Annokiee General Hospital

As Ryuusuke's eye opened, he found himself inside a hospital bed. He tried to get up but found that he was covered in stitches from the neck down and his right eye was covered with a bandage. Unable to get up, fearing that he might risk opening up his wounds, he decided to look around his room, finding a heart monitor, a breathing machine to his mouth and an IV pole to his arm.

"Midoriya...", he thought. "I'm sorry. I couldn't fulfill my promise like I said. I failed you."

Suddenly he saw the door to his room flung open, revealing Ryuko and a doctor.

"Ryuusuke...", she looked down to her brother before hugging him. "Thank goodness you're alright..."

"Er..Miss Tatsuma", the doctor said. "You need to let him go. His wounds will reopen if you pick him up like that".

"Oh", she gently placed her brother down into his bed.

"So tell me doc", he said mid breaths. "How bad is it, the damage I mean..."

The doctor approached him, telling something undefinable as Ryuko looked away with a distraught expression filling her eyes, and the younger Tatsuma's eye widened in anguish.

"No…"

Two days later...

Izuku awoke to find his arms covered in casts and his head wrapped up. Turning to the side of his bed, he found a basket full of sweets and a letter from his mother.

"Mom..."

The door to his room soon flung open revealing most of his class, barring Tatsuma, Jiro, Hagakure and Yaoyorozu.

"Hey! Midoriya you're finally awake!", Denki said happily, approaching the green haired youth, "Did you see the news? Reporters are all over the school right now."

"Yeah it's worse than last time", Rikido added.

"I brought a present!", Minoru handed Izuku a melon, "I mean, it's from all of us. It's a melon!"

"I caused you trouble Midoriya", Fumikage lamented.

"No please", he countered, "I did this to myself. Did everyone from Class A come to visit?"

"No.", Tenya shook his head, "Jiro and Hagakure are still out. They were knocked unconscious from the villain's gas. And Yaoyorozu took a bad hit to the head. She's hospitalized here. Though I just found out she finally woke up yesterday."

"What about Tatsuma?"

Yuuki looked down as a sad expression curled up in her face.

"Ryuusuke was discharged from the hospital last night. Several lacerations and burns to the face and abdomen. He also suffered severe injuries to his right eye and a punctured lung. But doctors say that he might be permanently blind in his right eye."

"He took the news...badly. I'll never forget that anguished look on his face when he left.", Shigen added.

"So it's just us,though obviously we wish the whole class were here.", Tenya concluded.

"Only 17 of us for now", Ochaco said.

"Because Bakugo and Takane are gone.", Shoto added.

"He already knows that Todoroki", Mina chastised.

Izuku's eyes glazed for a moment before widening.

"All Might told there'd always be people beyond our reach.", he started. "That we can't protect even though we want to. Which is why we have to save the people we can reach."

His voice started to crack

"I...was so close to being able to save him. I needed to save him. Had to. That's the entire reason I have my Quirk. It's like what Mr. Aizawa told me."

Tears began to flood his eyes.

"My body...wouldn't move. I couldn't save someone who was right in front of me. And since I failed...they're gone."

"All right, then let's go get him.", Eijiro said.

"What?"

"I was here yesterday, too. And so was Todoroki and Obihiro. We were going to visit you and the others, til we saw All Might talking to Yaoyorozu."

"This means you're going to have Yaoyorozu make another receiver for you, doesn't it?", Tenya asked.

"What if it does?", Shoto responded.

"You should listen to what All Might said! We have to leave this to the professionals! It's not the right time for us to get involved. Idiots."

"Maybe, but all I know...", Kirishima argued with his spectacled classmate. "is that at camp, I couldn't do anything. I heard villains were after my friend and I was helpless. Can I even call myself a man if all I do now is sit by and do nothing?"

"Kirishima calm down! We're in a hospital. There's a better time and place for this, dude.", Denki retorted.

"Yeah, and what Iida said is true.", Tsuyu added.

"All of you. Just listen to me for a minute. I know what you're saying is right. But still!", Kirishima shouted before extending his hand to Izuku. "C'mon. Midoriya. He's still within your reach! We can save our friends!"

"So let me get this straight", Mina said. "You're going to get Momo to make you another receiver, track a bad guy, and then try to save Bakugo all by yourselves?"

"Yeah.", the redhead nodded.

"The villains who attacked the camp planned to kill some of us. But they took Bakugo and Takane alive. What we don't know is how long they'll let them live.", Shoto added. "That's why we're going after them."

"Well count me in too.", Shigen said. "It's my fault Bakugo and Takane got kidnapped. The least I could do is try to save them."

"Have you three lost your minds?", Tenya nearly yelled.

"Hey calm down.", Mezo got in between the three boys. "I get how frustrated Kirishima is. And how Todoroki feels since he couldn't grab our friends. I'm upset too. But we can't let our emotions get the best of us. Right?"

"Um. We just leave this to All Might.", Yuga chimed in. "Mr. Aizawa only gave us permission to fight and use our Quirks at the training camp."

"Aoyama is correct", Fumikage added. "Though I'm part of the reason we failed. So I can't talk."

"You guys!", Eijiro growled.

"How can you say that Tokoyami?!", Shigen glared at the avian. "Takane nearly risked her life to save yours and you're just gonna sit there and ignore what could possibly be happening to her?!"

"Listen", Tsuyu said, "We're all shocked that Bakugo and Takane were taken from us. But we have to be rational. It doesn't matter how noble your intentions. If you go out there trying to find the bad guys, knowing you're breaking the rules, that makes you no better than villains."

There was a knocking on the door.

"Sorry for interrupting", the doctor said. "But I need a moment alone with Midoriya."

"Sure let's bolt", Hanta recommended. "I wanna see how Jiro and Hagakure are doing."

"Good idea", Mashirao agreed.

"Yeah ok.", Ochaco responded before waving at Izuku, "Feel better Deku."

"Thank you for visiting me.", he nodded.

"We talked to Yaoyorozu yesterday.", Eijiro walked up to him, "If we're doing this, it's tonight. I know you got some nasty injuries. So I don't know if you can go. But I wanted to invite you since you probably feel the worst. We'll meet in front of the hospital after dark."

Tatsuma Estate, 5:30 PM

Ryuko was in the midst of her thoughts as she cooked dinner for two. Hearing that her own brother was gravely injured during a villain attack distressed her greatly. But receiving news from a doctor that he would be blind in one eye made her feel even worse. It didn't help that he took the news badly and had to be sedated. Ever since they left the hospital yesterday evening, Ryuusuke locked himself up in his room for the entire day and only left during lunchtime or when he had to use the bathroom.

Earlier, detective Tsukauichi called her on the phone, asking her for his assistance for raiding the villain hideout, thanks to the assistance of one of the students, who managed to pinpoint the exact location of the hideout. Ryuko didn't know what to say in response to the news. After all her brother was recently injured and someone needed to keep an eye on him. She couldn't just up and leave without telling him. But still, she had a moral duty to crack down on villainy, while maintaining the peace.

Guilt began to well up in the elder Tatsuma's throat. She was a hero for crying out loud, and the no. 9 one at that! Why couldn't she comfort her brother instead of just staying quiet and watching idly by as he suffered?

As Ryuko's thoughts worsened regarding the situation, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from the stairs as Ryuusuke suddenly entered the kitchen. His blonde hair that was normally neatly arranged was now loose and messy, with one bang covering the bandage over his right eye. His clothes were wrinkled, appearing as if they were put on in haste and his left eye, his only source of sight looked tired yet also empty as he stared blankly at Ryuko.

"Oh you're awake!", she smiled, trying to hide the distress in her voice.

Ryuusuke simply grunted.

"Is something wrong? Is your Quirk acting up? Do you need some water?"

Silence.

"Well now that you're awake, do you think you can help me out with dinner?", Ryuko asked.

Ryuusuke walked over to the sink without a word and washed his hands before proceeding to cut the radishes. She couldn't help but notice the ferocity in the way he was cutting the radishes, it appeared impulsive and out of control, almost as if there was a tinge of rage behind it.

"Thank you", she said, taking the sliced radishes from her brother before dumping them into the pot. After a good 15 minutes of stirring, dinner was finished. It was miso bean and radish soup. Something simple that could fill them up for a while.

As the two ate dinner, due to being in a rush, Ryuko ate very little soup and decided to take whatever remaining time she had left to break the awkward silence between her and Ryuusuke.

"So how's the soup?", she asked.

"..."

"After dinner, I have to go out. Late night hero work. I'm sure you can manage yourself while I'm gone."

Nothing.

"You know, you don't have to stay silent when I'm talking, you can tell me whatever you want."

No response.

"Look Ryuusuke", she sighed, the fear in her mind getting to her, "I know you've been through a lot since that incident, but please, just say something, anything. This silence is unbearable! Just tell me what's on your mind."

And for the first time since they left the hospital, Ryuusuke spoke.

"I'm going out", he stood up from his seat.

"Out? Where?", she raised a brow.

"That's none of your concern...", he started to walk to the door, only for Ryuko to walk in front of him and blocked the doorway with a pair of leathery wings that sprouted out of the back of her shoulders.

"You can't go out.", she scolded. "Remember what the doctor said? You shouldn't leave the house in your condition."

"Get out of my way, now.", Ryuusuke spoke harshly, his singular eye glaring angrily at her.

Ryuko shook her head, adamantly.

"You're going to try and rescue your classmates that got kidnapped, aren't you?", she asked.

Ryuusuke simply looked away.

"You can't just go wandering off. Your injuries haven't healed and vigilante justice is illegal. You and I both know that. We need to let the professionals handle this.", Ryuko argued.

"You know nothing.", he mumbled.

"Pardon?"

"I failed. I'm not worthy of being a hero. Failure means the end."

"What are you talking about?"

"I was too weak. I couldn't even fulfill my promise to Midoriya to stop the League from taking my friends. I don't deserve to be a hero if I can't even save the people I care about nor keep my promises."

He removed his bandage over his eye, revealing a terrible scar that scraped over his now grayish white pupil.

"This eye being forever blind is just proof of that failure.", he said solemnly.

"Don't say things like that", the elder Tatsuma admonished, "It wasn't your fault that those kids got kidnapped by villains. There was no way you could've known what they were planning."

Ryuusuke scoffed, turning away from his sister, "Don't try and lecture me on how I shouldn't beat myself up for failing to save my friends. That's just the logic of someone who never failed in their entire life."

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't go through the same thing I went through, so you have no right to tell me why I shouldn't mope or cry 'Woe is me'. But here you are trying to lecture me on how I should move on with my life."

he then turned to his sister as his wrathful expression changed to that of sorrow.

"And yet you seem to know all the answers. So tell me sis...", the younger Tatsuma spoke, his voice cracking with every word. "Why am I such a failure compared to you?"

"What?"

"You were the lucky one. You had a much better Quirk and you rose through the ranks to become one of the top ten heroes in Japan in just 3 years. Meanwhile, I have a defective Quirk, at least compared to yours and all I can do when someone in need is sit idly by, twiddling my thumbs and hope everything turns out right in the end, even though I know that my friends are suffering."

"Ryuusuke...", Ryuko said sadly, "Please, you're not-"

"Ever since mom and dad died, I only wanted to show to you that I wasn't deadweight, that I was worthy of carrying the Tatsuma name with pride. Even at school, I pushed myself to my limits in order to become the center of attention all so that I could secure my place as one of you, someone worthy of bearing the Tatsuma name."

He banged his fists against the wall, "It was my only reason for living. The only thing that made me keep on trying to be a hero, until Todoroki changed my mindset. And even now I want to be a beacon of hope for others and yet when my friends put their faith in me to protect them, I failed to do that."

"Ryuusuke, you're wrong...", Ryuko shook her head. "The reason why you're a failure compared to be, is because you've let our grandparents make you believe that you're one. You never believed in yourself and you always relied on others for approval, never once thinking about what you wanted. You've wanted my approval so badly and yet deep down, you knew I couldn't be more prouder of you ever since you told me you wanted to be a hero."

"What?", he looked up.

"When I first heard about what happened at the U.S.J. I was worried about you. Not because that you would disappoint me, but that if you died, I wouldn't be able to live with the guilt that I couldn't protect you. And then when I saw how you got third place in the sports festival, I was happy that you did your best out there, regardless if you didn't win. And...believe it or not, I was kind of happy that you were so eager to help me out on improving my social life. Especially when it came to arranging that date between me and Tatsuya."

Ryuusuke chuckled a little under his breath, "So you do have a crush on Tatsuya?"

"Well that's besides the point", she huffed, blushing a bit before walking up to Ryuusuke and embracing him in a hug.

"When I said that I would be proud of you regardless, I'm being sincere.", she finally said.

A feeling of warmth entered Ryuusuke's heart as he heard those words, the same warmth he longed for a long time. He finally smiled as his tears trickled down his cheeks.

"Sis...I'm sorry for worrying you like that. I-I just wanted you to acknowledge that I wasn't a burden to you."

"You could never be a burden to me.", she said sweetly, "We're siblings. We look out for each other. And I promise you, I'll help find your friends."

"Can we make this a normal everyday occurrence from now on?", Ryuusuke asked sheepishly.

"If you insist, I guess", Ryuko rolled her eyes, "But first, let's finish dinner, it's starting to get cold."

Later that Night…

Shortly after his sister left for work, Ryuusuke reluctantly got dressed as he prepared to leave the house, taking into consideration the fact that he was blind in one eye by covering his right eye with a bang.

Deep down he knew what he was doing was wrong, but he saw that he had no choice. He needed to rescue Bakugo and Takane. He HAD to. He received a text earlier this morning from Eijiro about a rescue of sorts and thus assumed that the redhead would make his move.

We're gonna go rescue Bakugo, you in?- Eijiro Kirishima

I'm in- Ryuusuke Tatsuma

He snuck out of the house through the window as he stumbled out due to the lack of depth perception.

"Sorry sis…", he thought sadly, "But as long as my friends are trapped. I have to save them, even if it costs me my life. Just like you said, self-sacrifice for the sake of others is one of the qualities of a true hero!"

Author's note:

I honestly wanted to add a little bit of familial fluff to this relatively massive upheaval of angst and woe this chapter. I apologize if this comes off as a little clumsy or rushed. I just really love how much of a maternal figure Ryukyu is to people in the Manga and Anime (Easily one of the reasons why she's one of the best girls and criminally underrated as a character imo). Also, starting from now on, chapter updates are gonna be a lot slower from now on. (College is a pain sometimes). I might say, about an update say...every week or so.

Anyways, Red Goblin signing off