In the aftermath, society was alarmed.
The breakout of Tartarus was on the news, civilians were alerted and afraid of such an incident.
Over 70% of Tartarus prisoners escaped from their prisons, with less than 20 being recaptured. Oddly enough, there were a handful of prisoners who never left their cell. The rest were killed during the breakout, including All for One.
From the footage by the news, showcasing a young girl leading the escape, the incident was blamed by Eri, now considered as her given title, 'The One-Horned Demon', swiftly moving high in the ranks, essentially making her the most wanted and dangerous villain in Japan.
And those who were there didn't take the aftermath lightly.
Midoriya sat near the police vehicles that arrived at the prison, policemen, guards and heroes were taking prisoners either back to Tartarus or on transports where they were transferred to other prison facilities.
He took in everything that happened.
He saw her. She grew older, she was angry. But when he approach her and tried to calm her down, he saw her eyes, a desperate call for help, she needs saving and only he could help her.
Until Hawks came.
What he saw kept playing over and over in his mind, the feather impacting Eri on each part of her body, her cries, her screams, he could still hear them.
Just when he took it in, a car arrived, he didn't notice as he was too focused on the splitting images. It wasn't until he heard a familiar voice.
"You tried your best, Young Midoriya."
That snapped him out of his phase, as he removed his arms away from his face and look to see the skinny skeleton of his idol. All Might, standing next to Sir Nighteye.
"All Might, Sir Nighteye." Midoriya said, "what are you doing here?"
Nighteye adjusts his glasses before giving his answer, "I'm here to pick you up, and drop him off."
"Thanks for the ride, by the way." All Might said, "I just need to know where he is."
All Might walk away from the group, towards the barricade the police made, with the police allowing All Might access to the crime scene.
Leaving the two alone.
"Sir… I need to tell you about Hawks…"
Deku tried to talk to Nighteye about what the wing hero did to Eri, only to stop when Nighteye lifted his hand.
"Save it at the office. We'll continue our discussion there. You must come with me."
"But he was about to…"
"Don't make me ask again." Nighteye interrupted, making Deku remain quiet as he accepts the ride back.
He got into the car and Nighteye start the engine.
"We got plenty to discuss, more detail back at the agency, but as of late, the One-Horned Demon had become a priority enemy."
Enemy?
Izuku had to blink after hearing the word.
Enemy.
Along with the images of the breakout, thinking of that word to describe Eri was a lot to take in. he didn't say a single word throughout the journey.
During the outbreak, Shigaraki took a small stroll around the prison, it was emptier than before, the chaos erupts outside
For the entire time, he remained inside in his cell, despite the doors opening, he spent most of it sitting on his bed, watching the prisoners running wildly. There was one moment where a guard was ready to attack, only for a surprise to occur.
A small child, after one touch, blew the man up into bloody chunks, she wasn't wearing prisoner wear, indicating that she was someone who broke in, perhaps the one who caused the breakout.
She stood there, turning to face him before looking away and walking through the hall.
He remained in his cell until he heard nothing, pure silence, enough to give him the urge to come out.
What he saw was nothing much to what he had seen before, countless bodies from the fighting, blood everywhere, other prisoners who remained in their cells.
He took a long walk for one major reason.
He has to see him, at least once.
And he got his wish.
Approaching the high danger cells, Shigaraki entered his sensei's cell.
Only to find him dead, riddled with bullets, the guns on the ceiling were smoking.
He hoped to see his sensei again, when trouble times occur, he always find him, his guidance was all he had when has nothing. surviving without him didn't last, his motivations towards League were long gone and he wasn't sure what to do next.
And finding the only person he can rely on, dead in front of him, he collapses to his knees.
His breathing was raspy, comprehend what he was seeing.
"No…"
Just when he comes to the realization, a sudden loud noise approach behind him.
"Stay right where you are!" a voice alerted, as many armoured guards pointed weapons at Shigaraki.
He ignored them, and looked at the corpse, his breathing became calmer, accepting what he sees.
What remained of his vision, what remains of his courage, what remains of his power.
All gone.
Eventually, he put both his hands behind his head, accepting surrender.
All Might rushed into the prison, despite being retired, he was still acknowledged as the former number one hero and symbol of peace, as well as a regular visitor.
Even if he can't visit for a few days, after hearing the breakout, he had to arrive and check whether or not Shigaraki escaped, if his former rival escaped, the last thing he wanted was the century-old demon of hero society to break free and used Shigaraki to form ungodly terrors.
"All Might, what are you doing here?" a guard called out, All Might quickly recognised him as the one who often sees more times in the weekly visits.
"I'm sorry if I'm early," All Might excuses, "I just need to know if Tomura Shigaraki is alright. Did you capture him?"
"You still need to leave the scene," the guard instructed, "we have to maintain control after the breakout."
"Just tell me!" All Might yelled, never been frustrated than before.
The guard look at the former hero, even if he was the symbol of peace, there were still rules that everyone have to follow
Eventually, however, he sighs, "okay, maybe I could arrange something," he said, "but I'm only going you this once, understand?"
"What do you mean?"
"Shigaraki… he didn't step a foot out of the prison, we apprehended him at All For One's cell."
This worried the hero, thinking of the demon that terror society luring in a boy he's trying to save.
"What happened? Did All For One."
"All For One is dead." The guard gave a clear answer, "he died before Shigaraki entered his cell. We're currently processing him, it's unlikely he got his quirk from him. but we have to be sure."
Hearing the news of All For One's passing took a huge shock for All Might. The man he wanted to take down, the man who created One For All, the likely person to escape and wreak havoc towards the world once more. Is gone.
He should have been pleased, glad, relived that the notorious threat was over.
But this hit different.
"Look, I'll have some arrangements to give you a short interrogation with Shigaraki, but afterwards, you won't see him for another few weeks, maybe months, until we could get Tartarus back in operation."
All Might sigh, appreciating the offer. If what he said was true, this could be the last time he can talk to Shigaraki for a while. He is willing to take it.
"Okay, let me know when you're ready."
A short transfer.
Shigaraki was chained up, dragged on a wheeled device with hands cuffed, his body cuffed, he couldn't move nor use his quirk to free himself.
This was oddly strange to the villain, after a big breakout, he imagined that they would put Shigaraki in a more secure cell or transfer him to another top security prison.
Instead, he was in an empty room.
A familiar room.
A sudden click.
He realises what was happening.
A fate worse than death, worse than being in chains and stuck in a hole.
His mind raced in anger, just when the door in front of him opens and out of it, was the last person he wanted to see.
All Might.
Shigaraki grit his teeth, he didn't want to see him after what he saw but had no choice. He never gets a choice.
Any choice he ever made seems to be bad and only bad ones. Is there nothing in the world that let him be?
"Tomura," All Might started, "I… uh…"
"I don't want you to say a single word, All Might." Shigaraki, for the first time in years, spoke out. "I want you to listen to me."
All Might was about to ask about how he was feeling or what happened with All For One towards the interrogation. But kept his mouth shut, realising that this could be the major breaking point he was looking for.
"But I know you're going to ask the most obvious question, so just ask and say nothing else."
All Might take a breath, thinking of the question Shigaraki wants him to ask, even he knew what it is.
"Why didn't you escape?" he spoke, "many villains managed to get out and you could have got out, so why didn't you."
Shigaraki looked at the former symbol of peace, he was going to give it his most truth about himself, one that he kept in for years, waiting for the right moment.
"Because it wouldn't make a difference."
"What do you mean?"
Shigaraki looks at him again, seeing him as a fool, can't he understand what it means? Does he even do anything he told?
"If I got out, all I'm facing is the same issues I have in this society, I can take lives, I can cause destruction, but everything I do would lead me all the way back here, where I started and according to your society, where I belong. This world, the heroes, the villains, civilians, it's so incredibly messed up, like we're all playing roles that were assigned from birth, assigned from the influence of society."
He begin to become serious and stood up. facing the hero one more time.
"So ask me, All Might, what do you expect me to be other than a villain?"
All Might stayed silent, unsure about an answer or any answer that could counter his question. He didn't think about that when he tried to help Shigaraki, about what he could become if he managed to redeem himself or change his way.
At this moment, however, he wonders that if he got out, what difference would it make in the perspective of their society? All they will see is a villain, regardless of his change.
"You heroes think that you're making the world a better place, but all you're doing is playing the role given to your system, you were always meant to beat me no matter what I did, I didn't think of this until I saw her. The little girl"
"The One Horn Demon?" All Might spoken, recalling about a recent crime of a young girl who went on a recent massacre, with a couple of rumours from the police stating that she was responsible for the breakout.
"Yep, at first I thought the one who's destroying this place and letting the most vicious villains escape would be one that can counter Sensei." Shigaraki slightly turn, "but all I saw was a lost little girl, she reminds me of my younger self."
"She's not anything like you." All Might tried to defend the girl, try to make a statement that Shigaraki was wrong on this point.
He didn't shift his expression, only caught attention, "is she?" he smirked, letting out a snicker. His mind went back to video games, a way to pass the time but how he sees the world and how he uses them to plan out his schemes. Schemes that died out a long time ago.
"I rarely watch cutscenes in games" he started, "they're too long and too boring, but there was this one particular cutscene in a cowboy game when the main villain of that story is defeated, I craved to watch him get the death he deserves."
"Did he?"
Shigaraki paused, his smile dropped, "not in the way I saw it," he answered, "but he did make a quote that I recall. Me being here, the One Horn Demon being out there, and perhaps the biggest problem with heroes. And it all can be summarised by his last words:"
"When I'm gone, they'll just find a new monster. They have to, because they have to justify their wages."
Suddenly, the words of All for One linger in All Might's mind.
'There will always be another monster.'
"It just so happens this One Horn Demon is their next monster after me, so what makes her different in the roles we played? In the end, she's either going to burn the world or end up here."
Before All Might could think about the question, he suddenly hears a voice that he didn't hear entirely, just look up in confusion.
"Our Time has passed, All Might." Shigaraki told All Might, "I don't want you to come back, I don't want you to save me, I'm never going to leave this place, because what can I do out there that's worth more than being here?"
With that, All Might stood up and left.
This was their last conversation.
All Might never help Tomura Shigaraki, he has failed his sensei, her legacy dies with Shigaraki, that alone was a legacy best forgotten.
I looked through many realities, saw so much, found different outcomes.
And in nearly all of them, there was one unfortunate truth.
Shigaraki was beyond saving the minute his quirk activated.
He was always meant to be a monster.
Society needed him to be a monster.
It was a silent trip, in the car all the way back to the office.
Nighteye instructed Midoriya to never say a word until they were back at the agency and in Mirio's office for further instructions.
He remained silent up until they reach the doors of the office, seeing Lemillion's name on the blurred window
"Can I speak, sir?" Deku spoke up, just when Nighteye opened the door and they entered.
Only for Midoriya to get caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the man he was worried about
"Hey Deku finally got here."
Sudden angered crave in for the young hero, a sudden thought of punching the winged hero in the face, paying for what he was going to do.
But it was irrational, he would end up in much trouble if he act so recklessly.
"Sir!" Midoriya caught the older man's attention, "we need to talk about him." he pointed at Hawks, "he has violated regulations and everything a hero stands for."
"Woah, Deku," Hawks said with a surprised face and his hands up in defence, acting as though attempted murder was no big deal, "you seriously need to chill out."
"Chill out!?" Midoriya's voice was higher, "you know damn well what you did."
"Midoriya, take a seat!" Nighteye tone dominates Deku's catching his attention, "I will explain, you need to know the situation."
"But Sir."
"No buts!"
Midoriya was speechless, what was going on? Why is Nighteye acting so strange lately, Hawks was in the wrong, he should have his hero license revoked.
As he calms down, Deku took a seat, once settled, Nighteye lifted a remote and turn on the TV, making everyone turn to the screen. Revealing a reporter giving breaking news.
"After the devastating breakout of Tartarus, there have been several reports of villain attacks across several areas, including Hosu, Kamino and Musutafu, reports have believed that the several escaped convicts of Tartarus are all lead by the infamous One-Horned Demon, a young villainess responsible for the breakout and several deaths since he debut, climbing into the rank most wanted criminal in the country, civilians are advised to stay in their homes until further…"
Nighteye muted the sound.
"As we speak, our search for the One-Horned Demon has now turned into a manhunt. And if it wasn't for your actions Midoriya, the threat would have been ceased."
"My actions?" Midoriya was caught off guard once again, "what I did is saved her, Hawks was about to kill her! Heroes do not kill!"
"We only kill under two circumstances," Nighteye said, his tone was still and focused, "as a last resort or if the threat was too big for a takedown, the One-Horned Demon has entered the rank where lethal force would be necessary to stop the threat."
"What?" Deku couldn't believe what he was hearing, "you can't kill Eri, Nighteye, we can't take her life."
"And how many lives has she taken?" Hawks asked, "from my count and recent reports, she now has a higher body count than Shigaraki."
"But we can't do that?" Midoriya once again defend Eri, "she is lost, confused, the prisoners she helped are using her, but I still saw her, I still saw the girl I once saw."
"She isn't what she was anymore,"
"That doesn't change anything," Midoriya was about to tear up, still in anger at what he's hearing, "there was once a time when I was lost, and I could have given up, but with support from others, with the people who helped me, I let my dreams come true, to give everyone hope, to give them a bright future." Midoriya took a breath thinking about his time up to this moment. "how can I call myself a hero if I can't give Eri a bright future?"
"SHE HAS NO BRIGHT FUTURE!" Nighteye slams his arms on the desk, "I seen her future, Deku, do you want to know her future?"
Midoriya was jumped by the anger and rage from Nighteye, his teeth were showing he was in deep anger.
"She will kill Mirio!"
Hold on?
Midoriya took in what Nighteye meant. This caused Nighteye to wake up from his rage stage and take a few breaths to calm himself down.
He explained, "I saw her from Mirio, the city was burning, and… that monster… she used her quirk to kill him…" his arms begin to shake, "this is why we're keeping Mirio out of it, he doesn't know about this situation, he never left the office and he shouldn't learn about her situation, if he finds out, he will go find her and my vision will be set in stone."
Nighteye looked up at Midoriya, "you… you once showed me the future can be changed, All Might is still alive, but to save Mirio, we have to kill the One-Horned Demon, capturing her will only be a temporal solution."
Nighteye walked around, his arms were no longer shaken, he looked down at the young hero, "and… if you ever try to stop me, if you tell Mirio, if you say a word about this conversation to anyone, I wouldn't just revoke your license, you will be convicted for assaulting a hero but aiding a high wanted villain to escape. Is that clear?"
This…
This…
This wasn't real.
Midoriya didn't want this to be real.
He saw the man he once worked with, who helped All Might, who was as much of a bigger fan of All Might and was willing to keep his vision of peacekeeping.
Midoriya no longer saw that man.
This man was someone else.
What did the hero commission do to him to be this… cruel?
Midoriya wanted to do the right thing, but he knew that Nighteye had the power to stop him, he was part of the hero commission, his words were like law, there was nothing he can do.
"U… understood…" Deku responded, there was nothing else he could have said, if he was being honest, it would ruin everything.
"Good," Nighteye said before looking at Hawks, "I want you to search the country, find the One-Horn Demon and this time, show no mercy."
"Understood" Hawks nodded before taking off out of the nearby open window.
"Midoriya, I suggest you aid in the search because rather you like it or not, we're going to hunt her down, with or without you."
There was no words or response he could make, he stood up and left the office.
He thought about the words of Nighteye, the threat he made. He was completely out of line. Hawks were out of line, it felt so wrong, all of this felt wrong.
"Welcome back Midoriya," Deku perked up, catching his attention to the boy next to him, a cheerful Mirio. "how's the search going? Did you find her yet?"
'Mirio, Eri has become a monster and Sir Nighteye is planning to kill her!' the words inside Midoriya begged to be spoken right away.
But he couldn't.
He know he couldn't.
"I… I…" Midoriya tried to speak, he couldn't think of any words. Instead, he dashed off, trying his hardest to avoid Mirio for the time being.
He dashes off till he was truly alone.
It felt like he was alone.
For what felt a long moment, he sat against the wall and comprehend what he heard. He feared for the future.
He feared for Eri's future.
To be continued…