Disclaimer: Boku no Hero Academia characters and plot events belongs to Horikoshi Kohei.

To Be a Hero

drawn together, torn apart

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"...Are we not going to address the elephant in the room?" Kirishima asked with his head lowered. He, along with Todoroki, Midoriya, Iida, and Momo were granted permission to come visit Shiro in the hospital after taking Bakugou to the police station since they were involved and still in the area. The room was deadly quiet saved for the beeping of the machines hooked up to monitor the girl's heart as well as brain activity. Kirishima clenched his fists, "That villain did this to her, you know! He claimed that Shiro-chan is related to Shigaraki! Do you honestly think it's true?!"

"Kirishima-san, keep your voice down," Momo urged with a conflicted look of her own. However, she didn't know what to do with the information, either. "It could be a possibility..."

"Shiro-kun was adopted by Aizawa-sensei when she was young," Iida shook his head in defense of the girl. "Surely any paperwork would've caught that if it were true?"

Midoriya and Todoroki stayed silent while the other three threw out theories. They knew, separately, that what All For One had said may be the undeniable truth since they were the only ones who knew of Shiro's case of a missing blood relative. They just didn't expect it could be Shigaraki Tomura, the leader of the League of Villains. The chances of it happening so was slim, but it wasn't impossible.

"You five," Aizawa's voice cut through from behind them and all five jolted as they faced their homeroom teacher.

"A-Aizawa-sensei!"

"There's a lot I need to say to you five for your actions, but right now..." he narrowed his bloodshot eyes as he walked up towards Shiro's bed. The girl was still unconscious and he didn't want anyone disturbing her while she was in such a delicate state. "Go home to your families."

"But Aizawa-sensei," Kirishima was worried for his friend, too. That's why he had to get this out. "About Shiro-chan—"

"Stop. I know what you're about to say and that's precisely why you must not talk about it to anyone," Aizawa cut the boy off before he sighed and closed his dry eyes briefly. "All five of you, including Bakugou... What you heard must stay between yourselves. No one else can know. The officials have made that decision, and it's the correct one. If the familial ties between Shiro and Shigaraki are true and the media grabs hold of it, Shiro will be forced to leave U.A. Do you understand?"

The idea of having a villain as a brother while already being broadcasted around the country as a well-known student from U.A... The five immediately understood the implications. No one would trust Shiro to be innocent and let her become a hero anymore if she was related to a top villain from an organization that ended All Might's career.

"Anyway, the officials are working to investigate this. Shiro isn't in trouble, but she will be under scrutiny from now on. Don't make her life harder."

The hero sounded strict and unwavering, but they could all hear the silent plea. Aizawa cares about Shiro so much and he isn't willing to let her go through extra pain and grief if it can be avoided. It wasn't the girl's fault to start out with, and Kirishima and the others know what they had to do to keep her safe from the claws of judgment.

"I will support Shiro-chan no matter what!" Kirishima declared. "I'll take this secret to the grave!"

"Aisaka-san is a respected classmate of mine," Momo nodded. "So I am with Kirishima-san."

"It doesn't matter if the information is true or not, Shiro-kun is a good person!" Iida added while also agreeing to keep the information to himself. "That will never change!"

"Y-Yes," Midoriya also piped in. He had plenty of secrets of his own, and Shiro was the only one who knew of All Might's condition before the fight and had also kept it a secret for the hero's sake. "This will stay with us. Right, Todoroki-kun?"

The male with heterochromatic eyes drifted his gaze from the group to the unconscious girl with a melancholic look in his eyes. "Yes," he said softly.

It was still eating away at him, how she and Bakugou were just within his reach but he was too helpless against Dabi to save them. It was because of his slip-up that they were taken, and it was because of him that the girl was subjected to this memory torture and cannot wake up.

Aizawa saw the guilt and responsibility flash across Todoroki's eyes before the group of students bowed to take their leave as to not disturb Shiro any further. Before they left, the hero gave the five, but especially the downcast Todoroki, a consoling message.

"Don't think too much about anything and just get some rest. When Shiro wakes up, I'll notify the class and you're all free to come visit if you wish."

"Yes, sensei! That'll be great!" Kirishima and Iida shouted a little too loudly. Their spirits were back and the rest of the group perked up a little as well.

"Then leave before I change my mind," Aizawa's eyes narrowed once more as he became strict. As the students ran off, his attention drew back on Shiro with a sobering sigh. The brain monitor told him that her brain was active and thinking about something.

He just hoped that something would compel her to wake up...

"Shiragiku, let's run away... A hero will come save us..."

Shiro looked up to her brother with teary eyes. She didn't understand what just happened to her family—her father and her grandparents—or why the living room was in such a devastating and bloody state... But one thing she knew for sure.

Her brother was still here.

"O-Okay," she rubbed her cheeks on the boy's shirt as she held onto him tight. "I'll go where nii-san go."

The boy felt better and was about to reach over to hold her hand when he hesitated. He twisted his itchy and scratched up hands together in a ball instead.

"Hold... Hold on to my shirt, okay?" he told Shiro and grew relieved when she latched on without question. Together, the two siblings walked out of the house they once called home and into the darkness of the night.

[]

"Nii-san..." Shiro gripped onto her stomach as she sniffled. They had been walking all night and into the morning. Now that the sidewalks were more populated with people, it should've been easier for someone to come help them. But they continued to walk alone.

Tenko scratched at his throat. He found that words wouldn't come out easily with how cracked his voice sounded, but he'll try.

"H-Hel—elp..."

The stranger in front of them took one look at them and diverted his eyes. How could he not when it looked like the boy was so worse for wear? The girl next to him was so young and seemed to have been crying, too. He felt bad, but he was busy and didn't have time to babysit two lost children.

It went like that with every stranger that passed by them. They all had one thought in mind.

A hero will come by sooner or later and take care of these poor kids.

"Nii-san..." Shiro tugged at Tenko's shirt and stopped walking. "Hungry..."

They stopped into an alley and Tenko made the girl sit down on an old packaging box. It wouldn't do for them to keep wandering without someone coming to help. They were both tired and hungry... Tenko had to do something about it.

"St-Stay here..." he whispered. "I'll come back... With something to eat..."

But Shiro was scared and wouldn't let her brother go. "N-No..." she whined, but her stomach growled in pain again. Her brother saw and promised to come back as fast as he can, and only then did she nod slowly and let him go.

[]

Tenko stumbled out of the alley again and immediately went to search for anyone or anything that could provide him and his sister with just a little bit of food. He didn't understand why everyone was avoiding him...

Have to get back quick...

With that thought in mind, he tried to stop a kind-looking old woman, "Please... Food f-for... My si—" he stuttered, hoping she would understand. But the woman looked at his state and took a step back apprehensively.

"A-Ah... I have to go to my office now... But I'm sure a hero or police... Or someone will come soon. Okay?"

And just like that, he was left alone again.

Why...?

It was his first taste of reality. Why weren't there any heroes around to help?

If people won't help, then... Ruby eyes trailed to a convenience store at the end of the street. He scratched at his hands fervently as he took agonizing steps towards the place. He didn't have any money, so there was only one option left.

[]

Shiro tensed in fear every time a small noise was made known to her. The alley was dark, smelly, and scary. She wanted her brother to come back; she regretted letting him leave because she was so scared. She suddenly heard quick footsteps coming from around the corner and she shut her eyes tight, the tears lingering in the corner of her eyes dripping as she trembled.

Go away, go away...!

"Shiragiku...!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice her eyes shot open in relief. "Nii-san!" she cried and ran to the boy. However, she grew scared again at how even more haggard Tenko looked... And how there was a fresh red mark on the boy's already bruised cheek. A small bit of blood was even trailing down the side of his lips! "Wh-Who hurt nii-san?!"

But the boy didn't answer as he pulled out a water bottle and a loaf of bread from under his shirt. "I... I got... Food..."

"But..."

Tenko pulled her to sit on the box again before doing the same. He tried to stop the shaking of his hands as he gave the bread to Shiro. "F-Food," he said while trying his best to smile and pretend the new bruise on his face didn't hurt.

Shiro took one look at the bread and then back to her brother. Scooting to sit closer to him, she took the bread and sniffled. Someone must've hit her brother or he fell. Why else was he bleeding? Her brother went through all that pain just to get her food...

Using all the strength she could muster from her small hands, she ripped the bread and gave the bigger piece to Tenko. "For you!" she said, surprising the boy. "Shiragiku don't want nii-san hungry or sad, okay? Because Shiragiku loves nii-san."

The boy's lips quivered at such warmth and he nodded. Out of everyone in his family... And in the world... Only Shiro cared about him, and he cared about Shiro.

Through this, the two's bond was strengthened.

[]

At the end of the day, Shiro and Tenko were both exhausted. Exhausted of walking all day to find shelter... And exhausted of being ignored. So, it was a stroke of luck that they stumbled upon an orphanage. Tenko hadn't seen it at first, but Shiro was the one who spotted a dirty toy at the front steps of the orphanage and grew curious despite being tired.

She tugged her brother towards the door just as it opened and a heavy-set woman stepped out.

"Huh?" she peered at the two tired and dirty children before looking to the street to see if anyone else was around. "You two lost your parents or something?"

Tenko tensed up at the woman's tone and he felt the itch and fear of rejection come back. Was she going to shoo them away? Ignore them like the others? He couldn't muster up his voice, but thankfully, Shiro managed to say something.

"Please..." Shiro whispered in a sniffle. "Nii-san and Shiragiku... Have no home."

"Orphaned siblings...?" the woman sounded skeptical, but seeing before her an innocent little girl desperate for a place to stay, she sighed. She was wary of the boy behind the girl, however, but it was late and looked about to rain, so she allowed both children to come inside. "Don't cause any trouble and you two can stay until this is figured out, I guess. Come on."

It turned out that the two had walked quite a ways away from their home, and because the Shimuras never really associated with anyone outside, no one knew of the children and they were officially labeled as unknown orphans and admitted to the orphanage.

There were quite a few children in the orphanage, but as days turned into weeks, the Shimura siblings found that they were unable to get along with them. Shiro was young and sociable, but no one wanted to associate with her because of her weird and creepy-looking brother. Tenko's skin condition made him want to scratch incessantly and his shaggy appearance and soft-spoken nature only deterred the kids more.

When kids didn't understand or didn't like something, they often resorted to bullying.

"That's my toy!"

Shiro found herself pushed to the ground when she tried to pick up a stuffed bunny that was just laying in the play area. She had made sure that no one was playing with it before deciding to take it, but an older girl had saw her and took it away.

"Go play with your freak of a brother!"

Hearing that, Shiro grew irritated and tried to tug at the toy, "Nii-san is not a freak!" she shouted.

"Let go!" the girl scowled and pushed Shiro again, making her land hard enough to bruise. Tears weld up in Shiro's eyes and Tenko rushed to his sister's side.

"S-Shiragiku!" he stuttered at the girl who was the same age as him. "Why d-did you push my imouto!"

"She's as disgusting as you! Only a freak wouldn't think another freak is a freak! No one wants to play with her because of you, so get lost!"

Shiro's tears grew bigger in frustration because the bully was saying such nasty words to her brother, but Tenko thought it was because she was hurt by the girl's mean words and he grew angry.

The itch within him intensified once more.

It was like that night again.

"Take that back!" he shouted, hands pulsing as he stomped over to the bully. He grabbed onto the stuffed bunny with four fingers as his ruby eyes showed a deranged look. "Give this to Shiragiku, and apologize..."

"N-No way!" the girl was suddenly scared because Tenko looked positively creepy. She tugged at the toy harder. "Let go, you freak! You monster!"

The boy's back was to Shiro, so she didn't see what was going on, but something in Tenko snapped again and he allowed all five fingers to touch the toy. The bully screamed when the toy started to disintegrate before her eyes, but Tenko wasn't finished. He reached out his other hand towards the girl with a wild grin on his face while other children who saw what happened started to throw things at him.

"No!" Shiro's voice cut through the struggle as she ran in front of her brother with tears streaming down her face. "Stop hitting nii-san!"

Tenko halted immediately as Shiragiku ran in front of him, regaining some of his senses and growing afraid of what would happen if he accidentally disintegrated her. The other children stopped throwing things and the bully immediately ran away to tattle.

"Y-You'll regret this! Freak!"

As the play area emptied and only the siblings were left, Shiro cried louder.

"Are you hurt?!" Tenko asked frantically.

"I'm sorry..." she hiccuped. "I'm sorry...!"

"W-Why are you sorry?"

"Nii-san tried to pro-protect Shiragiku, b-but Shiragiku got nii-san in tr-trouble!"

Tenko felt his own tears pool in his eyes and he carefully hugged the crying girl. "I'll always protect you. I-It's okay," he hiccuped as well and nudged his face in the crook of her neck. He itched all over but Shiro was always able to make him calm. "We'll promise to always be there for each other. As long as you're here with me... I will be okay..."

The orphanage became an even harsher place for Tenko from that day forward. The head of the orphanage especially didn't like a child who can destroy things with a touch and so she treated him poorly and often in isolation. But no matter the hardships Tenko faced, he was okay because Shiro promised to always be there.

...Then came the day the orphanage was set on fire.

Ruby eyes slowly shifted open to take in a white tiled ceiling. Things were a little blurry but she turned her head slightly to the side and saw that there were beeping machines with cords that connected with her own body. She could feel a few of them sticking to her forehead.

She was at a hospital.

Ah... My head hurts, she groaned softly before feeling a shift on her other side.

"Shiro... You're..." Aizawa's tired eyes widened at the conscious girl before letting out a breath of relief. "I'm glad you're awake."

"Eraserhead..." Shiro cracked a smile and relaxed. "You look like a hobo again."

"You had me worried for three days straight," he chided, but there wasn't an ounce of real reprimand in his voice. "How are you feeling?"

She wanted to tell him truthfully how she was feeling, but know knowing her past and how it cruelly intersected with her present caused her to falter. Shiro curled her hands into weak fists as her ruby eyes darted to the side.

"It felt like I had a really long and tiring dream... My head hurts," she said instead.

Aizawa could see her hesitance and understood that he shouldn't say anything to make her feel even more uncomfortable. "I'll call over the doctor," he stood up slowly. "I'm here whenever you need me. We'll figure this out together, alright?"

She nodded slowly as the hero gave her a reassuring smile and stepped out to get a doctor. She tried not to think about it, but it keeps plaguing her. The memories that flooded her mind didn't stop. She remembered everything, and she can only feel immense guilt.

Guilt for not knowing what to say to Aizawa...

And guilt for being the reason why Shigaraki couldn't be saved.

"Everything looks normal so far. We'll keep her on the monitor for a few more hours to see if being active changes anything. Otherwise, she is free to go later this afternoon."

"Thank you, doctor."

As the doctor left, Aizawa came back to Shiro's bedside with a relieved look. It was fortunate that All For One's Quirk don't damage her long-term; it may have something to do with the girl having started to regain pieces of her memory prior to it so there was less strain overall.

"I was really out for three days?" Shiro asked softly, clutching her stomach and understanding why she felt so weak. Aizawa had briefed her, upon her insistence, about everything that had happened between her capture and recovery. She was relieved to know that Bakugou was safe as well, and she was hardly surprised that there were five 'irrational and reckless' classmates that had went off on their own to get her and the blonde back home. She was scared for their punishments for risking their lives in such a way, but it made her feel warm inside at knowing how much they cared about her and Bakugou.

"I'll bring back something to eat," the hero told her before remembering something else. "I notified the class that you're awake."

"Thanks..." Shiro mumbled. "It feels like a long time... I can't wait to go home."

"Yeah," Aizawa nodded. "But you won't be home for long. A decision has been made to move the hero course students into dorms soon."

"Dorms?"

"It's going to be called the Heights Alliance, and it's being built as we speak and located on U.A.'s main campus. It has been planned for a while by Principal Nezu, but it was only made necessary after this recent attack. Of course, I'll have to make rounds to talk to the parents for approval. If they wish for their children to continue in U.A., they must allow the move to the dorms for safety measures."

The news wasn't as much shocking for the girl as it was worrying. "So... I won't see you at home anymore?" she asked.

The hero petted her head in reassurance, "As class 1-A's homeroom teacher, I'm obligated to watch over you problem children. We'll both be out of our home for the sake of this arrangement."

Shiro could hear the affection from the hero's voice despite what he was saying. She nudged her head forward in response.

"The place doesn't matter to me... I'm glad that you're coming along, Eraserhead."

"She trusts you the most."

Gran Torino's words echoed in Aizawa's mind and a genuine smile stretched on the hero's face. He knew there was probably going to be some ways to go for Shiro to recover from a trauma like this, but at least he can be there to watch over her.

Their moment was broken when a group of footsteps were heard running down the hall and nearly the entire class piled into the hospital room. Bakugou, under strict recommendation from the police to not leave supervision at home for at least a week, was unable to come. Jiro and Hagakure were still being monitored due to being hit directly with the poisonous gas so they were resting.

"Shiro-chan!"

"Aisaka-san!"

"Shiro-kun!"

Everyone spoke at once and the room filled with noise. Aizawa left the girl's bedside to make room for the students and chose to grab some food he promised so he can give the others some time to catch up. "If they cause a nuisance, kick them out," he advised before slipping out.

There were nervous chuckle from some of the students before their focus returned to Shiro. The looks of relief could be seen on each of her classmates' faces and she felt loved at the same time that she felt bad for making them worry. Most of them didn't know exactly what happened to her, but she glanced at the five who went on their own mission to rescue her and Bakugou and knew from Aizawa that they are now burdened with her secret.

Each time she thought about her relation with Shigaraki made both her head and heart hurt.

What can she do?

What was the right course of action?

For the first time in Shiro's life, she was genuinely at a lost.

"Shiro-san...?" Midoriya spoke tentatively.

Her attention shifted back to her classmates and she mustered up a reassuring expression. She had to make sure her classmates know that she was alright now... And because five of them risked their lives for her, she had to address what was on her mind.

"I'm sorry for making you guys worry," she whispered while clenching the corner of the hospital sheets softly. In a situation where Shigaraki was the opponent and with this new knowledge that she was related to him, she feared for her classmates' lives even more now. "Especially Midoriya-san... Todoroki-san... Kirishima-san... Iida-san... And Yayaorozu-san... You guys risked everything... I'm grateful, but please don't be so reckless again. Please value your lives."

There was an inaudible murmur of agreement from the others as they focused their attention on the reckless five.

"It's what friends should do," Kirishima stepped up, his own fists clenching at the rail of Shiro's bed. "I couldn't do anything back at the camp... You and Bakugou are my friends, yet I couldn't do anything and it was frustrating. I know what we did was technically wrong, but I don't regret it. I urged them to do this... Our classmates may not agree with our actions, but if that's the price of getting you two back safely, then I am willing to take all the blame!"

Midoriya shook his head, unwilling for the redhead to take all of them blame. "It's not just Kirishima-kun. Thinking about how I had been so powerless, it was my fault that I injured myself so bad in the first place... Aizawa-sensei was right. I can't hope to save people when I cause so much trouble to those around me. It was selfish of me, but I wanted to be able to save you guys properly this time. I am as at fault as Kirishima-kun!"

"As the class president, I take full responsibility! Despite knowing the repercussions, I followed them! I am at fault as well!" Iida exclaimed with his head bowed. "I should be sorry for worrying you, Shiro-kun!"

"Yes," Momo nodded with a hand to her chest. "While Iida-san and I followed with the intent to stop and prevent the three from engaging in battle, deep down I cannot deny my own desire to help. More than anything, I also wanted to bring you guys back."

The deep sense of regret that they felt for not being able to save their friends and the determination and responsibility that they was willing to take as a consequence touched the hearts of many. Kirishima and the others only had the best intentions and Shiro could feel all of it.

"You guys..." she felt even more emotions stack on top of her. She was happy, sad, and everything in between. Tears weld up in her ruby eyes, "Thank you..."

After everyone went around to console the emotional girl, they all agreed that it was best to let the topic rest and not be brought up again. It didn't benefit anyone to be swallowed in a spiral of self-blame. Shiro was a strong girl, but to the five who witnessed exactly what happened to her, they knew how truly fragile she was currently.

So with all the bad that was going on in the moment, it was nice that Shiro can just be surrounded by her classmates.

"As this is still a hospital, we should not stay for too long to upset any of the other patients or cause the staff trouble," Iida said after a while, using rigid hand motions to accompany his words to usher everyone out. "We should allow Shiro-kun to rest for the remainder of the time that she is here! A group of us here is too loud!"

"You're the only one being loud, Iida..." Kaminari and the others murmured with no ill intent as the male was right. Still, Iida apologized loudly.

"Ah! Pardon me!"

"Get better soon, okay Shiro-chan?" Mina said without paying attention to the class president.

"Feel free to text us if you need anything," Ojiro offered with a somewhat embarrassed expression. "We're always here for you."

"I'll bake you a cake, if you'd like," Sato chimed in. Aoyama winked besides the burly male.

"How about some cheese?"

Those who opposed and did not go on the rescue mission all felt bad despite knowing it had been the right thing to do, so it was their own way of making it up to the girl.

Shiro smiled at them; her tears long dried. "I will be able to leave later with Eraserhead. Thank you all for visiting."

As her classmates started to file out slowly, only Todoroki was left behind. He had been silent in the back of the pack the entire time and she had almost missed him at first, but she had caught a glimpse of his pensive expression early on and only didn't get a chance to address it because her other classmates were busy talking to her.

The room was quiet as Todoroki made his way towards her and she was unsure of what to say. Out of the five who came to rescue her and Bakugou, she realized that he must've felt the most responsible because of how it went down with Dabi when he was trying to retreive the marbles that contained her and Bakugou.

"Todoroki-san, you've been quiet..."

"You seemed to enjoy the others' company," he explained. "So I waited. I hope it's okay with you that I stayed behind."

She wasn't surprised at the male's courteous behavior and nodded her head slightly, "Of course... Hey, I know I might've suddened a little harsh with you and the other four about risking your lives... I was just worried."

"I know... You have every right to be. I just couldn't help but think... If somehow we couldn't get you and Bakugou back, how it would weigh in all of our hearts. You were the one who told me to choose to be a person from my own heart, and I choose to be someone who can go and save his friends no matter what," he confessed. "I'm willing to risk my life to save people; it's what heroes do, and I'm especially willing to do so for people who I cherish with every fiber of my being."

To hear such sincerity from the stoic and calm male and to hear that he regarded her so dear to his heart made Shiro's heart swell with emotion. Of course, what he said could be applied to the rest of the class, but it was still a heartwarming thing to hear.

"You and the others are truly reckless... But that's what's going to make you all a great hero," she didn't let the chapped-ness of her lips stop her from pulling a smile as she looked up at Todoroki. "But first, can you stop blaming yourself because I got captured and injured?"

"But it's—"

"Stop... Don't forget that I'm trying to be a hero, too. I'll face risks and dangers every day eventually."

That was what it meant to be a hero in a society filled with villains.

Todoroki reached over to take Shiro's hand in his. Remembering his concern about his classmates' hands whenever he was invloved, he rubbed a thumb over her slightly calloused palm for reassurance. "Then," he said without breaking eye contact, "I'll stay by your side and face those risks and dangers with you."

Shiro found her mouth go dry when she looked at the burning emotion in his mismatched eyes. Todoroki always had a straightforward way of talking, and she had no doubt that he means exactly what he said.

But to stay by her side?

Will he really want to do that despite knowing her past?

"Only if you don't get tired of me..." she managed to joke, but her heart filled with warmth with his kindness. Todoroki smiled slightly.

"Never."

Ughhh, I love hand crusher bby's straightforwardness and I'm never gonna let him change. Anyway, this chapter revealed more detail about Shiro and Tenko before the orphanage fire. Hope it was to your liking!

Once again, thank you for all your kind words! Reading reviews makes my day :)