Twenty-One
Liver
Kaminari is huddled in Nedzu's office. Aizawa stands behind the principal. Both of them stare at him with disapproval and disappointment he tries not to feel.
"I never suspected you," Aizawa says finally. This hurts. This hurts worse than a Nomu, worse than a knife twisted in his heart.
"Why?" He asks instead. His voice cracks.
"Does it matter?" Kaminari demands, forcing himself to sound as hostile as he doesn't feel.
"Yes. Reasons always matter," says Nedzu, crossing his arms.
Kaminari wants to ask since when, since when in this miserable society, since when do reasons ever matter?
"Did your parents put you up to it?" Aizawa asks, desperate for any reprieve.
"No." Kaminari chews his lip. How much to say? "My parents – aren't really around too much." In fact, he doesn't know who his dad is, but it's not his mom's husband, because neither of them have a quirk remotely electrical.
"Okay," Aizawa says slowly.
"So my real Sensei isn't my dad; it's him. All for One. I just…I had to. Because I wanted him to approve of me!" Kaminari looks at his palms, which are spread up for surrender.
"He doesn't hate me even though I'm really stupid. He takes in a lot of us. Shigaraki is the special one, but there's more like me. Like Gigantomachia. The people who don't fit in. He wants to help us, and we want a dad. I volunteered for this because I wanted the applause." Kaminari wipes his eyes furiously.
"Kaminari," Aizawa says with a sigh, "you're not stupid."
"I am, really."
"Are you happy with yourself?" Nedzu asks, but without anger. Just curiosity.
"I never am," Kaminari says with a pathetic laugh. "When are the police coming?"
"Soon," says Nedzu, and the kid moans.
"You know, considering you're a minor, you could avoid jail time. Potentially," Aizawa says.
"Gonna let me stay in U.A., too?" Kaminari shakes his head. God, his fake dad is gonna beat the shit out of him. He can hear him now. Turned in by a girl? Putting a pregnant friend in danger? You're scum. And then Fake Dad will start hurting Mom again, too. "Aizawa, you're such a softy."
"Maybe," Aizawa replies. "But you can help us find them, can't you?"
"No. I actually don't know their location. In case this happened." Kaminari waves his hands about.
Aizawa grinds his teeth. Just where is Toshinori when a member of his favorite class needs him?
As Nedzu tries to cajole Kaminari more, Aizawa texts Present Mic to stop crying in the next room, and make himself useful by finding Toshinori.
Momo rubs sleep out of her eyes as Dabi hands her another class of water. She dozed twice last night, but her mind is too awake to rest.
Dabi scowls at the floor next to her.
"Are those crumbs?"
Momo raises an eyebrow. "Ask Toga."
"Fuck." Dabi swears. Toga, you soft idiot. "You're, what, gonna escape? You won't make it, with Warp Gate and All for One."
"You could help me." Momo forces a smile. I'm captured and useless. If she can't save Ryouhei, she'll be worthless.
She imagines Todoroki there. No, that's your insecurities. You're worth everything.
Just like me.
Just like Ryouhei.
"Ha!" Dabi throws back his head. "I'm not looking to die."
But maybe, if he and Toga team up, they can save Momo from Stain…
A shout catches his attention.
"'Scuse me." Dabi saunters back into the common room, leaving Momo with a spike of anxiety.
"I don't know, sir! I'm sure they're around here somewhere!" Twice leaps around the room.
Toga hurries to Dabi's side. She pats his shoulder, but he sees legitimate fear in her eyes.
Stain crosses his arms. "Do you know anything, cremator?"
"Know what?" Dabi blinks.
All for One stands in the center. "Where is my son?"
"Hint: not here," mutters Compress.
Kurogiri emerges from the back. "What's this about?"
"Long time no see," All for One says.
"Sir?" Kurogiri stands still.
All for One holds out an arm and sucks Kurogiri towards him. The mist man's back arches at an unnatural angle. "You forget I am a Mind Reader."
Stain grimaces, and Dabi has a sinking suspicion where this is going.
"Oh fuck," Toga mutters. Shiga really did it, didn't he? Love-struck fool. She's jealous.
"Do you know where my son is?"
"Yes." Kurogiri knows there's no sense in lying.
All for One laughs at the memories exposed for everyone to see. Kurogiri taking Stain aside. Kurogiri suspecting he hurt Niki. Kurogiri leaving Shigaraki directly at the door of their enemy.
"Do you think you are a better father to Tomura?" All for One whispers. His voice sends a shiver up Toga's spine, and she grips Dabi's arm.
Stain watches her curiously. This disgusting murderer looks like a kid now. She's probably even younger than Niki.
"I more think of myself as the fun uncle," Kurogiri replies with difficulty.
"Ha." All for One glares at Stain, whose knives are now out. "Put those away. I won't kill someone led astray like you."
Stain looks infuriated by the assumption that he's a gullible fool, but Toga now crosses the room to push his knives down, and he realizes he doesn't actually hate her.
All for One turns back to Kurogiri. "Our Stain is not a traitor. You, however…"
An image of his misty head ripped from his immaculately dressed body flashes through Kurogiri's mind, and the entire League gasps.
"I'm not that polite." All for One presses his hand against Kurogiri's misty forehead. "You're still useful, after all."
Kurogiri grinds his teeth, refusing to scream. Twice opens his mouth, but Spinner slaps his hand across his lips.
Stain, too, is frozen. Is this what this monster did to his sister?
Kurogiri falls to his knees, full flesh and blood now. A polished man in his late thirties, perhaps, with dark purple hair that resembles his former mist.
Quirkless. Pathetic.
Kurogiri gasps. He closes his eyes, because All for One is still displaying his thoughts, and he doesn't need anyone to see his fear of the forgiveness he'll never receive.
His last thoughts – as his head is blown into the air – are of pouring Tomura tea.
"You've got to be kidding me," Overhaul says from his comfy seat in prison.
It isn't actually comfy – nothing will be since his maiming. Though he does have less straps attached to him. But Overhaul has never been a glass-half-full kind of person.
"We're not, really," Shigaraki mutters from the other side of the glass that seperates him from his visitors.
"You took my arms."
"You killed Magne! And took Compress's arm." Shigaraki points at him.
Niki chokes, because they sound like children bickering over toys and not lives.
Chisaki dips his head. "Valid."
His eyes slide over to Niki, who looks like she might have received worse than he. "Good god. That's disgusting. Did the cremator do that?"
"Dabi would never," Niki says acerbically. Thanks to Toshinori's pleas to the healers, she's recovered enough to minimize the risk of infection, but her skin is warped and misshapen and all too puffy and shiny.
"All for One did," Toshinori says. "Which is why we need to stop him."
"How?" Chisaki laughs as realization dawns on him. "Oh my god."
"Stop," Shigaraki says. "We didn't have time to figure out how it works."
"I'm not exactly able to hold a quirk-killing gun." Chisaki shrugs his stumpy shoulders. "See? Why would I help you?"
Toshinori sighs. They have five more minutes, and then Naomasa will have to turn the cameras back on. "Chisaki, we ran your DNA against Eri's."
That prompts a discernable shock. The yakuza leader's dark eyes dart to and fro, anywhere but their faces.
"You are her father," Toshinori says.
"So?" He snaps.
Shigaraki's mouth falls open.
"Her mitochondrial DNA matches a missing person case from several years ago. Mutsuki Noriko."
Beads of perspiration appear on Chisaki's forehead. "Don't ever say her name around me again."
"What happened to her?"
"She's dead." He closes his eyes to block out the images, of her melting away, of the baby blissful in his arms – fuck! "It doesn't matter how."
"Did your leader kill her?" Toshinori tilts his head. "Did he kill her like All for One tried with Niki?"
Niki hangs her head. She still – she came between Shiga and his Sensei. And she hates that. Shigaraki has given up his goal for her, and she's not that worthy.
But it's not his goal, it's Sensei's. Shigaraki brushes his arm against hers, because it's okay, it's really okay, he loves her.
The real Shigaraki currently feels horrified is because – because he actually feels sorry for Chisaki right now.
"Shut up! It was all – all that kid's fault. He would have let her live if it weren't for Eri," growls Chisaki.
"And what would Noriko say to that?" Toshinori asks calmly.
Chisaki falls silent.
"Help us recover the quirk killer from All for One, Chisaki. Consider this your chance to make it up to Noriko," Toshinori pleads.
Jirou sits outside Nedzu's office, her head in her hands. She sobs against Mina and Kirishima. Bakugou and Uraraka race towards them, followed by the rest of Class 1A. Excepting, of course, Todoroki, who is visiting his mother, and Momo.
"It can't be true!" Bakugou spits. "Not Kaminari!"
"It is," Jirou says. "I – I'm so stupid –"
"You're not stupid at all," insists Koda.
"Let's talk to him." Deku stands. "All of us."
"Uh," says Bakugou.
But Deku, of course, hasn't waited for a reply. He grabs Nedzu's door and shoves it open. "Kaminari!"
Kaminari looks up.
"What the hell, man?" Bakugou starts.
Aizawa waves a hand wearily. "Let them stay."
"What, do you expect us to believe you hate us?" Tsuyu asks. "Jirou, especially."
"I don't know," says Kaminari after a moment of silence.
"Dude, I thought we were friends," says Sera.
Kaminari shrugs. His Adam's apple bobs up and down.
"We are, aren't we?" Midoriya steps forward. "We still are. You – you may have betrayed us, but we still want to be your friends."
"Speak for yourself," Bakugou tosses back. He winces at Uraraka's jab in his ribs. "Okay, I still want to be your friend, too."
"You're all ridiculous," says Kaminari.
"And you're doing this all because you want praise from your Sensei, right?" Tsuyu shakes her head.
"You won't get enough. You never will. I doubt even Shigaraki gets enough – does he seem happy to you?" Midoriya asks. "You're got enough love right here, right now, in our class. Especially with Jirou."
Kaminari hesitates. "I can't come back from anything I did."
And then Jirou holds out her hand to him – she's still too upset to speak –and he thinks maybe he can.
Aizawa's phone buzzes.
Couldn't find him, but I found Naomasa. You'll never believe this. – Mic
"I am so sorry he hit you." Reiko catches her breath as she holds Todoroki close to her.
"Aizawa told you?" Todoroki feels inexplicably ashamed. Maybe he just wanted to protect Mom from the knowledge that Endeavor is ever a monster.
"I asked him if he had." Reiko looks at Todoroki with eyes haunted by past pain. "I know how he is."
"Mom." Todoroki wraps his arms around her. "When this is over, I'll help testify and get you a divorce."
Reiko clutches her son. "You shouldn't have to."
"Life isn't fair," Todoroki replies.
"We're going to find Momo and my grandchild." Reiko nods. "Alive."
"It's not – Mom – you heard about the traitor in U.A., right?" Todoroki sniffles.
"Yes." Reiko lets Todoroki soak her shirt with his tears, the way she did when he was a child.
"He's not the only one." Todoroki's voice cracks. "I've been aiding them, too."
"Shouto. What do you mean?" Reiko asks, calm. Because there's no way this is exactly what it sounds like. Not Shouto.
"I – this is going to break your heart." Todoroki wipes his eyes. "Mom, I know the identity of one of the villains."
Reiko's heart sinks. She knows. She's always known somewhere, hasn't she? All her denials haven't saved him.
Todoroki rambles on. "And I haven't told anyone, because it's – it's –"
"Ryouhei," Reiko finishes.
Todoroki flinches. "You know?"
"I suspected. And I too said nothing." Reiko swallows the lump in her throat. "What do you want to do?"
"I can't let him hurt Momo." Todoroki's eyes burn.
"I don't want to think he can," Reiko says shakily.
"I know, but I don't – I don't even want to risk it. For either of their sake." Todoroki lets out his breath. "Can you – can you call Aizawa?"
"I hate you. I hate you so much." Shigaraki doubles over outside the police station.
"I know, and someday, I'd want to hear why." Toshinori says.
Shigaraki shakes his head. The only ones who know are Niki and Sensei, and he can't bear to tell anyone else. He feels like a monster.
"Do you still want to go through with this plan?" Toshinori asks.
"Do I have a choice?" Shigaraki narrows his eyes.
"You always have a choice."
"No, not always. Sometimes you really don't," Shigaraki says.
"But this is not one of those times," Niki says, rubbing his shoulder.
Shigaraki nods. "Just please – please let me try to talk to Sensei first."
"I think that's bet for everyone," Toshinori agrees. He's surprisingly agreeable when he's not All Might, Shigaraki thinks.
"Oh good, another young villain to rally behind," says a sarcastic voice behind them.
"Aizawa." Toshinori turns around, his face ashen.
Naomasa has a guilty expression on his face, and Aizawa's capture rope is wrapped around the police office.
Shigaraki's hand moves to cover his scarred face, but the girl gently pulls his hand back down.
Aizawa expels his breath. "I'm not faulting you. Though I do have particular distaste for Chisaki."
"That makes two of us," Shigaraki mutters.
Aizawa eyes him. "Look, Toshinori, I can keep Naomasa apprehended to determine your plan, or you can tell me."
"I want to give them another chance," Toshinori says. "It's really that simple."
"That's obvious." Aizawa grumbles.
"It's not that simple, heart-for-brains. We have to re-infiltrate the hideout, use a quirk-killer to stop Sensei, rescue Miss Momo, and stop Stain." Shigaraki growls.
"And we're definitely planning on helping our friends escape," Niki adds.
"Why are you telling me that part?"
"Just so you're prepared." Niki sets her jaw. "We're not heartless."
"You're barely a villain, kid." Aizawa scoffs. "Toshinori, you heard about Kaminari?"
"I had faith in you and his friends," Toshinori says.
"That's nice, but your lack of communication led to two different plans developing. Sounds like these two and Chisaki aren't the only villains in need of second chances. So what say you we combine our plans?" Aizwaa folds his arms.
"Kaminari doesn't know our hideout," Shigaraki says.
"No, but someone else does." Aizawa looks ill. "We may want to get going. I'll explain on the way."
The garden is guarded and surrounded by a chain-linked fence; it's really not much of a garden at all. But right now, Reiko waits on its lone bench, with a microphone attached to her ear, drinking in the scent of grass and praying for the words to say.
Footsteps enter her ears. She looks up as a shaggy-haired, lanky figure pushes open the gate.
"Ryouhei?" Reiko presses a hand to her mouth and shakily stretches the other towards her son.
His breath catches, and he stops a few feet away. "Mom."
"Ryouhei, it's you." Reiko's tears slide out, because up until now she hasn't really felt it, the despair of a son – a son hurting others. She refuses to call him a villain.
"Did you call me here to cry?" he asks stiffly, looking everywhere but her face.
"Stop." Reiko steps forward and takes his face in her hands.
He reaches his rough, patchwork hands up to wipe away her tears. "Please don't."
"But why?" She has to ask. She has to.
Dabi stares at his feet.
"Ryouhei, I love you no matter what."
He keeps his face fixated towards the ground. "To break down – to break down the secrets – to make sure everyone knew what happened in our house. I want it all out. I don't want secrets anymore."
Dabi swallows. "I don't want a society that protects Endeavor while you and Shouto suffer."
He lifts his misting eyes to her. "I know you love me."
"But you caused Shouto pain. The girl – the girl you kidnapped –" Reiko blinks back tears.
"I know. She told me herself." Dabi smiles sadly. He supposes if future heroes are like Shouto and Momo, they won't be so bad.
Maybe this is humanity. Fucking up, down, and sideways the first few times, eventually equilibrating.
"How many heroes are listening in?" He asks finally.
Reiko swallows. "Ryouhei."
"I came anyways, didn't I?" Dabi looks at her. "I don't blame you. You're – you're my mom, after all." He snickers. "What do they want from me?"
"To keep following my orders." Shigaraki spills into the scene from the hospital's back entrance to the garden.
"What the hell, man?" Dabi winces. He rubs the back of his neck. "Heck. Sorry, Mom."
"Ryouhei, I'm hardly concerned about your language right now." Reiko chuckles, and Dabi gingerly joins in.
Shigaraki extends his hand to the hospital door, and Niki appears.
"What happened to you?" Dabi goggles at the slurry of scars across her arms and neck and from what little he can see, her chest. It's gross. He remembers from when he burned himself.
"Sensei," Shigaraki says flatly. He meets Dabi's eyes. "What's right anymore? I don't know."
Dabi laughs. "I've never known, dude."
"Is Kurogiri…"
Dabi hangs his head, and Shigaraki closes his eyes. Niki reaches out to touch his shoulder. She feels numb right now, but later – oh, later, she will sob with Shigaraki.
"I'm not really loyal to the League, I guess," Dabi says. "I like you, and Stain. But Kurogiri…did not deserve that."
"I want to stop my Sensei. Heroes are wrong, but so is he." Shigaraki extends a hand to Dabi. "Will you help?"
Dabi smirks. "Uh, not if I have to shake your hand."
Shigaraki has to laugh.
"Like hell am I going back to the hospital." Reiko shoulders her way onto the bus to stand besides Aizawa.
"Um, language?" Dabi squints as he hops on after his mom.
His eyes move from Niki to All Might, to Overhaul. "Ew."
Overhaul dips his head. "Call me Chisaki."
Dabi looks to Shigaraki. "Excuse me, but I think we have a misplaced item here."
"No, we need him," Shigaraki says begrudgingly. "Not that anything's okay between us. But we have to start somewhere."
"Ryouhei." Todoroki climbs on. His hands shake.
"Shouto." Dabi's breath catches. He's somehow less surprised that their mole caved than by his little brother's presence. He forces a grin. "Your girl's great."
Todoroki flushes. "I hope she's safe."
"That's why I'm here." Dabi types out a text to Toga.
How's Momo?
Freaked out by Kurogiri's murder. Toga keeps typing.
We need you to cremate him.
But I don't want you to because that means he's really dead.
I'm coming back soon, Toga. Dabi hopes she won't hate him.
Good. I'm lonely.
They drive in silence.
"More people are meeting us there," Aizawa says. Reiko grips his hand, and Dabi frowns.
"Wait, what?"
"Kaminari –"
"No. Your hand, Eraser."
"They're dating," Todoroki says.
Dabi is actually quite pleased that his Mom has found someone, but Eraserhead? Eraserhead? This is just awkward. He points at Aizawa. "He killed my clone. Twice!"
"Clone being the operative word," Aizawa says with a wince.
Endeavor cannot believe they are teaming up with villains. But he'll accept it, should they retrieve his son's girlfriend. Fiancee. He isn't sure which.
Is it so hard to want Shouto to admire him?
He wishes he hadn't hurt Shouto back then.
The buses began pulling up. Classes 1A and 1B emerge, alongside the teachers, Mt. Lady, Dragon, and several other pro-heroes.
And then the villain bus arrives.
Endeavor grinds his teeth as Shigaraki and his girlfriend – apparently – step off, followed by Overhaul.
And then a fourth villain disembarks, and Endeavor feels certain ice has congealed around his body.
The lanky lad grins up at him, behind a mess of dyed black hair. "Hi, Dad."
And Endeavor's eternal flame, for one moment, extinguishes.