A Ray of Hope for Tenya Iida

Guilty Dreams

(TW: Mentions of verbal abuse, violence, blood and gore, disturbing imagery, suicide goading, self-harm, and mentions of death.)

Denki's pov: Everyone spent the day comforting me and helping me out, which was really nice. If they hadn't come and helped me, I would've felt way worse about myself. They helped me to realize that just because someone says something about me doesn't mean that it's true, as well as helping me get my mind off of what he said. Bakugou seemed distracted, but I didn't really mind. He probably had a lot on his mind, especially since he'd been the first to realize something was off besides me. Mina took me shopping and Kirishima let me join in a workout with him, Sero let me play video games with him, and the rest of the class helped me study for the test since I didn't want to study with Iida. I know I'd been a bad friend to him, but he couldn't talk to me like that, so I'd just avoid him for now. Even Bakugou helped me feel better by getting pizza for tomorrow's dinner and lunch so I could just grab something and go. I made sure to thank everyone, they were being really nice to me. After a while, there was another knock on my door. I opened it up and smiled. "Hey!-" It was Aizawa, and he didn't look super happy. "Oh, Aizawa-sensei! Do you need something?"

"I'm here to see if it's true that Iida said some things, is that ok with you?" Oh dang, I didn't wanna get him in trouble, but I couldn't lie to Aizawa. That'd technically be obstruction of the law since he's a hero, right? I'd just have to be honest without trying to get him in trouble.

"Uhhh, sure? Come in!" I gave him a chair. My room was clean for once since everyone'd helped out with that while studying. 

"Did he say something to the effect of 'you're not a decent human being'?"

"Well, yeah? Kinda? I dunno, it was more of him saying 'I'm a decent human being, unlike you' so it's a little wrong but the message's pretty much right."

"Did he say that you don't work hard?"

"He said 'you put in zero effort', yeah..." These questions made me feel worse, and I wanted Aizawa to leave.

"Did he say that others deserve your spot in the hero course rather than you?"

"Well, he said especially Shinsou deserved my spot, but he didn't say that he deserved it more than me technically."

"Alright, and the next two questions includes swearing, but it's the last question." Aizawa paused, making sure to word his next question carefully, so it didn't sound like he agreed. "Did he say, 'you're a big fuck up'?"

"Yeah, that kinda hurt..." I was already ok with what got said until he walked in. I didn't need reminders of what was said.

"Last question: did he say that if you get near him again, he'll 'fuck you up'?" Aizawa seemed to be taking that one the most seriously, but I was really confused. He didn't say that at all! 

"No? Did someone say he did? Sure, he was angry, but he'd never threaten me." I was confused. 

"Multiple students said that he did through anonymous letters, we just wanted to clarify what was and wasn't true. Thank you for your time, Denki. If you need any kind of support, you can stop by my classroom." With that, he left. He'd taken notes on whatever I said. Iida was probably getting in trouble, but at least I didn't lie about what did and didn't get said. Also, why were no questions asked about what was said about what I did to him? He clearly stated I was a jerk to him and that I hurt him, did no one pay attention to that part? What about when I told everyone about his brother dying? Why didn't people blame me for that? I'd never understand them.

Iida's pov- I was in class again, but something was off. The room was dark, and the windows were pitch black. It was likely night, why was I in class? The room had a slight red tint to it, which didn't help the unsettled feeling growing in my stomach. I was facing Aizawa's desk, which was empty, so I turned to see if anyone else was in the room. When I looked, I could see all of my classmates in their seats, staring back at me with glowing white eyes and wide grins.

"U-uhm, hello... I apologize for my b-behavior earlier, I'll try to make up for it." I looked at Denki, whose face was tearstained. "Denki, I sincerely apologize, you don't have to forgi-" They all stood up at once and started to walk towards me. I backed away a bit. Their motives were unclear, and it didn't feel safe to be present there. Before I could leave, they'd all formed a circle around me, then joined hands. The room disappeared, leaving a pool of blood for the floor. They started humming a creepy tune and they started dancing around me, still holding hands with one another. It was as if they were playing ring around the rosy, but without the right tune. They opened their mouths to sing. 

"Tenya Iida such a saint, never had made a complaint, took it till he could no more, then yelled and became what we abhor. Left the room in their shocked silence, the rules were met with his defiance, hurt his friends and made them cry, isn't it about time he should die?" Their words stung. "Take a knife and carve his arms, repentance for all those he harms, off the ledge he tumbles down, into the lake and watch him drown." What kind of song even was this? I didn't want to hear it anymore, so I tried to get out of the circle. They were moving too fast to push away and I wasn't able to get through them, so I just sat down on the floor and covered my ears. Their voices muffled in my hears, but I could hear the tune still. I thought these people were my friends, I didn't want them to hate me. They not only hated me, but they also abhorred me, which was even worse. I was disgusting to them; my presence was a curse to them. I opened my eyes and saw Tensei. I ran to him for comfort. 

"Oh, Tenya, what's wrong?" He smiled softly at me as the dancing figured faded into the background. He knelt down, getting the blood from the floor onto his pants. 

"I thought you were dead!" I held him tight. 

"Oh. About that, I am. But there might still be a way to bring me back. Are you willing to do it?" He hugged me a little tighter. 

"Yes! I'd do anything to bring you back, Tensei! What do I need to do?" I felt more desperate, my throat hurt. 

"Give me your life, Tenya." 

"...What?" I was a little shocked.

"You lost your chance to earn it, give me what's rightfully MINE!" He held me tighter, crushing me with his arms that had just a moment ago been so comforting. I slipped away from his grasp and began running, almost slipping on the slick surface of the floor. "GET BACK HERE, TENYA, BRING ME BACK!" His face melted into a horrifying, twisted version of itself and he let out an agonized, blood curdling scream. 

I woke up in my room again, breathing heavily and with my heart beating so loudly I was surprised that no one could hear it. My eyes burned and my face stung from my own harsh tears. None of that had happened, which was relieving, but I wondered how my mind could think of something as elaborate as those song lyrics. I had to turn my light on, the dark was just disturbing me more. I put my glassed on and looked at the time. It was time for school, my alarm was practically screaming at me to wake up. I turned it off and changed the tone on it. I went out of my room and started cleaning everything I could. I made everyone a nice breakfast and set it out, then left to get ready. I wouldn't be joining them for breakfast so that everyone could have a nice time. After getting ready, I walked straight to class, holding my books closer to my chest than usual. Last night's experience at my new job was still bothering me, weighing on my mind. I'd have to find a way to get a new job so that I could put in my two weeks' notice and get out of that place as soon as possible. I took my seat and waited patiently for everyone else to arrive for class. I just hoped I could keep myself from crying or exploding at someone again until I was able to return to my dorm.