As I was walking back from the scene with the teachers, my mind racing with everything that had just unfolded, I suddenly felt a hand grab my wrist. Before I could react, I was pulled into a shadowy corner of the hallway. My instincts kicked in for a split second, but I quickly realized who it was.
"Nemuri?" I whispered, a little startled. I hadn't expected her to corner me like this—especially not at school.
Izuku: I thought we made a promise
I began, glancing around nervously to make sure no one was nearby. The last thing we needed was for anyone to get the wrong idea.
Nemuri: And I'm breaking it
she cut me off, her voice soft but firm.
Nemuri:What happened out there, Izuku? You had another flashback, didn't you?
I opened my mouth to deny it, but the words got caught in my throat. She knew me too well. So instead, I let out a heavy sigh, leaning my back against the cold wall and sliding down until I was sitting on the floor. I felt like the weight of my past was pressing me down more than usual.
"Yeah," I admitted quietly.
Izuku: I had another flashback.
Nemuri crouched down in front of me, her eyes filled with concern.
Nemuri:what triggered it?
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to push away the memory, but it was so vivid, so painful. It clawed at the edges of my mind, refusing to fade.
Izuku:Back at the facility
I began, my voice barely above a whisper
Izuku:to test the limits of my Regeneration and adaptation abilities... they exposed me to extreme levels of radiation.
I paused, feeling the old wounds reopen in my mind, the pain resurfacing.
Nemuri sat down next to me, her presence comforting in a way I couldn't describe.
Izuku:They... used radiation to accelerate the breakdown of my entire body on a cellular level. Every cell in my body was being destroyed faster than I could regenerate. I could feel it. The pain was unimaginable. My body kept trying to adapt, to heal itself, but the radiation kept tearing me apart.
I clenched my fists, feeling my nails dig into my palms.
Izuku:It was... like my body was in a constant state of dying. And they kept pushing it further, just to see how much I could take. Just to see how far my regeneration could go.
I shuddered at the memory, my mind spiraling back to that cold, sterile room where they had treated me like an experiment, not a person. The constant agony, the feeling of losing myself piece by piece it had become a nightmare that haunted me even now.
Nemuri didn't say anything for a moment, but I felt her hand on my shoulder, grounding me in the present.
Nemuri:You don't have to go through this alone
she whispered softly.
Nemuri:You're not there anymore, Izuku. You're here, with people who care about you.
I wanted to believe her, but the memories clung to me like a weight that wouldn't let go.
Then, without warning, she leaned in and kissed me. It was soft, gentle, and for a moment, it broke through the darkness that clouded my thoughts. I wanted to protest, to remind her that we were still in school, that this was a line we shouldn't cross. But the words died on my lips, and I found myself melting into the kiss, if only for a brief moment of peace.
I kissed her back, allowing myself to forget where we were, to forget everything else for just a moment. The tension in my body eased, and for the first time in what felt like hours, I felt calm. The flashbacks faded into the background, and all that was left was the warmth of Nemuri's presence beside me.
When we finally pulled away, we both stayed there, sitting in the corner of the hallway, breathing softly.
"Izuku..." Nemuri began, her voice quieter now.
Nemuri:I know it's hard. What you went through, what you're still dealing with... it's not something that just goes away. But you've come so far. You're not that kid in the facility anymore. You're a hero now. And you don't have to carry this alone.
I nodded, but I couldn't find the words to respond. My heart was still racing from the kiss, but more than that, from the weight of everything I had been holding in. I knew she was right, but knowing didn't make it any easier.
Nemuri:I just don't want you to shut me out
she added softly.
Nemuri:If you ever need to talk about it, or if it gets too much... I'm here, okay?
I gave a small nod again, this time a bit more certain. "Thank you," I whispered, not trusting my voice to say more.
We sat in silence for a few more moments before Nemuri finally stood up, offering me her hand.
"Come on," she said with a small smile.
Nemuri:We should get back before someone starts wondering where you disappeared to.
I took her hand and let her help me up. My mind felt clearer, though I knew the memories wouldn't stay away forever. Still, for now, I could manage.
But as we started to walk back, I froze. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone standing in the hallway, her eyes wide and filled with shock.
It was Ochaco.
She was standing just a few feet away, partially hidden behind a pillar, but I could tell she had seen everything. Her expression was hard to read—surprise, confusion, and something else I couldn't quite place.
My heart sank. She wasn't supposed to see that. Whatever had just happened with Nemuri, it wasn't meant to be seen by anyone else, let alone Ochaco.
For a moment, we just stared at each other, the silence heavy in the air. I wasn't sure what to say, or if I should say anything at all.
And then, without a word, Ochaco turned and walked away, disappearing around the corner before I could even think to stop her.
Nemuri glanced at me, her face slightly tense. "Izuku..."
I shook my head, feeling the weight of another problem settle onto my shoulders. "It's fine," I said quietly, though I wasn't sure if I believed it.
Izuku:I'll handle it.
But deep down, I knew things had just gotten a lot more complicated.
Timeskip after school
I sat on the edge of the bed, glancing at Ochaco, who stood there looking a bit unsure. She had followed me to my room after I asked her to talk, her eyes still holding the shock of what she had just seen. I knew she had questions, and I couldn't blame her. She had seen something she wasn't supposed to something that would change how she looked at me forever.
I sighed, feeling a lump form in my throat. I knew this conversation was going to happen one day, but I wasn't ready for it. Not yet.
"Ochaco," I started, my voice low, trying to keep steady.
Izuku:This is... this is my room. I live here, in the school.
She blinked, still piecing everything together.
Ochaco:You... you live here? In the school?
I nodded.
Izuku:Yeah, the school helped provide for me. You know... because of some of my... challenges.
I glanced away, not wanting to meet her gaze just yet.
Izuku:Ochaco... you saw... everything.
Her face flushed. I could see she was trying to find the right words, struggling to make sense of what she had witnessed.
Ochaco:You... kissed Midnight. And then... that facility, the radiation you were talking about. I don't... I don't understand...
I took a deep breath. There was no turning back now.
Izuku:Me and Nemuri Midnight, I mean we're in a relationship.
I said it plainly, no use hiding it anymore.
Izuku:And I guess, well, I should tell you my story. You deserve to know the truth, Ochaco.
She looked at me with wide eyes, slowly sitting down in the chair across from me. She was quiet, waiting.
I ran my hand through my messy green hair, feeling the weight of everything I had kept hidden for so long. I didn't even know where to start. How could I even begin to explain everything?
"Ochaco," I began slowly,
Izuku;I didn't grow up in the best family. I never had what you would call a normal childhood. My life... it was different.
I paused, searching for the right words.
Izuku:I was born quirkless.
Her reaction was immediate shock, disbelief.
Ochaco;Quirkless? But you're... Izuku, you're one of the strongest people I know!
Izuku:Yeah, I am now, but back then... it was different. My family, my friends they weren't exactly kind to me because of it. I was treated like a burden, like I didn't belong. And eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away.
Her eyes softened.
Ochaco;You... ran away from home?
I nodded, my heart feeling heavy as the memories resurfaced.
Izuku:Yeah. But things didn't get better. In fact, they got worse. I... I got kidnapped.
Her hands shot to her mouth, horror washing over her face. "Kidnapped?!"
"Yeah," I said quietly.
Izuku:I was taken by some people... people who ran a facility. They did things to me, Ochaco. Horrible things.
I could feel my chest tightening. I didn't want to remember. I didn't want to go back to that place. But she deserved to know.
Izuku:They wanted to create something... an evolved human with a perfect quirk. I was just a kid, maybe 11, 12,or 13 at the time.
Her eyes shimmered with tears as she listened, and I could see the pain she felt for me. But I wasn't finished.
Izuku:I managed to escape
I continued, my voice faltering as I recalled the terror of those days.
Izuku:But not before they... did enough damage.
Without thinking, I stood up and began pulling off my shirt, revealing the scars that crisscrossed my torso. My well-toned body was marred by the remnants of that place the horrors of the experiments. My midsection, in particular, bore a massive gruesome scar accompanied with several brutal ones crisscrossed that stretched across my abdomen, the result of countless surgeries and procedures meant to test my regeneration and adaptation abilities.
Ochaco's eyes widened as they fell on the scar. She couldn't hold back the tears now, and I could see her trembling. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she reached out and touched the scar on my abdomen. Her fingers were soft, but the contact made me flinch.
Ochaco:I-Izuku... this... this is what they did to you?
Her voice cracked, barely able to speak through her tears.
I nodded, my throat tight.
Izuku:Yeah. That's not even half of it
I sat back down, feeling the weight of everything I had just revealed. I felt exposed, vulnerable.
Izuku:Have you heard of the vigilante Nemesis?
She nodded slowly, her eyes still on my scars.
Ochaco:Yeah... everyone's heard of him.
"Well..." I paused, trying to find the right words.
Izuku:You could say that was me. I was Nemesis. But eventually, I got taken down. I was... rehabilitated.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Ochaco:You were... Nemesis?
I nodded again.
Izuku:Mr. Aizawa, Nezu... Nemuri they all helped me through it. They gave me a second chance when I didn't deserve one. If it wasn't for them, I don't think I'd be here right now. I was... I was a monster back then, Ochaco. No one wanted to be near me. But Nemuri... she helped me heal. That's how we got close. That's where our relationship started.
I watched as Ochaco absorbed everything I was telling her. I could see the confusion, the pain in her eyes. She was trying to process it all, trying to understand. But I knew what she was thinking. I knew she wouldn't be able to look at me the same way again. I was a monster. I had been through things no one should ever have to endure, and now... now she knew.
Izuku:I know you don't understand
I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Izuku:I know that you'll probably see me differently now. That I might even be a monster in your eyes.
I paused, feeling the sting of tears forming in my own eyes.
Izuku:But Ochaco, you've been an amazing friend to me. And I just... I didn't want to keep lying to you.
I didn't even realize I was crying until the tears started rolling down my cheeks. "Damn it," I muttered, trying to wipe them away.
Izuku:I said I wouldn't cry again... I don't want to cry anymore.
Before I could say anything else, Ochaco suddenly moved. She threw her arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her tears soaked into my shirt as she held me, her body shaking with sobs.
"Izuku..." she whispered through her tears,
Ochaco:i'm so sorry... I'm so sorry for everything you went through.
I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. I just sat there, frozen, as Ochaco held me. Her warmth, her kindness—it was overwhelming. I had never expected this. I had expected her to hate me, to be disgusted by what I had become. But instead, she was comforting me.
I didn't deserve it.
I didn't deserve her.
But in that moment, I let myself believe that maybe... just maybe, I wasn't as much of a monster as I thought.
I hugged Ochaco tightly, feeling her warmth and the weight of her comforting presence as I tried to calm down. The tears had stopped flowing, but the emotions were still raw, still fresh. I buried my face into her shoulder, grateful for the unexpected kindness. I didn't know how to express the gratitude I felt how she hadn't recoiled in horror at the truth I'd shared. Instead, she had accepted me. She didn't see me as a monster, at least not yet.
Izuku:Thank you, Ochaco
I whispered, my voice shaky but sincere.
Izuku:Thank you for accepting me... for not pushing me away.
Ochaco's grip around me tightened, her cheek pressed against my chest.
Ochaco:You don't have to thank me, Izuku. I'm your friend. That's what friends do.
Her voice was muffled, but I could hear the emotion in it the concern, the sadness for what I had gone through.
I opened my mouth to say something more, but then there was a distinct sound from the doorway a throat being cleared rather loudly. "Ahem."
Ochaco and I both froze, slowly turning our heads toward the door. Standing there, with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised, was Nemuri, better known as Midnight. She didn't look particularly angry, but she did have that knowing look in her eyes that made me feel like we had been caught doing something wrong.
Ochaco immediately released me, stepping back with her face flushed red in embarrassment.
Ochaco:Midnight—I mean, Teacher! This... this isn't what it looks like!
she stammered, clearly flustered. Her arms flailed a bit as if trying to explain herself, but the words didn't seem to come out right.
Ochaco:We were just... just...
Nemuri raised a hand, a small smirk forming on her lips. "Relax, Ochaco," she said casually, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.
Nemuri:i'm not here to give you detention or anything.
She waved her hand in the air, as if dismissing the idea altogether.
I smiled weakly, feeling a mix of relief and awkwardness. "Hey, Nemuri," I said, trying to sound casual but knowing I probably sounded as awkward as Ochaco looked.
Nemuri's gaze softened as she walked over to us, her eyes settling on me with a look of concern. "Izuku," she said, her voice dropping to a gentler tone,
Nemuri:you know I hate it when you cry.
I felt a lump in my throat again at her words. Nemuri had always been there for me, through some of the darkest moments in my life. She had seen me at my worst, seen me break down in ways I hadn't thought possible. She had always been there to pick me up, to push me forward, to remind me that I wasn't alone.
Izuku:... I didn't mean to
I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly.
Izuku:It's just... today's been a lot. And Ochaco—
I glanced at Ochaco, who still looked like she was trying to disappear into the background
Izuku:ochaco saw... everything.
Nemuri sighed, crossing her arms again but this time in a more thoughtful manner.
Nemuri:Yeah, I figured something was up when I got the message that you had a bit of an... episode earlier.
She looked between the two of us, her eyes lingering on Ochaco for a moment before returning to me.
Nemuri:you told her?
I nodded, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me.
Nemuri:Yeah, I told her. I figured it was only fair after what she saw.
Nemuri tilted her head, her expression softening even more.
Nemuri:And how are you feeling now?
I took a deep breath, trying to assess how I felt in the moment.
Izuku:Better, I think
I said honestly.
Izuku:But still... I don't know, it's just a lot to process.
Nemuri walked over to me and gently placed her hand on my cheek, her thumb brushing away a stray tear that had escaped.
Nemuri:You're doing better than you think, Izuku
she said softly, her voice filled with a tenderness that always managed to calm me down.
Nemuri:You've come a long way, and I'm proud of you for being able to talk about it, even if it's hard.
Ochaco watched us with wide eyes, clearly unsure of what to do or say. I could see the mixture of emotions on her face confusion, curiosity, and something else that I couldn't quite place.
Nemuri noticed Ochaco's expression and smiled warmly at her.
Nemuri:Ochaco, right?
she asked, breaking the silence.
Ochaco nodded quickly, still looking a bit flustered.
Ochaco:Y-Yes, Midnight—uh, I mean, Ms. Kayama.
Nemuri chuckled softly.
Nemuri:Just call me Nemuri. We're not in class right now.
Ochaco blinked, surprised by the informality, but nodded again.
Ochaco:Nemuri, then. Um... I'm sorry if I walked in on something private earlier. I didn't mean to... intrude.
Nemuri shook her head, waving off her concern.
Nemuri:Don't worry about it. If anything, I'm glad you were there for Izuku. He needs friends like you
She glanced back at me with a smile.
Nemuri:And besides, it's not like you caught us doing anything scandalous.
Ochaco's face turned even redder, and I could feel my own cheeks heating up as well. Nemuri had a way of teasing people without meaning any harm, but it still managed to make things awkward sometimes.
"Nemuri," I said, trying to steer the conversation away from any potential embarrassment,
Izuku:I told Ochaco everything. About the facility, about Nemesis... about us.
Nemuri's smile softened, and she nodded in understanding.
Nemuri:that's a big step, Izuku. I know it wasn't easy for you to open up about that part of your life.
Izuku:I didn't really have a choice
I admitted.
Izuku:Ochaco saw... well, she saw me with you, and I figured it was only fair to explain everything.
Ochaco, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up.
Ochaco:izuku, I don't want you to feel like you had to explain anything because of me
she said, her voice earnest.
Ochaco:i'm your friend. I just... I just want to understand, that's all.
Nemuri nodded approvingly.
Nemuri:You've got a good friend here, Izuku.
I smiled at Ochaco, feeling a bit lighter knowing that she was still here, still willing to be my friend after everything. "Yeah, I do," I agreed.
There was a brief moment of silence as we all stood there, the weight of the conversation still hanging in the air. Then, Nemuri cleared her throat again, this time more softly.
"Well," she said, placing her hands on her hips,
Nemuri:I suppose I should give you two some space. But, Izuku... if you need me, you know where to find me.
I nodded, feeling a sense of comfort in her words.
Izuku:Thanks, Nemuri. I appreciate it.
She gave me a playful wink before turning to Ochaco.
Nemuri:And Ochaco... take care of him, okay? He's tougher than he looks, but everyone needs a little support now and then.
Ochaco smiled, her confidence slowly returning.
Ochaco:I will. I promise.
With that, Nemuri headed for the door, pausing for just a moment before looking back at me. "And Izuku?" she said, her voice a bit more serious now.
"Yeah?"
Nemuri:Stop beating yourself up, okay? You're not a monster. You never were.
Her words hung in the air long after she had left the room, leaving me to sit with the truth of them. Ochaco sat back down beside me, her presence still warm and comforting.
"Izuku," she said quietly, breaking the silence,
Ochaco:I don't think you're a monster either. Not even close.
I looked at her, the weight of everything I had shared still pressing on my heart, but somehow, in that moment, it didn't feel quite as heavy.
Izuku:Thanks, Ochaco
I whispered, my voice filled with gratitude.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as broken as I thought.
