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In the bustling halls of U.A. High School, Monoma Neito stood at the entrance of Class B, eyeing the vibrant energy of his classmates. Their laughter echoed around him, but he felt detached, as if he were an outsider looking in. Monoma, with his sharp tongue and competitive spirit, often put on a brave face, but inside, he wrestled with feelings of inadequacy. He gazed toward the door that led to Class A, where his rivals resided. “What do they have that I don’t?” he muttered under his breath, bitterness lacing his words. Monoma had always been the one to mimic others, using his Copy quirk to mirror the abilities of his classmates, yet the thought of facing the likes of Bakugo or Midoriya filled him with dread. “Hey, Monoma!” Kendou Itsuka called out, breaking his reverie. Her warmth radiated as she approached, her smile a beacon of support. “You ready for today’s training?” “Of course,” he replied, forcing a grin. “Not that I need your encouragement.” But deep down, he appreciated her presence. Kendou had a way of making him feel valued, reminding him that he wasn’t alone in this competitive world. As they gathered for training, Monoma’s mind drifted to his past—a childhood filled with pressure and expectations.

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The memories flooded Monoma’s mind like a relentless tide as he sat in the familiar training room. He closed his eyes, and suddenly he was transported back to his last year of middle school. It was an ordinary day when he walked through the door, report card in hand. The bright A-minus stared back at him, a testament to his hard work, yet it felt like a failure in his home. The moment his mother laid eyes on it, her expression twisted into fury. “What is this?” she shouted, her voice echoing in the small hallway. Before he could respond, a sharp slap connected with his cheek. Monoma staggered back, stunned. “Is this how I raised you? I raised you to aim for the top, and you come home disappointing as always!” His eyes stung with tears as he clutched his reddening cheek, the heat of humiliation burning hotter than the pain. His father stepped in, his tone cold and unyielding. “You shouldn’t cry, Neito. You brought this upon yourself. You have no one else to blame.” With that, his father turned away, retreating to his study and slamming the door shut, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap in Monoma’s chest. His mother’s gaze softened for just a moment, but the disappointment quickly returned. “You should know better than this,” she lectured, her voice heavy with frustration. “This isn’t what I expect from you.” Before he could muster a reply, she shoved him toward his room. “Go to your room and think about how you can do better!” Monoma collapsed onto the floor of his room, feeling utterly defeated. As he sat in the silence, one thought echoed in his mind, drowning out the shame and pain: *I miss Himiko.* Suddenly, a loud voice broke through his reverie. “Hey, Monoma! Earth to Monoma!” It was Juzo, waving a hand in front of his face. Monoma flinched slightly at Juzo’s sudden motion, his past creeping in like a shadow. Kendou stepped closer, her brow furrowing with concern. “Monoma, are you okay? You look a bit pale.” She tilted her head, studying him intently. “You should really go see Recovery Girl.” Monoma shook his head vigorously, brushing off her concern. “I’m fine! Really.” He forced a smile, trying to convince both her and himself. His attention quickly shifted back to Vlad King, who was explaining the upcoming training activity. As they began their training session, Monoma felt his mind wander. He couldn't shake the thoughts of when his parents would next be home, the anxiety weighing on him. His focus drifted, making it hard to keep up with the instructions being given. During a sparring match with Shinso, Monoma's distraction proved costly. Shinso, seizing the opportunity, swiftly threw him to the ground, claiming his victory. Monoma landed with a thud, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He gasped, struggling for air, his body curling slightly as he entered a coughing fit, spluttering desperately. “Hey, are you okay?” Shinso asked, concern flashing across his face as he extended a hand to help him up. Monoma waved him off, still trying to catch his breath, but the frustration of losing weighed heavily on him. “I’m fine,” he managed to wheeze, though the lingering worry in Kendou’s eyes echoed in his mind. He dragged himself up, breathing heavily as he felt his head pound with an oncoming headache. The bell finally rung after Vlad King had chewed their ears off about improvements and everyone filed out of the training room for lunch. Monoma made his way to his group of friends, who had called him over, as per usual. He listened to Kendou and Tetsutetsu chatter away to each other but he lagged behind the two, more content with the company of his own thoughts. He let his mind wonder too far though as he was once again wrapped up on the thought of his parents. He had been wholeheartedly dreading their arrival because he didn't get the scores he had meant to get and on top of all of that , he had a bad behavioural report because he had provoked that 1-A brute for messing with one of his classmates. If there was one person that he hated the most , it was Katsuki Bakugou. That vulgar heathen had been insulting Pony on her Japanese and he absolutely lost it. But for some reason the school didn't penalise Bakugou for it , his point standing on that ever present bias everyone had for class 1-A. Alas , it was out of his control for now ; there was nothing he could do about it , what would he say to the teachers - "Oh yeah , could you change my report because my mom will beat the shit out of me if I get anything lower than an A+..?" Yeah , no that was a hard pass. Monoma and his group entered the hall but he went straight to find a seat rather than follow the others to go see Lunch Rush. He swore his appetite had gone out the window the minute the word 'home' went through his head. After a while, his friends made a return with their lunch trays but much to his displeasure Tetsutetsu had brought Kirishima with him. He wrinkled his nose at the very sight of the red haired boy and snidely remarked , "Had enough of hanging out with those 1-A lowlifes I see? Too bad we don't want you her-" Kendou chopped him at the back of his neck and hurriedly apologized to Kirishima ,"I'm sorry about him Kirishima , he can be a pain sometimes." The boy in question waved his hands in dismissal, "Nah its fine , typical- dude you okay monobro!?" All eyes turned to Monoma , who was now violently coughing up blood with watery eyes. "Monoma , are you okay!?" Kendou frantically asked before rushing off to get water, whilst Shinso on his right , patted his back as he continued struggling for air. Kirishima went to go get Recovery Girl and Tetsutetsu stayed and tried to talk to Monoma ,"Dude you gotta breathe with me , if you don't you might just choke on your blood." Monoma tried to speak to no prevail and was just croaking out broken words ,"It-.... Hu..hurts..." By now , they were making quite a scene , with everyone watching as he choked and spluttered. Monoma felt like he was a spectator on the whole scene , he felt trapped in his own body and what made it all worse were the stares. Some of pity , others of disgust as they whispered to the people around them. Kendou finally returned with a water bottle in hand and helped him slowly sip some. He could sense it was helping because he felt his throat unclogging but it didn't get rid of the evident coppery taste of the blood in his mouth. With good intentions, Kendou reached and undid Monoma's top button to release some of the pressure on his neck and that's when she saw it. An array of scars at the back of his neck , in the exact same place where she playfully hit from time to time. It took Monoma a second to register this action but by the time he yanked his collar back it was too late. Kendou's eyes filled with tears as she realised this whole ordeal was her fault, "S-sorry , I'll be back..." He wanted to grab her and tell her it was fine but he wasn't in any state to follow her. Kirishima came back with Recovery Girl , who with the help of Shinso and Tetsutetsu , managed to whisk Monoma unwillingly to the her office. Monoma protested but went along with them , thinking about Kendou the whole way there.

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Monoma’s eyes fluttered open, the sterile scent of the Recovery Girl's office filling his senses. Confusion washed over him as he recalled the events of earlier that day—the sting of Kendou’s chop, the blood spilling from his mouth, and the shocked expressions of his classmates. Guilt twisted in his stomach as he thought of Kendou's hurt expression, her eyes wide with concern. He attempted to speak, to ask Recovery Girl about Kendou, but his throat was raw. “K-Kendou…” he croaked, struggling to form the words. The effort sent a wave of discomfort rippling through him. “Rest your throat, Monoma,” Recovery Girl said gently, her tone soothing. “You’ve been through a lot. I called your parents. They’re worried.” Panic surged through him at the mention of his parents. The thought of their disappointment was enough to make his stomach churn. Without a second thought, he pushed himself off the cot, ignoring the dizziness that threatened to overtake him, and stumbled out of the office, his heart racing. As he walked home, his thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind. Memories of the fight replayed in his mind—the thrill of the challenge, the satisfaction of a good jab, and then the sudden, horrifying pain. Just as he turned a corner, he spotted Kendou. She approached him cautiously, her expression a mixture of sadness and concern. “Monoma, I’m so sorry…” she said, her voice soft but filled with regret. He shrugged it off, forcing a smile despite the soreness in his throat. “It’s… fine, really. Just an accident.” But even as he said the words, he could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. But before he could say anything more, she pulled him into a hug, her warmth a comforting balm. He felt a fleeting sense of safety in her embrace, but then she pulled back and slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “You should’ve told me I was hurting you!” He chuckled at her antics, the tension easing slightly, though he winced as he spoke. “I’ve… gotten worse before, you know—” But the moment he spoke, he noticed her eyes widening with genuine worry. "What do you mean, worse before?" Monoma hesitated, caught off guard by her intensity. “It’s nothing, really. Just… training mishaps. You know how it is.” He hoped the vague answer would satisfy her, but he could see the concern still etched on her face. “Monoma...” she started, but he interrupted, forcing a lighthearted tone. “Let’s not dwell on it, okay? I mean, we all have our moments!” He tried to smile, but inside, he felt the pressure building again. The weight of expectations loomed large, and he knew he had to face his parents soon. As they parted ways, he couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that settled in his chest. The walk home felt longer than usual, each step echoing with his apprehension. When he finally arrived, the house seemed quieter than usual, the familiar creak of the door sounding ominous as he stepped inside. His father was waiting in the living room, arms crossed, a stern expression plastered on his face. “Where have you been?” he demanded, the anger palpable in his voice. Monoma swallowed hard. “I was… at school. Just hanging out.” He didn’t mention the fight or Recovery Girl. He knew it wouldn’t matter. “Cut the crap, Neito! I heard what happened,” his father barked, the disappointment in his tone stinging more than any physical injury. “You think this is a joke? You’re supposed to be training, not getting hurt!” Monoma felt his heart race. “It was an accident!” he protested, but the words felt weak even to his own ears. His mother came into the room, her expression softer but still filled with similar frustration. “We just want what’s best for you. You need to focus on your training if you want to keep up, don't make this harder than it needs to be.” He nodded, but inside, he felt like a balloon slowly deflating. Their expectations were suffocating, and he feared he could never meet them. “Get out of my sight, you disappointment!” His father’s words cut through the air like a knife, and Monoma stumbled back, the sting of shame burning in his chest. He turned away, his mother’s voice trailing behind him. “You’ll need to show me your report card in the morning. I hope I don’t see any failing scores.” Monoma’s heart sank further at her words. It was as if the ground beneath him had opened up, ready to swallow him whole. He clenched his fists, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. “Fine,” he muttered, barely able to keep his voice steady as he trudged up the stairs to his room. Each step felt like a weight added to his shoulders, and the familiar surroundings of his room offered little comfort. He slumped onto his bed, the sheets cold and uninviting. The silence of the room enveloped him, wrapping around him like a heavy blanket. He glanced at his phone, its screen dark and empty. He heard a ping—Kendou’s name flashing across the screen—but he ignored it, turning the device off and setting it aside. As he changed into his pajamas, he felt a mix of anger and sadness swirling within him. Would they ever be satisfied? The pressure to excel, to be perfect, felt insurmountable. He climbed into bed, wishing he could disappear, wishing he could just drift away from the expectations that haunted him. “Why can’t you be more like your classmates?” his parents' words echoed in his head, sharp and biting. “You have so much potential, and yet you waste it on foolishness.” The memory of their tones, harsh and unforgiving, made his chest tighten. He closed his eyes, wishing for a reprieve from the relentless cycle of disappointment. The darkness behind his eyelids began to blur with tears he refused to shed. He knew he had to face his mother again in the morning, to show her whatever scraps of effort he could muster. But tonight, all he wanted was to escape. To never wake up to the harsh reality of his life, to the expectations that felt like chains. He wished he could remain in this cocoon of solitude forever, free from the judgments and the pressure. As he lay there, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him, he couldn’t shake the feeling of hopelessness. Would he ever be able to live up to their standards? Would he ever find a way to break free from this cycle of disappointment? With a heavy heart and a mind swirling with despair, he allowed himself to slip into an uneasy sleep, wishing for a world where he was someone else.

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Neito Monoma woke up groggily, the sunlight filtering through his curtains, hitting his face like a spotlight. Squinting at the clock, he realized it was already 6:00 AM. With a heavy sigh, he dragged himself out of bed, forcing his sleepy body through the motions of his usual morning routine. He stumbled to his bag, his fingers brushing over the fabric until he found what he dreaded most: his report card. As he pulled it out, a wave of shame washed over him. Another A-… “I’m doomed,” he muttered, his heart sinking as he read the comments scrawled at the bottom. Vlad King’s handwriting loomed large in his mind, harshly stating that Neito had trouble cooperating with Class A and needed to work on his sportsmanship. With a frustrated grunt, he shoved the report card back into his bag, trying to ignore the guilt gnawing at him. Quietly, he opened his bedroom door, hoping his parents wouldn’t have woken up yet. He scuttled past the kitchen, heart racing as he feared getting caught over breakfast. Relief washed over him when he noticed his father had already left for work and his mother was nowhere to be seen. Just as he slipped on his shoes, the sound of his mother’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “Where do you think you’re going, young man?” she demanded, her anger evident even in her dressing gown. Neito froze, forcing a smile as he turned around. “To school, where else...?” The moment the words left his mouth, he knew he had made a grave mistake. His mother’s eyes narrowed, and before he could react, she grabbed him by the hair, her grip fierce as she seethed with fury. “I don’t know how you behave at school, but that is no way to speak to me, you ungrateful brat!” She released her hold, and he muttered a quick apology, hoping it would ease the tension. But she looked at him expectantly, her expression demanding. “So where’s that report card, huh?” His stomach churned as he passed the card to her. It took her only a few seconds to scan it, and the disappointment that crossed her face was unmistakable. “Another failing grade? It’s like you never learn!” she exclaimed, and before he could respond, her hand connected with his face, a sharp slap that echoed in the room. “Arguing with Class A? Mind you, those are supposed to be your future classmates! I can’t believe you, Neito! Why must you always be a failure?!” Monoma felt his cheeks flush with anger, and unable to contain his bitterness any longer, he snapped back, “Nothing I ever do will be good enough for you! I want to stay in my class so I can act as I wish to those 1A idiots!” His mother looked taken aback momentarily, but then her fury returned with renewed intensity. She grabbed him by his hair again, digging her long nails into his neck as she shouted, “You listen here, you stupid little brat! I am your MOTHER! I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it! So before you act like that to me, think about what I can do to you!” He gulped, fear creeping into his heart as she continued, throwing him toward the door. “Take Himiko for example! That nasty little freak was an absolute disgrace, and she got put in her place as she should have been!” Monoma’s blood boiled at the mention of his sister. An image of the 14-year-old Himiko, with her cute fanged smile and spindly buns, flashed in his mind. He recalled her promise to come back for him as she ran away from their broken home. Clenching his fists, he found his voice. “You didn’t do anything when it came to Himiko! She ran away because she couldn’t take it anymore! You keep calling her a freak and treating her like some sort of animal! She was a child too! She ran to escape from you and Dad! You’re both horrible parents, and I wish—” That’s when his mother’s fist connected with his face, a resounding crunch echoing in the air as pain shot through his nose. Angry tears filled her eyes as she shouted, “I COULDN'T TAKE THAT CREATURE OF A CHILD! THE WAY OTHER PARENTS LOOKED AT ME WHEN THEY REALIZED I PRODUCED SUCH A THING! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL ME A HORRIBLE MOTHER WHEN YOU’RE THE TRUE MONSTER HERE!” She let her words sink in, her voice dripping with venom. “You don't know how much I HATE you, Neito! Now get out of my house, you mistake!” Her words were cold and unforgiving, each syllable striking him like a physical blow. Thick red blood dripped down from his nose, staining the floor beneath him. Heart racing, he grabbed his bag, the weight of his mother’s disdain heavy on his shoulders. Without another word, he bolted out the door, slamming it shut behind him. The sound echoed like a final farewell, leaving him standing alone on the porch, the cool air biting against his skin. As he walked away, the anger and pain swirled within him. Neito felt crushed. The weight of his mother’s words pressed heavily on his chest, and the thought of school filled him with dread. Himiko was on his mind, and he couldn’t help but feel tears running down his face at the memory of her smile, so bright and full of life, now a distant echo. He quickly wiped his tears as he reached the school gate, checking his phone for the time. It read 7:00 AM—still an hour left until school opened, leaving him with plenty of time to kill. Opening his camera, he stared at his reflection. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, dried blood smeared from his nose to his chin, and a long scratch marred his neck. His hair looked equally disheveled. “Shit,” he cursed, trying to think of somewhere to clean up, but his mind felt clouded, making it hard to focus. Just as he contemplated going back home, he spotted Kendou running toward him, dread pooling in his stomach. He turned his head, hoping to avoid her gaze, but there was Tetsutetsu, too. Panic surged through him. “I’m cornered.” Before he could escape, Kendou reached him, tapping him on the shoulder. “Hey—oh my god, Monoma! What the hell happened to you?!” Realizing how bad he must look, he stammered, “I—uh... just fell, I guess...” Tetsutetsu joined them, concern etched on his face. “What’s good, my bro? Dude, you look rough. What happened?!” Neito struggled to come up with an excuse, but the words escaped him. He sniffed, feeling pathetic. Kendou shook her head. “I know you’re lying. No way would you start crying from a fall. I’m not going to push it, but we need to get you fixed up.” Tetsutetsu nodded in agreement. “You don’t have to tell us right away, bro, but just know that we’re worried. Whatever you say, no judgment. Remember the bro code.” “Yeah, yeah...” Neito replied dryly as Kendou dragged him toward her house with Tetsutetsu following closely behind. Once inside, they took off their shoes, and Kendou led him straight to the bathroom. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up,” she insisted, pulling out a first aid kit. Neito protested as she wet a washcloth and dabbed at his nose, but his protests fell on deaf ears. He realized it was futile to argue and just let her do her work. As she examined the scratch on his neck, she muttered, “Jeez, Monoma, what did you get yourself into?” He grimaced as she carefully bandaged the scratch, feeling embarrassed and vulnerable. “All done!” she declared proudly, handing him a comb. “Fix your hair and splash some water on your face.” It didn’t take long for him to return to his usual appearance. Tetsutetsu gave him a thumbs up. “Apart from your eyes still being a little red, you’re back to your usual manly self!” Monoma smirked, feeling a flicker of normalcy return. Kendou checked the time, urgency in her voice. “Come on, boys, it’s time to go. If we hurry, we’ll be on time!” “Okay, Mom,” he joked, earning a playful nudge from her. They made it back to school just in time, with a few minutes to spare. As the bell rang, students rushed to their seats. When Vlad King entered the room, Neito zoned out, his mind still clouded with thoughts of the morning. “Are you paying attention, Monoma?” Vlad’s voice broke through his haze. Neito looked up, dazed. “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” His response surprised both Vlad and the rest of the class, as he didn’t retort with his usual playful banter. Throughout the lesson, he kept his head down, acutely aware of Kendou’s and Tetsutetsu’s concerned stares from the back of the classroom. Monoma felt a heaviness settle over him, knowing this was going to be a long day.

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They started heading to their next class when Monoma accidentally bumped into the worst person he could have—Katsuki Bakugou. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with him today, so he muttered a quick “sorry” and tried to carry on with his day. But luck was not on his side. Bakugou grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. “Oi! Watch where you’re going, you copycat bastard!” he yelled, his voice like a thunderclap in the hallway. Monoma gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling up. “Listen, I don’t have enough patience for this today,” he snapped, meeting Bakugou’s fierce gaze. “You can turn around and carry on whatever you were doing before and leave me alone, or is your mental capacity that small that you can’t complete such a simple task?” Bakugou's eyes blazed with anger, taken aback by Monoma's defiance. “You think you can just brush me off? You think I’ll let this slide?” “Honestly? Yes, I do,” Monoma shot back, his voice steady despite the tension brewing between them. “I’m not in the mood for your nonsense. Just step aside.” Bakugou stepped closer, his fists clenching at his sides. “You really think you can talk to me like that without consequences?” “Consequences? Please,” Monoma scoffed, trying to keep his cool. “I’m not scared of you, Bakugou. You’re just noise I don’t need right now.” The hallway felt charged as students paused to watch the confrontation. Monoma’s heart raced, but he stood firm. “So, are we done here, or do you want to keep embarrassing yourself?” Bakugou’s expression hardened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might lash out. But then he took a breath, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. “Whatever. Just don’t think you can ignore me forever, copycat.” As Monoma walked away, Kendou and Tetsutetsu followed him, both equally concerned. ——————————————————————————— Kendou’s brow furrowed with suspicion; first, Monoma had argued with Bakugou without his usual sass or smugness, and he had shown up to school all battered. She couldn’t help but wonder what he meant when he said, “Don’t worry, I’ve gotten worse before.” This sudden change in behavior was alarming, and as much as she wanted to ask him about it, she didn’t want to scare him off or pressure him too much. Meanwhile, Tetsutetsu shared her worries, his mind racing with thoughts about Monoma’s unusual demeanor. ——————————————————————————— They made it to their next class, English with Present Mic. Monoma stared at the clock, watching each minute drag by as Present Mic rambled on about some English novel. With each blink, his eyelids grew heavier, and he eventually dozed off on his desk. Kendou glanced over, her concern deepening. She knew Present Mic had a running joke that whoever fell asleep in class would be blasted with his voice at full volume. She doubted Monoma would appreciate that right now. She reached out, trying to nudge him awake, but her efforts proved in vain. Present Mic, noticing Monoma’s slumber, made his way over, grinning mischievously. He readied a semi-power voice blow and announced, “WAKE UUP, LITTLE LISTENER!!” Monoma shot up so quickly that the students watching felt as if his neck might snap. He blinked rapidly, disoriented, his heart racing as he tried to process what just happened. The classroom erupted in laughter, but Kendou and Tetsutetsu exchanged worried glances, knowing their friend was still battling something deeper than just fatigue. Present Mic noticed how dazed Monoma looked and asked, “Are you okay?” Monoma lazily nodded and apologized, “Sorry, Mic-sensei.” The teacher smiled and returned to the front desk, continuing the lesson. ——————————————————————————— But Monoma couldn’t focus; a dull ringing echoed in his head, a persistent distraction that pained him to confront. He recalled his mother’s harsh words, “Why must you always be such a failure?” Determined to prove her wrong, he felt a familiar weight settle in his chest, knowing it might never be enough. His parents would find another imperfection to criticize, and he would never be good enough. The rest of the lesson passed without any major events, and the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. ——————————————————————————— Monoma cursed himself internally when he realized physical training was next. Sure, it was necessary if he wanted to become a hero, but his limbs felt heavy, and he felt overall weak. Maybe it had something to do with how little he had eaten—had it really been two days? The thought of food grossed him out; the sensation of it passing down his throat made him want to vomit. He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts, and walked with Tetsutetsu toward the boys' locker room. He glanced over at Kendou, who was still worriedly glancing at him, zoning out from her conversation with Setsuna. He felt bad making her worry, but nothing he said could make her stop. ——————————————————————————— Upon entering the locker room, he took his bag to a stall instead of changing out with the others. Unbuttoning his shirt, he looked at the scars that marred his skin. Those would raise red flags if they were ever seen. He quickly discarded that thought, putting on his gym clothes. He preferred the long-sleeved winter uniform; he didn’t like showcasing his trauma. The scars were remnants of a darker time, and although he hadn’t done anything recently, he would be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about it. After changing, he brought his bag out of the stall and emerged in the winter uniform, gaining a few curious stares, but no one asked. Tetsutetsu broke the silence, saying, “Man, why are you wearing the winter uniform? It’s like 30 degrees out.” He fanned himself dramatically. Monoma shrugged and replied, “I’m cold…?” It wasn’t entirely a lie; he always felt cold. Tetsutetsu patted him on the shoulder, chuckling. “You’re crazy, bro.” ——————————————————————————— They made their way out to the training grounds, where Vlad had gathered everyone. “Today, we’ll be separating into teams,” he announced. “There will be two villain teams and two hero teams.” Monoma’s heart raced as he listened. “For Villain Team 1, we have Monoma, Reiko, Shinso, Shoda, and Pony. For Hero Team 1, we have Kendou, Bondo, Shihai, Kinoko, and Shiozaki.” Monoma didn’t like being on the villain team, as it reminded him of all the times he had been called a villain in the past. He shrugged it off; it was just a training exercise. The first round started, and the villain team’s goal was to intercept the package the hero team was trying to deliver to Vlad at the other side of the training grounds. They were given a map of the heroes' route and quickly hatched a plan. Shinso would stay hidden, waiting from a high vantage point, while Pony acted as a decoy to block the path. Shoda and Reiko would attack once Pony was cornered. Monoma heavily relied on the need to copy Shihai’s quirk, as it was the most practical in this scenario. For now, he had to stay hidden; the heroes would be wary of him. He couldn’t fail, or he would have no quirks in his arsenal to fight with, leading to an instant defeat.——————————————————————————— Spotting Kendou running with the suitcase in her fist, he noticed Bondo and Kinoko following close behind. Shihai and Shiozaki were nowhere to be seen, obviously hidden in defense. If they wanted a chance at winning, he needed to lure Shihai out of hiding. He watched as Pony used her horns to attack Kendou, who then coughed as Kinoko produced a wave of gassy mushrooms, enveloping them in a thick fog. Kendou dropped the suitcase, and Monoma smirked; that was one drawback of her quirk—she couldn’t control who it affected. Shiozaki’s vines emerged, grabbing the suitcase, but Pony cut them with her horns, managing to retrieve it. Bondo knocked it out of her hands and stuck her to the floor. ——————————————————————————— Shinso leapt off his platform, wrapping Bondo in his capture scarf. “Bondo, come quick! Back me up!” he mimicked Kendou’s voice with his gear. “Coming—” Bondo replied, falling under Shinso’s brainwashing. Shinso quickly ordered him to grab the suitcase and bring it to him. Just as he was about to grab it, Shihai emerged from the shadows and snatched the suitcase. Monoma leapt from behind him, lightly tapping Shihai before melting into the shadows himself. He followed Shihai, grabbing the suitcase and tossing it to Reiko. She floated it above her head, trying to shake Bondo off as he clawed at it. Shinso switched commands, ordering Bondo to glue Kendou down with a wave of adhesive. The glue spread toward Kendou and Kinoko, both becoming stuck to the floor. Kinoko began sprouting mushrooms that released a substance, slowly melting the glue away. Shinso then directed Bondo after Shihai, and at that moment, Shiozaki managed to wrap Shoda in her vines, swinging him into Shinso and causing them both to tumble to the ground. As Bondo threw more glue at Shihai, the latter dodged, focused on trying to reclaim the suitcase from Reiko. Then, Shiozaki charged forward with another wave of vines, attempting to grab the suitcase, but Monoma touched one of the vines and sent the same wave back at her, causing her to stumble over. ——————————————————————————— By now, Kendou and Kinoko had managed to break free of the glue and were closing in. Pony also broke free, tackling Kinoko to the ground as Kendou pressed on. She thought, *This is bad; they’re almost at the access point. They'll win if I don’t do something!* Staying with Reiko, Monoma copied her quirk, floating the suitcase toward him. Reiko stopped, floating pebbles and rocks to throw at Kendou as Monoma surfed on Shiozaki’s vines up to the access point, placing the suitcase down just as a buzzer sounded. *Villain team wins!* Monoma sighed in relief as the game ended in his team’s victory. Everyone celebrated, helping each other up, and gathered around where the other team had been watching. ———————————————————————————Tetsutetsu exclaimed as soon as he saw Monoma, “Dude, that was awesome how you copied Shiozaki’s quirk!” Monoma smiled and thanked him. Then Kendou approached, offering a hand. “You did really good, Monoma. Good match!” He shook her hand firmly, replying with a sly grin, “Not too bad yourself, Kendou.” They then sat down to watch the second match, feeling a sense of camaraderie as their teammates celebrated the victory. Monoma felt a warm glow of satisfaction. For once, he had proven himself not just as a villain but as a valuable teammate. As he watched the next teams prepare, he realized that maybe, just maybe, he was beginning to find his place among them.

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After training, the students eagerly changed and waited in the hall for lunch. Suddenly, Vlad and Aizawa made an appearance. Vlad cleared his throat and explained, “Due to an increase in villain attacks, it would be safer for you all to move into dorms.” The core of students broke out into a sea of murmurs, some groaning while others excitedly whispered. Kendou skipped over to Monoma and exclaimed, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we lived here like one big family!? I would also get to see you every day, even on weekends, and I never get to see you on weekends!” He nodded at her enthusiasm as the teacher continued, “We have booked appointments with your parents for a home visit to discuss these two in person.” Monoma almost choked, thinking, *Home visit!?* He started spiraling, *She’s never going to let me move to the dorms. I’ll get kicked out of UA—* Kendou sensed his panic and rested her hand on his shoulder with a reassuring smile. “You okay?” He nodded, mumbling something about being stressed over villain attacks. Tetsutetsu showed up, grinning with his jagged teeth, “Don’t you worry, we’ll protect you!” He smiled, though inside he felt bad for lying to their faces.
Aizawa passed out slips for their appointments, and Monoma internally cursed; his was today after school. He wasn’t sure if he was even welcome at home, and now he had to invite two pro heroes there? That was going to be rough. Vlad read out the order of the appointments, and with his luck, he was first. “First, we have Monoma’s at 4:30 PM today, then Kinoko’s at 5:30 PM...” He finished the list just as the bell rang. Vlad pulled Monoma aside, telling him to wait outside his last lesson for him and Aizawa. Monoma replied with a stiff nod and went to follow Kendou. ——————————————————————————— They all sat down at a lunch table with a few other classmates. Awase pondered aloud, “I wonder if we’ll have to room with each other?” Kosei poked Monoma and smirked, “We’ll be sharing the dorm complex with Class A, you know.” Monoma rolled his eyes, Sure! "I fear their stupidity may rub off on me,” he quipped, earning a playful nudge from Kosei. As they got up to enjoy the rest of their leisure time, Kodai boredly stated, “I’ve never seen Monoma eat before.” They turned to look at her, nodding in agreement. Jurota added, “Come to think of it, neither have I. Are you some vampire that can survive without eating?” Monoma stiffly replied, “No, I’m perfectly normal like the rest of you,” but a little voice in the back of his head told him he’d never be normal, much less like the others. Kinoko frowned, “That’s not healthy, especially with all the training we do.” Pony agreed, “Yeah, you gotta fuel the tank! Did I get that right?” Tetsutetsu nodded, “Yeah, bro, fuel is the key to a successfully functioning machine. So manly!” Shiozaki reached into her bag and handed Monoma a granola bar. “A gift of my appreciation for you and hopes of your good health, my dear classmate.” He took it as she looked at him expectantly. Well, it would be rude to decline, and besides, everyone was watching. I guess I have to eat it... He tore the wrapper and took a small bite, chewing slowly, leaving Shiozaki with a satisfied smile on her face before she walked ahead. He gulped the bite down, feeling like raw sawdust was stuck in his throat. He gagged but tried to hide it, excusing himself to the bathroom. ——————————————————————————— He practically ran to a stall and hastily locked it as bile rose up in his throat. He lurched over the toilet and emptied the contents of his stomach. He heard Shinso and Tetsutetsu rush in, but he couldn’t hear them properly over the ringing in his ears. His ragged breaths filled the air, and Tetsutetsu knocked on the door, “You okay in there?” Worry was evident in his voice. Shinso pulled out a water bottle from his bag, knocking on the door as he spoke to Monoma, “Come out now. We can help you, and we won’t tell anyone.” He nudged Tetsutetsu, who replied, “Yeah! Our lips are sealed.” After a few moments of silence, Monoma flushed the toilet and unlocked the door. Shinso couldn’t contain himself and said sarcastically, “You look like shit.” Monoma grabbed the water from him and replied snidely, “Ha, ha, very funny.” He took a sip of the water, and Tetsutetsu offered him some gum. He took it and said to the others, “I think I’m fine now.” Shinso snorted, “Sure, yeah, you’re fine. Just listen to your voice; if you want to go to Recovery Girl, that’s cool, but for the record, you’re not just ‘fine.’” Monoma nodded slowly as they exited the bathroom and rejoined the others. ——————————————————————————— Kendou raised an eyebrow at them, but Tetsutetsu just shrugged and mimed zipping his mouth shut. She seemed to understand and dropped it until their next lesson. The rest of the lesson went by quickly, and Kendou waved goodbye to Monoma as he awkwardly waited in the hallway for Aizawa and Vlad. After about ten minutes, they showed up, and Vlad apologized, “Sorry, kiddo, just got held up with a few things.” Aizawa gave him a nod, seemingly agreeing with this testimony. Monoma waved it off, “No worries, teach; we should be heading out right about now.” ——————————————————————————— They walked out the gates, and Vlad motioned for him to get into a car as Aizawa took the wheel, leaving Monoma sitting awkwardly in the back. The whole ride was silent, and he could feel his palms sweat as they got closer to his house. When Aizawa pulled into the driveway, he thought sarcastically, *What an extravagant home for our resident Class A loudmouth.* They got out of the car, and Monoma slowly walked up to the door, obviously nervous. His hands shook as he unlocked it, dropping his keys before getting the door open. ——————————————————————————— Before the two behind him could question it, they immediately heard a screech as they stepped into the house. “I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD IF THAT’S YOU, NEITO!” A vase came flying in his direction and shattered against the wall just a few centimeters away from him. It took his mother a second to realize the two pro heroes behind her son, and she pressed her lips into a thin line of a smile. “Sorry, dear, that was just an accident,” she said, quickly grabbing a broom to sweep up the broken glass. Monoma took off his shoes and mumbled, “It’s fine, Mom.” The two behind him were beyond shocked, witnessing such an open, deliberate act of violence toward their own child. Aizawa furrowed his eyebrows, storing his thoughts away to remain professional. ——————————————————————————— Monoma led them to the couch, where they took a seat, the air thick with tension. Monoma stared down at his lap, unable to look the two in the eye after witnessing that altercation. His mom returned with two cups of coffee and placed them on the table, commenting with obviously fake sweetness, “What brings us here today, gentlemen?” As Vlad was about to answer, she cut him off. “I do hope he hasn’t been misbehaving; he can be quite a handful, so I’ll make sure he’s punished accordingly if need be.” She emphasized the word “punished,” and Monoma visibly flinched. Aizawa stepped in, “No, we are here to discuss the new situation with dorms. UA has deemed it safer that the students live in dorms to benefit from UA’s security system.” Monoma’s mom smiled, “Of course, it would be wonderful for someone to take him off my hands. Dealing with such a disobedient child can be quite exhausting.” Monoma’s face burned with embarrassment; she was talking about him as if he were a difficult toddler being handed over to daycare. Vlad questioned her, “You don’t even want to hear about any of the details?” Vlad asked, surprised. She shook her head and smiled again, “You’ve told me all I need to know.” Aizawa asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, what do you mean when you say ‘disobedient’? He hasn’t displayed any kind of this behavior at school.” She waved her hand dismissively, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I mean his grades; almost all of them are failing, and he just refuses to even try. He’s barely scraping the barrel as it is.” This frustrated Monoma. *Barely scraping the barrel?* He thought about all those sleepless nights he spent studying before tests, hoping to please his parents. He stayed quiet, not daring to speak his mind. Vlad looked at her, astonished. “Your son has the second highest grades in the whole hero course! What do you mean scraping the barrel?” She scoffed, “That’s the problem; second highest isn’t good enough. It seems UA’s standards aren’t as high as I thought they were.” Aizawa, unable to contain himself, said, “Ma’am, that’s flawed thinking. You can’t keep wanting him to be perfect; he’s a child.” She pursed her lips, clearly unimpressed. “I’m amazed at how you have the nerve to come into my home and question my parenting.” Vlad tried to speak, “That’s not what—” but Monoma’s mom scribbled her signature and name before smiling widely. “You should be on your way now, and don’t worry. I’m sure his father agrees that we don’t have room for failure.” She practically pushed them out the front door, slamming it shut behind them. ——————————————————————————— Aizawa muttered under his breath as they walked back to the car, “We’re going to have a talk with that problem child tomorrow.” Vlad agreed as he got into the car, both of them shaken by the encounter.

Chapter Text

Monoma's mom slammed the door and turned to him, fury in her eyes. "You, YOU FILTHY LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT! JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME!" She shoved past him and stormed into the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of wine before slumping onto the sofa and flicking on the TV. ———————————————————————————Heart racing, Monoma dashed to his room and locked the door. Wine, locked doors, his dad... This hadn’t happened since... she left. The night Himiko disappeared, their mom had been drinking, and their dad went absolutely rogue. He'd been caught in the crossfire, and Himiko jumped out the window to save herself and escape. ———————————————————————————Monoma vividly recalled her last words as she jumped from the very window he was now staring at: "I'll save you too, just wait for me, okay? Bye Nei, love you..." The memory echoed painfully in his mind, intertwining with the current chaos in his home.——————————————————————————— No, it couldn't be as bad as last time, could it? He didn't do anything wrong—not that he was aware of, anyway. Maybe they finally decided that they were done with him for good. He couldn’t help but dwell on all the "what ifs," but his thoughts kept circling back to Himiko. He wanted her with him, to hug him and hold him tight like a big sister should. But that was selfish; he was somewhat relieved she left when she did. He couldn't bear the thought of what would have happened if she had stayed. Time passed quickly, hours slipping by with only the company of his spiraling thoughts. Suddenly, he heard a click and the jangle of keys. He was back. Monoma's heart raced as he braced himself, knowing that whatever confrontation awaited him was about to unfold.
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Out of the blue, he heard heavy footsteps and soon enough loud raps at the door. At this point, Monoma was curled up in the corner of his room , shaking and practically hyperventilating. “IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR NEITO I WILL BREAK IT DOWN!” He registered the word but he didn't move. It felt like he was frozen and his legs were stuck in place. Even if he wanted to move , he's sure he wouldn't be able to. Everything became slow motion as the door's hinges screamed in protest as it was victim of his father's brute force.The simple latch lock lossened every second until it happened - The door gave out. It flung open with so ferociously, left a hole in the wall before bouncing back on itself. His father barged in a picked him up by the collar and punched him clean across the face ,“WHAT'S THIS I HEAR ABOUT YOU INVITING 2 PRO HEROES INTO THIS HOUSE!? ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US IN TROUBLE , YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE BASTARD!?” He punched him again and again ,vacting as if he was some sort of punching bag. Only when his face was smothered in blood did he weakly respond , “...N-no...” He was dropped to the floor and kicked with every syllable the older man spoke ,“YOU'RE LUCKY WE EVEN KEPT YOU AROUND THIS LONG , IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF YOU JUST DIED!” He clutched his stomach as he lay there helpless and thought in his head , The Monoma people knew at school wouldn't let this happen but inside he was a weak , pathetic fraud. The words of his past bullies echoed in his mind ,“You're practically quirkless because you have no powers of your own!” , “Don't touch him , he'll probably steal your quirk!” , “You'll never become a hero with a villainous quirk like yours..." ———————————————————————————
Suddenly, he was shocked out of his thoughts when his father threw his alarm clock at him. His eyes widened as he realised what was going to be thrown next - His picture of him and Himiko. There she was in her middle school uniform , toothily smiling at the camera as she piggybacked him. He sat on her back , eyes practically shining with joy as he held his arms up in the air. Such a precious memory - He can't let it get tainted. He reaches out to stop his father but the fact that it was a picture of Himiko made him want to throw it even more. He throws it at Monoma and he lets out an anguished cry as he puts his arms over his face to protect himself. It shatters all over his arms and falls onto the floor with a dull thud. His father picks him up by his collar again and bashes his head against the wall ,“How can you call yourself a man - much less a human being , when you cry out like a little girl!? Maybe if you acted like a normal child , we'd actually want you!" He spits the last words with pure venom before dropping him to the floor one last time and leaving the room, slamming the already broken door behind him.
———————————————————————————
Monoma weakly reaches out for the picture and breathes a sigh of relief when he realised the flimsy Polaroid wasn't damaged, albeit the frame. He drags himself up and stores the small paper in his top drawer like a prized possession. He breifly glances at his reflection but paused when he sees the state he's in. He reaches up to feel his face and his fingers become sticky with blood.He had a busted lip , blood smothered his face from nose to chin and a nasty purple bruise marred his cheekbone. He looks down at his arms and there's glass shards sticking out of them , staining his long white sleeves crimson red. He sighs and reaches into his closet for his first aid kit and a change of clothes. He sits himself infront if his mirror and dabs the blood on his face away with a cotton ball. He bites down on his lip as he yanks out the glass shards with tweezers before soaking the cuts in rubbing alcohol, causing it to sting even more. He finally wraps them up in bandages and puts bandaids on any other odd cuts he may have sustained. Just as he's about to changes, his head and stomach start to throb with a renewed vigor, as if trying to remind him of some forgotten pain. He ignores it and changes , careful as to not mess up his bandages or irritate any of his injuries. Exhausted, he flops down into bed and pulls the covers over his chin. A tear rolls down his cheek and for the first time in a long time , he lets them fall. He quietly sobs into his blanket and soon falls into the sweet release of sleep.

Chapter Text

Monoma wakes up and immediately feels a sharp pain in his head. He reaches up to clutch it, memories of last night throbbing through his mind. Rubbing his eyes, he glances at his phone screen—7:03. That’s strange; his parents usually wake him up by now. He climbs out of bed and looks out the window, sighing in relief when he sees their car is gone. Wait, they only leave together if they’re going away for a trip. They did that the last time, leaving his 8-year-old self alone in the house with no food. But that didn’t matter now; he was 16 and self-sufficient. He lets out a “yes” before getting ready for school, pulling out a fresh uniform. After changing, he enters the bathroom, changing his bandages before staring at himself in the mirror. The massive bruise on his face reminds him exactly how he got it. He sneaks into his mom's room and returns with a bottle of foundation. He thinks it should work to cover the bruise. Squeezing some out, he dabs it on his cheekbone with his finger. He feels a little girly doing this, but beggars can’t be choosers. He admires his work in the mirror; the foundation blends seamlessly. Applying ChapStick for his split lip, he grabs his bag and heads out the door.
———————————————————————————
Checking his phone, he sees it’s 7:37. He pockets it and walks to school happily until he remembers the appointment from last night. He slaps his face and groans, “They saw all of that...” He knows he’s in for a difficult conversation at school. Arriving, he rushes to homeroom just before the bell rings. He sits down and realizes Vlad is staring at him. Vlad shakes his head and announces, “We managed to get through about five appointments, and the rest will stretch through the weekend and up until next Monday. Fortunately, everyone has agreed so far, and I hope the same goes for the rest of Class B.” Everyone nods in agreement, chatting as the bell rings again.——————————————————————————— As everyone exits, Vlad pulls Monoma back with a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not getting off that easy; we need to talk.” Monoma turns around, nodding slowly with his head hung low, staring at the floor. Kendou throws him a worried glance but leaves the classroom, looking back briefly. Vlad watches her go, then turns back to Monoma. “Come with me; we’re going somewhere else.” It sounds less like a question and more like an order, but Monoma shrugs it off and follows. Vlad gestures him into a room where Aizawa is sitting too. Monoma should’ve expected that. He sits down opposite the two, and the silence is awkward. He starts, “Listen, if this is about yesterday—” but Vlad cuts him off. “Are you okay?” Monoma chokes, “What?” Of course he was okay; he had to be. Aizawa stares at him, bored. “Look, kid, we need to know if you’re okay. We saw what happened, and that’s not normal.” Nervously, Monoma replies, “She just wants me to do well, that’s all…” Vlad interjects, “We understand that, but that’s not the right way to go about it.” Monoma goes silent, and Aizawa speaks again. “Another thing we need to address: your mom practically screeched and threw a glass vase at you that only missed you by centimeters. That’s something we can’t ignore.” Monoma curses, trying to think of a way to weasel out of this. “It was an accident… You heard her say it.” Aizawa looks unimpressed. “Realistically, that couldn’t have been an accident. It’s concerning, considering this could be potential abuse.” “Wha—no, that’s just not—” Monoma stammers. He wasn’t abused; his parents just had… standards. “That’s not what this is, it’s just—” Vlad looks at him with pity in his eyes. “You don’t have to tell us right away, but we need to know if you need help.” Vlad’s pity stings. He didn’t need it. He wasn’t pitiful like his parents said. He stands in fury, shouting, “There’s nothing to tell! Leave me alone! I don’t need your pity!” Angry tears fill his eyes as he storms out. ———————————————————————————He runs to the bathroom, bumping into Midoriya on the way. Midoriya apologizes, but Monoma ignores him, concern etched on his face. In the bathroom, he slumps to the floor, burying his head in his hands. He wasn’t pathetic, was he? Looking at himself in disgust, he realized he was crying in a school bathroom after shouting at a teacher. He felt like he’d proven his parents right: he was a pitiful human being. Suddenly, he hears the bathroom door click open and a familiar voice calls out, “Um, hey Monoma, are you okay? You seemed a little upset...” He quickly wipes his eyes with toilet paper and steps out of the stall. “I’m fine. Don’t waste your time. I bet someone like you has better things to do than talk to someone from the 'inferior' class,” he snaps. Midoriya rubs the back of his neck nervously. “No, I’m serious. Are you okay?” Monoma hesitates, then retorts, “Why do you care?” Midoriya pauses before replying, “I don’t know; I just do, I guess.” He spots the bruise on Monoma’s face and asks, “Hey, if you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your face? That wasn’t there before…” Monoma reaches up to touch his face, realizing his hand comes back smudged with foundation. “Shit.” He rushes to the mirror, seeing the nasty greenish-purple bruise glaring back at him. He looks at Midoriya and says, “It’s nothing. I—uh… fell. Just don’t say anything.” Midoriya looks confused but replies, “Um, okay.” After a moment of silence, he pipes up, “I can ask Momo if she can give me some foundation or something…” Monoma stares at him, shocked. “Why would you do that?” Midoriya shrugs. “I mean, you don’t look comfortable showing that bruise, so I thought I’d help?” Monoma shakes his head. “No, what I’m saying is that all I ever do is insult you and your class, and you want to help me?” He nods slowly, and Monoma smiles a small, genuine smile. “I suppose that would be alright then.” Midoriya beams, “Okay, then I’ll be back! Stay here!” ———————————————————————————He scuttles out, and Monoma returns to the stall, waiting anxiously. After a while, Midoriya reappears, gasping for breath with a plastic bag in hand. “Monoma... I’m back! Sorry I took so long; I had to find Momo and ask her for the stuff.” Monoma unlocks the stall and takes the bag, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. “No, it’s fine,” he says awkwardly. He opens the palette and dabs the foundation on his bruise, trying to blend it in. After a few moments of careful application, he turns to Midoriya and says, “Thank you, and tell Momo I said thank you.” Midoriya nods, his smile wide. “Will do!” He watches as Monoma finishes up, then adds, “You know, if you ever want to talk or need help, I’m here.” Monoma gives a slight nod, feeling a strange warmth at the offer. “I’ll keep that in mind.” ———————————————————————————With that, they exit the bathroom together. As they walk back to class, Monoma feels a flicker of something he hasn’t felt in a while—hope. Maybe he didn’t have to face everything alone after all.

Chapter Text

Monoma walks into his lesson, and Ectoplasm gives him a quick lecture about punctuality before letting him sit down. He settles in as Ectoplasm announces a group project on quirk discrimination due next Friday, instructing them to form groups of three or four. By default, Monoma ends up with Shinso, Tetsutetsu, and Kendou. Kendou seizes the moment to ask, “Hey Monoma, what happened earlier with Vlad?” He pretends to act confused. “What, when?” Shinso looks at him unimpressed. “You’re really bad at lying. We’re talking about after homeroom when Vlad called you back.” Monoma shrugs, “Oh, it’s nothing. We were just talking about my appointment yesterday.” Tetsutetsu frowns. “Dude, you gotta stop acting so vague. Talk to us, bro.” Monoma lies through his teeth. “I’m telling you, it’s nothing, and I’m fine.” Kendou shakes her head. “No, I’m not taking that. You’ve been acting strangely secretive lately, and I’m worried. So I expect answers soon.” Monoma sighs and replies, “Fine, but let’s drop it for now.” They drop the topic and dive into the project. Tetsutetsu tries to break the tension. “What’s everyone doing? I’ll gladly take mutation quirks!” Shinso nods. “I guess I’ll take ‘villainous’ quirks.” Monoma agrees, “I guess I’m with Shinso then.” Kendou adds, “I’ll do quirkless people.” Tetsutetsu gets an idea and smiles. “What if we meet up at the quirk museum tomorrow for the project?” Kendou nods. “That would give us some useful information... I’m in!” Shinso agrees, “Just text a time, and I’ll be there.” Monoma smiles too. “I’ll come too.” They all agree on a time and leave with their plans set. ———————————————————————————Afterward, they head to their training session, quickly change, and make their way down to the USJ. Monoma glances to his left and realizes Class A is there too. Midoriya gives him a small wave, and he returns it with a small smile. Midnight and Thirteen stand at the front, and Midnight announces, “This is the USJ, where you’ll be training today. As you can see, you are with your fellow hero course students that you will be working with.” Thirteen continues, “The USJ is designed to simulate various rescue scenarios to test your abilities. It’s also a chance to assess your teamwork since you haven’t had much opportunity to work together yet.” With that, they are sorted into groups. Monoma finds himself paired with Midoriya, Tsuyu, Kinoko, and Kosei. He sighs; being with Class A isn’t his favorite, but at least he’s with decent people. ———————————————————————————They get situated in their assigned zones, and the buzzer goes off to signal the start. Monoma’s group is placed in the water zone, where they face a simulated shore with a few drowning civilians—training dummies, of course. He thinks to himself, this should be easy, with Tsuyu's quirk being perfect for water rescues and Kinoko able to sprout mushrooms in moist conditions. Kosei’s quirk is also well-suited for rescue scenarios, and Midoriya, while strong, just needs their quirks working together. Tsuyu immediately leaps to the side of a shipwrecked boat, rescuing two dummies right off the bat. Monoma wants to call her a show-off but knows now isn't the time. He glances at Midoriya, who seems deep in thought. ———————————————————————————Suddenly, a loud noise distracts him, and he looks up to see the cliff above the shore collapsing. He taps Kosei and motions for him to follow as they both create an air barrier while Midoriya smashes away the falling debris. Kinoko, in a panic, sprouts a wall of mushrooms to protect herself, the dummies, and Tsuyu. Once that situation is under control, they face another challenge—a growing cloud of purple mist. Kosei looks concerned. “Uhh, guys, is this part of the training?” Before anyone can answer, security alarms blare. “Warning! There has been a breach of USJ security systems. Intruder alert! Intruder alert!” Panic sets in as they realize they’re trapped and separated from the teachers. Just when they think it couldn’t get worse, a whole army of villains emerges from the thick fog and begins menacingly running in various directions. Monoma and his group try to fend off the villains as they scatter. Midoriya fights back-to-back with Kosei while Monoma stays with Tsuyu and Kinoko. Tsuyu captures villains one after another with her tongue, bringing them to Kinoko, who knocks them out with her poisonous mushrooms. Monoma protects Kinoko as she continues to sprout mushrooms, using Kosei’s quirk to shield them. ———————————————————————————Suddenly, one of the villains uses their quirk to shroud them in mist, separating the group. Monoma remains vigilant, aware that danger could strike at any moment. Then, he hears fast footsteps approaching. Before he can react, something pounces on him, holding a knife to his throat. He is thrown to the ground, and the face staring down at him sends chills down his spine. “H-Himiko…?” he gasps, recognizing her. Her sickly yellow eyes gleam, and she grins with her signature fanged smile. “I told you I’d come back for you!” Monoma's breath catches in his throat. This isn’t right; those eyes were supposed to be blue, and Himiko wasn’t a villain. She had run away, found a happy family. Tears fill his eyes as she presses the knife deeper. “Aren’t you happy to see me, Neito?” He splutters, “What are you—” Just then, Midoriya breaks through the mist, tackling Himiko to the ground. He wrestles the knife away from her and pushes her down. She tackles him back and much to his surprise skips away before calling out to Monoma, “I'll see you again, don't you worry! Byee Neito-y!” ———————————————————————————Midoriya turns to Monoma “Are you okay!? What happened!?” he shouts to him, who is still on the floor, holding his neck as blood seeps through his fingers. Monoma's breathing becomes erratic, his vision flickering in and out of focus. “This—this is all wrong... This wasn’t... This wasn’t s-supposed to be—” Tears fall as panic grips him. “Monoma!” Midoriya yells. “Breathe! C’mon!” “Tsuyu! Get—” Midoriya's voice trails off as the world around him begins to dim. His heart races, and he feels himself slipping from reality.

Chapter Text

Monoma wakes up in Recovery Girl's office, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. As memories of the USJ flood back, he bolts upright, asking urgently, “Is everyone okay!?” Recovery Girl nods reassuringly. “They’re alright, dear. Just worry about yourself for now.” She adds, “My quirk seems to have taken a lot out of you, so you need to eat something.” Monoma’s stomach churns at the thought, and he tries to decline, but she quickly shuts him down. “You need to look after yourself, being a hero in training and all.” He opens his mouth to refuse again when Vlad and Aizawa walk in. Monoma freezes, fearing their disappointment about how he stormed out earlier. “Vlad, Aizawa, I’m sorry about—” “None of that,” Vlad interrupts. “Are you okay?” Monoma nods, but Aizawa's searching glare makes him uneasy. “You don’t look okay, kid.” He glances down at his hands, fidgeting nervously. Aizawa continues, “We’ll accompany you to lunch, and then we all have a meeting about the USJ incident.” A meeting? Monoma’s heart races. Did they find out about... No, they couldn’t have. No one saw what happened. He nods but realizes he’s still in his training uniform. “Can I change first?” Vlad nods, “Uh, yeah, go ahead.” They wait outside the locker room as he changes.——————————————————————————— Inside, Monoma quickly strips off his shirt and glances at his slim physique. *I really am pretty skinny,* he thinks, but he shakes off the thought. Noticing the bandages on his arms have been changed, he freezes. *That means she saw...* Panic sets in, but he hears a shout from outside, “Hurry it up! We’ve got places to be!” He quickly puts on his school shirt, hoping she didn’t tell anyone. Exiting the locker room with his gym bag, he feels the weight of their gazes. Vlad motions for him to go into the lunchroom, but Monoma looks visibly uncomfortable. “Um, I’d rather not.” Vlad is about to insist when Aizawa interrupts. “Just make sure you eat later, problem child.” Monoma nods, fully aware he would likely skip it. They switch routes to the principal's office, and soon enough, they stand outside the door. Monoma raises his hand to knock, but the door swings open on its own. ——————————————————————————— Suddenly, they see their white chimera principal sitting behind a grand desk, a welcoming smile on his face. “Come in, my dear colleagues, and welcome, Monoma!” His enthusiasm catches Monoma off guard, and he smiles awkwardly, stepping inside after his teachers. He takes a seat at the long table in front of the principal, trying to calm his racing heart. Aizawa and Vlad sit beside him, their expressions serious. “Now, let’s discuss the USJ incident,” the principal begins, his tone shifting to one of gravity. “Monoma, we’re concerned about what happened. It’s crucial we understand the full scope of the event.” Monoma swallows hard, the weight of their scrutiny heavy on him. “I—I don’t know what you mean,” he stammers, trying to mask his fear. Aizawa’s gaze sharpens. “You were involved in a dangerous situation. We need to know everything, including what happened with that villian.” Monoma tenses up; so they did find out about Himiko. He tries to lie his way out of it, “With what villain? There were loads.” Principal Nedzu pipes up, “We are referring to the villain nicknamed Vampire Princess, Himiko Toga.” The name 'Himiko' slaps him in the face, and his reaction isn't exactly subtle. Vlad furrows his brows at him. “I can tell you know something.” Aizawa sighs. “You were involved in a dangerous situation; we need to know everything that happened involving that villain. If we find out you’re withholding information, we’ll be forced to assume you’ve been affiliated with the villains behind this incident. It’s quite suspicious how that Toga seemed to know you personally, and for all we know, that whole 'knife-to-throat' ordeal could've been an elaborate ruse.” Monoma's eyes widen, and he realizes how suspicious he might sound. If it’s just a villain attack, it would be odd if a hero student like him was holding out on the details. His mouth goes dry as he searches desperately for something to say. He gulps before confessing, “My mother’s maiden name was Toga.” All the pieces seem to come together. Vlad splutters, “She’s your sister!?” Aizawa sighs; this was not what he was expecting. Nedzu smiles. “Thank you for being truthful, Monoma. Though this changes our understanding of the situation significantly. Is there something else you need to tell us?” Monoma feels their gazes intensifying and tells them what Himiko had said to him before she left the USJ. “Before she left, she said she would come and find me again.” The teachers' eyes widen, and Nedzu pushes through, “So that would mean you are a target of the League of Villains. I urge you to tell me as much as you can about her so we can figure out her motives for only reaching out to you now.” He nods but wants to keep it vague. “Well, the last time I saw her was when I was 8 and she was 14. She ran away from home and never came back.” Nedzu hums in response. “Any reason as to why she chose to run away?” Monoma breathes in and carefully words his answer. “Her quirk is Transform, and she has to drink blood to transform into other people. With that came bloodlust, which disgusted and scared others. My parents thought the same and found her behavior creepy and villainous. The night she left, she promised she'd come back and find me. I never thought she'd become a villain, but at the same time, I can see why she did.” Aizawa frowns, thinking, *More kids the hero system has failed.* Vlad looks at Monoma, feeling the gravity of the situation hit him—his student had been shouldering the burden of his sister's disappearance all this time. Nedzu thoughtfully states, “That brings us to my next question. What are your feelings about Himiko?” Monoma is still trying to figure it out himself, so he does his best to explain. “It's hard to say. I know that she's killed loads of people, but I can’t help but feel... I don’t know... happy? That I got to see her again. I’ve missed her all these years, and it’s nice to see her, but she’s not the same person I knew. I just wish the circumstances were different...” Aizawa nods. “I understand that you're confused, but all your feelings at the moment are valid.” He looks at Nedzu, who seems to be thinking the same thing. “How would you feel about assisting us in capturing her?” ———————————————————————————Monoma’s eyes go wide. Capturing her? Was that what he wanted? He frowns. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure right now.” Vlad places a hand on his shoulder. “You don't have to answer right away; we'll give you until next Monday to decide.” Monoma nods, feeling the urgency of the decision hanging over him. Nedzu exclaims, “That concludes today’s meeting. Be sure to contact us as soon as you come to your decision.” He nods again, and he and his teachers leave the office.——————————————————————————— As they step outside, the teachers glance at the time—school is almost out. Aizawa sighs and explains that he needs to be escorted home for Monoma's safety. Soon enough, they’re all packed into a car, and Monoma feels a strange sense of déjà vu from the last time they were together like this. ———————————————————————————They pull into the driveway, and Monoma notices his parents' car is gone. Vlad asks him where they are, and he quickly lies, saying they’re working late today. They suspiciously take that as an answer. Walking up his driveway, Monoma feels relieved that his parents are gone, avoiding the awkwardness of his teachers telling them about what had transpired today. As he enters the house, he takes a deep breath, the events of the day settling heavily on his shoulders. He knows he has a lot to think about before the coming Monday.

Chapter Text

It's the next day, and Monoma wakes up with the thought of doing nothing but groans as he remembers his agreement to go to the quirk museum. He checks his phone, and it pings with messages from his group chat.———————————————————————————

BigSisFist: Guys, so we’re meeting at the park at 11, right?

RealSteel: Yup, I’m gonna start getting ready now.

Insomniac: How the heck are you lot up right now?

BigSisFist: You need to get more sleep.

RealSteel: Yeah, sleepy is so manly.

Monoma rolls his eyes and types out a message.

TheatreKid: You’re forgetting he physically can't, idiot.

RealSteel: My bad, bro.

BigSisFist: We’ve got a project to do, hello? You better all be getting ready!

Monoma groans.
TheatreKid: Noo, there’s still half an hour until we have to meet up, though.

Insomniac: Wow, Monoma, you struck me as the type to take years getting ready. I can imagine you taking years combing your hair. 🤣

TheatreKid: Ooh, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re saying my hair looks that good that someone would have to take years replicating it. You’re not much of a flirt, are you? 😏

BigSisFist: Cut it out! We have places to be, remember?

RealSteel: I’m ready; we should get there before peak visiting time to avoid crowds.

Insomniac: Look at you and Kendou being all mom and dad on us—like, okay, we get it, we have to leave soon. 😐

TheatreKid: I’ll start getting ready, then I'll meet you there. ———————————————————————————

Monoma rolls out of bed and cringes at the cold as he basically peels himself off the floor before getting ready. While he showers, he thinks about what went down yesterday. *“Would you like to assist us in capturing Himiko?”* The words echo in his mind, but he ignores them; he has all weekend to decide. He wraps a towel around his waist as he brushes his teeth. Drying his hair, he walks over to his closet and picks out an outfit. *“I mean, it is February, so I should be fine with something warm.”* He chooses a cozy sweater and comfortable jeans, hoping today will be a good distraction. ———————————————————————————

He checks his phone and reads the time—10:56. Kendou was going to kill him if he was late, and by the looks of it, he was going to be. Monoma hated that Kendou was right about getting ready a little earlier. He quickly pockets his phone, grabs his keys, and runs out the door, making sure to lock it behind him. He sprints to the park, his breath quickening with each step, and finally sees the other three waiting for him. They wave, and he can see the mix of impatience and amusement on their faces. “Sorry I’m late!” he calls out as he catches his breath, hoping they wouldn’t dwell on it for too long.
———————————————————————————

Kendou rolls her eyes and places her hands on her hips. “Monoma! I told you to get ready earlier! Now we're 10 minutes behind schedule!” The jacket around her waist swishes as she lectures him. He apologizes again, and the group sets off.
———————————————————————————

Kendou pulls out her phone and opens her notes app. “So we should hit the pre-quirk exhibition and then the—” Her voice is cut off by a random old man's whistle, catcalling her. They all immediately turn to him, and Kendou's face goes red as she looks down at the floor. Then she looks back up, smiling fakely. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t do that, Sir. It’s less than polite.” The man shoots back, “With what you’re wearing, you’re basically asking for it!” Monoma shoots him a murderous glare. “You should get on with your day before we report you for harassing our friend.” The man scoffs. “As if you could do that. I remember you from the sports festival; the authorities wouldn’t believe a quirk thief like you.” Tetsutetsu steps forward. “Listen, we don’t want trouble, but you’ve just insulted two of my friends, and I’m not going to let that slide.” The man sneers. “You’re just a group of teenagers; what can you do!?” He begins walking in their direction, getting up close. Shinso rolls his eyes. “What can we do, huh? Call the authorities; did you not hear us the first time?” The man opens his mouth to speak again, but no sound comes out. His pupils dilate, and his face falls, devoid of emotion—he’s under Shinso's quirk. Shinso clears his throat and orders, “Turn around, walk away, and go turn yourself into the police.” The man follows his instructions without question, effectively eliminating the hindrance. Tetsutetsu takes off his denim jacket and places it around Kendou’s shoulders, despite her having one of her own. Kendou smiles. “Thanks, Tetsu.” Shinso looks at Monoma. “You good?” Monoma, having dissociated the moment the man insulted him, is pulled back to reality by Shinso’s question. “Huh—me? Yeah, I’m fine.”
———————————————————————————

Shinso nodded, and Kendou sighed. “Now, before I was rudely interrupted, we’re going to the mutation exhibit, and we’ll have to skip out on the 'evolution of hero costumes' because we’ve already lost quite a lot of time. Then we—” She explains the rest of the plan and finishes with, “We’ll stop for lunch and then compile our new knowledge together.” Monoma responds, “We can do it at my house since my parents are out.” They all agree, relieved to have a plan. Finally, they make it to the museum, excitement buzzing in the air as they approach the entrance.
———————————————————————————

They enter and make it to the first exhibit as planned. Monoma stares at the plaques, wondering what it would be like if quirks didn't exist. Himiko would have been normal, and there wouldn't be so much pressure on him. But that was all impossible—today's society was cruel, and quirks decided everything for you. They move from exhibit to exhibit, taking notes and chatting about their findings. The day passes quickly as more people come into the museum. They're about to explore their last exhibit when Kendou stops them. “Guys, let's take a break; it's time for our lunch time.”
———————————————————————————

They nod, and Tetsutetsu whispers a quick “yes” before following Kendou to the concession stand. She turns around and asks, “What do you guys want? Don’t worry, it’s on me; I didn’t think we’d be out this long.” Shinso states he wants a coffee and a turkey sandwich, and Tetsutetsu says he’s going to order himself a ham sub because he quote-unquote, “couldn’t let a lady pay for him.” Kendou gets her food before turning to Monoma. “What do you want?” Monoma nervously laughs. “I don’t have any money..?” She shakes her head, about to remind him it's on her, but remembers what Shinso and Tetsutetsu had told her about him throwing up after even the littlest amount of food. She knew that meant a potential eating disorder, and while she wanted him to get help, she didn’t want to give away that the other two had told her; she didn’t want him to lose trust in them. “You’ve got to eat something.” She quickly orders him a soupy drink and passes it to him, hoping it wouldn’t be too hard to keep down. Monoma nods gratefully and happily sips it as they walk around the museum.
———————————————————————————

They finally finish, and it's about five, so they start heading out. Monoma leads them to his house, as the others start talking about how much fun they had on the way. “That guy with the dragon quirk was so cool; apparently, he saved a bunch of people from a burning bus! So manly!” Shinso nods. “Yeah, that was pretty cool, and there was also this guy that...”
———————————————————————————

They continue talking until they reach Monoma's house. He digs his keys out of his pocket and unlocks the door, inviting them in. He guides them to the living room, and they all start outlining their sections until Kendou points to a family photo on the wall. “Hey, who’s that in that family photo, Monoma?” He freezes when he realizes she’s pointing to Himiko. Tetsutetsu asks, “Is she your sister or something?” Monoma nods, and Shinso says, “You never told us you have a sister.” “Well, you never asked,” he replies, trying to brush it off. Kendou looks at the picture again. “She’s so pretty! Is she out with your parents right now?” He shakes his head, really wanting them to drop the subject. “No, she ran away eight years ago.” The room falls silent, and Kendou’s smile drops. “I’m sorry,” she says softly. Tetsutetsu apologizes too, and Shinso follows suit. They continue working until they’re almost finished when Shinso looks at his phone. “Maybe we should wrap this up; it’s going to get late.” Kendou nods. “Yeah, my dad will be wondering where I am.” Tetsutetsu adds, “We got a decent amount of work done.” Monoma nods. “You can start to head out if you want.”
———————————————————————————

They agree, pack up their stuff, and bid Monoma goodbye, leaving him alone with his thoughts as the door closes behind them.

Chapter Text

Monoma sits at home, contemplating Nedzu's offer when he suddenly heard a noise from downstairs. He bolted out of his room and rushed down the stairs.
———————————————————————————
In the kitchen, he found the window smashed, and Himiko stood there, licking a bloody knife. She smiled brightly. “You're big sister's here!” He eyed her suspiciously. “Why are you here now of all times?” Her smile faded. “What, am I not allowed to visit my own home?” Frowning, he asked, “What do you want?” Her smile returned, more sinister this time. “I found a goal at last, something I really, really want to do!” He nervously responded, “And that would be..?” She grinned widely, exposing her wickedly sharp teeth. “I want to kill the past, and that means killing you.” He froze, dread washing over him as she continued, “I’ve already killed dear old dad, but mother ran away before I could get to her. What a shame... But now I get to kill you! Isn’t it exciting?!” Suddenly, Himiko lunged at him, and he narrowly dodged, escaping her grasp but tearing his sweater in the process. He made a break for the front door, only to hear her call out, “Come on, don’t be like that; it’s like a game!” He tried the front door, cursing when he remembered he had locked it. Just then, Himiko pounced on him from behind, and he shoved her into the coat rack before sprinting to the bathroom and locking the door. ——————————————————————————— His eyes darted around, searching for an escape plan as he heard her catch up, banging furiously on the door. “Why won’t you just shut up and let me kill you?!” He needed to think fast. He glanced at the bathroom window, but it was jammed. Rushing to the storage closet, he rifled through until his eyes fell on an old metal bar. Grabbing it, he started desperately bashing the window until, with one final hit, it shattered, spraying glass everywhere. At that moment, Himiko broke a hole in the door, ready to climb through. Without a second thought, he climbed through the jagged window, ignoring the shards cutting into him. ——————————————————————————— He dropped onto the concrete floor below and ran—ran and ran, not daring to look back as he heard her hammering footsteps behind him. He dashed into an alleyway, relief flooding him as he watched her run past, narrowly missing him. He took a moment to catch his breath, adrenaline coursing through his veins. ——————————————————————————— As Monoma stumbled into an alleyway, he suddenly felt a tight grip around him. Aizawa had ensnared him in his capture scarf, mistaking him for a villain. Monoma cringed as the fabric pressed against his injuries, sharp pain shooting through his side. But then he realized it was Monoma and quickly released him.“It's dangerous to be out so late; there are villains about,” Aizawa said, his voice steady. Seeing the blood-soaked sweater and the grimace on Monoma's face, Aizawa's expression shifted to concern. “What happened? You need to explain.” Monoma swayed slightly, fatigue washing over him. Aizawa, sensing his instability, urged him to sit. “Now talk.” With a heavy sigh, Monoma began, “Long story short, Himiko killed my dad, broke into my house, and tried to kill me. Then I ran, and now I'm here.” Aizawa’s jaw dropped at the calmness in Monoma's voice. “How are you so calm? Didn’t you say your dad’s dead?” Still dazed, Monoma shrugged. “Well, he hits me, so I don’t care.” Aizawa seized the opportunity to probe further, his tone serious. “What did you just say? What else do your parents do?” Monoma yawned, visibly exhausted. “I don’t know. They yell at me sometimes, then they get mad a lot. Himiko ran away because they used to hit her, and now I wish I ran away with her. They’re so mean to me; they always hit me and then disappear for who knows how long...” Aizawa’s eyes widened at the revelation, and he pulled out his phone. “Kid, I’m taking you to the police station.” Monoma tiredly nodded, the adrenaline fading as he sank into exhaustion. By the time the police arrived, he had already fallen asleep, leaning against the wall, the weight of his reality finally taking its toll.

Chapter Text

Monoma slowly woke up in a car, Aizawa in the front seat and a random police officer behind the wheel. He listened to their conversation, trying to piece together how he got here. Aizawa sighed, "The kid's just been attacked by a villain, and there’s also something else you should know." The police officer replied, "Yeah? What’s that?" Aizawa cleared his throat. "He told me the villain killed his dad, and when I asked him why he seemed so unbothered, he said..." He took a deep breath. "He said that his dad hits him, and that’s why he didn’t really care." Monoma felt his heart race; he didn’t remember saying that. The police officer's eyes widened. "Hm, did he mention anything about his mother?" Aizawa nodded. "He said they both do it and that he doesn’t like them." Monoma’s anxiety grew with each word exchanged. The police officer nodded as he pulled into the police station. "I’ll take note of that. We’ll take the kid to medical for a check-up, then interrogate his mother. She’s likely already here, as she was with the dad when the villain attacked. She managed to escape, so we won’t have to go find her." He parked the car and turned around to Monoma, who pretended to be asleep. Aizawa opened Monoma’s door and gently shook him awake. Monoma stirred, rubbing his eyes, and Aizawa seemed to buy it. “I’m going to take you to medical, and then we’re definitely going to have a talk,” Aizawa said. Monoma nodded tiredly in response.———————————————————————————
Inside the station, Aizawa led him to the medical room and greeted the nurse. She immediately gasped at his bloody jumper. "Oh dearie me! What are you doing getting this injured so late at night?" Monoma shrugged, muttering, "Villain attack." She frowned and ushered him to a bed. “Sit here.” Aizawa followed and took a seat on a stool next to him. The nurse brought out a first aid kit and sat on a stool opposite the bed. "Is it alright if you take off your sweater?" she gently asked. Monoma tensed, realizing he was only wearing a shirt sleeve underneath, which would reveal his bandages. Taking a deep breath, he quietly said, "Okay..." Aizawa watched him with growing suspicion. *Why didn’t he want to take it off?* Monoma shuffled to remove his sweater, avoiding eye contact with the others. As he pulled it over his head, he immediately looked down at his lap when his bandages were exposed. Aizawa's eyebrows raised, *I hope those aren't what I'm thinking.* The nurse noticed Monoma's discomfort but chose not to press him. “Can you lift a portion of your shirt?” she asked gently. He complied, lifting one side until it revealed his ribs. Aizawa sighed, counting his ribs with his eyes; he knew Monoma was skinny, but not this thin. The nurse cleaned the wounds with rubbing alcohol and bandaged them up without any reaction from Monoma. “All done. You can be on your way now,” she said. Monoma seemed zoned out, startled into awareness by her words. “Uh—yeah, okay, thanks...” he replied, standing up. Aizawa walked him to the door, and they sat down in the waiting room. After a moment, a police officer poked his head around the corner. "Ready when you are." Aizawa nodded and turned to Monoma. “We’re just going to have a talk about the villain attack.” Monoma nodded begrudgingly, aware that they would discuss other topics as well. ———————————————————————————
They entered the interrogation room, where a detective greeted them. “Good evening, Eraserhead and Monoma. I am Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa, and I will just be asking you a few questions today.” Monoma took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the conversation ahead, knowing that his truth would soon be laid bare. Monoma returned the greeting and took a seat opposite Detective Tsukauchi, with Aizawa sitting beside him. Tsukauchi cleared his throat. "I'll warn you, my quirk is a lie detector, so I will know when you're lying." Monoma groaned internally, realizing he wouldn’t be able to lie his way out of this situation. Tsukauchi clicked his pen. "I'll be asking you a few simple questions to ease into it before we get to the serious stuff." Monoma nodded as Tsukauchi continued, "What’s your name?" "Monoma Neito," he answered. Tsukauchi wrote that down. "That is true. How old are you?" "Sixteen." "True. What are your parents' names?" "Ayako and Hotoro Monoma." Tsukauchi nodded. "Do you have any siblings, and if so, what are their names?" Monoma sighed, hesitating. "I have a sister called..." Tsukauchi looked at him expectantly. "Called?" He took a deep breath. "Himiko Toga." ———————————————————————————
His eyes widened at the revelation, but he pressed on. "That brings us to our next topic. Do you know which villain attacked you?" Monoma nodded and repeated his previous answer, "Himiko Toga." Tsukauchi wrote that down as well. "Please recount the villain attack in as much detail as you can." Monoma nodded again, gathering his thoughts. "I was hanging out with Kendo, Tetsutetsu, and Shinso at my house. Himiko broke in a little while after they left. I heard a noise from downstairs and went to check it out, and there she was, licking a bloody knife in my kitchen." He took a shaky breath, continuing, "She said she came to see me because she said she would back at the USJ, and that she wanted to tell me she found out she had a goal. I asked her what it was, and she said that in order for her to fully move on from the past, she had to kill it. By that, she meant killing me and my parents." Tsukauchi's expression turned serious, and he nodded, jotting down notes as Monoma recounted the chilling encounter.———————————————————————————
Tsukauchi looked up from his notes and said, "Well done today. It's amazing that you managed to keep yourself out of harm's way without a hero present." Monoma nodded, a hint of pride surfacing. "Thanks, I guess." However, Tsukauchi's tone turned serious again. "Aside from the villain attack, there have been a few other things brought to my attention." Monoma sighed, bracing himself. *Here it comes...* Tsukauchi continued, "It's regarding your home life and possibly Toga's past. Eraserhead informed me that you weren't that bothered about your father being killed. May I ask why? That is quite odd." Monoma avoided eye contact, feeling cornered. "I just... we didn't get along very well." Tsukauchi pressed further, "What do you mean by that? Was your relationship strained?" Monoma hesitated, searching for the right words. "It was just a normal father-son thing. Nothing special." The detective raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Normal? It’s unusual for someone to feel indifferent about their parent’s death." Monoma's heart raced, but he maintained his composure. "I mean, it wasn’t like we shared a strong bond or anything. I didn’t really care." Tsukauchi leaned in, his tone firm. "Monoma, I need you to be honest with me. Lying won’t help you here. Are you sure there’s nothing more to it?" Monoma felt the pressure mounting. "No, really. It was just a typical relationship. He had his own issues, but it didn't really affect me." Tsukauchi narrowed his eyes, sensing the dishonesty. "You’re not being truthful. I can tell. It's important for your safety and well-being that you open up." Monoma clenched his fists, feeling trapped. "I told you, it’s nothing! Just drop it!" Tsukauchi sighed, recognizing the struggle. "You need to understand that avoiding the truth won’t protect you. We can’t help you unless you open up." Monoma forced himself to look away, knowing he was on shaky ground but unwilling to reveal the painful reality of his home life. Tsukauchi leaned forward, trying to gauge Monoma's state. "What about your mother? How does she fit into your home life?" Monoma immediately shut down, raising his voice. "She's a normal mom! Just like any other!" Aizawa sighed, his patience wearing thin. "You admitted it to me earlier. There's no point in hiding it." Monoma shot back defensively, "No, I didn't! I wasn't in my right mind, I—I just—!" Aizawa raised a hand in a calming gesture, but Monoma violently flinched away. "I—I’m sorry, please don’t—!" Aizawa's tone remained steady. "No one's going to hurt you. I just wanted to tell you to calm down, as you're obviously very overwhelmed at the moment." Monoma's breath hitched as he processed Aizawa's words, the tension in the room palpable. "I didn’t mean to shout… it’s just… I don’t want to talk about it!" Tsukauchi maintained his gaze, gently probing. "But we need to understand your situation, Monoma. It’s crucial for your safety." Monoma clenched his fists, struggling between revealing his pain and protecting himself. "I can handle it. I don’t need your help!" Aizawa’s expression softened slightly, understanding the turmoil inside Monoma. "You don't have to go through this alone. It’s okay to tell someone." But Monoma remained silent, the walls he built around himself feeling impenetrable, even as he sensed the genuine concern from both men. Monoma bitterly muttered, "I'm not weak... I don't need your help." He folded his arms tightly, staring defiantly at Tsukauchi and Aizawa, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Tsukauchi softened his tone. "It’s not about weakness, Monoma. Everyone needs help sometimes, especially after something traumatic." Monoma scoffed, "Traumatic? Please. It’s not like I can’t handle a little chaos." Aizawa nodded, trying to steer the conversation. ———————————————————————————
"Let’s discuss where you’ll be staying tonight. Your house isn't safe, and we need to ensure you’re in a secure environment." Monoma frowned, defensive. "I can handle it. I’ll go home." Tsukauchi shook his head. "That’s not an option right now. You’ll stay with Aizawa until the dorms are sorted." Monoma opened his mouth to protest, but Aizawa cut him off. "This decision is final." Frustrated, Monoma shot back, "But I don’t want to!" Tsukauchi added, "I’ll also have a chat with your mom tomorrow when we're gone. It’s necessary." Monoma's eyes widened in alarm. "No! You can't do that!" Aizawa maintained his calm demeanor. "You’ll be there when we talk to her. It’s important for your safety." Monoma felt trapped as they stood firm in their decision, realizing that he couldn’t escape this situation. ———————————————————————————
Aizawa and Monoma exited the building, the night air cool against their skin. They walked to Aizawa's car in silence, Monoma feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on him. Once inside, Aizawa started the engine, and they drove to his modest apartment. Upon arrival, they stepped inside, where Present Mic was lounging casually, his hair flowing down his shoulders instead of his usual slicked-up style. He looked up with a grin. "Shota! What’s this little listener doing here?" Aizawa briefly explained the situation, and Mic welcomed Monoma with open arms. "I had my suspicions about you two," Monoma said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face when he realized Aizawa and Present Mic were married. Aizawa rolled his eyes at Mic's reaction but showed Monoma around the apartment, ending at the guest room. "This is where you'll be staying for the next couple of days," Aizawa said, gesturing to the modestly furnished space. Monoma nodded, still feeling awkward. Aizawa glanced at him. "You'll need a change of clothes." With that, he disappeared into his room, leaving Monoma alone. ———————————————————————————
As Monoma stood there, Eri scuttled out of her room, clutching a cat plushie. Recognition lit her face. "Mr. Monoma! What are you doing here?" He opened his mouth to respond, but she noticed the dried blood on his shirt and the bandages on his arms. Rushing over, she hugged him tightly. "Did a bad man hurt you like one did to me?" Monoma patted her head gently, reassuring her. "No, Eri, I'm fine. These are just from training, that's all." She nodded, wiping her eyes, and began excitedly ranting about her favorite cartoon just as Aizawa returned. "Eri, it's way past your bedtime. What are you doing up?" he asked, noticing her wide awake. She looked at the floor, guilt evident. "Sorry, Dad, I couldn't sleep." Aizawa ruffled her hair affectionately. "It's okay. I know it's late, but do you want anything to eat?" Eri nodded enthusiastically, and Aizawa passed Monoma a pile of clothes. "You change and meet us in the kitchen, okay?" ———————————————————————————
"Okay," Monoma replied, heading into the guest room to change. He slipped into a gray shirt and a pair of black sweatpants, which were slightly too big. Tightening the drawstring into a knot, he tossed his dirty clothes into the hamper in the bathroom and made his way to the kitchen. The smell of sizzling chicken wafted through the air, but it turned his stomach. Aizawa plated up the food, setting a plate in front of Eri at the dinner table. She dug in happily, and Aizawa turned to Monoma. "Do you want some?" Monoma shook his head, and Aizawa frowned. "When's the last time you ate?" Monoma hesitated too long, prompting Aizawa to say, "Come on, kid. You have to eat something." Again, Monoma shook his head. Aizawa facepalmed, recalling the time Monoma had opted out of lunch before Nezu's meeting. The realization hit him—this problem child had an eating disorder. Reaching into the cabinet, he pulled out a can of thin vegetable soup, pouring it into a pan and heating it. Monoma watched as Aizawa poured the soup into a bowl and placed a spoon in it. "You don’t have to eat all of it if you don’t want to." Monoma nodded, taking a seat at the table with Eri, who was animatedly chatting about her favorite show. Aizawa made himself a cup of coffee and settled in front of the TV next to Present Mic. ———————————————————————————
As Monoma managed to finish half the bowl, Eri soon finished her meal and let out a big yawn. Present Mic stood up and scooped her up. "Up you get, time for bed! It's almost 11!" He carried her to her room, while Monoma stood up from the table. Aizawa took his bowl, and Monoma called out, "Goodnight." "Goodnight," Aizawa replied, and Monoma retreated to the guest room. Lying in bed, Monoma reflected on everything that had happened. The weight of the day's events settled heavily on him, and exhaustion finally took over. As he drifted off to sleep, he felt a glimmer of safety in the unfamiliar space, knowing that for now, he wasn’t alone.

Chapter Text

Monoma found himself in a sunlit playground, the laughter of his younger self and Himiko filling the air as they swung side by side. The world felt light and carefree, their giggles echoing in the joy of childhood. He could feel the breeze on his face and the warmth of safety surrounding them. But then, a cold voice sliced through their laughter. "Time to go now." Their smiles faded, replaced by a hollow emptiness. Suddenly, they were no longer children; their older selves loomed before them, shadows of the past. Monoma’s mind raced with the recent confrontation with Himiko, her crazed grin haunting him as she had declared her desire to kill him. In his sleep, he muttered, "Stop... That's not..." The dream twisted, and he found himself sprinting, transformed into a younger version of himself. Panic surged as he ran toward his parents, desperate for safety. "Mom! Himiko—" But instead of comfort, his mother pushed him away, her voice sharp and unforgiving. "Don't touch me, you disgusting child!" Tears filled his eyes as he watched his sister , Himiko, running toward him. She embraced him tightly, but something felt off. "Hugged? That’s not right…" In an instant, her innocent visage morphed into her older self, and with a swift motion, she plunged a knife into his back. Monoma gasped, feeling the cold steel pierce through him. She held onto him for a moment longer, the warmth of her embrace now a cruel mockery. As he fell to the ground, struggling in a pool of his own blood, the world around him faded, leaving only the echoes of laughter and the chilling reminder of betrayal. ———————————————————————————
He woke up with a jolt, ripping the sheets off himself as he gasped for air. His hands twisted into his hair, desperately trying to separate the nightmare from reality. Quick, short breaths escaped him, and tears blurred his vision. Why? Why was he tangled up in this mess? Why him? He rocked back and forth, attempting to calm himself, but the weight of his problems loomed over him like a dark cloud. Slowly, he returned to the present, his hands dropping from his hair as his breathing steadied. Wiping his eyes, he glanced at the clock: 3:44 AM. It had been a while since his last night terror, and this one felt like a jolt to his system. ———————————————————————————
Stumbling to the en-suite bathroom, he flicked on the light switch, squinting at the sudden brightness. Rubbing his eyes, he hobbled to the sink, turning the tap on low. He cupped his hands under the water and splashed it onto his face, drying himself with a towel. Sinking to the floor, he kept the towel in his lap, staring blankly at the tiles. As he sat there, he became acutely aware of his surroundings. His back pressed against the wall, and the bandages wrapped around his arms felt suffocating. An itch clawed at him, deep underneath his skin. Unraveling the bandages revealed a mess of scars—rows of lines and random cuts telling a story of pain. He felt paralyzed, overwhelmed by it all. Scratching at his arms, he reopened old wounds, not flinching as blood seeped from them. In a fit of frustration, he tossed the towel aside, not caring where it landed. It knocked over a shampoo bottle, which clanged loudly against the tiles, but he didn't even register the noise. Pulling his knees to his chest, he hugged them with his battered arms, resting his head on top. He barely noticed when the sound of his turmoil alerted someone, so he was shocked when a gentle tap on his shoulder broke the silence. ———————————————————————————
Looking up, he met Present Mic’s gaze, filled with concern. "You okay, little listener? I heard a noise and thought I’d check on you." Monoma nodded distantly, and Mic's eyes fell to his arms, frowning. "What happened?" "Too much… It’s too much…" Monoma’s voice was still raspy, barely above a whisper. Present Mic’s expression softened, understanding the weight of Monoma's struggles. “It’s gonna be okay. I’ll help you get through this,” he assured, extending a hand to help him up. Mic gently guided him to the edge of the bathtub, pulling out a first aid kit.———————————————————————————
“Can you hold out your arm, please?” Nodding, Monoma extended his arm, feeling the warmth of Mic's grip. Present Mic carefully wrapped his wounds, his touch both gentle and reassuring. Once Monoma was patched up, Mic looked into his eyes. “I’m going to help you back into bed. Do you need anything else?” Shaking his head, Monoma allowed Present Mic to assist him back to his room. ———————————————————————————
As he climbed into bed, Mic settled beside him, offering his comforting presence. “Just breathe,” Mic whispered, watching Monoma’s eyes grow heavy. With each passing moment, the tension began to ease, lulled by Mic's steady presence. Gradually, Monoma drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the darkness.

Chapter Text

Monoma woke up late, the clock reading 10 AM as he blinked against the sunlight streaming through the window. It took him a moment to remember where he was. Right, he was at Aizawa's place. Stretching, he got up and walked into the living room, where Aizawa, Present Mic, and Eri were sitting on the sofa. “Morning, Mr. Monoma!” Eri greeted him brightly, her smile warming his heart. He smiled back, feeling a flicker of comfort. Present Mic chimed in, “Do you want anything to eat?” “No, thank you,” Monoma replied with a yawn, his voice still a bit groggy. Aizawa glanced at him, his expression serious yet caring. “We have the appointment with your mother at the police station at 4, so we’ve got plenty of time. Did you want to do anything or go anywhere?” Monoma nodded, a thought forming in his mind. “I was thinking we could go pick up some of my stuff from my house, since I’ll be staying here for a while.” Aizawa hummed thoughtfully. “Sure, kid. Go get ready.” Monoma nodded and walked back out to the living room. Aizawa grabbed his keys from the table and motioned for him to follow. “Let’s go,” Aizawa said, leading him out the door. ———————————————————————————
They went outside and made their way to Monoma’s place. As they approached, Monoma felt a wave of unsavory memories wash over him, but he shook them off, reminding himself they were in a predicament. When they reached the door, he realized it was locked, and he was pretty sure the keys were in his room. Aizawa sighed, “We can get someone to help if you want.” Monoma shook his head. “Don’t worry, I know what to do.” Before Aizawa could protest, he climbed up the tree next to his window and jumped onto the roof. Aizawa looked exasperated. “Get down, kid! You’re going to get yourself hurt.” Monoma replied sarcastically, “Flattered you trust me so much.” He opened the window with a minor struggle and jumped inside. Aizawa heard shuffling from within, and soon enough, the front door swung open, revealing Monoma’s theatrics. “After you, gentlemen.” ———————————————————————————
Rolling his eyes, Aizawa followed him inside. As he walked through the familiar space, he took note of the aftermath in the kitchen from the break-in, the remnants of chaos still lingering in the air. Aizawa followed Monoma to his room and was surprised by its general aesthetic. He expected something more extravagant, given the kid's colorful personality, but the room was quite plain. The walls were a mundane cream, the carpet grey, and the furniture matched that dullness. A closet, a vanity, a chair, and a bedside table accompanied a bed with plain white sheets. On the table sat a simple lamp and a broken alarm clock, raising Aizawa’s eyebrow. As he continued to observe, he noted that the vanity was completely bare—just a mirror and nothing else. Aizawa turned his attention back to Monoma. “Just pack some clothes and toiletries. We’ll return for your stuff for the dorms.” Monoma nodded and moved to his closet, selecting a few outfits and stuffing them into a nearby backpack. He added his phone charger before heading to the bathroom. ———————————————————————————
A cool breeze drifted through the smashed window, but he ignored it as he grabbed his toothbrush. Crouching down, he opened the cabinet under the sink and slipped his first aid kit into the bag—after all, you could never be too safe. Aizawa could sense the tension radiating from Monoma. He knew all adults were the same—nice at first, but once you let your guard down, they revealed their true colors. Although he trusted Present Mic and Aizawa, Monoma couldn’t shake the feeling that they were putting up a front. They just seemed too eager to help him. His thoughts drifted to Eri. What if they turned out to be bad people? What if they hurt her? She was still so small, still recovering from her previous trauma. She shouldn’t have to endure any more pain. His mind drifted, and his gaze landed on a small box in the corner of the room. Curiosity compelled him to open it, revealing an assortment of razor blades inside. Unpleasant memories surged back, reminding him of the times he had turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms. He hadn’t cut in a while, and he had been desperately trying to shake the habit. He trashed the thought, realizing he’d been in the bathroom for a while. He shut the box and pushed it back into the cabinet before grabbing his AirPods from the counter. Zipping his bag, he headed outside where Aizawa was waiting. “I think I’m done here, sir,” Monoma said. Aizawa nodded but noticed the slight tension in his shoulders. “Are you okay?” “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Monoma shrugged. Aizawa hummed suspiciously but didn’t push it, leading him to the car. ———————————————————————————
On the way back to Aizawa’s apartment, Aizawa asked, “Is there anywhere else you wanted to go?” Monoma, who had spaced out in the backseat, snapped out of it. “Um…” He checked his phone and opened his group chat. ———————————————————————————
BigSisFist: We still on for that study session this afternoon?

RealSteel: Hell yeah, totally! We still gotta finish the project.

Insomniac: Damn, I forgot about that. So much for my laze-about day…

Monoma laughed aloud, responding, TheatreKid: Oh please, every day you laze about, let’s be real.

Insomniac: I do not, but sure, I’m still free for a study session.

TheatreKid: I’ll be there, but what time though?

BigSisFist: Idk, I was thinking like 1 ig?

TheatreKid: Sure, that’s fine with me. Also, did you guys’ parents agree to the dorms?

Insomniac: Yeah, my mom said it would be good for me to socialize more, but I think I socialize just fine. 🙄

BigSisFist: Umm, debatable, and yeah, I’m definitely moving to the dorms.

RealSteel: And me!

Insomniac: Are we seriously gonna ignore that..?

The conversation continued, and Monoma turned to Aizawa. “Is it alright if I meet up with my friends at 1 to finish our project?” Aizawa hummed in agreement. “Yeah, that should be fine. Just text me when you need me to come get you.” “Okay,” Monoma replied, feeling a bit lighter. ———————————————————————————
They entered the house, where Present Mic was making lunch with Eri. Monoma took off his shoes and headed to the guest room to unpack. He placed his clothes in the closet, stowed his first aid kit under the sink, and set his toothbrush in the cup. After charging his phone and AirPods, he walked into the living room. Present Mic was boiling a pot of pasta while Eri mixed a bowl of pasta sauce quite messily. She looked up and smiled, "Look what I'm making, Mr. Monoma!" He smiled back, "It looks good, Eri." Eri beamed and turned to Present Mic, "I’m done with the sauce, Papa!" "That's great! Go wash your hands, then head to the table," Present Mic replied, and Eri happily rushed to the bathroom. ———————————————————————————
Aizawa cleared his throat. "Monoma, there's something we need to talk about." Monoma nervously laughed. "What's there to talk about…?" The sudden use of his name made him anxious, as Aizawa usually called him "kid." Present Mic placed a towel over the pot and wiped his hands. He furrowed his eyebrows and put his hands on his hips. "I think I know what this is about, right, Shota?" Monoma pressed his lips into a thin line, realizing they had been talking about him. Aizawa sighed, “You’re not in trouble, so lose the tense expression.” Monoma relaxed a bit but remained on edge. Present Mic continued, “We’re worried about you, that’s all. It’s just that I don’t think your eating habits are healthy.” Monoma rubbed the back of his neck, trying to defend himself. “I’m fine, it’s—” Aizawa cut him off. “Don’t try to lie to us. It’s obvious there’s something wrong. First, you’re abnormally thin, and you’re shorter than most of the first-year boys. You also seem to avoid eating, so you can see why we’d find that concerning. Please, talk to us.” Monoma stared down at the floor, mumbling, "There's nothing wrong with me." Present Mic sighed, "Listen, we’re not saying there’s something wrong with you; we just want to help." Monoma looked up, noticing a strange look of caring on his face. He felt skeptical—*why do they care all of a sudden?* He glared defiantly at them. "Look, it's not a big deal. No one’s ever asked about it before, so it doesn’t matter." Aizawa shook his head. "It's not healthy, especially in the hero course, working yourself to the bone every day. This behavior is, quite frankly, self-destructive." Monoma's face burned with shame. *He wasn’t self-destructive, was he?* He replied as calmly as he could muster, "I'm not self-destructive; it's just that…" Aizawa raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue. "I just... I don't like eating. It feels gross." He shot them a glare. "Is that what you wanted to hear?" Present Mic looked at him, and Monoma was surprised to see genuine care in his eyes. "Thanks for telling us, little listener. Now we can help you build healthier habits." Monoma frowned, "You don’t think I’m faking it…?" Present Mic smiled reassuringly, "Of course we don’t." Aizawa nodded in agreement. "Now that we've got that out there, we can discuss the next course of action, but for now, let’s leave it." ———————————————————————————
Just then, Eri came out of the bathroom, announcing, "What’s going on? It’s time to eat!" She dragged Aizawa to the table. "Come on, Dad! You have to try the sauce me and Papa made; it’s super good!" Aizawa chuckled and took a seat, grateful for the change in atmosphere. ———————————————————————————
Present Mic called Monoma into the kitchen, determined to find something he could keep down. After some discussion, they settled on the soup from last night. Present Mic prepared it while Monoma stood awkwardly, unaccustomed to the attention. When Present Mic finished, he placed the bowl on the table. Monoma thanked him, saying, "Thanks, Mic-sensei." Present Mic waved it off. "Drop the formalities, kiddo. Call me Hizashi or Yamada, whatever works for you." Monoma nodded and rephrased, "Thanks, Yamada." ———————————————————————————
They sat down at the table, engaging in light conversation. Monoma found it nice to be at a table like a family, sharing laughter and stories. However, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. This felt like a fleeting moment, a charade that would soon come to an end. He couldn't shake the feeling that once the meal was over, reality would return, and he would be left to face his struggles alone again.