The dust was beginning to settle by the time Aizawa got in sight of Wobani.

He hadn't left campus as quickly as he would have liked, roping Mic and Midnight into babysitting his class and then questioning his life's decisions before getting on his feet and making a break for the epicenter of this fiasco. Running along power lines and lower roofs, he had a better than average view of the chaos his student had single-handedly caused.

Well, that wasn't quite fair. There had to be a quirk behind all of this, because Problem Child might be a problem child, but they were a kind and even-tempered problem child.

This was way out of the ordinary.

"Yo, Eraserhead!" A voice called, and Aizawa looked down to see the number five hero below him, gesturing him down. With no other options, he hopped down, landing directly in front of the rabbit hero.

"Miruko," he greeted gruffly. "What's the situation?"

"Your kids are causing havoc is what's happening!" she barked. "That chicken nugget Hawks ordered everyone to let them duke it out themselves and focus on clean-up and rescue."

You've got to be kidding.

So not only was Midoriya on a rampage, not only were Bakugou and Uraraka running around causing their own mayhem in trying to stop him, but the number two hero was allowing it by giving them space and letting children figure it out on their own. Aizawa wanted to tear his hair out, scream to the heavens why him and maybe bite off his tongue once he was done.

"They're not my kids." was all he said.

BOOM!

The sound shot through him like a bullet. Civilians around them screamed in terror as Aizawa whipped around to watch a cloud of smoke and ash rise above the roof of the Wobani building. It loomed over the city like a predator, dominating the skies as pebbles began to rain down harmlessly on the citizens below. The blast echoed in his ears, reverberating through the streets as if on loop.

It felt disturbingly like the period at the end of a story.

Miruko clicked her tongue. "That one of yours?" she drawled, her face a mix of humor and exasperation.

With a long-suffering sigh, Aizawa wished he could find the humor in any of this as he took off running. "Yeah..."

It was cacophonous that day.

It was such a strange way to describe a day, but Midoriya couldn't think of a better word to explain the multitude of sounds blending together into one ongoing roar and the continuous flashes of green and orange and all sorts of colors, all glazed in a foggy red hue. His memories between walking back to campus with Uraraka and now were nothing but a swirling mass of confusion and pain, a constant dull throb in the back of his head making the world spin, and only now was it all slowly pulling back apart and rearranging itself into some form of comprehensive thought.

So, yeah. He thought cacophonous was a good word for it.

Midoriya winced, sunlight beaming right into his face as he slowly pulled himself up to a seated position. Everything hurt, his body shrieking in agony with every movement. His exposed skin felt far too cold, and looking down at his arms, through torn, scorched sleeves, he could see burns running across scarred flesh. He patted at his face, yanking his hand back with a hiss. His insides felt rearranged as well, his stomach throbbing so badly that he thought he might throw up.

Getting up on shaky feet, he took a careful step, wobbling so badly that he was sure he was going to fall right over. Another step, and he fell, suppressing a cry as he collapsed right into the stairway. Around him, the building shuttered from an unknown force.

Though his memory was hazing, he forced his scrambled thoughts back into place, the colors flashing before his mind's eye like a film reel. Flashes of color and light, flashes of pain, just...flashes.

Flashes of familiar faces.

"Kacchan...?"

He didn't remember Kacchan being there. He'd been with Uraraka moments ago, but something in his memory was screaming at him. Kacchan, Kacchan, Kacchan.

"I can't help but think how much better my life would have been if you'd just hit your head and drowned all those years ago!"

It hit him like a semi-truck, so hard that it knocked the wind out of him.

"You'll never make up for it, you know!"

"If you live to become a hero, more people will suffer like I did."

" Just die!"

Midoriya cried out, curling against the stairway into a ball as he clutched his head so tightly that it might burst. There were tears pooling in his eyes, unwelcome as they slid down his burnt and bloodied freckled cheeks.

He'd been angry, so unbelievably angry.

It had consumed him, a rage that he'd thought he'd let go of so long ago.

"Kacchan?"

Hadn't he been here?

Where was he?

Fighting through blinding pain, Midoriya dragged himself up those stairs, the building shaking and buckling under him dangerously. He didn't know just how unstable it had become, or even where he was, but he kept climbing. He could feel blood draining down his throat and the stickiness around his face, but at least he could be certain that it was his own blood he was soaked in.

His hands, he wasn't so sure, and that's what scared him the most.

Light cascaded from the open doorway, leading to what Midoriya assumed was the roof. Grinding his teeth, he pulled himself up with a cry, forcing trembling fingers upward towards the top. He heaved himself up, like a drowning man pulling himself out of water, and collapsed onto the roof like a puppet with its strings cut.

There was soot everywhere, caking his torn clothes as he dragged himself up. Smoke clouded the sky, enough to hide the sun, but not completely block its light. It rose high into the air, far above where it could fully compromise his breathing, but that didn't mean breathing up here was as easy as it had been down below. The cough that tore out of Midoriya's throat was a testament to that.

He could still see clearly, though.

And there, on the far end of the roof, lying against a dented railing, was Kacchan.

He shouldn't be bloodied like that, was the first thought that ran through his mind, blank as emotions and memories fought to reach the forefront. It was a confusing swirl of thoughts so tremulous that he couldn't pick one from another.

Blood coated his back, soaking his shirt as it stuck to bruised skin. The parts of his body visible to Midoriya's eyes were littered with cuts and bruises, most notably around his neck, where a deep, angry black handprint was already beginning to form. His splayed palms were raw and fingertips singed, barely twitching, the only sign of life in his otherwise still form.

Had... Had he done this?

"Kacchan?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

A tremor ran through the ground, the floor below them swaying dangerously in the wind. Midoriya fell flat on his face from the momentum, but didn't falter in his fight. "Kacchan... We're gonna fall! You gotta get up!"

Nobody answered his pleas.

"Kacchan!"

Cracks littered the ground around him like spiderwebs, reaching out as if death itself was once again reaching out to them, to claim them in its grasp. The way they circled around Kacchan was something sinister, surrounding his prone form like a pack of wolves entrapping their prey.

The whole edge of the building was gonna fall.

"Kacchan!"

It gave way as Midoriya forced all of his remaining strength into his legs and lunged. Blackwhip shot out desperately, entangling his childhood friend and yanking him back up as Midoriya found himself stepping out into open air. The edge of the building teetered and toppled over, leaving the two heroes-in-training in a free fall.

Perhaps it wasn't the tallest building in the world, but as Midoriya stared down, it looked like miles before they would hit the ground. It was heroic instinct that made him turn them in the air, leaving his back open as he protected Kacchan with his own body in one last-ditch effort to ensure that at least one of them survived this.

Perhaps it was also a last-ditch effort to apologize for the things he'd done when his world was bathed in a reddish hue.

Midoriya squeezed his eyes shut.

But then, an impact.

It wasn't one he was expecting, launching into them from the side. It was softer, as if they were impacting them rather than the other way around. They spiraled in the air, a weightlessness encompassing them in a faint flash of pink.

"You guys!"

Midoriya didn't have a chance to connect the dots as chopped brunette hair tickled his nose, nor did he have the strength to consider the way the three of them suddenly jerked back in the air, a bright red feather embedding itself against the back of her shirt collar.

All he knew was that suddenly, despite a clumsy landing, they were safely on the ground, desperately clung onto as a teenage girl, their friend, wailed against them and a winged man and red-skinned boy looked on.

It was then, and only then, that he felt that everything was going to be okay.

Midoriya didn't remember losing consciousness, but judging by the white ceiling now staring back at him, he must have.

It was midday, from the looks of it, blue sky peering through the windows and birds chirping as they soared by. It was such a beautiful day, and yet, Midoriya couldn't quite get himself to feel much of anything.

"Are you awake?"

Midoriya startled, turning to find the dark figure of his homeroom teacher staring back at him. Slowly sitting up, he couldn't muster much more than just a dead stare.

"I imagine that you're still tired." Aizawa sighed. "Recovery Girl had to do quite a bit of healing on you yesterday, not to mention the aftereffects of the boy's quirk."

Red skin and white hair came to mind. Right, he'd been upset with him, or had he really?

"Though the damage was extensive and the Wobani building ultimately has to be demolished, you'll be pleased to know that no deaths have been reported. I wanted to be sure that you knew as soon as possible."

Midoriya nodded numbly.

"Then again," Aizawa drawled. "I don't even know how much you remember."

With how blurry his mind and thoughts were, his conversation with Aizawa didn't last long, the underground hero leaving him to rest just a short while later. Midoriya didn't find himself alone for long, however, considering the silent nurses that came and went as they pleased.

The sun was beginning to set when they arrived.

"Deku!" Uraraka cheered, covered in band-aids and a relieved grin on her face. "I'm so glad you're okay! You really scared us, you know!"

She'd cleaned up since he'd last seen her, with new clothes and newly-washed hair. The occasional cuts and bruises that didn't require healing were the only hints of her ordeal from what he assumed was yesterday. Next to her, the red boy from back then stood awkwardly, his face shadowed as he nervously rubbed his hands.

Uraraka entered first. "How are you feeling?"

Midoriya shrugged. "Been better..." he admitted. "Mind's foggy."

Uraraka nodded. "That's okay. Nobody blames you."

It was then that the boy shot towards him, leaping up and throwing his arms around his torso. He shook against him, silent tears soaking his scrubs.

"This is Kandai Reiji." said Uraraka. "He has something to say to you."

There was a trembling breath. "I'm s-sorry." he whispered. "I'm so sorry. I'll never do it again. I promise."

Midoriya's mind scrambled for the right words, but with his muddled thoughts, all he could muster was setting his hand on the boy's head. "It's okay, Kandai. I forgive you, but you have to keep your promise, okay?"

Kandai openly sobbed against him.

Night fell soon after, and Midoriya found himself lying awake, his mind a jumbled mess of images and thoughts that weren't quite his, but perhaps came from a real place somewhere deep in his heart. They scared him, but deep down, he knew there was getting past this without confrontation. Whatever had happened, happened, and he couldn't change that.

The fact that it was just out of his grasp, though, frustrated him to no end.

The moon was full that night, illuminating the room even with the lights of the hospital still on. The other hospital bed was empty, leaving him with nobody but his own thought and jumbled memories. With so much light, he couldn't really see the stars, but he knew they were there, shimmering without a care in the world.

He must have fallen asleep at some point, because the next thing he knew, there was only one light on in the room.

He whined at the beams of light striking his face, hiding under his covers for some kind of reprieve. It was then that he somehow noticed another presence in the room. He didn't know what time it was, but he was sure visiting hours were over.

Carefully peeking his head out, he was met with blonde.

One of the hospital chairs had been pulled up next to his bed, close but not pressed up against it. It had been many years, Midoriya realized, since he'd seen Kacchan asleep up close like this. He didn't look particularly comfortable, splayed out with his head resting against his fist, but he supposed he was making it work if he was getting any rest at all. Underneath his scrubs were bruises and bandages. It was strange, since they were supposed to have been healed-

Everything hit him all at once.

A world bathed in red, where everything was a target for hatred. A boy he tried to murder, a friend he'd brushed aside like nothing.

And Kacchan...

Tears streamed down his face.

He'd hurt Kacchan really bad.

He tried to kill him, he realized. He genuinely wanted him to die.

What would he have done if he'd succeeded?

Despair festered and pooled at the bottom of his stomach, an impossible bottomless pit that sucked in everything around it. Midoriya's vision swam, as if he was deep underwater, and with how hard it suddenly was to breathe, he wouldn't be surprised if he was.

He tried to hurt so many people.

"I'm sorry..." he whimpered. "I'm so sorry..."

"The fuck did you just say to me?"

Midoriya jumped, whipping around to face his childhood friend. He hadn't moved an inch, but his bright red eyes were glaring holes into him, like spears piercing his flesh. Suddenly, Midoriya's tongue was like sandpaper.

"Ah-..." he stuttered. "I-I-I-... I'm so-"

"Do not."

His glare bore into him, but Midoriya didn't waver. "Don't what? Apologize?"

"Yes!"

Midoriya gaped. "I-... But why?! You deserve it!"

"Oh, do I?" Kacchan mocked. "I don't need to hear it, Deku! I don't want it!"

"But I'm sor-!"

"SHUT UP!" he screamed, standing so fast that he nearly knocked his chair over. "I said I don't want it!"

"BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR IT!" Midoriya shot back, unafraid even as tears streamed down his face. "I hurt you! I nearly killed you! I said so many awful things and I feel horrible about it!"

"I couldn't care less how you feel about it!" Kacchan snapped. "I don't want to hear it from you!"

"BUT WHY-?!"

"BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE SAYING THAT!"

The air was sucked out of the room, something both vile and warm churning in Midoriya's heart. Memories that seemed so long ago flashed before his eyes, back to a time where even the sight of the other boy sent chills down his spine. "Kacchan..."

Kacchan began pacing, his glare now pointed at the floor as he went round and round aimlessly. "I-" he tried. "I-... I'm... FUCK!"

"Kacchan, you don't-"

"SHUT UP!"

Midoriya didn't startle, giving up and settling back in his covers as Kacchan continued to pace, looking more and more constipated as time went on. If Kacchan was going to be difficult, then he'd have to figure out some kind of loophole or a sneakier way to apologize, because here, after everything that had happened just days ago, the past didn't matter. He'd almost murdered one of the most important people in his life and he would find a way to make it up to him even if it killed him.

He didn't count the minutes, but the roar of frustration had him looking up in curiosity.

"I will say it someday!" he screamed. "Whether it be tomorrow or on our fucking deathbeds, I will say it, and your sorry ass ain't going anywhere until I fucking do, you hear me!? Mark my words, Midoriya Izuku!"

It was simultaneously like getting bashed in the back of the head by a brick and finding water in a scorching desert after days of dehydration. It was like learning a word in a foreign language years ago, and then suddenly hearing it used by a native speaker after almost forgetting that it was even a word. It was like,

Justification.

Vindication.

Understanding.

He might not have been ready to face the world yet, but this...

This might be a good start.

Uselessly struggling to wipe the tears from his eyes, Midoriya nodded. "Okay."