The Class That Cried Werewolf

39 - What Was Caged...

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains detailed depictions of physical and psychological torture, themes of captivity, and intense scenes of suffering and despair. Reader discretion is advised. Please prioritize your mental well-being while engaging with this story, and consider seeking support if you find the subject matter deeply unsettling.

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-Izuku's POV-

After the fight, we met up with Todoroki and Yaoyorozu. The five of us took Kacchan to meet the police. The whole way there, he was silent. I was, too, the weight of our failure hanging heavily in the air. Each step felt like a march of defeat, the gravity of the situation pressing down on my shoulders.

After our worlds had been turned upside down, we finally went home. It was hard to keep myself together since All For One said that Shigaraki handed Tatsuya to the Shikaku Renmei. One of the people in the League's Vanguard Action Squad was a heteromorph, and the thought gnawed at me, but I couldn't wrap my head around it. The guy who caught him wasn't at Kamino Ward during the raid, and All For One mentioned a deal, so he might have been an associate of the Shikaku Renmei. The idea haunted me, leaving a grim feeling in my chest that I struggled to shake off.

Mom opened the door to our apartment, and I tried to leave the day's horrors behind. "Oh, honey. I just can't believe what a hard day All Might's had lately," she started as I let myself in and closed the door behind me. "Things must've been difficult for you, too, but at least you're home." Her voice was a blend of concern and relief, her eyes searching my face for any sign of reassurance.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice slightly awkward. She must've seen the fight on the news, and I didn't have the heart to tell her I saw it all firsthand. "Listen, I'm going to go to my room for a bit, okay?" I needed space, a place to process everything that had happened.

Mom blinked at me before gaining a look of understanding and nodding. "Of course, sweetie. I'll let you know when dinner's ready."

"Thank you," I said, giving her a small smile before retreating to my room.

The door closed behind me with a soft click, and I leaned against it for a moment, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. The familiar surroundings offered a semblance of comfort, but the events of last night and today loomed large in my mind. I walked to my bed, sinking onto it with a heavy sigh, and let the quiet envelop me.

I wasn't sure how long I had slept, but the insistent buzzing of my phone pulled me from the depths of my dreams. Groggy and disoriented, I reached for the device on my nightstand, the screencasting a faint glow in the dim room. I squinted against the light, my vision slowly focusing on the notification—a message from All Might.

My heart skipped a beat as I read the text, urgency seeping into my weary mind. "Meet me at Dagoba Beach right away." The words sent a jolt of adrenaline through me, shaking off the remnants of sleep.

I dashed out of my room to the front door and put my shoes on. "Hey, where are you going? Dinner's ready," Mom called from the kitchen, her voice tinged with concern. "I'm making your—"

"Sorry, I can't!" I interjected, bolting out the door before she could finish. The urgency of All Might's message was like a beacon, pulling me forward with an irresistible force. I barely registered the cool evening air as I sprinted down the street, my mind racing with questions and a growing dread.

When I reached the beach, I spotted All Might in the distance, standing at the water's edge, gazing out at the ocean, his posture tense and brooding. The moonlight cast a silvery sheen over the waves, creating an ethereal backdrop that contrasted sharply with the gravity of the situation.