Rising Tides (Izuku Midoriya x F!Reader)

Chapter 027

CHAPTER 27: Shifting Shadows

The night had passed, but the tension over Hosu City still lingered in the air. Above the smoldering ruins left by the Nomu assault, two shadowy figures watched the aftermath unfold from a distant rooftop. Tomura Shigaraki stood on the edge, gripping a pair of binoculars, his hand twitching in frustration. Next to him, Kurogiri remained silent, waiting for his leader to speak.

On the far side of the rooftop, barely visible in the low light, stood Hydrax, her dark eyes fixed on the horizon. She hadn’t said much during the Nomu attack, choosing instead to observe from the shadows, her thoughts kept to herself. Her presence was cold, unnerving, and although she was focused on something else entirely, she kept an eye on the events below.

Tomura’s fingers tightened around the binoculars, the decaying power of his quirk activating involuntarily. The binoculars crumbled to dust in his grip as a low growl of anger escaped his lips. He kicked the remnants aside, seething with frustration.

"Useless... It’s all useless," he muttered under his breath, glaring out over the city. "Stain... that stupid Hero Killer is getting all the attention. The Nomu attack—our attack—barely made a dent in the news cycle."

Kurogiri stepped forward, his voice calm and composed. "Are you unsatisfied with the outcome, Shigaraki? The attack still caused significant damage. It wasn’t without its merit."

Tomura scoffed, clenching his fists. "It’s not enough. None of this matters if everyone’s still talking about him—about Stain. The world should be talking about us!"

Behind them, Hydrax’s lips curled into a subtle, knowing smile. "You're impatient, Tomura. But impatience will only make you weaker," she said softly, her voice cutting through the tension like a cold wind. "Stain’s ideology may have captured the public’s attention for now, but the bigger picture hasn’t even begun. You’ll get your moment. It all depends on tomorrow."

Tomura shot her a sharp glare, but said nothing. Hydrax was always cryptic, always speaking in riddles, but he had learned to trust her instincts. Even if he didn’t fully understand her motives, he knew she had a part to play in all of this.

"Tomorrow…" Tomura repeated, turning his attention back to the city below. His eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with plans.

---

The next day, the sun rose over Hosu General Hospital. Inside one of the recovery rooms, the tension from last night’s battle still hung in the air. Midoriya, Todoroki, Iida, and you lay on separate hospital beds, recuperating from your injuries. Your body ached, the aftermath of the paralysis still lingering in your muscles, but the worst of it was over.

Midoriya, propped up against his pillow, stared at the ceiling, his mind processing everything that had happened. "Stain… He let us live," Midoriya said quietly, his voice filled with confusion.

Todoroki, resting on the bed next to him, nodded. "He could have killed us easily, but he didn’t. I think he was making a point." Todoroki’s eyes narrowed, his mind turning over the Hero Killer’s words from the battle. "He let us live because he believed that, in some way, we weren’t his real enemies."

Iida, who had been silent up until now, clenched his fists. The weight of the battle still hung over him like a heavy cloud. "He’s right. I wasn’t acting like a hero… I was acting out of revenge. I… I’m sorry." His voice cracked as the shame washed over him.

Todoroki turned his gaze toward Iida, his expression softening. "You were brave, Iida. You stood up when it mattered."

But Iida shook his head. "No, I was reckless. I dragged all of you into this fight… and you all got hurt because of me." He stared at his hands, the scars from the battle still fresh. "I’m not like Tensei. I’m not the hero I thought I could be."