Samurai Heart - SPYAIR.
"And if I became someone you hated, twisting away like a snake,
As the guilt tears me on the inside,
Would you still love me?"
Ryuji Fujou POV
"AHAHAHAHA!"
Ruji Fujou laughed boisterously as he poured another cup of sake for himself. His already flushed cheeks and wandering gaze was enough for the portly man to realise how drunk he was, but that didn't matter as he gulped down another cup of sake within seconds. He couldn't stop giggling, rocking back and forth on his position on the floor.
Ryutaro was dead.
And Ryuukei was nowhere to be found.
For all purposes, Ryuji had won the game he had been playing.
"This city is now mine!"
And there was no one willing to contest that claim. The only other people in the same room as him were the women and men he had hired, as well as the only one that truly understood him. Dirty blonde hair, a lab coat and a drink of lemonade and vodka was unusual, but Ryuji didn't care as their plans had been met.
"Drink up, Natsuki!"
The man merely shrugged his shoulders.
"I will. You know, just because Ryutaro is dead doesn't mean that this city is yours, Ryuukei still lives," Natsuki warned him, but Ryuji wasn't listening as he reached into his pockets and threw a stack of cash everywhere. "...or you can continue partying. I don't care."
Ryuji spilt a half-full bottle of alcohol on the floor, grinning to himself.
"First cocksucker to lick all the alcohol from the floor gets ten grand!"
There was no one left willing to challenge Ryuji Fujou. No one left to stand up against him. The time for the meeting was long gone, and while no one had showed up - Something he expected considering he had sent some of his men to stalk and eventually kill both Ryutaro and Ryuukei, the taste of victory had never felt sweeter.
Ryuji whistled at the men and women licking the alcohol off the floor.
"C'mon, Natsuki! Loosen up a bit! We just won! I'll give the poor gangs until tomorrow to heed my summonings as the new King of the City, maybe then they'll pay some reparations for not celebrating with their new boss tonight! Haha," Ryuji couldn't help but cackle as he threw another stack of cash against the ground, this time for fun. "I'm surprised you helped me, Natsuki. I thought after your whole deal with the Shie Hassakai you'd go into hiding. I wonder why you came to work for me specifically."
Natsuki simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I saw an opportunity and I took it, Ryuji-san. Call me old fashioned but personally I enjoy my work. Tinkering away at a project before it's complete, but you know it's you who funded me. I don't even know where you got the funds," Natsuki replied. "But judging from the look on your face, neither do you? And isn't that interesting? See I was quite interested in those funds and where they came from… And I know that the police is interested in those funds too."
"Hehe. Detrenat helped, and that's all I care about! You and that Hero brat seem to be interested in a pile of stolen money like it matters! The age of crime is slowly starting to pay again! These 'Yakuza' claiming to help the world are simply nuisances. Product of a age where we couldn't be the best we could because of the stupid heroes, and now look at them! Gone!" Ryuji yelled. "All those silly Yakuza pretending to play vigilante are now gone, we can finally go back to the good old days! The days that Heroes tried to eliminate but is now back with full force!"
Natsuki smirked at that.
"Oh?"
"Debt collecting, loan sharks, gambling rinks! I can't wait to put my hand in every single pie this city has to offer, then Tokyo's next! Haha, soon I'll have this entire country's underworld under my control!" Ryuji raised his drink in the air, spilling it everywhere. "And no one can stop me! If anyone even tries to stand up, I'll crush them completely! Hahaha, ahahaha!"
There was nothing else to stop him!
This country was now his for the taking!
After all, his rivals were now dead!
Chapter
Sixty
Seven
'Bonds Made of Steel'
Kyoka Jiro POV
Miwa's body was hooked to a machine.
The sound of her heartbeat was steady, and it was the only sign she gave that she was still alive as she slept peacefully, a plane of glass separating her from the outside world - Separating her from the people that cared most about her.
Everyone had come rushing to the hospital since they got the call.
Kyoka watched as Gekko held Hinata in his arms, the two of them sobbing at the sight of their daughter in all but blood in a coma and not waking up. It left a bitter taste in Kyoka's mouth that someone as innocent as Miwa was caught up in all this nasty Yakuza business, it infuriated her to no end.
Just how many more incidents would happen in the city of hers that she loved so dearly?
The city of memories.
She sat down next to Kaminari who was deep in thought and Nejire, who was oddly silent. While Class A and B had visited, both Aizawa-sensei and Vlad King had dragged the classes away to leave Miwa and her family some privacy, but each and every one of her fellow students had a sullen and determined look on their face as they stared at the innocent girl who might not even wake up ever again.
But, there was a noticeable absence in the groups.
Still, if Sora had been even a minute later…
…
And it was only Sora who was missing from their little group. He hadn't even allowed the paramedics to look at his injuries as he practically carried Miwa in here all by himself, at least that's what the doctors had told them all when they arrived later. A brave but stupid thing as no one had been able to get ahold of Sora ever since.
Since then Sora had vanished and he hadn't returned at all. His phone was on as she could message and call them, but no one was picking up. And all it did was infuriate Kyoka even more, she had vital information to tell him!
Just where the hell was he?!
Tch.
"Gekko, Hinata, please sit down," Kyoka offered her seat to the married couple that couldn't shake their gaze off Miwa. "It's been a few hours since you've eaten. Denki and I don't mind going to get some food for you. Please. Miwa would hate to see you two wear yourself out like this."
Gekko simply chuckled at her attempt to get them to rest.
"You should rest as well, Kyoka. You've been for just as long as we have. We don't mind giving you and Denki our keys if you want to head back to ours-,"
Kyoka shook her head.
"Sorry. I'm not skanky enough to go and sleep in someone else's house all alone, not to mention I don't want to go only to find out she's…" Kyoka trailed off, shaking her head at that outcome. "We'll all go back to yours together. With Miwa in tandem, when she wakes up. So please, sit down and eat. You know how Miwa is when she's tired, so you'll need all the energy you can get."
Gekko and Hinata thanked her as they sat down on the uncomfortable leather seats.
She walked forward, placing her hand against the window that separated her from her old friend. Kaminari walked up behind her, placing his hand on Kyoka's shoulder as a show of support.
"I don't mind driving you two back home," Nejire offered politely. "...My car's parked around the corner. We can stop off at Mcdonalds or KFC if you'd like. Give Hinata and Gekko some privacy. You know Miwa won't appreciate you two worrying about her like this. Come, I'll drive you home-,"
"You don't have a home anymore."
Kyoka turned around at the voice of the newcomer, a boy with mousy brown hair that looked to be their age who wore a suit. It was clear that he had been crying as his eyes were puffy and red. He wore a suit that had been stained with blood, but despite that the boy looked focused. Kyoka stared at him in confusion as Nejire recognised the boy immediately.
"And… you are?"
"Yuuya. I'm a friend of Sora's, a member of the Tatsuya Clan," The boy replied. "The Boss, Ryutaro, was found next to Miwa.. He and Sora told me all about you guys. But you don't have a home anymore. There's no place for anyone in this city anymore. That damned idiot. I told Ryutaro to just run away, but he kept on insisting he'd be fine…" Yuuya whispered. "It doesn't matter what happens now. A gang war is all but guaranteed to happen. First All Might's funeral, and now this? No gang is going to take this lying down. Ryuukei and his gang are already trying to fight back against Ryuji's takeover of this city, Musutafu is going to turn into a war zone soon enough."
Kyoka nodded solemnly at that.
"The U.N. isn't going to take this lying down if more innocents are dragged into this mess," She told him. "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if foreign countries forcefully send Heroes over to deal with crime in this situation. Not even a month after All Might's funeral and we are already at a position where tons of innocents can be killed. And at that point, who knows how Japan will respond. It's not even been a month and we are in another situation. Tsk."
Yuuya laughed bitterly at that.
"Everything we've worked to preserve is slowly becoming undone…"
"Do you know why Miwa was with him?" Kyoka asked. "At the very least I want to know if it's because of her past. Or if she truly was just caught up in the wrong situation at the wrong time and nothing more than that."
But Yuuya could only shrug his shoulders in response.
"I assume it's something to do with their shared past, whatever it was. I don't know more than that however," Yuuya told them sadly. "I wish I could help you more than that. But there's nothing anyone can do to stop the impending gang war. I-, Tokyo's already planning to make moves, and no one from the Tatsuya Clan is going to take this lying down either. Even without an acting chairman, we refuse to let his death or this innocent girl get hurt for no reason."
Kyoka smiled at him.
"That's kind of you. It also sounds like vigilantism."
Yuuya shrugged his shoulders at her.
"That's what a true Yakuza is, in my opinion. But…" The boy grew silent, the faint sounds of Miwa's heartbeat emanating from the machine did all the talking for him. "...There are things I'd do anything to protect. This city and my group are two of them."
"You really think the fighting will start that soon?" A more familiar voice came from behind Yuuya. His right arm was bandaged, and there was a small plaster across his left cheek, but Sora stood there with a small smile on his face. "If so, U.A. can open it's doors and protect civilians. That'll leave the fighting to the streets, maybe there is a way to take down Ryuji and Ryuukei's conflict before it becomes too big of an issue that the city itself can't handle."
"Sora!"
Kyoka and Nejire both ran up to him in happiness.
He looked fine.
Even Yuuya smirked at him.
"...Can you take care of everyone here?" Yuuya asked him. "This is a gang issue. No one like your sister needs to be hurt ever again if I can help it. I trust you, not just because of the hero you once were, but the detective you are now. Because I believe in you. Because you're the strong guy that saved everyone during All Might's funeral."
Nejire nodded at that.
"That's right! This was our investigation!"
Sora simply chuckled in response.
"Don't worry, you guys can do all that. I'm closing up shop now," Sora told them. Time seemed to slow down for Kyoka as she processed what he just said. "I gave my badge to my friend Nanao. I'm no longer a detective, and I'm dropping out of U.A. I just messaged Aizawa that. The rest is up to you, Yuuya. And you too, Nejire and Jiro. Good luck with whatever happens."
…
Huh?
Huh?
Kyoka blinked in surprise at his words, time seemed to slow down as everyone processed what he had just said. And Kyoka couldn't help but feel her heart shatter. Yet again, Sora was leaving.
And there was nothing she could do-,
Nejire growled angrily, stepping forward to grab Sora by his collar.
"You bastard!" Nejire uncharacteristically yelled, pressing him up against the wall. "Miwa was left for dead, Ryutaro died and now this city is overrun by Osakan Yakuza and your solution is just to run away?!"
Sora smirked, his brown wavy hair covering half of his face.
"You're telling me to stay and fight?" Sora asked. "Don't make me laugh. I couldn't even take Ryuukei one-on-one, let alone an entire Yakuza group. Why the hell do I care if this city full of shitty memories gets razed down to the ground? You're asking too much of someone like me. You should have seen this coming, I'm a no good bastard that couldn't protect a single thing."
"...When did you become so pathetic?" Nejire whispered angrily. "Fuck you, Sora. We were supposed to be partners. You said you wanted to honour the dead, not spit on their sacrifice entirely! How is this any different from your previous actions? You said you had changed! You said you were different! If you want to leave, go ahead and leave. But don't presume I-,"
"Do you even know why Ryutaro went by himself?"
Everyone's attention was drawn to Sora as Nejire's grip on his collar loosened considerably. Even Gekko and Hinata, who were trying their hardest to ignore the scene in front of them, couldn't help but stare at their son.
Sora smirked at Kyoka and everyone else.
It was a self-depreciating smirk, and for once Kyoka could finally see it…
How much Sora hated himself.
"It was to protect us. He knew he was going to be targeted, and he still went into that graveyard where Miwa was by himself to make sure no one got hurt. He was shot because he stood in front of bullets meant for Miwa," Sora revealed to them, pushing past Nejire. "...If you all insist on dying, you're free to stay behind and get yourself killed to meet Ryutaro again. But I've still given up on being a detective. We're just strangers now. Free to do whatever you please. And I'm going to be doing just that."
Kyoka shared a look with Kaminari, and they both stepped toward him.
"Sora!"
"Hey! Dude!"
They both watched as Sora kept on walking, only his back facing them.
"Sorry guys. I doubt I can protect anything now…"
Sora's final parting words were like a knife to the heart not just for Kyoka, but for each and every single one of them. Was this… was this really how it was meant to be? Kyoka swallowed the bile threatening to rise up, shaking her head in disappointment and sadness.
It was just like before.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
Brrt.
Brrt.
Brrt.
The sound of a machine was the only thing keeping me awake.
Brrt.
Brrt.
Brrt.
It was Miwa's heartbeat that was stable, for now. Even as I sat in the uncomfortable chair in the room that was painted with a colour that made me sick to my stomach, all I could do was simply stare at Miwa's sleeping body. The knife had been safely pulled out, and the doctors told me that she should make a recovery.
But it wasn't a guarantee.
If anything, they were more worried about me as I refused to be looked over, even though it was night and everyone had gone home. Mostly out of fear if they discovered that my body was slowly tearing itself apart, and then I'd have no choice but to tell my family and everyone else the truth. That I was dying. Or maybe I had always been dead, and I was just a corpse being puppeteered…
With Miwa laying there, peacefully, it was hard to tell.
Brrt.
Brrt.
Brrt.
Ryutaro was dead.
Miwa's life was just barely in the green. It was unbelievably lucky, the doctors said that if I had called even a minute later there was a chance that Miwa would be lost for good. They had commended me on that, but it didn't feel like a commendation.
It felt like they had applauded me for failing to save her.
That I only partially managed to save my sister.
I felt my first tighten, curling up so hard that my nails began to draw blood. I was supposed to be happy that Miwa was still alive, that she had a chance to live unlike Ryutaro, someone I was far too late to save. But I didn't feel happy. It felt numb. In all honesty, I was barely keeping it together to just not dash the uncomfortable chair I was sitting on against the wall in rage.
Because…
Rage was all I could feel.
At myself for still being so weak, at Ryuukei for intervening far too late, at Ryuji for sending his thugs just to murder Miwa and Ryutaro just to get what he wants, I was furious at the entire world. But all I could do was sit back and watch as Miwa's heartbeat continued to fight steadily, and I prayed that it continued to do so. For the briefest moment that I thought she was dead, I lost it.
Just like during the Shie Hassakai raid.
No, perhaps this time I lost it even more than back then. At least back then I had Aizawa to try and snap me out of it, I had Midoriya and Nighteye trying to keep me safe and alive. But this time, I was truly alone. This time I couldn't run away from the fact that I wasn't good enough, and once again someone got hurt.
I had already given Nanao my badge and my key to my office.
There wasn't a need for it after all.
I had said my goodbyes and put my affairs in order, because at this point I didn't really give a shit. Even if I had gone back home to get my sword that was resting on the chair next to me, and my jacket, I knew what I was going to do. At the very least I'd be able to do it all alone without having to worry about anyone getting involved.
That was a reassurance.
I was going to-,
"So, you couldn't take on the Dragon of Musutafu, Ryuukei Hayate?" A feminine voice asked me from the door. The woman wore the exact same clothes as yesterday, with long and sleek black hair traditionally tied up. Sayaka, my mind supplied.
The 'security' for the representative of Tokyo's biggest Yakuza group, by all accounts Ryuukei's lackey. As soon as we locked eyes, I could see her take a step back in fear as I stalked her, my fingers twitching in agitation.
Did Ryuukei care about her?
Did he?
What would he do if I hurt her the same way he hurt Miwa?!
"I… I'm not here to pick a fight, honestly," Sayaka said, raising her hands in self-defence. "I didn't think my boss would actually hurt Miwa. Or allow her to get hurt. I know you probably thought that if we allied with the Tatsuya Clan that things would be alright, but tough luck. Nobody can stop this war now."
Hm.
I chuckled at her, gripping my sword tight.
"Don't get the wrong idea, whore. I wasn't trying to ally with you bastards at all," I replied. "Hell, you are the one who came to me so all I need to do is make sure you spill your guts properly. So, do you want me to use this sharp sword to get them out of you now or what?"
Sayaka laughed at that.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Why were you surprised that Ryuukei allowed people attacked Miwa? Outside of the obvious familial connection?" I asked her. "And don't try to bullshit me, I'm not in the mood. Depending on the answer I'll either let you go or make sure you'll be put in a bed right next to my sister."
"...The Boss, he isn't known for killing or even letting people die," Sayaka told me. "Before he joined Tokyo's premier Yakuza group, as I'm sure you know he was a big gangster here. But to be honest, he used the Yakuza here - That Tatsuya Clan - as more of a vigilante group. He helped clean up the streets a bit, that's how he got his nickname 'Musutafu no Ryu.' A play on words and his name. The Dragon of Musutafu."
"So?"
"So, allowing Miwa and Ryutaro to get hurt is something that he wouldn't allow in a million years, if he were there. And Ryuukei arrived late, around about the same time as you did actually," Sayaka told me. "Well, a little bit before you did. He made quick work of the two bastards that did this to Miwa and Ryutaro. I know that for a fact because it was Ryutaro who called him there."
…
"That grave. Chiemi Hayate… It's his ex-wife, isn't it?" I asked Sayaka. "That grave belongs to Miwa's biological mother, does it not? I don't know the story there. But apparently my parents knew Ryuukei since they were kids. Miwa's their godchild. Why?"
Sayaka shrugged her shoulders at my question.
"I don't know. All I do know is that Chiemi died in a gang attack, leaving Ryuukei all alone with his young daughter. But he paid no attention to her and eventually abandoned her. I know that the Boss felt like he didn't feel like he deserved the right to be Miwa's father," Sayaka told me. "So, he left her and this city to come to Tokyo. To become an even bigger Yakuza. I thought it was all for his daughter, but now that she's tied to that machine I'm not so sure anymore."
Hm.
"Still, I'll follow the Boss and his orders till I die. Even if this war really is happening tomorrow, I won't complain," Sayaka said with a smile on her face. "But, I can't help but ask whether this is the right thing to do? To abandon her again. Will this really make him happy? His daughter just wanted to meet with him so she could ask him a few questions, and he thinks that he doesn't even deserve that."
I scratched the back of my head tiredly.
Ah.
"Well, if he's gonna' be happy or not isn't my concern," I replied. "Cuz' I'm gonna crush him."
Sayaka giggled at that.
"That's my Boss, you know… So, you really were putting on a show in front of those you love? Maybe I shouldn't have been eavesdropping learning all about you, Sora Yamazaki, but your family and friends weren't exactly quiet. You know, you don't stand a chance by yourself. You shouldn't have pushed them away like that, now you're really in for it."
I rested my blade on my shoulder.
"It is what it is, I can't go back on my word," I explained to her. "You know, you think you may hide it well, but I can see the injury you got. You were already here at this hospital in the first place, probably fighting off some goons earlier for your boss. I can respect that, protecting someone that you care about. Go and rest. Oh, and take care of my little sister for me."
"H-hey! I'm not your underling!"
I snorted at her.
"Then you shouldn't have gotten hurt in the first place. Don't complain that I'm giving you orders, bitch. Remember you are still the enemy here," I reminded her. "...At the very least, protect everyone in this hospital from the fighting if it comes here. There are more injured and sick people here that don't deserve to die."
"Fine. Whatever."
Sayaka stormed away angrily, and I couldn't help but smirk at her walking back to her room, she didn't have to do that. To clarify that to me, but she did so anyway because she was a kind person. Or maybe she just respected her boss far too much to let me believe he hurt someone innocent, either way I was still going to go and fight Ryuukei, alone.
Ryuji too.
"Be…fore you go… shouldn't you say goodbye to your sister, Sora?"
I turned around to see Miwa's pale face grinning at me from the position in her bed, the machine steel beeping steadily. My surprise was overshadowed by the grin on my face as I walked back into her room and leaned against the wall.
"Why do I need to say goodbye to a dead girl? C'mon, you know I don't like horror."
Miwa briefly laughed at that.
"Ha. Even though I'm in the hospital, you're still the most unfunny brother in the world," Miwa replied. "Sora… I don't want to see you die. Please. Don't be reckless for my sake, I won't forgive you if you do."
…
I felt my eyes soften at her,
"Don't worry. I promise to buy you an early birthday gift after this. So sit tight."
Closing Miwa's door, I found Sayaka waiting patiently for me outside. She was on the phone with someone as she motioned for me to come closer. Clearly, it was an important phone call judging by the expression on her face.
As I edged closer, she put the phone on speaker for me to hear.
"There isn't a need to worry about anyone else interfering tomorrow. Ryutaro's men are without a leader, and his little watchdog had his chains broken off," I heard Ryuukei say across the phone. "So no one else is going to be harmed. Tomorrow it'll be a good old fashioned fight against Osaka, and we'll crush Ryuji and his men."
"Boss… There's no use," Sayaka replied to him. "You called him chained, but I have to disagree. Why'd you think he was an obedient dog that could be controlled with a chain, the entire time he was a free animal. He's going to come for you tomorrow."
"...So, he's there with you."
I didn't reply as I stared at the phone screen in silence.
"Boss, don't think that we're dumb enough not to know that you purposefully allowed your daughter to get hurt so she'd be safe here. That's obvious. You wouldn't have shown up to meet her if you simply wanted to ignore her," Sayaka told him. "And this 'watchdog' also knows that fact. In fact, you two are so similar. If anything, both of you are dogs chained to Miwa and this city."
"..."
…
"The iron vow that you both promised yourselves, the very same chain in fact. The chains of a warrior who protects. From the one who experienced loss, but accepted the responsibility and continues to protect this city and his loved ones, to the one who experienced loss and decided to forgo responsibility in order to protect those very same things from a distance all alone. Two beasts who share the same interest but clash over how it was handled, and both of you have been in each other's shoes once."
"Hm. We'll see tomorrow who's the last man standing then."
Ryuukei cut the call off, and Sayaka looked at me slightly embarrassed.
"You shouldn't have eavesdropped on my life like that."
"Well, you're the Boss' daughter's brother. I have to be sure that you can protect what the Boss wants to protect," Sayaka replied. "You really are similar. You know, the Boss thinks that this is his sin. That he needs to be punished for it now. And here you are, preparing to fight him and Ryuji because you think that this is your sin. That fighting alone is your punishment, the best way for no one else you care about to be caught up in it."
…
Sayaka handed me a key and an address.
"Oh. By the way, I was doing some old digging and Ryuukei still owns an apartment here in the city," Sayaka told me. "I'm giving you the key and the address to it because he doesn't care about it. But I think it holds some value to you. It was co-owned by Chiemi Hayate, so if you need a place to stay tonight before the fighting starts, you have one now.
I blinked at the key and eventually her in confusion.
"Why are you helping me?"
Sayaka shrugged her shoulders.
"I love my Boss, but he can be really stubborn sometimes. I also don't like seeing innocents get caught up in this mess," Sayaka replied. "If I can help make sure that a war doesn't break out tomorrow and hurt more innocents, well I'll try my hardest to ensure that. Even if my Boss is totally going to be mad at me for it."
"...Cheers."
Sayaka simply waved it off.
"Thank me when Ryuji's stopped," She told me, walking away back to her room for good this time. "And don't die. Other than that, feel free to do whatever you want, detective. I'm sure you and that sword of yours are going to be in for a helluva' fight tomorrow."
…
Kyoka Jiro POV
"Guys. Guys. We need to do something about Sora."
Her voice was meant with silence as all of Class and the majority of Class B crowded their living room. The rain hadn't stopped beating against the windows harshly for the past hour, and it didn't seem to slow down which only added to the dreariness of the situation. It was funny how it was just a little over a year ago that Sora had left them, and now here he was doing the exact same thing again.
"Do what? We... Yeah, when he first came back we weren't as open to it," Midoriya began. "But Sora went on to explain himself. He wanted to show us how much he had changed in the time spent apart. But what he's done now? You can't defend that. If he's so afraid of losing, of not being able to protect, then why even come back? Why even pretend to give this place another chance?!"
"I-,"
"...He's right," Mina added dejectedly. "We are Heroes. This is what we're supposed to do, what we deal with. That hasn't and will never change."
"But-,"
"I know you want to defend him. I want to defend him too," Monoma cut in, "But what is there to defend? Although, I don't think he left again because he was afraid. Yes, he is afraid of failing, but he still tried to make an effort and reach out to you guys despite that fear. I know that for a fact. Let's be honest here, do any of us really believe that Sora has just given up?"
The silence was telling.
There was no way that Sora had just given up.
"So, what? He goes on a suicide mission and achieves what exactly?" Bakugo spoke up. "Revenge? At that point, there isn't a single good bone in Sora's body. At that point, just let him do whatever he wants - We will be there to arrest him for whatever crimes he wants to commit. He's a selfish bastard and deserves everything coming to him if he goes through with his plans to kill Ryuukei and Ryuji."
Mina hissed at that.
"Sora would never-,"
"You're wrong," Kyoka shook her head at her friends. "...Sora is someone with the capacity to kill. In fact, out of all of us, right now he's probably the one willing to kill the most. None of you were present during Sora and Zero's fight at All Might's funeral. They were aiming to kill each other. In fact, I have no doubt that it's still the case. If you think that Sora hasn't been pushed to kill Ryuji and Ryuukei, you are wrong."
"But... What will killing them accomplish?"
"That's the point. Sora doesn't care if it accomplishes anything or not, he'll do whatever he wants to do," Kyoka replied. "He thinks it's punishment for his sins. To go down a darker path, because he thinks that is what he deserves. To be isolated and alone. For whatever reason, he has convinced himself that he doesn't deserve love. He can change his ways, but he'll never be able to change how he feels."
There was no helping Sora.
He could only help himself.
And how could he help himself if he didn't understand himself?
It was fate-,
"Sorry, but I'm not going to allow for this to happen," Kaminari spoke up confidently. "You can all sit there, wallowing in your self-pity. This is where you guys get it wrong every time. You want to control Sora, you want to mould him into someone he isn't. At the end of the day, he's been through the most shit life has thrown at him. I wouldn't blame him if he never wants to fight again. None of us would. Yet every time, after getting beat up, he gets back up, pushes his friends away to protect them, then goes right back into the fight in a reckless manner. It's as though he has no cares for his own life and that the only reason he'd fight seriously is for the sake of others."
Kaminari paused, shaking his head at them.
"And it's true. He wouldn't mind dying if it meant protecting someone else. He wouldn't mind going out there on a suicide mission convinced no one can love him if it means that he can protect even ONE person he gives a shit about," Kaminari said. "That's the idiot we all love. So yeah, we can sit here and judge him for being a bastard - For hurting us over and over again. But we aren't weak kids anymore. We've gone through our own tirals and tribulations. We have all grown up because of Sora, but also because of our experiences."
Kyoka nodded at that.
"He can say and act however he wants, but we all know that deep down he doesn't want to kill anyone," Kyoka told them. "Remember, he used to fight with a wooden sword because he was afraid of death for so long. He can act like he's ready to take a life, but we know he doesn't want to do that. He's far from perfect as a person or even friend trying to make up for the shitty things he did to us, but he's trying."
At the end of the day, Kyoka's best friend was still pushing himself to be better.
"...So what? That doesn't mean he deserves our love."
"Yeah. He still hurt us. And he can still hurt us."
"Trying to be better doesn't erase the past."
Kaminari laughed at their words.
"No one is saying it does. The past has a nasty habit of following you around until it suffocates you to death, or until you fight back to the point where you can look past it," Kaminari told them. "Whether you want to still be friends with him or not is your decision. But, right now our classmate is all on his own. He thinks he can forsake everything just to get id of the guilt he feels for not being strong enough when we were weak. We aren't weak now. And neither is Sora."
"So why help him?"
Kyoka looked down at that question.
She didn't have an answer-,
"Because, if I didn't I think I would regret it for the rest of my life," Kaminari answered honestly. "Sora is a lazy deabeat arsehole who spends more time drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes to try and come back to our class. He spends more time hanging around being a shitty detective and not solving cases because in his mind he's convinced he still doesn't deserve the chances given to him. Despite all his flaws, I'm more than willing to accept him. Because no matter how negative thing get, my best friend is the one pushing everyone to go forwards."
And it was true.
No matter what hellish experience had gone through, Sora always looked up.
"His dark past will still eat away at him. It'll still affect him. But there is something we can do. We can tell him that he really isn't responsible for the 'sins' he's convinced himself came from him," Kaminari said. "We can still give Sora the chance to forgive himself. Because how many times did he help us? How many times did he put his body and life on the line for us when most people would have faltered? We of this Class owe Sora a debt. Yes, he hurt us. He knows this. He's trying to make up for it in a deranged way. What is his death going to accomplish apart from make us ask what if we had saved him when he needed it the most?"
...
"But... how would we..."
Help him.
Kyoka grinned.
"We can call Nejire. She'll help us."
And slowly, everyone lifted their heads.
It was decided.
They were going to help Sora, no matter what!
The address of the apartment wasn't that far away from Gekko and Hinata's.
Maybe a ten minute walk.
As I unlocked the door to the apartment and turned the light on, it was clear that no one had lived here for a while. Despite that, it was remarkably clean with only a very thin layer of dust coating everything, suggesting that at the very least it had been cleaned recently. I closed the door, not locking it as no one knew where I was.
I hadn't been on my phone practically all day.
Taking off my shoes, I entered the living room and sighed at the ornate butsudan there.
It was for Chiemi Hayate.
I kneeled in front of the thing, lighting up the candles with the lighter I primarily used for smoking, sitting in silence before Miwa's mother. There was a beautifully made katana with a golden dragon guard sitting right in front of the butsudan, and I placed my own naked chokuto right beside it as I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Yo. I guess we've never met, but I'm sure you know of me. From what Miwa's probably told you when she prays every now and then. I'm Sora Yamazaki, her brother in all but blood, it's nice to meet you!" I told Chiemi's portrait. "...Your husband… it doesn't matter. You know, that's a beautiful blade. I don't know if your daughter told you this, but I'm quite gifted at using one. Not like your husband who can turn his arms into one, although I guess that's where Miwa's Quirk of turning her skin a different colour comes from. The colour part must come from you, hehe."
…
"I'm going to use this katana tomorrow. To kill someone. I'd say forgive me, but I don't really care. Nice talk."
…
As I went to grab the katana, I felt the front door open. I didn't dare look around because I already had a feeling that I knew who the people were just by the sounds of their footsteps and frustration alone. I silently sighed, turning around to face the three of them only to be surprised by more than just the three I thought would appear to be waiting for me outside the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Kyoka Jiro asked me, Kaminari and Nejire, having walked in the apartment first. The rest of Class A and even a few Class B students followed, and while the apartment wasn't small by any means, it wasn't even beginning to feel cramped with everyone in the living room. "That sword belongs to Miwa's mother. We saw the post box for this apartment before you came here. Your parents told us about this them back, they're the only mementos she has of her mother."
"Why are you here?" I asked them. "Go away. I'm praying to the dead right now."
"You're the one that said we can do whatever we please," Kaminari replied. "So, we're just following your advice, mate. You know, for a second I nearly believed that you were done. But then I remembered that you're not the same bastard you were over a year ago, you're even worse. You're a great actor but a poor liar. Not even you can fake being pathetic and a coward, it's just not in you."
Nejire stepped up next.
"Take us to fight with you."
I scoffed at that.
"Fight? Don't get the wrong idea, this is just something I'm getting for Miwa," I motioned toward the sword. "She's awake, you know. Why don't you just leave me here and go ask her, I'm sure she'll corroborate what I'm saying-,"
Smack.
Kyoka smacked me in the face angrily at that.
I stared at her in shock as the tension in the room spilled over.
"Enough with the bullshit already! We know what stunt you're trying to pull, yet again! You're toying and lying to us yet again, shouldering this burden all alone as you try to leave us behind because you care about us all," Kyoka whispered in anger. "But you do that, and then you ask why we're angry at you. You know why. How can you expect us to live happy lives when you're the one trying to constantly save them by lying to our faces?"
…
"Sora, how do you expect me to accept you turning back on our little partnership because you want to do all this alone?" Nejire asked me. "How am I supposed to accept that you went off to go die because you didn't want me involved. That's selfish. And you know that, so what the hell is this all about? If you're gone, none of our lives are going to be fun. This isn't you, and I don't understand why you're forcing yourself to go down this path when you know that you hate what it leads to!"
I blinked at Nejire in confusion.
"Life doesn't need to be fun. I'm someone that needs to be punished; and none of you deserve that same fate. That's all there is to it really," I told them honestly. "I just want you all to live. I don't want to go through any of that day ever again, knowing I failed to save someone I cared about because I was weak. I couldn't save Ryutaro, and Miwa was put in the hospital because of me. I don't want anyone to die."
As I looked around, the pained faces of so many people didn't dare meet my eyes. From Midoriya to Nejire, Mina to Sero - Even people like Bakugo and Todoroki were affected by my words.
Punch.
I didn't see Kaminari step forward to deck my jaw as I tumbled backward onto the old couch, a cloud of dust appearing as I coughed at the force of which my friend had punched me in the face.
"Sorry, but I don't accept that as an excuse," Kaminari said to me angrily. "Aren't you supposed to be Sora Yamzaki? The man who's let so much slip away, the man who failed to protect people before but ultimately came back to try again? To fix his mistakes? You swore to me that you'd never run away from your responsibilities again, you swore to me that you would make things right. Just because Miwa's in the hospital you want to use her as an excuse to go back to who you once were?! No, that's not my best friend!"
…!
"When the Sora Yamazaki I'm proud to call my best friend decides to protect something, he protects it to the very end, damned the consequences. He doesn't just abandon things, because even when you left us on that day - You were still protecting us until the very end, and that's why we were so angry with you even now," Kaminari yelled at me. "It's why so many of our classmates don't even know how to feel about you because you're such a kind bastard that even when we hate you we want to still love you! That's what makes you Sora Yamazaki!"
I wiped the blood off my face, staring at it for a few seconds before I met Kaminari's strong gaze, his golden eyes not faltering for even a second. Kyoka Jiro was next, pushing past him as she knelt down to be level with me.
"This situation wasn't enough to kill Miwa off, and it's not enough to kill you off," Jiro said, getting a handkerchief to help wipe my blood away. "And you know what? It sure as hell isn't enough to kill any of us off here either, because we are stronger than that. Smarter too. Unlike last time you tried this stunt, we don't care if you want to say hurtful things you don't mean - We refuse to allow you to fight alone tomorrow. Even if we have to fight you at the same time for you to get it through your thick skull, you do not have to force yourself to be alone."
…
I didn't reply to that.
"Tomorrow's going to be a simple task, Sora," Nejire said, capturing my attention. "Because you are going to protect us like you've always done. But this time, we're going to be protecting you too. We will all be protecting each other. And we will be protecting this city. We will make sure that an event that causes the U.N. to get involved will not happen!"
I looked around the room, each and every one of them nodding along.
From Iida to Uraraka, Kirishima to Tsuyu, Kendo to Mineta.
"Isn't that what being a Hero is about?" Hagakure asked. "Helping people who are in need. And you look like you need the most help out of all of us, Sora. Please. For once, just let us in."
"That's right," Yaoyorozu said, clicking her fingers. "We all became friends with each other at U.A., but these past two years we've spent so much time protecting each other. Every single one of us."
"We haven't lost anything yet!" Shoji added. "So don't lose your soul, Sora."
"You're the one that protected us so many times, you shitty cloud watcher! Don't be a selfish prick, allow us to the do you the fuckin honour of showing you what it means to actually protect someone without making them feel like shit," Bakugo gruffly told me. "And don't look so fuckin' pathetic. We aren't your fucking Heroes, we're all fuckin' equals here. Tsk. Making me give a speech like a give a shit, you're just pissing me the fuck off!"
"Isn't that what being a part of Class A means? Isn't it how all of us have protected so much over the course of these past few years? It was thanks you. You and your mistakes. You may have lost someone close to you but we as a class - We haven't lost yet. You said once that a sword reflects the person's soul, so don't lose yours. Don't lose that soul that has been trying to take responsibility and trying to protect even now!" Kendo said.
"No matter how dire or stupid the situation was, everyone here trusted you to help," Monoma told me. "So it's your turn to trust us. Trust that for once, we'll be the ones to protect you right here and right now."
"We can do it together, protecting what Miwa and we hold dear, as well as helping you protect what you hold dear," Midoriya spoke confidently. "We can all protect this city - Our home that brought us all together side-by-side. We can protect it all here together, united, it's not something you're forced to do alone."
I…
"Sora," Nejire's soft voice made me look up at her from my position on the couch. She smiled at me, ruffling my hair. "...Forget your sins, forget your punishment. That's not even the past that matters right now, that's your convenient excuse to convince yourself you're not worth what we are worth to you. And we're all tired of that reflection you've convinced yourself is the truth. You aren't the exception to being loved and protected, and you never will be."
I stared down at the floor.
"Even if I'm nothing but a murderer?" I asked, my voice weak. "Even if I hurt you all because I hated how weak I was? That outside of this bravado and act I put up, I'm nothing but a scared man afraid to lose everything I ever cared about?"
Nejire flicked my forehead.
"Don't be silly. We never once thought of you like that, and we never will. That's just your own head talking," Nejire answered with a grin. "As long as we exist, our friends who died will never truly be forgotten. People like Mirio? They live on within us. It's not about sins or punishment, the moment we decided to become a Hero was the moment our lives can't be held to such stupid excuses. We have to be better, for them."
"..."
"Looking for meaning or logic for their deaths is just defiling their memory, defiling what they lived for," Nejire continued. "Even so, even when someone like Nighteye or your friend, Denji, died, what did they entrust to you? Pain and misery? No. They entrusted you with their hopes and dreams, they entrusted you with their soul so that they live through you. And you're supposed to fight and swing your sword carrying that weight, that's what our collective punishment is, but in my opinion, it's more of a blessing."
Nods.
Murmurs of agreement.
Smiles.
The entire time I was convinced that punishing myself for my sins was the way to go, because ultimately I couldn't accept that I had failed. Once again, I nearly ditched my responsibility. I nearly ruined the second chance that Yukari Aotsuki had given hers up for because of my own ability to take a truthful look and forgive myself for the 'sins' I had committed.
In truth, the only sin I committed was being a liar.
Lying to myself to keep the pain away.
But all I was doing was keeping the pain in, all I was doing was using my sins as an excuse to run away from the hardest fight and responsibility of my life. For me to live my life with hope. For me to live my life with hope to accomplish my dreams, to keep on protecting what I want to protect.
To keep on living.
There wasn't any need for sins or punishment in my life, I never needed them at all. I have the suffering and hope given to me by so many people both living and dead, and that's worth far more than any 'punishment' could ever give me. A weight wasn't just lifted off my chest; for once I was finally able to lift my head up high and face everyone, not below them or behind them.
I was able to stand together with everyone.
That was a weight deeper than any punishment, and the highest honour I'd ever been given.
I was wrong.
And that's okay.
I got up from the couch, walking to the butsudan dedicated to Cheimi Hayate as I held the sword with the dragon guard tightly. I knelt down in front of it, deep in thought as everyone gathered around the portrait of Chiemi and stood in silence.
"I should thank you, Chiemi. If it wasn't for your daughter and everyone else in my life, I don't know where I'd be," I told her with a smile on my face. "Sorry I don't have any manju to offer you. But knowing these packs of wolves, they'd be eaten in a second. So here's a new promise, I guess we're all going to protect each other. So don't worry, I'll make sure I protect the two things you care about most because you can't. In turn, I guess it'd be nice if you pray for my success. Auntie."
And that was a simple truth.
"So, what now?" Jiro asked me. "What's the plan for tomorrow?"
…hm.
I reached deep into my pocket, reaching for the letter stained and signed by Ryutaro's blood. The letter gave me. I hadn't read it, but ultimately I knew that it would be the key to tomorrow's success.
We were going to prevent the gang war, together.
"Alright, listen up! I'm not going to repeat the plan!"
This is a much shorter chapter, but it has the most growth from Sora I think. It took over 200k words, or rather I took from the start of the story to now for Sora to make his biggest change.
To stop punishing himself for his 'sins' and to live with them instead.
I know Sora nearly reverted back to who he was, but he was stopped because of the person he has grown into since the start of Part 2 and also the bonds he had forged from the very start until the current chapter. The bonds he keeps on forming, even with someone like Chiemi. Even with the dead. I think it was important for a situation like this to arise and truly test Sora.
Remember, Yukari's sacrifice made him stop turning away from his responsibility to others.
To face the music head-on like he always had done so.
But he never once accepted that he wasn't at fault for what happened, he never once forgave himself in fact this entire time he's just been adding more 'sins' to his list so to speak. As soon as he came back instead of seeing how far Class A had grown, he immediately took responsibility and wanted to be a guiding light for them - He was WRONG!
Class A doesn't need that.
And this chapter shows it.
They have each other, but that doesn't mean they don't want Sora either!
Class A for a while has changed and grown to the point that they actively want Sora in their class. They've grown to the point that this time, they were the one's who helped to save Sora! And Sora finally accepted a part of his forgiveness. It's the final step in accepting responsibility you could say. A character arc spread across the first three arcs of Part 2.
There are two chapters left for this Arc, the next chapter is the action focused part and the chapter after that will be the same size as this as more of a conclusion to this arc and largely the first Act of Part 2! I know it seems like not a lot has happened, but I really wanted this first Act to be character focused with some stakes.
To build the foundation for Act 2.
If Part 1 is built up for that gut-punch ending, this is me fixing that while building up to action and plot chapters one after the other. But for that, I needed to first focus on three things. Act 2 is just going more in depth with everything I've set up, with all the mysteries that will come into play and be the central focus going forward!
Remembrance of responsibility, Reflection on what is wrong, and the Change that turns things around for the better. Coincidentally, the first three arcs of Part 2/the arcs of Act 1 of Part 2 are titles 'Remembrance', 'Reflection' and 'Change'.
Being a writer is so much fun!
I'll see you all soon!