Chapter Text
Nobody was supposed to die.
We were brand-new students. We were still figuring out how everything worked in the world of heros. We were fledglings not even given a chance to fly--only barely nudged out the door to see what seemingly wonderful world awaited us.
It was only our first month of classes, and someone was dead.
USJ was supposed to be a safe place. Completely guarded and locked down from all nefarious business. But we barely got a chance to walk in when a warp hole opened up in the middle of the stadium. And slowly but surely, an army of villains came creeping out.
Things got chaotic. Aizawa-sensei was beating up the huge incoming waves of villains in the central area, Thirteen was dealing with the villains sneaking to the front, and all of us students were randomly transported throughout the stadium into each of the various challenge zones. I managed to escape with my two classmates that got teleported closeby, and we found a hidden spot to watch Aizawa-sensei's fight until things calmed down.
Except we weren't as hidden as we thought.
There was one villain--the hand one, Shigaraki I think?--who mostly stayed in the background. But he figured out Aizawa's quirk and managed to trap him under a giant muscled creature named Nomu.
The other two students and I didn't know what to do. It was obvious that after Nomu smashed Aizawa's head into the ground, our teacher was unconscious--even if his eyes were blocked by his goggles. I couldn't just sit there and watch him die. I had to help.
But I couldn't move a limb.
Shigaraki's one eye glowed a sinister red as he turned towards us next, his hands restless and twitchy. Then he leaned over, muttering something about how he wanted to get rid of just a few more kids…
...and stuck his hand on Tsuyu Asui's face.
That might not make sense without context. Shigaraki's quirk, whatever it is, makes people's body parts decay wherever he touches. He had only gently touched Aizawa's elbow earlier, but after only a few moments, it disintegrated into nothing but flesh and bones. So when he gripped Tsuyu's face and squeezed as hard as he could, his other hand tightening around her neck and shoulders…
...it was over for her.
It didn't take long for help to arrive. All Might came in and gave both Nomu and Shigaraki a thorough beating. And later on the police force rounded up the rest of the bad guys and evacuated everyone else out of the building.
But the damage was done.
Tsuyu did not survive.
I can't remember much after that. The emotional turmoil I was experiencing after watching my classmate's face get completely decimated was overtaking my brain. I blamed myself for her death. How could I not, after I just stood there and watched it happen? I was just as much to blame as Shigaraki was.
But as I reconvened with my classmates and teachers, I learned that I was not the only one who blamed themselves for her death. Iida blamed himself for not running fast enough to find help. Kirishima blamed himself for not escaping his location in time to reach the central zone. Thirteen blamed herself for getting injured and being unable to protect everyone. There wasn't anyone in the area who didn't regret their actions (or lack thereof).
The air was heavy with solemnity and guilt.
It took a while for things to go back to somewhat even remotely normal. For one thing, security protocols increased tenfold. You could barely even look at the school if you didn't have proper ID. The head of the school assured that no villain would ever enter the school premises again.
In Class 1-A, we were offered some time off to recover from the incident. Truthfully, I think Aizawa-sensei needed it more than anyone else. While his physical injuries had recovered thanks to Recovery Girl, it was clear that he had not recovered mentally. He had always put on a front that he didn't care, but after seeing how he ran headfirst into the battle just to protect his students, I think he really did care about us. And now that one of his students died because he couldn't fight for just a little longer...it seemed like the guilt was eating him alive.
I didn't think it was his fault, but I didn't want to say that. Whenever any of my classmates tried to bring up the incident at USJ to him, he got snappy and backed out of the conversation quickly. But perhaps that was for the best--this was something that none of us were in the right position to help with. Thankfully Principal Nezu, Present Mic and the rest of the faculty were there to support him when we couldn't.
My classmates acted a little differently too--a little more serious, I suppose. Even the bigger personalities (A.K.A. Bakugou) had humbled down a bit and weren't so loud anymore. The first few days back, people would be crying during every class. The single empty desk among the 19 others stood out like a sore thumb. I couldn't look at it long before being forcefully reminded of her death, and I had to put a bucket under my desk so I wouldn't puke on the floor every time.
Before long, people started putting things on Tsuyu's desk. First it was Hagakure who started the trend of bringing flowers and cards. Then Koda started making origami frogs, which led to him having to teach the class how to make their own because Kaminari couldn't stop saying how cool it looked. Then Kaminari learned that you could make it hop by pressing down on its back, which caused a chaotic frog war among Kirishima, Mina, and a few others. It got a little out of control and Aizawa-sensei had to yell at us, but I think we were all feeling a little bit of relief on the inside. It was the first time we were able to enjoy ourselves after the incident.
-
Things slowly got better after that day. After realizing that I wasn't the only one who felt responsible for Tsuyu's death and that it really wasn't anyone's fault but the villains, I was able to slowly forgive myself for my mistakes and move on. But a new emotion bloomed in me, more than ever before--hatred. I never really liked villains in the first place, but now I absolutely despised them. They were the ones who thought it was completely fine to make an innocent kid suffer like that. She hadn't hurt Shigaraki personally, yet he figured that her life was disposable.
What kind of sick person thinks stuff like that is okay?
But I couldn't focus on my hatred of villains forever. I went to UA to become a hero, not a villain slayer. Still, if I ever crossed paths with Shigaraki, I'd make him regret ever laying a finger on Tsuyu!
And everyone else that ever dared to attack our campus. Like Nomu, Kurogiri, the minions…
Suddenly, something hard smacked my head, bringing me back in the present moment. I gritted my teeth in pain and rubbed my stinging injury. "Ow, what--"
It was Bakugou, lounging in his seat in front of me. As soon as I saw the irritated expression on his face I shut right up.
"God, Deku, is that all you do? Mutter?" He turned to face forward, lifting his legs to rest on his desk like normal. "At least let me try to have a decent morning before Mr. Shaggy Hair starts talking again."
Maybe you shouldn't call Aizawa-sensei that. But I stayed silent. Best not to mess with Bakugou when there's no benefit to it.
It was another post-USJ morning in Class 1-A. Most of the other students had already arrived and were either chatting or preparing for class. My notes were out so I could study for the upcoming English exam, but judging by the doodles of "SMAAASH" and "RIP VILLAINS" on the side of my notebook, I wasn't doing a very good job of studying.
How could anyone blame me? So much has happened in just the past two months, I have more important things to worry about!
Still, I couldn't become a hero if I didn't have a good education. People would need my help, and maybe they would need me to speak in English too!
As I flipped through my pages, the last of the few missing classmates trickled into the classroom. The last in line--and probably the most noticeable one--was Aoyama, who always loved walking in by dramatically crying "have you all missed my twinkling face?" and posing in the entranceway, sparkles magically emoting around him. Usually most people paid him no mind, but that never stopped him.
If there was one thing I'd been noticing about Aoyama, it's the fact that even after USJ, he didn't really change much. You'd think that having a classmate die would somber him up, but he never stopped being so blindly proud and self-centered (is it mean to say that?). If anything, his personality was even more forced now. Like he was trying to change the subject or something. Did he not care about Tsuyu? Or was I overanalyzing things again? I never really knew what to think.
But today was a little different. Well, no, he acted completely the same, but as he stood in front of the doorway, barely anyone paying attention, he whipped out a stack of yellow cards. With his usual twinkling grin, he proceeded to place one on each desk.
I could see the confused looks on people's faces as he made his way around the classroom. When he finally reached my side of the room, Bakugou barely glanced up from his seat and growled, "...What the fuck is this?"
"It's an invitation, monsieur!" Aoyama explained gleefully, finally placing one on my desk. Sure enough, the lines of the card were written with fancy black ink (handwritten too?!) and said:
☆You're Invited☆
To a Special Announcement by: Yours Truly~☆
Rendez-Vous en Class 1-A à 15h00
Merci~☆
Aoyama was off to the rest of the desks before Bakugou could ask any more questions--not that it looked like he really wanted to, considering he crumbled up the invitation and flung it into the trash can. I watched with curiosity as Aoyama handed off the last invitation and silently slid into his seat, crossing his legs and smirking into the distance as if he didn't need to explain anything more.
Except by the looks of everyone's faces, it didn't seem to be a good enough explanation.
"What the heck? An invitation?" Kaminari sat a few desks away, flipping the card back and forth as he tried to understand the purpose of it. "But it doesn't say what the announcement is about!"
"What're we invited to, man?" Kirishima called from behind the electric boy.
Aoyama's grin did not fade as he remained in the same position, only swinging a finger backwards in acknowledgement. "You'll have to find out!"
To that, the other classmates groaned.
"I'm not wasting my time going if I don't know what it's about," Tokoyami spoke in his usual ominous tone. "I've got things to do." It seemed like a lot of the other classmates agreed with him, but Aoyama did not respond. He just looked forward, with the only part of his expression visible being his constant smirk. I could see the others losing interest as they put their invitations to the side and resumed their conversations.
I looked at mine again. It really seemed like Aoyama wanted us to be at this event. I'm not sure exactly why he set this up, but he had never asked to do something like this before. While he liked being in the spotlight, I honestly forgot about him a lot of the time, so I didn't actually know much about him. Maybe this announcement would help the class get to know him a little better.
15 o'clock? Sure, I can make that!
"Deku, are you going?" My heart fluttered at the sound of that voice--it was Uraraka, sliding over to my desk with Iida. She waved the invitation in her hand and let her adorable smile shine. "I'm not sure what it could be but I think it could be fun!"
"Is anyone else concerned about how dangerous this is?!" Iida exclaimed, gesturing with his hands in ways I could never really explain. "If the teachers aren't aware that there are still students on campus after classes are over, we might get kicked out--or worse!!"
"I mean, it didn't seem like Aoyama was worried about that," Uraraka said, her finger touching her chin thoughtfully. "I don't think it would take that long. The invitation did say it was an 'announcement', and announcements aren't usually more than a few minutes." She turned to me. "What do you think, Deku?"
"Uhh…" I scratched the back of my neck, still a little embarrassed about talking to a girl like Uraraka. "...Well, I'll probably go. Although it doesn't sound like anyone else is going."
Uraraka and Iida turned to look at the rest of our classmates who, at this point, were not paying attention to Aoyama or the invitations. That seemed to strike a chord in Uraraka because she looked back at me with a determined grin. "That just means that the three of us will have to represent the class!"
"And I'll need to make sure everything is in order," Iida agreed. "After-school meetings are a privilege given to us by the school board. Someone needs to supervise--or else we'll lose that privilege!"
Uraraka laughed. "Do you think we're a bunch of hooligans, Iida? We're not gonna break the rules!"
The sight of Iida's ashamed blush made me laugh right alongside her. Iida and Uraraka sure knew how to make me feel like I was in good company.
Maybe it was better that the three of us were the only ones going. Even if we had no clue what Aoyama was planning, there was no way he wouldn't enjoy hanging out with us when Uraraka and Iida were two of the most welcoming people out there. Nothing could go wrong with them by my side!
-
"What do you mean, you can't go anymore?!"
Uraraka and Iida stood in front of the school doors, guilt plastered on their faces as they looked at me with shame.
"I'm sorry, Deku," Uraraka said, glancing to the side sheepishly, "I really wanted to go, but my dad really needs me at home, and I hate leaving him without help--"
"Unfortunately, my family meeting takes all precedence," Iida agreed, his voice louder to compensate for his guilt, "since they tend to be spontaneous, and it would be grave if I even considered skipping--"
"But you can tell us all about it tomorrow at school!" Uraraka tried to brighten the mood with a smile, which admittedly did help lighten my disappointment for a moment.
Iida nodded along. "Yes, and you must make sure that all classroom regulations are being met! I'm counting on you, Midoriya-kun!"
So I shouldn't bail either, even though I'd be the only one there? Not that I was really considering it. The thought of nobody coming to Aoyama's event made me feel oddly nervous--as if that would only lead to bad things.
Of course, my brain always liked to worry too much, so I was probably just overreacting again. Good ol' Izuku.
After a moment, I finally said, "I'll let him know you guys wanted to come." Hearing that I wasn't mad seemed to put them at ease, and they let out a breath of relief.
"I owe you everything, Midoriya! I will remember this!" Iida promised with a bow.
"Make sure he understands that I really did want to go." Uraraka's words took me by surprise, and I gave her a slightly puzzled glance. There was still a remorseful smile on her face as she gazed wistfully towards the direction of our classroom. "I don't think he really talks to anyone. He talks to people, but he doesn't...like...talk with anyone, you know?" She thought for a moment. "He seems lonely, is what I mean."
I followed her gaze. She had a point. Sometimes it seemed like Aoyama was shouting to an invisible audience considering the lack of engagement he had on a daily basis. Perhaps this meeting was just a way for him to make friends.
Maybe he considered Tsuyu a friend and that's why he's having a hard time connecting with others?
"I'm not sure, but I really do need to depart now." Iida's voice carried us out of our thoughts. Now was not the time for theorizing.
"Oh, right!" Uraraka said, straightening with a jolt when she remembered where she was. "I really gotta go too! Good luck, Deku!"
"Bye, guys!" I waved goodbye as my two good friends ran off, past the gate and into the real world. Once I couldn't see them anymore, my hand fell, and my eyebrows bunched up with concern.
So what did I get myself into again?
An "announcement". Whatever that meant.
I reached in my backpack and grabbed the invitation. It said "15h00", which was…
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I saw what time it was.
15:13!!
Oh shoot, I was late! Over ten minutes late, too!
Not wasting another second, I ran back into the hallways and raced for my classroom.
Despite all of my anxiety over being late, I couldn't help but wonder what I would find on the other side. Maybe Aoyama outlined all of our desks with sparkly tinsel and sprinkled them with an overdose of glitter. Maybe he set up a mini stage in the front of the room and was going to star himself in a fashion show. Maybe he prepared an entire 4 course meal consisting solely of food with his face on it. Maybe he had a French lesson prepared so we could understand his words better. Maybe he just threw a mirror in the middle of the room so he could sit there and admire his face the whole time.
No, the only thing I saw when I opened up the Class 1-A door was Aoyama sitting quietly at his desk, his expression obscured by his hair and his crossed leg bouncing up and down, almost like he was…
...nervous.
Whatever I thought I first saw disappeared in an instant, because as soon as Aoyama heard the door open and saw my face on the other side, he instantly became his normal self. "Ah, my fellow classmate! Bonjour!" he cried, standing up immediately and beckoning me in with open arms. "Please do come in! Have a seat!"
Okay, here we go.
"H-hey, Aoyama," I nervously greeted as I slipped into the first seat I could find. From where I was standing, I could now see that there was definitely nothing different about the room--no Aoyama-faced macarons or glittery tinsel anywhere.
So it really is just a normal announcement.
As Aoyama settled himself in front of the podium, I suddenly remembered the message I was supposed to send. "Oh, Aoyama!" I called, making him freeze a little more severely than I expected him to. "Sorry--I just wanted to say that Uraraka and Iida were supposed to come too, but they had other stuff to do." I remembered what Uraraka said about Aoyama's lack of friends, and I added, "But if things were different, then they definitely would've come! Actually, I bet if you schedule another one, they could definitely make it!"
Aoyama turned away and smiled. Except it wasn't a typical Aoyama smile--it was uncharacteristically fainter and maybe even genuine. "Oh Midoriya, you're sweet, aren't you…"
"I…?" Flustered, I looked away, trying to dispel the compliment. When I looked back up, Aoyama was smirking like his old self again.
"Well, there's no reason to wait!" He stood tall and proud behind the podium, sparkles shining around him more profusely than ever. "Are you ready for this?"
I really didn't know how to answer that, so I spoke my thoughts instead:
"What exactly are we doing?"
Then the room was silent. The sparkles around him stopped at once. Aoyama looked at me, clearly still trying to keep his smile but unable to hide his surprise. It made me feel a little bad for asking...but then again, that was a reasonable question…
"Well…what do you think we're doing?" Aoyama finally asked, fiddling with what must've been the rest of the yellow invitations. He didn't look so comfortable behind the podium anymore.
"You said this was an announcement," I told him with a confused stare. What was going on? Did he remember what he had planned? Did he even have a plan at all?
He extended his arm towards me and grinned, his face beaming with obviously fake confidence. "Ah yes, this is an announcement! Correct!" He kept his pose for a few more moments than needed, and I was surprised to see that his arm was shaking.
Then I understood.
"Aoyama, why are you stalling?!" I demanded with much more ferocity than I intended. He flinched, and I tried to use a gentler tone. "You didn't invite us all here for nothing. You obviously want to say something, but I have no clue what it could be. You just have to say it."
In the past two months of being at UA and knowing Aoyama, I had never seen him act more than his usual dramatic self. Maybe I was wrong to think this, but that's all I thought he was capable of. That's the only side of him he ever showed the world.
But today, he showed a different side.
He took a step backwards and turned away, letting his hair fall in front of his face until I could only see his fading smile turn into a frown. He was quiet for a moment until he said with a scoff, "I thought I could tell the whole class, but now that it's just you, I think it's even harder..."
A bit mystified at the transformation I was seeing, I probed harder. "Is it something to do with us? Something about the school?" Then I remembered my theory from earlier, and I felt my stomach drop. "...Is this about Tsuyu?"
"It has to do about everything." Now he looked crestfallen, his eyes sparkling with sadness as he gazed at me. "I'm sorry, Midoriya."
Now I was extremely confused and extremely worried. This was clearly something big and important, especially if it dealt with not only our classmates but the school as well. Aoyama's heartbroken expression did not console me any further.
"It pains me beyond no end to say this, but I can't hold it in any longer." Aoyama finally smiled--a weak smile that almost seemed to be in pain--and said, "I have betrayed you all."
When I realized that I had no clue what he was talking about, I tilted my head in confusion. "I...don't understand."
Betrayed you all? If this is about Tsuyu, then I'm not sure how since he didn't kill her...it was the villains who did that, and they were only able to kill her because…
Then the pieces started to come together in my brain, and my jaw dropped, my hands covering my mouth in shock.
Aoyama kept on going, his fingers shaking as they clenched the edge of the podium. "Yes, Midoriya, I am the one to blame...I am the reason why Asui died. I caused the attack at USJ. I stole the teacher's schedules and sent them to the villains. I gave them information on how to get inside. I did all those disgusting, abhorable--"
"YOU'RE the reason why the villains entered the campus?!" I shot out of my desk and stuck out a disbelieving finger towards Aoyama, who looked terrified. Anger was pulsing through my veins like fire. The sudden wave of adrenaline strengthened my voice as I cried, "You're the reason why Tsuyu is DEAD!"
I had never seen someone with so much hurt on their face before. Aoyama looked absolutely heartbroken, and it made me pause.
"M-Midoriya, you have to understand…" Aoyama stuttered, his back now against the wall as he trembled in place. "They would've killed my parents if I didn't do it…"
His words caught my attention. If Aoyama was really an evil traitor, he wouldn't have much of a motivation besides just wanting to be evil. Not to mention, the current state he was in…
I needed more information before I jumped to conclusions.
"What do you mean, they would've killed your parents?" I finally asked, my voice calmer but still tense.
Aoyama was not consoled by my change of tone. He was still shaking, his limbs barely holding him up. "They...All for One...my parents made a deal with him years ago. Because I was born quirkless and they wanted me to fit in, so they contacted him and he gave me a quirk in exchange for being his spy…"
"Did--did you even get a say in that?" I asked hurriedly. When he shook his head, my heart broke.
He didn't even get to choose to be a normal citizen. His parents dragged him into this.
"It's a curse I've had to deal with for a long time…" Aoyama continued. "They wanted me to join UA so I could get as much exclusive information as possible. I never came here for my own education and future. I came here so my parents wouldn't die."
It just gets worse and worse!
"And now that I told someone, my life is at risk too."
My eyebrows rose when I heard that. "What? What does that mean?"
Aoyama locked eyes with me, and I was startled by the amount of despair held in just one expression. Had he always looked like this? "I'm not allowed to tell anyone about this. If I do, I'll be hunted down and killed--and probably my parents, too. It's why I was forced to hide it for so long."
My anxiety shot up right away. "But you just told me. You were gonna tell the whole class." I panicked and looked at the door, trying to see outside the windows. "Don't tell me they're hunting you down now!"
It was the first time I heard Aoyama laugh after his confession. "They won't know right away." But then he became serious once again, his eyebrows crunched in concern. "But they will find out eventually. Which is why I've made the decision to get rid of myself first."
“You’re going to hide from them?” I asked, inferring from his words. I put my hand against my chin and allowed myself to think. If Aoyama tried to hide himself, he might be able to pull it off if he’s living somewhere with high security. UA had a pretty good security system, especially after the USJ attack, so he should be safe here…but wait, he also made it seem like that villain–All for One, whoever that was--could easily find out where he was, considering he could easily hunt Aoyama down and kill him like he claimed. So maybe it would be even more dangerous to the school if they held Aoyama here…and what about his parents, where would they go? If the three of them hid here, then that would only put a huge target on the school’s back…but maybe that would be good if the villains could be lured here, and then the faculty could capture them, and finally those evil villains would never hurt another person agai–
“No, that’s not what I meant.” Jolted out of my thoughtful monologue, I looked back up. I was afraid that Aoyama would be irritated by my zoning out, but he only looked grave. “I’m ridding the world of my presence. I’m going to die.” Despite my gasps of surprise, he continued. “It’s for the best. That way, I will never hurt another person again. Nobody will have to die again because of me.”
“Y-you can’t do that!” I exclaimed, fear rushing through my body. Sure, Aoyama had done some shitty things, but it was clearly something he had no control over. Nobody deserved to die because a villain manipulated them into doing their evil busywork!
The only person who deserves to die is All for One for even making my classmate deal with this. And for making him feel like this is the only choice he has to escape his misery.
It was clear that my reaction had pulled on his heartstrings. Even so, his upset grimace told me that he was resolute–which only made my anxiety increase. “I appreciate your kindness, but we all know that this is the best path to take.” He took a step away from the podium and towards the door, and my heart rate shot up like a rocket. “Thank you for listening, mon ami. It makes me feel better knowing that I could get this off my chest.” He took another step, and I could feel the panic rushing through my body, the sudden sensation making me nauseous. “All I ask is that you tell the others the truth. They deserve to know. And please–make sure my parents are safe. They made a mistake, but they don’t deserve to die.”
I jumped out of my seat, my nerves making my voice shake as I pleaded, “Aoyama, please don’t–”
“I’m sorry.” He gave me one final look before racing out of the room, letting the door slam shut with a loud bang.
While I knew I should've ran out the door as soon as I could, the flurry of thoughts zipping through my brain made me hesitate for a moment. This was a lot to take in, and it certainly was not what I was expecting when I got an invitation for Aoyama's "announcement".
This isn't an announcement. It's a confession.
And if I don't start running right now, it'll be his final words too!
My anxiety propelling me forward, I charged out of the door and headed for the school exit.
I had no clue where I was supposed to go. From the sound of it, Aoyama was really adamant about getting rid of himself for good. The thought of losing another classmate so soon made my stomach queasy.
It doesn't matter what he did. He's still our classmate.
I ran outside, the school gate ahead of me. Aoyama was nowhere in sight--not in the school grounds nor outside in the real world.
Where could he be?!
I didn't have much time. He could already be dead for all I knew.
Okay, think: where do people go if they want to die…
All I could think of was tall places--like 100-story buildings and giant cliffs. All Might had saved a few people from doing the unthinkable back before he was a teacher. If Aoyama was going to do that, he would have a hard time doing so when there were heroes everywhere with quirks that could catch him or stop his fall somehow.
Except…
There was one place that many heroes normally glanced over because of how inconvenient its location was. It was a long bridge with a highway on top, high above a huge river. The river was so wide that if you tried to swim across, your limbs would get tired from the constant swimming and you would drown. If Aoyama reached the middle of the bridge and acted before anyone driving by could call for help…
...it would be over for him.
I didn't actually know if he was heading that way. I didn't know if I was making a huge mistake and Aoyama actually went the opposite direction, leaving me out of time to save him.
It was a gamble, but it was better than standing around and letting him die.
I ran off for the bridge before I could think another thought.
My legs carried me through the streets of the city. In the bright daylight I could see that there were lots of people out, enjoying their leisurely lives as they walked their dogs or chatted with shop owners or relaxed on benches. In my mad dash, the idea of being able to peacefully enjoy my day felt foreign to me, and I instead tried to focus on the mission in front of me.
It's just down this road.
As I ran down the slight decline, I could begin to see the bridge in the distance. There were only a few cars traveling on it at this point of the day. On the sides were thin walking paths where brave souls could take the hike across the bridge. From where I was standing, I couldn't see anything on the path besides some lampposts. A wave of dread hit me when I realized that I probably made the wrong choice about which way to go.
...Or maybe he was here and I'm too late?
No, that couldn't be true! No way I could lose another classmate right after Tsuyu! I had to take a closer look. I didn't have much time if he was actually somewhere farther on the bridge.
I managed to reach the beginning of the bridge, and I squinted my eyes to see into the distance, pleading to the gods above that Aoyama was still alive…
There!! Far onto the bridge, what I first thought was a lamppost was actually my classmate, his figure too blurry to read but definitely too close to the short guardrail for comfort…
I took off again, trying to catch up to him as quickly as possible. I didn't know if letting him know I was there would only make him jump faster or if it would make him hesitate. But I didn't have time to think because before I knew it, Aoyama hopped over the guardrail and sat on it, his legs dangling over the extremely high plunge like it was nothing. And before I knew it, I was screaming.
"AOYAMA! STOP!!"
I was finally close enough to see his reaction. At first he looked a little surprised, and then he smiled like he did when I first entered the classroom for his confession. "Midoriya! You've come to join me for these last few moments!"
"I--no! These aren't your last few moments!" I finally got close enough that I could stop running, and I bent over as I tried to catch my breath. After a moment of gasping, I looked back up and said, "You have to get off of there!"
The sparkles surrounding his body popped into existence again, and I realized that he was back to his fake personality again. "Oh, non, I can't do that! But how about we enjoy this beautiful weather together before my departure? Look--I think I see a few ducks down there! Trop mignon!~"
I gritted my teeth in frustration. He wasn't getting off of the ledge, but if I tried to drag him off, I might accidentally make him fall.
A car honked its horn as it drove by. Wait--we were next to a highway, weren't we? That meant we weren't alone. The longer I stalled, the longer people would notice us, the more likely someone would call for help. A tiny flame of hope kindled within me.
Just enough until someone contacts a hero…!
But then I watched as Aoyama's gaze followed the noisy car, and I realized that he was well aware of this insight too.
I helplessly flailed my arms, frustrated that I was so useless. "Aoyama, please, you can't do this! You have so much to live for!" It felt like an empty promise, but I was grasping at straws at that point.
That seemed to snap Aoyama out of his usual self, much to my surprise (and utter relief). He narrowed his sparkle-less eyes at me, his tone almost bitter. "You know that's not true, mon ami. I told you everything. My life is ruined." He faced forward with a frown, his body calmly still as his one hand clutched the guardrail. "Maybe it's best if you leave now. Go and enjoy your time at UA." He turned back at me, the uncertainty of his next actions making me extremely nervous. "You want to become a hero, right? You have a promising future, Midoriya. You'll be a great hero one day."
I could feel the seconds ticking before Aoyama took action. I tried to speak as fast as I could before I lost my chance. "That's not true! I'm not going to be a good hero if I can't even save you!"
That made Aoyama pause. "I can't be saved," he said uncertainly, his body tensing up.
Another car honked its horn, only this time a little longer.
"Your life is not doomed," I quickly said before he could do anything more. "Me and everyone at UA will help you, I'm sure of it." The thought of UA and Aoyama's words about my ambitions made me ponder...and I came up with an idea.
This might just be my ticket to getting him off of that ledge.
"Have you ever wanted anything in life?"
Now Aoyama looked confused and a little taken aback. "I...why would I want anything in life if I can't even live it for myself?"
"Well, you had to want something when you were younger, right?" I asked, hoping my words were resonating with him. "You wanted a quirk for a reason. Well, besides not wanting to be the only quirkless kid anymore, which I get since that's how I felt too, but maybe there was something else that inspired you...?"
He looked at me quietly for a moment, clearly surprised by my words. Every bone in my body was pleading that there was something in my words that made him change his mind, something that would make him get off that ledge…
"...You were quirkless?"
Oh shoot. I didn't mean to say that. But it wasn't a big deal if it meant I could save him.
"I mean, I was, but it's not super important," I finally said, trying to pull the attention away from me.
Again Aoyama turned away, and I worried that I was only going backwards. But then he scoffed. "I didn't know we were so similar. Quirkless kids who wanted to be heroes." His shoulders fell as he sighed, and he stared into the distance with a forlorn gaze. "I wanted to be a hero too. Maybe that was foolish of me. I thought getting a quirk would lead me on the path to becoming a great hero. But it's only turned me into a villain. I've destroyed my life too much to ever be a good person again."
He was pouring his whole heart out to me. I could never understand the despair Aoyama was feeling at that moment. I could never understand the feeling of being manipulated by the cruelest of villains and betraying those that love you and only want the best for you. I could never understand wanting to kill yourself over how terrible your actions were.
However, there was one thing I did know: the right words for a quirkless kid who wanted to be a hero.
"Aoyama, you might not believe me when I say this, but I'm going to say this anyways."
He cautiously turned his head back towards me, his desolate expression telling me that he was just about at his limit.
"I wanted to become a hero for so long. It was my dream ever since I was a child. When I found out I would always be quirkless, I eventually realized that I could never become the hero I wanted to be." I frowned, the memories of my despair still painful. Then I remembered what came next, and the light came flooding back into my eyes. "But then somebody told me something that I've never forgotten...that I, too, could become a hero." I locked eyes with him. "And you know what? Maybe I don't know much about your life, and maybe I'm just learning about the real you now, but I still believe that those words are true for you, too."
Aoyama's expression was slowly shifting. With a slight quiver he interjected, "But, Midoriya--"
"I don't care what you think," I said, my heart pounding as I let my passion lead my words. "I don't care if you think you're the worst traitor ever. You're trying to do better. You wanted to tell people the truth." By now the words were just spilling out. I could see the words affecting him like a barrage of final attacks in a video game, and it only fueled me even further. "You're not a bad person, Aoyama. You never were. No matter what you're feeling…
...you can still be a hero."
While talking, I had gotten so absorbed in the moment that I forgot where I was. So when I remembered the scene in front of me…
Oh shoot I made him cry.
Aoyama's head was down, his one hand covering his mouth as the tears cascaded down his face like a waterfall. I could see his body shaking from where I was standing, and I immediately felt bad for causing his tears.
No. I shouldn't feel bad. This is what he needed to hear.
I could see him trying to stop his crying, but it only made it worse. I cautiously took a few steps forward, trying to think of what to say to console him, when I watched him lift his other hand to cover his face.
The hand that was holding onto the guardrail.
It only took a second for Aoyama to lose his balance. And in a rush of pure terror and adrenaline, I dashed over, wrapped my arms around his waist, and threw him onto the pavement.
I wish I was exaggerating when I said that. But no, that's pretty much what happened. My brain was running on instinct so it took me a moment to realize it, but when I saw him sprawled out on the sidepath, I knew I threw him too hard.
Well, better that I moved him with a little too much force than have him slip off the edge.
Aoyama was struggling to get up, his sobbing still uncontrollable. When I went over and offered a hand, he looked surprised, but after a moment he accepted it and stood up.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry," I said awkwardly as I looked to the side, unsure of how to console him properly.
Despite still being in the middle of crying, Aoyama still spoke up. "Midoriya--" When he said my name, I let myself look properly at him, and I was thrilled to see the light back in his eyes. "--You saved me."