Notes: I don't even know what to say here. Okay, I do. I'm honestly shocked that I'm here. I don't know whether to cry or laugh or scream. I'm absolutely fucking terrified out of my mind that this is going to let everyone down and people will be angry for months. Why yes, my anxiety is kicking my ass. I've had the last scene in my head for a long ass time - for about a year - and it's finally here. I need to thank absolutely all of my readers. Thank you. This story would not be here without you. I honestly thought this story would be maybe twenty chapters or I'd quit writing when no one showed any interest. I didn't think anyone would want this story as much as I did. I didn't think anyone would care.
This story means so fucking much to me. I've been through a lot with it. I have been happy, angry, upset, scared, elated, discouraged, confused, and everything in between. I met my best best friend thanks to this fic. I can't believe some stupid Villain Deku led me to one of the closest friendships I've ever experienced and to someone I love. There are so many people I want to give credit here, but I'm starting to get emotional, so thank you to everyone who read, was patient with my slow ass updates, and reviewed!
Just...thank you. I started writing this for me and I finished this for me - but I would not be here without you.
Also, I decided to use first names for this last chapter because it felt right. I started in surnames with the rest of the fic, but it didn't feel good or right. You gotta go with what feels right. And after everything they've all been through, this was what it was.
Smoke rose into the sky along with the sun the morning after the UA attack. An eerie calm fell over Japan, perhaps even the world, as the devastation came to light. Even the news seemed hesitant to report on it. Although it was impossible to keep such a large scale onslaught a secret, there were too many conflicting statements to give proper coverage. Plus, the shock of what had occurred was too great, the loss too great, the fear insurmountable.
And all the while, people wondered, was it over?
The few statements given for the news to report to the world lacked the depth of what happened, but they were parrotted on every television and radio station for days after. 1) A large group of villains attacked UA High School during afternoon classes. 2) The number of casualties would not be released until the area was cleared, but most either avoided confrontation or suffered various states of injury. 3) The school property sustained extensive collateral damage to multiple buildings. 4) All the villains involved in the attack were captured or killed.
More information was leaked throughout the week, but little of it made sense to anyone not on the scene. Oddly enough, almost everyone agreed that the more notorious villains involved in the attack on Endeavor's Agency did not fight nearly as much at UA. Students that confronted them thought that they were more defensive or, in a few strange cases, some even claimed they helped the heroes or did things to soften the blows of other villains. Two students claimed Dabi attacked Deku while he fought against pro heroes.
Had there been infighting among this new League of Villains? Had it all come to a blow during this attack? The news stations assumed that Deku led the attack, but it didn't appear as if he was leading the League itself. Was there someone else behind it that the public didn't know about? Even with the villains captured, there were too many gaping questions left out in the open, but people were wary to speculate.
Whenever talk of Deku came up, the reporters always faltered. Next to no information had been given about him, but various witness statements raised a lot of questions. No one could agree on where he was or what he'd done. While multiple people cleaned he was the one to break through the security wall, they also said that he did very little after until other pro heroes arrived, choosing to stay in the shadows. Then, apparently, he vanished. Shortly after, smoke was spotted coming from the USJ, where pro hero Ground Zero was found shot and other villains captured.
What threw people off the most were multiple eyewitness reports of seeing Deku in various cities throughout Japan while the attack was still taking place and winding down. They were dismissed by news stations at first, only for things to blow up when a blurry picture of Deku over thirty miles away from UA surfaced on the internet. It was hard to tell at first glance, but anyone familiar with watching Deku fight villains on television would be able to recognize him.
That begged the question that the authorities refused to answer: what the hell was Deku, the symbol of terror for the past month, doing so far away from the attack he'd started?
Eventually, official statements explaining the situation would need to be released, but for the first week, people were left to put the pieces together and, more importantly, recover. While everyone wanted answers, the world also recognized that those involved in this month-long battle needed time. They needed to heal, time to themselves, and a moment to breathe when they'd been holding it for so long.
When the time came, the media would hound them for answers. Everyone knew they wouldn't be able to escape the microscope. However, the truth was that, aside from recuperating, the authorities needed that time in order to find out the answers themselves. They hadn't even known anything about Kyōmu until Todoroki identified him nor did they have a proper understanding of how his quirk worked. Even the people directly involved felt like they were stumbling around in the dark.
Explanations would come eventually, but nothing anyone could say would truly explain what happened in the past month and the long-lasting ramifications it would have.
Toshinori had never been a nailbiter before, but his blunt thumbnail rested between his teeth as he stared at Takumi Yoshida, better known as Kyōmu, through the one-way mirror. The man seemed more bored than concerned as he sat handcuffed to the table in the interrogation room. In prison clothes, he looked more like a villain, but even now, it was hard to see him as one. He didn't look like the type. He didn't look like much of anything if Toshinori was being honest, certainly not a man capable of the destruction he wrought.
"You know you don't have to do this," Naomasa said at his right.
"I do," Toshinori insisted in a strangely calm voice. "This man… He manipulated Izuku to use One for All in a way it was never meant to be used. I allowed that to happen."
Naomasa laid a hand on his arm. "You don't bear that responsibility."
Toshinori clenched his hands tightly into fists at his side. "If I had been there for Izuku more, especially in the beginning, if I had been a better mentor or teacher…"
"That's not on you."
"Isn't it though?" Toshinori relaxed his hands and hung his head. "Kyōmu was able to manipulate him through his memories. I should've stepped in when I realized how painful the rift between him and Bakugou was as kids, but I figured they would work through it on their own. And they did, but it was still negligent of me. I allowed him to hurt himself repeatedly and even praised him for efforts that seriously injured him. It was…" He closed his eyes, images of Izuku's broken body flashing through his mind. "It wasn't right."
Naomasa slowly pulled his hand away. "Maybe you could've done more, but things did work out in the end. I've seen almost every interview with Midoriya. Whenever talk turned to his rivalry with Bakugou, there was nothing but admiration and determination. He didn't hate him. Kyōmu did that to him."
"But there was a seed of pain and anger," Toshinori sighed. "I could've done more."
"A lot of people could have done more," Naomasa agreed. "Maybe two weeks of searching wasn't long enough. We could've sent more people to help them stop that nuclear villain. You all could've done more at UA to curb Bakugou's aggression. His parents could've tried to correct his behavior. Their middle and primary school teachers could have stepped in when they saw the bullying instead of turning a blind eye."
"You're really pointing out a lot of ways society can fail." Toshinori grimaced. "It's not a pretty picture."
"No, it isn't." Naomasa turned to look back at Kyōmu, who was drumming his fingers along the table. "It's obvious more than ever that the current system we have set up is flawed. We've known it for a while, especially after taking down the original League of Villains, but this past month has shined a light on all the glaring issues." He shook his head, a tired look on his face. "I'm not going to condone what he did, but Kyōmu is proof that the system we created to save people routinely fails them as well."
Toshinori returned his attention to Kyōmu. He'd originally taken the villain's disinterested expression and the way he unhelpfully breezed through questions as boredom and contempt, but maybe it was more of a lack of feeling about anything. Cruel and cold as he had been in his manipulation of heroes and villains alike, Kyōmu had once been a caring individual, a man who cared about his patients and loved his family. Interviews with former patients and employees painted a picture of someone good if not a little rigid, especially since he took in a lot of people that society turned away.
There was none of that in him now. No light in his eyes, no concern on his face, no tension in his body. It was all gone. Whatever anger and pain that had fueled him to cause such massive amounts of destruction had been drained from him now that it was over. His loss would never be a good reason for the torment and suffering he caused, for the losses his rage brought on, but heroes had still had a hand in his own loss.
It was no wonder he'd turned heroes into villains when that was what they already looked like to him.
Toshinori took a deep breath. "I'm ready."
Despite the reluctant look on his face, Naomasa nodded and walked out of the room. Toshinori followed him and stepped through the open door into the adjacent room where Kyōmu was being held.
As soon as Kyōmu's eyes landed on him, he sat upright and raised an eyebrow. "Well, if it isn't the man himself. I was wondering if you'd make an appearance."
Resisting the urge to snap back, Toshinori sat down across from him with Naomasa at his side. It was as much for strength as it was to legitimize the conversation. After all, despite holding the title of Number One Hero for so long and being one of the most iconic pro heroes, he wasn't an officer of the law. It was because of those old titles that he was even allowed to have a conversation with Kyōmu, who had been kept in solitary confinement since his capture when he wasn't being questioned.
"Do you know why I'm here?" Toshinori asked.
Kyōmu shrugged, the handcuffs around his wrists rattling. "I can take a few guesses. Midoriya was more than just your former student or even protege. He was your successor." A cold smile flickered onto his face. It didn't come anywhere close to meeting his eyes. "It must've killed you to see what he'd become."
Toshinori refused to flinch and take the bate. "How much do you know?"
"About One for All?" Kyōmu sighed and sank in his seat. "Enough to know that it is absolutely terrifying. In the wrong hands, it could devastate an entire country." He paused, tilting his head. "I suppose we know that now, don't we? Midoriya could've done more. I considered pushing him to do more, but it wasn't worth the risk."
"The risk?"
"Midoriya's incredible mental strength and emotional capacity weren't the only reasons it took me so long to...mold him into the perfect antagonist," Kyōmu pointed out. "There was something different about his quirk. I noticed it right away – a resistance that I'd never felt before. I could feel it pushing me away, like it was actively fighting against me. The more I dug, the more taxing it became on both of us."
Toshinori dug his fingers into his thighs underneath the table. "Taxing. It was torture. Don't try to sugarcoat it."
"It's hard to call something torture when it caused me pain as well," Kyōmu said. He didn't sound the slightest ashamed. All Toshinori could sense was complete apathy. "One for All is so unique compared to other quirks. It's like it was living inside of Midoriya's body and mind. I had to push harder, longer, deeper with each session. I struggled to access any memories about it at first, totally blocked off. I thought it was him, but when I realized it was his actual quirk…"
There had always been a fear of One for All falling into the wrong hands, hence why it was a secret for so long, but this was somehow worse. It had been in the best hands with Izuku, and Kyōmu had twisted that, turning him into a horrible version of himself that All for One would've approved of. He hadn't even been evil, dark, or villainous for all his actions. That was the worst part. Even with the atrocities he committed, Izuku was still good at heart. He'd wanted to rid the world of villains, change hero society for the better, and rid the world of darkness.
If he had to get blood on those good hands to do it, then so be it.
"You picked an excellent successor," Kyōmu told him. "Midoriya is as good as they come. It took months to get him to come around even remotely. The quirk and those behind it protected him as best as they could, but in the end, it was him fighting every day. I've never known anyone stronger, especially after all those years of torment and the hardships he overcame to get where he was. I was impressed – and rather proud."
"Don't," Toshinori snapped, a hard glint flashing in his sunken blue eyes. "Don't pretend you cared about him. You used him – you used all of them. They were nothing but tools to you."
"True, but one can become fond of the things that help them the most," Kyōmu countered. "Plus, he had such a warm, kind spirit about him. I can't say the others trusted him, what with his mental instability due to my quirk, but they did gravitate towards him, looked to him, even respected him. He had a way of bringing even the most unruly people in. It's why he worked so well. I didn't even need to lift a finger to bring all those other criminals on board for the last attack. The public saw him, and everyone listened."
Just like All for One and his army – but Izuku had managed to gain a following without even trying in less than a month. He hadn't catered to people's greedy desires or deceived them. He'd simply been himself – or at least the version of himself that Kyōmu helped create. It was unsettling. People had been following Izuku since Toshinori had met him. He was the first one, after all, pulled into Izuku's orbit by his fierce determination and incredible heart. The followed becoming the follower. It was so easy to believe in him and want him to succeed.
Kyōmu rested his hands on the table and leaned forward, a keener look in his eyes. "Besides, wasn't he a tool to you as well? You needed a successor. Sure, Midoriya wasn't a stand-out in the beginning – weak, emotional, small, quirkless – but he admired you more than anything in the world. He would've done absolutely anything you said or asked of him. How many times did he break himself – almost kill himself – just to appease you?"
His words struck like a cold knife to Toshinori's heart, and he faltered. "I...I didn't…"
"And your first line of questioning when you entered the room gave your priorities away," Kyōmu continued almost ruthlessly. "You didn't ask about Midoriya – how we treated him, how to possibly help him, how to save him. You asked about One for All – the quirk, not the boy. That's what you care about. He's just the current vessel of a quirk that hero society can continue to exploit."
"That's not it!" Toshinori burst, jumping to his feet. "Izuku means the world to me!"
"Oh, come now, face the truth," Kyōmu said with a sneer. "You were more afraid of what kind of atrocities he could cause with One for All – the damage to the quirk's reputation, the corruption – and if we might force him to give it to someone else. Where was your concern for the boy?"
Toshinori nearly transformed into his old All Might form out of anger, but then Naomasa held up a hand between them and said, "Enough. No one but him is questioning your concern for Midoriya. He's baiting you."
Kyōmu leaned back, his apathy having returned. "Heroes are always so uptight about how they're perceived. It's too easy. I would have loved to get my hands on Endeavor. Now that would've been a mind to play with. What a hero. Alas, it was easier to have him killed."
Forcing himself to return to his seat, Toshinori angrily muttered, "What you did to that boy…"
"Now you remember Endeavor's golden progeny?" Kyōmu snorted. "I feel worse for Dabi, to be honest. You should've seen his mind – dark, cold, hated, burned to nothing. Endeavor might as well have killed him. And to not be recognized until the very end…" He tsked and shook his head yet there was no genuine sadness to his actions. It was a mockery, but it still made Toshinori's heart drop into the pit of his stomach. "I suppose they won't mention child neglect and abuse under his list of accomplishments at Endeavor's memorial."
"You abused them as well," Toshinori said, "all of them."
"Please," Kyōmu scoffed. "Both Shouto and Dabi spent years wishing their father was dead." He lifted his hands as much as the chain would allow him. "I simply gave them the courage to act on their shared dream."
"Courage," Toshinori murmured, barely louder than a breath. No one reeling from Kyōmu's quirk seemed brave. If anything, they were all drained. Todoroki was racked with guilt, Dabi hollow, and Izuku… It was painful to think of him despite Toshinori's many visits. He was devastated beyond belief, maybe even broken. To see the strongest person he'd ever met like that hurt. "You backed them into a corner. You made them all desperate, reliant, angry. And you call that giving them courage?"
Kyōmu simply shrugged the accusations off. "Semantics."
Toshinori stared at him, unable to comprehend his actions. All for One, he could understand. That man had been evil, and evil was easy to make sense of in a strange way. Kyōmu had done evil things, but there was a disconnect. It made him think of Midoriya's behavior when he'd been under the quirk. There was always something off about him, maybe in part due to Kyōmu's own feelings and thoughts. It was hard to say. His quirk was difficult to make sense of, and he refused to talk about it.
"I don't understand how you could've done any of this," Toshinori said. "You were a good man."
"Good is a relative term, and you know it," Kyōmu responded. "Endeavor was a great hero, but he was a terrible father. What did that make him? Good? Bad? Maybe all the good I did in the past outweighs the bad I did now."
"You can't measure such things," Toshinori insisted.
"Ah, but you just did," Kyōmu countered. "You said I was a good man, implying that I'm bad now." He stared back, unphased and unblinking. "Was the hero that killed my family a good man too? They were relegated to a line about civilian casualties in the news about the incident, a paragraph in the obituaries. My wife, my daughter, my son, countless others – none of them were talked about, just the hero that took down that big bad villain at an extreme cost but saved the day. How glorious, how good of him."
Even though Toshinori knew about the loss of Kyōmu's family, having it thrown in his face still stung. There hadn't been a lot of details, their deaths mostly swept under the rug so that the hero involved didn't look bad. The Hero Commission couldn't have that. Naomasa had been forced to pull strings just to get a hold of the autopsy reports. They hadn't been pretty. Toshinori had thrown up at the pictures, even if he'd seen much worse. Those children, so small, so full of life, so fragile… It was enough to drive any man mad.
"I dug my son out of the rubble that used to be our home – clawed my way to him until my hands were bleeding and nails had been ripped off – but he was already dead. My wife, first responders found her clinging to life, but she died en route to the hospital. I wasn't even with her. Then there was my youngest, my daughter…" Pain flickered across Kyōmu's face, but he turned away, forcing his expression to go blank again. "They didn't find her for six days. You can imagine the state of her body, but I had to identify her. She was… She wasn't my girl anymore."
Despite all that rage that was directed at him, Toshinori still felt an apology hanging on the tip of his tongue. No one should've gone through what he had. He'd lost his entire life in the blink of an eye. Insurance had shelled out for his practice, home, and family – and the Hero Commission even more so – but money had mattered very little to him. No, what he'd wanted was something more personal. He'd wanted to destroy the people that destroyed his life.
"That doesn't excuse you for putting people through the same thing," Toshinori told him.
"I wasn't looking for an excuse," Kyōmu replied. "I wanted a change. The hero system is deeply flawed. I saw that every day in the reformed villains and criminals I worked with. It had to be rattled, changed, fixed. People needed to see that our blind self-reliance on heroes only hurt others." He dropped his head, a humorless smile appearing on his face. "What I needed was a true hero – and I found that in Midoriya."
Disgust boiled in Toshinori's gut, but he kept it down. He'd already flown off the handle once, but he couldn't allow himself to be provoked again.
And so, Toshinori took a deep breath and said, "You're right. The hero system is flawed. I've known it for a while. I thought being the Symbol of Peace, the Number One Hero, would protect those weaker than me, but instead, it bred a lot of ugliness and pain that I ignored for too long." It hurt to accept that – to know that his light had brought about darkness – but looking away would only make things worse. "But Izuku was trying to fix that already. He saw the issues right away and wanted to make them better, work on them, change them. It was his dream."
"I know," Kyōmu admitted quietly. "I saw it in his mind – a vision not terribly unlike my own – Todoroki's as well. It's remarkable how kind he turned out in spite of his childhood."
"Then why–?"
"Because it wasn't enough," Kyōmu cut in. "It would never be enough. It had to be something more drastic – and, to be honest, I wanted to make people hurt like I did. I wasn't trying to be honorable. I've no excuse. Maybe, at the end of the day, I only wanted to cause destruction and pain. After all, I didn't intend to live to see the outcome."
"But you are alive," Toshinori stressed. "Izuku spared you."
"I was shocked at the time, but…" Kyōmu shook his head. "I should've expected it. I messed with his mind, confused him and made him something he wasn't. He could've become this way on his own had he taken a different path. That untapped anger was surprising. I thought it might've faded after All for One's end, but it was still there. However, ultimately, I couldn't change his heart."
"He… He's good," Toshinori said.
Kyōmu nodded. "Yes, I suppose you're right. And you were right to give him One for All."
Toshinori leaned forward, intent and brimming with energy. "Then help me help him. You used him for your own benefit, but don't ruin his life completely. I can accept guilt in this – I understand where I failed – but he was innocent." A thoughtful expression crossed Kyōmu's face as he considered Toshinori's words. "Talk to us about your quirk. We need to understand its role in his actions."
"You want to get him off the hook," Kyōmu stated flatly. "Or the Hero Commission does so they can continue using him somehow. This must be a PR nightmare for them. That was intentional, so I can't say I'm sorry."
"I'm sure they do," Toshinori replied, "but Izuku wouldn't allow it if they tried. He's determined to face what he did and take the punishment."
Kyōmu rolled his eyes. "So self-sacrificing and righteous."
"Well, you said it yourself. The hero system is flawed. He doesn't want to be a part of that flaw and escape with a slap on the wrist simply because of who he is. You should know that about him."
For a moment, Kyōmu didn't respond. He drummed his fingers on the table again. It was next to impossible to read him, so all Toshinori and Naomasa could do was wait. If he turned them away, Naomasa might be forced to resort to more extreme methods, which he didn't like. The Hero Commission and higher-ups on the police force were putting a lot of pressure on this case. They needed answers, which meant they needed Kyōmu to cooperate. The other villains could only give so much when they'd apparently been kept in the dark as well.
Just when Toshinori thought they would have to leave empty-handed, Kyōmu spoke up. "It's a start – he's a start – so I suppose I can extend a hand."
Toshinori glanced hopefully at Naomasa and sank in his seat, relief swirling inside of him. It was going to be a long night, but they were finally getting somewhere at least.
I will save you one last time. I promise.
Prison was...uncomfortable, but at least he wasn't alone. Shouto didn't know whether to be grateful or not that he hadn't been carted off to Tartarus. Some days, he thought he belonged there, and it was all his therapist could do to convince him he didn't. Other days, he'd sit on his cot in his solitary cell with the door open listening to Touya tell stories about their childhood that he'd never heard before and think he was damn lucky.
The last time Shouto had said something along those lines, Touya smacked him upside the head and snapped, "Don't be stupid. You shouldn't even be here."
Having his big brother back was a...unique situation and experience.
By all accounts, they should've been separated again. Shouto honestly wasn't sure why they hadn't, but he didn't question it. In just one attack, he'd become almost more infamous as a villain than Dabi. As far as they knew, Touya hadn't actually killed anyone after he was broken out of prison, and he'd already served a few years in Tartarus. That meant very little, of course, but it was still something.
The memories Kyōmu had twisted and planted in their minds had slowly faded over time. Shouto could barely picture them now, and Touya claimed to have no remaining memory of them at all. He wasn't sure his brother was telling the truth, but it felt pointless to argue about.
The harsh fact remained the same: contrary to what Kyōmu had made them believe, they hadn't been anywhere near close when they were kids. Touya hadn't been a kind but distant brother. They hadn't bonded well over their father's hard training. Shouto had never looked up to him. They'd barely known each other, two ghosts in a house that could not contain them.
He clung to the memories of Touya that stayed and remained unchanged. Just because they hadn't been close didn't mean they'd been entirely unknown to each other. Touya had taught him breathing techniques to help calm him down after a training session left him in tears, bandaged some of his wounds on his ice side, pat him on the head when he walked by. He didn't have many since he was young when Touya's accident happened and he vanished from their lives, but some were his, and he'd be damned if he forgot them.
There was nothing more important than family, both blood and the non-related kind.
Izuku was also being held here during his trial, but he'd been placed in a different part of the prison so they couldn't cross paths. Honestly, Shouto thought it was because the authorities didn't know what to do with him. He found out only thanks to Ochako that Izuku was in solitary confinement for the first month. He'd only been let out once given quirk inhibitor braces, but he was still kept on lockdown for the most part. They didn't want him mixing with the general population.
It made sense. It wasn't like Shouto was a welcomed sight here either. He might have a record now following the attack on his father's agency and his murder, but he was still a hero in many villain's eyes. How many convicts had tried to start fights with him or even kill him? It had been three months, but it wasn't likely to end any time soon despite the fact that none of them were successful. Even with the quirk inhibitor braces on, Todoroki was more of a threat than most of these villains. He tried not to cause any serious damage, but try telling Touya that.
"I spend all those years distancing myself from our dad and getting my name known as a villain, but now all anyone can see is Endeavor's son and a traitor," Touya complained as he tugged on his quirk inhibitor braces. Most convicts didn't have to wear them constantly, but they were special cases. They only bothered Shouto when he was about to get stabbed, but they grated on Touya's skin and sometimes reopened his healing wounds in his sleep. "It's shit."
"You didn't have that good of a name to begin with," Shouto pointed out.
Touya eyed him sideways. "You're such a little shit."
Shouto rolled his eyes but said nothing, continuing their walk to the visitation rooms. He'd built a relationship with Natsuo back in high school, but doing it again with Touya was very different. There was a lot of bad blood between them, considering the original League of Villains had been a menace and personal torment during his time at UA, but there was also a strange understanding. No one else had gone through what they had. In truth, the more Shouto got to know him, the more he realized how similar they were – how they could've very easily been close had their father allowed it.
(Months later, it was also getting easier to think about his father without guilt crushing him. It would always hurt, but today, it wasn't so bad.)
As soon as they reached the door to the visitation room, Touya stopped so abruptly that the guards following them nearly crashed into him. He didn't notice, staring at the door like his death awaited him on the other side. "Maybe I should go back to my cell."
"No, we have this fight every time, and I'm tired of it." Shouto grabbed his brother's arm and dragged him through the door. Whether he liked it or not, an important part of their therapy and rehabilitation was reconnecting with their family, Touya especially. The first few times had been excruciating. All they'd done was cry, and it turned out that it was literally painful for him to cry due to his excessive scarring. Fuyumi had damn near had a panic attack when blood leaked out. They didn't cry as much anymore, not in front of each other at least.
Having a room to themselves or even in an open area with others would've been nice, but they were forced to sit in a small area meant for one person with thick, bulletproof glass in between them. Shouto and Touya managed to cram themselves into the small space. There was more room on the other side where their family sat, although not much. It didn't matter. Just seeing them tugged at Shouto's heart.
"Hey, Mom, Fuyumi, Natsuo," Shouto greeted. Touya nodded awkwardly.
Their mother smiled. "Hi."
Touya cleared his throat. "Well, this has been great. You all have fun talking." Before he could fully stand up, Shouto grabbed his sleeve and jerked him back down in his seat. "I was joking ."
"You look good," their mother said. "Have you been eating properly?"
"Yes, yes," Touya sighed, like answering was the most tiresome thing in the world. "Not to worry. They're allowing me to eat more to make up for my quirk so I don't wither away. The food is better here than Tartarus at least."
"It has nothing on Fuyumi's cooking," Shouto added.
Fuyumi tried to smile, but it wavered. "I wanted to bring you all something home-cooked, but it's not allowed."
"Probably afraid you'll smuggle in a knife inside the onigiri," Touya quipped. That was another thing about his brother than Shouto hadn't remembered: his very dark, dry sense of humor. There was definitely a lot of that now that they were in prison together, but honestly, he kind of liked it.
Plus, it was needed right now. Unlike the other times, an uncomfortable air hung in between them as they all avoided a topic. No one wanted to be the one to bring it up, but it would have to happen sooner or later. Preferring to get it over with as fast as possible, Shouto decided to break the ice.
"How was it?" was all he asked, but everyone knew what he was talking about. Touya stiffened beside him while his mother and other siblings all dropped their gazes. None of them wanted to talk about the memorial service for Endeavor, but it had to be done.
"Awkward," Natsuo finally answered. "No one really knew what to say to us. It wasn't like we were known well. Out of all of us, Fuyumi was the closest to him, so she did the speeches, but…" He rolled his eyes. "It sucked. It felt like a total sham. I hated it."
"Natsuo!" Fuyumi exclaimed.
"What? I did!" Natsuo shot back. "Yeah, okay, he was a better person now, but a few years doesn't make up for two decades worth of shit. He knew that too. It was why he never pushed for us to be a family with him. I'll give him that much at least." He folded his arms across his chest and sank back in his seat. "Strangers kept coming up to me to give their condolences, all with such warm and good memories of him. I feel like they knew him more than I did. A lot of fans certainly cried over him more than me."
Fuyumi bit her lip and bowed her head again. "People didn't really know whether to be angry or upset even with us, especially with Mom, like it was her fault that you…"
That Shouto had killed his own father and Touya had become a villain. After being kept hidden for so long, word of her years-long institutionalization had gotten out. While no one who wanted to keep their job would outright point the finger at her, there were no doubt questions about whether that same mental instability had been passed onto her children after they'd both seemingly snapped.
"Fucking bullshit," Touya grumbled. "I made my choice to become a villain, and Shouto was mindfucked. It had nothing to do with you."
That...wasn't entirely the truth, and they both knew it. Kyōmu had most certainly messed with memories of their mother for both of them. Shouto didn't like to think about it. Those hurt more than anything. However, it was easier to spare their family that detail.
"It's okay," their mother said calmly. "I had a hand in it as well."
Natsuo shook his head. "The truth is coming out now, but it's still weird. Listening to people give speeches about him like he was an incredible man – and, yeah, I guess he was – listing all of his accomplishments, his victories, his impact on the world… We were like a footnote in his life." He made a face. "Just sitting there as everyone ignored so much shit. He spent most of his life being an asshole, but now he's a symbol of heroism and–"
"It was...uncomfortable," Fuyumi admitted.
"I almost punched that one dude for saying Endeavor was there for his sons in the end," Natsuo griped
Shouto flinched. In a way, that person wasn't wrong. Their father had been there for them in the end. He'd saved Touya from getting shot, taking the bullet meant for him, accepted his role in hurting them, begged Touya to get Shouto out of there and save him. He had been...kind in the end, protective, reassuring, the way a father should be.
It wasn't nearly enough to snap Shouto out of Kyōmu's hold, but it had been close. To those watching, Shouto's attack had been cold and precise, but he'd known that he had to do it quickly or he'd lose his nerve. He could feel his mind splitting, fighting against him. That must've been what happened with Midoriya too every time he hesitated or procrastinated on hurting Bakugou. Shouto almost caved, but the second his hand started to tremble, he'd stabbed the ice through his father's chest.
"It was shitty," Natsuo finished sourly. "Just because he got better and was dead didn't make up for shit. I feel like everyone expected us to be devastated over him, but I cared more about you all, and no one mentioned you once."
"Well, we did attack his hero agency and kill him," Touya pointed out. "Might've been in poor taste."
Natsuo snorted. "Maybe if he'd been a better father, he wouldn't be dead."
Fuyumi gasped and smacked him on the arm. "That's enough!"
"It's the truth!" Natsuo retorted. "Dad knew that too, I bet. He never harped on us to forgive him, never expected it from anyone. He failed miserably. He was honest about that at least." He huffed and frowned. "Besides, he never got upset when I was open about how I felt about him. In fact, he encouraged it. I doubt he's going to care now that he's dead. He'd probably prefer it than all that simpering and empty praising at his funeral. He hated that fluffy shit."
Honestly, Natsuo wasn't wrong either. Their father had wanted to become the Number One Hero, but he'd never basked in the limelight like a lot of his fellow Top Ten heroes. All he wanted to do was be the best – and he got to the top by working as hard as possible and grinding to the bone day in and day out. All the flowery words and pandering had meant very little to him. If he'd cared about what the public thought about, he would've worked on his image, but it had never been a concern of us. He wanted to do his job and create a successor. That was it.
"Well, now that you know how it's been for us," their mother said carefully, "let's focus on you."
"Nothing really to talk about," Touya said. "How about we talk about your jobs? That sounds way more fun."
Shouto agreed there, but the look on their mother's face said that they would later.
"How are things?" their mother asked plainly.
"Well, it's been approximately ten days since anyone has tried to shank Shouto, so I'd say we're doing okay," Touya answered frankly. When both their mother and Fuyumi brought a hand to their mouths, Shouto shot him a glare. His oldest brother shrugged unhelpfully. "What? We just had a conversation about how we should be honest, and Mom asked how things were going. I think being over a week free from attempted murder is great."
"I see you're still great at making friends," Fuyumi said dryly when she lowered her hand.
"You should stop getting into fights," Shouto told him.
Their mother frowned. "Touya."
"It's not my fault my baby brother was a hero," Touya replied, folding his arms across his chest. "He's got a target on his back. I've gotta play big brother somehow."
"Yes, but then I have to stop them," Shouto complained.
"In my defense, I never start them."
Strangely enough, the frown on their mother's face slowly transformed into a smile. When Shouto noticed it, he turned to look at her quizzically, and she shook her head. "Sorry," she said, "I'm just… It's really nice seeing you two act like brothers. I wanted that for so long. I didn't think I'd ever see it."
Turned out all they needed was to be imprisoned together. Go figure.
"Ochako and Shinsou visited a few days ago," Shouto added.
"You're got great friends," his mother said, that soft smile still on her face.
He truly did. It was good to be with his brother despite their very antagonistic and complicated relationship, but it was also great to see his friends. Ochako tried to come at least once a week, bringing her fierce optimism with her. She truly was a force to be reckoned with. Her rank had shot up and people were hounding her for interviews, but she'd rebuffed them all.
"I don't want to talk with them," she'd told him. "I just want to be with everyone I love."
It was thanks to her that he'd managed to snap out of Kyōmu's quirk. Without her, Shouto couldn't imagine what kind of havoc he would've wreaked in the wake of his father's death at his hands. He'd felt like everything had fallen away from him and he was falling into nothing. He would've likely spiraled and caused even more destruction had she not saved him. And she continued to do so with each visit, determined to bring him home.
"You're a hero. You always will be. It's in your heart."
He wanted to believe that – he truly did – but it was nice hearing it from Ochako. He could believe her at least.
"Have you…?" Fuyumi bit her lip. "Have you heard anything from your lawyers?"
Shouto shook his head. "Nothing on my end. Everyone seems to be at a loss, especially after hearing about the details of the quirk. My lawyer is pushing for me to be released to a mental hospital until I'm declared fit. The Hero Commission is… Well, my license has obviously been revoked, but they haven't let go entirely either."
Of course they wouldn't. He'd proven to be of use during the UA attack. Maybe they could still use him somehow.
They all fell silent. It was an uncomfortable situation. On one hand, he knew that he'd been kidnapped, mentally tortured, and manipulated into committing atrocities. On the other hand, he had done them. He'd wanted to do them. It had felt like the right thing to do – like he was truly going to make a difference. He hadn't just felt rage and pain where his father was concerned; both he and Midoriya genuinely believed removing Endeavor would better hero society and the public as a whole.
Maybe… Maybe it had, just not in the way they'd thought. Shouto's stomach turned at the thought. Months later, people were getting loud about their thoughts on how heroes operated and their role in society, how quirks were discriminated against and caused issues throughout life. He could remember talking about such things with Midoriya before all of this, back when they were true heroes and friends.
No more heroes abusing their power or getting away with things, no more stepping on others to get to the top. Actually taking a look at what turned people to crime and villainy instead of immediately condemning them. Understanding how quirks affected people mentally and socially, not just physically, and how strength did not always equal greatness. Quirks weren't heroic or villainous or nowhere in between. After all, Deku's quirk had once been known for heroism, but now people feared it.
Touya cleared his throat. "Well, my lawyer is absolutely ecstatic – and furious that I didn't tell her the first time around that I was Endeavor's son. She's really hamming it up and playing the part." He scrunched up his nose in disgust. "She thinks she can get my sentence lightened considerably. Not only was I also brainwashed – not that I needed much of a push admittedly – but I was abused and neglected for years by my father and forced to live with a quirk that eats away at me without the help of support gear. It's like a lawyer's wet dream."
"Well, I mean, you were…" Fuyumi mumbled.
"Yeah, it's really fucking great playing the role of victim when I spent years trying to be stronger and get over that shit," Touya grumbled irritably. "I hate pity. It just makes me feel...weak."
It was understandable. After all, his lawyer was doing the same thing. Killing the Number One Hero in cold blood was one thing; snapping and taking out an abuser was another. Being talked about as if he was the victim instead of the perpetrator didn't sit right with him, but their lawyers were only doing their job, and it wasn't like either of them wanted to be in prison for the rest of their lives.
"Besides, I wasn't a victim," Touya continued. "Shouto has a better shot at using that line of defense. If he's smart, he'll come after me."
Shouto startled. "What?"
"The only reason you're locked up is because of me," Touya said harshly. "I kidnapped you. I knew damn well what that bastard was going to put you through, and I brought you in anyways."
"You thought Izuku was going to kill me," Shouto pointed out. "It was the only way to save me."
"Was it?" Touya scoffed and sank in his chair. "Midoriya couldn't even kill Bakugou, and he wanted to do it. He would've balked at killing you in the end."
"You don't know that."
"Maybe not, but he loved you. He was so… He was so relieved when you were with us. He didn't want to hurt you." Touya sighed and rubbed his face. The scars still stood out, but now that he was getting proper medical treatment again and wasn't forcing his quirk, he was looking better, healthier. He'd never be fully healed, but he didn't look in as much pain anymore, just...tired. "I don't think Kyōmu wanted you dead either. It would've made things easier without you in the way, but he would've lost a piece. Why put fake memories of us–?"
He snapped his mouth shut, but it was too late. The hurt expressions on their mother's face confirmed it. Touya swore under his breath and leaned forward to hide his face in his hands. Shouto squirmed uncomfortably. It was painful to admit that light and goodness had been used to turn them to the dark. They'd been hurt with false kindness and warmth just as much as the true pain of their past.
"There's a lot you haven't told us, isn't there?" their mother asked.
Shouto and Touya peered at each other and then nodded, Shouto admitting, "We thought it might be easier on you all if you didn't know all the details."
"I missed so much of your lives," their mother said. "I'm not missing anything again, the good or bad. I'm your mother. It's my duty and responsibility to bear the pain with you."
"Yeah," Natsuo added. "You're not alone anymore."
"We're in this together," Fuyumi said. "We're a family."
Funny, that was what Uraraka had told him. He wasn't alone and never would be again. He had so many people backing him up and willing to help him. All he had to do was accept the hands extended out to him. It was harder than people realized. He hadn't liked or wanted help when he was younger. It had taken him years to reach out and now months to believe he deserved it after what he'd done.
He had been so afraid that his family would despise and fear him. It still stunned him that they would accept him with open arms. Now he just had to do the same for them. One day at a time. He would get better. He would be better. Maybe he couldn't be a hero again, but he didn't have to let that define him. He'd find a way, a path of his own, no matter how long it took.
It was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly, a light chilly breeze flowing in the air, falling leaves brushing against the ground. Ochako took a deep breath and closed her eyes. This was it. This was the day. She opened her eyes and looked to the grey prison building in front of her. After months of hitting a wall and being blocked in every direction, she was finally being allowed to see Deku. She'd been shut down, ignored, dismissed, belittled, and everything in between, but she was here, and absolutely no one could get in her way.
This was Deku, her Deku, and she needed to see him. Hearing his voice on the few calls they'd been allowed wasn't enough. She wouldn't be able to get close enough to touch or hug him, but this would have to do for now.
She had understood that Deku needed time for Kyōmu's quirk to fade before it was safe for them to see each other. He'd been under the quirk for a lot longer than Shouto, which meant that it was buried deeper in him. The doctors feared he'd suffer a relapse if he saw them too soon. The few scraps of information that she'd been given from Naomasa, his mother, and one understanding doctor warned her that the recovery would be long, and she knew from Shouto's experience that time was the most important factor.
Ochako knew that she had to be patient, but it was still painful. All Might had just been allowed to see him recently, and he'd called her immediately after to tell her how well he was doing. She couldn't survive off of scraps anymore. She wanted to see him herself. She needed it for her own recovery as well.
"What's with the face?" Katsuki asked as he strode up beside her. "I can't tell whether you're going to deck someone, burst into tears, or smile in relief." He furrowed his brow. "Kinda reminds me of Deku."
Ochako sputtered into laughter, the tension snapping. "Don't be so mean."
When Deku had tentatively asked if Katsuki would come to visit as well, she hadn't been all that surprised. He was incredibly important to Deku and an intimate part of his life and always would be, especially after what they'd gone through together. The hard part had been convincing Katsuki to come. He wanted to – she had no doubt of that – and she knew he wanted to see Deku as well, but it was still strange.
After all, the last time Katsuki saw Deku was when he'd been shot and Deku was still trying to kill him.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Katsuki asked, suddenly serious. "Me visiting Deku, I mean. I know everyone said he's doing well, but…" He took a deep breath, his eyes still on the building. "He wouldn't be here if not for me."
"There's a chance he wouldn't have become a hero at all without you either," Ochako told him gently, laying a hand on his arm. He glanced at her hand and then her face. "He wants to see you."
"Guess I should take that over wanting to kill me," Katsuki said.
Ochako sighed. "You can always say no. You don't have to come in. This isn't easy."
"And hurt his feelings?" Katsuki scoffed. "Haven't I done that enough?"
"I think he'd understand," Ochako said honestly. Deku had always been understanding if nothing else, even with those he fought against. It was what made him a great hero – and what had probably pulled so many villains to his side despite who he'd been before. She pulled her hand away and rubbed her arm. "You can't run away from him forever, just as he can't avoid what he did. I don't think either of you will feel right until you do see each other and make sure you're okay."
Katsuki made a displeased face. "That's cheesy."
"It's true." Ochako took a few steps forward and then spun around on her heels, holding out a hand to him. "Now, are you coming or what?"
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Katsuki muttered, "I ain't no wimp," and started walking.
Ochako smiled and dropped her hand. "And what about you?"
Hanging behind them, Kota fiddled nervously with his hat. Deku asking about Katsuki wasn't a surprise, but she had been caught off guard by his tentative request to see Kota. Mandalay's permission, of course, was a requirement first and foremost, and she was wary to allow her nephew to come. Ochako had been ready to turn down the request herself, but then Kota burst into the room and begged them to let him go. The shining look in his eyes broke her heart. She couldn't say no.
Nodding mutely, Kota put his hat back on so he could hide his face and trudged towards her. When he reached her side, she turned back around so they could all walk into the building together.
Once inside, they had to sign in, confirm their identities, and empty their pockets. While a few guards questioned Kota's presence, she could tell they were also curious about her and Katsuki as well. After all, they'd been all over the news recently. What with her kidnapping, escape, and the fallout from so many public fights, the media couldn't get enough of them. She'd even had to change her number.
People had gleaned bits and pieces of the truth from various sources, so they knew on some level that Deku had tried to kill Katsuki because of her – for her – but they didn't know everything. She could've set them straight with one long interview or statement, but the authorities didn't want anyone talking just yet, so she'd been cautioned to stay silent for as long as possible. The Hero Commission would schedule an interview or press release when the time was right. It was kind of bullshit, but she didn't feel like talking anyway.
Eventually, the public would deserve to know exactly what happened – she didn't want to hide things in the dark or sweep them under the rug any longer – but for now, this was theirs to deal with and work through. She wanted to keep that privacy for a little bit more before she had to give herself away again.
Instead of the normal visiting room where she saw Shouto, they were taken to an individual holding cell. A guard explained the rules, but none of them listened, too focused on the glass plate before them. They sat down, waiting silently for the door in the other room to open. The urge to take Katsuki's hand and squeeze it for comfort burned inside of her, but she simply flexed and wiggled her fingers. She placed a hand on Kota's shoulder instead, stilling his bouncing leg, and then folded her hands in her lap.
Calm as she might appear, Ochako was ready to burst at any second.
The moment the door swung open, Ochako's heart skipped a beat. It dropped into the pit of her stomach a second later when Deku stepped into the room. Aside from his prison clothes and the quirk inhibitor braces chained together to inhibit his movement, he looked… He looked good. Tears pricked at her eyes. His head was the same beautiful, wild mess that it had been before, freckles dusted across his face. He was a little paler than she remembered, most likely due to his confinement indoors, but he looked healthy.
Most importantly, there was a bright light in his vibrant green eyes and a genuine smile on his face. Before he even sat down, a film of tears covered his eyes and started to stream down his cheeks.
"Already?" Katsuki grumped.
Deku laughed wetly. "Sorry, sorry! I know. I'm a mess. I'm just… I'm really, really glad you came. I can't tell you how much I've…" He swallowed down a lump in his throat as he tried to steady his wavering voice. "I was kinda worried you wouldn't want to come."
Katsuki hesitated, clearly trying to figure out the right words, before he settled on, "I had to come."
"No, you didn't," Deku said. "I would've understood had you wanted you to stay away. After everything I did…"
"You mean after everything I did?" Katsuki shot back. "We both made a right mess of shit. I owe you this much – I do, so don't fucking argue with me – and I would've been pissed at myself if I didn't."
Instead of arguing with him further, Deku nodded his head. He understood. No one got Katsuki like Deku, not even Ochako, All Might, his best friends, or his parents. The two of them would always have a relationship that she would never quite figure out. Love, hate, friendship, rivalry, respect, fear – it was a mixture of everything. Complex as it was, they got it, and that was all that mattered.
"And thank you, Kota," Deku said, turning to the younger boy. "I know it must've seemed weird, but I… I needed to thank you personally. Without you, I don't know if I would've broken free."
"I– It's–" Kota flushed and pressed his lips together as he struggled to get the words out. What must it have been like for him to see his hero, his number one, behind bars like this? Taken down to such a low level. It had to hurt more than anything. She could already see him fighting back the tears. He bowed his head. Tears splashed on his knees. "I'm just happy you're back."
Deku smiled softly. "Me too, me too."
Ochako sat upright. "How are you?"
"I'm… I'm doing better – a lot better, actually," Deku said carefully. "Ah, sometimes, the old memories come back or old memories don't seem right. I keep a journal and write down every time something feels wrong. Kyōmu dug deep and planted a lot of things that I feel like were buried in my subconscious for a while. So therapy is kind of like we're digging them back out, and it's...slow going." He took a deep breath and sat up, brightening up once more. "It's working though! Most of the implanted or manipulated memories have faded. I still remember some, but for the most part, I can pinpoint where they deviate and figure out what really happened."
"That's… That's good. That's really good." Ochako nodded, forcing her lips into a smile so they wouldn't wobble. Seeing Deku positive when he'd been so heartbroken the last time was more than she could've asked for. It couldn't be easy on him. All Might had warned her that Iida's death had taken a lot out of him. She had been terrified that she would find him broken and hollow, similar to Shouto after he came out of the quirk. "So therapy is going well?"
"So far, so good," Deku said. "The doctors think it'll be gone completely in a few months. There's a chance I'll still be able to recall the implanted memories, but I'll know they're fake." He sighed and glanced away. "I feel stupid for believing them in the first place."
"Don't," Katsuki cut in. "I was an asshole and a monster when we were kids. That bastard had plenty to work with."
Deku furrowed his brow. "But I trusted you. I admired you. I don't know how he could've taken that away."
"Because I didn't deserve your trust or admiration," Katsuki replied frankly. "Not back then, at least. And I played into the aggressive, angry, jealous role that he set up for me in your head."
A faint smirk flickered across Deku's face, and he glanced up at Katsuki. "Well, you were, just not of Ochako."
"Oi, oi," Katsuki growled. "Don't push your luck here."
Chuckling to himself, Deku pulled himself upright. "Got it." He twisted his lips in thought, peering at all three of them, and then sighed. "I know you must have a lot of questions, but honestly… I'm pretty tired of talking about myself. I do it all the time with doctors, lawyers, cops, heroes. Can we…? Can we talk about you all? What's going on with everyone out there?" He smiled sheepishly. "I don't get a lot of news in here, so a distraction would be nice, good news even better."
Ochako jumped at the opportunity. "Of course! Whatever you want to hear. I guess a lot has happened." She got situated in her seat. "Shouto is doing really good. I saw him a few days ago. Did you know he and his brother are here too?"
"Oh, no, I didn't. I don't get out any." Deku sank in his seat. "I'd hoped he…"
"Nah, the idiot is as self-sacrificing as you," Katsuki pointed out. It was true. If Shouto could be given the chance to pick his own sentencing, he'd be in prison for life. It was so hard talking him out of that and allowing his lawyer to do his job at helping him. "But he's pretty much back to his usual bastard self, so there's that. In fact, I think incarceration has made him snarkier. You'd think it was funny."
"He is doing well," Ochako stressed. "He misses you. He hates that you're stuck in here all alone."
"I miss him too! Tell him that."
"Of course." Ochako hadn't been able to tell him that she was visiting Deku, so he'd be happy about that. She hated seeing both of them like this, but it was better than some of the alternatives.
An anxious expression fell over Deku's face. "Also, ah…" He cleared his throat. "Tenya's funeral…"
She'd known it was coming, but Ochako's spirit still dimmed. Although there could've been much more, there had still been too many funerals and memorials to attend. Tenya's, by far, had been the hardest. She'd barely made it through it without breaking down completely. It hadn't just been his passing that hurt and saying goodbye. She'd felt Deku's and Shouto's absences so painfully, like a hole in her heart. They had loved him too. Momo and Tsu had to take her home because she couldn't even see straight to drive from her tears.
And then there was Endeavor's memorial service. It had been difficult, uncomfortable, and still incredibly sad. Seeing Shouto's sister burst into tears while giving a speech about their father had made her turn away. It wasn't just about their father that upset them so much, but the manner of his death as well. For good and bad, Shouto had been Endeavor's pride and joy, and he wasn't there. They must have felt like they hadn't just lost their father but also their brother and son. On top of that, there was Dabi to consider. No one knew what to say, especially with details about their past slowly coming to light.
In the end, all Ochako could do was hung Shouto's mother as tightly as she could and tell her, "I won't leave him. I won't let him down. I will never stop being there for him."
She couldn't imagine it. The moment she'd been allowed to visit Shouto, she drove to the prison. It had been hard knowing that Deku was there as well, just out of her reach, but she put that aside to support Shouto. Sometimes, Katsuki came with her; other times, she was alone. It didn't matter. They talked as they had after Deku's death, just with a plane of glass between them instead of a fire escape and cup of tea. She saw the same shame and guilt on Shouto's face that she saw in Deku now.
"Let's talk about something good," Ochako told them. "I think that will help you more – and us – and I think that's what he would want more."
Deku bit his lip and used the back of arm to wipe at his eyes. "Y-Yeah, of course, you're right." He sniffed and nodded absentmindedly. "So, uh, are you two back at work? What about the others? Shinsou? Aizawa?"
There was a hint of desperation in Deku's voice that she caught and broke her heart. He so wanted things to be okay. Later, they could talk about serious things, but for now, this was what they needed. A year of him out of their lives, a year taken from them, trapped in the claws of someone else's pain and anger. They could rage about Kyōmu, cry about what they lost, suffer together over what had happened – but she didn't want to do any of that. She was tired of the pain.
It was so easy to fall into despair, but it was that much harder to climb back into hope.
So, she did the one thing she could do in this shitty, little visiting room in prison: she talked.
"Yeah, I'm back at work. It's kind of weird, to be honest. Things have been...quieter."
Deku tilted his head. "Quieter?"
"The whole thing scared heroes and villains alike," Katsuki explained. "It's not gonna stop crime entirely – people are too stupid for that – but even the underground has gone still. No one wants to make a big move."
"That's...good, right?" Deku asked warily.
Katsuki snorted. "Makes shit boring."
"It's definitely unusual," Ochako admitted. "I decided to start focusing more on rescue work. I loved it when I was younger, but being more on the front lines garnered higher ranks and more pay."
"Of course, that makes total sense," Deku agreed. "Your quirk is perfect for that, and you're incredibly compassionate."
He was fully aware of her decision to focus more on villain attacks and offense and had supported it. She'd been really good at fighting, so it made sense to go in that direction, but after everything that had happened, seeing so many casualties and injuries in the aftermath of an attack, she knew her heart lay elsewhere. She still wanted to save people and she wouldn't hesitate to jump into the fray against a villain, but focusing on natural catastrophes had been healing and cathartic in a way. Even her therapist thought it was a great move.
Katsuki lifted up his shirt to reveal a scar on his lower abdomen. "Recovery was a bitch, but I'm okay now. I had to take off work to heal up, so that sucked." Deku winced apologetically. "Yeah, yeah, you didn't shoot me. They were more concerned about the overuse of my quirk and any permanent damage in my arms. I've gotta wear shock braces now, just like you."
Deku cringed. "Sorry…"
"Nah, that was on me," Katsuki sighed. "Plus, now I can be a spokesperson for support gear, so more money and fame for me."
"Because you've always cared about that," Deku replied dryly.
"Well, I had to pay the bills somehow while I was out of work," Katsuki snarked.
Ochako shook her head and watched them go back and forth as the conversation continued to flow. Even in this strange scenario, they couldn't stop bickering with each other. It was nice. She couldn't be more grateful to see them slip back into their old ways. It was so unlike the awful strain between them when Deku was under Kyōmu's quirk. He truly was healing and becoming more like himself every day. The pain never quite left him even when he smiled and chuckled, but it was a start.
You see, Tenya. They're doing okay.
What felt like hours later of just simply talking, Ochako could sense Deku's anxiousness. He was starting to fidget in his chair and rolled his shoulders repeatedly. At first, she thought it might be due to sitting for so long and wearing the inhibitor braces, but then she noticed that his eyes kept drifting to Kota. The three of them had done most of the talking with Kota interjecting here and there. He was probably wondering why Deku had asked for him and, to be honest, so was she. Deku had said he wanted to thank him personally.
Her mind drifted back to the fight in the park. Deku had been about to stab Katsuki when Kota used his quirk to stop him. It was the first time she could remember seeing the true Deku. His eyes had been his again, if only for a moment. After all she'd done to try to break him out of the quirk's hold, after all the fighting Katsuki had done, all the arguments from Shouto, it had been a boy's tears and shaky words that snapped Deku out of it momentarily. While Deku told her what had happened between him and Muscular at the Training Camp, she had a feeling it would never live up to what they experienced.
When she noticed Deku space out for the fifth time, Ochako decided it was time to speak up. "Deku?"
His green eyes flickered to her. "Hm?"
"Is there...something you needed to say?" Ochako prompted. Deku blinked rapidly. "To Kota, I mean."
Deku opened his mouth and then shut it. A strange look came over him, and his shoulders slumped. She honestly couldn't tell if it was in exhaustion, resignation, or relief. It was a sign, however, that their time was up for the day. Whatever he needed to say, it wasn't for them, and Ochako could tell Katsuki understood that when they met eyes with each other.
Leaning forward in her seat, Ochako pressed her hand against the glass. "I'll come back as soon as possible. I'm not losing you again. Whatever happens, I will be here for you every step of the way. Throughout your trial, through your rehabilitation, I'll–"
"No."
Ochako pulled back. "What?"
"You spent almost an entire year mourning me," Deku told her. "And then another month dealing with accusations about you moving on." He looked her in the eyes, honest and open, so utterly kind and warm. "I love you, Ochako, with everything in me. It was one of the few things Kyōmu couldn't take me from, and even though it caused a lot of problems, I'm grateful. Because I got to love you and experience your love for me. I couldn't ask for more." Tears covered his eyes again or maybe hers. It was hard to tell. "I love you, but I can't keep holding you back."
"Deku, you aren't," Ochako swore. "You really aren't."
"Yes, I am," Deku insisted firmly. "What are you going to do? Put your life on hold again? Wait for me to get out of here? I don't even know how long that's going to be. And wasn't that what I was demanding before? I wanted you to wait for me, do everything on my time, live your life around mine. Even before all this, when we were together, my life as a hero came first. It shouldn't have been like that. You are a hero in your own right. I want you to live your life on your time, not mine."
Sniffing, Ochako rubbed her eyes. "But what if I want to wait?"
"Are you saying that for yourself or for me?" Deku asked.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She didn't know. Damnit, she didn't know . She wanted to be here for him. She loved him, but…
"Don't live your life on account of mine," Deku told her. "I think about the things I said to you when I was under that quirk – the accusations and demands – and it makes me sick. That's not what I want for you. What I want is for you to be happy. That's it. I don't care in what way or-or with who." Katsuki stiffened but stayed quiet. Deku let out a sigh and then gave her a sad smile. "Be the hero I know you are and the person I love – not for me, not for Kacchan, not for your parents, not for the public, just yourself. That's all I ask."
Even though it hurt, Ochako forced herself to say, "Okay." She could do that. She'd slowly started to with her rescue work. There was talk of her working overseas and traveling more. Maybe… Maybe that was what she needed too – to get away from here, from all of this. She'd come back, of course. She couldn't leave them – she refused – but she knew if she asked Shouto about it, he would wholeheartedly agree with Deku.
But it still pained her.
"It's just not fair," Ochako said angrily. "You were kidnapped and tortured! You don't deserve to be in here! You're–"
"A hero?" Deku cut in. "I don't know what I am anymore. I can't be the hero I once was. I can't…" He took a deep, shuddering breath. "One thing I was right about was that there is something wrong with the current system, and I'm not going to continue being a part of that. I can't let the Hero Commission use me like Kyōmu did."
Katsuki sneered. "So what? You're just gonna rot away in prison? Suffer for your crimes? Pay for your sins?"
"You can't give up!" Kota exclaimed in horror.
"I'm not giving up, but I am going to serve whatever time they believe I deserve," Deku said, his voice no longer wavering. A determined look came over him, his eyes fierce and face hard. Kota watched him intensely, never blinking even though tears were in his eyes. "I can do good in here too. A lot of people have been wronged by what we thought was good. I can do good in a different way, help those that society and heroes condemned or looked away from." He smiled again, and Ochako almost gasped. Oh, she'd missed that determined smile of his. "After all, before I got my quirk, wasn't I in that same position?"
Ochako's lips wobbled. "Oh, Deku…"
"I'm terrified," Deku said with a weak laugh. "But I think it's for the best. No, I know this is the way. I can still keep fighting. I can still do good. I can...maybe still be a hero or a champion, just not in the same way before."
"You sure about this?" Katsuki asked. "There's no going back."
Deku shrugged. "I crossed that line a long time ago. We both did."
Katsuki blew out some air. "Yeah, you're right." He stood up, hesitated, and then placed a fist against the glass. It was awkward with the braces, but Deku lifted his wrists and pressed a scarred fist on the other side to mirror it. "I don't know if I could do what you are, but I…" He glanced at Kota and then back to Deku. "You really are stronger than me. I couldn't have handled half the shit you did."
"And I couldn't have done it without you, good times and bad," Deku returned. "I'd say take good care of Ochako for me, but… That might be a little weird all things considered."
"You think?" Katsuki retorted.
"Besides," Deku said, "I think she'd do a better job at taking care of you."
Katsuki huffed. "You got that right." He looked back at Ochako. "She's a true hero."
With that, Katsuki left the room, an unspoken promise to return hanging in the air. Deku watched him go and then dropped his hands. Katsuki would never be able to leave this area. He was tied to it too intricately. It was his life, his home, and he was determined to build it back up. He'd been talking about going unranked, but she was unsure where that would leave him since he didn't have his own agency. Maybe he could open one up and do his own thing like Aizawa had.
There were so many questions in the air, but just like with Kyōmu's quirk, only time would be able to tell.
"I'll do my best," Ochako told him. "I can't make any promises, but you're right. I don't want to hold myself back anymore. It's been too long."
"I agree," Deku said.
"But I…" Ochako licked her dry lips. "I wasn't lying back then. I still…"
"I know," Deku said softly. "I know."
Ochako swallowed down the lump in her throat. "Take care, Deku. I'll be back soon, okay?" She turned to Kota, who looked more confused than anything else, and laid a hand on his shoulder one more time. "I'll be just outside the door, okay? I think you two should talk on your own."
Kota nodded. "O-Okay."
Taking one last look at Deku, Ochako couldn't help but see the same boy she met on the first day of their high school entrance exam. She could sense that same nervousness about him but also the determination that had pulled her towards him. He had such a natural gravitational pull to him. While he might not have known it before inheriting One for All, it was purely his, not his quirk. He'd only learned to utilize it after receiving it and gaining confidence in himself.
Deku didn't need a quirk to be a hero. He would always be one no matter what.
As Ochako walked out of the room, she heard Deku say, "So, you might've heard me say something about getting my quirk."
"Yeah, like when it manifested?" Kota asked.
A light chuckle fell from Deku. "Not exactly. My quirk's a little different. It's special. It's not something that should be held behind bars, not when it belongs to the world." Ochako hung outside the room with the door opened just a crack. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Though he was determined, she could sense the scared tremor running within him. "I wasn't born with a quirk. It was given to me – passed down like a torch – but I can't use it anymore."
"But… why not? You're still Deku."
"I think my time has passed. It's hard to explain, but I can sense it inside of me."
"You said you weren't giving up."
"I'm not, but… This is going to be difficult to explain and you're free to say no or leave whenever you want." Deku took a deep breath, Kota's silence an affirmation to continue. "You just...made me realize what All Might saw in me when he decided to pass his quirk onto me. I didn't understand even after all these years, but I do now. I saw it in Ochako, but even more so, I saw it in you."
Not wanting to intrude any further on them, Ochako shut the door and walked down the hall to where Katsuki was standing with his hands in his pockets. Once she reached him, he looked at her, an unreadable expression on his face. "You sure he's doing the right thing?"
"That's not for us to decide, is it?" Ochako replied. "We have to live our lives and he has to live his."
"Tch," Katsuki huffed. "That's a lot to put on a kid his age."
"Weren't we that same age when we wanted to become heroes?" Ochako asked. He couldn't argue with her on that one. He'd been even younger when he decided he wanted to be a hero. "Kota told me that he applied for UA. All those people online and on the news condemning Deku, and he still wants to follow in his footsteps."
"Yeah, well, Deku was a great hero," Katsuki muttered.
Ochako nudged him in the side. "So are you."
Not in the mood to argue with her, Katsuki inclined his head and leaned against the wall. Neither of them was sure how long Deku's conversation with Kota would take, but they could wait this one time. It wasn't putting their lives on hold so much as holding out for the future. Ochako turned back to look at the door of the visiting room, picturing the tears that must've been flowing from both Deku and Kota, the emotions that only a boy and his hero would understand.
She couldn't imagine how difficult this way for Deku – to give up something that made him who he was, that was a part of him on a level neither she nor Katsuki could comprehend. But… It felt right. She might not have had a connection with One for All, but she found herself at peace with the thought, like its energy was floating contently in the air. Even Katsuki was relaxed beside her, his arms lax across his chest. Ochako smiled to herself and wiped the tears from her eyes.
It was easy to fall into despair, but it was so much harder to climb back into hope.
And they weren't falling any longer. They'd climb this mountain together no matter what struggles were ahead.