Chapter Text
“War is the only way to describe how large-scale the fight that began the two-year future period was. Shigaraki’s power was immense and he decimated all of Jakku instantly. The Paranormal Liberation front started battles all over the country. “
Aizawa’s grave tone rang throughout the room.
“Initially, it was just pros and third years fighting, with first and second years strictly on evacuation. However, a lot of pros, if they weren’t injured early long, began to quit on the spot the longer the battle went on.”
Midnight gaped. “They just… quit?”
Aizawa nodded and Izuku said, “Uraraka told me she watched a pro give up the fight right in front of her. He was one of many, but… it was a very harrowing experience. It wasn’t easy for her to see. It’s…we were all trying our best. I can’t really fault the hero though, but their fates were ultimately the same, whether they fought or not.”
The staff looked down contemplatively. All Might looked particularly disheartened.
Aizawa began to continue. “Even with the two of us,” He gestured vaguely between Izuku and himself, “the details of the battle were kind of lost in its scale. I suppose we don’t really need details though, you just need to know the vague things for context.”
Nezu nodded.
Aizawa breathed. “Well… as I’m sure you’ve all pieced together, the students ended up joining the fight. They saw things they really shouldn’t have, but it happened.”
Izuku’s eyes went a little teary. “Sato, Ashido, Yaoyorozu and Kirishima were the first to… they were there when Midnight-sensei… passed.”
Midnight let out a quiet “Oh.”
“Shigaraki used Ragdol’s quirk to locate me. Ka-” Izuku’s throat caught on his words. His dad’s arm shifted from his back to over his shoulders in an imitation half-hug.
“Bakugo was with Izuku. They tried to lead Shigaraki away from everyone else. As he pursued them, he was followed by Endeavour, who was number 1 after All Might’s retirement. Ryuku, myself, and a currently retired pro, Gran Torino,” All Might spurted blood, “arrived at a similar time. I was supported by Manual and Rock Lock, and Endeavour was supported by his sidekicks.”
Izuku subconsciously leaned in closer to Shota. “Shigaraki went after Endeavour first. Gran Torino took me and Kacchan a distance away since Sensei was blocking Shigaraki’s quirks.” Izuku fidgeted slightly. “He downed Endeavour for a bit, and went after Sensei. Losing him was the absolute worst case scenario. For that battle. And everything after.”
Aizawa had to turn his head away to not let his emotions overwhelm him.
“That’s why Kacchan and I went back to fight Shigaraki head-on.” Izuku felt tears build behind his eyes, but shook them away. “We had to keep the battle in the air otherwise Shigaraki could use his improved decay quirk to kill everyone on the ground.”
Guiltily, he hung his head. “I was so focused on Shigaraki and the other injured heroes that I didn’t notice the quirk erasing bullets he had in his hand.” His dad’s arm, which was still holding him, reached across his shoulders to tap his cheek chidingly. They’ve had this conversation before. The other pros deflated at the mention of the injuries their friend had to suffer.
He let out the weariest sigh his teachers have ever seen him let out. “Shigaraki activated a regeneration quirk. His body was fully reset. Our forces were divided between helping vital wounded heroes and actively fighting Shigaraki.”
Izuku turned his head upwards to the roof to stop any tears from coming. The staff shifted worriedly.
“Shigaraki sent out a lethal attack in my direction.” Shota felt himself tighten his arm around his kid as his voice shook. “That was when Kacchan came. He got the full force of that attack and was killed on the spot.”
Gasps rang out across the room. Izuku felt his hands curl into fists. “I was so angry that I used a higher percentage of One for All than I should have. While I did some damage to the regenerated Shigaraki, I ended up severely injured alongside the other pros.”
He continued, “It’s only through what we later found out to be All for One trying to take over Shigaraki’s body, that the battle could stop at an impasse.”
Present Mic looked at him sadly. “Little listener…” He really wanted to give Midoriya a hug. Why were they doing this in a formal meeting room again? Screw the otherwise convenient oval table, it was in his way.
“While we were recovering at the hospital Principal Nezu turned UA into a fortress, housing refugees, which was the majority of the city and all the student’s families.” His gaze went sad and unfocused. “They weren’t very happy with me staying there though.”
Thirteen half stood in her seat. “What?! Why?”
Izuku smiled sadly. “One for All kind of became an open secret in the fact that I was being actively hunted by the guy who was the reason their homes were all destroyed.” Izuku’s face hardened with grim acceptance. “I was a beacon. The wrong kind. I… probably would have left if Kacchan hadn’t been killed.”
The staff watched as Deku looked away, grief and regret written all over his face, while a large quantity of unknown emotions flashed across Aizawa’s.
Aizawa gently took over speaking. “We had a grace period of about a month. We know thanks to Kurogiri’s fragmented memories that Shigaraki was actively fighting for control over his body. During that time, all the students and the staff who could, continued to train. It was in this period, that, with the use of his other quirks, this kid here created a faux one hundred percent. Essentially, that means we now had someone whose power matched All Might’s, and was able to stand a fighting chance against Shigaraki.”
His grave voice continued. “Losing Midnight and Bakugo was a lethal hit to morale. I think… more would have survived the second battle had they still been around.”
The room felt cold with the sullen mood.
“It didn’t help that at some point, Shigaraki had released all the prisoners in Tartarus.” Nezu looked distinctly worried.
“Oh dear…”
“Beacuse of the prison break, that second battle saw the largest losses among active fighters. Among the staff we lost Snipe and Recovery Girl, but among the students…” Aizawa’s hair shadowed his face. “Of my class, only five remained. For Vlad’s class, it was six. We lost a bit over half of our second year hero students. The third years were actually doing better than most pros, but we still ended up losing around nine of them as well.”
A faint “Oh my god” sounded from Vlad, while Hound Dog had to leave the room.
“Shigaraki had returned for that fight as an overwhelming force, but had to pull back as All for One seemingly became more insistent. Because of this, Shigaraki grew desperate and quickly initiated a third wave. The UA fortress fell, and with it went all of the refugees and most of the non-hero students. Our hero students were more than halved across the board.”
Aizawa’s throat began to tighten and he squeezed his kid, who wrapped an arm around him to squeeze him back. He angled to face his son a bit more as opposed to the room. This would hurt him more.
“All of my class was gone. Only Izuku, two of Vlad’s, three of the second years, and around eight of the third years remained. Of the staff, Cementoss, Hound Dog and All Might were killed.”
Mic sniffed loudly, as tears poured down his face. “SHOTAAAAA!” He cried. The other staff looked to be in similar states. Aizawa activated his on Mic quirk to prevent his volume from increasing. He looked faintly put out, but didn’t say anything in the otherwise solemn room.
For the first time in what felt like hours, a small uptake of lips adorned Shota’s face as he looked down at his son in pride, practicedly ignoring the previous mood. The teachers perked in interest at the shift. “This is, fortunately, also when Izuku genuinely surpassed All Might’s prime with core power alone.”
Izuku’s face went red- not so much at his achievement- they knew how strong he had become- but because of the way his dad was making it sound. The grief in his heart seemed to vanish for a moment in the face of his dad’s pride.
And the bragging… it was so embarrassing but it felt nice to know that his dad felt that way. Really, really nice. He just didn’t know that his dad was the type to do these things. Or that he even wanted to. Maybe it’s a universal dad thing? Something warm and content blossomed in his chest at that thought. He turned to face away from the room and hide his red face in his dad’s chest.
Shota’s proud quirk of the lips shifted to show amusement. He encircled both arms around his son, rested his chin on Izuku’s curls, and closed his eyes.
The staff around the table gaped at one another upon seeing the loving look on Eraserhead's face. How did he go from the stoic man he was before, to an adoring parent amidst all the heartache and grief? Normally that would harden a person’s heart, but Shota seemed to have done the opposite. He opened his heart to his equally hurt student, who opened his heart in turn, and let each other go beyond the bounds of teacher and student into something more protective, personal and loving.
Their hearts ached for the two at the front of the room, who were now exiting their impromptu hug, one giving a bashful look, the other giving dangerous glares to those who might comment. Within two months, they’d nearly lost everyone, and their saga went for two years.
The world could be so cruel to the kindest people. But it did do one thing right- it kept Izuku and Shota together.