-Monday-
Once upon a time, an overweight, orange-striped cat would lament Monday's evil and cruelty. By hook or by crook, he would do everything to avoid Monday. Izuku's favorite was him trying to sleep through it only for a comedy of errors to prevent it from happening. Ultimately, he fell asleep, only to sleep the rest of the week away, and then he arrived again on Monday.
Monday signaled the return to normal and the need to return to the routine. Something Izuku had stressed was important, but waking up spooning Momo's stunning and desirable form, who was, in turn, snuggling Inari, made him realize three critical things. Mondays are bullshit; walking up with Momo was lovely, and he missed Itsuka.
Momo, bleary-eyed, protested the movement behind her and the lights coming on; Inari agreed with her mother by burying her face in Momo's chest to escape the light. On Inari's side, it was a good escape; there was ample area to hide her head. She felt like her escape plan had worked until her mother betrayed her and started to get up as well.
With protest, a desire to climb back in bed, and some severe pouts going all around, they all managed to get out of bed; Inari had to be lifted, but that was neither here nor there. Izuku got Inari dressed and settled into her stroller, only to be struck dumb when Momo came walking out of the bedroom, ready to go on their run. Izuku decided at that point in his life that he needed to find out who invented woman's workout clothing, time travel to them, and shake their hand, thanking them for the vision before him. Momo wasn't wearing anything overly provocative, but the way it clung to her body was more than enough to give him pause.
Exiting the building, they were happy to see Itsuka standing there. Izuku needed to remember to thank that man again, but he was surprised to see Setsuna, Neito, Togaru, Shihai, and Kinoko. Izuku walked over to Shihai and thanked him again for saving Inari; he had grabbed before Nieto did in that final confrontation. Shihai again dismissed the young father's gratitude as he was doing what was needed. Still, he couldn't help but smile at Inari, who was excited to see him. They had just started stretching when they outwalked some of his class. Tenya, Ochaco, Bakugo, Ejiro, Mina, and Mineta asked if they could join them on their run. With a large smile, he welcomed them as they started their day together.
By the time they made it to the gym, a few students regretted having joined and not being used to the distance that Izuku put in in the mornings, but everyone else from their classes was at the gym beginning their workouts. It was such a welcome change from before. Instead of headphones in for everyone, music was playing over the speakers, and everyone was talking, getting advice and assistance from others.
Once everyone returned to their dorms, it was time to prepare for the rest of the day. Inari was upset about not attending her parents' class today, but Izuku told her they would pick her up at lunchtime, which seemed to put the girl at ease. Today, she demanded Tsu and Toru be her escorts to class. The two girls were happy to do so, and Izuku bought them a drink from the cart to say thanks.
"Is she going to be okay?" Tsu asked as Inari disappeared into the daycare.
"Security has been increased overall," Izuku said as they walked towards the drink cart. "Hound Dog said that it is essential that I get her back into her routine and show her that it is safe."
"So that is why you are doing a half day!" Toru said, snapping her fingers; Izuku nodded. "Gradually get her back to normal stuff."
"Have you seen some of the articles online, ribbit," Tsu asked as they walked towards the campus.
"Some; they mentioned them at the staff meeting yesterday," Izuku sighed, caring for his tray of drinks. "I don't like that they are bringing Inari into it, but my lawyer warned me that it was a possibility."
When he entered the classroom, he saw Ojiro talking to Itsuka in the corner. The tail user looked at him with a hint of sadness, but he returned to Itsuka, gave her a faint smile, and nodded. The class went silent when Itsuka picked up her drink and pastry, kissed him and Momo on the cheek, and told them she would see them at lunch.
"I FUCKING KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP!" shouted Mineta. Momo and Izuku blushed as she took her drink.
Izuku looked up to the clock, seeing they had 10 minutes before class; he walked up to the front and called everyone's attention.
"Excuse me, everyone. I need to tell you all something," he began once everyone paid attention. I am sure you have seen some news articles online mentioning Inari, but not by name yet." A lot of the class grumbled about how terrible it was. "Sooner or later, it will come out, and I want you all to hear it from me first."
"As you all know, Inari's birth mother, Suijin, was killed when she was caught in the crossfire between some villains and heroes. You don't know that those villains were her parents, Inari's grandparents." As expected, there were shocked faces. "She never told me what her parents did for work or that they were criminals; they just were out of town often." He rubbed the back of his head. "Now that I am older, many things didn't add up, but when you're a kid, you just accept certain things, and we had been together for so long I no longer questioned it. I found out when Inari was delivered to my doorstep."
"Why didn't she tell you?" Denki called out as some of his other classmates nodded their heads.
"I am sure it had something to do with me wanting to be a hero," Izuku said. "When I first met her, I told her I wanted to be a hero, even though, at the time, I was quirkless. My quirk wouldn't manifest for years, but she never discouraged me; she encouraged me to be the best hero I could be.
"Did she ever do like villain stuff around you?" Ochaco asked concerned.
"No never," Izuku said. "She stepped in and saved me from getting beat up the first time we met. She had a strong sense of what was right. I am almost sure that she hated what her parents did, but at the same time, they were her parents, and she loved them."
"Would you have arrested them?" Tenya asked.
"I would like to say yes; it is easy to do so when I don't have to make that decision," Izuku said truthfully. "I read their file; they mostly stole things, of course, some assault charges, resisting arrest, but nothing along the lines of murder. It is easy to sit here and say yes, but that is part of it. I don't have to worry about it now as they are in jail."
"Are they going to try and take Inari from you?" Sato wondered aloud.
"No, they will be incarcerated for a long time."
"So your baby momma's parents were villains?" Mineta called out, and Izuku nodded. "Hid the fact she was pregnant so you could chase your dream of becoming a hero," Izuku affirmed. "Then got killed when her parents and heroes started fighting?"
"That is all correct," Izuku glanced out the window. "According to the minimal reports I have been able to read, her parents had committed a crime of some sort; heroes had tracked them to where they were living and attacked the house. The heroes didn't know that Suijin or Inari were there. Inari was in grave danger, and she tried to get everyone to stand down but was struck by a hero, resulting in her death. When she was struck, her parents immediately surrendered, and Inari was safe."
"She sacrificed herself for her daughter," Shoto said quietly. "That is a good mother."
"Any questions?"
A bunch of hands rose. "About what we are talking about," he said, smiling. The hands all went down, and he chuckled as he sat.
It wasn't long after Midnight walked in; the students noticed she seemed to lack her usual demeanor, but they could guess why.
"First off, children," she said to the class. "I want to apologize for not being there during the USJ assault." She held her hand up to stop the student's immediate protest. "I understand, like many of you do, that it was out of our control, but like many of you, I am sure you have been sitting there wishing you could have done more or something different. It is part of being human; it is what makes us human, why we become heroes, and why we lay awake at night. It just pains me that I wasn't there for you all, just like it pains some of you that things didn't go the way any of us wanted."
She leaned back against her desk, "Each of you will attend counseling sessions today, and your normal classes are suspended for the day. The U.A. Sports Festival will continue as planned, but please be calm, as security will increase significantly. I know you are questioning the logic of this happening by the look on some of your faces. The attack on the USJ was meant to accomplish several things, including instilling fear. Once you start giving into fear, it becomes easier for you to do so the next time. You do not have to participate this year; you may sit out if it is too much. You will still be offered internships with heroes affiliated with U.A."
Midnight glanced out the windows before turning her attention back to the class, "The Sports Festival is not just a chance to show off for potential internships, but it is also an opportunity for those who failed to make it into the Hero Course to earn their way into it. 1-B has an opening; your seat will not be stripped if you choose not to participate. However, we cannot hold your seat indefinitely; it is a terrible thing to say, but you all have to get back in the saddle. If you are in the bubble of losing your seat, you already know it because I have already talked to you about it." She looked directly at every student. "You must be cleared to participate as if something traumatic happened in the field. Any questions?"
"How do we know we will be safe?" Sero asked.
"Yeah, they have a second teleporter!" Denki seconded.
"Every precaution is being taken," Midnight replied. "I know that is little comfort, but the same applies to whether you are in class, training, in your dorms, or on stage at the festival. Having a teleporter still holds; I understand that it is scary, that the thought of those portals opening or falling through them makes you jump at a shadow. You see them out of the corner of your eye when you sleep at night; I do, too. All I can say is to talk to your counselors and see if this is something that you all still want to pursue. I am not questioning your toughness; I am not calling you weak if you decide to step down. What you have been through is traumatic, and trauma takes time to overcome; it takes time to heal. Some people might never heal, but it is up to you. Any other questions?"
Izuku raised his hand. He waited for Midnight to give him the go-ahead before he spoke. "What about Yuga?"
"He will not be participating in the Festival, as regards his position in the hero course, which is still being examined," Midnight sighed. "Yuga passed information to the League. Yes, we understand he was coerced, and we are doing everything we can to help locate and rescue his parents. We feel that, for the time being, pending investigation, he should be kept out of the hero course."
"Can we see him?" Mina said, getting to her feet. "It isn't fair. I would have done the same thing if they had held my parents! He realized what he was doing was wrong and tried to save Inari in the end, even though he believed it meant sacrificing his parents."
"Same!" said Ochaco. "I love my mom and dad, and I would have done the same to keep them safe."
"Round Cheeks and Pinky are not wrong," Bakugo's voice rang out. "He still should have told you or All-Might about what was happening. But fear is a powerful weapon." Izuku noticed the twinge in Bakugo's voice with the last sentence.
Tenya stood up, "I agree with my classmates. He should be allowed to continue alongside us if he so chooses, and I would like to see him as well."
Midnight felt her heart swell as the class stood up and echoed the same statement. "I will see what I can do about arranging for you all to see him, and I will pass your feelings onto Nezu, but for now, first, rise and head to the counselor's office."
-Midnights Office-
"Hello, Mineta," she said; she gestured to the chair opposite her desk.
"Hello, Professor," the diminutive boy sat in the chair, doing his best not to fidget.
"Where would you like to start?" she said, soothing her voice.
"Is it possible to keep my seat?" he said, not daring to look up.
"I will be honest, Mineta. You understand why I am removing you from the hero course," she said, watching the boy flinch.
"I do; my actions brought me to this point," he replied. "I didn't even come close to behaving in a way appropriate even to be here. I came here to become famous and get women, but not for the best reasons. I objectified my classmates, attempted to spy on them while they were changing, abandoned my partners during a training exercise, and made people uncomfortable."
"So what has changed?" she said, leaning forward.
"Izuku, Momo, hell, my entire class," he said, finally looking her in the eyes. "Inari."
"Explain?"
"When those pictures were sent to Izuku, and we all went on lockdown, I saw how everyone changed, how the whole atmosphere shifted. Then the USJ happened, and I was terrified; I was so scared that I was going to die, but I was more scared that others would die because I couldn't do what needed to be done." He pulled his hands into his lap. "I realized that I would rather die myself than let that happen. Then afterward, I talked with Izuku; I asked him how he could keep going after all this bull…I mean, crap had happened to him. My family came, I talked with Ibarra from 1-B and even went to church, and I realized what I am fighting for."
"And what is that?" Midnight said.
"Family," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "Not just my biological family but other people's families so they can go home to them, my class, the other class."
"And the girls on campus, not just the one in your class?" she pressed.
"Gorgeous, hot, beautiful, amazing, any other number of adjectives we can think of," he replied honestly. "But it isn't just about trying to find one to sleep with; I want to find a partner who will be there to pick me up after something like the USJ. If I can pull an Izuku and get two or more, then hurray for me. But I want to be a hero first, so I can do everything in my power to make sure that those people who have someone waiting for them to come home get to see their loved ones at the end of the night."
"I appreciate your honesty," Midnight smiled at Mineta. "Those are good reasons to be a hero and to change. You owe your classmates and the girls an apology; I will talk to them and see if they are comfortable giving you another chance. Should they be, and your change is not lip service, and you perform well enough in the Sports Festival, I will allow you to stay." Mineta's face brightened up. "But understand, Mineta, if you are allowed to stay and one single incident occurs, you will not just be demoted from the hero course but expelled from U.A. in its entirety."
She couldn't help but feel a bit proud that the look on his face didn't dim. "All I want is a chance, Professor."
"Good. Now tell me how the USJ made you feel?"
"Scared, then angry, really angry," she saw his fist clinched. "I wanted to shove my balls down their throats and see if they could breathe."
-Momo-
"So, Ms. Yaoyorozu, how are you feeling?" her counselor, Ms. Brandle, asked.
"I have a hard time sleeping, but if I am holding onto Inari, I feel better," she said. "I know that a portal could open and swallow us both, but at least I know I would be with her."
"You are very attached to the child."
"I am; I love her like a daughter; I am in love with her father," Momo replied. "Attached is not the right word."
"That seems rather intense for having just started school. Is it possible the trauma of the year or the fact that you have romanticized what it means to be a parent?" Momo noticed this tone in her counselor's voice that she didn't care for.
"While I can understand your concern, I was acquainted with him before we started school," Momo's voice held an edge. "Our first meeting was less than ideal, and I found myself attracted to him then, but I understand the "Hero Phenomenon" where people fall in love with those who have rescued or saved them. It is very similar to the Nightingale Syndrome. I did not want to pursue a romantic relationship should that be the case, for everyone's sake involved." Momo leaned forward. "It was later that I realized that my feelings were real and acted upon them."
"You say you love her like a daughter," Ms. Brandle responded, matching Momo's energy. "What makes you believe that you feel this way?"
"Believe that I feel this way?" Momo's eyebrow raised, and the temperature in the room dropped. "Ms. Brandle, as a hero in training, I have had to come to terms with the idea that I would one day be called upon to lay my life down for another. By me saying to you that I love Inari like my daughter means that she is my daughter. That means yes, I will lay down my life for her, and her father would as well. We both understand that we would sacrifice the other to save her."
"And should the relationship between you and the father fail?"
"I heard this once from a man who works with my father. He was talking with his former stepson, offering the boy advice and sending him money to help with the boy's expenses. Someone asked him why he was doing such things. The child wasn't his, and he was no longer married to the boy's mother. And the man said, 'You divorce the parent, not the child,'" Momo said.
"Very well then," Ms. Brandle replied as she jotted down some notes. "Now let's discuss the USJ…"
-Shigaraki-
He tried to sit up, but the restraints around his chest prevented that. He tried to move his arms and hands, but restraints prevented that. He tried to move his legs, but they didn't respond to his call to action. He looked down and could see them under the blanket. He wanted to make them move, and nothing happened; he tried to wiggle his toes, and yet again, nothing happened.
He felt this throb from his right hand. He tried to move just the fingers, but nothing happened; he looked over and saw a stump just below the wrist. Desperately, he looked to his left, and there was a mangled mess wrapped in bandages; he saw he was missing two of his fingers, and when he tried to move them, he felt a slight twitch but nothing more.
It all started returning to him, the fight at the USJ, his orders to retrieve that child. The unforeseen stupid NPC who sent him flying when he was about to end the damn frog girl's life, the fist from that red whore. The crack, an immediate feeling of the lower part of his body just above his hips, disappears. The girl in a black ponytail. Dominion's chosen obsession, the glint of the blade as it severed his right hand, the way she pinned the other to the ground. Kurogiri's portal opened, the feeling of being ripped away while his hand was still pinned to the ground. Then darkness.
The room was a stark white; a steady hum of recessed florescent lighting and a red glow from his left confirmed that he was in prison, not just any prison but Tartarus itself. There were monitors on him, but that was the point: how was he in Tartarus? Had Kurogiri been captured, why had he been left like this? Where was Sensei? It was all the fucking Prince's fault, playing these stupid games. There was no notice of how powerful that damn girl's father had been; this bastard had gone toe to toe with the Anit-Might and won. Then those good-for-nothing brats had done this to him, removed his hand, broken his back, mangled his other limb. He couldn't even use his quirk anymore if he wanted to. He was nothing again, worthless, back in the dark room, that man standing over him, beating him, abusing him.
The hands were all that he had left of his family, the family he had murdered, the family he had destroyed. The house, everything, the only thing that seemed to love him, his dog. That was what he saw the most when he closed his eyes: the death of his dog, followed by when his mother wrapped her arms around him and lied to him by saying that I would all be okay. When he clung to her, desperate and afraid, she turned to ash in his arms, still spewing the same lies she had told him his whole life. How much she loved him.
Like his guardian angel, he was there, his master, his sensei, the person who gave his life meaning, who had allowed him to grow and become a MAN. His master was great, with many competing for his affection: Nine, the Prince, and Himself. But he didn't suckle at his master's tit; he knew he needed to reward his master with what was truly important. The destruction of not only the worthless Hero Society that ruled their world but also the greatest insult to the world, All-Might.
Then he had been given the mission to destroy All-Might, but the damn developers had made changes to the mission without even releasing the patch notes. It was all Izuku Midoriya's fault; his mere presence had just broken everything, including the stealing of information and the attempt to kill All-Might.
The plan had been changed; they were going to kill the students while All-Might was off-site. When All-Might showed up, it would also be time to kill him. It was all because the Prince wanted some bullshit whore, and to play his little game of destroying the heroes from the inside. That was what the bullshit the Prince spewed, but it was all about girls and sex. The Prince may be his master's blood, but he didn't understand his master or what was necessary. He just wanted to play his bullshit games, and it had caused the entire raid to be wiped.
Nine understood, but he was off hunting for the quirk that would make master whole again, able to stand before the entire world and show them all what real power was like. Tear down all the walls that had been built up by heroes and their bullshit, the lies, and falsehoods they held over the world, creating the illusions that all the damn sheeple just accepted.
He just had to be patient; his master would come for him. He knew he would; they understood each other, and his master loved and cared for him when no one else ever did. Well, accept his dog; he missed that damn thing. Just be patient; the master will come and will make him whole again. Then, he deals with the prince and shows his master who is truly worthy of following in his footsteps. Family, after all, is not just those you share blood with; it can be found, forged, and made. His father would come for him…he just needed to be patient…there had to be a reason they hadn't taken him at the battle…they wouldn't abandon him.
-Itsuka-
"How does this all work?" she asked as she entered Mr. Raines's office. She looked over the handsome older man with black hair and blue eyes. The hints of grey in his hair added sophistication to him.
"Well, you can sit or lay down, whichever you prefer," he responded. She liked his voice. It was strong but soft…reassuring?
"I will sit," she said.
"Good," he waited for her to do so before he began. "We will talk about the USJ incident and some personal things. If you feel overwhelmed, we can end the session and reschedule. If you want to continue but you are still feeling overwhelmed, I can calm you down using my quirk if you consent for me to do so."
"And what is your quirk, sir?"
"I am an Empath; I can sense and moderate other people's emotions," he responded. "By moderation, I can soothe your emotions, help you regain control, or even push them higher if necessary, but that is rarely needed in therapy sessions."
"I understand," Itsuka said, "Okay, start."
"I want to discuss your battle with Shigaraki," Itsuka raised her eyebrow questioningly, her hand absently going to her short hair. "Are you aware that he was crippled in your battle?"
"No, I wasn't." her response was crisp.
"How does that make you feel?" he pressed.
"Well, Momo cut off his hand…"
"Yes, and your blow to his back severed his spine," Mr. Raines leaned forward.
"I didn't know that," Itsuka thought for a moment. "I don't care."
"You don't?" he said, his curiosity peaked.
"He was threatening my classmates, my daughter, and my life," she said, leaning forward. "I didn't mean to do it, but I don't feel bad about it happening. I would have killed him if needed; Inari's safety was paramount."
"Interesting," Mr. Rains scribbled something down. "And would you have sacrificed another to achieve your goal?"
"Yes," she said, absent any hesitation. "Inari was a civilian, an innocent pulled into the conflict because Neito is a stupid, sick bastard! We are all training to be heroes; that is what comes with the job; we lay down our lives to save the innocent."
"But this was your daughter? Not someone you didn't know or just a random passerby," he commented.
"That made it personal," she felt the anger in her voice rising. "I went into that fight just to stop him till he made his intentions clear: he was going to kill my daughter in front of me just to get to Izuku. At that point, he wasn't just an obstacle in my way. He was a villain that needed to be dealt with by any means possible."
"By any means possible? Sounds like you were ready to kill him. Was that the case?"
"If it came down to that," Itsuka's gaze never left her counselors. "He made it personal, so yes, if that were my only option, then I would have done just that. He would have killed me or anyone else without hesitation. I didn't go in to kill him, I didn't go to cripple him, but I went in to stop him. To end the threat he was posing to me and my family. Am I bothered at all that he is disabled? No. Will it keep me up at night? No."
"Understandably, you feel a strong need to protect Inari Midoriya," he said after a moment. "I can see why someone would want to protect a civilian, and if that person is someone you consider family, it would make you or anyone else in that situation act more aggressively. Did you refer to her as your daughter? Not your goddaughter. Why is that?"
"I love her like a daughter; Inari is all I have left of Suijin," Itsuka said, leaning back, the anger evaporating from her voice. "I loved Suijin as much as someone possibly could. She was such a good person."
"Yet she hid Inari from you and the girl's father. She hid the truth about her parents," he countered. "I would have to question what else she was hiding."
"You watch what you say about her," Anger came flooding out from Itsuka. "Suijin hid the truth about Inari, so Izuku wouldn't have dropped everything and come running to her to do what was right. To take care of his daughter, like he has done since he was made aware of her existence. Her parents, what was she supposed to do? There were her fucking parents. She loved them; maybe she was trying to get them to go straight and change. We don't know. But if you are going to sit here and bad mouth her, then FUCK YOU, this session is over!"
"Ms. Kendo, please calm down," he said, holding his hands out. "I was bad-mouthing her but asking you to look further into her. A blinder is put up for those we love or care about. We yearn to see only the good or what we want, not the picture they have painted. You have to accept the bad with the good of a person to love them truly. Acknowledge the great parts of Suijin but question the parts that she hid and what she didn't say. What else did she hold back that is dangerous to you and your family? Love, honor, and cherish your memories with her, but question."
"Question? Doubt her? You want me to doubt her?" Itsuka said in disbelief.
"Always question? Question everyone and everything?"
"Even you?"
"Especially me? We don't know each other, and we have not built up a relationship to the point where I have earned the right for you to give me the benefit of the doubt," he said, sitting back in his chair. "Never just settle for the basic answer; always question why. Now, why do you think she did what she did."
"She didn't want him or me to give up on our dreams, and I think she wanted her parents to stop. To not be criminals before Izuku and I graduated," Itsuka responded. "I understand her decision both ways, at least about Inari. I wouldn't say I like it, but I understand why she did what she did. Her parents if my parents were criminals, I would want them to reform and not go to jail. I looked up her parents; there were no murders or anything of that nature. They hadn't crossed a line from which Suijin felt they couldn't return. If there even was a line, from what I know about her, there was, she had morals and conviction."
"If she felt they could be reformed, do you feel that way about Shigaraki?" he said.
"Everyone deserves a chance; there are lines that can be crossed when that is no longer an option," she paused. "Him killing my daughter, a member of my family, or a classmate. I probably would say that he didn't deserve that option, but I like to believe that I wouldn't have made that decision on my own, but I don't think I can answer that question honestly if he had crossed that line."
"That is a valid response," he gave her a slight smile. "Now, let's talk about the USJ as a whole."
-Katsuki Bakugo-
"It seems like you have a complicated relationship with Izuku Midoriya," his counselor said. Katsuki looked her over. She was an older woman with greying black hair and black eyes. She wore a hand-knitted scarf around her neck.
"Yeah, let's call it that," he responded briskly. "I thought we were here to talk about the USJ, not stupid Izuku."
"That is true, but it seems he is at the heart of the matter with the attack at the USJ, that if he had not been enrolled into the hero program…" she countered.
"Then the attack would have happened anyway. The main difference is that the kid wouldn't have been dragged into it," he clicked his tongue. "More of the extras would have died."
"You mean your classmates?"
"Yeah, them." He rolled his eyes and sat back in his chair. "How about you ask your damn questions so I can get cleared to take first place in the sports festival."
"Why do you call your classmates extras and not their names?" she said, notebook resting on her lap.
"Never cared enough to know their names," he shrugged.
"Do you know any of their names?" her pen hovering over the pad.
"There is Ponytail, or Momo, Fisty, or Itsuka, Ejiro, Ochaco…" he continued, naming almost every member of his class and Class 1-B.
"What made you decide to learn their names?" she said without looking up as she wrote something down.
"They all stepped up for the kid. They showed they would lay it all out on the line," Katsuki responded. "If they are willing to die to do this, then I can learn a few names."
"Do you call them by their names?"
"Some, but not all," he sat back. "I don't like a few of them, and others I don't know very well."
"Are you trying to get to know them?" she questioned.
"No, I don't like most people," he responded.
"Don't you find that odd?" she asked, setting the notepad down. As someone who wants to be a hero, you say you don't like people."
"Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I won't save you from some piece of shit villain," he said, slightly annoyed. "It just means I don't want to go out and listen to your life story, or get a drink, sign autographs, or kiss your dumb baby."
"Then why do you do it?" she wondered.
"To be the damn best. As long as they know I am the best, I can care less." Katsuki looked past the woman at the clock.
"That is not very nice," she said.
"I am not a very nice person," he answered.
"Why do you say that?"
"Cause it is the truth," Katsuki's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "I am an asshole, I know that, and I am not trying to present myself as anything else. I have done some shit that makes me sick when I look in the mirror. I was so caught up in my desire to be strongest that I felt threatened when anyone questioned me or how I did things. But I learned that wanting to be the strongest isn't bad, and I don't need to yell and put someone down to do it. I can show them so they know it, and I know it. You can't be the strongest if you are insecure about someone else's opinion."
"And what if someone else is stronger than you?" she asked.
"Then I work harder until they aren't," he smirked. "It isn't hard; it isn't rocket science."
"What about Izuku Midoriya?" she said. "Do you like him?"
"Kind of, it's complicated," he countered. "I like him, but I hate him. I respect him but want him to leave. I want to prove to him that he is second place, but I hope he proves me wrong so I can snatch it away from him later."
"That is complicated," she said, jotting down a note. "Why did you defer to him at the USJ?"
"That was his kid out there," Katsuki looked the woman dead in her eyes. "That was his family, all the family he has left. If something was going to happen, he needed to make the call; if it were the wrong call, I would have said something. But if his daughter's life was at risk, he needed to be the one to make the decision; if shit had gone sideways, then he was going to have to be the one to deal with it. Either way, if it was my family and I would have made the call myself, then the responsibility rests with me."
"So, if you had to give me a definition of your relationship with him?" she asked, ready to write down his answer.
"He is my friend," Katsuki replied, her pen froze in mid-stroke.
"Would you explain that?" she was puzzled by his response.
"He is a real friend," Katsuki leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "Most people will tell you a friend is someone who you hang out with, party with, will help you hide a body or some bullshit. Izuku will call you out on that bullshit and take you to the police if you killed someone, but be there to hear your side of it all. He won't spoon-feed your ego; I didn't realize what a real friend was. I hated people who just sucked up to me, but he didn't. He would question me; even before he had a quirk, he would spout that bullshit about being a hero."
"I fucking hated it; I thought he was mocking me," Katsuki's hands fell limply to his side. "When his mother died, all I could focus on was how it was going to affect me. It mattered; then, I saw what it did to my mom. We got help, and I realized that I had driven the only person that was a real friend. Someone who would call me out on my bullshit, tell me when I did wrong, and push me to do it fucking right."
"Does he consider you a friend?" she said.
"No, we still need to punch each other in the face," he said, looking at her again.
"Excuse me?"
"We need to punch each other in the face!" he repeated. "Words can't solve some shit; sometimes you need to punch your friend in the face and get punched back. All that bullshit about violence isn't the answer is half right, Violence is an answer, and sometimes it is the right one."
-U.A. Press Conference-
The silent rumble of the room was replaced by the flashes of dozens of cameras snapping pictures as Midnight, Thirteen, and Vlad King walked onto the stage, taking their seats to the left and right of the podium. Nezu calmly walked onto the stage, going directly to the podium; with practiced ease, he stood there until the torrent of flashes died down. Everyone settled into their seats; he let the silence border on uncomfortable before he began.
"As the principal of U.A. I want to thank all of you for coming here today," he began, his voice still carrying his trademark pitch, but the undertone did not have its usual joyous undertone. "I am here today to address several issues that have occurred over the first several weeks of our new academic year. It is important to address these in the order in which they occur. During our first week, when a section of our perimeter fence collapsed and you, the press, swarmed our grounds," the murmur and shift that ran through the press at being called out could be felt by everyone in the room and those watching the press conference.
"The leader of the organization that would later attack our facilities at the Unforeseen Simulation Joint or the USJ was able to gain access to our grounds with the aid of a teleporter in an attempt to steal scheduling information. A member of our faculty was able to thwart them in the attempt and drive them away. We rescheduled the training at the USJ and made it a joint exercise between the first-year hero classes." Nezu paused for a moment. "This was when a member of the first-year business course was kidnapped, and an imposter assumed their place."
He cut off the questions by holding up his paw and waiting for the crowd to quiet down. "The students were living off campus on their own. They were attacked and subdued in their homes. The imposter that took their place could assume their place by using an unknown shapeshifting quirk. At this point, they began surveillance and attempted to get close to the students in the hero course under the guise of an assignment from their teacher."
"It is believed that this was done for two reasons: to obtain the information previously denied them and to lure staff members away when they planned to attack the USJ," Nezu scanned over the press. "Using the same Teleporter, they then launched a coordinated attack on the USJ, exploiting a hole in the security that allowed them to disrupt and isolate all communication from the USJ. The same teleporter who helped infiltrate the school the first time teleported a large group of villains into the USJ and teleported Midnight and Vlad Sensei to another location where they were forced to engage another group of villains."
Nezu placed both his paws on the sides of the podium. "The combined first-year hero course students were able to fight off the villain attack while creating an opening for a class member to escape and alert the staff of the attack. With the arrival of the U.A. staff, the remaining villains quickly surrendered. Though the first-year hero course sustained numerous injuries, none were life-threatening. Questions?"
Immediately, the place erupted as reporters endeavored to speak over each other. "Mrs. Kunon Tokyo Press," Nezu said, pointing.
"Thank you," the woman said as she stood. "Are you blaming the press for the first break-in?"
"Of course not," Nezu said with a smile. "But you and your colleagues swarming the campus pulled precious resources and attention from the campus to herd you all back to your appropriate area. Not only did you crowd the gate to harass students entering the campus, causing us to have to dispatch staff to the front gate to see that they could enter un-molested. The leader of the attack used your zeal to destroy the gate and then infiltrate the campus. The lesson you and your colleagues should take from this is if you want to speak to a member of our staff or are looking for a quote from the university, please use the proper channels instead of potentially causing more trouble."
Nezu called on another reporter, "Thank you for taking my question, Akira Hanzo National Japan Press. There have been unconfirmed reports that students used unnecessary force in responding to their attackers and that some of the perpetrators of the attack have been hospitalized with severe and life-threatening injuries."
"Mr. Hanzo, I find your question boarding on the ridiculous," Nezu said, staring down the man with the same smile he was known for. "You are asking if students in their second week of training may have responded with unnecessary force after they were attacked by a large group of adults seeking to do more than just harm them a little bit." Nezu raised an eyebrow. "A large group of adults entered the USJ with the intent to kill and maim them, and they reacted by defending themselves to the best of their abilities when they were outnumbered and once again in their SECOND WEEK. No unnecessary force was used. I believe you should congratulate every member of the hero course, letting them know that no one lost their life that day. These first-year students dealt with an unprecedented incident. No one was killed, and there were no life-threatening injuries. Yes, Ms. Kizuki."
The woman rose to her feet. She wore long, pale lilac hair and parted to her right side. She had full lips and pale blue skin. Her eyes were unusual, as her sclera was utterly black, her irises were green, and her pupils black. Long eyelashes, wrinkles, and small eyebrows framed the eyes.
She wore gold earrings and a navy blue, shoulder-less dress with long sleeves. An X-shaped belt with a circular buckle was around her waist. She also had an unbuttoned, salmon-colored jacket with black fur around the collar and hem. On her feet, she had light-colored laced high boots.
"Mr. Nezu, I wish to address the reports of a small child being involved in the conflict. That a member of the hero course's daughter was kidnapped and used as leverage in the battle," she smiled sweetly as she met Nezu's intense gaze. "If this is true, I must ask, do you feel it is wise for A) To allow students who have a child to attend U.A.? B) Is the child, of course, safe and recovering? C) How do you feel this affected the other members of the hero course?"
"Yes, there is a student in the hero course who is a single parent; they came to me when they were made aware of the situation. After completing an extensive exam process, including independent review and clearance by the Child Safety Commission, they were allowed to apply to enter the U.A. This student has demonstrated the necessary moral, emotional, and financial means to support themselves and their family." Nezu responded as more questions were mummers amongst the crowd. "This is not the first time that a member of this University has had a child while attending. Every possible measure has been taken to see the child welfare and their safety in the wake of this event. You seem to forget that this is a college; last I witnessed, hormones are still active."
"Follow-up question. You said this member of the hero course is a single parent. What of the child's other parent or grandparents, for that matter?" She pressed her eyes, practically dancing with curiosity.
"I will not divulge personal information regarding a student's personal or family life," Nezu said. He could see she was about to say something else until he pointed to another reporter. Ms. Golti National Press."
"Nezu, I want to ask the faculty behind you how they feel about the incident and what happened afterward."
The press conference continued for another hour.
-Tuesday Night-
Everyone had completed their required counseling sessions by Tuesday, and most had been cleared. Tuesday night, the girls of class 1-A were summoned to the common room, where Minoru Mineta waited.
"Thank you all for coming," he said nervously. "I just want to apologize for what I did, for trying to peep at you, leering at all of you. It wasn't right, and it wasn't what someone who wants to be a hero should do."
"Why are you bringing this up now?" Momo asked as all the girls were wondering the same thing.
"I may be on my way out of the hero course," he said, bowing. "I did it to myself; I put myself in this predicament. If I am on my way out, I want to try to clear the air with all of you. If I manage to stay, I want to tell you first that I want to be a better person, and if you can allow me to prove it with my actions, I would be most humbled to do so."
"What if we say no?" surprisingly, Ochaco spoke this time. "Are you still going to try to change, or is this just a way to stay in the hero course?"
"I have done nothing to warrant you giving me a second chance, and I understand that I very nearly crossed a line that I could have never come back from, and for some of you, I may have crossed that line already," Mineta said, staying with his head bowed. "If so, I am genuinely sorry, and I hope to prove it to you over the next year and earn my way back into the hero course at next year's Sports Festival."
"So you are just going to stop looking at us?" Kyoka questioned.
"No, all of you are beautiful, every one of you," his answer surprised them. "But looking at you and leering at you are two different things; of course, I will notice when I see something beautiful about any of you, but all the boys do; they just don't stare at you and drool! That isn't right, but appreciating how beautiful you all are…"
"So what happens now?" Toru spoke up.
"If you are uncomfortable with me being here, then simply tell Professor Midnight," he said. "Thank you for at least hearing me out; I genuinely appreciate it. Don't feel guilty or sad if you don't want to believe me or you want me to prove it by earning my way back next year. I did this to myself." He straightened himself up and walked upstairs to his room.
"What do we do?" Mina asked her friends.
"We should each take our time and decide kero," Tsu said. "It should be done privately; just because a few of us may be willing to give him a second chance doesn't mean the others should be pressured to do so."
"I agree with Tsu," Ochaco said, smiling at her friend. The others nodded and returned to their nightly routine.
-Momo and Izuku-
The first night Inari slept in her room, it was only a few hours before she awoke from a nightmare. The second night, neither Momo nor Izuku slept comfortably; they both kept waking up in the middle of the night to check on her. Thursday night was much better; they both felt relaxed, especially with the new visual monitors that Mei had built and installed in Inari's room. The addition of the security shutters had also helped to ease their minds quite a bit.
Spice Ahead
Momo snuggled into Izuku; when lips met the nape of her neck, she couldn't suppress the moan that escaped her lips. She involuntarily moved her hips back against him, and he responded in kind with his erection pressing against her. Her arm came back over her head, holding his head to her neck as she encouraged him on; she gasped and shuddered when his hand began to trace around her erect nipples against her silk pajamas lightly.
She turned in his arms and brought her leg over his hips as their lips met, the passion and desire increasing between him. The room's cool air suddenly was on her chest as he undid the buttons on her top and slipped it partially off of her. He rolled her on her back before he trailed kisses down her neck towards this prize. She arched her back as he got closer; when his tongue grazed over her nipple, she nearly let out a cry of pleasure, but not wanting to wake Inari, she managed to cover her mouth to muffle it some.
He took her breast in his mouth, sucking and teasing it, licking and caressing it. She had her legs wrapped around him, her back arched off the bed, as she held his head to whichever breast he fancied at the moment. She was lost in pleasure encouraging him, spilling her wants and desires to him. He was surprised when she told him to pinch them and felt his lust increase when she gave her muffled call of pleasure. The silken fabric of her pajamas betrayed how wet she was; when he slipped his hand into the waistband, nothing was separating him from her sex.
Once he started to stimulate her clit, the combination didn't take long for the pressure that had been building to reach a crescendo. It started in her toes; they began to curl as the pressure was about to burst; her hands clawed at the bed sheets, and every single muscle began to tense and quiver, and a final rub, a hard suck, an aching pinch caused the release.
It spread from her core, the sudden burst, the explosion of her orgasm. She bit her lip to attempt to contain her pleasure screams from filling the room; she was so grateful when he used his mouth to silence her, allowing her to moan and buck against his erection. It continued to wash over her like waves crashing against the shore; she couldn't even contain her movements; her body spasmed as the orgasm continued to wash over her. As it subsided, she pulled back from his kiss.
Their eyes were glazed with lust; she could still feel how hard he was, she said. "Would you like... to use...my breasts?" he could only nod. Straddling her chest, her eyes widened seeing his erect cock. When he slid it between her breasts, she pushed them together, wrapping them tight around it. "Have you ever done this before?" she asked.
Izuku, stunned at what was happening, managed to answer her, "No."
To this day, Momo doesn't know what came over her, but hearing that just unleased something inside her. Maybe it was all the "educational" books she read or her inner desires coming out. "Izuku, please fuck my breasts; I want you to cum all over them," she cooed at him. "Can you do that for me? Can you paint them for me?"
Izuku nearly lost himself at her words, the sultry, seductive tone, and how she looked at him. He began to move his hips wrapped by her heavenly mounds, but her words didn't stop. She kept talking to him. "Oh god, it feels so hot in between my breasts. Pinch my nipples while you fuck them. God, yes, Izuku, you are so big it is popping out the top." Then she licked the tip as it did, so he didn't last much longer after that. When he heard her stare, begging for him to cum he was so worked up at that point he lost complete control. The pressure that had been built up from when they first started exploded out of him; he felt his legs buckle, his muscles clenched deep at the base of his cock, and he rifled up the shaft to the tip as he exploded not just over Momo's breasts but her face as well. He could barely register her orgasm from his teasing of her breasts during the session. His body was lost in the pleasure of the release. When his eyes did focus, he had fallen forward but caught the headboard to keep from falling on her. He saw her mouth open; she licked some of his seed from the corner of her mouth.
"You taste divine," she purred, and Izuku nearly fell over. But his mind kicked in that he had just given his girlfriend a facial, and he scrambled off her, grabbing some tissue. When he turned around, Momo already had a wet wipe in hand and was cleaning herself. "Is it okay if we stop here?"
"Of course, I didn't expect it to go this far," he responded.
"Thank you, Izuku." She kissed his cheek before getting off the bed. She didn't bother covering herself as he went to the bathroom to get cleaned up properly.
Izuku could only stare at her as the door closed. He then changed a few pillowcases that had been the victims in the whole escapade. When she returned to bed, she changed into fresh pajamas, and they fell asleep in each other's embrace.
Spice End
-Sports Festival-
On Friday, it was announced that they would all be allowed to participate in the sports festival. It also made Itsuka return to the bedroom and the curfew that had been imposed due to the attacks on the school had been lifted. It was a hard decision, but they all agreed to focus on their training for the festival, with a promise of a weekend getaway after the festival. Everyone would still work out in the morning, but the afternoons were for private training; Izuku was grateful that Torino volunteered to look after Inari some in the afternoon. There was that time when Ituska joined Izuku for a shower, but that was neither here nor there.
It was in the locker room. All the class sat around the room, filled with nervous energy. All heads shot to the doors as the class reps, Momo and Izuku, walked in.
"Five Minutes," Momo said to the quiet room. "Make your final preparations; we will assemble in the hall in a few minutes to walk out."
"Alright, everyone, make sure you do your best. We have a bet with 1-B that we will do better than them, and the winners get a steak dinner from the losers!" Izuku said with a smile.
Izuku took a seat mentally, preparing himself for the day ahead. He looked around at his classmates until his gaze fell on Momo, who was looking at him from across the room as she talked with the other girls about something. His mind wandered to his conversation with his dad when he had brought Inari to him.
-Flashback-
"I want you to go out there and give it all you have," Toshi told him. From your opening speech to the final event, leave everything for the world to see. This is your opportunity to show the world what kind of man and hero you mean to become. Inari is safe and watching you; make her proud."
"What if I fail?" Izuku said nervously. "I don't want to let you down."
"Son, that is impossible," Toshi said, placing his hand on Izuku's shoulder. "I already know the kind of man you are, the hero you will become. As long as you do your best and stay true to your heart, you can never let me down."
"Thanks, Dad," Izuku said, hugging Toshi.
"As a bonus, though, should you win this whole thing, there is a private hot spring that I own," Izuku stepped back, staring at his father, who had a huge grin. It is private and has a beautiful tiny home attached, perfect for a weekend getaway. Should you win the whole festival, I would gladly take my granddaughter for the weekend and allow you full access."
"Are you joking?" Izuku said, stunned.
"I never joke about a hot spring, my boy!" Toshi replied.
-Flashback-
Izuku blushed and looked away as not-so-pure thoughts about a hot springs weekend with Itsuka and Momo danced in his head.
"Izuku!" A sudden call of his name brought him back to reality. He saw Shoto standing before him.
"Can I help you with something?" Izuku said quizzically. Shoto Todoroki didn't talk much; he had opened up since the start of the year; by that, he would sometimes respond to your questions with more than a single word. He seemed to be on the periphery of everything, like he wanted to be more involved but wasn't sure.
"I want you to know that I respect the job you are doing in raising Inari and as a member of the hero course," he said sternly.
"I sense a but coming," Izuku smirked.
"You are one of the strongest members of either class; you demonstrated that at the USJ," Shoto continued, a slight tick on his forehead from the smirk on Izuku's face. "With your connection to All-Might, I want you to make it to the final round, where I will be the one to defeat you. I will prove to everyone that I can and will be the next number-one hero with the power of my ice alone!"
"This mother fucker!" Sero said across the room.
"Ok, cool!" Izuku said, getting to his feet. "But if you are going to go at it half-assed with only half your power when everyone is going at 110%, then you are not going to make it to the finals." Izuku pointed to the rest of the class, who glared at Shoto. "You just pissed them all off, so good luck. If you come at me with 50%, then don't come crying to me when I mop the floor with you. We all have our reasons why we are doing this; you may want to reconsider yours if you think that going into this proving that you can do it with half your power is the right reason." Izuku stepped past Shoto towards the door. "Let's show the world who we are and what we do!"
The class cheered and began to file out.
"You better hope we don't meet before that, Icy Hot," Bakugo said, stepping up to Shoto and leaning in by his head. "I will spank you and send you crying back to Daddy with that half-my-power bullshit."
Before Shoto could respond, Bakugo had exited the room.
-Opening Statement-
Midnight smiled as she welcomed Izuku to the stage for the opening speech. Izuku took a deep breath, climbed the stairs, and walked to the microphone. He looked around and saw his face all over the screens. He felt his emotions swell, thinking of how Suijin and his mother would scream and cheer for him. He looked to the VIP section, his eyes finding the private booth that sat his father and Inari.
"Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen; on behalf of the entire student body today, I want to extend our sincerest appreciation for your presence here today and everyone watching worldwide," he paused as the crowd cheered for themselves.
"When I was a little boy, I wanted to be a hero," he began. "Like I am sure all of you!" he said, pointing at the crowd who cheered and laughed. "I wanted to be just like All-Might. Did anyone else?" The crowd all cheered and began to chant All-Might for a bit.
"I want to save people with a smile and make people feel safe, just like our idol. I wanted to save the day and declare?" he motioned to the crowd and student body, who roared back, "I AM HERE."
"But for the longest time, my quirk never manifested," he said as the audience quieted. "I was quirkless for years; it wasn't until my teenage years that my quirk finally triggered. There were so many people who would laugh at me for my lack of quirk, who would tell me that I was foolish or crazy for daring to want to be a hero as great as All-Might."
"No one believed in me," he said, pausing. "Except my mother, a girl who saved me one day by a river, and another who, when a scrawny bean pole walked into their family dojo, trained me every day, believed in me every day, even when I didn't believe in myself."
Itsuka smiled up at him and mouthed, "I love you!"
"I know all of you are sitting there wondering how this kid would be a hero without a quirk. I couldn't be a hero, and I have a quirk." Izuku looked out over the crowd. "Who said so? Who told you that? Was it the same people who told Miriko she couldn't be a hero with just a rabbit mutation? Or that Best Jeanist couldn't be hero-controlling threads. I bet they told her that she was crazy. She should be a model, look pretty, smile more, and be softer. Or told him to be a fashion designer, work with clothes." Izuku pointed toward the hero section. "Ask any of them; someone always said they wouldn't make it or weren't good enough. That their quirk was weak, useless, or even criminal."
"Is a quirk evil? Does a quirk make you evil? Why should they be judged for something they can't control? Did everyone get to choose their quirk, and was I absent that day? Did my mother forget to sign me up for one when I was born? Did your parents look at all the quirks in the world and choose yours, especially for you? If so, I bet many people want to have a nice little talk with our parents," he smiled for the cameras.
"I know what it is like to be discriminated against, to be looked down on, to be told that my dream is not realistic. To be told that I am worthless or that I was useless." Izuku took a deep breath. "But they were wrong, and whoever told you couldn't follow your dreams was wrong, the same way every hero in the stands, every hero looking down on us from the past, the future heroes I take the field with today, or all you other future heroes out there." He pointed down the camera lens.
"It isn't your quirk that makes you a villain; it is what you do with it that does," his focus was on the television camera. "For all of you that are true villains, that choose to attack children, terrorize those who are just trying to live their lives. You saw what happened when you came after us; you felt what happened when you decided to invade our school and attempt to murder us for daring to be heroes. We will not lay down for you or anyone else. WE WILL STAND UP AND DARE YOU TO COME AT US AGAIN! NOT ONE OF US ARE GOING ANYWHERE! NOT A SINGLE HERO IS GOING TO RUN. NOT A SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ARENA IS GOING TO ROLE OVER AND ALLOW YOU WALK ALL OVER THEM."
"Every person here has dreamed of being a hero; every person here has dreamed of changing the world. Be that change, be that hero who would tie the blanket around their neck, the hero who would stand in the darkness of their bedroom and dare the monster under the bed to come for them. Be that change for those that drive you to wake up every morning and go to work, for the person who shares your life, and for your children who you want to have a better life than you do." Izuku turned his attention back to the crowd.
"I am here to tell you to fight for dreams, that your quirk does not define you," Izuku pointed to his heart. "THIS IS WHAT DEFINES YOU. I WANT YOU ALL TO FIGHT, FIGHT FOR A BETTER TOMORROW, FIGHT FOR A BETTER TODAY! FIGHT SO YOUR CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TOO. EVEN IF THEY TELL YOU ARE FOOLISH, EVEN IF EVERYONE TELLS YOU THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT, NO ONE BELIEVES IN YOU. I DO." He roared, and the crowd cheered back at him.
"WILL YOU FIGHT FOR THE CHILD INSIDE OF YOU?"
"YES!" the stadium called out.
"WILL YOU FIGHT FOR THE CHILD NEXT TO YOU?"
"YES!"
"WILL YOU FIGHT FOR THOSE YOU LOVE?"
"YES!"
He pointed down at the student body and then to the crowd, "WILL YOU FIGHT FOR THEM?" The students all roared back at him. "YES!"
To the crowd, "WILL YOU FIGHT FOR THEM!" Again, they called back to him, "YES!"
He pointed to the heroes, "WILL YOU FIGHT OF US!" "YES!"
Izuku turned back to the camera, "MY NAME IS IZUKU MIDORIYA, AND I WILL FIGHT ALL OF YOU!" he stepped back and bowed to the crowd that kept chanting, "YES!"
Midnight stepped up the mic, raising her arms in the air, getting the crowd even more amped. "I DECLARE THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL…OPEN!"
-Lost Apartment-
Himiko sat staring at the screen; she grabbed at her head and screamed.
"I told you he was amazing!" Suijin whispered to her.
"NO! HE IS A LIAR, HE TOOK OUR BABY. Himiko whimpered back.
"All you had to do was be open with him." She taunted.
"No, he would have never accepted me. That is why you didn't tell him about our baby." Himiko tried to argue back.
"Look at how brilliant he shines; I could never take that away from him," Suijin said, her voice full of love.
"NO, NO, NO!" Himiko yelled as she smacked her fist against her head.
"We could have all been together. But instead, you wanted something else," Suijin purred. You could have come to our bed; he would have put a baby in you."
"My baby?" Himiko whispered, holding her stomach. "I just wanted you, Suijin; I wanted our baby and us to be a family. I didn't want you to leave." Himiko screamed and pleaded, her eyes shut tight as tears poured out. Slowly, she opened them and looked at the mirror beside her.
Suijin's burned and bloodied face stared back at her. "But instead, you killed me, Himiko, you killed me and lost our baby. Why did you do it? Why did you kill me? I thought you loved me?"
"I DIDN'T KILL YOU; I DIDN'T MAKE YOU RUN OUT THERE. I DO LOVE YOU, SUIJIN; I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" Himiko screamed at the mirror. "DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I LOVE YOU!"
"No, you just led them to us; now my baby is in her father's arms where she belongs." Suijin's mouth curled into a sneer. "You weren't good enough to protect our baby!"
"I am good enough, Suijin. I am good enough," Himiko said, falling against the mirror and pawing at it.
"THEN BRING BACK ME, MY BABY. I MISS HER SO MUCH!" Suijin screamed.
"I will, I will, I promise. Then we can be together, all of us. We can be a family. I will bring him to you. I will show you how I can love him, too. Then we can be together…forever," Himiko Toga collapsed on the floor, alternating between wailing and laughter.
-The Castle-
"You see how he mocks you father? How he mocks us?" Neito yelled, his drink spilling to the floor.
"He does mock you," All for One said. "That could have been you, my son, but instead, it is my other son, the one that I left alone, the one that left to the world who stands upon that stage with the world in the palm of his hand." He scoffed. "And what of the one I raised, the one that told me how they would bring me glory and honor? He spills his drink on the floor while his brother ascends higher."
"Father, it wasn't my fault," Neito protested, desperately pleading. "it was Tomura who failed; it was his recruits that weren't strong enough."
"Yet even with the Nomu, you failed, Neito." All for One Bit back. "Even with all I provided to you, you still failed. If I hadn't come, your brother would have ended you right then and there. Daddy had to come to save poor little Neito again."
"But father!" Neito cried.
"Now your brother stands upon that stage, the whole world captivated. The woman you told me you would claim in his bed. I bet she moans like a good little whore for him," All for One waved his hand, and the spilled drink refilled itself. "Now sit and watch your brother ascend even higher; watch as he claims everything that should have been yours. Your failure has cost me not only Kurogiri but Tomura as well."
"Let me go there, let me humiliate him before the world," Nieto begged. "I will destroy him and claim her before the world!"
"Stupid boy," he waved his hand, and an invisible force smacked Neito across his face. "You will sit and watch as my favorite son earns glory before the world."
"Yes, Father," Neito responded, sinking back in his seat, holding a tissue to his bloodied lip. All the while, he stared at the screen and seethed as he watched his brother perform on the grand stage of the U.A. Sports Festival.