Chapter 14

Izuku felt multiple emotions bubble up within him when he saw All Might on TV. He had pulled off a ridiculous rescue again and everyone was praising him. Izuku used to enjoy these moments. He would sit in the living room and watch with wonder. He would hold on to every word the blonde hero would say. All his advice. Everything. He clung to them, dreaming of being like him one day. He was his idol. His role model. He looked up to him. Now when he saw the man he simply turned off the TV and left for his room. He was home alone again. His mother had taken three weeks off work, but she had to return at some point. She could not lose her job. So he was home alone for two hours until she returned . He could tell she was afraid to leave him alone. He didn't try to reassure her because she was right to be afraid. He still wished to die. He had a quirk, but he didn't have any motivation to be a hero anymore. He could try to finish the job if he wished.

Stepping into his room self loathing and anger bubbled up when his eyes took in all the All Might merchandize he had. He let out a sound from his throat and stalked into his room, tearing down every poster. He fetched a garbage bag and filled it with all his action figure. All his clothes. All his bedspreads. Everything that was associated with All Might was discarded. He dragged the garbage bag out of his house grabbing a lighter on his way. He didn't ever want to see them again. He couldn't stand to be reminded of that man. Of what he had said. He dumped everything outside and set it all on fire.

He watched it all burn. His eyes empty and reflecting the flames. The smoke billowed into the air, making it hard to breathe and bringing tears to his eyes. He still did not move. He just stood there and watched what was once so precious to him burn away into nothingness. It meant nothing anymore. They were all gifts. Most from his mother. Some from the father he could not remember. He loved them all. They pushed him towards his dream. Now they were nothing but painful reminders. They kept reminding him of how weak he was. They reminded him of how pathetic he was. He didn't need them anymore.

Soon he was staring at burnt grass, his collected prizes becoming one with the wind. He turned and walked back into the house, feeling nothing at all. He returned the lighter to where he found it and made his way back up the stairs. He locked his door and fell onto his bed. He had gotten a glimpse of the notebook he used as a diary. It was open and stayed on a drawing of the hero costume he made himself. He stared at it before flicking his wrist and watching the noteback fly into a wall. His hero costume was ridiculous. He was trying to copy All Might. The pointy hair and the big smile. Idiotic.

UA. He saw no point in attending the school anymore. He lost his drive. There would be no need to go there anymore. He didn't wish to be anything else either. What would he do with himself? His dream to be a hero was what kept him going. It kept him alive. Now that it was shattered and never to be repaired he had nothing to live for. He wished he could say he wished to lived for his mother. He really did, but he still believed her life would be better without him.

He found himself thinking about Katsuki. About his apology. He was sorry? Now he was sorry. After ten years of abuse. After ten years of treating him like trash. Now he apologizes? Izuku scoffed and rolled into his bed. He sought forgiveness. Izuku couldn't give him what he wanted. He didn't find him deserving. It took him trying to kill himself for the boy to apologize. Why was he even sorry? He suggested it, didn't he? Wasn't he the one who told him to jump? He should be having a blast with this entire situation. But he apologized. It felt as if he meant it but Izuku could not believe it. Even if he was genuine he couldn't forgive him. Not anymore. The old Izuku would've. He would've easily forgiven him. He would've wanted to be his friend still. Too bad the old Izuku was no more.

It was safe to say that that boy is dead.

He eyed his notebook. He let out a breath and stood, retrieving it. He sat at his desk and ripped off the page containing his hero costume. He flipped to a new page and retrieved his pencil.

He changed his mind. He will enroll. He will go to UA, but not for his original reason. Far from it. He started to draw his new outfit carefully. He saw the world for what it truly is and has come to a decision. He stared down at his paper as his idea came to existence.

Besides Kastuki was sure to get in. Some part of him wants to get in just so he can prove him wrong. He would prove him wrong and make sure he knew that the little boy he knew was dead.

And All Might. At the thought of the man he smiled a little. It wasn't his excited smile. Not the one he held whenever he thoughg of his idol. It was totally different. All Might had told him his secret. He possess valuable information.

Useless Deku was no more.

~~~~~~~

Kuriko let out a soundless sigh as she let Noriko inspect her body. She didn't see the need. She was perfectly fine and had no injuries at the moment. Noriko still saw the need to inspect her. She was checking on old wounds, making sure they were healed properly and such. She had scolded the girl once she entered her bedroom. Kuriko was eating ice cream while she looked up something on the net. She hadn't eaten anything other than ice cream. It was taken away and she given a full healthy meal to eat. She was not allowed to have ice cream until she finished it.

"Good, you're perfectly fine" Noriko said in content as she stepped back from the girl. Everything was perfect. Wounds had mended spledidly. It was good to see her lacking a fresh wound. "Make sure to eat a proper meal before eating ice cream Kuriko. It's not good for you"

Kuriko nodded as she ate the ramen the woman had made her. It was filled with multiple veggies that she was told to devour. She didn't mind. She wasn't picky. If eating it meant she would get her ice cream later then she would eat.

"Please don't casually nod if you don't plan on taking my advice"

Kuriko nodded again. Noriko sighed. The child was not listening.

"Nozomi talked to you about UA, didn't she? " She asked. She watched Kuriko's reaction. She noticed how she froze for less than a second before continuing to eat as if she hadn't heard what had been said. Noriko knew better. "Why do you not wish to be a hero? "

Kuriko continued to eat, refusing to meet Those red Eyes. She hated the title. She still didn't like the idea of being associated with them and she was rethinking her plan on going along with it just to make Nozomi happy. She thought the idea over. The idea wasn't nice. She didn't have to do it. Nozomi would be disappointed for sure, but she would have to get over it at some point.

But there was a very strong part of Kuriko that refused to disappoint the woman.

"Kuriko" Noriko gently grazed her cheek before kissing her on the forehead. "At least try, please? You might find that heroes aren't all bad. You might find a reason to become one as well. I know you don't believe in this world anymore, but maybe you just need to see it from a different perspective "

Kuriko still didn't look up. She seemed completely focused on eating her food. She had heard the words. She had heard them very clearly and now they were bouncing around in her head. She doubted it. She doubt her perspective would change. She doubt she would see the world differently. She doubted it all.

"And who knows, you might actually make friends there"

She doubted that as well. People stay away from those who are different. Next to that she had no interest in friends. What's the point of them. Theh could betray you like anyone else. As long as something worth their while was offered they would screw over their friends. They can just as much screw you over when their lives are in stake. She wouldn't blame them. Who wants to die right?

You can see a real man when he is in a crisis.

In other words, when push comes to shove one can see another's true nature.

There was a hand on her head and lips to her forehead.

"Think about it, ok? "

Noriko left, leaving Kuriko to eat in silence. She stared ahead of her as her words lingered. What's there to think about? If she ended up at the school it would only be for Nozomi. If she had to do the job of a hero she would do it her own way. If she found someone deserving of death, then they will die on the spot. She didn't care about the ideals of a hero. She would do things how she wanted it to be down. To hell with the others. It's not like they'll be capable of stopping her. Power is everything after all and she was surprisingly gifted power. Lots of power that she would use to her advantage.

She stood, her bowl empty. Walking towards her door she faded into shadows only to appear near her Aunt in the kitchen. Natsumi yelped in her shock when the girl materialized next to her. As usual Kuriko didn't seem to notice her reaction. She obviously didn't care enough to apologize. She left her bowl near the sink and was in front of the open refrigerator. She retrieved an entire tub of ice cream and walked away.

Natsumi sighed as she watched her disappear into the shadows. That kid really likes her ice cream. The woman went to stand in front of the refrigerator, taking in its content. She took the last tub of ice cream. Nozomi had told her and her sister not to buy the kid any more ice cream, but she would be doing her own thing as usual. She was the older sister after all. She's free to undermine her younger sis.

The door to the house opened and in stepped Nemuri with two tubs of ice cream in hand. She looked around quickly and made a bee line for the kitchen, quickly stuffing the cold treat in the refrigerator.

"You too, huh?" Natsumi laughed. Nemuri only smirked that smirk of hers.

"Despite the kid's moodiness and obvious depression, I can't let her go without her favorite treat. She's still an adorable kid" Nemuri said with a grin. "Don't tell Nozomi I restocked"

"Your secret is safe with me. I was actually thinking about doing the same thing"

"I guess this stays between us"

"What are you two discussing? "

Both women jumped at the sound of Noriko's voice. They quickly plastered on innocent smile that did not fool the youngest of the triplits.

"Oh nothing "

Noriko eyed each of them and glanced at the fridge. She looked back to them, ignoring the innocence in their smiles.

"You got Kuriko ice cream, didn't you? "

They chuckled nervously and did not meet the woman's eyes.

Noriko sighed and fished the small container of ice cream she had gotten Kuriko out of the bag containing her medical supplies.

"Even you" Nemuri snickered. "I don't know why I didn't expect this. You spoil the kid".

"She's really cute" was Noriko's defense. "And she looks so happy when she has her ice cream"

The sound of the door opening and closing made the three freeze on the spot. Nozomi was back and she was sure to know what they had done. They planned on escaping before she arrived, but they failed.

"Hey, sis"

Nozomi looked at them suspiciously as she placed her purse on the bar. She eyed each of them carefully before looking to the refrigerator.

"You got her ice cream, didn't you? "

"Well, I didn't" Natsumi said with a smile.

"You were planning to"

She opened her mouth to say something but only chuckled.

"Yeah"

"Nemuri"

The woman stood up straight and looked at anything and everything except her long tome friend.

"I swear if you bought her a whole tub of ice cream"

Nemuri smiled innocently.

"And you Noriko. You know better than anyone that her diet is messed up"

"Yes but I made sure she ate properly before I allowed her to have any ice cream" Noriko said in her defence. "And she agreed to eat better"

"Do you really believe that? "

"No"

Nozomi sighed.

"You guys are such children sometimes"

~~~~~~~~

Izuku stared down at his notebook, expression unreadable as he took in the outfit he designed . He frowned and ripped the page out his notebook, tossing it away like all the rest. It was useless like all the rest. He replaced the pencil he had broken with another began anew. He told himself that he already came to a decision , but again he was questioning everything. Why would he still need yo go to UA? To make his mother happy? To prove a point? To torment Katsuki?

His phone flashed. He hardly glanced at it. He scribbled something down before taking the phone in his hand. Just six words. It was a need article on his phone. It had everything on All Might and at the moment six words sat with him.

"Symbol of peace teaching at UA"

He stared at those words for an unknown amount if time. Slowly he smiled. A very broken smile. He put his phone away and continued his work. All Might would be there. Katsuki would be there. To think such a thought would bring within him the emotions he now felt. What was it? He didn't know. He would make it into UA.

Revenge

That word popped into his head and he quickly turned in his chair. There sitting on his bed was the girl he had met in the hospital. She had a tub of ice cream in hand and was staring at him. Those eyes brought the familair feeling to him. A familiar uneasy yet relatable feeling. He had so many questions. Who was she? He knew her name but that was not enough. Why did she help him? Why did she confront him? Why did she promise power? Why did she give him a quirk?

She continued to look at him, not at all bothered by the tired look of him. She ate her ice cream quietly, her stare almost unblinking.

"I have questions"