The name was for the mighty, but for the mighty to rise the world must be weak around them. This was the goal of Sato, to make everything perfect. "You're the only one who can empower this performance." This was what Oni asked of him.

He always thought it was a minor magical skill he picked up, just making things quiet. Hiding away in a room or playing games without sound. Oni came up to him one day though and gave him an entire notebook's worth on every single utility his bloodline could be used for. With how she explained it, Sato almost started to believe he could be some sort of super spy espionage guy, or even the world's greatest assassin with such a gift.

He highly doubted it, but at the very least they could do this. Every step that they took, every bang that would occur, every drop of liquid that would hit the floor, every hum of a light bulb. Anything that was not music or Oni's voice, would be muted from the world.

It sounded strange, almost pointless even, but the girl was completely insistent that it be done, that 'even in the light, the hero must remain voiceless, for his actions go unnoticed, his cries unheard, and his pain, unseen.' Sounded a bit depressing, but he wasn't going to argue with the Mad Oni.

Sato watched, as one of the great stage crew members. He was ready as the light stood upon the stage, revealing Oni, in a simple green dress. The show has begun, and he will do his job to the best of his abilities … Plus Ultra.

Izuku watched in silence as the slow music built. A lone piano played as Eiko walked onto stage, followed by a violin. He's grown quite fond of music within the past month, that of the Piano especially. He could only hope he could meet Eiko's class standards. It sounded beautiful. Calming, like someone putting you at ease. It felt reassuring.

The trumpets began, and he thought of Soi. The boy had so much on his plate, he couldn't argue for him to play or not, just to follow his heart. The trumpets built up into something slightly dramatic as a stage light fell from the highest point with a spark. It was so silent, he couldn't hear it until it was too late. He couldn't reach out and save-

He didn't need to, what stepped in was Orobas, he could guess that from sheer muscle mass alone despite the mask. He didn't take Orobas for putting something like that on. Eiko must've either been really persuasive or pestering to get the guy to agree. Well, she always was able to come up with something at the Battler. She was amazing like that.

"You're….not alone." He felt his heart trump as she stared up at the man, signing a beautiful melody with a wide eyed expression, as he slowly put down the light. The hero helped her up.

"There's no doubt." The hero turned, two new people on stage running from a pink beast. The hero ran and started to fight the creatures off even as they bit him.

"Your gift…..Isn't futile…..to be…." The people kept running, ignoring the pain the hero was getting in. Small flashes went off as the costume became more and more ragged. Marks of teeth were seen across the arms, the hero almost falling in pain, but still stood up.

"If we'll be united, We're stronger…..together." The hero ran off onto another danger, a bomb ticking down with a large horned demon laughing over it, the laughs rang no silence despite the erratic movements.

"We always have the high hope…" The bomb went off, the hero placing himself in the line of fire, preventing damage, and saving the villain, who could only stare in disbelief as the hero, now scared and bloody all over, reached out his hand, looking like he was asking the villain if he was okay.

"Not all for one…... but One…..For...All…..." One for all … everyone in the crowd was silent, watching the scorched hero go once more, as Eiko tried to reach out to the hero, trying to tell him it was okay … but it was okay … heroes did this all the time … right?

Right?

"Don't worry 'bout a thing." The hero found a crumbling building, holding it up as the demons ran away. The hero saw a boy unable to run fast with their broken ankle, but continued to hold up the building as blood spurted from his legs.

"We'll reach out…..to you." Eiko kept reaching out to the hero, a few civilians here and there joining her, but the hero remained ignorant of their calls, rather on purpose or not was unclear. All the hero could seem to do was rush into the danger … like he did. The metal smile kept others assured when he couldn't smile himself.

"Even if it's the harder way." The hero kept reaching out to demons in trouble, falling down a hole, saving them from a tree, stopping an assault, it didn't matter what the trouble was, the hero was always there...always moving...getting slower….getting more tired, losing more and more energy as he kept moving.

"It's plain to see the reason why…" The smiles of every demon saved kept the hero's chin up, doing his best to ignore the pain, to hide the scars...to hide how much he was hurting on the inside.

"Oh, that's….all because of the mighty heart." With a single glance behind the hero, energy was revitalized, rushing off to fight the danger, a giant dragon that stood over them with a glare, played by Gaako this time, who stood with vengeance.

"Remember it's just … natural that..." The hero swatted the beast away, looking no better than the monster it defeated. The hero tried to take a step forward, only to trip backward. He lost all balance, all the strength he had left to stand.

"We'll be there…..if you need help." Eiko supported the trembling hero, who looked seconds from falling apart, blood and mud infused into the suit, gashes and bone fragments decorated the suit all over. Despite this an explosion occurred in the distance.

"Far across…...the distance." The hero pushed off, the metal smile broken in half, chipping into a half smile, as they ran, unable to stop while trouble occurred.

"Rest assured that…..our faith…..just won't die." Eiko reached out, unable to save this hero she stood by … the one she wanted to help and save … with eyes red and tears flowing.

Eiko...the first one he ever saved….

"You know…...we have to sacrifice ... ourselves … " The music boomed, a chorus joining the lone woman in a powerful beat that stuck out into all Demon Hearts.

Eiko...the first person who ever smiled at him at this school, the first to ever thank him for his help...

"Whatever…...they may say." The hero's body glowed with mana, but gave a silent and unheard scream of agony, as they went on to fight a tyrannical king and his army, holding them back as best as he could.

Eiko … who stood by him through thick and thin ….

"It's plain to see the reason why." A cerberus type creature approached the hero, hungry, blood thirsty, ready to bite off the bloodied head of the hero. The hero charged, clashing face-to-face with a monster out of his league.

Eiko...who always gave everything she had to support him, even if that something seemed small and mundane...Eiko...who was crying at the hero constantly leaving her behind...

"Oh, that's all because of the mighty heart." The smoke cleared, revealing a fang to have pieced the hero and broken off, remaining in their chest … their heart …

The heartbreak of … ignorance … Ignorant of people trying to help him, trying to be close …

"Remember it's just … natural that …" The hero stumbled, eyes dimming in color as they went on, body spurting more blood than it had any right to give. No one in the crowd could say or utter a single word at this determination … this reckless ambition to drive oneself into the ground.

No matter what … saving others … when he deserves saving … deserves ...to live...to...smile...

"We'll be there,... if you need help…." The hero kept moving, despite the inexplicable reality of the situation, the hero wouldn't move away.

'The right to be happy…..to be loved…..to...share….that….love…'

"Far across….the distance….!" The hero released one final attack against the monster...he would make it..he had to make it...he HAD to go back to her! He had to get back to Eiko!

He had to come back to the people that loved him!

"Rest assured that … our faith ... just won't die!" The hero finally fell, unable to move or breathe, eyes stopping signs all together as he fell into the woman's arms, who cried her heart out and held the fallen hero tightly, other demons he saved holding each other in small silence, their savior gone.

The soul of the demon rising up into the air, despite the woman's pleads and calls, unanswered and unheard, flying as the music reached its crescendo. All fell softly as the lights stopped, what remained when they came back on was a small melody, as the woman sat by the grave labeled 'hero', with flowers in her hand.

… All that effort and sacrifice … all those lives saved ...yet he couldn't save everyone….Izuku couldn't save himself….he can't save himself….

The world returned to normal, the actors making their way back, some actually wiping tears off as the class took a bow. The crowd went wild with claps, but no verbal ovation other than screams and cries.

How many people has he met...how many would cry if he was gone…?

"Izuku-kins?" He turned, looking at a very teary eyed Clara … scratch that, a teary eyed misfit class. "Are you okay?"

"Y.." He started...but he couldn't say it. He couldn't lie. "No...I'm not….I haven't been okay in a while….I'm sorry….I'm so sorry…." He fell to the ground, crying with more pain than he had felt in a while.

'Why do I keep hurting them!? Why did I think I could love them and not expect them to love me back!? Why...why…...why….?'

Peach was...she…"What the fuck?" Her eyes were leaking like facets. She didn't have the brainpower at the moment to say anything else. "Seriously, that, that was...fuck…"

"It was amazing!" She turned, horrified at Koopa. "A blond in a dress being rescued from a dragon by a hero, reminds me of the good old days. What about you guys?"

They couldn't answer, tears streaming down most of their faces. Inko the most, Azazel the least. She was hoping to woo him, but the man seemed much more interested in Inko … also the mood was horribly destroyed by whatever her niece just did, how much were therapists again?

"Inky-chan...it's okay...it's okay.." Valac patted Inko's head as she hugged her tight. "Izuku-kins is still here...he's still with you...he's still with you…"

"It hurt so much, I really thought he was on stage, just breaking apart!" She spoke in tears and snot ran down her face.

"It'll be alright, it's just a performance. She really cares about your son, you know." Amaryllis tried to coo the mother into comfort. Cared enough to cause an entire audience to cry!

"I...I.." Henri went back and forth between looking horrified at the stage and trying to show compassion for Inko. "I didn't know that's how Izuku...I...how much was…?"

"IZZY, WHY!" Shouted Ameri from her seat, tears running down her face.

"Madam president, he's still here, calm yourself."

"I won't calm down until he's in my arms again!" Ameri shouted, and for once, Henri didn't freak out. In fact, the look on his face almost looked like he agreed with his daughter.

"Your boy really is something Inko...he really is.." This level of care and compassion far exceeded what she had with Mario. Back then, all that needed to happen was for him to rescue her from Koopa and she'd bake him a cake, and they kept it at that. It just hit her that Eiko wasn't just swooning head over heels for Inko's baby..no…

She wanted to be more than just the damsel, she wanted to save Izuku, a level of love Peach never thought she needed to reach….a love where both sides would give everything they had to the other...

"Hey, look on the bright side, peach." She glared at the king, daring him to make a 'bright side' out of this. "That performance moved the whole crowd, there's no way they won't get a perfect eighteen."

The scores came up … sixteen. "WHAT THE FUCK!?" Shouted almost everyone around her

"Are … you serious?" Asked Robin. "Don't you think you're being a little critical?" Did he seriously need to ask? This is what a lady like himself gets for hanging around cretins.

"Yeah, what the hell!?"

"Screw off!"

"It was fucking beautiful!"

"Heartless!"

Amducias heard all these, but merely watched the destroyed expressions of most of Class A .. and a stone faced one for the lead girl … time to be serious.

"Violinist three." Amducias called out, the one in question pointed himself out. "Yes you, your B string wasn't adjusted right, it caused the melody to falter during the power moments."

"SERIOUSLY!?" The crowd refused to accept the criticism.

"And you, dancer five, with the spiky hair, you tripped during the two minute mark. Did you think just because the leads were holding the attention that people wouldn't notice a mistake like that? The whole performance matters." The musician continued unfaltering.

"OH COME ON! WE DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THAT!" The crowd continued to justify.

"Then shall I point out how you got scorch marks before you dealt with the actual bomb? I saw them on your sleeves."

"NOW YOU'RE JUST BEING A DICK!"

"And you." He pointed to the lead singer, the stone faced girl. "Your voice was amazing for someone with your lung capacity, work well on it and fix the minor tone. However, you were the only one singing. Even when the choir brought themselves forth it was just humming and shouts. Were their words not important as well?"

The lead looked stunned, likely so engrossed in the song she wrote, so invested and so motivated to get her feelings out on the stage, she ignored the fact it was supposed to be a group performance. "I, I see. I'll be sure to remember that." The voice was strained but the face was accepting.

"And you." He pointed at the dragon. "I can see your lack of muscles for the costume, you should have played a civilian in need rather than try and lift the heavy suit. Just because you look the part doesn't mean you automatically get the part. Civilian seven, with the choker. Give me your numbers, you could start out as a harmonizer."

On and on Amducias went, not even caring that the audience stopped yelling as he pointed out genuine flaws in the performance and even spoke kindly when they did well.

"And last, but not least, I know you were aiming to tug at the heartstrings, but this is a Festival, and you're the opening act for Devi's sake. Don't bring down the mood."

"... Um sir, the lots were randomized, no one could choose to be the opening act or not." Robin pointed out.

"And I came here to see if I could enjoy decent music for once, not to get depressed. Life's cruel like that, isn't it?"

"Isn't that the point?" He looked at the boy toy in the suit. "Life is cruel, and all we can do is trudge on with our hearts intact?"

"... I suppose it is … regardless, four is my final vote."

Kerori listened in on the former crow's criticism and frowned. It didn't look good for them right off the bat. The crowd could make all the defenses for Eiko's song all they wanted, but the judge's criticism, as frustrating as it sounded, was undeniably sound and well warranted. Amducias was fueled by both spite and fair criticism. The most dangerous combo in the Demdoll world.

However, they now had a new crisis to focus on. The probably broken Izuku for realizing that people didn't want him to run himself dead helping people, and that a girl had a crush on him. Looks like that betting pool would be in her favor after all, though that hardly seemed to be the biggest issue at the moment.

"Izuku breath, breath damn it." Azz shook the boy. "You're going to pass out at this rate, and we're not going to have you out of it two times!" Izuku still seemed pale, a slight pulse on his wrist being the only indicator the honor student was still receiving oxygen.

"Eiko...she..I...she loves me..me...I keep leaving her behind..I keep leaving everyone behind…"

"Izuku-kins, snap out of it!" For once Clara seemed to take the violent initiative, whacking the boy with a mallet. "You can worry about Eistring later! You are the leader of the Misfits and Calamity Cult, you haven't left any of us behind since we've met you, and we're not going to be leaving you anytime soon, right?" Clara turned to the rest of them. "RIGHT!?"

"Yeah man, you stuck through us all the time. The exam, Walter Park, Harvest Festival." Lied agreed.

"Weren't the last two times he literally ran into danger?" Kamui asked. She slapped the bird, time and place!

"Look, I admit, I haven't always been the biggest fan of Izuku!" Kerori had to speak to him. "He's crazy, he's always doing something to make him stand out whether he wants to or not, and he's one of the most dense people I've ever come across!"

"I still can't even comprehend the girl liking me, let alone the immense problem of me being a reckless moron." Self-reflect later, you adorable-in-a-little-sibling-sense-idiot!

"But in spite of all that, he's the only one out of this class who's somehow, beyond all comprehension, found the strength to actually care about selfish, greedy, and crazy demons like us. Jazz, Schneider, did you ask Izuku to get you out of your debts?!"

"Nope, we were just hoping to screw with the guy that got us in trouble." Jazz admitted.

"Now we praise the mystical force of Calamity and Friendship." Schneider spoke like a madman.

"Goemon, you're always going on and on about collecting one hundred allies! Wouldn't you agree that Izuku's on top of that list?"

"Absolutely."

"Sabro, would you even be alive today if Izuku didn't somehow tame that crazy monster bird during the flying races!?"

"Probably not no, but even as a ghost I'd be the Demon King." The demon spoke arrogantly.

"Elizabetta, even if you don't think Izuku is husband material anymore, would you ever say you regret meeting him?"

"Absolutely not. I'm actually more dedicated now to being his big sister, he needs all the help he can get if he finally understands some form of love beyond platonic and familial."

"Picero, who helps you go back to sleep with all their muttering after lunch!?

"Izuku. It's the best sleeping aid I have besides warm milk and my cloud."

"I'll be honest, I'm just used to you doing it at this point." Not helping Azz. "Which is why I promised myself to be strong enough to kill anything you're too weak to do yourself." … Better

"And I'm with you to the end Izuku-kins!" Again, glad she didn't get between two maniacs.

"And...I admit that if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have had so much fun using what I know to help others." Kerori said face to face. "I'm...I'm sorry that I've made so many voodoo dolls of you, and then sold your likeness to be manufactured without giving you a cent."

"My grandpa is loaded, I literally don't need money …" He smiled with a sniffle, rubbing his face. "Thanks guys, I really needed this."

"Izu, what did you think?" The boy screeched in a high pitched tone and jumped behind a seat. "… Was it that bad?"

"N-no! NO! Ei-cha-Eiko!" Izuku's face was more red than the bloody pools. "I-I…" Clara used the mallet again. "Thanks. Thank you, thank you for the song, I.." The boy sighed, and pulled the girl into a hug. "Thank you for always being there for me, Eiko."

"No problem." It seemed the girl was the oblivious one this time, not knowing he knew. "I just hoped it would knock some sense into you, I knew no matter what I did you all would blow us out of the water."

"Did you have to make it so heartbreaking though!?" Lied apparently was holding in everything, and cried a river of Midoriya proportions. "It's never hurt to cry so much before!"

"Heartbreaking?" She asked with a head tilt. "I just kinda spoke my feelings. I'm more surprised that everyone just started bawling like that."

… When it came to helping Izuku, this woman was oblivious to her own talent. "Now then for our next group!" Dalton spoke, time to see what else they had to deal with.