As everyone began to leave the classroom, Ochaco turned back towards me and waved with her usual cheerful smile.
Ochaco:See you later, Izuku!
she said, her voice bright and bubbly.
I couldn't help but smile back at her.
Izuku:Yeah, see you later, Ochaco.
Before I could even gather my things, Kaminari and Sero approached, looking just as laid-back as they always did.
"Later, bro!" Kaminari called out with a grin, giving me a quick thumbs-up.
Sero:Yeah, man, catch you later
Sero added, clapping me on the shoulder before the two of them walked out together, laughing about something.
I nodded at them, feeling somewhat lighter. It felt good to have normal interactions for once-something simple and genuine. But that feeling of peace didn't last long. As soon as I turned around, there they were-Izumi, Katsumi, Katsuki, Shoto, and Shiori-all standing in front of me, blocking my exit.
I instantly felt my body tense up. My hand tightened around the strap of my backpack as I glared at them.
Izuku:What do you all want?
I asked, not even bothering to hide the disdain in my voice. I was done pretending, done playing nice. These were the same people who had made my life hell for years.
Katsumi, standing at the front of the group, crossed her arms and stared at me, her eyes full of frustration.
Katsumi:Give me an explanation. Now.
Izuku:An explanation?
I scoffed.
Izuku:A what?
Katsuki stepped forward, anger radiating off him in waves.
Katsuki:Stop beating around the bush, nerd! What the hell happened to you? Why the hell are you suddenly so strong?
Izumi turned sharply toward Katsuki, her voice sharp as she tried to stop the situation from escalating further.
Izumi:Katsuki, stop it! Let him talk.
But Izumi wasn't done. She turned to me, her eyes full of guilt.
Izumi:Izuku, we should be apologizing to you for what we did. For everything that made you run away. We're not here to gaslight you, I swear.
Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was trying to keep her composure.
Shoto sighed heavily, as if the entire situation was exhausting for him. He nodded in agreement with Izumi.
Shoto:She's right, Izuku. We're not here to pick a fight.
Katsumi cut in again, her voice more frustrated than before.
Katsumi:But four years, Izuku... Four years. Didn't you at least stop to think about us? Or at least you're family
That did it. The anger I had been holding in boiled over, and I couldn't stop myself from sneering.
"Be quiet," I spat.
They all froze, probably not expecting me to respond with so much venom. I took a step forward, my voice rising as the words I had kept bottled up for years came pouring out.
Izuku:Ever since I came out as quirkless-what did you all do?
I said, my voice shaking with rage.
Izuku:You made me your target practice. Your punching bag. You all tore at me, making sure I knew my place, making sure I knew I was worthless, that I was at the bottom of life. And you-
I pointed directly at Izumi, my twin sister, the one person I thought would always have my back.
Izumi's face paled as my words hit her like a sledgehammer.
Izuku:If the others treated me like crap, I could have handled it. Friends don't always last forever, right? I could've moved on. But you, Izumi. You were supposed to be my sister. My twin. You once told me you'd always protect me. But what did you do?
I felt my voice crack, the pain from those years bubbling up to the surface.
Izuku:You joined them. You joined them in beating me down.
I felt my hands shake, not from fear, but from the weight of the memories I was bringing back up.
Izuku:And do you remember what you said to me?
I asked, my eyes locking onto hers.
Izuku:Do you remember when you suicide baited me? You told me that if I wanted a quirk so badly, I should take a swan dive off the roof and hope I get a quirk in my next life.
My voice was raw with emotion, the wounds reopening as I spoke.
Izumi's face crumbled, her eyes filling with tears, but I didn't care.
Izuku:I almost did it, Izumi
I said, my voice breaking.
Izuku: I almost took my own life because my own twin sister-my own family, MY OWN TWIN wanted me dead. Do you have any idea what that feels like?
Katsumi looked away, unable to meet my gaze, and Shoto's face was a mask of stoic regret. Even Katsuki, the loudest of the bunch, didn't say a word. For once, he didn't have anything to say.
Izuku:Do you get it now?
I asked, my voice quieter but no less intense.
Izuku:I didn't leave because I wanted to. I left because I had no choice. I was going to die if I stayed. And none of you gave a damn.
The silence that followed was suffocating. None of them knew how to respond, their guilt and regret hanging in the air like a dark cloud.
Before anyone could say anything else, the door to the classroom slid open, and Aizawa-sensei walked in, his expression as stern and cold as ever.
Aizawa:What the hell is going on in here?
he asked, his tone low and dangerous.
Izumi tried to speak up, but Aizawa held up his hand, silencing her.
Aizawa:I thought I made it clear that you were to limit your interactions with Izuku
he said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the group.
Aizawa:it seems like none of you know how to follow simple instructions.
Katsuki gritted his teeth, about to retort, but Aizawa cut him off again.
Aizawa :if you don't want to get expelled, I suggest you all leave. Now.
The weight of his words hit them all at once. Shoto nodded first and started to walk out, with Shiori following behind. Katsumi hesitated for a moment, her eyes lingering on me, but she quickly turned and left as well. Izumi looked like she wanted to say something, anything, but Aizawa's glare kept her quiet. She left without another word.
I stood there, still seething with anger, as the door closed behind them. Aizawa gave me a long, hard look before speaking.
Aizawa:You handled that better than I expected, izuku
he said, his voice surprisingly gentle.
Aizawa:But next time, come to me before it gets out of hand.
I nodded, still trying to calm myself down.
Aizawa:They're not worth your time
Aizawa added before turning and walking out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
For the first time in years, I felt like I had finally said what I needed to say. But even so, the wounds were still there, and I knew it would take a long time before they healed.
But at least, for now, I had
Meanwhile
As Izumi walked into her house, she was met with the familiar sight of her mother, Inko Midoriya. Once known as the former hero Teleka, Inko had since become a stay-at-home mom, her figure now overweight from years of stress and depression. The spark that had once defined her as a hero was long gone, replaced by a deep sadness that stemmed from losing her son.
Inko looked up from the couch as Izumi entered. Her face brightened momentarily, a forced smile appearing on her lips.
Inko:Sweetie, how are you? How was your first day at school?
Inko asked, her voice full of hope.
Izumi wanted to say it had been amazing, that it was a good day, just to make her mother feel better. But she couldn't. No matter how hard she tried, the words wouldn't come. She could never bring herself to lie, especially about this.
Her thoughts drifted back to All Might. Could he have known about Izuku? She had noticed lately that he barely spoke to her anymore, and whenever he did, it was short and dismissive. He didn't even train her like he used to, and once, he had even said she didn't deserve One for All.
And to be honest, he was right.
Izumi:I need to talk to Dad. Now
Izumi said, her voice firm.
Izumi:And you need to hear what he has to say.
Before Inko could respond, Hisashi Midoriya, the legendary hero Inferno, walked into the room, his face lighting up as he saw his daughter.
Hisashi:Hey, Izumi! How was your first day?
Hisashi asked, his voice warm and cheerful.
But Izumi wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. She cut straight to the point, her face set in a frown.
Izumi:dad, did you know that Izuku was going to UA? Or even that he wasn't missing this whole time?
Hisashi's smile vanished instantly, replaced with a look of shock. Before he could respond, Inko shot up from the couch, her eyes wide with panic.
Inko:Wait, what?
Inko yelled out, her voice trembling.
Inko:Izuku... Izuku's alive?!
Izumi clenched her fists, her frustration mounting.
Izumi:Principal Nezu gave us a warning when he invited us to UA a few days before the start of school, but I wanted to verify it myself. And now... now I need to know if you knew, Dad. Did you know Izuku was alive?
Hisashi's face fell, and he sighed deeply. "Yes, I knew."
Inko's eyes filled with tears, and she took a shaky step forward, her voice breaking.
Inko:Wait... you're telling me my baby, my little Izuku, is alive-and you knew?!
Hisashi rubbed the back of his neck, guilt written all over his face.
Hisashi:I had no choice, Inko. Your mental health wouldn't have been able to take it. For God's sake, you almost took your own life after he disappeared. I couldn't risk putting you through that again.
Izumi:But he's different, Mom
Izumi interjected, her voice wavering.
Izumi:He doesn't even... he doesn't even talk to me. He hates me, he hates all of us. Even you.
Inko's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears as she sank back down onto the couch.
Inko:He... he hates me?
Hisashi stepped forward, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
Hisashi;Izuku has been through something so horrible, something I can't even begin to explain. He... he's not the same boy you remember. He's changed, Inko. And that's why I didn't want to tell you.
Izumi's voice grew firmer as she continued.
Izumi:All Might barely even talks to me now. I know it's because of Izuku. He knows what happened to him. He knows I don't deserve One for All.
Hisashi looked at her with tired eyes.
Hisashi:Izumi... you've carried a heavy burden. I know what happened between you and Izuku, and it's something none of us can undo. But you need to understand, Izuku went through hell after he disappeared. He didn't just run away. He was taken. Experimented on. Tortured. He was broken, Izumi.
Inko sobbed quietly, her body trembling.
Inko:My baby... my little boy...
Hisashi:And when he came back, he wasn't the same
Hisashi continued, his voice filled with sorrow.
Hisashi:He's filled with so much anger, so much pain. And yes, he hates us. He hates me, you, Izumi. He's angry at the world for what happened to him. And I can't blame him for that.
Izumi shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.
Izumi:But it's our fault, Dad. We pushed him away. I... I pushed him away. I said horrible things to him. I... I was supposed to be his sister, and instead, I made things worse.
Hisashi put a hand on her shoulder, his expression softening.
Hisashi:I know. And I'm not excusing what you did, Izumi. But you weren't the only one. We all failed him. I failed him as a father. Inko... she failed him as a mother. And now we have to live with the consequences.
Inko looked up at Hisashi, her tear-streaked face filled with desperation.
Inko:But we can fix this, right? We can make things right. We can help him, can't we?
Hisashi's expression darkened, and he let out a deep sigh.
Hisashi:I don't know, Inko. I honestly don't know. Izuku... he's not the same boy who used to smile at us, who used to look up to us. He's a completely different person now. And I don't know if he'll ever be able to forgive us for what we did to him.
The room fell into a heavy silence. Inko buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly. Izumi stood there, her fists clenched as the weight of her guilt pressed down on her. Hisashi, the once proud and unstoppable hero, now stood as a broken man, unable to fix the family that had been shattered.
Finally, Izumi spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
Izumi:I need to make things right. I need to apologize to him, to tell him I'm sorry for everything I did.
Hisashi shook his head sadly.
Hisashi:Izumi, I don't know if an apology will be enough. He's been through so much. More than you or I can imagine. But if you're really serious about this, then you'll need to be prepared for him to reject you. You'll need to be prepared for the possibility that he may never forgive us.
Izumi swallowed hard, her heart aching at the thought. But she nodded slowly.
Izumi:I understand. But I have to try.
Hisashi looked at his daughter with a mixture of pride and sorrow.
Hisashi:Then go to him, Izumi. But don't expect him to welcome you with open arms. You'll have to earn back his trust, and that's not going to be easy.
Inko, her voice shaking, looked up at them both.
Inko:Can I... can I see him? Can I talk to him?
Hisashi sighed.
Hisashi:I don't know if that's a good idea right now, Inko. He's still angry. Seeing you might make things worse.
Inko nodded, her heart clearly breaking.
Inko:I understand. I just... I miss him so much.
"We all do," Hisashi said softly.
Hisashi:But we have to give him space. Let him heal in his own time.
The silence in the room was deafening as the weight of their broken family settled in. Izumi clenched her fists once more, her resolve strengthening. She didn't know if Izuku would ever forgive her, but she had to try. She owed him that much.
Izuku's first person view
As I walked into my room, I was a little surprised to find something different. Sitting on my desk was a brand new mobile phone and a laptop. I blinked in confusion, walking over to inspect them. The phone was a sleek Samsung Galaxy S23, its black surface gleaming in the dim light of my room. The laptop beside it was a high-end ASUS ROG Zephyrus, something I recognized from seeing ads for gaming laptops.
I checked the phone-it was completely new, no signs of previous use. The laptop powered up without any issues either, both seemingly fresh out of the box.
Before I could think too much about it, I heard a familiar voice behind me, one that always managed to send a shiver down my spine in the best way possible.
Nemuri:Hey, my little cinnamon roll
she said teasingly.
I turned to see my girlfriend, Nemuri Kayama, better known as the R-rated hero, Midnight, leaning against the doorframe with that mischievous smile of hers. My face instantly turned red as I met her gaze.
Izuku:C-Can you please stop calling me that?
I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up even more.
"Nope," she responded without hesitation, her smile widening as she walked up to me.
Before I could protest any further, she leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. As always, I melted into the kiss, my arms instinctively wrapping around her waist. It was something about the way she held me that made all my worries disappear, even if just for a moment.
When we pulled away, she chuckled softly, brushing her fingers through my messy green hair.
Nemuri:So, how was my cinnamon roll's first day at school? You make any friends?
she asked, her tone a mix of teasing and genuine curiosity.
I scratched the back of my head, still feeling a little flustered.
Izuku:Yeah, I think so. There's this guy named Iida... He's really serious, like, to the point of being kind of intimidating at first, but I think he means well. And then there's Ochaco, she's super friendly and kind of clumsy in a cute way. And Kirishima... he's... I don't know, he's just really easy to talk to. He's all about manliness and being straightforward.
Nemuri smiled at me, her eyes softening.
Nemuri:Sounds like you've got a good group. I'm proud of you for putting yourself out there
she said, her voice warm.
I gave her a small nod before my expression darkened slightly.
Izuku:But then... I ran into some old 'friends,' if you can call them that.
Her smile faded for a moment, replaced by a look of concern. She sighed softly before pulling me into a tighter hug, her arms wrapping around me protectively. I felt safe in her embrace, like nothing from my past could hurt me anymore.
"It's okay," she whispered, stroking my hair gently.
Nemuri: I heard from Aizawa that you handled it better than I thought you would. I know seeing them must've brought up a lot, but you didn't let them get to you, right?
I sighed, burying my face in her shoulder for a moment.
Izuku:I have a goal to complete... and I won't let people like them, or my past, stand in my way. Not anymore.
Nemuri pulled back slightly to look at me, her eyes filled with pride.
Nemuri:And that's one of the many things I like about you
she said softly, cupping my cheek with her hand.
Nemuri:you don't let the bad stuff define you.
I smiled weakly, but her words did help ease some of the tension I had been feeling. Still, I couldn't help but be curious about the new gadgets on my desk. I gestured toward the phone and laptop, raising an eyebrow.
Izuku:So, what's with the new phone and laptop? I didn't have these yesterday
I asked.
Nemuri grinned sheepishly.
Nemuri:Well, the only things you do here are sleep and read books. You're a teenager, Izuku. You need to be able to relax a little and have some semblance of normalcy. I talked to Nezu about it, and he agreed that you should have access to some more modern conveniences. You deserve it.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Izuku:What's the catch, though?
She chuckled softly, pulling away and walking over to the desk, leaning against it casually.
Nemuri:Okay, so there are a few... limitations. First off, the phone and laptop are both monitored. Nezu had the tech team install some safeguards. You can use the phone for calls, but only certain numbers are pre-approved, and they'll know if someone suspicious tries to contact you. Same goes for texts-everything's tracked for your safety. You can access the internet, but not all parts of it. Certain sites are blocked, including, well, you know... anything that might be a bad influence.
I felt my face heat up again at the implication, and she smirked at my reaction.
Nemuri:As for the laptop
she continued,
Nemuri:it's primarily for schoolwork, but you can use it for games and entertainment too. It's got a list of approved games you can download, so you won't be completely bored here. Just don't expect to be able to hack into anything or access stuff you're not supposed to.
I blinked, processing what she was saying.
Izuku:so, basically, I can use the internet and play games, but everything's being watched?
"Pretty much," she confirmed with a shrug.
Nemuri:But come on, don't think of it as a bad thing. It's just a precaution. They want to make sure you're safe, especially after everything that's happened.
I sighed, looking down at the phone in my hand. It wasn't that I didn't understand the need for all these measures. After everything I'd been through, I knew why they were being so cautious. But it still felt a little... restrictive.
Izuku: I guess it's better than nothing
I muttered.
Nemuri tilted her head, giving me a sympathetic look.
Nemuri:I know it's not ideal, but trust me, it's for your own good. And hey, if you ever get bored, you can always call me. I'll come over and keep you company
she said with a playful wink.
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile at her teasing. "Yeah, yeah."
She stepped closer again, her hand finding mine as she gave me a gentle squeeze.
Nemuri:I know it's been hard, Izuku. I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through. But you're not alone, okay? You have people here who care about you. Aizawa, Nezu... and me.
I nodded slowly, my heart warming at her words.
Izuku: I know. And... I appreciate it. I really do.
Nemuri smiled softly, leaning in to press another kiss to my forehead.
Nemuri:good. Now, why don't you relax a bit? Test out that fancy new laptop. I'm sure there's a game or two on there that'll take your mind off things.
I chuckled, shaking my head.
Izuku:You really think a game is going to fix all my problems?
She smirked.
Nemuri:Maybe not, but it's a start.
I looked at the laptop again, my mind still swimming with everything that had happened that day. My first day at UA had been overwhelming, to say the least. Meeting new people, facing my past... it was a lot to take in. But at least I had people like Nemuri by my side, people who cared about me.
Maybe, just maybe, things would get better.