Chapter Text
The cave trembled.
Aizawa was thrown back.
Rock and dust hit him like a wave.
He hit the ground hard. Head spinning.
He pushed himself up. Eyes wide.
And saw them.
Izuku and Bakugo.
Running forward.
Straight into the cave.
“STOP!” Aizawa roared. “NOT IN THERE!”
His scarf snapped out, but it was too late.
Izuku didn’t slow down.
“Not this time, Sensei.”
Voice steady. Determined.
Bakugo grinned through the smoke.
“We’ve got this.”
Then they were gone.
Flying into the dark.
Aizawa’s stomach dropped.
“GET BACK!”
The rest of Class 1-A didn’t hesitate.
Kirishima. Todoroki. Mina. Jiro. Denki. Momo. Uraraka. Iida.
Quirks flaring. Feet pounding.
They followed.
Aizawa shouted again.
“COME BACK! IT’S DANGEROUS! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND—”
*BOOM.*
The cave exploded.
Heat. Pressure. Rock.
Aizawa was thrown away.
The world went white.
---
When the ringing stopped, there was silence.
Rubble everywhere.
Dust choking the air.
Blood ran down his temple.
His arm hung wrong at his side.
Aizawa forced himself up.
Pushing. Hard.
Pain meant nothing.
His kids.
He ran.
Moved big chunks of rock with shaking arms.
Crawled through the gaps.
Some of them were out.
Hurt. Groaning.
Kirishima helping Mina. Uraraka clutching her ribs. All of them are in pain.
He kept going.
Further in.
More kids.
Some unconscious but breathing.
He checked. Moved. Called names.
Then he reached them.
The first ones who went in.
Kirishima. Todoroki.
Both battered. Both conscious.
“ Sensei—” Kirishima choked out.
Bakugo lay a few feet away.
Unconscious.
But breathing.
Okay.
Aizawa’s chest tightened.
Then he saw him.
Izuku.
Half under a rock.
Barely holding on.
Blood at the corner of his mouth.
Eyes open.
Aizawa was at his side in a second.
“Hey… kid…”
His voice shook. For the first time ever, he stuttered.
Izuku’s lips moved. Slow.
“H… hey…. Sensei….”
Aizawa knelt. Pushed the rock off carefully. And Held him.
“Why, kid… why…”
Izuku smiled. Faint. Tired.
“For you… of course….”
His breath hitched.
“You and them….”
“Hey, sen—sei… I’m tired.”
Aizawa pulled him up.
Laid Izuku’s head on his lap.
Held his hand like it was the only thing keeping the world together.
“It’s okay,” Aizawa whispered.
“You’ve done so much for us…you are a great hero.. An amazing student. The best problem child for the world.. .”
His throat closed.
“I’ll miss you, kiddo…. Forever more…. Love you, kid.”
He couldn’t say more.
I couldn't bear it.
Izuku’s eyes fluttered.
“I love you moree….”
Quiet.
Nothing more.
Aizawa stared.
“Kid… no… nonononono… why…”
---
---
The sirens came first.
Wailing through the smoke, cutting through the ringing in Aizawa’s ears.
Ambulances tore onto the scene. Red and white lights flashing against the dust.
Paramedics moved fast. Shouting orders. Rolling stretchers.
Aizawa sat on the ground, back against a chunk of rubble.
He didn’t move.
Couldn’t.. His kids head on his knees…
He watched as his kids were picked up.
One by one.
Placed onto yellow beds. Straps tightened. Masks pressed over faces.
Kirishima, pale but conscious, gripping Mina’s hand.
Todoroki, silent, arm wrapped.
Uraraka, tears streaking through dust.
Denki, Jiro, Momo, Iida… all of them.
Some are already leaving the scene, sirens fading into the distance.
Aizawa didn’t look away.
He counted.
Made sure every name was there.