The hospital room was thick with tension, the air so heavy it felt like it could crush anyone who dared to breathe. Hisashi Midoriya sat beside the bed, his hands trembling slightly as he looked over at Enji Todoroki-Endeavor-who was similarly bandaged and silent. The usually proud and towering figure of the Number One Hero seemed diminished, weighed down by something far heavier than the physical injuries he had sustained.

For a long while, neither man spoke, the only sound in the room being the faint hum of the hospital equipment. Finally, it was Hisashi who broke the silence, his voice low and strained.

Hisashi:Endeavor... Enji...

He hesitated, searching for the right words.

Hisashi:I don't know what to say. I've failed as a father, and now... now I've lost my son.

Enji looked over at Hisashi, his eyes dark and unreadable. He shifted slightly in his seat, wincing as the movement caused pain to flare up in his battered body. But the pain wasn't just physical-there was something deeper, something that had been gnawing at him for a long time.

"Hisashi," Enji began, his voice rough, as though the words were being dragged out of him.

Enji:We've both failed.

Hisashi looked at him, surprised.

Hisashi:What do you mean?"

Enji let out a long, slow breath, leaning back in his chair. He stared at the ceiling, his expression one of profound regret.

Enji:I failed my son, too. I failed Touya... Dabi. I was so obsessed with surpassing All Might that I pushed him beyond his limits. I... I drove him to madness, and in doing so, I lost him.

Hisashi's eyes widened as he listened. He had heard rumors about Endeavor's family troubles, but he had never expected to hear this kind of confession from the man himself.

Enji:And it wasn't just Touya

Enji continued, his voice thick with emotion.

Enji:I failed Shoto and Shiori, too. I thought... I thought if I just let them be, if I just stayed out of their way, they would grow up without the scars that I inflicted on Touya. I thought I was protecting them by being distant, by not interfering.

He clenched his fists, the knuckles turning white as the memories flooded back.

Enji:But I was wrong. So wrong. I ignored my children, just like you ignored Izuku. I let them become... well, too much like me. The arrogance, the superiority, the cruelty... They inherited it all from me. And I did nothing to stop it.

Hisashi listened, the weight of Enji's words pressing down on him like a ton of bricks. He had been so consumed with his own guilt, his own failures, that he hadn't considered that others might be going through the same thing. But hearing it from Endeavor-the man who was supposed to be the symbol of strength and victory-only made it all the more real.

Enji:I knew Shoto and Shiori were bullying Izuku

Enji admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Enji:Rei... my wife... she told me so many times to talk to them, to discipline them. But I didn't listen. I thought they were just kids. I thought they'd grow out of it, that it was just a phase.

Hisashi's hands tightened into fists.

Hisashi:And now...?

Enji:And now, I realize that I was wrong

Enji said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Enji:I didn't stop them, and because of that, Izuku suffered. He suffered because of my neglect, just like he suffered because of yours. And now... Now he's become something that neither of us can control, something that we both had a hand in creating.

Hisashi looked down at the floor, the enormity of his failures crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

Hisashi:I wanted to be a hero, Enji. I wanted to save people, to be someone my kids could look up to. But I couldn't even save him. I couldn't even be there when he needed me the most.

Enji's eyes softened, a rare look of empathy crossing his usually stern features.

Enji:We're heroes, Hisashi. But we're also human. We make mistakes. We get caught up in our own goals, our own ambitions, and sometimes... sometimes we forget what really matters.

Hisashi swallowed hard, his throat tight.

Hisashi:But this... this is more than just a mistake. This is... I don't even know what to call it. I let my son suffer, Enji. I let him become...

"A monster?" Enji finished for him, his voice bitter.

Enji:That's what they'll call him, isn't it? That's what the world will see-a monster. But we know the truth. We know that the real monsters were the ones who ignored him, who pushed him away, who let him fall into the darkness.

Hisashi nodded slowly, the truth of Enji's words sinking in.

Hisashi:What do we do now, Enji? How do we make this right?

Enji was silent for a moment, contemplating the question. Finally, he spoke, his voice resolute.

Enji:We can't make it right, Hisashi. Not completely. What's done is done. But we can try to make amends. We can try to help him, to support him, to show him that he's not alone, even if he doesn't want to hear it.

Hisashi looked at him, a spark of hope flickering in his eyes.

Hisashi:you think he'll let us?

"I don't know," Enji admitted.

Enji:But we have to try. We owe him that much, at least. We owe him everything we can give, even if it's too late.

Hisashi nodded, his resolve hardening.

Hisashi:you're right. We can't just give up on him. He's still our son, no matter what he's become.

Enji reached out, placing a hand on Hisashi's shoulder.

Enji:We'll do it together, Hisashi. We'll find a way to help him. We'll find a way to reach him, to bring him back from the edge.

Hisashi looked into Enji's eyes, seeing the determination there, the same determination that had driven him to become where he is . But this time, it wasn't about glory or power. It was about something far more important-redemption, forgiveness, and the hope that maybe, just maybe, they could make things right.

"Together," Hisashi agreed, his voice steady.

Hisashi: we will do it together.

Enji nodded, his grip on Hisashi's shoulder tightening in solidarity.

Enji:We may have failed as fathers, but we won't fail him again. We'll fight for him, just like we would fight for anyone else. And maybe, someday, he'll see that we never stopped caring.

Hisashi allowed himself a small, bitter smile.

Hisashi:Let's hope so, Enji. Let's hope so.

The two men sat in silence after that, the weight of their words settling over them like a shroud. But this time, the silence wasn't filled with regret or guilt. It was filled with determination, a shared resolve to do whatever it took to save the boy they had both failed.

No matter the cost.

Timeskip

The past two weeks had passed in a blur, but I could barely feel it. The room around me, with its sterile walls and beeping machines, felt distant-like I was floating in some endless void. The excitement and chaos from earlier seemed to have faded away, replaced by the same cold emptiness that had taken root deep inside me. I was back to being my usual, depressing, and cold self.

But today... today was different. Today, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was stuffing my face with actual food. Not the trash I used to buy from the store, or the usual pills in the facility, or garbage food that barely passed for sustenance. This was real food.

I glanced down at the plate in front of me. There were scrambled eggs, perfectly fluffy and seasoned with a hint of pepper and salt. Next to them, slices of bacon, crispy and golden brown, with just the right amount of fat to make them mouthwateringly delicious. A stack of pancakes drizzled with maple syrup sat beside the bacon, the syrup pooling at the edges, soaking into the fluffy cake. There was even a small bowl of fresh strawberries and blueberries, the vibrant colors standing out against the pale white of the porcelain bowl. Finally, there was a glass of orange juice, freshly squeezed, its tangy aroma filling the air.

My father had set all this up. I didn't care. I just wanted to eat something so, so, so good.

As I devoured the food, barely taking a moment to breathe, I noticed Tsukauchi standing at the entrance of the room, gazing at me. His expression was difficult to read-somewhere between concern and hesitation.

Izuku:Do you mind?

I asked, my voice cold and indifferent, not bothering to look up as I continued shoveling food into my mouth.

Tsukauchi:Oh, I'm sorry

Tsukauchi stammered, stepping further into the room.

Tsukauchi:Well, uh... Izuku, I... well, it's...

Izuku:Spit it out, dude," I mumbled, my words muffled by the mouthful of pancakes I was chewing.

He sighed, clearly uncomfortable, before finally speaking.

Tsukauchi:The heroes who were badly injured by... well, by what you did... they're back in full condition. The best part is, no injuries whatsoever, thanks to the blood you provided.

I paused mid-bite, glancing up at him for a moment.

Izuku:So they're all healed?

Tsukauchi nodded.

Tsukauchi:Yes. Completely healed. The Public Hero Safety Commission discovered the entire incident... everything that happened in the facility. Your father and All Might discussed it with them.

"So..." I prompted, raising an eyebrow as I took another bite of bacon.

Tsukauchi took a deep breath, clearly bracing himself for what he was about to say.

Tsukauchi:So, you're left with two choices, Izuku. The first... you can be sent to Tartarus and serve a sentence of twenty-five years.

I stared at him for a long moment, the weight of his words settling in my chest like a stone.

Izuku:And the second?

Tsukauchi:Or... you can undergo rehabilitation as a UA student

he continued, his voice softer, almost tentative.

Izuku:Rehabilitation at UA?

I echoed, my grip on the fork tightening. The irony wasn't lost on me. I had wanted to go to that school so badly as a kid, even when I was quirkless. I had dreamed of being a hero, of saving people... and now they were offering me a chance to go there, but not as the hero I had once dreamed of being.

Izuku:What are the conditions?

I asked, forcing the words out, my voice sharp and cold.

Tsukauchi sighed, clearly knowing this wasn't going to be easy to explain.

Tsukauchi:Well, there are several conditions. First and foremost, you will be under constant surveillance. You'll have to wear quirk suppression bracelets at all times, even though we know you're still several times stronger than a normal human being. The suppression isn't for your benefit, but for the safety of others.

I nodded slowly, my eyes narrowing. "What else?"

Tsukauchi:You will be living on the UA

Tsukauchi continued,

Tsukauchi:in a specially accommodated area since they don't have dormitories yet. This accommodation will be isolated from the other students to minimize any potential conflicts or incidents. Your movements will be restricted, and you'll be required to follow a strict schedule that includes mandatory counseling sessions and psychological evaluations.

I scoffed at the mention of counseling.

Izuku:Counseling? Seriously?

"Yes," Tsukauchi affirmed.

Tsukauchi:it's non-negotiable. They want to ensure you're stable and that there's no risk of... well, of what happened before.

I gritted my teeth, feeling a surge of anger rising within me.

Izuku:And what else?

Tsukauchi:You may need quirk training

Tsukauchi admitted, a note of resignation in his voice.

Tsukauchi:You've already mastered your quirk, after all. You did manage to beat a group of elite heroes. But you will be required to attend regular classes and maintain a certain academic standard. Any signs of resistance or refusal to cooperate will result in immediate expulsion from the program and your transfer to Tartarus.

I clenched my hands into fists, the memories of everything I had been through flooding back. UA... the place where I had once wanted to go more than anything. The place where I had dreamed of becoming a hero, even when I had nothing to work with. And now, they were offering me a chance to go there, but under conditions that stripped me of any semblance of freedom or dignity.

Tsukauchi seemed to sense my turmoil, his voice softening as he continued.

Tsukauchi:Izuku, I know this isn't what you wanted. I know it's far from the dreams you had as a child. But this is the best option you have. It's a chance to rebuild, to start over, even if it's not the way you imagined.

I looked down at the plate of food in front of me, my appetite suddenly gone.

Izuku:And if I refuse? If I choose Tartarus?

Tsukauchi's expression darkened.

Tartarus:Tartarus is a place where people go to be forgotten, Izuku. You'll be isolated, alone, with no chance of redemption. The twenty-five years will be a lifetime. You won't come out the same person you went in as. You'll lose everything-whatever's left of your humanity.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

Izuku:And if I choose UA... what do I have to lose?

Tsukauchi hesitated before answering, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tsukauchi:You'll be monitored, restricted, and judged every step of the way. You'll be surrounded by people who see you as a threat, a danger to society. You'll have to fight every day to prove that you're not the monster they think you are. And even then... you might still lose.

I closed my eyes, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. Tartarus... or UA. Two choices, both filled with pain, regret, and loss. But only one offered even the slightest chance of redemption.

"I accept," I said finally, my voice barely audible. "I'll go to UA."

Tsukauchi looked at me, a mixture of relief and sadness in his eyes.

Tsukauchi:Are you sure, Izuku? This won't be easy. You'll be walking a path filled with obstacles, with people who might not trust you, who fear you. Are you ready for that?

I nodded slowly, my mind made up.

Izuku:I don't have a choice. It's not like I have anything left to lose.

Tsukauchi sighed, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips.

Tsukauchi:Alright, Izuku. We'll start the process immediately. But remember... this is your last chance. If you falter, if you make one wrong move, they won't hesitate to send you to Tartarus. You'll need to be strong, stronger than you've ever been.

I looked up at him, my eyes cold and distant.

Izuku:I've been strong my entire life, Tsukauchi. This won't be any different.

He nodded, standing up from his chair.

Tsukauchi:I'll leave you to finish your meal. You'll need your strength for what's ahead.

As he left the room, I sat there in silence, staring down at the food on my plate. UA... the place where my dreams had died, and where they might be reborn. The place where I would face my past, my demons, and the consequences of everything I had done.

But it was also the place where I might find a way to move forward, to become something more than the monster I had become.

And that was a chance I couldn't afford to pass up.