Ok, Chapter 42 is up! I know it's been four months, and I apologize for all the readers who couldn't enjoy their summer with at least one chapter posted. Thing is, I got a new job, got some new video games, and took a long trip, so my time's been occupied. But hey, at least you got this new chapter before the end of the month, so enjoy!
The country of Japan and the entire world was whipped up into another media frenzy. The revelation of All Might's true form was creating a crippling blow to hero society. The seemingly indestructible Symbol of Peace that had ushered in an era of prosperity had now been revealed to be a broken, aging man who was but a fraction of his former glory. But what was more worrisome, however, was to think that there could be a villain powerful enough to put All Might into such a weakened state. Just what kind of power was emerging in the villain world?
They had no way of knowing that the person who'd put the number one hero in a comatose state was the very person who the world had been parading as All Might's successor. It would undoubtedly come as a shock that not only was that young boy responsible for so much death and chaos, but that he was being shipped away to Tartarus. In the headquarters of the Hero Commission, there were five heroes adamantly protesting this decision made by the heads of the Commission.
"What're you all thinking?" Hawks said, "Where in those heads of yours did you think that locking up Mob in Tartarus of all places was a good idea?" These five heroes had driven to the headquarters as fast as they could in Best Jeanist's car, but could see in the eyes of the Commission heads that talking them down would not be an easy task.
"Watch your tone with us, Hawks," Masa replied.
"But Hawks is right," Best Jeanist, "It seems rash to automatically send Kageyama to the highest security prison in Japan."
""Rash"?" Kamori was baffled by the number four hero's statement. "Do you not understand the seriousness of the situation? More than half of Yavin forest has been destroyed! 53 people are dead! All Might is in the hospital on the verge of death! Because of Kageyama's power!"
The five heroes shifted uncomfortably in their places. They had been brought up to speed on the aftermath of Kageyama's loss of control, and it had absolutely horrified them to learn of the casualties. Not only because of the people that had died, but because they knew how much this would break Kageyama if he ever found this out. They had already experienced his sadness when he'd shared his energy with them, and even now they were all still rattled by it. Imagining that pain multiplied a hundredfold was just... unbearable.
"But he didn't mean to cause any of this," Edgeshot countered, "It was an accident."
"You really think that would matter to the public?" Nakatomi couldn't believe the heroes' lack of foresight towards this incident. "If the world found out that Kageyama was responsible for this, they'd lose all faith in him! They'd see him as a dangerous, uncontrollable villain who would destroy an entire city if he was free to work as a hero!"
"Besides, can any of you five guarantee us this won't happen again?" The Commission President firmly continued Nakatomi's point. "All Might, the Symbol of Peace, is now in the hospital thanks to Kageyama. If he lost control again, at this moment, could any of you tell me that you could stop him? Even assuming Eraserhead could nullify his Quirk, we can't guarantee he could arrive in-time before Kageyama destroys everything around him. So until we have a full understanding of what caused this, we're keeping Kageyama under the tightest security possible. Now leave! We have important matters to discuss. We'll notify you on the matter once we have more information or if we have some questions that require your answers. And under no circumstances are you to reveal the details of this incident to ANYONE, understood?"
The five heroes felt their throats tighten. As much as they'd like to counter all the statements made by the heads of the Commission, they couldn't. Even the top five heroes working together weren't enough to keep him under control. With All Might hospitalized, they had even less of a chance of stopping him. So with heavy hearts, the five heroes exited the room and left the Hero Commission to decide the fate of Shigeo Kageyama.
Standing outside the door, the number three hero clenched his fists in frustration. "Damn it! I never thought things could turn out this badly!"
"Keep your voice down, Hawks," said Edgeshot, placing his hand on the hero's shoulder. "I understand your frustration. But right now isn't the time to let our emotions get the better of us. The five of us need to find somewhere isolated to discuss the extent of what happened and figure out what to do next."
Best Jeanist nodded in agreement. "Yes. There are several questions about what we saw that need answering. But where should we go?"
"We should go to U.A. High." Aizawa suggested, "There, we can also discuss things with Principal Nezu."
"But the Commission gave us orders not to reveal this information to anyone," Edgeshot replied.
"Principal Nezu has a very keen mind and a pivotal role in hero society," Aizawa countered, "We're going to need someone with the intellect and resources he possesses."
"Besides, knowing the Commission, I'm sure they'll eventually bring him in to fill him in on what's happened," Hawks added, "Wouldn't make sense to leave the principal of the school Kageyama goes to in the dark about something as serious as this."
The group of heroes all packed together in Best Jeanist's car as they drove back to U.A. High. As the heroes were sitting in silence, all of them could sense a heaviness weighing on them. Their expressions were somber as they gazed out into the horizon, watching the sunset over the nation. Seeing the sunset and the darkness setting over Japan felt like a sad reflection of their current emotional state and the horrors that had transpired that day.
"You're all still feeling it, too, aren't you?" Best Jeanist, "Even an hour after he shared his energy with us, his emotions are still raging in my heart."
Edgeshot nodded. "Yes. To think that someone so young could be capable of such grief. Never in my life have I..." The number five hero's body began trembling, and his eyes began to water. The other heroes in the car could hear him trying to maintain his composure, and they, too, felt tears pooling in their eyes. Even the emotionally distanced Endeavor and Eraserhead struggled to keep themselves from crying.
"And to think that this is only a small piece of his energy shared with all of us," Hawks remarked, "Right now, Mob's heart must still be flooded with this overwhelming grief, chaining him down like a caged bird whose wings were clipped."
"Then step on it, Jeanist!" Edgeshot didn't need to tell Best Jeanist twice. The number four hero pushed the accelerator and went full speed towards U.A. High. Within half an hour, the group of heroes arrived at the school. Since it was already dark outside and many of the relief efforts were focused on the other areas of the city, the school was vacant. The teachers had either gone home or were helping with the wounded in the city. Principal Nezu remained seated in his office, lamenting the damage that befell the city. As with many other citizens, it had been a total shock to see such devastation before him. The hairs all across his body were standing on their ends. What could've been responsible for such destruction?
"Principal Nezu." The group of heroes barged into the principal's office. "You got my message, right?" Eraserhead said.
"Yes, you made it quite clear that whatever we needed to discuss was extremely urgent," Nezu replied.
The number three hero let out a defeated scoff. "You don't know the half of it. Let's get you filled in on the crazy shit that went down in the city. First thing's first, you need to know... Mob's the one who caused all this trouble." Saying it out loud made the hero's body tighten with revulsion. The principal's eyebrows furrowed up in shock.
"What do you mean? You're saying... Kageyama's responsible for the destruction of the city?"
"Yea..." Hawks lowered his head in sorrow. "It all started when he learned that his class would be expelled.
The principal listened intently as the number three hero began telling the story of Mob's rampage, from their initial conversation at the hospital, to the moment in the forest when All Might knocked Mob unconscious, all the way to the instant when Aizawa arrived and put an end to the esper's rampage. The other heroes stood beside him quietly, observing the shock on Principal Nezu's face as the horrifying truth was unveiled.
"So the Hero Commission has decided to place him in Tartarus until further notice?"
"Correct," Best Jeanist replied.
The principal leaned back against the seat. "I would never have expected Kageyama could be capable of something like this."
Endeavor shook his head. "But that's just it. Whatever it was that destroyed the city, it wasn't Kageyama."
"From what Hawks was describing, it was as though some sort of primal instinct from within Kageyama took over and began causing mass destruction."
"I'm not sure if it was just a primal instinct..." Hawks leaned against the principal's desk. "Whatever awakened inside of him, it had a drive, a will of its own that compelled Kageyama to move forward. When he was in that trance, Kageyama kept to his original course. He only attacked us when we provoked him into combat, but its primary objective was at the school, the same as Kageyama."
Endeavor continued this line of thought. "And it only stopped once Aizawa said he would no longer expel the students."
"I see..." Principal Nezu pondered this information. "So one could say it was almost like a subconscious instinct of his that awakened when he was in great peril."
"Maybe, but there's still too many unknowns here to pinpoint a logical answer to this." The avian hero ran his hand through his hair. "So Principal Nezu, after hearing all that, you have any ideas how we should proceed?"
The principal leaned forward, perching his hand beneath his chin as he contemplated everything. "This is indeed quite the unfortunate predicament we're faced with. As you said, Hawks, this situation has too many unknowns. We don't know with absolute certainty what caused Kageyama to lose control. We don't know if he'll lose control again, and we have no effective countermeasures put into place. He's an anomaly we can't properly analyze."
"What about his parents?" Edgeshot inquired. "Could they possibly have any insight into this?" Both Nezu and Aizawa exchanged brief glances with one another. They were worried this topic would come up eventually. Now that Kageyama was in Tartarus, it looked as though this would be another glaring problem. Nevertheless, Nezu and All Might had already prepared for this possibility.
"Kageyama's parents gave him up for adoption at an orphanage when he was young. It was All Might who saw his potential and decided to have him enlisted as a student at U.A. High. However, I wouldn't count on the orphanage providing us any insight into this problem."
"Are you sure there's no one there who could give us an answer?" Best Jeanist asked, "We need any help we can get."
"I assure you that there is no insight we can gain from them. The only person who could possibly have any answers for us is All Might. He's the one who had Kageyama enrolled in U.A. High and the teacher who knows his powers best."
Hawks was not on board with this. "But we don't know when he's going to wake up. Are we gonna rely on such an unknown factor while we let Kageyama sit in Tartarus?"
"I'm afraid that until we get some answers, there's nothing else we can do. With the limited knowledge we have on Kageyama's powers, we can't guarantee the public won't be endangered, and as long as that possibility exists without a countermeasure, I doubt the Hero Commission will change their mind. So as painful as it may be to say it, for now we need to let Kageyama remain in Tartarus."
The heroes felt their bodies tense with frustration. The flames around Endeavor's body flared up as the veins in his face tensed. Hawks clenched his fists, his feathers ruffling with frustration. They all had the urge to give into their emotions and charge straight toward the van to free the suffering, guilt-ridden teenager being driven to Tartarus. But deep down, they knew such a plan was folly and would only create more problems.
The number two hero's flames died down. He placed his hand over his face in defeat. "It would seem like there's nothing more we can accomplish here."
"Let me assure you, I don't wish for a student with such a noble heart to be locked away in Tartarus, either. I'll be sure to keep in touch with all of you and ensure we all remain properly informed on the situation," Principal Nezu assured. "Now all of you should return home. You'll need proper rest after all of this."
The top heroes picked up their bodies and slowly made their way to the exit. Principal Nezu and Eraserhead watched the defeated heroes exit the room. As the door was shut, Aizawa decided to wait a few more seconds to be sure the other heroes were far enough to avoid hearing what he'd say.
"Should we have told the other heroes the truth about Kageyama and where he's really from?"
The principal let out a sigh. "Yes, I had contemplated revealing the truth to them. But as I said, there are still too many unknowns. Acting rashly at this stage could have serious repercussions. Revealing such a secret could have dangerous implications for the future."
"Yes... Imagine what the Hero Commission would do if they learned Kageyama's from another reality."
"Indeed. That's why we need to consult carefully in these upcoming days. We'll try to reason with the Hero Commission and convince them not to cause any harm to Kageyama while he's imprisoned. When All Might wakes up, we'll have to discuss everything that's happened IMMEDIATELY. As his guardian and the one who knows Kageyama best, his input will help us decide how to proceed with the other heroes and the Hero Commission."
The hero slumped into a chair. Like the rest of the heroes, he was overcome with a feeling of overwhelming sadness and dread. But more than this, the hero felt a burgeoning sense of guilt."All I wanted to do was discipline the students," he muttered, "Make them see that it wasn't ok to act recklessly and endanger their own lives. I thought that it would mold them into better, more responsible heroes. But instead, my decision to expel Class 1-A led to a rampage that got people killed and now has forced Kageyama to carry an insurmountable burden."
"There's no way you could have known things would transpire this way. No one could've predicted such a calamity."
This did little to assuage the guilt within the teacher's heart. "I was supposed to be sending letters to the families of the students in Class 1-A who were expelled. But after all this? My method of dealing with this situation was clearly flawed."
"So you're rescinding your expulsions then?"
Eraserhead nodded. "I'll have to start taking a different approach in these situations. Besides, with everything Kageyama's just gone through, I imagine seeing all of his class together at U.A. High would be a nice welcome-back present."
In spite of what had occurred, Nezu couldn't help cracking a small smile of agreement. The two U.A. High staff sat in silence as the gravity of the day's events continued to fester around them. While they were sitting in this office, Shigeo was being restrained in a security transport, about to be locked away in the highest security prison in the country. What was going through his mind?
The sky was pitch black. The moon's light was covered by a thick layer of cloud, reflecting the gloom that would quickly spread around the country. On the road the security truck was on the edge of the road that would take them to Tartarus. A violent cascade of waves crashed beneath them. This high-security prison had been placed five miles away from the mainland, on a remote island with only one road to and from the facility.
As the van drove down the road, they reached the entrance to the prison. Ahead of them were giant walls surrounding the entire prison, showing anyone just from a glance how seriously this prison took its security. The van was met by a pair of guards at the entrance of the gate. One of the guards tapped on the window of the van.
"Bringing in a new inmate?" the guard asked.
"Yep. We're bringing in another Nomu made by the League of Villains. It caused a huge disaster in Musutafu. Order from the Hero Commission is that we're to bring the Nomu down to B10 while fully contained in the Iron Maiden."
"It's that serious, then? But if you wanna transport the Nomu in the Iron Maiden, you'll have to take the freight elevator down to B-10. I'll contact the guards up-front so they can direct you there."
The driver nodded and made his way forward. The guard had just been told the fabrication that would soon be spread all across the world. Everywhere, the people would come to believe that the cause of this disaster was a new Nomu that the League of Villains had created in response to All For One's defeat, an emergency contingency that activated to finish its master's final request to take down hero society, starting at U.A. High. Surely, such a threat had to be contained and transported with the highest security.
The public would be made purposefully ignorant of the reality that Shigeo Kageyama was being transported into this top-security prison. Such a truth could undermine the very fabric of hero society and everything the young teenager had just begun to build. This is why even most of the guards in Tartarus would not be made aware of the prisoner's true identity. Only the Hero Commission's special task force would carry the knowledge of the prisoner's true identity.
Inside the iron maiden, Shigeo Kageyama could feel everything moving around him. The containment unit that he'd been placed in was being carried out of the van. Outside, he could hear the sound of gears turning and machinery powering on. His body was moving downward, meaning that he must've been put onto an elevator. But where would they put him? How far down were they taking him?
The esper could feel the iron maiden being rolled down a hallway. It continued moving for several seconds before it stopped. Mob could hear the sound of a large door opening up. After more than an hour of being locked in the iron maiden, Shigeo finally had the chance to see where he was as one of the guards opened the door for him.
"In here." The Hero Commission Task Force members guided the chained esper out of the containment unit. Shigeo took a good look at where he was being placed. It was a dimly lit room covered with multiple white panels. On top of the ceiling were multiple automated machine guns. He looked in front of him and saw a chair with several restraints attached and monitoring equipment sitting on the side.
"Hey." One of the guards tapped Mob's shoulder. He turned his head and saw the guard with a straitjacket in his hands. "We need you to put this on." Though he felt unnerved by what he was seeing, Mob still did as requested and stayed still as the guards put the straightjacket on him. Once they finished putting the straightjacket on, they moved him to the high-tech chair. They began placing the restraints around the esper's body, hooking up the machinery so they could detect his vitals. As he was being restrained, Shigeo felt his body shudder in fear. They were really going to these extremes to keep him under control? Were they going to keep him like this for the rest of his life.
The guards securing the restraints could see the horror forming on the young boy's face, and each of them stirred uncomfortably in their place. None of them felt ok putting these kinds of restraints on a young boy, especially the one whose heroics they'd witnessed televised just a few days ago. But the Hero Commission had given them orders, and none of them could afford to disobey.
As this happened, several guards were watching the inmates in the prison's monitoring room. Several monitors were in place showing the insides of each of the cells to ensure the prisoners didn't attempt to use their Quirks.
"Hey, have you heard the chatter through the com system?" one of the guards said, "Apparently, there's a new Nomu that's being brought in."
"Really?" another guard replied, "The League just doesn't know when ti quit when making those things, does it?"
"Apparently, they're bringing it down to the lowest level of the prison, right next to All For One's cell."
"It must be pretty dangerous if the Hero Commission decided to put it on B10. Anybody that tries to break outta there's gonna have to deal with the water pressure from 500 meters below sea level."
"It's gonna be put in the new cell any minute now." The two guards looked at the monitors for the cells in level B10, but before either of them could get a look at the new Nomu, they were interrupted by the sound of the Hero Commission Task Force entering the room.
"Who're you?"
"We're members of the Hero Commission Task Force. We've been assigned by the Hero Commission to keep watch over the new Nomu for the time being." The task force members motioned the guards out of their seats, quickly taking positions and adjusting the monitors for level B10. "We're going to be in charge of surveillance. All other guards in charge of surveillance will be moved to another post until further notice."
The two guards gave each other puzzled looks. What was going on? What was so special about this Nomu that they needed an entire task force just to keep watch over it? Even All For One's arrival didn't warrant this kind of response. They were just a few of the many individuals who would be kept in the dark about this. Until the Hero Commission decided when Mob could be released, they refused to let anyone else know of Shigeo Kageyama's detainment in Tartarus. For now, the burgeoning symbol of peace would be treated as though he were the next symbol of evil, waiting to unleash his power and destroy everything in his path.
As one student of Class 1-A was being thrown into the deepest level of Tartarus, the remaining students of Class 1-A were all dealing with their own trauma about the events that had transpired. Almost all the students had gone home that night, waiting for the letters in the mail confirming what their teacher had told them earlier that afternoon. Many of them didn't even have the courage to tell their parents why their teacher had called them to the school. They felt the letter would do a good enough job explaining to their parents what they could not tell them.
Then, out of nowhere, there were reports flooding in about a massive disaster that had taken place in Musutafu that evening. Apparently, A Nomu had been sent by the League of Villains to attack U.A. High. This Nomu was apparently so powerful, it defeated All Might. In a day filled with shocks, they were greeted with the shock of their teacher's emaciated, skeleton-like state. The shining of symbol of peace they had all revered as their protector was in reality, a shell of his former self. None of them knew how to process this information, and like the rest of the nation, they had many questions their teacher could not give the answers to.
Nevertheless, the students were sure none of this changed what was going to transpire. They were positive that tomorrow morning, the letters would come in the mail, spelling the end of their time at U.A. High.
So they waited, and so the morning came. The students had gotten out of their beds, waiting for their parents in the living room, holding the envelope in their hands, confirming what their homeroom teacher had told them. But to their shock... no such letter came. Instead of the expulsion letter dooming their hero careers, a letter from U.A. High informed them of their decision to institute a dorm system for the students of the hero course. The letter informed them that the teachers would be arriving at their homes in person to discuss the full details of the new dorm system and to request approval from the parents.
None of the students could understand what was happening. Their teacher had been so sure of his decision to teach Class 1-A a lesson for their flagrant violation of school rules. For the few parents whose children had decided to tell them the truth about their expulsion, they were equally confused by Aizawa's behavior.
The first house on Mr. Aizawa's list was none other than Bakugo himself. The young student greeted Mr. Aizawa, but as soon as he saw his homeroom teacher, he could see something was off about him. His eyes were more sunken than usual. Though he was wearing an actual uniform instead of his regular hero costume, his hair and face somehow looked even more disheveled than usual. Not only that, but there was a faint redness in his gaze, almost as if the hero had been crying. Unbeknownst to everyone, he was still feeling the aftereffects of sharing Mob's energy, and coupled with the guilt he felt over inadvertently causing Kageyama's rampage, it had taken a toll on the hero.
"Oh. Didn't expect to see you here so early."
"Yeah, well, I thought your family might need some extra convincing."
"Mr. Aizawa!" The parents came from behind their son to greet the hero at the door. The father, Masoru, was the first to speak. "Welcome. It's a pleasure to have you in our house. Please, come in."
The parents guided Eraserhead to the living room, where they motioned him to the cushioned chair on the left. The four each took a seat to prepare for what Aizawa had to say. Sitting down, Bakugo was feeling surprisingly uneasy.
Things had been a disaster for him these past few days. At the camp, he'd been taken hostage by the villains without even understanding what had happened. Next thing he knew, Kageyama said he was going with the villains. He'd tried to rush the villains and stop them from leaving with Kageyama, but the bowl-cut had just used his telekinesis to push him and everyone else away. Then, Bakugo had gone with half-a-dozen of his classmates to try and rescue Kageyama. He'd just been fueled with rage and indignation, refusing to stand idly on the sidelines while the heroes did everything, and ESPECIALLY when Kageyama had been forced to bail him out.
But... it was a complete disaster. All For One had gotten the drop on all of them. Even now, he was still haunted by the fear of imminent death he'd experienced that night. Kageyama had been forced to save him AGAIN. Bakugo was yet another spectator, watching from afar as Kageyama did battle with one of the most powerful villains of all time. It had been a massive humiliation to add to the pile of losses and humiliations he'd experienced ever since he met the bowl cut. He contributed absolutely nothing to the rescue, and he'd been shown just how wide the gap between him and Kageyama was.
Then, only three days after their disastrous attempt at a rescue, their homeroom teacher had called the class together to let them know almost everyone in their class had been expelled. Bakugo had tried to do something meaningful, and the only thing he got out of it was a mark on his permanent record. He got himself and nearly all of his class expelled because of his actions. Last night, he'd spent all his time locked up in his room, sulking to himself over this drastic turn of events.
Bakugo thought things had gotten as bad as they could've gotten. Next thing he knew, he was reading breaking news articles about a villain attack in Musutafu. He remembered staring slack-jawed at his screen for more than a minute when he saw the picture of All Might's weakened form. This hero, the most unstoppable force in the world he'd always looked up to as a symbol of victory, was actually a frail, withered skeleton. It had been too much to take in after the craziness that had transpired the entire week.
But then suddenly, his homeroom teacher had sent a letter letting his parents know about the new dorms. In a week of massive downs, there was a very small up in all of this that he couldn't understand.
"As you already saw in the letter, I've come here today to tell you about the new dorm system U.A. High is going to implement this semester. Heights Alliance will be a dormitory for all the students in the hero course, designed to ensure that they remain properly protected by our staff at all times. We'd like your son to be moved into this dormitory effective immediately. I'm sure you'll have complaints, but-"
"You kidding? Hell yeah, get this kid in a dorm!" The homeroom teacher was taken aback by how eager Bakugo's mother, Mitsuki, was to accept this proposition. "Honestly, I thought our kid's career at U.A. High was done for. He came here yesterday telling us he'd gotten expelled because he had to butt in and try to save Kageyama himself. But now you're telling us that you want our kid to be put in your dorm for this semester? Sounds like just the sort of thing that'd straighten him out!"
Bakugo was about to give a scathing rebuke to his mother, but he noticed his homeroom teacher leaning forward, his gaze now firmly directed at the ground. "I'm positive you're aware of the disaster that took place yesterday and the critical condition All Might is in right now. I'm sure you must've been shocked seeing All Might in such a weakened state. Seeing the direness of this situation has caused me to rethink my decision, and I've decided to take a different approach."
Mitsuki's eyes softened. "Things have been pretty crazy these past two weeks. But I think you've got a good head on your shoulders. At the press conference, even when those reporters hounded you and thought the villains would turn Mob over to their side, you stuck to your guns and defended your student. Then we saw that unbelievable battle, the guts Kageyama showed even when he could barely stand. If you're teaching students like that, then I think U.A. High knows what it's doing."
"I'm glad to see you still have faith in our institution." The teacher reached into his coat pocket and took out a piece of paper. "Here's some more details on the Heights Alliance you can look over. If you've approved our decision to place your son in the new dormitory, then I'll have to be going. I need to visit the rest of the families of Class 1-A by the end of the day."
"We completely understand," Masoru replied.
"And one more thing. I'd like for all the students of Class 1-A to visit Heights Alliance later tonight. I need to clarify some things with them before the move-in process begins."
The two parents stared at each other quizically but saw no reason to object. "If you got something to say to the class, better sooner than later," Mitsuki replied.
Mitsuki and Masoru began looking over the sheets they'd been given, and Mr. Aizawa saw himself out the door. But as the homeroom teacher exited the house, Bakugo came from behind him.
"Hey. I wanted to ask... you checked in with bowl-cut yet? I can't have him stay in that hospital bed for too long, or else I won't get the chance for a rematch when he gets back." The teenager noticed his teacher flinch ever-so-slightly. It seemed as though bringing up Kageyama elicited a negative reaction, but why?
"...He's still got a bit to go before he gets out of there. But don't worry, you'll get your chance for a rematch soon enough."
Mr. Aizawa walked back to his car. Bakugo stared at his teacher for a few more seconds. He was perceptive enough to know something big had happened to his teacher in the past day, but what could've occurred to instill him with sadness? Bakugo sighed: This week had really been a massive rollercoaster he still hadn't gotten out of.
After visiting Bakugo's house, Mr. Aizawa decided his next stop would be at Yaoyorozu's mansion. Like his students, he had marveled at the size and elegance of the estate. Contrasting the wealthy decor decorating this luxurious mansion, Yaoyorozu's parents, Akemi and Yoshiro, were extremely polite and well-mannered. Knowing their daughter's teacher would be coming, they decided to greet him in person instead of having the family butler answer the door. The homeroom teacher hid his amazement as he walked through this mansion's gilded hallways and various rooms.
Aizawa took a seat on a velvet chair while the parents and their daughter sat opposite on their sofa. The teacher began explaining the new dorm system as he had done with Bakugo's parents. Sitting in her seat, Yaoyorozu did her best to hide her squeamish disposition. Ever since last night, she'd felt like a wreck. She didn't have the confidence to tell her parents that she'd been expelled from U.A. High. Instead, she'd done as Bakugo had done and isolated herself in her room. So many thoughts had been wracking her mind. The humiliation of being expelled from U.A. High, the disappointment of letting her friends down and being part of the rescue operation that ended up putting her life in danger and getting her class kicked out of U.A. High. But perhaps more than anything was the guilt of letting Kageyama down.
He'd protected her and their entire class repeatedly, enduring pain and trauma for their sake, and was currently lying in a hospital bed because he'd fought for their sakes. She'd wanted so desperately to visit him in the hospital, to say all the words she needed to say, but she never got the chance. All she could think of last night was what she would say to her friend now that she'd been expelled from U.A. High.
But this morning, the letter that had come in the mail was not of expulsion but of an invitation to be part of the new dorm system U.A. had created. This created an onslaught of questions within the young girl's mind that she wanted her teacher to answer, and she struggled not to blurt these questions out like an immature child.
"So you're saying our daughter would be living on-campus with the rest of her class this semester?" asked Akemi, "When is the move-in date?"
"We had planned to have the students begin the move-in process tomorrow. I'd also like for all the students of Class 1-A to meet me at Heights Alliance later tonight to discuss some things before they move in. Of course, that's assuming whether or not you accept our proposition."
The two parents stirred in their seats, contemplating everything the hero had just told them. Yaoyorozu's father was the first to speak. "Things have been undoubtedly hectic these past few months. First, we hear about our daughter having a run-in with a villain at the mall. Then, the news is talking villains attacking the training camp." He affectionately stroked his daughter's hair. "Our daughter suffered a serious blow to the head. Thankfully, there was no permanent damage, but it was still quite the scare for us."
"We fully acknowledge our negligence in allowing your daughter and the rest of her classmates to come to harm. We're hoping you'll give us the opportunity to make up for our mistakes and continue to teach Momo."
Akemi's thoughts went to the incident in Kamino. "We were watching the fight with Kageyama and that villain. We couldn't believe that a student was actually fighting such a powerful enemy. But even when he could barely stand, he found the courage to get back up and fight for his friends. I have to admit, both my husband and I were cheering him as he tried to stand against that man. Though it was quite terrifying to see such a young child so terribly injured, I was amazed by his determination." Akemi placed her arm around her daughter's shoulders and gently nudged her closer. "My daughter has spoken very highly of him, and I've seen how kind he can be. If U.A. High is responsible for teaching such a brave and compassionate student, I'm positive that it's the right place for my daughter."
Yoshiro nodded in complete agreement. Momo, seeing that her parents had brought Kageyama up, decided to ask the questions that had been clouding her mind. "Mr. Aizawa, do you know how Kageyama's doing? Is he going to get out of the hospital soon?"
Aizawa, who'd already felt his body tensing up at the mention of Kageyama, clutched the armrests of his chair. "...At the moment, I'm uncertain when Kageyama will be returning to U.A. High. But I can assure you that you'll get to see him again."
As with Bakugo's parents, Aizawa handed the parents a pamphlet with extra details about the dorm system. "Here's a pamphlet with more details about Heights Alliance. If you've agreed to move your daughter into the dormitory, then that concludes my business here. I still have more than a dozen families to visit, so I don't have the time to stay."
"We understand," Yoshiro replied, "Would you like us to see you out?"
"No, I remember the way, but thank you for the offer. Have a pleasant evening." The teacher bid farewell to Yaoyorozu's family and prepared to make his next stop on his extensive journey today. As the family of three sat alone in their expansive living room, the parents turned their attention to their daughter.
"Momo, what's wrong? Are you still worried about Kageyama?" Akemi asked. Yaoyorozu nodded, her body trembling as she struggled to keep her composure.
"There's so much I have to tell him, so many things I have to apologize for. It isn't fair that he had to carry the responsibility and pain of protecting our class by himself. I'm Class 1-A's vice representative. I should've been the one stepping up and keeping our class safe. Instead, I had to watch while he faced the League of Villains by himself not once but twice."
Yoshiro tenderly embraced his daughter. "Momo, don't burden yourself like this. We know you've done your best to look out for your class."
"But I didn't do anything meaningful! In the end, I helped lead almost half of my class to their deaths and had to be saved by Kageyama, the person I was supposed to help bring home. All I did was make trouble for Kageyama and everyone else!"
Akemi joined in his hug and tried to calm Momo's rattled nerves. "Your heart was in the right place, and all of your classmates are alive and safe. That's what matters most. And as long as you make sure to think things through and follow the rules, I'm positive you'll be able to help Kageyama and anyone else who will need saving in the future."
Hearing these words of assurance from her parents helped calm her mind. But even now, she couldn't help feeling something was still off. Aizawa had given her no reason for why he changed his decision about expulsion. He never even brought up the expulsion to her parents. Why was that? What's more, while Aizawa had promised Kageyama would return to U.A. High, the way he said it sounded almost... pained. It's as if mentioning Kageyama was bringing up the same kind of pain it brought to her and the rest of her class. Why was that? What could he have been hiding?
Aizawa had been driving all throughout town these past few hours. Luckily, he'd gotten the approval from Jirou, Hagakure, Shoji, and Kaminari's parents. His next stop was Midoriya's house. Unlike the other places he visited, Midoriya lived in a small apartment, and instead of two parents, Midoriya's mother, Inko, was the only legal guardian who greeted him. Standing behind her, Izuku stood with fidgety fingers and nervousness in his gaze.
"Mr. Aizawa, it's a pleasure to have you in our home," Inko said, "Come in. Make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you." The teacher walked behind the mother and son through the hallway. On his right, Aizawa caught a glimpse of Izuku's room filled to the brim with All Might merchandise. Looked as though All Might really had some dedicated fans.
As he walked, Izuku struggled not to look back at his teacher. This morning, he'd experienced a very surprising turn of events. He was expecting to walk into the living room with his mother holding the expulsion letter. Instead, the letter she'd held in her hand was about the new dormitories U.A. had created for the students in the hero course. Not one word in the letter made any reference to an expulsion. It had been both a relief and a shock. If Aizawa had rescinded his previous decision to expel Izuku, then that would mean he'd decided the rest of the class wouldn't be expelled, either! But he still couldn't pinpoint what caused such a change of heart in his teacher. Mr. Aizawa wasn't one to change his mind so easily. Could it have been because of the Nomu attack in Musutafu yesterday? Not only that, but All Might's weakened form had been revealed to the world. It seemed possible, but Izuku wasn't sure. It felt like there was something missing in this.
The three took a seat on a wooden table in the main living room, where some coffee and snacks had already been laid out for the teacher. "I imagine you already know why I'm here," Aizawa said, "You received a notice that U.A. is moving its students to dormitories."
"Yes..." Inko's eyes went down to the table. "I've been giving it a lot of thought, and I'm not sure if it's what's best for my son." Izuku gasped, while Aizawa remained composed. The teacher had been expecting some resistance from the parents.
"I thought this morning you said you were okay with me moving into the dorms," Izuku said.
"I did, but after spending some time thinking these past few hours, I'm having second thoughts." Inko clenched her fists, recalling her son's difficult childhood. "It's always been Izuku's dream to follow in All Might's footsteps, even though he never developed a Quirk as a child. Suddenly, a Quirk miraculously appeared. But ever since he got this new power, I've seen how he's had to hurt himself just to get by."
"And then there's Shigeo Kageyama. That boy's a close friend of Izuku, and he's unbelievably powerful. I watched his battle on TV and saw how badly that man injured him. As a citizen, I was amazed by his bravery and cheered him on when he was close to losing the battle. But as a mother, I was horrified to see someone so young beaten so badly. So far, Izuku's been lucky enough that he hasn't received any permanent damage. But if Izuku keeps going to U.A. High, I'm worried the day might come when he gets an injury he can't recover from."
Inko's gaze returned up to stare at Mr. Aizawa. "Frankly speaking, from what I've seen so far, I don't know if I have the nerves to entrust my son to U.A. with everything that's happened at your school."
Izuku opened his mouth to object to his mother's points, but Aizawa raised his hand. "I understand your points completely, ma'am." The homeroom teacher got up from his chair and bowed toward Inko. "Though I said this before at the press conference, I apologize for any trauma that your son and his classmates have incurred because of our negligence. Though Kageyama may have chosen to go with the villains and chosen to fight All For One by himself, he should never have been forced to make that choice in the first place. And for that, both U.A. High and I take full responsibility."
Aizawa moved his body upright to face Inko and took his seat again. "However, I want you to recall the battle Shigeo Kageyama had with the villain. Kageyama was only able to gain the will to fight again because he knew that your son and his friends were cheering him on. I believe that Kageyama has helped your son as well. I've seen the way he's worked with his club, the Body Improvement Club, to strengthen their bodies and their spirits. The bonds that your son and his friends have made with Kageyama helped mold him into the hero who stood victorious against All For One, and those bonds also helped your son persevere when the training camp was attacked.
Aizawa gripped the fabric of his pants, doing his best to hide his trembling body. "With All Might's weakened form exposed, times have become more uncertain. I believe that the class will need each other now more than ever if any of them are to become successful heroes. Enrolling your son in this dormitory system will ensure that your son and all his classmates become stronger together." Aizawa's voice rose, showing his resolve. "And let me assure you, both I and every other teacher at U.A. High will work harder than ever to protect the student body and mold them into top heroes. So please, give us this chance, and we will not let you down."
Izuku was shocked by the emotion in his teacher's voice. He'd never heard Mr. Aizawa speak like this before. Inko was likewise touched by the sincerity and humility in the hero's voice. She contemplated his words and the friendship Izuku had with Kageyama. "You're right that my son has been a close friend of Kageyama. So many days, I'd come home, and he'd tell me about his time with the Body Improvement Club. He'd always tell me that Kageyama had this determination to help push himself and his friends to improve themselves. I wasn't sure if my son was exaggerating, considering how he froze up in his speech during the Sports Festival. But seeing the way he kept fighting, how he found the will to stand and chant the motto of his club... I admit I found it truly inspiring. I hadn't considered before that it was thanks to Izuku that Kageyama found that inner strength or that Kageyama was inspiring Izuku."
Inko looked at her son, and a warm smile spread across her face. "What kind of mother would I be if I ripped away that kind of friendship from my son? After all, he did say he'd reunite with you and the rest of your classmates at U.A. High, correct?"
Tears began forming in Izuku's eyes, and he reciprocated his mother's warm smile. "Of course, Mom!"
Aizawa closed his eyes and gave a small smile. It looked as though his words had managed to do the trick. As with the other parents, he gave Izuku's mother the pamphlet for Heights Alliance. "You'll find more details about the dormitory there. I still have at least a dozen houses to visit, so I can't afford to stay much longer. And Midoriya, I'd like for you to come to Heights Alliance at 7:00 tonight with the rest of your class to discuss some urgent matters with you.
"Oh... sure thing."
"Good." The teacher got out of his chair and prepared to leave, but before he took more than a few steps, his student shouted out a question.
"Mr. Aizawa, how's Kageyama? Is he going to be back at U.A. High soon?"
The teacher stayed silent in his place for a moment. He'd heard this question from every student he'd visited at every house so far, and every time they asked this question, it became more and more difficult to give an answer. The teacher spoke but did not turn to acknowledge his student. "...You'll get to see him at U.A. High eventually. That, I can assure you."
Without another word, the high school teacher left the apartment. Being one of the more perceptive students of Class 1-A, Midoriya could also tell something was off about his teacher's behavior. Though he was elated that he'd get the chance to resume his education at U.A. High, something about this entire thing didn't sit right with him.
The sun had already begun to set over Musutafu. The various students of Class 1-A had already made the trek towards Heights Alliance to meet with their teacher. Thankfully, all of the parents of the students had accepted U.A. High's offer of enrolling them into the dormitories. Many of the students felt a tremendous sense of relief knowing they wouldn't have to leave U.A. High. However, there were several who had caught on to the suspicious change their teacher had experienced.
Walking together to the Heights Alliance as they had done the day before, several of the students met each other along the way and exchanged stories with one another about the turn of events.
"I never thought Mr. Aizawa would change his mind after all that talk yesterday," Ojiro said.
"Me either," replied Mineta, "I thought for sure we were goners."
"You have any idea what could've changed his mind," Kaminari wondered.
"It was probably the huge villain attack that happened literally yesterday," Mineta responded, "I still can't believe All Might was hiding such a weak-looking body. Man, I really hope he gets out of the hospital quick. It's bad enough that Kageyama's stuck in there."
Kaminari nodded. "I hear you, dude."
Each group of students was having these separate conversations before they all joined together at the very same spot they'd been the day before. The students all began murmuring to one another, but their voices were instantly silenced by the arrival of their homeroom teacher standing in front of Heights Alliance.
"Good evening, class." Mr. Aizawa walked down the steps to approach his nervous class. "I visited all of your families today to discuss with them the new dormitory, and every family has accepted U.A. High's offer, so starting tomorrow, everyone here will begin moving into their new dormitories. However, that's not the reason why I asked you all here tonight."
The teacher took a brief pause to mentally prepare everything he was going to say. "I'm sure all of you are surprised by my decision to reverse your expulsions. I chose not to mention the expulsions to your parents unless directly asked, as I assumed not all of you wanted to reveal this to your parents." Mr. Aizawa let out a sigh.
"In light of recent events that occurred yesterday, it has made me reevaluate my decision. I believe I went about the wrong way in choosing to expel you and didn't take the time to properly analyze the situation. I realized that there was an alternative method to the one I've usually followed while working as a teacher at this institution. In order to make sure you learn from your mistakes and follow the rules, I will ensure that all of you are properly educated and stick to the rulebook so that you can learn discipline the correct way. But that means all of you will have to work hard to regain our trust and prove to me I won't have to worry about your lives being put in danger again.
"On another note. Every student here asked me about Kageyama's condition, so let me reiterate what I've told you all already." The hero took a deep breath through his nostrils and exhaled. "Though he's sustained injuries, he's on the road to recovery, and you will all get to live with him in the dormitory. I can assure you all of that, even if I..." The leftover emotions from Mob's energy were swirling around inside him again, causing his body to tremble, "Even if I have to drag him out of there myself."
The teacher saw the students stir in their place at this last statement, and he realized his mistakes. Aizawa composed himself and pushed those residual feelings of grief down. "Now all of you should get back home. You've all got a big day tomorrow."
Aizawa paced back into the dormitory, leaving the students of Class 1-A to themselves. Coming from behind the class were Kendo and Tetsutetsu, the only two members of Class 1-B who were part of the Body Improvement Club.
"Yo, it's Class 1-A!" Tetsutetsu said, "What're all you guys doing here so late?"
"I'd heard a rumor floating around that almost everyone in your class got expelled, but I thought it was just some random lie somebody made up to spread some drama," Kendo added. "So is it true? Did your homeroom teacher really expel you guys?"
"Well, he did, but it turns out he changed his mind," Kaminari replied, "He called the class here to let us know why."
"Oh..." Kendo wasn't sure if she should ask the reason, "Well, at least you weren't expelled."
"You got that right," Kaminari replied. Though some of the students were still showing some of their relief, but many others were toiling in their place. For these people, they'd had the day to mull over events and their teacher's behavior, and they'd begun to piece together some theories.
"We gotta talk about Kageyama..." muttered Bakugo.
"Huh?" Tetsutetsu's ears caught the mention of Kageyama, "What about Kageyama? Did something happen to him?"
"It's none of your damn business!" Bakugo yelled, "This is between our class; last I checked, you're not in our class."
Kendo wouldn't let Bakugo bully his way into forcing them to leave. "We might not be members of Class 1-A, but we're members of the Body Improvement Club. If there's something important about our captain that you guys know about, we have the right to know it, too."
The other members of Class 1-A and the Body Improvement Club nodded their heads in agreement. Bakugo rolled his eyes and grumbled to himself. "...Alright, fine. Let's go hide behind those trees so all of us can talk cuz there's something off about all this."
The group of students all made their way into the nearby forest, out of sight of the faculty and anyone else.
"So what's the reason we're all huddled behind a group of trees?" Mineta asked.
"It's because there's something Mr. Aizawa isn't telling us." The students all turned their eyes towards Yaoyorozu. "His decision feels too... abrupt. Considering how strict he is with our class, for him to change his mind about such a serious decision within the span of a day is too bizarre."
"Well, it's probably because of the huge villain attack," Kaminari replied, "You guys definitely must know about it by now, right? There was a new Nomu the League of Villains sent to attack the school. It caused a huge rampage in Yavin Forest. It's power ended up killing more than 50 people. It was only thanks to Mr. Aizawa nullifying the Nomu's Quirks that the heroes were able to defeat it. I mean, that thing was strong enough to defeat All Might! You guys saw what he really looks right, didn't you?"
"Yes," Iida mumbled, "I never would've imagined that the number one hero was hiding such a frail body."
"Point is, that Nomu's probably what caused Mr. Aizawa to change his mind, knowing that the League of Villains had such an ace hiding up their sleeve. What's any of this got to do with Kageyama?"
It was Bakugo's turn to express his thoughts. "When Mr. Aizawa came to my house, it felt like there was something off about him. He looked... sadder than he usually does. Then, when I mentioned the bowl-cut, he froze up. Did any of you catch that when he visited your houses?"
"I caught that, too," Midoriya replied, "It's like bringing up Shige caused him pain."
"Mr. Aizawa seemed to tense up when I asked about Kageyama as well," Yaoyorozu noted.
Todoroki was next to voice the theory he'd created. "We all know that Kageyama's unbelievably powerful. That legendary battle he had less than a week ago showed that he could probably level an entire city. But he's also not the kind of person to openly show his emotions. The few times he has, it's been to awaken the tremendous power inside of him. I think we've all figured that out by now. But..." Todoroki struggled to get these next words out, for he had a hard time actually accepting them. "What if he couldn't always control that power?"
Many of the students simply stared at one another, unable to understand what their classmate was trying to say. However, the more perceptive teenagers were able to catch on to his point.
"Bakugo," Tenya exclaimed, "Are you trying to imply that... Kageyama's the one responsible for the rampage in Yavin Forest?"
A wave of gasps spread through the students like wildfire. "Come on, Todoroki, that's crazy!" Mineta said, "Kageyama'd never go ballistic like that!"
"Yeah, Kageyama's our friend and a member of Class 1-A!" Uraraka assured the others, "He'd never kill other people with his Quirk!"
Though many of the classmates seemed positive that Kageyama was innocent, others weren't as positive. Tokoyami, who'd been silent throughout most of this, felt compelled to share what he knew about Kageyama.
"When I was interning with Kageyama at Hawks' agency, Hawks was able to deduce some facts about him." The attention of all the students fell onto Tokoyami. "When he fought Todoroki in the Sports Festival finals, he told Hawks and I that the reason he surrendered is out of fear. He feared he would allow the thrill of the battle to overcome him and hurt Todoroki or the spectators." The others felt small gasps escape their lips.
"I'd always thought that was why he gave up, but I never had any proof until now," Todoroki replied.
"What's more, I learned Kageyama is always so sullen and reserved all the time is to keep his power restrained. As a means of sparing the world around him, he's locked away his emotions deep in his heart. But as Todoroki said, there are times which those emotions come out in the form of transformations that drastically boost his power. We saw how bravery increased his energy when he fought All For One, but what if there are other emotions that are released, ones he can't control? I remember he told me at the training camp, just before he left with the League of Villains, that he hoped I wouldn't have to live in fear of my power the way he did."
"I remember that, too..." Shoji muttered.
Kirishima was having difficulty accepting this. "But... even if you're right, what could've caused Kageyama to experience a surge of emotion like that? He already defeated All For One. The only thing that might've caused him to panic is if he heard we were..." The horror of this realization dawned upon Kirishima and the rest of the class.
"No, no. Please don't tell me... Are we responsible for Kageyama losing control of his power?" a petrified Yaoyorozu said.
"Wait, wait!" Iida attempted to calm his classmates down. "We shouldn't rush to these conclusions without any concrete evidence! If we heard what happened from one of the heroes who was on the scene, they could help us confirm what really happened. Todoroki! Your father was there at the disaster site! He must know the truth behind this. Call him right now so we can clear this up!"
Todoroki felt uneasy about this. "I'm not sure. When my father came home last night, he was quiet, more quiet than usual. He went to his room without a word. When Mr. Aizawa came this afternoon, he barely said anything, either."
"You have to try!" Izuku insisted, "We need to know what's going on right now! We can't afford to be making guesses with something as serious as this!"
The teenager sighed. They were right. The class HAD to know the truth about this. "Fine. I'll call him right now and put it on speaker. But make sure you guys stay quiet. I don't want him to know you're listening."
Shoto pulled out his phone and dialed his father's number. The entire class waited in dread as the phone rang.
"Hello? Shoto?" After several seconds, Endeavor's voice came through the cellphone. "What's the matter?"
"Father, there's something I need to ask you about. What's the true identity of the villain that caused the disaster in Yavin Forest?" The hero paused from shock, taking a moment to recollect himself.
"Shoto, I can't divulge any information regarding that incident. The media has told you everything you need to know about what happened yesterday."
"Was it Kageyama?" This caused the hero to gasp audibly for all the class to hear.
"Why would you think such a thing? Kageyama's still recovering in the hospital, and he most certainly isn't responsible for this!"
"Father, there are things that don't add up. I know there's something that you, Mr. Aizawa, and the rest of the heroes who were there that day are hiding. This is my classmate we're talking about, the one who's helped me, guided me, and saved me ever since I came to U.A. High. If something's happened to him, I NEED to know. Please, father. After everything that's happened, I feel I deserve to know the truth. Was Kageyama responsible for the disaster? "
The air was silent. The group of teenagers were all holding their breath. They all waited to see whether the number two hero would divulge the information they were seeking. After what seemed like an eternity, Endeavor finally spoke and gave them the answer they desperately did not want to hear.
"...Yes. He was responsible."
The horror that had been setting in among the teenagers had finally weighed down upon all of them. So it was true. Kageyama, their friend, the one who'd fought against All For One as a shining pillar of heroism, had killed over 50 people and injured 100 more. For some of the students, it took everything they had not to fall on the ground right then. Todoroki took a dozen seconds before he regained the composure he needed to speak.
"...Tell me everything, father."
The flame hero heaved a heavy sigh. After everything he'd put his son through, Endeavor owed him the full, unadulterated truth. "I had visited him in the hospital yesterday to check on his condition. The other top heroes had been there as well to guard him and ensure he was recovering. Then, All Might entered the room. He informed Kageyama that your teacher had expelled almost everyone in your class for violating the rules and attempting to rescue Kageyama. As soon as he heard this, Kageyama bolted out of the hospital. He wanted to try and reason with your teacher and convince him to change his mind. Me and the rest of the heroes attempted to calm him down, but his panicked state was causing his powers to flare up. As a safeguard, All Might knocked him unconscious out of the fear his powers would go out of control. But then..."
"Then what?"
"Something inside of him... awakened."
"What? What does that mean? What awakened?"
"I don't know. Whatever it was, this... thing had none of the kindness nor restraint Kageyama possesses. We attempted to calm him down and reason with him, but he wouldn't listen. He only remained focused on his objective of going to U.A. High. We tried to restrain him, but Kageyama was too powerful. Even All Might couldn't put a stop to his rampage. So Hawks came up with a plan: he brought Eraserhead from U.A. High directly to Kageyama. It was only once your teacher rescinded your expulsions that Kageyama was brought back to his senses.
"But he had no memory of anything that had transpired. He looked at the destruction he caused with utter horror... and started sobbing uncontrollably. Overcome with the grief of..." Endeavor forced back a sob, and it took a moment for Shoto to realize that his father was holding back tears.
"Father, are you... Are you crying?"
"...When Kageyama released all this grief and sadness, me and the other heroes attempted to comfort him. We took in his energy, and that energy was infused with all the pain and sadness bearing down on his soul. Never in my life have I experienced such grief. Even now, I can still feel his pain stirring in my heart, and I'm sure the other heroes who shared his energy feel the same."
Shoto took a second, for he somehow felt even more afraid about asking his next question. "...And where is Kageyama now?"
"When the Hero Commission learned he was responsible for the disaster, they were afraid he'd lose control, so right now... they're keeping him imprisoned under maximum security in the deepest level of Tartarus." Shoto Todoroki's entire body began trembling. The ice and fire within him were mixing, threatening to unleash themselves in a horrifying display. They were keeping his friend locked up like a villain in the highest security prison in the nation? Even without seeing it, Endeavor already knew that emotions were overtaking his son.
"Shoto, calm down. Let me assure you, I'm doing everything in my power to get him out of there. I don't know what this is or what caused it, but I know that Kageyama does not deserve to be locked away in Tartarus. But do not tell anyone else about this, understand? This information is classified, and I'm only telling you this because you're my son. So return home, and if you want to talk more about this... I'm willing to listen." Endeavor hung up the phone. As soon as he hung up the phone, the teenagers let out the sobs they had been holding in.
The students were wrecks. More than half of them had tears streaming down their faces. Their hands were covering their eyes as the tears wet their palms. Midoriya, Yaoyorozu, Tokoyami, and Kirishima had fallen to their knees, all four of them incapable of holding back the tears as their bodies shook with despair. Bakugo's entire body was shaking like a leaf, his teeth mashing together while the veins in his eyes were bloodshot.
"This can't be happening," Yaoyorozu muttered, "This just isn't possible."
Kirishima hardened his fist and slammed it into the ground. "DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT! What the hell is wrong with me? All I wanted to do was save Kageyama, but because of me, he's in the deepest level of the highest security prison in the country! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!"
"Shige..." Izuku Midoriya felt like crawling into a hole and hiding there for 100 years. How could he have so UTTERLY failed Kageyama? How could his actions have started a chain of events that led to Kageyama being treated like a villain? Why was he such a horrible friend and an even more horrible hero?
The students had all been overcome with this crippling despair. Though they had done their best to do the right thing and stand by their friend, they instead found their actions leading to an outcome worse than they ever possibly imagined. Today, Class 1-A had failed, and there was nothing that could make this situation worse.
In the forests of Japan, things were serene. The sound of bugs and chirping birds were echoing across the air. The lush wildlife of this land had managed to remain undisturbed in the wake of the calamitous damage that had been taking place in the many cities of Japan these past few weeks.
But within the seemingly serene forests of this nation, there would soon come some unexpected arrivals. In the transparent air, a distortion was beginning to form. It was the sort of distortion that one would see when making a drawing on a blank canvas. It was as if reality itself was warping, opening up something to an unknown area.
From this distortion, a crack formed. From within the crack, a ghastly being was emerging. This tiny, red specter had come from another world, peering into the crack in reality. This small specter did not understand where it was or what it was doing, but that did not matter. For now, there was a new world fresh for the taking.
Dang, what's this mean? What's gonna happen to Kageyama now? How's Class 1-A going to recover from the emotional trauma of knowing their friend is imprisoned in Tartarus? Guess you'll have to read the next chapter to find out, so until Chapter 43!
And to clarify, the entity that appears from the crack in reality is NOT Mogami.