Disclaimer: I do not own Boku No Hero Academia.

CHAPTER XXIII – THE LAST CHAPTERS: A NEW MORNING

It was too hot for Tomura's liking.

The blinds were down and only few rays of sunlight found their way into his room – enough for Tomura to see himself in the mirror.

His room was smaller than the one he grew up with, emptier too. There were no games or books, not even a TV, and worst of all, no computer. Even if he had one, All Might's house didn't have an internet connection. His only way to access the World Wide Web was via his smart phone, the only computer-like device he was allowed to have, and even that was monitored and with restricted access. He was forbidden from registering to any social media or to leave his opinion on websites in general.

After All for One's defeat and death, they had granted him freedom. Well, not really, he was still on parole and would be for the coming years, depending on how he continued to act. And as if that wasn't enough, he had been given multiple tasks to fulfil. Once every two or three weeks, an inspector would come visit him at the house and take a look at his work. One of the tasks during spring, summer and autumn, was to cultivate the garden in front of the place, as well as learning how to cook with the grown vegetables and fruits. He didn't mind the gardening part that much and now that he didn't have any videogames to play, it was one of the only things to do anyway. Writing a journal entry every day was mandatory as well. Another task was to keep the house always clean and to read certain chapters of therapy books, so he could discuss them with a psychiatrist who he had to visit once a week. All Might would drive him there (he had bought himself a car in the meantime) and wait those forty-five minutes until the once most dangerous villain of Japan was done talking to some stranger about his feelings and thoughts. Tomura wasn't allowed to go there alone – or anywhere else for that matter – without his caretaker. Or better said, his officially registered adoptive father, something he still needed to grasp.

"As soon as they see your progress, they will agree to give you more freedom. Just be patient.", All Might had told him.

Tomura looked at the features of his reflection: he was tired, still not able to fall into a deep slumber. It had been four months since he had moved in here, but the quirks inside of him gave him no peace. Apparently, he would get used to them, according to All Might at least.

It angered him that still he wasn't able to leave All for One and his time as a villain behind, but worst.. he still wasn't able to forgive himself for what he had done. Especially to his loved ones, all those years ago. His psychiatrist had explained to him that even though his former master had orchestrated the boy killing his own family, it had not been All for One who had put that blockade on his mind but Tomura himself. Because of his trauma and to be able to survive, his own brain had created a "wall" to seal away his past. Sometimes, when he got really tired or when he was able to fall asleep, pictures and flashbacks slipped through, waking him up or making him feel nauseous. It had not changed, nothing had. At least he was able to connect the dots.

"It wasn't your fault."

"I want us to be a family."

His skin was still pale but didn't look as sick anymore, now that he shared proper meals with the former symbol of peace.

Sweat dripped down his forehead.

It was too hot for long sleeves, but he didn't like wearing t-shirts outside of his room. Although All Might had seen him at his worst, he was still embarrassed to show the scars on his arms to him. He walked over to the closet, picking the last of the black long sleeves, disregarding the heat and pulling it over.

He didn't have many clothes, but that was okay, his aesthetic had always been a bit.. minimalistic. The young man put on the new green chucks All Might had bought and walked back to the mirror. The colour of his shoes was just off; it didn't fit with his personality, but unfortunately, there had not been any red ones left.

Tomura took a deep breath and cracked a smile.

It felt so fake on him.

"What is wrong with me?" After all what had happened, he had finally gotten his wish fulfilled, yet here he was, staring at this empty shell that he was.

Will I ever be able to smile genuinely?

He sighed and left the room. On the lower floor, All Might was drinking a coffee and reading his newspaper at the dining table. A bit retro, but what other choice did he have without a TV or a computer?

"Good morning, Tomura.", All Might greeted him with a smile and set down the paper he was reading.

"Good morning.", Tomura greeted him back and went straight over to the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of cold water. On the refrigerator's door hung a letter, addressed at him.

To "Shimura Tenko" it read and Tomura cringed. Right, the name that had been printed on his health insurance papers before the release. And on his identity card. And on the adoption letter to All Might.

Shimura Tenko.

Nothing had changed since the days in Tartarus: He still hated the name and he never called himself like that. He was Tomura. Not so much Shigaraki anymore, but still Tomura. And so did All Might. In fact, the man had never called him Tenko since his arrival, as if he was waiting for Tomura to request it.

He didn't bother opening the letter now.

"I was planning on going to the city this evening. Would you like to come with me?"

"What for?", Tomura asked and grabbed one of the few glasses in the upper cabinets.

"You haven't been there in a while and I figured, why not come tog–"

"Alright.", Tomura interrupted him and filled his glass with ice cold water, emptying it all at once. All Might had assumed right; he missed the city and he was not even sure why. It was always crowded and loud and sometimes smelled bad but suburban life was getting a bit too much and he could use some change.

All Might watched the young man through the windows as he did his daily work in the garden. He was surprised to see how patient Tomura could be with plants, the total opposite of how he had acted towards him or other people during his time in prison.

He isn't impatient by nature, he was just brought up to think that everyone around him was beneath him and therefore not worth his time.

He would manage.

What worried All Might more was that the kid wasn't happy. And it pained him that there was nothing he could do to help.

He had noticed it the first few days after his arrival at his new home. At first everything seemed fine; Tomura was quiet and unsure about how to act but he meant well. However the more time passed, the more his eyes lost focus to the point where he sometimes didn't even look alive anymore.

It would never be easy to care for someone like Tomura. It's not like All Might didn't know, the doctors had tried to explain to him that he would always have to take care of him, that Tomura would never be able to live normally and that his "redemption" wasn't really a goal that he could reach, but more of a process that would go on for the rest of his life.

Because what Shimura's grandson had done wasn't just some "low-crime career", stealing a few candy bars or even robbing old women on the streets at night. Had All Might not arrived in time that day at U.A., Tomura would have been responsible for the death of then-children, in addition to the ones he had taken before and probably many more All Might didn't want to think about. That is why he needed a stable home and someone to turn to.

I promised that I am here for you, that I would always be here for you and I don't go back on my promises.

But how can I reach you?

This all felt like a déjà-vu.