#kamuhinakoma
Written for @izuruzine
Summary: Post-Canon AU where Kamukura Izuru is a ghost that starts haunting/terrorizing his once former self.
Rating:PG
Warnings: Vague references to canon events.
Notes: This is the other fic I wrote for the zine! It’s more like a bonus piece, but I do quite like it. I’m all about post-canon recovery, and I thought this would be a fun and interesting take. It’s not my usual brand of sentimental, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It’s still short and sweet.
He had already predicted everything that would happen. But regardless of what happened, it would be of no concern to him because he would no longer be present. Regardless of the future, Kamukura Izuru’s existence would come to an end.
There was no reason to meet any of the remnants once again. Or so he thought.
It turned out that even one so beloved by talent was not omniscient.
–
While he was no longer present in a tangible sense, he still existed as a specter. A transient observer to Hinata Hajime’s life from then on. Watching the once normal boy make use of his talents here and there, and toss back and forth every night, plagued by scattered memories. Every so often, Hinata would wake with a strangled gasp, his chest heaving, his shoulders trembling, and his face wet with tears. With twitching fingers, Hinata would reach up to comb his fingers through his hair. He’d flinch whenever his fingers brushed against the ruined scar tissue atop his head like a twisted crown.
Kamukura Izuru would observe. Night after night. Watch Hinata Hajime muster up an air of normalcy and force himself to lie back down and attempt restful sleep once more.
“You are hopelessly dull, Hinata Hajime,” Kamukura said. “You have people you can confide in. Suffering alone does not suit someone as plain as you.”
Of course, Hinata Hajime hadn’t responded. How boring.
–
Simply watching became intolerable, so Kamukura Izuru began to test the extent of his capabilities as a specter. He found that while Hinata Hajime responded to brushes of contact with a shiver, inanimate objects were more complicated. He could flip the pages of a book, but he couldn’t pick up or carry the book itself. He could only move small, relatively light objects such as chopsticks and empty glasses.
Hinata Hajime always jumped when Kamukura swept aside his eating utensils. He was especially startled when Kamukura knocked over his glass. Hinata’s gaze jerked towards Kamukura’s direction, except it wasn’t quite lined up.
Kamukura flicked his forehead. Hinata stiffened, but it wasn’t long before his shoulders slacked.
“Must be going crazy,” Hinata muttered to himself.
“As if you weren’t already?” Kamukura asked him and, predictably, didn’t receive a response.
–
On one hand, making Hinata Hajime worry he might be haunted was rather pointless. On the other, Kamukura did feel a twinge of satisfaction when Hinata flinched in front of the mirror. More so when Kamukura knocked away his toothbrush and Hinata was left looking rather helpless.
Kamukura was acting out. He’s quite aware of this. These acts of defiance and rebellion made for poor justifications of his existence.
Well, he hadn’t exactly wanted to keep living upon entering the simulation. In a way, this was karmic punishment for threatening to throw away not only the lives of the remnants but the remains of Class 78.
“It’s your fault as well,” he told Hinata. “You were the one who agreed to the project in the first place.”
Hinata continued to comb through his hair furiously. He can’t seem to get the antenna quite right. His grimace was darkening.
He yelped when Kamukura pulled on his cheeks.
“S-Seriously what the hell?!”
“Hell is right,” Kamukura hummed. “This existence is hellish. However, you know the saying, don’t you?” As there is no point in waiting for an answer, he simply prodded the once normal boy and watched dully as Hinata turned away. “Misery loves company.”
–
Of course, Kamukura Izuru could not be satisfied with stagnancy and solitude. It had only taken X amount of days before the vacancy of living day to day as a mere tool and accessory for the Hope’s Peak Steering Committee had driven him to take the first hand offered. It hadn’t mattered the wretch that hand was attached to.
Hinata Hajime could not fully retreat into himself either. Or, rather, he would not be allowed to.
“Hinata-kun! It’s been a while!”
Komaeda Nagito. The former Ultimate Luck of the 77th batch of Hope’s Peak Academy. Recently recovered from once malignant lymphoma. The second ‘owner’ of a certain wretch’s hand has since been replaced with a bionic one, which Komaeda Nagito was using to wave at hi—them.
Komaeda’s gaze flickered towards Kamukura Izuru. His smile widened. He waved again at both of them.
“Aren’t you going to let me in?” Komaeda asked in a purring lilt as if Hinata had the heart to slam the door in his face. “It’s rude to just make someone stand on your porch.”
The sky was overcast, but Komaeda Nagito is more threatening than any storm. Hinata Hajime might manage a smile, but Kamukura Izuru was now alert.
Because. Komaeda Nagito could seehim.
“Come inside,” Hinata said, standing aside.
Kamukura huffed. Komaeda smirked in his direction, which was wholly different to the snide glee of one Enoshima Junko but was unpleasant all the same.
–
“How lucky it is that I’ve gotten the chance to see you!” Komaeda exclaimed, gushedreally.
“I mean, all you have to do is call,” Hinata said. “I’m always willing to meet up.”
Komaeda’s smile didn’t twitch, yet Kamukura saw through him easily.
An irritant as always.
“I don’t know,” Komaeda went on with a patronizing attempt at innocence. “Lately, it seems you’ve been keeping to yourself.”
“Has it?” Hinata grimaced. “That’s… I just…”
“No man is an island, you know. I worry the isolation might drive you mad.”
Hinata flinched at that. But even under Kamukura’s darkening glare, Komaeda was a careless beam of light. So irritatingly bright, especially with an avid gaze that was as sharp as it was often intense.
Komaeda was similar to Hinata in some unfortunate ways. Their dedication to talent for starters. When compared to Kamukura however, Komaeda was his complete opposite.
Nosy, pushy, and passionate in his pursuits—Komaeda was…completely different.
“I guess I do…get lonely,” Hinata muttered deferentially. “There’s just so much going on my head.”
Komaeda looked at Kamukura.
“Stating it out loud might be a good start,” Komaeda said. “Simply not acknowledging it will not cause those problems to disappear. The opposite, really. You’re causing it to fester.”
“Is that really what you think I am?” Kamukura huffed. “A mere problem to solve? A loose end to tidy up?”
“I think,” Komaeda said, “That ignoring Kamukura-kun isn’t doing you any good.” He paused just a moment, looking at him. “You’re behaving rather childishly.”
Hinata was quiet. Komaeda smiled.
“You don’t need to make such a dour face,” he laughed then, waving his bionic hand. The mechanical whirl was only slightly less grating than the wheeziness of his giggling. “It’s just a comment.”
Because of his transience, Kamukura could not see whatever face he was making reflected in Komaeda’s twinkling gaze. All he knew is that he felt agitated. It was as if his very being was bubbling.
“You’re such a jackass,” Hinata remarked quietly.
“Ill-bred, even now,” Kamukura agreed just as quietly. “It is as if getting on the nerves is your talent, Komaeda Nagito.”
Hinata tensed beside him. Komaeda looked rather despicably pleased with himself.
“It’s just a comment,” Komaeda repeated stubbornly. “Rather than insult me, we can all talk things out like adults, yes?”
They both wanted to throw him out. It was easier, after all, to just be childish. To simply lash out at annoyances and pretend that menial rebelliousness was enough.
Some time ago, on a boat en route to a certain island, Kamukura had met this annoying person he quickly dismissed.
“There is no reason we’ll ever meet again,” he had said.
There hadn’t been any reason for Kamukura to think he’d still exist after. And perhaps for that reason, Komaeda could not be deterred now.
“Hinata-kun. Kamukura-kun.” Stubborn until the end of time, Komaeda kept smiling at them. “Let’s talk things over.”
“This is your fault,” Kamukura told Hinata sourly. “You were the one who let him in.”
Hinata…flinched. Then, Hinata let out a long, heavy sigh. Kamukura, too, couldn’t help but sigh.
It was a little like submitting to fate itself.
“What do you even want me to say?” Hinata asked.
“I do not want to even have this conversation,” Kamukura muttered.
Komaeda laughed again.
“I think it’s lucky that we’re all here,” he said. “There’s no reason not to take advantage of this opportunity, right?”
Even one beloved by talent can be unlucky.
That was the thought Kamukura Izuru had. But now that it came to this, he could only look forward.
Because he was here, he would have to move forward.
“I suppose I should begin,” Kamukura said.
Hinata gave him a wide-eyed look as if seeing him for the very first time.
It was, admittedly, not only comical but another push forward for someone who had thought his existence would be voided. Perhaps, then, there could be other forms of amusement down the line.
Either way…
“I had thought I wouldn’t be present anymore,” Kamukura said. “And yet, here I remain.”
This will be the first step.
