Unmasking the Shattered

by Tango123mp

When an incident causes class 1a (plus two others) to see a few of each other' important memories how will they react to each other's secrets? Follow Izuku in this angsty and wholesome Adventure to learn more about those close to him! In Izuku's past, he was a vigilante… Izuku thinks this will complicate things especially since his vigilante persona disappeared.

This is a one-shot story similar to 'The Verdant Analyst,' which is an ongoing story for me. The first few chapters are not the best because it was my first fanfic, but they get better as you read, and I will remake the first few chapters soon.

When an incident causes class 1a (plus two others) to see a few of each others important memories how will they react to each other's secrets? Follow Izuku in this angsty and wholesome Adventure to learn more about those close to him!

Or

Class 1a (plus two others) gets to witness some of each others memories, in Izuku's past he was a vigilante… Izuku thinks this will complicate things especially since his vigilante persona disappeared off the face of true earth as son as he met all might.

How will Eraserhead feel to know the vigilante he worried about (and thought had died)—was very much alive and In his home room class?!

Izuku never cared all too much for heroes when he was younger, this led to the vigilante named 'Verdant' coming to life.

Izuku had been quirkless but he still wanted to help, and he did help; he helped more than many of the heroes in their powerful society.

It had started as hacking into cameras and letting hero agencies know where villains were but quickly evolved after he saved a young girl from being sold away.

When he met All Might it shook him; the number-one hero had told him, HIM a QUIRKLESS child, that he could not be a hero.

And worst of all, the hero had left that very same quirkless kid on the rooftop of a tall building right after shattering said kid's dream.

That day had been a rollercoaster, though somehow he still ended up saving his ex-best friend and getting All Might's quirk.

If you had told his younger self that he would be thrilled; but being older he knew better, and knowing better meant gladly accepting the quirk and becoming a great hero JUST to be a symbol everyone can look up to, one that saves everyone.

So yeah, he got into UA and unfortunately, he had to stop going out as Verdant when he started training with All Might.

If you were to ask him what he would miss most from his days as a Vigilante, he would say; that hanging with Eraserhead and Tsucauchi was one.

The other was sitting on the rooftops with a coffee in his hand and the wind in his hair, sometimes a small cat he had named Shadow would join him on certain rooftops.

Missing hanging out with Eraserhead turned out to not even be a problem in the end, "why?" you may ask. It's simple really! Eraserhead, also known as Aizawa Sensei, was his homeroom teacher.

He had been shocked for about .5 seconds before he caught himself and smiled dumbly. That is what came to be his signature smile and it ended up creating his new personality.

Izuku was normally more Sassy and a troublemaker, he didn't want to have anyone making connections and figuring out about his Vigilante past and the easiest way to do that was to change his personality.

He chose the easiest one he could think of, a happy bubbly awkward personality or INFP.

His many masks have always been useful to him and if he didn't want to be a hero he would have been an actor.

Smiling was tiring but he had been faking that same personality since the day his ex-best friend had decided to make him his punching bag when they were 5, one year after his friend's quirk had come in.

He didn't always smile at home but he tried to for the sake of his mother.

He knew she worried for him even if he had told her that she didn't need to.

What could he say? He is a mama's boy for sure.

When Izuku had started to fight villains, at the beginning of his vigilante career, (when he was 9) his mother had gotten worried at the immense amount of bruises, scrapes, and injuries he had started to come back home with.

She was a kind soul and caring, she didn't want to see him get hurt. This led to him starting an all-inclusive martial arts program.

It not only accepted anyone, but it also taught almost any martial art you could think of. However, the required dedication level caused most students to quit early on.

And so after all his mother had done for him, he was grateful.

On the other hand, Izuku had always found his father a mystery, suspecting he might have abused his mother, which explained her discomfort when mentioning him.

Eventually, he stopped trying to uncover the truth, reasoning that; if his mother wanted to keep it hidden, there was likely a good reason.

High school had been stressful at the start but as time went on he realized that it was relatively easy, that didn't change the stress but it made things easier.

He was only touching up on more than half of the things they went over in class (other than English, which was a tough one) the other parts were not too difficult to him (unlike the rest of his class who complained the heck out of one small homework assignment)

Izuku knows that his past teachers were tough on him but they were only doing that to help him become stronger, or so they said.

Those past teachers ignored the bullying and gave him extra homework; and when he complained at the end of class those teachers would give him a bad grade or just threaten to.

His English teacher was terrible, failing him every year and locking him in the classroom on the days he fell asleep.

His Science teacher however was the kindest soul you'll ever meet and best of all?

She never let any bullying slide, she would kick students to the principal's office if that happened.

Everyone hated her, except the principal and of course the one and only quirkless student; Izuku Midoriya.

Sometimes Izuku wonders if that was the reason she died in that car crash. Was someone so hateful that they went as far as killing an innocent teacher?

But no, her luck had simply run out.

Over the years Izuku had learned it was best to keep his thoughts and emotions to himself.

All of that had made him stronger and over the years he built his walls higher, by the time he had met all might he could change his emotions in less than a second and trick most people.

When he was still a vigilante, he ran on mostly real emotions; it was the only way he could be himself without suffering consequences, and he can't say that he didn't enjoy it.

Anywho! That, my friends, brings us to where we are now: a large, dark room.

The sound of talking fills the room as multiple voices discuss.

Izuku sits up and immediately notices a pain surging from his head, was he knocked out?

No matter. He stands up and walks over to the voices. He trips over a body but quickly regains his footing and continues more cautiously.

He hears the voices speaking and only then realizes he knows that voice.

"Aizawa sensei? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me; good to see another awake. " Aizawa says in an exhausted voice.

"Who else is awake?" Izuku asks questioningly

Another voice speaks up. This time it's Kacchans "me, pink cheeks, glasses, Pikachu and shitty hair."

"Hey Midoriya, any idea what's going on?" Kaminari says, hoping for an answer, and who had likely just woken up from the sound of it.

"Sorry but I'm just as clueless as you all are," he says shrugging, not that anyone would see it.

"Does anyone have a phone?" Uraraka asks

"I believe all electronic devices have been removed from our possession," Lida says, chopping his hand, not that anyone could see it.

The group speaks of possibilities as the rest of the class starts waking up.

They decide that a villain attack is the most probable cause for the current scenario.

As soon as they have the whole class awake plus– for some reason Yamada Hitoshi–a light turns on above their heads.

Everyone covers their eyes from the bright light.

They slowly adjust to the light and once their conversations begin one of the walls lights up like a screen, then another, and then the whole room turns into a seemingly endless space.

"Whoa dude, are you all seeing this?" Kirishima says in awe

"It's like a VR game!" Mina expresses excitedly

Tenya pushes up his glasses "It could be villains, everyone stay on guard"

The room changes and it seems like they are in a meadow, and everyone is in awe.

"Helloo, welcome." a voice says from far in the meadow.

The class walks towards it cautiously, where a figure stands in the middle of the open field.

"Class 1A, Shota Aizawa and Yamada (Shinsou) Hitoshi" the AI smiles "Welcome, today we will be helping you all to get to know one another."

"Did the rat god set this up? Because if this is another of his fucking tests…." Aizawa speaks and then gets his scarf ready "Or are you a villain." –

"Rat god?" Izuku asks Yamada (Shinsou), his teacher's mentee

Yamada (Shinsou) nods not taking his eyes off the AI figure "Principal Nezu"

–"Nothing like that I promise" the AI states in a voice reminiscent of a kind voice "I simply got bored."

Some of the class members touch the grass or smell the air. It all feels so real, too real.

"Where are we," Bakugou demands

The AI turns "Not only where, but also when. This is a place in the time before quirks." They take a few steps away. "I have the power to move and find places at times in someone's memory, and view them in an illusion that you can smell and almost feel."

"Whoa," Sero and Kaminari say in unison, amazed.

"To not take too much time I have decided on a few crucial memories to focus on for each person here. There will be 5-minute breaks between each person's memories." there is a pause "Good luck" and then they disappear.

The room goes black for a second before a glowing screen adorned with buttons appears in the middle of the room, they huddle to look at it; to see what it is.

"It's giving us an option, who wants to go first?" Aizawa says hand hovering on the screen. "There is a short time limit, once it's over then it says all options of choosing who goes next is terminated"

"That simply seems unfair, we cannot decide," Momo says Jirou nodding at the soft light of the screen.

The screen beeps after a few more seconds and then disappears.

The room fades into a brighter shade of darkness, it's nighttime. "Does anyone recognize where we are?" Aizawa speaks in a serious tone

Someone murmurs "Whose memory is this?" but Izuku doesn't know who.

Izuku looks to his side, and Todoroki stands there frozen in the bit of light.

So it's Todoroki's memories, it's Shoto's turn first.

"Todoroki, you good-" they hear speaking around the corner,

They walked towards the area to see who was likely a young Shoto, and they only managed to hear the last part of whatever he had been saying. "-Mom?"

Then with the most terrifying face Izuku had ever seen a parent make toward a child, Shoto's mother stared at her son with fearful eyes.

The water is boiling and the sound of the kettle is screeching in the background, the whole class tenses up.

Aizawa seems to be the only one who understands what is about to happen, Shoto has already turned around and gone to the other side of the room as they all stand to witness the tragedy of how Shoto's signature scar came to be.

Izuku can only stare in disbelief at the sight he witnesses in front of him, a light flashes and the scene changes as they watch Shoto's younger self get beaten in training; over and over….

"Todoroki, are you okay?..." Sero says from next to Shoto, Izuku knew Sero liked Todoroki so he could only imagine what was going through his head.

The class is in shambles as they watch the catastrophe unfold; the more fragile of the class are crying and others stand in shock.

And honestly, Izuku was surprised he wasn't the one mainly crying.

Aizawa stares intensely, his quirk automatically turned on though it has no effect; Bakugou glares, palms smoking, wasn't that a sight to behold?...

The screen fades into a brighter color as if the sun had just come up.

It's daytime.

They are still inside and it seems to be another part of the todoroki household.

"Again."

Endeavor's voice was sharp, unyielding.

They all heard it, most recognized it, and hated that they would unfortunately have to witness what was bound to be another horrid memory.

Some held hope that Endeavor was better.

There he stood a few meters away, arms crossed, his towering frame casting an imposing shadow over the young boy. His fiery beard flickered faintly, his eyes locked on Shoto with a cold intensity, it was horrible and made their stomachs churn to see that look on the "hero's face."

Still, some hoped he was not as bad as it seemed.

The young Shoto nodded, though his small shoulders sagged from exhaustion. He raised his right hand, fire flickering hesitantly to life.

"No hesitation!" Endeavor barked, stepping forward. "Do you think All Might hesitate? Do you think the villains will wait while you fumble with your flames? Again, Shoto! Faster!"

Both Shoto's flinched at the outburst.

The young child forced his hand forward, sending a jet of fire roaring toward the dummy. The wooden figure was immediately engulfed in flames, but the fire sputtered unevenly, its intensity faltering.

"Pathetic," Endeavor muttered, shaking his head. "Your fire is weak because you don't respect it. You'll never surpass All Might like this."

The small, younger Shoto's lower lip trembled, but he bit down hard to stop it. "I can try again," he said quietly, his voice quivering.

Endeavor raised an eyebrow, his expression challenging. "Fine. Use your ice next. Balance your power. If you don't learn to combine them seamlessly, you'll be nothing but a failed experiment."

Younger Shoto turned to the dummy again, lifting his left hand. A shard of ice shot forward, encasing the charred remains of the target. The frost crept along the ground, glittering in the fading sunlight.

Shoto started, and the class started. Izuku started.

"Good," Endeavor said, though there was no praise in his tone. "Now, melt it. Immediately."

Shoto hesitated again. His fireside always felt heavier.

Yet he closed his eyes, forcing himself to summon the flames. They flickered to life again, and the ice began to crack and drip.

But the effort was too much. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.

"Get up!" Endeavor snapped. "Heroes don't quit when they're tired!"

Shoto pushed himself up on trembling arms, tears forming in his eyes. "I… I can't…"

"You will!" Endeavor's voice boomed, and he took a step closer, his flames flaring with impatience. "Do you think All Might became number one by saying 'I can't'? Do you think he stopped because he was tired? You don't have the luxury of weakness, Shoto. Not you."

Some stood in shock,

Some in rage,

Some in disgust,

Some in fear,

They all wanted to save the young child.

Wanted to make Endeavor pay.

They knew better.

It was a memory after all.

Young Shoto wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand, rising shakily to his feet.

The memory faded.

This time no one said a thing.

They were speechless.

Sero rubs Shoto's back as Izuku now sees when he pays attention to the actual todoroki and not the now fading younger one.

The light comes much brighter this time.

There is cheering.

Loud cheering.

The sports festival?

The memory is quick, they see a snippet of the battle between Izuku and Todoroki.

Specifically, the part where Izuku says "It's your quirk, not his!"

They show Shoto's face as the realization settles in, and a few people clap.

Then they all clap.

They weren't told to.

They just did.

The room was now an off-white color as that was the last of Shoto's memories.

Todoroki was crying into Sero's shoulder, not that anyone particularly cared.

The group didn't say anything about what they had seen, they wouldn't want anyone to say anything about their memories so they came with a silent agreement.

They were going to stay silent.

5 minutes pass and the screen turns out to be a tad bit darker than before.

A young Shoji sat alone in his room, staring at his arms. His extra appendages, small and barely formed, twitch involuntarily. He hadn't meant to reveal his quirk at school earlier that day—it just happened. A simple accident.

The laughter and fear from his classmates rang in his ears. One called him a "monster." Another shrieked when he extended a tentacle to catch a dropped notebook. His teacher's forced smile didn't help.

"Shoji," his mother said softly, sitting beside him. Her hands rested on his shoulders, firm but warm. "People don't always understand things that are different. But that doesn't make those things bad. Your quirk is a gift. One day, you'll see."

Shoji looked at her, tears brimming in his eyes. "But what if they never stop seeing me as a monster?"

She pulled him into a hug. "Then prove them wrong. Be someone so good, so kind, that they can't look away from who you truly are."

No one expected that one,

Well, a few people did.

They saw Shoji get punched.

The older boys in the neighborhood had cornered another kid—someone smaller, weaker, crying as they ripped a toy from their hands.

He couldn't stand by and watch. Without thinking, Shoji intervened, using his extra arms to shield the child. The bullies turned on him instead, their fists flying. Even as he hit the ground, he'd held onto the toy, refusing to let them take it.

"Why'd you do that?" the younger child asked later, as Shoji handed the toy back.

Shoji shrugged, a tentative smile breaking through the swelling on his face. "Because it was the right thing to do."

A few people cheered or grinned, and a few whoops rang out.

"It's okay to want to hide," the younger Shoji whispered to himself, sliding the mask over his face. The fabric was snug, and comforting. "If it helps people feel safer around me, then it's worth it."

A few people looked conflicted at that.

The room went gray again.

It went on.

Koda had his turn, it was the most peaceful out of all the memories so far.

Lida went, and they saw the stain incident. They saw the meeting with his brother. His family, the way he pushed himself harder and harder. For the family name.

When it was Mineta's turn no one watched. No one glanced. That didn't change the disgusting things they heard.

Aoyama was the surprising one.

No one expected him to be a traitor.

No one.

Once they saw the reasons they realised.

They would have done the same.

No one spoke up.

Except Izuku,

"Aoyama, I'm sure anyone would do the same if they were in your place," Izuku states.

"Thank you... Mon ami." This is the answer Aoyama gave, his eyes were puffy, he had been crying and apologizing for a long minute before Izuku had spoken up.

They settle down and continue.

Sato was made fun of because of his lips. His family had a bakery. His love of sweets came from his deceased grandmother as they all came to learn.

Kirishima had his angst, him looking at Mina and wanting to be more like her. Him dying his hair. Not being able to help during that villain attack.

Mina waddled closer at that.

Hagakure being invisible was a challenge alone. People called her a perv even when she wasn't one, being called a spy when again she wasn't one!

Sero smokes.

That was not one they had expected, his family was Latino and he was as well.

Not many people enjoyed that fact.

Because of that, he turned to Smoke, until they saw when he met todoroki.

He fell in love with him immediately and this caused cooing and aww's from the group.

Todoroki and Sero were closer together, holding hands as Izuku noticed.

However, no one other than their teacher and his mentee noticed somehow.

The Scene changes to show Kyoka Jiro, she was about six years old, and her parents handed her a small guitar, encouraging her to strum along.

They watched as her tiny fingers stumbled at first, but as the notes started to blend into a recognizable tune, she smiled warmly.

The group thought it was adorable, not that Izuku disagreed…

It was the first time it seemed she realized her earphone jacks could amplify the sounds she created.

As she experimented, sending vibrations through her jacks to amplify her guitar, her parents looked on with pride. "You're already learning how to combine your quirk with music," her father said, smiling.

"That's so amazing!" Yaoyorozu says with a pleased glint in her eye.

Jiro turned to her, twirling her earphone jacks in her hand "Thanks."

Another memory of Kyoka was shown.

"Do you ever feel like… you're not doing enough?" the only a bit younger Kyoka asked after a while, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like your quirk isn't as strong as everyone else's?"

The only months younger Yaoyorozu nodded thoughtfully. "Everyone has doubts, but it's not about being the strongest. It's about finding your place and making a difference your way!"

Ojiro had self-doubt. His father is his role model. It was nice, mostly.

Kaminari was someone Izuku had known about,

Before Kaminari attended UA, the school wasn't exactly a great experience for him.

While his quirk, Electrification, was undeniably powerful, it came with a drawback that made him an easy target for bullies. After overusing his quirk, he'd go into his "dumb mode," where he couldn't form coherent thoughts for a short while.

His classmates thought it was hilarious.

Izuku had spoken with Kaminari about middle school, they both had ended up opening up and they talked a bit about middle school.

The screen switched to middle school, gym class, and a supervised quirk practice for those aiming to be a hero.

"Look at him!" one of the classmates said. "What a total airhead. What kind of hero gets fried by their quirk?"

They watched as the younger Kaminari wilted a bit, and now they noticed.

Izuku sees Yamada (Shinsou) glaring at the students in the memory.

They see Kaminari arrive in class smiling on the first day of class and hear his thoughts.

They hear his thoughts!

'It's better if I stick to being a cheerful dumbass. Then they might just leave me alone..' they all hear in an echo version of Kaminari's voice.

The screen quickly changes.s

The room shifts

Mina, with her protecting friends and being popular.

One evening, Kaminari was reading a book while sitting in the shade of a tree.

Yamada (Shinsou) had been finishing up his training with Aizawa and walked over, "What are you reading?"

He blinked in surprise. "Huh?" they saw the recognition on Kaminar's face

Yamada (Shinsou) peered at Kaminari, "Isn't that a college-level book?"

Caught off guard, Kaminari hesitated before giving a nervous laugh. "Oh! um,"

"Kaminari, you're smarter than you let on, aren't you?" he asked gently. The class was slightly surprised at that.

'Should I deny it?' they hear the only months younger Kaminari think. "Maybe, I don't know."

Yamada (Shinsou) smiled slightly. "Can't believe your class has been saying you were dumb."

"How do you know that?!" Kaminari splutters, and a few people in the room wilt.

Yamada (Shinsou) sighs "Mr. Aizawa is my mentor, he said you were doing better during tests though no one else seemed to notice or care. He notices ya know?"

"I didn't realize he noticed, most of my teachers never did…." Kaminari fumbles with his hands

Yamada (Shinsou) stares at Kaminari for a second and when Kaminari looks up the memory starts to fade.

When the room changes to an off-white again a portion of the room starts to apologize to Kaminari.

Kaminari looks overwhelmed and Izuku is about to step in when Yamada (Shinsou) does.

"Stay back," Yamada (Shinsou) says glaring at the students. Izuku does notice how proud Aizawa looks. No one else notices.

"We're sorry man, we didn't know," Kirishima says looking at Kaminari who is currently hiding behind Yamada (Shinsou)

"You could have told us, we're sorry!" Mina looks annoyed, but not at Kaminari, at herself.

The group talked and a few people, some of the ones that Izuku noticed hadn't gone yet– looked nervous.

The room shifts again, this time they see an adorable young Uraraka.

It's evening, and someone who they all assume is her father sits at the table with bills spread out in front of him.

The young Uraraka tugged on his sleeve and asked, "Papa, why do you work so hard?"

"To make a good life for you," he replied, his voice warm despite his weariness. "But don't you worry, Ochaco. We'll manage."

It was a quick memory but the room shifts again,

"I want to be a hero who saves everyone," Deku said earnestly. "What about you, Uraraka?"

"I am in it for the money…." Ochaco hesitated before continuing. "I'm sorry I probably sound so selfish. I want to help my family. They've done so much for me, and I want to give them a better life. I guess… I feel like it's not as noble as what you want to do."

Deku shook his head. "That's not true at all. Helping your family is just as important. Being a hero means different things to different people."

Izuku notices the agreement around him, class 1a was filled with real heroes.

And once again the room shifts.

The smoke curled lazily through the air.

Ochaco Uraraka was the picture of determination.

This was a recent memory.

Her stance was steady, her brows furrowed in concentration as if the world behind her didn't exist.

Her clothing, dirtied why wasn't she in costume?

Was this fight even recorded, ever?

Then they saw Himiko Toga.

Toga stood a few feet away, her blonde hair tousled, her knife glinting faintly in her hand.

She looked so... unbothered, almost playful.

A smile teased her lips, but there was something in her eyes—something sharp, something hungry.

She wasn't like Ochaco, who carried herself like she had a duty to fulfill.

No, Toga moved like she was dancing in the chaos like she was exactly where she belonged.

And yet, when she looked at Ochako, they didn't see the crazy villain they all knew.

"Hi, Ochako!" Toga's voice rang out, almost too bright for a battlefield.

She tilted her head, like a child meeting a favorite person. "I've been looking for you!"

Ochaco didn't flinch. She didn't take a single step back. They all noticed, Izuku noticed.

Her voice was calm and steady as she said, "Toga, leave. I don't want to fight you."

But Toga just smiled wider, almost delighted by the response. She took a step closer, her knife loose in her hand but not threatening. Not yet. "You're always so serious. That's what makes you so cute, you know?"

Toga's smile wasn't mocking—it was genuine.

She looked at Ochako the way someone might look at a painting they couldn't stop staring at…

And Izuku knows that look,

Toga is in love with Ochaco.

However, if anyone other than their teacher noticed, they really didn't let on.

"You care about people so much," Toga continued, "That's why I love you. You're everything I want to be."

Ochaco's face flickered with something—was it anger? Or maybe pity? She clenched her fists, taking a step forward. "Toga, stop this! You don't understand what it means to care about someone!"

But that only seemed to hurt Toga. But she laughed, light and airy like Ochaco had told a joke just for her. "You think I don't understand? Oh, Ochaco... I understand better than anyone."

The scene fades for what feels like the millionth time.

After a few minutes, Aizawa turns to Ochaco, "How come I was never informed about this battle?"

"I'm sorry…" she responds but Aizawa seems unsatisfied.

"That-" Aizawa is rudely interrupted by the scene change.

It's Tsu's memory,

Tsuyu's memories contained wholesome moments with her family though they also contained her being bullied, but it wasn't only her whole family that was disliked for who or what they were.

After it ended Kaminari spoke up "Is it just me or are they getting worse as we go on?"

Mina gives him a look, "don't jinx it!"

Ochaco decides to tell everyone her idea "Plus, we have Bakugou, Yamada(Yamada (Shinsou)), Tokoyami, , Yaomomo, and Midoriya left. I could see a few of them being worse, but come on, Izuku? And Bakugou was probably spoiled with that attitude! Yaomomo no offence but you seem like you have the best life. Yamada I know nothing about really so I can't judge, likely has the worst, and Tokoyami may also have a bad one. Maybe not…"

'If only they knew' Izuku thought and hey, they would know soon enough!

Although not many noticed the shift, Yaomomo was acting differently, almost uncomfortable.

"Have you seriously been keeping track this whole time of who went and who didn't?!" Mina says to Ochako.

"Yes?..." she answers though Izuku honestly does not understand the surprise.

Weren't they all keeping track of who already went?

The scene shifts once again, why wouldn't it?

They see Yaomomo walking through the mall, it's a peaceful day and the crowds aren't too big.

"Hey, missy, aren't you a pretty one~," a man says, walking up behind her. He puts a hand around her waist.

Momo clenches her jaw. Her training as a hero kicks in, but doubt creeps into her thoughts and they all can hear it. 'What if I'm overreacting? What if people think I'm causing a scene?'

She spins around. The man is older, wearing a wrinkled business suit, his expression smug.

"Step back," Momo says firmly, her voice clear despite the pounding in her chest.

The man chuckles dismissively, "Oh? You're a bold one."

Momo doesn't waver.

"Harassing someone is illegal," she states loudly, ensuring others hear.

Her voice is steady now, powered by the confidence she's fought to reclaim through countless battles and hardships. "Leave, or I'll make sure the authorities handle you."

The man's smirk fades as whispers ripple through the crowd. Realizing the attention is now on him, he mutters something under his breath and slinks away into the crowd.

The class cheers and Izuku is happy that they got their spark back with that memory of confidence and hey! Maybe, just maybe! He won't have to take a turn!

The scene changes as they see a younger Yaomomo being scolded by her parents for having a poor friend.

They hear Momo ask and beg to let her hang out with this girl but her parents refuse to agree.

It's not the worst thing they have seen, that's for sure.

They sit in silence and they sit, and they sit.

The next scene changes, and by the end they have all learned that Tokoyami was bullied and it took a long time to get a hang of the dark shadow.

Five minutes pass without a hitch and of course, now Izuku is nervous, he sees that Yamada (Shinsou) is as well. Bakugou is maybe the most scared Izuku has ever seen him (which is not much) and Aizawa just seems off.

The scene changes and Yamada (Shinsou) is first. Of course, he is.

(since he is younger the name is still Shinsou)

A younger Shinsou (Izuku assumed he was in middle school) sat by the window, his hands clenched tightly around his pencil, head lowered as he pretended to write in his notebook.

"They say he can control your mind if you talk to him," a voice whispered from across the room, the group turned to see a group of kids.

"Seriously? That's so creepy. What if he makes us do weird stuff?" another added, giggling nervously.

Yamada (Shinsou)'s grip on the pencil tightened until his knuckles turned white.

'Don't react. Don't give them any reason to hate you more,' they heard him think as he thought to himself.

The teacher called for order, and the whispers faded. But Izuku could tell the damage had already been done.

Izuku sees how Hitoshi reacts, he sees how his teacher glares. The kind of glare that showed how much Aizawa cared for his son.

Yes, his son. Izuku was friends with Todoroki, the class conspiracy theorist! However, he already knew that information from his days as a vigilante.

He knew that Aizawa was married to the present mic and that they had adopted Hitoshi Yamada (Shinsou) around the time he had started patrolling (or that's what the adoption papers said.)

It was also pretty obvious when Hitoshi's last name was Yamada since that was Mic's last name. (not that anyone else knew.)

The scene shifts

The small, dingy living room smelled of stale food and dust.

Six-year-old Hitoshi sat on the worn carpet, knees hugged to his chest, eyes fixed on the floor.

They saw the way he flinched at the sound of heavy boots storming towards the room.

Hitoshi looked up as the man entered, "You think I don't know what you're trying to do?" the man spat, "That little brain quirk of yours… making people do whatever you want."

Hitoshi's throat went dry. "I-I didn't…" His voice trembled.

"You shut your mouth!" the man roared, grabbing something from the table.

Hitoshi's breath hitched and that's when they noticed, the man now held a strap with a muzzle-like front. "Freaks like you need to be kept in line," the man muttered, approaching with unsteady steps.

"No! Please, I didn't do anything!" Hitoshi pleaded, scrambling backward until his back hit the wall.

"You make people do your bidding" the foster mother snapped from the couch. "You'll do it to us if we're not careful."

The man's rough hands grabbed Hitoshi's small face, forcing it still. They watched in horror as he whimpered, and the muzzle pressed against his mouth. The straps dug into the back of his head as the man fastened it tight.

"There. That'll keep you from messing with us," the man grunted, stepping back.

Hitoshi's tiny chest heaved as he struggled to breathe through the small holes in the front.

Aizawa stared at the sight and moved towards Hitoshi, Hitoshi stood almost frozen as he watched the memory. His eyes were glazed over.

Izuku hates to see him like that.

The scene shifts again….

They are in a room where they see Yamada Hizashi (or present mic, not that anyone else could tell.) and Aizawa Shota.

"Are you doing okay, kid?" Yamada asked, his usual upbeat tone softened with genuine care. His blond hair was as wild as ever, but his eyes held nothing but warmth.

Hitoshi nodded stiffly, though his heart raced. "Yeah. I guess."

Aizawa, seated on his other side, gave a small grunt. "This isn't a test, Hitoshi. You don't have to prove anything to us."

"I know," Hitoshi muttered,

The social worker returned, a stack of papers in her hands. "All right, everything is finalized," she said with a smile. "Congratulations, Mr. Aizawa, Mr. Yamada. Hitoshi is officially your son."

Yamada whooped, throwing his hands in the air. "Yes! Family complete, baby!" He ruffled Hitoshi's hair enthusiastically. "Welcome to the Loud and Grumpy household!"

Mina gasps, "If Hitoshi is adopted by Aizawa and this ... Does that mean is married!?"

"Whoa, Sensei looks weirdly relaxed," Kaminari whispered, squinting.

"Quiet," Iida scolded, though even he was leaning forward in curiosity.

"Speak for yourself," Aizawa muttered, though there was a rare softness in his expression as he looked at Hitoshi.

"You're really… okay with this?" Hitoshi asked hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aizawa knelt so they were at eye level. "Listen, Hitoshi. We didn't do this because we felt sorry for you. We did it because we want you with us. You're part of this family now. Got it?"

Hitoshi's throat tightened. He nodded quickly, blinking back the sudden sting of tears.

"Good," Aizawa said simply, standing up and placing a firm hand on Hitoshi's shoulder.

"Group hug!" Yamada declared, wrapping them both in a crushing embrace. Hitoshi let out a startled laugh, the tension finally breaking.

"That's so wholesome," someone says from behind him.

"Man, I never thought Aizawa-sensei had such a soft side!" Kirishima said, grinning.

Now, that was FAR Izuku's favorite memory.

The minutes pass as the class theorizes how Aizawa could have met the person he was married to since it's not like he could marry just anyone as he IS a pro hero and all.

Izuku doesn't join in; he is too worried about his turn. However, he still had a spark of hope that maybe he wouldn't have to take a turn.

The scene shifts, "Hey, Shouta," a sneering voice calls out.

They see a young Aizawa sigh, Izuku supposes that some things never change.

"You gonna erase my quirk if I get too close?" some kid taunted, smirking. "That's your freaky villain Quirk, right?"

The class was still trying to process seeing their teacher so young. He had short hair and looked incredibly different. His hair was neat, and he had no eyebags.

"Yeah," another boy chimed in, "only a villain would need a Quirk like that. Who even wants to erase people's powers? Heroes use their Quirks — not take them away."

Izuku's only thought was that these kids needed a lesson on quirks. He knew that no one wanted to hear that Erasure was a tool, not a weapon. They had already made up their minds.

"I bet he's just waiting for the right moment to snap," the first kid said mockingly. "One day, we'll read about how Aizawa the Villain got locked up for erasing some poor hero's Quirk."

All of class 1a saw how the air shifted.

Aizawa was now glaring at the kids with his signature glare.

"You're wrong," he said quietly, his voice steady "I'm going to be a hero."

The group burst out laughing.

"A hero? You? Don't make me laugh," the first boy scoffed. "No one wants a hero who makes people weaker."

His dark eyes burned as he glared.

"We'll see," he said simply.

After Hitoshi's last memory, the class was newly energized.

They cheered and a few people who watched Aizawa got to see the rare smile that was visible.

The scene changed quickly.

Aizawa now their age (as the class noticed) scanned the area.

Where was he?... What was happening in this scene?

"Oboro?" he called out, Izuku couldn't miss that dread in his voice.

No response.

He turned around and that's when he saw it.

The blood under the rocks was a sure sign that someone was crushed under it.

He stared, holding his bleeding arm.

"Oboro..." Aizawa whispered, his voice breaking.

It was a short scene.

No one spoke as they allowed the next scene to begin.

They were at a wedding?

A few students gasped at the sight and Mina (plus a few other girls and was that kaminari?) squealed for joy.

Izuku swears that these mood/scene changes would be the death of him!

Aizawa, his usually unkempt black hair neatly combed and his eyes softer than usual, stood at the front of the room, looking anything but his usual grumpy self.

His hands were clenched at his sides, but his posture, though rigid, betrayed a hint of nervousness.

Yamada, on the other hand, was practically bouncing in place.

His hair was styled in a way that was less wild than usual, and he wore a grin that could've rivaled the sun for how brightly it shone.

His voice was filled with energy, as it always was, even though this moment meant everything to him. "Ready, Shouta?" Yamada asked, his voice full of warmth.

Aizawa's lips twitched in a rare smile. "I'm always ready for this."

Yamada winked, though there was a deep, sincere emotion in his eyes.

The class saw a group of pro heroes and family members in the audience.

"Do you, Shouta Aizawa, take Hizashi Yamada to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the officiant asked,

"I do," Aizawa replied, his voice steady.

The officiant turned to Yamada. "And do you, Hizashi Yamada, take Shouta Aizawa to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Yamada's grin widened, his eyes shining. "I do."

The officiant smiled and gestured toward the rings.

They exchanged them silently, Aizawa taking a moment to slide the band onto Yamada's finger.

"By the power vested in me," the officiant said, "I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss the groom."

Yamada leaned in, his lips pressing softly against Aizawa's.

Aizawa didn't hesitate—he kissed back.

When they pulled away, Yamada's eyes were alight with joy. "Finally," he said softly, "You're mine, Shouta."

Aizawa grunted, but his voice was lighter than usual when he spoke. "You always were, Hizashi."

The class roared with cheers, and Izuku covered his ears.

No one expected the scene to change so soon, not even Izuku.

It changed to another of Aizawa's memories, but Izuku thought it made sense since he was older than them so he had more memories.

Aizawa and Yamada sat side by side on the balcony of their apartment, the city lights flickering below them.

Izuku was sure that he was the only one other than Hitoshi who knew that this was their apartment, that was all thanks to his days as Verdant.

Aizawa was leaning back in his chair, his legs crossed, eyes tired from the long day.

Yamada had his arm draped over the back of his chair, his usual energy tempered by the intimacy of the moment.

"You've been quiet," Yamada said, his voice soft yet unmistakable.

Aizawa glanced at him, and then back out at the view of the city. "It's nothing."

Yamada tilted his head, "You've been looking at the case files on Verdant again, haven't you?"

Izuku can not believe what he is hearing, Verdant!? As in Izuku the vigilante Verdant!?

This was impossible.

"Verdant? Who is that?" someone says from behind Izuku.

Aizawa's gaze hardened. "The kid's getting bolder. Tsukauchi and I have been tracking his movements. But every time we get close, he's gone, like smoke in the wind."

"Verdant," Yamada muttered, "It's hard to tell which side he's on."

Aizawa let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't think he's on any side except his own. The problem is, he's too fast, too clever. We've tried everything to corner him, but he slips through our fingers every time. It's like he knows our every move."

Izuku chuckled at that, not that anyone noticed. It was weirdly nostalgic to see the other side of this story.

Yamada leaned back, "Sounds like he's smart, and he's playing this game of cat and mouse like he knows how to win."

Aizawa frowned, furrowing his brow, "I don't like the idea of a kid that young being so... involved. If we can't catch him, what's going to happen next? I don't want to be the one who lets him slip through the cracks, but I can't help but feel like I'm running out of options."

Consider Izuku shocked again! Wtf Eraserhead! Why does he care so much all of a sudden!?

Yamada shifted his posture, his voice low and steady. "Shouta, you know what this job does to people. You know we've both seen things that would break most people, right? But we also know what it means to try, even when the odds are stacked against us. That kid—Verdant—he's trying to make a difference, but he's doing it in his reckless way." Yamada paused, leaning forward just slightly, catching Aizawa's gaze. "And we can't change that. Not yet."

Aizawa remained silent for a moment before he spoke again, more uncertain. "What if he's just... lost? What if we could've helped him if we caught him sooner?"

"Is Verdant a villain?" Kaminari asks

Todorki shakes his head "Likely a Vigilante."

Yamada placed a hand on Aizawa's shoulder, "You're not alone in this, Shouta. We'll figure it out. Verdant's not the only one out there with a story, and you can't save them all. But you can give them a chance." He smiled faintly. "And hey, we've got a pretty good track record of making things right together, haven't we?"

Aizawa looked up at him, the corner of his mouth twitching upward for the briefest second. "Yeah, I guess we do."

Yamada's grin returned, just like that, bright and unwavering. "Exactly. So, don't stress about it. We'll get him. But in the meantime…" His voice dropped an octave, and he leaned in a bit closer, his usual enthusiasm returning. "How about we focus on something a little more fun tonight?"

Aizawa raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Yamada chuckled. "Like me giving you a surprise celebration for being the bestest husband ever." He wiggled his eyebrows mischievously. "I'm thinking dinner, some music, and then karaoke—"

"Mic, you're not going to sing, are you?" Aizawa's tone was deadpan, though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Yamada's grin only widened. "You bet I am."

The room faded and this time nothing else came, they had 5 minutes.

"Wait a second. Aizawa said, "Mic in that last scene, as in the present mic?" Todoroki questioned.

Izuku knew it was only a matter of time.

Mina jumps at the realization "Omg todoroki! You're a genius! It makes perfect sense!"

"It's like I always say! Opposites attract!" Kaminari says, sparing a glance at Yamada(shinsou) and making awkward eye contact before looking back toward the group.

Bakugou stomps over to Kirishima "Shitty hair, you owe me 1000 yen."

Izuku followed a few of the girls walking over to Aizawa.

"Congratulations on your marriage sensei!" they say simultaneously."We know it's a bit late but….."

Izuku sneaks past them, meeting Aizawa's eyes before heading to the side of the room where Hitoshi is.

"Hey, I'm sorry about all that stuff. It's probably super traumatic for you. It does seem like you have found quite the home with sensei." Izuku says to Hitoshi who glances up at him

Hitoshi smiles a bit "Yeah thanks."

"You think they'll show middle school for you?" Hitoshi asks Izuku

"Huh? Oh right, well I sure do hope not!" Izuku responds nervously "It's either me or Kacchan next, I guess we'll see soon."

Hitoshi shrugs "I guess so, and Izuku?"

Izuku looks up at his best friend "Yeah?"

"Don't worry."

Izuku doesn't exactly remember how Hitoshi and he had become friends. The two of them meeting however was something along the lines of two bullied kids being huddled towards each other.

Well, they both had enough in common to have run into each other on multiple occasions.

The scene starts, and oh how Izuku wished it hadn't.

But wait, he remembers this.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad…

They see a young Izuku and a young Bakugou sitting on the ground, shoes caked in dirt from hours of playing tag.

They were young, 4 maybe 5?

"You're so fast, Kacchan!" Izuku said, his green eyes shining. "I could never catch you."

"'Course you couldn't," Katsuki said with a smirk, brushing dirt off his shorts. "I'm gonna be the fastest and strongest hero ever. No one's gonna beat me!"

Izuku's face lit up. "I bet you will! I can be a hero too! Just like you!"

Katsuki frowned thoughtfully. "You? Hmm…" He tilted his head dramatically. "Yeah, I guess you could. You don't give up, even when you're slow as a turtle."

Izuku giggled. "Thanks, Kacchan!"

"Yeah, yeah," Katsuki said, though there was a small grin tugging at his lips. He picked up a stick and began drawing wild shapes in the dirt.

Izuku watched, then grabbed his stick. "Let's draw our hero costumes!"

"Costumes?" Katsuki's eyes gleamed with a look that no one but Izuku himself had ever had the pleasure (?) of seeing. "Mine's gonna have explosions everywhere!" He quickly scratched a jagged figure with wild spikes and giant gauntlets.

Izuku's stick moved more slowly, forming a simpler design with a big smiley face on the chest.

Katsuki leaned over, inspecting Izuku's work. "What's with the smiley face?"

"I want people to feel safe when they see me," Izuku explained, smiling shyly.

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "You're such a nerd."

Izuku giggled again, "Maybe, but I'll be a good hero, right?"

Katsuki dropped his stick, leaning back against the tree. "Yeah, you will," he said confidently. "But only if you stick with me. I'll show you how to be awesome."

Izuku beamed, "Okay, Kacchan!"

As the scene finished the class watched dumbfounded.

"That was bakugou!?" a few people say from across the room, (Izuku assumes it's the bakusquad)

"They were such cuties! I didn't know they had that much history being friends?!" someone says to Izuku's left. (he assumes it's ochako)

"Bakugou! You didn't tell me you and Midoriya go that far back!" Kirishima says from across the room.

The next scene changes before any more can be said. Izuku sighs, here it comes.

Izuku's lips pressed together, but he didn't look away.

They see a middle school Bakugou, his fists clenched as a cruel smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. "You know if you really wanna be a hero that badly, there actually might be another way. Just pray that you'll be born with a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof of the building!"

The words hung there, heavy and sharp.

The middle school Izuku's expression faltered. He blinked rapidly, but he didn't cry. He just stood there, silent and small.

There was a pause before Bakugou left the classroom, his lackeys followed behind him.

'Why did I say that?' he thought, and the class heard it.

Izuku never thought that Kacchan had thought twice when he had said those words that day. It seems he was mistaken.

The lackeys talked about nothing in particular but the attention was on Bakugou.

No one dared look away.

Izuku risked a look over at their teacher, and he immediately regretted it.

Shit, now his teacher was angry at him.

'Fuck!'

Katsuki Bakugou, one almost Identical to the one they saw today, sat on the edge of his bed, hunched over, staring at his bandaged hands.

His room was dim, the only light coming from the fading evening sky through his window.

The walls were lined with shelves of hero merch, All Might posters glaring back at him with that unshakable smile.

The air was thick and heavy with the echoes of earlier words.

They hear his thoughts as he thinks of his mom's voice earlier "You're always stomping around this house like a damn hurricane! One day, someone's gonna teach you a lesson if you don't fix that attitude, Katsuki!"

'It's not the first time she'd lit me up like that.' he thought.

Izuku thought that Aunty Mitsuki always matched his friend's fire with equal ferocity. It was their language — loud, biting, relentless. But, he never thought of it in an abusive way…

He leaned forward, gripping his hair. 'Why did everything always come back to this? The yelling, the anger, the constant need to prove himself louder, stronger, better. He hated it.' Katsuki thought, 'Why couldn't I have a different fucking quick!? Maybe one that didn't me always so fucking angry!?'

Hated how much he sounded like her sometimes.

That comment hurt Izuku, how could he have not noticed!? Was he really that ignorant!?

Bakugou glanced at his door, slightly ajar, the hallway beyond dark and quiet now.

'She hadn't apologized. She never did. But then again, neither did he'

Katsuki's gaze shifted to his desk, cluttered with training schedules and notebooks filled with hero strategies.

'His world revolved around control—controlling his strength, controlling fights, controlling how the world saw him.'

"Man, that was deep." sero commented, and a few others agreed.

Izuku walks to Bakugou speaking clearly and loudly as soon as he is in earshot. He didn't realize how many people were staring at him. "Is it true? What do you say about Aunty Mitsuki?"

No one had ever seen good old Izuku Midoriya when he was mad, and this? This wasn't even close.

"Yeah, but that's normal for her-"

Izuku steps closer, to him, it's just an action but it gets a slight flinch from bakugou. "Why the fuck did you not tell me!?"

("Whoa, did Midoriya just swear!?" someone whispers but Izuku has great hearing from years as a vigilante.)

"Kaminari, can't you see I am trying to have a fucking conversation!?" Izuku says hysterically

Kaminari flinches into Hitoshi's side, Hitoshi tries to talk to Izuku only to fail and be ignored.

"Izuku, I'm sorry!" Katsuki says, grabbing Izuku's arms and turning Izuku towards himself.

Izuku's mind blanks,

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

"What?" Izuku says in a small voice, he can feel his throat starting to close up, he's going to cry, isn't he?

NOPE!

The door creaked open, the familiar scent of dinner wafting through the air as a familiar middle school Izuku stepped inside, trying to act as normal as possible despite the bruises and scratches littering his arms and face.

His mother, Inko, was humming in the kitchen, the soft sound of the stove clicking on as she prepared dinner.

"Welcome home, Izuku!" Inko called brightly from the kitchen, but her cheerful voice faltered when she caught sight of him. "Izuku! You're hurt again!"

Izuku stiffened, but then quickly forced a smile, his hand gently touching the small cut on his cheek. "It's nothing, Mom."

Inko hurried toward him, her expression already laced with concern as she examined the scratches on his arms. "No, no, this isn't nothing! You look like you've been in a fight again! I told you, you need to be careful."

"It's just a few bruises, Mom," he said, trying to reassure her. "I'm fine. Really."

But Inko wasn't convinced. Her hands shook slightly as she lightly touched his shoulder. "You're not "Fine, Izuku. You can't keep putting yourself through this," his mother said, her voice tinged with concern as she looked at him.

"I'm sorry, Mom…" he mumbled, he stared down.

"You know what! I have an idea!" she exclaimed suddenly, her face lighting up with inspiration.

"Huh?" He raised his gaze to meet hers.

"I have an old friend who runs an all-inclusive martial arts program! How about I sign you up so you can learn a few tricks?" she says enthusiastically.

"Oh, are you sure, Mom?" His voice wavered

"I want my baby to be safe!" She smiled warmly.

Hitoshi places a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Hey, Izuku."

He distantly glances up at his brother-friend! His friend.

"It's okay, that'll be tough," Hitoshi says trying to comfort him

"You don't even know half of it."

The scene changed to an alleyway that was shrouded in the quiet hum of the city at night.

"Where are we problem child?" Aizawa questions but Izuku knows better, he knows that their teacher knows that location.

And after seeing his teacher's memory regarding himself, Izuku is sure that he remembers this place.

How could he not?

This was where they first met after all….

So he didn't answer.

Izuku Midoriya, clad in his makeshift vigilante attire—a dark green hood, black cargo pants, and dark red shoes, with a mask obscuring his mouth and leaving only his expressive eyes visible.-–stood silently.

Izuku does remember this day: He had been tracking a minor villain group rumored to be operating in this part of town, hoping to gather information that could aid the heroes.

As his younger self crouched behind a stack of discarded crates, his keen eyes caught movement at the alley's entrance.

A tall disheveled man stepped into the alley, and the class instantly recognized him as their teacher.

"Wait but where is Izuku then?" someone questions.

Eraserheads sharp gaze scanned the alley, those piercing eyes locked onto Izuku's hiding spot.

The hero approached with deliberate, silent steps.

"You can come out," Eraserheads voice was low, devoid of hostility but firm. "I know you're there."

"Whoa, he's super observant!" someone exclaims

Izuku stood slowly, raising his hands slightly, showing he meant no harm.

He stepped into the dim light, the hood casting a shadow over his face.

"Eraserhead," Izuku began, his voice steady. "I'm the Verdant. I've been gathering information on the villain activities in this area."

Eraserheads expression remained unreadable, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "A vigilante," he stated rather than asked. "You know that's illegal."

"Wait a second, DEKU! Is that Motherfucker you!?" Bakugou yells, but he doesn't answer. The class gasps in surprise and he hears murmurs of "he was a vigilante!?" or "Isn't that illegal?" and other similar things.

Izuku nodded, "I understand. But the information I've collected could be valuable to the heroes. I only want to help."

"Why the mask?" Eraserhead asked, his tone still guarded.

"I have reasons to keep my identity hidden," he admitted. "But I believe working together, even unofficially, could benefit us both."

Eraserhead nodded, then crossed his arms, the captured weapon shifting slightly with the movement.

"You're taking a risk, approaching a Pro Hero like this," Eraserhead said, his tone neutral. "But if your information is credible, it could be useful."

Izuku smiled slightly. "Thank you. I have detailed reports on several villain groups operating in this district. I can share them with you."

Eraserhead gave a nod. "We'll see if your intel checks out. But understand this doesn't make your actions legal. Stay out of trouble."

Eraserhead turned, disappearing into the shadows as swiftly as he had appeared.

Izuku stood there for a moment, then ran off.

The scene shifts as it follows him, it continues till finally fading off.

"Verdant," Aizawa says in a gruff, stern tone.

Izuku looks to his side where Aizawa stands. "Huh?"

Aizawa walks towards him and hugs him, "I'm so glad you're okay kid."

Izuku tenses but as he realises what is happening he slowly relaxes. "Really?"

He lets Izuku go "I thought you had died! NEVER do that again."

"Awww" Hitoshi says as he watches his dad hug his friend, that's awkward.

"Don't you dare tell Zashi.? Aizawa says glaring at his son,

Hitoshi grins "Finally! Blackmail material!"

The scene changes again.

What else was there to show?

Oh right…

All Might stood before Izuku, his golden hair catching the sunlight.

"You can't be a hero without a quirk."

The middle school Izuku blinked rapidly, fighting the sting of tears that threatened to fall.

His throat felt tight, but he managed to stammer out, "But… but if someone works hard… If they try their best, can't they—"

All Might's answer was resolute. "It's not about hard work alone, kid. Being a hero means putting your life on the line every day. Without a quirk, it's impossible to keep up. You'd just end up getting yourself hurt—or worse."

Izuku staggered back a step, his breath hitching.

"But… you're supposed to be a symbol of peace!" Izuku blurted out, "You're the one who inspires everyone to be better! How can you say that to me?"

All Might sighed deeply, stepping closer. "I inspire people, yes. But I can't give false hope. The reality is harsh, kid. I don't want to see someone like you throw their life away chasing something impossible."

Izuku's grip on his notebook tightened until his knuckles turned white.

"You should focus on living a normal life," All Might continued. "Find another way to help people, one that doesn't put you in harm's way."

Izuku stared at him and he patted his shoulder. "Take care, young man. And remember, there's no shame in helping from the sidelines."

With that, All Might stepped to the edge of the rooftop, giving him one last look before leaping into the air, and disappearing into the city skyline.

Izuku stood there, His notebook slipped from his grasp, landing with a soft thud at his feet.

The room went blank.

"What the fuck?" Hitoshi says "How the hell could he say that to you!?"

He glances around the room only to see multiple worried stares, Aizawa seems angry.

This was his fault, wasn't it?

Bakugou pushes through his friends stomping towards him. "Deku, you never told me he fucking said that to you. Why didn't you tell me!?"

Then Todoroki says the one thing on all (minus Izuku and Bakugou) — of their minds. "Why did he say Izuku doesn't have a quirk? He does."

"Give him space, guys., Jiro says from behind a few people.

They do, but it doesn't help.

Izuku's head is swirling.

He is spiraling.

He thinks he is going to faint.

The room fills with mist, he distantly feels his body going numb, and he looks around.

He sees his classmates falling all around him, shit.

"Cover your mouth!" Aizawa says but it's too late.

He can feel himself getting tired.

Thud

As Izuku and the rest of Class 1-A began to wake up in their seats, the initial confusion quickly turned to shock.

They all felt disoriented, looking around at each other with wide eyes, as though they had just stepped out of a bizarre nightmare.

"What just happened?" Kirishima exclaimed, pushing himself up with wide, bewildered eyes. "That felt so real, but… we're back in class?…"

"That was so creepy!" Kaminari added.

The class erupted into murmurs, each student reliving flashes of their recent experience.

Bakugo interjected cutting through the chatter, "We've got to figure out what that was. There's something off about all of this."

Aizawa was on the phone already awake, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by a tense energy.

His eyes scanned the room, taking note of the students' expressions. "I see you're all awake," he said, his voice low and authoritative. "Listen up. What you experienced wasn't just a dream. A villain infiltrated our minds in an attempt to breach our defenses."

"What!?" Hitoshi says from the back of the room.

"Though I wonder why they also attacked you Hitoshi, I am on the phone with Principal Nezu." He says and Izuku senses someone watching them.

He looks around only to spot the camera in the corner of their classroom, the light is blinking.

Nezu is watching them.

After a while, the police arrived, making sure everyone was all right.

They began their questioning, but most of the students were lost in their thoughts.

Those who did remember specific details chose their words carefully, avoiding the stares of their classmates.

Once they were released, the students were met by various adults who had come to ensure their safety.

Some were parents, their faces etched with concern, while others were teachers, ready to whisk them away and comfort them.

Izuku spotted his mother among the crowd, her expression a mixture of relief and worry as she rushed toward him.

"Izuku! Thank goodness you're okay!" she said, looking him over for any injuries. "What happened? Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, Mom," he assured her, "Just a bit shaken."

As they walked away, he could see some of his classmates being picked up.

It was clear that they would need time to process what they had seen.

After dinner with his mother, Izuku said goodnight and walked to his room.

But he wasn't going to sleep.

No,

He walked to his closet and opened a shoe box, there lay his vigilante suit.

It wouldn't fit him now, but sometimes he liked to take it out and examine it.

Looking at each scratch or patch that he had sowed after his patrols, they were marks from all the hard work he had done.

It was nostalgic, that was for sure.

Izuku opened his window and got onto the fire escape, he climbed up the ladder to the top of the building.

Once he reached the top he sat down.

He sat on the edge.

He wouldn't jump, he just liked the view.

He didn't know how long he had sat there, whether it was hours, minutes, or seconds.

He did not care.

He was pulled back, by an all too familiar fabric.

"Eraserhead." He is tired, his mask is getting close to breaking.

"Verdant." comes the voice of his teacher and former hero friend (?) "Are you okay?"

He stares up at Aizawa "Physically, yes. Mentally…"

Aizawa pulls Izuku into a hug, and he accepts of course.

When Aizawa hugs him, Izuku feels like he is a handful of slime, the way he melts into the touch.

Izuku hugs him back and when he does, he feels himself let go, he lets his mask fall.

His mask breaks as it hits the edge of his soul, his whole, his being.

No, that wasn't who he was.

As the mask lands it shatters, shatters into millions of pieces.

Millions and trillions, some sticking with him the rest leaving him never to be a part of him again.

His true personality shone greatly after his mask shattered.

He has been unmasked.

Unmasked by this small gesture, one that should mean nothing.

Unmasked by the very soul of this man.

This person may as well be his father, for he knew.

He knew what he was underneath the mask that was now shattered.

He understood his pain,

he understood why he did what he did,

why he said what he said.

Shota Aizawa understood Izuku Midoriya, he understood the shadow of his soul, and he understood Verdant.

End notes

Izuku: liberosis.

I don't care,

Not because I am careless,

But because I need to let go.

It is not what you do as long as you can–

Relax your grip,

Take a seat,

Let your hair down,

Watch the sunset.

Breathe the air

The kind of air that leaves you free

The kind of air that leaves you empty but open to life.

Then,

Let yourself just,

Be