𝒉𝖏𝙨 𝒑𝞂𝖏𝙨𝞂𝛈

𝐜𝒉𝝰𝒑𝙩𝒆𝗿 20

The air in the room grew tense as the vigilantes, now bound by an uneasy truce, prepared to reveal their true identities. All eyes were on Embervenin and Aquashock as they slowly reached up to remove their masks. The hero teachers, already grappling with the shocking fact that these feared vigilantes were mere teenagers, watched with bated breath.

Embervenin's hands moved deliberately, almost as if each motion was a final statement of defiance. He glanced at his brother, who nodded slightly, offering silent support. Aquashock's expression remained stoic, betraying no emotion as he unfastened the clasps that held his mask in place.

With a final, decisive tug, the masks fell away, revealing their faces to the room.

Izuku's green eyes scanned the room, taking in the stunned reactions of the heroes. His gaze lingered momentarily on All Might and Green Magnet—his so-called parents. Their eyes were vacant, blank of any recognition or realisation, and Izuku felt a bitter laugh bubble up in his chest, though he kept it contained. Of course, they didn't recognise him. How could they? They hadn't seen him in years, even when he had been right under their noses.

Principal Nezu, always composed, stepped forward. "Now that the masks are off, I need your names for the school register. This is a necessary formality."

Aquashock was the first to respond. His face remained impassive as he met Nezu's gaze. "Tyrell Midoriya," he stated, his voice calm and collected, as though he were giving a simple fact rather than revealing a closely guarded secret.

Green Magnet's eyes narrowed slightly at the last name.

There was a moment of silence before the attention shifted to Embervenin. Izuku took a breath, his expression mirroring his brother's—cold and detached, with just a hint of something sharp in his eyes. He looked Nezu directly in the eyes, then swept his gaze across the room, his voice steady as he spoke.

"Izuku Midoriya."

For a split second, there was nothing but stunned silence. And then, a gasp echoed through the room—a sharp, suspicious sound that cut through the tension like a knife.

It came from Green Magneti, his neglectful mother. Her hand flew to her mouth as she stared at Izuku, her eyes wide with shock and horror. The realisation was like a physical blow, her knees almost buckling as she processed the truth. It wasn't long after that that All Might also came to realise this.

Izuku's gaze flicked to her, and for the briefest moment, their eyes met. He saw the recognition dawning in her eyes, the disbelief, the shock—and the regret. But there was no satisfaction in it for him. Just a hollow, cold emptiness. She had long since lost the right to mean anything to him.

The other heroes remained frozen in place, processing the bombshell that had just been dropped. The boy they had been on the lookout for was standing before him as Embervenin.

"Y-You're alive," his voice barely above a whisper.

Izuku paid no attention to her.

All Might's face was a mix of shock, regret, and a desperate longing. Without thinking, he stepped forward, his arms reaching out as if to embrace his long-lost son. But before he could get any closer, Tyrell stepped in front of Izuku, blocking All Might's path with a cold glare.

"I suggest you don't try something so stupid if you want to live," Tyrell warned, his voice low and dangerous. There was no mistaking the threat in his words, and All Might froze, his heart aching at the wall that had formed between him and the boy he had failed.

Izuku scoffed, rolling his eyes at All Might's pathetic display. He had no interest in rekindling anything with the man who had failed him so completely. It's not like he's his real father anyway. Turning his attention to Nezu, he asked, his voice filled with impatience, "Can we leave now?"