For all the years Kurogiri had been Izuku Midoriya's guardian and caretaker, not once had he truly seen the sorrow and despair leave the orphan's eyes. Vibrant radiance as bright as green grass, full of life and just as soft, were darkened in the shadows and transformed into hardened malachite. Any smile below his eyeline never quite reached his gaze. The scars, mentally and physically ingrained into the boy as he grew older into a man, were mirrored in the reflection of his sclera where blood vessels stemmed in red lines. Not even when Midoriya had met Shield, Shiretoko, or any other potential woman love interest did that dead stare change. Not even when a new family had been built to replace the one he had lost. A pet dog, Ace the stray hound. Eri, an adopted daughter. It was never enough to revive the life that had been lost that night in the alley along with his parents. But now, the eyes Kurogiri stare into.. They are not the same he had gotten accustomed to seeing. Izuku Midoriya lives again.

He's covered in gauze, wrapped head to toe in bandages as always. Monitors, a feeding tube and drip, he's connected to all sorts of medical equipment. But there's a different air to the room. His mouth isn't set in a grim line. He's smiling. He isn't unplugging the wires and forcing himself to wobble on his weak legs in order to endure more physical punishment. He's resting. And again, his eyes. Kurogiri would swear by anyone that those aren't the same eyes. They're hopeful. The fondness is glossy and glowing in his gaze. There's a love there that had been lost, now found and returned somehow. There's.. Genuine happiness. He's happy.

Eri matches his expression, a huge smile on her face as she eats a candy apple and swings her legs in a visitor's chair. The girl is still wearing her school uniform, having just come from classes. The two are enjoying one another's company, Midoriya actually spending the time to be a father figure to her. "And we even got to pick our hero names today!", she excitedly shares with him how she spent her day and he actually gives his full undivided attention to listen.

"Really?! What'd you decide on?!", there's an almost childlike innocence to him that matches Eri's energy. The usual stoic demeanor is gone, he's finally done closing himself off and started opening up. He's even taken up the hobby of writing quirk and hero analysis in notebooks again instead of tactically studying and profiling people. Right this very second for instance, the pencil in his hand is flying across the page as he jots down potential hero name suggestions for Eri.

Eri blushes, looking away from his radiance like she's stared directly into the sun for far too long. Suddenly shy, she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear before bringing herself to share, "I was thinking.. Robin.." When she looks back at her adoptive father to see his reaction, she sees him urging her to continue with an eager nod. "Um.. Because, robins are symbols of h-hope and renewal. Everyone is looking for hope right now and I thought the idea of renewal was fitting with my quirk..", she timidly fiddles with her nails while staring down at her lap before glancing up again.

Midoriya's eyes are so tender that they water at the corners, almost on the brink of tears. "That's perfect, Eri!", he praises her name choice and reasoning with such sincerity that nobody would believe the optimist he is now would have pessimistically considered Lemillion as a symbol of hope pointless. "Have you designed a costume yet?", he flips to a blank page in his notebook to start doodling outfits next.

Kurogiri stares in shock. His yellow slithers are wide bars, taking in the scene in front of him. He's not so sure the man that they found is the same Izuku Midoriya that had gone missing. He'd consider Himiko Toga taking his place as some sort of imposter if she weren't captured. The way he was discovered unconscious outside the hospital was suspicious enough considering he'd come to the manor or cave before going to a public place. But all the tests that had been done, some from heroes at Kurogiri's discretion, prove the man in front of him is the one and only authentic Izuku Midoriya.

It's when Eri says, "I was thinking something a bit more colorful than yours."

And Midoriya responds, "What do you mean?"

Kurogiri suddenly understands why the man he raised is acting so differently. "You don't remember..", he utters his realization under his breath. Midoriya has completely forgotten that he's Batman, perhaps even the purpose of his crusade altogether.

"Well, I'd want a cape like you have though.", Eri obliviously continues to talk as though he does still have some awareness of his alter ego. She doesn't realize nor know it herself yet what's happened to him.

"I don't really get what you mean, but sure, capes are cool. You know, All Might's Silver Age costume had a cape.", Midoriya scratches his head like he's tending to a nervous itch before returning to doodling in his notebook, "I was thinking more along the lines of practicality. How should it accommodate to your quirk?"

Suddenly, Eri's energy depletes. Along with her smile. "Oh..", her shoulders droop with the curve of her lips as she mumbles, "I didn't really think about that."

Eri's quirk is still a sensitive issue to be worked on. Considering Midoriya's memory is faulty though, Kurogiri intervenes to salvage the situation, "Miss Eri has been receiving counseling from her homeroom teacher."

And that luckily rekindles Eri's enthusiasm, "Yeah, it really helps! Mister Todoroki says he had trouble deciding whether or not to use his quirk too, so he told me to try flipping a yen coin any time I have trouble."

Midoriya's eyes widen at that, "The number two hero?" He would have already known about the hero's employ had his memory not been toyed with, "Wow, that's amazing, Eri!"

Becoming disturbed by the way Midoriya is acting and the reason why, Kurogiri hopes to cut things short and speak with a doctor. "I believe that's enough for today.", he places a hand on Eri's shoulder but speaks directly to Midoriya, "You shouldn't exert yourself too much."

"Ah, come on, do we have to go?", Eri complains about having to leave but gets up from her chair anyways.

Kurogiri speaks tersely, "Yes, Eri.", the authority in his tone surprising her. He realizes his own intensity and backpedals with a softer suggestion, "Why don't you grab something from the vending machines to snack on during the drive back?"

"Okay.", she nods while walking away but still seems shaken.

Midoriya saying, "She's a good kid.", doesn't allow Kurogiri to dwell on his mistake for too long though.

The guardian looks at the man he helped raised and replies, "Of course she is. She's YOUR kid."

Earning a sheepish smile from Midoriya, "Thanks.", he rests his head on his pillow while gazing upwards, "I'm just glad she's doing well without me."

Kurogiri feels a sharp pang in his chest for some reason, "You'll recover and return home soon.", and has the strong urge to set things straight. The thing is, something is stopping him. He's hesitant to snuff out the light in those eyes for the sake of Midoriya's identity if it means.. "Until then.. I want to ask you before I go, sir.. Izuku..", Kurogiri's yellow slants for eyes wobble as they try to stay steady.

Midoriya sits back up, hearing and seeing his caretaker's reluctance to speak his mind. He cautiously asks, "What is it, Kurogiri?"

Kurogiri clenches his fists before working up the courage, "Are.. Are you happy?", and looking into those lively eyes again.

"More than I've ever been!", they're as bright as Midoriya's toothy smile.

And Kurogiri can't bring himself to destroy that. He deserves to be happy. The world can do without Batman. Izuku Midoriya can do without Batman. Underneath the purple smog that shrouds his face, Kurogiri is smiling back, "That's all I want for you, my boy."

But the thing about smiles.. Is that they can be dangerously contagious.

Katsuki Bakugo watches the news with a rictus grin. His movements kept to a minimum thanks to a straightjacket, he settles for rocking back and forth. The television tells him a story about his childhood friend getting into a bad sports car accident. No doubt, the whole thing is a fabrication thought up to disclose the fact that Izuku Midoriya is Batman. A cover story. Pure fiction. The public eats it up and actually buys into the bullshit lies. It's so funny that Bakugo lets out a little giggle.

Whatever the real reason is that he was admitted to the hospital, he'll no doubt be back in action in no time. After all, the world needs its caped crusader. The bat signal in the sky outside Bakugo's cell window is the proof in the pudding. Bakugo loves how long it stays up. A reminder that Batman is out there despite not being on the official hero listing. But suddenly, the light goes out. The light reflecting in Bakugo's red eyes goes out. His smile drops.

Without Batman, crime has no punchline. And that's not funny.

"Looks like you need me just as much as I need you.", Bakugo begins his escape by slipping free from his straightjacket. Arms spread wide, wishing to give his friend a big bone crushing hug, he plans to reignite the sparks using his own two hands. "Ready or not, here I come!", he allows himself to smile again, "Batman.. Darling."