Run For Your Life

Chapter 8: Trial To Salvation

The days leading up to the trial were filled with everyone rushing to get prepared. Creating statements, preparing the best legal team that they could, just doing everything that they could to help their friend in his time of need. Shouto was already like family to them, and now that was about to become true in the name of the law.

"Mom, I hope you know what you're getting into. This is the same man who swindled his way out of his arson and manslaughter charges, it won't be an easy case." Izuku spoke to his mother, ruffling his hair as he followed after her down a hallway in the Midoriya estate.

"I'm well aware, Izuku. But I can't just sit by while children are at stake, you know this." She explained, a small urgency in her voice as the need to save those in need resided within the both of them. "Even if it were against the worst families, like what we did with Eri. Even if it were with one of the rival families, like the Jirous. I would never let a child go without the love and care they deserve."

"Of course..." Izuku mumbled, smiling at his mother's noble actions before a question popped into his mind. "Hey, speaking of the Jirou's, why have we always been at odds with them? They seem like good people, is there some sort of deeper conflict I'm not aware of?"

Inko paused walking and turned to face her son, with him staring at her curiously. Her expression was... Unreadable. "Um... W-Well, to be honest I'm not aware of the reason myself. The only person who knows is your father, but I don't think he'd want to talk about it."

"Hm, alright... I'll talk to him about it later, maybe he'll tell me." Izuku mumbled in response, continuing to make their way down the hall until they encountered a certain amphibian loving individual. "Oh, Tsu. How're you doing?"

"As alright as I can be. I was hoping to run into you so I could ask for some time to go visit my family if that's alright? Being around the main hotel's been rough because of... Well, you know who." Tsuyu admitted, nervously averting Izuku's gaze. The man sighed and nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, that's fine. But take Kirishima with you, he's been a bit on edge as well. Your guys' families are relatively close, right?" Izuku inquired, placing a reassuring hand to the girl's shoulder as she nodded to answer his question. "Then it's settled. Take the rest of the day off and take it easy, we don't need you stressing out over that damn snake."

"Lizard." Tsuyu corrected.

"Whatever. He acts like a damn snake." Izuku corrected her correction, scowling as he thought about the bastard in question: Shuichi Iguchi. "Anyways, we've got to get going to meet with the others at the courthouse. We'll be seeing you alright?"

"Right. Thanks again." She thanked, bowing respectfully to both of the Midoriya's before heading on her way, presumably to find Kirishima.

"She's such a nice girl... What a shame she's exposed to this life. Reminds me of myself when I was younger." Inko said, smiling warmly at the green haired girl as she left before the Midoriya's continued their trek to the main hall.

"It's all a matter of circumstance. We all ended up here due to our own situations, and she's no different. Her family needs the money, and after that bastard Iguchi got his hands on her she had no one else to turn to." Izuku explained, sighing as he remembered her coming to him during a typhoon for help. "He forced her to cut ties with everyone, hell he probably would've put his hands on her if we didn't put a stop to it. Thank god for Kirishima..."

"Oh? What did he do?" Inko inquired, curious to find that their shark-toothed redhead of all people had intervened in the affairs between Tsuyu and Iguchi.

"Well... Let's just say he has a dent in his skull from where Kirishima had struck him. He hates people who abuse their partners, almost scarily so. He's got a vendetta against those he finds "unmanly"." Izuku informed as the two Midoriya's finally made their way to the main hall where their chauffeur was waiting for them. "Oh, Tetsutetsu! I didn't know you'd be the one driving us today."