
Iida looked the message over. Struggling to read and keep up Shoji's quick pace.
Hey, I just wanted to let you know you mean a lot to me. Thank you for looking out and protecting me, you're the greatest friend I've ever had. Even when I'm not such a good friend in return.
I know you're gonna be a great hero, one that'll prove everyone wrong. Like how we talked about.
"Well that's... nice?" Iida said, handing the phone back. He didn't quite get it.
"Yeah but it sounds like a fucking suicide note." Shoji said, picking up his pace.
Iida's eyes widened in horror. His hands were trembling as he looked up at the other boy. "Suicide?! You... You don't think she'd-"
"I have to find her. I've called her multiple times already, right after she sent the message. But they haven't gone through. Like she shut her phone off." Shoji's usually solid and stoic persona slipped. He seemed as terrified as Iida felt.
"Where could she be!? I'm faster. I can get to her quicker if we knew where she was." Iida said, picking up his own pace. He suddenly looked extremely determined. Thou he was also terrified.
Shoji shook his head frantically. They were almost out of the school already. "I don't know. There are hundreds of different ways she could do it. I just don't know damn it- She could be anywhere-"
He ran into someone. Another student.
They bounced off Shoji and landed on the floor. Shoji barely even flinched.
Shinsou grunted, looking up at them. Then he jumped up. "Where's Nova? Is she in class?"
Iida could already tell he was frantic. He'd only seen the boy twice. During the sports festival, and before that when he threatened their class. He had been calm and bored for most of that time. Now?
Obviously terrified.
"No she's not in class." Iida told him.
"Damn it! I shouldn't have let her go back on her own." Shinsou bolted, the others followed him and they burst out the door.
"What are you talking about?!" Iida yelled, catching up to Shinsou without much effort.
"We were supposed to walk to school together! But she turned around to get her phone. She said she left it at the bus stop! She's been acting weird all morning."
"Nova barely uses her phone!!! She'd never go back for it!" Shoji yelled back. It was getting harder to hear each other as they ran faster and faster. Their footsteps thumping almost as fast as their hearts.
Shinsou started to fall behind. He was no where near as fast as the other two boys. They turned onto a street and suddenly Shinsou remembered something. On the walk here... Before the bus stop they crossed the bridge.
Nova had stopped at it. Looking down. It had been brief, he thought she was enjoying the scenery or some shit. But... Maybe...
"THE BRIDGE!!" Shinsou yelled. Gasping for breath. "Check the bridge. It's a short cut we took, it's pretty secluded but-"
"I know the one. I go on runs in that area. By the old cemetery..." Iida said suddenly. Eyes wide. That was still a fairly far way to go. What if they didn't make it in time? She could be dead already.
If she jumped she could have hit her head, and died instantly. At best she was drowning but that still could happen in a few short minutes.
Iida kept running as Shinsou hesitated.
"You guys go ahead, I'll call the police and come after you... I-I can't keep up... Just please Make sure she's alright..." He panted reaching into his pocket. Shoji nodded and bolted away from him, after Iida.
If it was any other situation Shinsou would feel bitter. The hero course students being so much better than him.
But he didn't feel like that now. He hoped theyd run faster than anyone ever had before. He hoped they'd save Nova.
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The water was cold.
Maybe Nova should have picked a different way. After all the last time she attempted, it didn't even work. But... She couldn't think of any other way.
She didn't have a gun. Even if she did she wouldn't be surprised if she accidentally saved herself with her quirk.
She couldn't Overdose on something. Never. That was how Zoey's aunt died. Nova was traumatized just by hearing the little girl talk about it.
Nova hoped Zoey would never find out. It didn't occur to her until now that she might. Hopefully Nova would die and then be swept away by the river. Her body never to be discovered. Then maybe if Zoey found out she was missing... She could hope that she'd come back. That she was away on some great adventure...
She couldn't hang herself. No. That's how her father died. Nova remembered being sick after finding out about Japans most popular method of execution.
Overall Nova supposed she wasn't that creative. And that drowning probably wasn't such a bad way to go out.
She just wished it wasn't so cold.
She was under now. The water was rougher than the last river she jumped into. She was past the point of no return because... Well...
Nova genuinely didn't know how to swim. Even if she wanted to save herself she probably couldn't at this point.
The water spun her and twisted her. Her skirt and tank top and hair were all soaked through.
Her hair... Still shorter than she liked floated around her like a halo. The waves made it twist, the sun through the water made it glow like fire.
She hit her head, twisting tendrils of blood joined the torch around her head.
Her mind was starting to detach. She was no longer thinking about where she was. But rather of what she was doing. Killing herself.
Was this really the best way?
Maybe she should have asked Lucy to cut her up with scissors.
Maybe she should have sought out Kain or the league of villains and asked them to kill her. They would have happily obliged.
But she felt like that would be too supportive for them. She'd rather rot in the bottom of this river then give them any help. She hoped they'd be disappointed they couldn't get to her. That she got to go out the way she wanted too. On her terms.
She never got to have her own way.
Everything was decided for her. And she was always made to just deal with it. Why? Adults made such horrible decisions. Nova was sure that maybe if she got the chance... She could do better.
She'd never be an adult now though.
That was sad now that Nova thought about it. But technically... She never really expected to be an adult. To her credit she never believed she'd make it even this far.
In a cruel world that hated her so much. It was a miracle she lived to be fifteen.
She hoped that whatever world came next...
Would be just a little more fair.
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