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I noticed the change much sooner than they probably expected. The distrustful glances, subtle flinches, not to mention the whispers. Honestly, I could’ve brushed all of that off, but the worst of it was the way they’d avoid me. Ignore me. Just like in middle school. Like I was a useless Deku again.
Only this time, Kacchan seemed to be the only one who hadn’t joined in.
Even the teachers seemed to avert their gaze if I made eye contact, sans All Might, who hadn’t acted any different than usual thankfully. I didn’t know what I would’ve done if he started to avoid me too.
Todoroki, Tsuyu and Uraraka had acted differently too, though they acted much colder to everyone but me. Iida had began to avoid me too, in fact, I hadn’t spoken to him in a fortnight despite the fact we share the same classes.
I knew something was up, but I really wanted to trust and give them the benefit of the doubt. This was a school for heroes and I hadn’t done anything to warrant them to cast me out after all.
Right?
——————
“How long have you been working with the League of Villains?”
What?
“Who have you been selling this information to?” he barked, holding up my notebook.
My notebooks. Oh god they have my notebooks.
“I haven’t been working with them! And I haven’t sold information to anyone either!”
My voice trembled with anxiety as I watched the officer roll his eyes unconvinced.
“As if we’re going to believe that. Why else would you have such a detailed analysis of your classmates weaknesses?” he said coldly.
“I was going to help them! Improve their abilities and fighting styles! I wouldn’t use it against them, or work for villains! Why would I try to save them if that was the case?” I said resolutely.
Though that didn’t seem to dishearten the officer, instead it looked to have emboldened him. He slunk forward with a venomous grin.
“That’s easy. You’ve been working with them the whole time. Isn’t it awfully convenient how you’ve always been in close proximity during the LoV attacks?”
“So have my classmates, what’s your point?”
He ducked down to meet me at eye level. I held back a shiver as he looked at me with a withering stare. I felt the cold, hard metal of the handcuffs dig into my wrists, despite this I glared right back at the officer.
“How many of your classmates have been as close to the villains as you? Odd that you just so happened to be in Hosu the same time the Nomus attacked. And at the scene of Killer Stain’s attack?”
“I was there for my internship! You can ask Gr-“
“Ah”, he interrupted, “But that wasn’t the only time you’ve been in such a...precarious situation. Where were you during the attack on the training camp?You were out of range of the initial attack and conveniently knew where Muscular would be!”
I opened my mouth to protest but the officer was on a roll now.
“And it’s odd how Shigaraki sought you out specifically at the mall. Or how you miraculously survived an encounter with Stain and All for One, both whom are infamous villains. Not to mention how you ‘accidentally’ ran into Overhaul, and subsequently Eri right before the Yazuka raid. It all seems a little too coincidental.”
I tried to say something, anything that’d get me out of this situation, but I froze as I registered what I was being accused of.
They believed me to be the traitor? After everything I’ve done for them? For UA? For my friends? For sweet little Eri? Tears began to well up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
“I’m not the traitor!” I gasped out with shaky breaths.
“I swear it! It’s not me, I would never betray UA!”
The officer stood up straight and looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“And the most glaring give away is your hero name, Deku? Really as if you could be any less obvious. It’s a direct calling card to All for One’s Nomu.” He said with a smirk.
I sat there with my eyes wide in disbelief. They had painted a whole narrative with me as the backstabber, all while I had remained oblivious. What did they tell my friends? What did the teachers think of me now? Surely they would have more faith in me? But looking back on it, it was clear who was really on my side.
Looking back up at the officer I realised that I couldn’t talk my way out of this, not while these officers had tunnel vision. All I could do was wait for Tsukauchi to arrive.
“We already know it’s you, so you might as well fess up kid.” said the officer, crossing his arms against his chest.
“So start talking.”
Keeping my expression carefully blank, I clenched my jaw shut.
“TALK!” he boomed slamming his hands on the table.
I held back a flinch and turned away.
“You’re not going to make this easy, huh?”
I said nothing.
“Well, that’s fine by me.”
—————
It took 6 gruelling hours before Tsukauchi finally arrived. I spent most of that time in a near catatonic state.
He looked at me with something akin to pity. He repeated the same questions.
I answered honestly with a hoarse voice.
He looked towards the officers and nodded his head.
“He’s telling the truth.”
Before I knew it my hands were free and I was being lead out of the interrogation room.
I was lead to an adjacent room where Principle Nedzu sat patiently at a table, Aizawa-sensei sitting on his right. He looked up at me and nodded at me to sit.
As I sat, he cleared his throat and Aizawa looked away.
“Now you must understand the circumstances we found ourselves in. Aizawa had found a note book that had looked awfully suspicious to him and took the actions that were necessary, to ensure that there was no threat to the school that we had overlooked.”
Aizawa continued to avert his eyes away from me.
“Unfortunately, you were wrongly accused and we apologise for the mistake we have made.”
He folded his stubby arms and made eye contact with me.
“However, what ever you’ve learnt today must stay in this room. I’m sure you understand why.”
I nodded silently.
“Excellent! Now I’m sure you must be exhausted so it’s best for you to head on back to your dorms now. Your classes will be cancelled tomorrow, you will have the day off to rest. Goodnight Midoriya.”
I carefully shifted out of my seat, I could feel Aizawa stare a hole into my backside. I ignored him and made my way out of the building. Once I stepped into the cool breeze of the night I ran as fast as I could (without my quirk) back to the dorms.
Panting breathlessly, I crept up the stairs to my dorm room and locked the door shut. I lay on my bed trying to comprehend what had just happened. That my teachers and friends had conspired against me. After all I had done for them.
After thinking for a few minutes I sat up on my bed and grabbed my phone. I scrolled down to a number I hadn’t dialled in years. My finger hovered over the ‘call’ button for a few seconds, before I finally pressed it. I waited anxiously as it continued to ring. Finally he picked up.
“Hey dad, I need a favour.”