Kirishima liked to think he was a fairly heavy sleeper. His sister would jump on his bed about twenty times in the morning and he would still sleep through it.

So, when he woke up at who knows what hour at night- or was it morning now? He knew something was wrong.

Straightening up on his futon, he tried to listen to whatever was the reason behind his impromptu wake up call.

Banging could be heard coming from the room next to his. Noise, that sounded vaguely like a scuffle, or perhaps stuff behind thrown around.

Racking his brain for a moment, he came to a horrible realization.

Midoriya's room was next to his.

He felt stupid for not making the connection sooner.

However, this still didn't explain what was happening.

Knowing he had taken enough time thinking about it, he quickly made his way out of his dorm room.

Gratitude swelled in Izuku's heart as he stepped into his room. The school having taken the no-work rule to heart. Effectively making the chore of unpacking easier for him. Thus, an exact copy of his room at Aizawa's stood in front of him.

However, as the daylight faded away and the darkness of the night slowly set in. He wished for any kind of chores. Any kind of distraction to keep his mind busy and off the suffocating thoughts that plagued it.

The only escape being the tiny nightlight that Aizawa had bought him. It's light the only beacon keeping him sane in the solitude of his small dorm room.

He missed his guardian already.

This was the first time since his rescue that he found himself alone.

Of course, Aizawa had offered him a room in his own apartment on campus. However, Izuku didn't want to burden the man more than he had in the past few months.

Sucking it up, he did the only rational thing he could think of. He slept with lights on. Of course, this wasn't a permanent solution, or really, a solution at all.

He just hoped that maybe, just maybe, the light would help keep the terrors away. Keep his consciousness from wandering into the deepest depth of his mind. Keeping his all too vulnerable heart from getting crushed under the fear and hopelessness that came with the darkness.

It didn't.

"Midoriya, it's Kirishima. Are you awake?" He spoke through the wooden barrier separating them. Silence, the only response to his question, if not for the ongoing sound of the scuffle "Hey dude, is everything okay in there?" Knowing that no response would assuage his worry, he tried opening the door on his own. Surprisingly, it was unlocked.

The lights were on… Did that mean that Midoriya was awake? The noise was gone…

Stepping in further, his eyes caught onto the sleeping form of his classmate.

At first glance, someone would think that Izuku was sleeping peacefully. However, the sweat covering his forehead and the slight tremor of his shoulders suggested otherwise. On further notice, he spotted a couple of tear tracks staining the teen's face.

Midoriya looked so small at that moment. His white hair only accenting the pallor of his skin.

A nightmare.

Yet, it didn't explain the noise he heard…

His decision to step closer was interrupted by the most gut-wrenching sound he had ever encountered. The teen in front of him having cried out as soon as Kirishima moved closer. As if… As if sensing the intrusion. Expecting it.

Izuku had green tendrils surrounding his body, his quirk activating even while he was resting. The energy emitted effectively making the content of the room vibrate in their place.

That explains it.

Midoriya's nightmare must have triggered his body's defenses. He didn't want to find out what kind of horrors his friend must be seeing for this to happen. He just wished he could make it stop.

He knew that he wasn't the best person to be doing this. However, he couldn't forgive himself if he allowed his friend to go through this alone.

He needed to wake him up.

In hindsight, Kirishima really should have called Aizawa.

As soon as he stepped closer, his foot caught onto one of the many objects in the room that had crashed onto the floor under the energy the teen was emitting in his sleep. The plastic bottle, at least that's what he thought it was, cracked under the weight and was sent rolling into the far side of the room.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Slowly he lifted his eyes back up to Midoriya's sleeping form. However, the teen wasn't asleep anymore.

From the glazed sheen in his eyes, he wasn't fully awake either.

Izuku had shoved himself against the wall, his whole body shivering as he seemed to try and make himself as small as possible.

"No no no no no please" The boy repeated over and over again, his features overcome with terror. All that fear directed straight at the redhead. Although, it seemed the teen was looking right through him. Not really taking in the fact that he wasn't a threat. "Not again, p-please, d-don't"

It broke something in him. Seeing his friend drown in his own fears. See him living his nightmares right before his eyes.

"Midoriya i-it's okay! It's just me!" At first, it seemed like Midoriya wasn't hearing him. However, as he repeated the phrase, he seemed to be breaking through whatever haze had taken over his friend. "It's okay, it's just me"

"Kiri- Kirishima?" The teen's voice was so small. It reminded him just how young they were. Just how unfair life really was.

He could see it, the fear slowly residing in those forest green eyes. Relief and awareness taking over as the teen dropped back into reality.

"Yeah… it's me, you're safe."

"I-I'm sorry…" Embarrassment and shame rose to the surface as Izuku looked at the wreckage in his room. At the sadness in his classmate's eyes.

"Don't worry man! You have nothing to be sorry for!" The redhead assured hurriedly. "Do- do you want me to call someone? Aizawa or Shinsou maybe? I could call Sensei-"

"No!" Izuku couldn't help but raise his voice slightly, although he regained his composure a second later. "I- I mean- I- it's not necessary, I wouldn't want to disturb them." The last thing he wanted was Aizawa to worry more than he already did. The man had done so much for him. He deserved some rest.

"I don't think he'd mind man, he cares a lot about you!" The red-head argued softly.

"I-I'm fine. Don't worry… I'm used to nightmares by now." The last sentence was mumbled, not really meant for anyone to hear. Yet, the teen heard him nonetheless. A frown forming on his features at the words.

"If you want to talk about them, you know I'm here for you man… We all are." The sheer determination in those fiery red eyes was almost enough to convince Midoriya. Almost being the keyword.

"Thanks but I don't really want to… M-maybe l-later?"

"Sure! I just want you to feel better! Are you okay to go back to sleep now?"

Izuku nodded his head in response, silently hoping that Kirishima would leave without further inquiries.

"I…uh…I'll be just next door Midoriya. So, if you need anything, anything at all, my door is always open."

It seems the red-head got the hint after that. For, a few minutes later, Izuku was once again alone in his room.

He didn't sleep after that.

Light shines through 1-A's classroom windows. A calm atmosphere surrounding the students as each one of them slowly shed the remnants of their sleepiness. It was their first official class ever since before the training camp. The principal didn't want to postpone it anymore. Now, that Izuku was up and about.

The boy in question was currently trying to keep his eyes open and his head off his desk. Making sure to lower his hat as much as possible. Trying to cover all his hair inside it.

The last couple of nights were taking their toll on him. His nightmares were getting worse. The oppressing darkness that came with nightfall didn't help in his quest for a good night's sleep.

Aizawa had tried to get him to stay at the dorms for a few more days.

He didn't want to, though. He didn't want to be left alone with his thoughts for long. Besides, he didn't want to fall behind.

On top of all of that. Kirishima kept sending him worried glances throughout the weekend. He'd even catch him whispering about him to Uraraka and the others.

A part of him wanted to be grateful. Grateful for his friends and the fact that they were worried about him. It brought warmth to his heart and hope.

Although, there was this other part. A smaller voice in his head. It whispered and judged. Telling him how much of a burden he was. Turning his friend's worry into something else. Something entirely different.

He was just a burden, after all. Just annoying and disturbing his friends. Kirishima kept waking up because of him. He probably was just getting frustrated with him.

He found himself believing that voice. With every glance from his friends. With every whisper, he heard.

The door to the room opened suddenly, Aizawa shuffling into the room tiredly a moment later. Trying to calm his racing heart, Izuku lifted his eyes towards his guardian's form.

It felt weird not seeing Aizawa as much anymore. The man checked in on him many times during the weekend. It was still different though. Not being able to watch movies at night with him or just sit and talk when he wanted to. He supposed it was for the best. He wasn't the best company to keep at the moment.

He tries. It's not that he's not trying. It's just hard. Hard to go back as if nothing happened. Hard to ignore the nightmares, the dread that fills him every time he walks into a dark room or hears a strange noise. Every time he looks at Kaminari. Or looks into Dark shadow's body.

Aizawa meets his gaze with a strange look. The man's eyes seem to ask a question. As if he were speaking to him out loud. Are you good? They ask. Are you okay?

With a slight nod, the teacher takes it as his cue to start.

They don't really learn anything new. Izuku tries to focus on the lesson, but his mind keeps wandering. Not to anything specific, but mostly just blankness.

In the end, Aizawa just announces a rundown of their new schedule and the plans for their upcoming training. The provisional license exam was just around the corner.

The bell rings soon enough and the students are back in motion. Izuku feels himself getting up on autopilot. He feels disassociated with the world around him. Uraraka, Iida, Kirishima, and Todoroki are walking beside him. If they try to talk to him he doesn't know. He just feels their eyes on him from time to time.

Shinsou joins them at some point as they make their way to the cafeteria.

He can vaguely hear the sound of the other students as they get closer to the food court. The noise gets louder with every step he takes. Soon enough they are all he hears as he stops in front of the doors.

His body freezing as his mind screams at him to get away. He's not ready for that many people. He's not prepared.

He feels a hand on his shoulder and he can't help but step back. Shinsou's eyes meet his. Worry and sadness swimming in his purple orbs.

His feet move before his mind catches up. Without realizing it, he's already running back towards the classrooms. Ignoring the calls behind him.

He wants to just get away from it all.

Get away from the worried stares filled with pity and sadness.

Broken. They call him.

His face meets something hard and he's toppling onto the ground before he can do anything about it.

It breaks his spiraling mind and he finds himself focusing back on reality.

"Look what we have here!" A voice calls from above him. It's not anyone he's familiar with. "1-A's star kidnapee!" Looking up his eyes meet Monoma's excited gaze. He vaguely remembers him from the sport festival and the training camp. He's never actually spoken to him though. There's a girl beside him, Her hand is on her classmate's shoulder, as if she's holding him back. "So, the villains finally get tired of you?"

He hears footsteps behind him and thinks that it's probably his friends. Although he can't be sure.

"Monoma, stop bothering him." Kendo- he's pretty sure it's her name- says in a low voice. Her expression is apologetic as she looks at him. She moves as if to help him get up, but he's up before she reaches him.

He doesn't want anyone touching him at the moment.

"Oh, don't be such a buzzkill Kendo! We're just joking around! Right Midoriya?" He smiles at him, a slightly hysterical look flitting over his expression. Without meaning to, Izuku's mind flits back to Shigaraki's face. It fazes in and out of his field of vision. Blurring the lines between the 1-B student and his previous tormentor.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Comes an angry voice from behind him. The higher pitch giving away Uraraka's identity.

"Yeah! Not cool dude!" That's Kirishima.

Monoma doesn't seem fazed though. His eyes are still trained on Izuku. His eyes flitting up to his hat covered hair. "Nice hat, man." Before Izuku can think to step away, Monoma is already reaching for his hair. His hand encircles the cap's fabric and promptly takes it off his head. The moment the hat is off, silence fills the corridor they are standing in.

His hair fall. Exposing his white locks to the other's watchful eyes. He feels himself instantly shrinking back. Looking for an escape route around the two students blocking his way.

The silence is only broken by the laughter coming from the teen in front of him. The sound creates a chain reaction as the others behind him begin to shout at the teen and Kendo tries to make him stop.

"Hey, hey! I'm sorry! I wasn't expecting that! Wasn't your hair green!" His laughter gets harder and he gets a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "Did the villains give you a makeover or something?"

Izuku uses his distraction to bolt into the opposite hallway. Quickly taking the stairs leading up to the roof.

"Izuku! Wait!" Uraraka calls out to no avail.

He just needs to be alone right now.

"I'll go after him," Shinsou tells the group as he starts to walk in the direction of the roof. "You guys go tell Aizawa about what happened."

The roof is quiet when he steps out onto it. A slight breeze goes by, a welcome change amidst the hot rays of sun bearing down onto the concrete space.

He doesn't spot him immediately. It's after he steps away from the doors and turns slightly to the right that he sees him.

Izuku is sitting on the ground. Hands on the rails and feet slightly dangling from the building. It brings dark thought to his mind. Flashes of a situation he hopes he will never come across. Especially not with his friend.

He approaches slowly. Making sure his movements are loud and clear. Not wanting to startle the teen in front of him.

It seems his actions are successful when Midoriya looks back and up at him slowly.

"Hey." He says. Not really knowing what to start with. Izuku looks at him with blank eyes. No emotion showing through the barrier he's built up around himself. "Don't listen to Monoma. He's just a childish jerk." Izuku's only response is to turn his gaze back towards the horizon. His eyes looking at the building and fields surrounding the campus. "Are you okay?"

Silence stretches between them and Shinsou thinks that maybe Izuku is just going to ignore him. Although it's a few seconds later that he hears the teen respond.

His voice is low. Barely above a whisper and he has to strain to make out the words.

He hears them nonetheless.

"Am I a bad person, Shinsou?"

It takes him a moment to realize that he should probably say something.

"What- Why would you even ask that." The question is not what he expected. Why would Izuku. Selfless, heroic Izuku think he's a bad person.

"Did they tell you how she died?" The teen says, ignoring him once again. He knows who she is without having to ask.

"I only saw… H-how did she-"

"It was supposed to be me." The statement cuts through his words like a knife. The meaning behind it is wrong. So blatantly and obviously wrong. "It was meant to kill me."

"Izuku." His voice comes out firm. Maybe even louder than he intended. "Izuku, look at me." It catches the teen's attention instantly. Emerald eyes turning towards him. Not really meeting his own though. "You can't possibly think that this was your fault right? She was trying to kill you! She did it to herself!" His voice rises with every word and he feels tears of frustration well up in his eyes.

Because why. Why is this world so wrong that the victim has to feel guilty for merely surviving?

"B-but Shinsou. I-I was just so relieved." Tears pool in Midoriya's eyes as he finally makes eye contact with him. The emotions he's been keeping hidden burst to the surface. They create a whirlwind of expressions flitting through the teen's face. "What kind of hero- What kind of person feels relieved when their own mother dies?!" He's shouting too now. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? WHO WATCHES THEIR MOTHERS DIE AND FEEL RELIEVED? I'm NO HERO! I'M NOT EVEN A GOOD PERSON!"

Before he gets to continue his rant. Shinsou's arms are already around him. The purple-haired teen envelopes him in a hug that makes his entire world stop. His mind screeching to a halt as the warmth and for the first time in so long, safety, washes over him. "Don't you dare speak like that ever again." He whispers firmly into his ear. His words crack with emotion as he squeezes him harder. "You. Are. Not. A bad person. You are the furthest thing from it. You are the most selfless and brave person I know. These feelings you are experience only help to prove that to me. That women tormented and abused you for years. She tried to kill you and you proceed to blame yourself for it!" He's crying too now. "You have every right to feel relieved."

"B-but Shinsou-"

"Izuku. Look at me." He draws the teen by his shoulders so they are face to face once again. Wanting the boy to realize how honest and serious he is. "I need you to believe me when I tell you this." He begins intently. "You are not a bad person Izuku. You're just human."

A visible weight seems to lift itself from the boy's shoulders and he seems to slump against him in exhaustion.

"Thank you Shinsou." The boy mumbles sleepily as they furrow into the shade of the building.

A small smile adorns the teen's face. The smile is the first he's seen in weeks. It's not a real smile. Far from the blinding one he used to give. But it's there. It's small and tentative, but it's real and its improvement and Shinsou couldn't be happier.

He hopes he will see that smile more often from now on. He's going to try his damn best to bring it back anyway.