Chapter Text
EXCERPT — COURT INQUIRY TRANSCRIPT: “The Kidnapping”
Date: October 16th 20XX, 3:45 p.m.
Location: Hero Public Safety Commission Tribunal, Tokyo
Panel: Commission Chair Yokumiru Mera,Naomasa Tsukauchi, Shota Aizawa (observer)
Witness: Izuku Midoriya (U.A. High Student, Hero Course 1-A)
[BEGIN TRANSCRIPT]
TSUKAUCHI:
State your name for the record.
MIDORIYA:
Izuku Midoriya.
TSUKAUCHI:
And your affiliation?
MIDORIYA:
U.A. High School, Class 1-A. Provisional license holder, Hero-in-training.
CHAIR TAKAHIRO:
Mr. Midoriya, we’re here to establish the sequence of events leading to the disappearance and subsequent transformation of Katsuki Bakugo. We ask for clarity. No embellishment. Understood?
MIDORIYA:
Yes, sir.
TSUKAUCHI:
Tell us about the night of the first incident. The Forest Training Camp on the day of June 12th.
MIDORIYA:
“It was supposed to be fun…” Midoriya’s voice trembled as he stared at the table, knuckles white.
“Just a game. The test of courage—the other class hiding in the woods, trying to scare us. It was all planned. Safe. Controlled.”
He swallowed hard.
“We were laughing before it started.”
A pause. His breath hitched.
“It was supposed to be fun.”
The League of Villains—they attacked just before midnight. Gas, flames, Nomu. They were coordinated. It wasn’t just chaos—it was a strategy.
And we didn’t see it. We were just kids.
CHAIR MERA:
Specifically, how did Bakugo come to be separated?
MIDORIYA:
We thought he was with Todoroki. Or maybe Yaoyorozu. There was fire everywhere. Screaming. I—I remember hearing someone yell his name. I think it was Kirishima.
By the time we regrouped… he was gone. Just… gone.
TSUKAUCHI:
Did you witness the abduction?
MIDORIYA:
(Voice breaks)
Yes.
We were maybe fifteen meters away. He was fighting—still standing. Burned, bleeding—but not down.
Then the Nomu grabbed him.
We ran. I—I ran. I tried to get to him but—there was smoke. And then he was just a shadow.
He didn’t scream. I think that’s what haunts me most.
He was silent.
[Pause in the transcript: 00:02:12 – 00:02:47. Witnesses provided water. Resumed with consent.]
TSUKAUCHI:
When did you last see him?
MIDORIYA:
Not long ago.
his voice shattered like glass.
Tartarus released a photo to the Commission. It was him, but—
His skin was paler.
And his file had a name: Subject BKG-01.
Like he wasn’t a person anymore.
CHAIR MERA:
Do you believe Bakugo is responsible for the death of (REDACTED)?
[Long pause]
MIDORIYA:
No.
He didn’t want to hurt anyone. He wasn’t in control.
But that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
And that’s what scares him the most.
TSUKAUCHI:
Final question: In your opinion, is Katsuki Bakugo still a hero?
MIDORIYA:
(Whispering)
He never stopped being one.
He just got lost in a war none of us were ready for.
[END TRANSCRIPT]