(Trace)

He was in pain. He was upset. He was furious. All of these emotions were directed to himself. He didn't prepare her for any combat. He had just assumed she wouldn't need any assistance in combat. He assumed she would be fine. If he had just tried to train her in combat, maybe she would have passed that part. He was at the lunch room, hood up, along with his mask on.He wasn't eating anything. There wasn't any need to. He sat there for so long, pain and sorrow flying through his body. She said don't worry because with the perfect score we got on the written part of the exam, we would both be able to go on the camping trip. But he couldn't help but beat himself up.

A tap on his shoulder brought him back to the surface. He looked around at the table to see Iida, Todoroki, Mina, Uraraka, Tsuyu, and Jiro sitting with him. He turned to see who tapped his shoulder… but once he saw who it was, he wished he had just ignored it.

"So you're the one that keeps trying to kill himself". The blonde kid smirked, clearly he was very stuck-up. "Maybe it would be for the best, after all, you have killed countless people, so I could never see you as a hero". Monoma began laughing, not realizing the danger he was now in.

Trace rose to his feet and turned to Monoma who simply smirked.

"Do you really want to try this kid, I mean, I can do anything you can do, except I can do it better", Neito began laughing harder, "and it's not like you actually have a future here so how about you just do us all a favor and quit trying, maybe then you wouldn't drag down your classmates.

Trace looked Monoma straight in the eyes, and grabbed him by the throat.

Monoma began panicking, he watched as Trace removed his mask, revealing pitch black eyes with golden pupils.

"You know", Trace began, making sure he put confidence and spookiness into his voice, "You're right, I was a murderer, but I came here to change that", every student was staring at what was happening, Lunch Rush had called Nezu to get Midnight down here to defuse the situation."I wish to become a hero that can help many people, and be a light for those who need it, I want to be able to stand for those unable, I want to fight for those who can't, I want to bring hope to the people who are afraid, So no, I'm not gonna quit, and I most certainly won't kill myself dick", Trace held Monoma mere inches from his face, "and one more thing, if you harass me or any of my friends ever again, well", Trace chuckled softly before letting Djinn control half his face, "I may go back to my old ways for one person, understood".

Monoma began shaking his head quickly, "und… understood sir, please don't hurt me", Monoma was practically jumping out of his skin.

"That depends on how you act, so are we clear?" Trace let Djinn control his right arm, furthur building fear into Monoma.

Monoma was pale, he had the face of a man on death row. "Yes, yes, I understand, I won't insult or harass your friends or you just please don't hurt me".

Trace released his hand, dropping Monoma to the ground, leaving him a coughing mess. The darkness retreated back into Trace, revealing an innocent smile. "Thank you Monoma, have a nice day". Trace turned back to his table and took a seat, digging into the meal in front of him.

Monoma however ran as fast as he could out of the Lunch room.

After a minute of silence, Mina rubbed his arm. Trace turned to see worry in her face. "Are you okay Trace, did he?", Trace interrupted quickly.

"I'm okay Mina, He needed to learn to shut the fuck up", Trace said, making sure his sleeves are down.

"Is something wrong with your arms Trace", Jiro had turned to see him squirming slightly.

"E- everything's fine Jiro", Trace quickly put his mask back on before looking to the ground.

"You don't seem fine", Tsuyu said, blunt as ever.

"If something's bothering you Trace, let us know", Mina began, "remember your promise to me".

Trace sighed before removing his mask. He looked around to his friends, all being supportive as can be. He simply looked down before saying, "I couldn't stand him, he was like everyone else who was in my life back then… he was just another drop in an ocean of people kicking me down. I was just gonna do the eyes, but he took it too far when he said I should actually go through with killing myself… he needs to learn how to not be an asshole".

His friends all looked at Trace with worry. "I almost lost control, I almost killed him… I almost went back on everything I said I wouldn't become, I don't want to hold you guys back, I don't want to hurt any of you in any way shape or form, but i'm afraid", Trace looked at his hand. "What if Monoma is right, what if all I'm doing is holding you back". Tears began falling down his face, pain evident in his voice, "I don't want to do that to you guys, I don't want to be the reason someone is held down". His voice became shakier with every breath, he was barely keeping it together.

"Not so calm now are you lady stealer", Mineta said smugly.

Trace froze. Not now. Anyone but him. He looked to Mineta, one eye purple, the other brown. He grabbed his right hand and told Mineta, "You need to go, get away from me". Trace began shaking badly, trying not to completely break down in front of his friends. He closed his eyes and began taking deep breaths.

Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale… Inhale…

"Why should I leave, so you can have the ladies to yourself, I don't think so, I know your game Trace, you're just trying to make the girls pity you so they shower you in love, I'm not gonna let that happen, so i'm not going anywhere.

"Mineta, you don't understand, you need, "Trace pinned his right arm down with his left arm, fear filling his eyes, "to get away before I lose control".

Mineta simply stood there with anger, "I'm not stupid, you can drop the act Trace, you simply pretend you're in pain to get sympathy and pity from the ladies so they only pay attention to you, I ain't letting you get all that Pu-", Trace had risen from his seat, grabbing Mineta by the neck with his left arm.

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SICK GAME MINETA, YOU THINK I WANT PITY AND SYMPATHY, NO, I NEVER WANTED ANYONE TO WORRY ABOUT ME, I WAS FINE WITH BEING ALONE SO NO ONE COULD GET HURT FROM MY SHADOW, BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR MINA, NO ONE WOULD HAVE EVER SAW MY PAIN, MY SUFFERING…", Mina began looking down, thinking Trace was upset with her, "BUT SHE SAVED MY LIFE THAT DAY", Mina's eyes shot straight to Trace, as well as every student in the building, also Midnight but she was simply spectating in the darkness,

Trace continued, Eyes a bright golden color, "IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, I WOULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF, SHE HELPED ME FIND MY PATH AND HELPED ME TO REMEMBER I CAN BE A HERO, IF IT WASN'T FOR MINA, THAT NOMU WOULD HAVE KILLED ME, SHE SAVED ME SO MUCH OVER THESE PAST FEW MONTHS, SHE FOUND ME CUTTING MYSELF AND TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL", Trace rolled up his sleeve with his free hand, showing many new scars on his arms, "SHE SAW MY PAIN AND ACTUALLY CARED ENOUGH TO SAVE MY LIFE, BUT YOU JUST SAW ME AS A LADY STEALER, WHICH I'M NOT, MINETA, NOW LEAVE ME ALONE", Trace threw Mineta across the lunch room, sending him into a concrete wall.

Mineta lay there motionless. Everyone fell silent, staring at the kid who threw him.

Trace's eyes soon returned to his normal brown color. Once he returned to a neutral state, he looked around the lunch room. Every set of eyes were on him, most of them, filled with fear. He turned to his own friends, their eyes were more surprised than anything, but Trace wasn't thinking straight anymore. He looked to the stairs, and began running, as fast as possible, running by many people, who looked at him disapprovingly he thought. He got to the stairs and ran, running as fast as he could. He had a location to reach. The only place he could think of.

The lunch room had returned to its usual sounds of conversations and hero talk. None of it was about Trace except for his table.

"Trace is hurting", Tsuyu said.

"We know that Tsuyu", Jiro said slightly annoyed, "but what can we do about it?".

"I'm gonna go find him", Mina said quickly, "He's had those thoughts recently".

Everyone's eyes became wider at this, before everyone stood up. "We need to find him fast", Todoroki said quickly. Everyone quickly dumped their trays before spreading to different parts of the school searching for Trace.

Trace simply laid there, he had done that in front of the entire school. He had shown everyone what he had been like before he and Djinn became friends. He had lost control. "Maybe Monoma is right, maybe it'd be better for me to just disappear". Trace rose to his feet before walking over to the door. He stepped through, and walked to the center. He simply stood there, pondering things. He refused… but also accepted. He was a monster. He was a murderer. He was a burden. Trace tried his hardest to cast those thoughts out, but they simply grew in size. He almost couldn't take it. He didn't know what to do anymore. He hated bottling up his emotions, but it was the only thing he had known to do with his emotions. He wanted to be better.

"How can anyone see me as a hero after the stunt I pulled… am I truly this far gone", Trace walked over to the railing and looked to the school courtyard, a frown on his face but no tears, "Would it be better if I just-".

"NO IT WOULD NOT", a familiar voice said behind him. Trace quickly turned to see Yaoyorozu standing there. "YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR YOU TRACE SO DON'T YOU DARE JUMP OVER THAT RAILING".

Trace simply looked to the ground. "No one would ever want to be my friend, no one even cares about me do they?", Trace's eyes were dull and blue at this point. "You saw how I acted, I'm a monster, I hurt two people today, horribly".

Yaoyorozu looked at Trace with worry but also sympathy. "I mean, first Monoma comes over to our table to insult me, saying all I do is drag others down, try to kill myself, and gain pity, so I put the fear of the devil into him, and probably sent him scrambling to Nezu's office, and to top off this shit show, Mineta comes over and continues saying all I care about is the ladies, but i'm not Mineta, I don't view woman in that way… I care about everyone in class 1-a, but somedays, I feel like i'm just in the way... hell, I lost control today and nearly killed someone, how could anyone be friends with my sorry ass". Trace began bawling at this point.

"All I have done is ruin other people, hurt them… I don't want to be that person, but I fear I don't have a choice, everyone down there is afraid of me", Trace turned to look at the railing again, "If I just disappeared, no one would have to worry about me ever again, bullies would go away, and Mineta would stop harassing my friends". Trace put his hand on the railing and prepared to jump over.

"WHAT ABOUT MINA THAN", Yaoyorozu screamed, trying to deter him.

"She would be better off without me, I caused her to fail the combat part of her test because I made her focus on the written part of the exam. I'm the reason she failed". Trace had begun jumping over, preparing to fall headfirst into the ground below. But he was caught, by a pink tongue, two ear jacks, a bunch of ice, and a bunch of arms. He tried to break free but couldn't. "JUST LET ME JUMP", was all Trace said, tears streaming down his face. He began struggling again but felt strange, he looked to the ground to see he was floating.

"YOUR NOT JUMPING TRACE", Jiro screamed, wrapping Trace further into her ear jacks.

"We're your friend's Trace, we're not just gonna let you jump", Tsuyu said slightly angry.

"This isn't the way to go about things Trace", Todoroki was paler than usual.

Trace had stopped struggling, realizing he was fighting a losing battle. He allowed them to bring him to the middle of the rooftop before surrounding him. He never met any of their gazes. He wanted to just disappear, he was wading in so many emotions, he had bottled up more than he realized. He brought his knees up to his chest and began silently sobbing into his arms, trying not to look at anyone, he didn't want their pity. He didn't want them to see him weak.

"Trace", The voice was so calm, so soothing, yet Trace was scared out of his mind, he knew Mina was upset with him for the day he cut himself, but now he straight up tried to end his life short. What was she gonna say, did he just ruin everything between them. So many questions were floating through his head, none of which he had answers to.

"Trace", Mina said again, this time more sternly.

Trace flinched slightly before removing his arms from his face. He hesitated a second, but finally looked up to see Mina staring down at him.

Trace looked away, "go on, berate me, say whatever you want to say to me, I deserve everything you're about to say and do to me".

Mina was taken aback by this before returning to her calm expression. She bent down to Trace's level and wrapped him in a hug. "I don't know what you think i'm gonna do, but i'm definitely not gonna hurt you, you deserve so much better to deal with people like Monoma and Mineta on a daily basis, with all the shit you've been through, you deserve to be surrounded by friends who care about you", Mina began running her hand through his hair, causing him to purr lightly. "you weren't the reason I failed combat by the way, me and Kaminari heavily underestimated Nezu".

Trace sat there for a second, considering the facts before shaking his head. "I still failed to do what I promised, I promised I would stop with these thoughts, but Monoma…", Trace trailed off, eyes turning a dull grey.

"Monoma can go screw himself", Mina said angrily.

Trace raised his head in surprise before turning to face Mina again.

"Of course Monoma told you to die, he's a stuck up douche who thinks no one is better than him", Mina was livid at this point. "And Mineta's just a perverted smurf".

Trace was taken aback. He looked to the ground. "I'm sorry".

Everyone turned to face Trace. "What dude", Mina said, holding a hand to her ear.

Trace raised his head to look at his friends before saying, "I'm sorry for worrying you all, I know I promised I wouldn't have those thoughts of suicide, but they kept growing, and I didn't want to annoy you guys with having to constantly babysit me, I didn't want to hinder any of you", tears began streaming down his face.

He was about to collapse back into himself until his friends lifted him to his feet and wrapped him in a group hug (Minus Todoroki but hey, it's Todoroki, i'm pretty sure he doesn't do hugs) making sure he understood they were all there. Mina planted a kiss right on his lips, causing him to blush heavily. He eventually closed his eyes, simply enjoying the warmth of his friends, the safety he felt, as if nothing could go wrong. His friends helped him so much, he didn't deserve so much kindness he thought. But he was happy that he had them, that he had her.

He leaned in and kissed her again, with so much passion. Mina, though surprised, returned the kiss, snuggling into him even furthur. Trace, feeling her attempts to snuggle further into him, Wrapped his arms around her. He couldn't think of anything else besides her. All his negative thoughts. All of his pain. Gone. He only wanted to feel her warmth. They were there for one another. A lesson Mina is able to remind him of without ever saying it. He felt like the happiest man alive, like everything would be alright.

Trace opened his eyes to look at Mina, he was so lucky, he shouldn't be so down, if he got knocked down, he could just stand up again. His friends were able to remind him of that so easily. Mina, a bright shade of lilac, looked directly into his eyes, smiling from ear to ear. She began to lean in again, Trace leaning in as well. Mina turned slightly to her left, and put on a face of shock before frantically putting Trace's headphones into his ears and playing music loudly. He didn't mind as he was used to the volume, but he was confused as to why she did that.

He began turning but was stopped by Mina who planted another kiss on his lips, holding him there for a solid minute. He no longer cared who was behind him. He just wanted more of her. Eventually, the kiss was broken so they could breath. Mina got her phone out of her pocket and wrote a message before showing Trace. "Don't turn around, just focus on your music for a second". Trace was confused, but quickly gave a thumbs up, a smile on his face.

Once Mina was satisfied that Trace wouldn't turn, she got up and turned to look at the student who just came through the door.

"Haven't you caused enough trouble today Mineta", Iida said angrily.

"You're one to talk Iida", Mineta said angrily, "we both know you illegally went after the hero killer for revenge".

Iida jumped up in surprise, he looked away, trying to calm himself down. Mineta was out for blood.

"And you", Mineta said, turning to Todoroki, "you can't even control your fire, so you went back on saying you hate your father, to sucking up to him so he'd teach you".

Todoroki grew furious. It took everything he had to keep himself in check.

Mineta began smirking. "I got this", He thought to himself.

Mina was about to start yelling, until an arm came in front of her. She turned to see Trace beside her, Hood up to cover his face in shadows. Mina's face shifted from one of anger to one of fear. She was afraid of him losing control. Trace began walking toward Mineta, scaring everyone on the roof besides Mineta. Yet no one made a move to stop him.

"What are you gonna do? We both know you can't throw me up here, lest you want to risk throwing me off the building, so I guess I wi-".

"Please, shut the fuck up Mineta", Trace's voice was calm, but angry.

Mineta was taken back by this, "What did you say to me", Mineta was about to pull a ball from his head before Trace spoke again.

"You heard me", Trace's mouth was no longer covered in shadows, "shut your damn mouth Mineta, you have caused enough trouble today".

Mineta began smiling, "and what makes you think i'm afraid of you", Mineta crossed his arms, thinking he had won.

Trace picked Mineta up by the neck and pinned him to a wall, creating a barrier to keep his friends away. "You listen and listen well Mineta", Trace began, removing his hood from his face, "I no longer care whether or not you like me, and I don't care if you insult me anymore", Trace's eyes returned from their dull grey to their natural brown, "I do care however about you insulting my friends", Trace struck Mineta in the check, causing Mineta to groan in pain, "so I never want to hear you insult my friends ever again, no insulting, no harassing, no questioning, I am done playing your game Mineta so stop attacking me and my friends, and keep your sorry ass away from the girls until you appreciate woman". With that, Trace let go of him, watching Mineta slide to the ground, coughing vigorously.

Trace stood there watching Mineta, in case he tried anything. "I'm sorry Mineta, but I can only take so much before I can't control myself, so please, for my sake and yours, stay away from me".

All of a sudden, the rooftop door swung wide open, All Might, Midnight, Aizawa, and Nezu bursting through the entrance. They all turned to Trace who was standing above a coughing Mineta. "What did you do to Mineta Trace", Nezu said.

Before Trace had a chance to speak, Mineta piped up, "HE TRIED TO KILL ME FOR COMPLIMENTING HIM FOR HIS RELATIONSHIP, ALL I DID WAS SAY GOOD JOB SCORING A GIRL LIKE MINA".

The teachers and Nezu all stood there for a second before turning to Trace. "So what really happened Trace", Nezu said much to Mineta's disbelief.

"Well", Trace began, eyes glowing a faint yellow, "He came up to me and my friends during lunch and claimed I was just trying to earn pity points with my friends, so I threw him across the lunch room and came up here to calm down", Trace purposely left out the part where he tried to kill himself, trying to avoid pity, "my friends came to check on me, they helped me calm down a bit, but by then Mineta had found us, Mina tried to keep my attention off of him so I wouldn't get upset, but I overheard him insulting my friends, so I pinned him against the wall and told him I don't care if he insults me, but I do care if he insults my friends".

The teachers sat silent for a minute before motioning for Trace and Mineta to follow them.

Trace dropped his barrier, and proceeded down the steps behind the teachers, Mineta following closely behind.