Chapter Text
Road shimmer wigglin' the vision,
Heat, heat waves, I'm swimmin' in a mirror,
Road shimmer wigglin' the vision,
Heat, heat waves, I'm swimmin' in a-
How many days has it been since the infamous Yakuza leader — and villain — was locked away deep down into the catacombs of Tartarus? Your guess will probably be more accurate than Kai Chisaki’s own knowledge, (No seriously, your guess is as good as mine since the internet has no clue) since it’s been so long since he saw daylight, and even time itself.
During his time locked away in the labyrinth, Kai had nothing but his own thoughts to pass the time. Well, there wasn’t anything else he could have done anyway. (besides rolling side to side on the padded floor) His thoughts would take him back to the beginning, when he wandered the streets as a young boy. A young boy who was starving, cold, and suffered from existing. A young boy whose own blood related father, deemed a murderer when his ungloved hands met his mother’s on one faithful autumn day.
It happened so fast that all Kai could recall was how warm the rain felt right then and there, and how the rain was crimson red unlike the usual silver trickles of water.
Most of what happened after had been blocked out of his memory, but the most Kai can remember was being hit, yelled at, and kicked out. Honestly he could not even remember how long he spent out on the streets, which is why he’ll never forget the day The Boss found him.
Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Can't make you happier now.
The boss gave him a place to eat, sleep, and shower. A home, but even at the age of six, Kai knew it was not a free stay, that he knew he needed to repay this blissful debt someday, and somehow.
After a month of being taken care of, The Boss decided on adopting the young boy who was now renamed to be known as, Kai Chisaki. Kai had no recollection of his given name anyway. The Boss raised Kai as his own under the Yakuza name, and as he grew older, Kai was taught so much with the education he was blessed to have. With it, he was given the education to become a doctor at the age 25. He also given quirk counseling to help the young soon-to-be leader understand and control his own meda ability.
In other words, to control the same plague that crawls through 80% of the population.
All Kai intended wanted was to give his pop’s back the power the Shie Hisikai once held in the underground, to relive those glory days and to give back his pop’s the one thing he truly deserved. Kai was willing to give his all to fulfill that promise, but it cost him a high price.
A price he disgustingly took on.
Kai looked back at the time he was given the task to study and understand Eri’s quirk. He could even feel how his body and mind reacted when he made the discovery. The memories now haunted him, shaking him to his very core whilst sitting up and coughing profusely. The cameras zoomed forward at his trembling figure, having security once again call in for a clean up crew to take care of Kai Chisaki, as they watched through the screen of the locked up villain vomit all over himself once again.
With all this time being alone, being consumed and swallowed by his memories. Kai was forced to relive the feelings of what he has done to his member’s, his childhood best friend, his boss pop’s , and Eri . In the past, Kai never batted an eye at the horrible, gut wrenching decisions he made and did to his pawns. his friends and family. But now, Kai became so disgusted by his own past actions that just remembering those gut wrenching moments made him puke up anything and everything he had eaten that day.
Kai ended up becoming such a pathetic sociopath, that it took him killing his members, placing his pop’s in a comatose state, and ruining the life of Eri to see how much of a fucking monster he grew up to be.
All this time, he was the one who’s been infected by a god awful plague.
Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Can't make you happier now.
Kai would think about Eri.
In the past, Kai never cared or thought about Eri the way his pop’s did. All Kai even cared about was her quirk and how useful it was to cure the disease that quirk’s — he believed — shared. But now Kai has lost everything. He lost his followers, his friends, his family, his organization, and his key ingredient for (what the heroes called it) quirk deleter. Kai lost everything and everyone, and with the long agonizing hours, days, weeks, possibly months, his mind began to dissociate from the world.
It left Kai thinking about Eri. Not as much as pops, but the thought of her still lingered in his head.
What would her smile look like?
What would her laugh sound like?
What would her eyes look like when they sparkled?
Not a single soul — other than a certain detective — would ever believe Kai if he told you eye to eye that he would imagine Eri smiling, but since it has been too long since he heard her voice, it was up to Kai’s imagination to decipher what her laughter would have sounded like. Eri’s eyes were a pretty red color he declared as rubies based on the knowledge he knew about gems and diamonds.
How truly adorable she was.
Until Kai would place his ungloved over her eyes over and over, and over again.
Usually I put somethin' on TV
So we never think about you and me
But today I see our reflections
Clearly in Hollywood, layin' on the screen
The memories of what he did to Eri started to hurt him mentally, physically, and emotionally . Kai’s chest would squeeze unbearably tight along with his throat, his whole body would shudder as if there were bugs under his skin that would never stop crawling around his insides until they’ve clawed their way free from under his flesh. And worst of it all, the sickening sensation of digested food would swirl his stomach as if it were a snake that is slithering its way up his esophagus until his throat had a bulge that would either explode, or suffocate him.
Over and over again.
He tore that little girl apart over and over again.
Kai had to clench his teeth to keep in the bile of his stomach acid from pouring out his mouth. He could not afford to vomit anymore, because it would leave his stomach to growl and grumble from starvation until dinner or breakfast would arrive to eat again. But Kai could not blame anyone other than himself. He did this. He chose this path. He had a choice to make it right, but he didn’t.
He should’ve listened to his pop’s.
If Kai did what his pop’s wanted him to do in the first place, stayed away from drugs, stopped the operation, and helped raise Eri as a human being. Then maybe Kai could’ve become a normal citizen that gave Eri the life she deserved, like a good parent would, just like his pop’s, and to help her with understanding the quirk she was born with. Kai could've raised her right, inspire her to become someone better, she could have helped so many people, become a nurse or doctor maybe?
Possibly a hero?
The title hero and villain always infuriated Kai, because he really believed there was such a disease that infected you called ‘heroism’ and ‘villain syndrome.’ Kai could not even fathom how pathetic he really was. He saw himself sitting high on his throne on the pillar of ignorance with piles and piles of his lies, excuses, and deception with Eri and pop’s being the center of it all.
Until a certain green haired kid, and a blonde haired — soon to be pro — hero shattered it all.
You just need a better life than this,
You need somethin' I can never give,
Fake water all across the road,
It's gone now, the night has come, but,
Kami. Kai had to swallow down the vomit that made its way up his throat from the rift that made its way out his throat. His body began to tremble again, shivers were coursing down his now growing arm (the remaining half), leg, and stubble hair to rise from the worst memory that haunts his psyche and dreams.
Please stop! Lemillion showed up. No! He defeated two of his eight bullet members. No, stop it! He managed to keep Eri safe while he attacked the Yakuza boss. No no no! Lemillion was so unbelievably powerful that it took all of Kai and Nemoto to defend themselves from the permeation quirk user. The bile is swarming in his stomach. One of the punches Lemillion landed on Kai left a scratch on his cheek that he kept, just like how he kept the scar Magne gave him when he killed her. His stomach began to grumble. He overhauled the concrete floor so many times in so many patterns to keep Lemillion off his back, even going as far to try and hurt Eri to keep him away. He remembers what he said when he sent the now reconstructed spikes in her direction.
“Yeah, it wouldn’t have been a big deal if she got hurt.”
It’s piling up! His stomach is hurting! Right when overhaul helped Kai clear a path for Nemoto to aim his shot, he took his chance to aim it at Eri. It worked according to his plan as Lemillion took the bullet like the true hero he was. Sliver, sliver, sliver. Even when Lemillion lost his quirk he kept on fighting, showing Kai that no matter what he did, he will save Eri and keep striving to be a hero. His pure heroic spirit never fading. Put your fangs into my back. Kai was so enraged and disgusted at Lemillion’s heroistic nature, that he almost missed seeing the green haired kid burst through the concrete walls with that kami infected quirk. Deku. Deku was his hero name. Bubbles of gas escaped Kai’s throat, making him taste the small drops of stomach acid that was making his teeth decay.
Kurono was sent flying into Kai’s direction, but as the kid was distracted by the horrific realization of his Senpai losing his quirk and lots of blood. Kai was able to fix Chrono’s skull fracture. Kai held his breath to try to stop the burps from overflowing his mouth. Deku was coming in his direction and fast, too fast for Kai’s liking. He was not able to defend himself with the underground hero erasing Kai’s quirk that left him slapping his hive covered hands desperately against the concrete. But the moment the erasure hero blinked, the concrete spikes rose like the dead into Deku’s sides, making him scream in agony. His body was shuttering, he couldn't stop it!
Kai watched from above as Nemoto’s unconscious body was soaring into the air as if he were floating, but gravity had other plans in mind since not a second longer, Nemoto’s body landed hard against the ground, causing dust and debris to rise from the impact. He remembers the last sickening words he said to Shin Nemoto.
“You get it Nemoto, you want me to succeed! I won’t allow all my hard work to end here! You’ve always been eager to help! So I know you’ll happily give your life for my cause! Won’t you?!”
Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Can't make you happier now.
Kai was going to be sick again, and again and again. It won’t stop! It won’t stop! The fusion he eventually named Kaimoto, were tied to his blood, cells, veins, and down into his bones. The feeling of Nemoto’s now mutilated and deconstructed corpse became one with Kai’s form in order to have the upper hand in the battle. The vomit came up. Kai was so angry, so frustrated, that he aimed to kill the man who was dodging his attacks and who was protecting a wounded and quirkless Lemillion and a terrified Eri. Glops of digested oatmeal poured out.
It was now Deku Vs. Overhaul, a fight that would make its way into the history books if Deku strives to be the number one hero. Kai could even hear Deku screaming, “Manchester Smash!” As his powerful, quirked-filled kick made contact with his skull. Only for Kai to dodge it at the very last second. Deku’s fighting style was too easy to predict, which resulted in Kai being able to impale Deku in his arm and calf. More and more discolored vomit coughed up Kai’s throat. Eri and Lemillion were no longer in the complex, and Kai continues to remember more of the sickening words he said with the same mouth that vomit is currently spitting from.
“Someone else is about to die because of you! Is that really what you want?! Eri?!”
Kai waited. He waited patiently because he knew she would come running back if it meant no one gets hurt. Kai can hear the little girl's voice as clear as purified water as he spoke from the remains of the mouth of Nemoto’s that had his quirk, confession revealing the truth of Eri’s words to the wounded Deku.
“Wait… it’s not… I don’t want this…”
“Eri… look at him, injured and alone, you don’t really think he can defeat me do you?”
“No I don’t…”
“Smart girl, so then what do you suppose you should do?”
“I’ll come back… but if I do… I want you to make them all better again!”
“Ah yes! It’s so much easier to be hurt yourself than to watch while others are hurt for you isn’t it? The faint flicker of hope Lemillion gave her has been extinguished. Don’t you see? You think you’re helping her, but you’re really just being cruel. She. Doesn’t. Want. You!”
Tears… tears began to flood and poured down his face as he forcibly coughed up the remaining bile that was lodged in his throat, letting him now wail in pain. His screams were full of physical, emotional, and mental pain that piled up from all the years he concealed them down to not show weakness. His heart was squeezing so unbearably tight that Kai was sure he’d fall into cardiac arrest.
His orange jumpsuit was again now covered in his own warm vomit and stomach acid, but there was so much more than before. It splattered all across the floor nearly reaching the door, and this time he was crying, full on wailing from pain. It was all too much that all the bottles he created to hold in all his emotions have finally combusted, now he could be considered having morals since he was now feeling all the years of guilt, remorse, and despair all at once.
You can't fight it, you can't breathe
You say something so lovin', but
Now I gotta let you go
You'll be better off in someone new
Security in Tartarus worked like perfect clockwork, no worker showed a minute early, nor a minute late. Perfection and smooth like cogs in a wheel. As the afternoon security team arrived for their shift, one man watching the security feed of the left section of the labyrinth sighed as he watched Kai Chisaki, vomiting the second time of the day. But this day was different, very different. Any security guard who would watch Chisaki vomit for the months he’s been locked away, it was always the same. The man would vomit, and stare blankly ahead while the cleaning crew would clean up his mess.
It was a routine at that point, a routine that would take place at least once every three weeks. But again, today was different. Brown eyes widened at the sight of Kai wailing, the security man had no access to the volume, so pulling on his headset and pressing a button, he could hear the screams, the sobs, and the constant coughs the once cold and heartless Yakuza boss was letting out.
Chisaki finally broke.
Another click of a button.
“I need a clean up crew in cell number 358, Chisaki has vomited once more in his cell.” The security could already hear the groans of annoyance from the crew, seeing how he saw them grabbing buckets, mops, and rags on the other screen.
“Clean up crew number two, four, and seven are on the way.”
The beep of the walkie talkie echoed through the headset, letting the person continue watching Chisaki struggle and writh against the padded floor. What a pathetic sight to see.
“Excuse me. I’m here to see Kai Chisaki.”
The person spun around in their chair, brown eyes meeting onyx colored eyes. Detective Tsukauchi stood before the security guard, holding out his badge and I.D.
“Oh! Detective! Absolutely! Any reason?” The security guard immediately grabbed his key card and stood up from his chair, taking off his headset before it pulled him back down.
“I have a message for Chisaki from none other than the underground hero, Eraserhead.”
Eraserhead? Wow…
“I see, right this way sir.”
I don't wanna be alone,
You know it hurts me too,
You look so broken when you cry,
One more and then I say goodbye,
“Eri has requested to see you, Chisaki.”
Kai’s world had stopped as if someone pressed pause, but it wasn’t just him that was shocked, the cleaning crew had stuttered in their movements. (If the mop bucket that almost got knocked over in the process had anything to do with it)
“…what?…”
Golden eyes shot up at the figure who spoke, to take in the sight of the man before him. Detective Tsukauchi, his quirk lets him know when someone is lying, letting him be a human lie detector. His signature tan overcoat seemed to be empty from the outside pockets, (his coat not even being tied together) with his matching colored hat in his hands, planted against his chest.
“I know this request seems extremely outlandish, but Eri has requested to see you, Chisaki. She wants to know if you’re remorseful for what you put her through.”
Tsukauchi knelt down on the now clean and semi dried floor, pulling out a folded piece of paper, unfolding the contents of it to show Kai. A drawing, it was a drawing. A drawing of a garden of what seems to be flowers, but these weren’t any ordinary flowers. Petunias. They were drawings of petunias. One detail some may not have known, is that petunias actually hold two meanings. On one side they mean anger and resentment, given to those you disagreed with in the past. But on the other side, they also mean hope, healing, and well-being.
“Think about it, Chisaki.”
Tsuakuchi began to stand back up, turning his back to the former villain to make his exit. Leaving Chisaki to stare down at the drawing, a drawing made from a child with scribbles of red, purple, yellow, and pink painting the slightly crinkled paper. It was no coincidence that this drawing contained petunias.
Because this flower means ‘yes, I do feel anger and deep resentment towards you, but there is still hope that we can heal from the pain.’
Someone has to take the first step.
“Wait!”
Chisaki caught the detective in time right before he walked out the metal door. The detective’s head turned slightly, letting Chisaki know he’s listening.
“I… I want to see Eri! Tell her- tell her I accept!”
“Very well. I’ll let Eraserhead know and we’ll schedule a time to visit, but know that Eri will not be alone, and that she’ll be accompanied with anyone she chooses. Do you understand, Chisaki?”
“Yes… yes I do…”
“Thank you, have a good evening.”
With that being said, Tsukauchi left with the now finished cleaning crew who made their exit with the man.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, detective? He could be lying just to deceive you.”
Tsukauchi couldn’t help, but let out a chuckle. That’s right, these people are just cleaners, they probably don’t know much about what’s going on, so it was up to Tsukauchi to fill them in.
“Maybe in another world, Chisaki would have lied about wanting to see Eri, and even if he did end up lying about his answer, I would have know.”
“How so?”
“One, the look in his eyes showed pure sincerity. Two, he understands the meaning of flowers. And three, my quirk lets me know when someone is lying.”
Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Can't make you happier now.
“Eri, Midoriya Izuku, Togata Mirio, and the Underground Hero, Eraserhead will be here at 13:00, so be sure to finish your lunch before they arrive.”
Chisaki slurped up his noodles with a nod, letting the guard continue on his routine around the labyrinth. The hand of his caretaker softly patted the napkin against his now smoothed, and freshly shaved chin to wipe away the droplets of the noodle broth. The lady caretaker swirled around the noodle bowl with her chopsticks to serve up more of the fresh hot noodles to Kai.
“Do you think she will forgive me?…”
Kai has been breaking so many routines lately, that it’s a new record at this point. Usually, the caretaker would feed Kai his food, and that’s it. No words were ever spoken nor exchanged, the two didn’t even know the sound of each other’s voice. So hearing Kai talk was something new, out of the ordinary.
He’s different now.
“Forgiveness isn’t as easy nowadays I’m afraid. In order to forgive the person who wronged you in the past, they must show effort and truth in their words.”
The caretaker lady held the noodles up to Chisaki’s opened mouth, helping the man slurp up the remaining noodles that dangled from the chopsticks.
“My advice to you, sir, is if you really strive to earn this person’s forgiveness, and if said person is willing to put in the exact same amount of effort, then there won’t be any issues regarding forgiveness. Because at that point, they have already forgiven you.”
Chisaki looked past the lady’s glasses to gaze into the hazelnut eyes that resembled kindness and truth. She gave Chisaki a soft smile that gave him some comfort while she took the time to place down the chopsticks, seeing how there were no more noodles left in the bowl.
“Would you like to drink the broth, sir?”
“Yes… yes please.”
He’s different now.
Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Can't make you happier now.
“Chisaki is secured, send him up. Over.”
“Copy that, sending him up. Over.”
The platform underneath the large high-tech chair that Chisaki was strapped to began to ascend up into the room above. While Kai was ascending upward, he took notice of the device strapped against his temples, and how his nose began to itch. (Not like he would be able to use his hands if he still had them)
He arrived at the surface with the blinding bright light of the room that started to strain his eyes. Kai groaned from the discomfort while shutting his eyes tight to subside the straining.
“Mr… Mr. Kai?…”
Golden eyes shot open, his heart rate began to increase with him swallowing the lump in his throat. Calm down, Kai. You’ve waited for this moment for a whole week. No, not a whole week. Months. He’s been waiting for this moment for months, ever since Eri overtook his mind. Deep breath Kai, here goes everything. Kai turned his gaze at the glass that separated the one room into two, and on the other side of the glass was Eraserhead, Deku, Lemillion, and Eri.
Rubies. Pure, bright, beautiful ruby colored eyes stared into his own golden gaze. Her blue pale hair was tied up into a half up, half down hairstyle that was tied with a red ribbon as strands of her hair fell past her face. Her horn. Her horn wasn’t as tall as Kai remembered it being, instead it was a tad smaller, but appeared to be growing in a much more natural shape. Kai also took notice that Eri had gotten slightly taller, and was dressed in way better clothes then the child sized hospital scrubs he had her in.
She wore a pink, thick wool, knitted sweater with a dark maroon skirt with leggings underneath, and big white sneakers that resemble Deku’s sneakers. Eri now appeared to be a child who was given the love, care, and support that every child deserves. An action that Kai failed to give her like a true father he claimed to be.
“Eri…”
His voice echoed throughout the room, catching the eyes of all four visitors before him, and possibly more on the other side of the two way glass window at his right.
“Chisaki… you know why we’re here right?”
Green eyes that were filled with hope, but caution looked into the same hopeful, but fearful golden gaze of Kai’s eyes.
“Yes… I was informed by Detective Tsukauchi that… Eri, requested to visit me… to see if I… feel remorse for all I’ve done to her when she was under the watchful eye of the Shie Hassaikai…”
The petunia drawing flashed into his head, the drawing he was given permission to have framed and hung in his cell. A drawing he vowed to cherish for his time in Tartarus.
“So, do you feel remorseful, Chisaki?”
Eraserhead’s stern voice was made known to Kai, a voice so strong and so deep that it sent a slight shiver down his spine. Chisaki pondered for a moment, looking back at the morning’s, noons, and nights of him throwing up from the kami, awful decisions he made in his life that resulted in where he is now.
“My advice to you, sir, is if you really strive to earn this person’s forgiveness, and if this person is willing to put in the exact same amount of effort, there won’t be any issues regarding forgiveness. Because at that point, they have already forgiven you.”
The wise words of his caretaker echoed in his mind. That’s right, his words must hold truth to them . Eri came all the way here to see if Kai would own up to what he’d done, so Kai only has one chance to make it right.
And he does, he really does.
So with a deep breath to calm his nerves, he began to softly sing a tune.
“I just wonder what you're dreamin' of,
When you sleep and smile so comfortable,
I just wish that I could give you that,
That look that's perfectly un-sad…”
Kai sat up straight, staring deep into the eyes of the little girl who looked back at him with those bright, sparkly, star-filled Ruby red eyes that held hope in them.
The little girl who seeks for the apology she had every right to have.
“Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Heat waves been fakin' me out…”
Kai’s eyes filled with tears that streamed down his face, showing everyone how truly sorry he felt.
“I’m sorry, Eri… I’m so sorry!…”
Kai sobbed out as he hunched over, sobbing openly in front of the three heroes that changed his life for the better, and the little girl who he destroyed, but came back stronger than ever before in order to get her apology. The boys were so stunned by their own shock that they didn’t see Eri had stepped closer up to the glass, placing her hand on the barrier that separated her and her former tormentor.
“Everything he said was the truth.”
Tsukauchi’s voice ranged through the speakers from the other side.
Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Can't make you happier now.
“Are you ready to see your visitors, Chisaki?”
The guard asked, as the caretaker lady — no, her name is Aiko — finished buttoning up Kai’s freshly dry cleaned and ironed jumpsuit. Once the button was woven into the slits and secured, Aiko folded up Kai’s sleeves so it wouldn’t fling around all over the place. Once she finished, she clasped her hands together while taking a step back to let Chisaki know he’s ready.
“Yes, I’m ready now. Would you care to join me, Aiko?”
“I’d be delighted to join you, Chisaki.”
Aiko smiled while pushing up her glasses. Chisaki smiled as the guard led them to the visitation hall, but instead of him being strapped down to a tech chair and having a glass barrier in between him and his visitors. He was taken to a much more open, much more spacious, and much more guarded room that Chisaki was granted to have for visitations.
Why, you may ask? Well you’re about to see why in just a minute. Kai walked down the familiar steel halls with the guard leading the way, and this time he had Aiko, accompanying him for the first time. This feeling of excitement coursed through his chest as he soon arrived at the visitation room. The guard scanned his keycard for the doors to open and to reveal the bright faces of Togata, Midoriya, and Eri at the table.
“Chisaki!”
The two boys shouted in sync with bright smiles and eyes on their faces.
“Hello Togata, hello Midoriya.”
“Mr. Kai!”
Chisaki chuckled with a smile as Eri, who routinely jumped from her seat to hug Kai’s waist. If Kai still had his arms, he would’ve returned the embrace.
“Hello again, Eri.”
Eri giggled against Kai’s waist as she took a hold of the jumpsuit to lead the man over to the table, with Midoriya already holding out a chair for the man.
“Thank you, Midoriya. Oh! Pardon me, I’d like you all to meet Aiko Sakura, she’s my caretaker.”
“Hello Ms. Sakura! Nice to meet you!”
“Oh please, the pleasure is all mine!”
All three shook the lady’s hand, making her smile grow more than Kai has ever seen. Togata lended out a chair for the woman, having her sit down and thank the hero student. Kai sat in between Eri and Aiko, while Togata, and Midoriya, sat across from them.
“How are you three today? I know you talked to me about your finals week, now I’d like to know how you think you did.”
“Oh! We did great! Me and my class flew through our finals this week!”
Mirio grinned with his cheerful voice and happy nature that never fails to make Kai smile.
“That’s wonderful to hear, I remember back when I took classes for my medical degree, finals week always had me studying until I fell unconscious under a pile of assignments and textbooks.”
“Oh I know that feeling! You’re not alone Chisaki! During my week, me and some classmates got invited to Yao-Momo’s, — also my classmate — mansion to study. We were only meant to stay until 17:45, but Yao-Momo accidentally served us lavender tea from being too excited, which made us fall asleep halfway through. Next thing we knew the stars were out and our cell phones were ringing nonstop from our families wondering where we were! And when I got my textbook back, it turned out that my friend Denki drooled on one of the pages!”
Midoriya shouted with a laugh that was purely contagious, because next thing Kai knew they all began to laugh, including the underground hero and detective who were standing in the corner with the guards.
“That’s a really funny story, Midoriya, but I’m happy to hear that you had a very fun time. I’m also very proud to hear you and Togata made it through your finals.”
“Really?! Thank you, Chisaki!”
“Yeah! Thank you sir!”
The hero students smiled once again, and at this point, Kai was so used to smiling with them, that he got used to his sore cheeks from doing said action all the time.
“Of course.”
Chisaki smiled wider, especially after seeing the look Tsukauchi made from the corner of his eye, knowing the lie detector man knew he was telling the truth.
“Um… Mr, Kai?”
Kai looked down at Eri, who seemed to be a little bit nervous about something, as he took notice of her twiddling with her strand of hair.
“Yes Eri? I’m listening, sweetie.”
That was another big step for Kai, this was something new once again, and it was worth seeing all the soft faces everyone made. But Eri’s face lit up with a smile, including her eyes that never failed to pull Kai's father-like heart strings.
“Me, Mr. Deku, and Mr. Lemillion made you a gift that we got permission to give to you!”
Her arms flew into the air with her smile that grew bigger and her eyes that grew brighter. A gift? They’re giving Kai a gift? Wow, he was not expecting this!
“A gift? Are you sure?”
“Of course!”
Midoriya smiled with his hands forming a fist from excitement, but not long after the expression on his face turned soft with sincerity.
“You proved to us time and time again that we can trust you now, and that you’ve changed for the better! And I’m sorry that I haven’t said this until now, but I forgive you, Chisaki.”
The sparkle in his eyes never left, if anything they’ve gotten brighter than ever before. Kai’s eyes widened with his mouth agape.
“You… you do?”
Midoriya didn’t need to hear Tsuakuchi to tell him that Chisaki has truth to his words. Before, Izuku was willing to forgive Chisaki the moment he saw the former villain cry on the other side of the glass, and it was Tsuakuchi’s voice that gave him the answer ‘yes,’ Midoriya was ready to forgive him. But it was Aizawa sensei that reminded Izuku to stay cautious of the former villain, and Izuku followed his sensei’s advice.
But now Izuku was face to face with Chisaki, the man who angered him for what he did to Eri, his own followers, and his own father who raised him. There’s no doubt Chisaki has changed. Chisaki has put in so much effort to prove that he wants to move forward, to be better, and to make amends with Eri.
Chisaki has earned Izuku’s forgiveness.
“Yes, I forgive you Chisaki, and I’ll prove it with our gift! Sensei?”
Kai’s heart was pumping so fast that he could swear Eri and Aiko could hear it for how close the two girls were to him. Eraserhead had walked over to the table, placing down a big rectangular box that was by his side onto the table.
“Since me and Mirio Senpai are in the hero course, we are constantly working with the support course who makes support items for our hero costumes!”
“And all the support items they create never fails!”
Midoriya and Togata smiled together, as they both slid the box forward in front of Kai, who stared intently down at the white box.
“I have a good friend named Mei, who loves creating — what she calls — her babies, and we asked her to design this just for you. Eri, care to do the honors?”
Kai was speechless as Eri let out an excited giggle, she sat on her knees in her chair to be able to lift off the lid to the box to reveal two silver metallic, artificial arms that had cartoon stickers and glitter all over them.
“I put my stickers on them! Is that okay? Mr. Kai?”
If Kai still had his hands, he would’ve for sure have his fingers glide across the well made, high-tech, and vinyl holographic stickers that were now permanently attached to the artificial craftsmanship before him.
“This… is this?”
“Yes, it’s for you, Chisaki. And I’m with Midoriya on this, you’ve earned my forgiveness also! I know that Sir would be very proud of you for coming so far in order to change for the better!”
If there were achievements in real life, then there would be an, “Forgiveness ⅔” achievement right above Togata’s head, with possible experience partials that upgraded Kai’s level bar.
“Now come on! Let’s try them out! Ms. Sakura? Care to help?”
“Of course.”
Midoriya, Togata, and Aiko began to assemble the artificial arms together from the box. A few clicks here, and a few beeps there, the arms began to glow. LED lights began to glow a bright rainbow gradient that lit the entire arm, and reflected off of Eri’s holographic stickers.
“Wow… this… that is beautiful.”
“I know! The LEDs were Eri’s idea!”
Togata patted Eri’s head, earning yet another heartwarming giggle that had Kai’s heart squeezed by the wholesome expression.
“Would you like to try them on now, Chisaki?”
“Yes, yes please. Aiko, if you may?”
Aiko smiled as she rolled up both of Kai’s jumper sleeves to reveal the nubs of his arms.
“Here we go, one, two, three!”
Midoriya and Togata attached the artificial arms onto Chisaki’s body at the same time. Once they were attached, a slight shock struck through his body as he heard the components in the gears lock in place. Then Kai began to move…
He could move. Kai could move his fingers .
The LED lights flowed through the arms and crevices of the fingers in a constant-colorful loop. It was so beautiful. Maybe it resembled blood flowing through your veins? Either way it was magical. Kai flexed his fingers, his breathing heightened as he twisted his wrists, the palms of the artificial hands shined from the lights of the room.
“Mr. Kai!”
Eri held out her hands with her palms facing Kai. She wanted him to hold her hands, palm to palm. Kai hesitated for a moment though, because a memory of Eri crying and shaking with Kai’s ungloved hands flashed before his eyes. His hand trembled slightly while pulling back.
“I… I’m… worried… I’m worried that I might hurt you again, Eri… are you… you sure I can?”
There was a slight pause in the room, until Eri let out a soft, trusting smile and took the first step. She placed her palm against Kai’s artificial palm, and next thing Kai knew. He could feel it. The warmth from her palms. Kai could feel it! But his quirk wasn’t hurting her, nothing was hurting her, it was just a calm feeling, but with a spark of excitement coursing through his body and mind
Kai lifted and pressed his other artificial palm into Eri’s other hand, and together they intertwined their fingers. Both flesh and metal fingers held one another. Kai smiled, and that smile turned into a laugh, a heartwarming laugh that echoed throughout the room. Next thing he knew, Eri swiped her thumb across Kai’s cheek, a wet smear had spread across his face, but Kai didn’t feel the burning sensation of hives appearing on his skin, and he didn’t even notice he started crying,
Things were changing. Kai was changing.
Kai couldn’t help it, he leaned forward and embraced the child in his arms. Tears continued to flow down his cheeks with pure laughter leaving his mouth, the tears were not full of sadness, they were full of joy and platonic love that he can finally express physically. Eri held Kai back as the feeling of her small length arms wrapped around his neck, their embrace remained tight, but not too tight. Their embrace said so much to one another.
‘Thank you,’ ‘I’m here,’ ‘we made it,’ ‘you’re changing,’ ‘we can turn this around,’
“ I forgive you, Mr. Kai.”
It was a whisper that only Kai could hear, it tickled his ear, but the sweet smell of green apples was good to pull away from. Kai had even more tears streaming down his face that landed on Eri’s shoulder and hair, but it didn’t stop him from moving his right arm to caress the back of her head, and his other arm that stayed wrapped around her small figure.
“ Sometimes, all I think about is you,
Late nights in the middle of June,
Heat waves been fakin' me out,
Can't make you happier now.”
Kai sang out loud, softly swaying from side to side with Eri still wrapped in his embrace. He never wanted to let go, he wanted to make it right with her, to become a better person for her and for himself.
This is what pop’s would’ve wanted, and he’ll make it right this time.
“ Road shimmer wigglin' the vision,
Heat, heat waves, I'm swimmin' in a mirror,
Road shimmer wigglin' the vision,
Heat, heat waves, I'm swimmin' in mirror.”