Sunsets

Illusions

After the Stain Incident, the class finished off their hero studies, minus Iida and Todoroki who isolated themselves inside their dorm rooms.

By this point, Todoroki's shoulder was completely healed, and Iida's concussion was dealt with. Although he went unconscious, no harm was done besides a headache which lasted for almost two days.

Although the boys were healed completely, Aizawa, Midnight, and Ectoplasm spent shifts watching over the two boys. The hero's knew how mentally taxing losing a friend was, so they camped out in the common area each night, so if one of the boys needed them, they'd be there.

However their efforts were fruitless, Iida rarely left his dorm room unless it was to scavenge for food or train. Otherwise he was retired in his room, doing who knows what.

Todoroki however was a different story all together. He was never seen out of his room. Not in midday and not when Aizawa, a registered insomniac, was stationed.

When the heros got worried about him, they had tried knocking on his door to check on the poor teen. They could hear him inside shuffling around, yet the teen refused to acknowledge the heros.

As a final resort, they had turned to the hallway cameras stationed at the end of the hallway and the elevator. They were able to find Iida sometimes sitting outside of the duel-user's door. Iida's mouth was moving in the footage, presumably talking through the door. Iida also left snacks and foods outside the door in order to make sure Todoroki ate.

Sometimes, after Iida left, Todoroki would open the door a crack and take the food. Other times the dish would be left on the floor.

Abandoned or forgotten, no one knows.

Aizawa sighed, rubbing his eyes. They burned horribly.

He needed sleep, but he had to make sure all his students were relatively unscathed. Hero studies ended today and they had to be transported back onto campus by noon today.

That way they were all accounted for and could rest for the next day. Then school would start back up a day later.

Groaning, Aizawa stretched his back by folding his hands and reaching his arms out above his head. A couple pops were heard before he slumped back down in his seat.

He forgot to stretch after patrol yesterday, so his muscles were sore and stiff. Same with his joints.

He needed to check up on the two teens before the rest of his problem children came back. He first made his way to Iida's dorm. If all went well, Iida would be sympathetic and help the homeroom teacher to coax Todoroki out of his dorm next.

Eventually, Aizawa made it to the bluenette's dorm and knocked accordingly.

There was a minute of shuffling and a slight stumble but eventually the door opened, revealing a zombie-like Iida.

The tall male's eyebags were so dark that it looked like smeared makeup under his eyes. The boy looked slightly thinner in some areas yet the same in others. His shoulderwidth was slightly more narrow but his biceps and triceps looked relatively normal.

He maintained muscle mass from his workouts but his inconsistent eating habits had definitely effected the teen.

"Yes sir?" Iida asked, fixing his glasses and running a hand through his bedhead.

"I know you're not okay. Is there anything you need?" Aizawa, contrary to popular belief, was horribly at assisting kid's emotional needs.

As an underground hero, he commonly scooped up small children, narrated a bit, and calmed them down enough to where he can drop them at the police station.

He knew the police had training in childcare. It was mandatory for the officers to know to keep children--especially ones above the age of four--safe and under control.

Meaning emotions had to be in check at all times for the little brats.

Aizawa had a teaching degree.

And he was happy with it.

He didn't want to be a therapist.

It was Nezu and Nemuri's fault he was even a teacher in the first place, dangit.

So no, Aizawa couldn't deal with emotions. But he could act bluntly.

"I--uh." Iida stammered, taken aback by the stoic sentences. Clearing his throat, Iida tried again. "No, I think I am adequately handling things."

Aizawa squinted his eyes. He knew a liar when he saw one.

"What is it then?" He asked, crossing his arms and leaning on the teen's doorframe.

"It's silly, sir." Iida said, running his hand through his hair once more in frustration.

The teen made his move to turn back inside before Aizawa spoke again.

However the ravenette had other plans.

"Spill it." Iida froze at the sound of his teachers voice. It wasn't loud nor quiet.

It wasn't malicious or benign.

It was a monotone phrase that compelled the teen to tell his homeroom teacher what was on his mind.

Without turning around, Iida finally answered the question.

"He saved me--saved us from the Hero Killer. We were down and he jumped in to help get us to safety. I was knocked out pretty fast so I didn't see or hear much. But I lost a bit of my brother to this villainous person a-and now--" Iida's voice cracked and he lowered his voice to a whisper before continuing. "And now I lost Midoriya too."

Aizawa didn't know what to say to that.

Saying life would get better, and that it's all going to be okay is bogus.

Inspirational crap made Aizawa pissed anyways.

So he nodded and said, "We are going to find Midoriya by any and every means possible. Until then, spend time with your other friends. They will let you lean on their shoulder. They will help you more than anyone else can."

Iida nodded before finally turning around and closing his room's door. He heard Aisawa Sensei's footsteps go off into the distance before leaning his head on the door and whispering.

"Midoriya saved me once, but Midoriya saved Todoroki three times."

Midoriya's status as missing definitely affected Todoroki harder. Afterall, Todoroki and Midoriya were two people who were considered closest in the class. They didn't call themselves best friends but they were always there for each other.

They were always together.

Midoriya was there for Iida and Uraraka just as much. But Todoroki had seen Midoriya as a brother.

A brother that wasn't going to leave anytime soon.

But the world is full of deceitful illusions.