Blossoms of the Dark

CXLIV Shouto: Confess

Just a few days ago, Dad was inexplicably furious at the dream of his life coming true.

Just a few days ago, Aizawa-sensei came to my home to convince Dad to let me stay on-campus.

Just a few days ago, I visited Selene in the hospital daily, in the hopes that she was all right.

Now, I stand in front of Class 1-A's boarding house, Heights Alliance.

For something that was built in three days, it is impressive. Most of my classmates are excited. They listen to Aizawa-sensei intently. But I can't really bring myself to care all that much. Maybe it's because I haven't heard from her yet. Selene was kept as a patient at the same hospital Mom was being held in. So after talking to Mom, I went to her room. Though, she was under sedatives the entire time. But that didn't deter me from reminiscing and talking to her unresponsive figure. Even now, my thoughts wander.

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I had managed to regain consciousness fairly quickly. That rock which hit my head only made me briefly black out. Yaoyorozou had pulled both of us out of the battle arena and behind the wall. Medics and ambulances were flooding the scene, and I hastened to rush Selene on a gurney. One medic asked me if I needed help as well because the front of my clothes were soaked with blood. Her blood. I denied. There were more pressing matters at hand.

Yaoyorozou and I rushed to group with the others at the spot where we all watched the interview. I rushed to turn my waistcoat inside out to hide most of the blood. But I shouldn't have bothered. The public was more occupied with what was being shown on the jumbovision screen: the fight between All for One and All Might. The fact that there was someone who could match All Might's prowess was paralyzing. Each matched the other's punch. Every time contact was made, more buildings collapsed. Endeavor and the other Pro-Heroes arrived at the scene to help the poor citizens caught in the mess. I thought these were all the frightening sights I would have tonight. But I was wrong. The night was not done with its revelations. All Might's true form was revealed. Skeletal. Frail. Weak. The contradiction to his Symbol of Peace persona. And yet, the same people who were questioning the Pro-Heroes earlier were now rooting for him to win. I couldn't even care at their hypocrisy because I was cheering for him just as loudly.

All Might pummeled All for One into the ground. And then he pointed at the camera, giving an undeniable warning to any other villain out there: "You're next."

We reconvened - with Bakugou - changed out of her clown costumes into regular clothes, brought him to the police for his statement, and went our respective ways home. The sun had rose by then. Kind of anticlimactic, but I didn't think I could take one more earth-shattering truth.

Sis, gratefully, didn't question where I had been the entire night. I heard roars and sparks coming from one of the room inside the house, and when I went to check it out, I saw Dad fuming. He broke the doors, burnt the hardwood floor, his gym equipment was in a mess. I simply watched in distaste. He knew the implications just as much as I did: because All Might was incapable of performing his task as a hero anymore, the position of Number One went to Endeavor. I had thought Dad would be glad. Elated. The title he pursued without any regard for his family ... with no care for the repercussions ... that stole the life of my brother ... he got it. So why was he so upset? One part of me seethed: What more do you want now, you greedy excuse for a father? Another part of me reveled vindictively: All that time and effort you spent toward your goal, and yet you are displeased with the fruit. Karma has started to unfold!

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I snap out of my reverie when Aizawa-sensei calls out my name. Along with Kirishima's, Midoriya's, Yaoyorozou's, and Iida's. "You five were present on 'that evening' at 'that place,'" he says with displeasure. "You took it upon yourselves to proceed toward the site of Bakugou's rescue." Our classmates gape at us in shock, as if they were deceived. As if they believed that their disagreement had gotten to us, stopped us from going through with our reckless plan. But their words never did. I do not regret what I did. This reaction does not go unnoticed. "From the look of things, all of your classmates understand the weight of your behavior in deciding to go there. A lot of things have been pigeonholed in light of everything that happened, but I'll say this now.