Wings of Awakening

Part 26

In the days following the U.S.J. incident, everything seemed like a blur to Izuku. The memories of the event played in his mind on repeat—Aizawa's brave but brutal fight, Thirteen's injuries, and, above all, All Might's clash with the Nomu. Sitting across from Detective Tsukauchi as he gave his statement, Izuku tried his best to keep his nerves steady, but the reality of the situation weighed heavily on him. Villains had actually attacked them, and not just any villains—these were individuals with terrifying quirks, and some of them specifically designed to kill All Might.

"So, tell me more about this... Shigaraki," Detective Tsukauchi prompted, his voice calm but his eyes serious as he studied Izuku.

Izuku thought for a moment, trying to recall every detail. "He seemed... strange. He acted like a child, almost," Izuku said, tilting his head as he remembered Shigaraki's eerie behavior. "He used a lot of video game terms, like calling All Might a 'final boss.' And he kept scratching his neck when he was upset."

Tsukauchi frowned, his expression darkening. "Interesting. And this Nomu... you said it had multiple quirks?"

"Yes," Izuku replied, feeling a chill at the memory of the creature. "It could regenerate, and it had shock absorption, though it wasn't complete nullification." Izuku recalled how All Might's strength had managed to overpower the Nomu despite its quirk. "It was as if it was specifically made to take on someone like All Might..."

The detective's face became even more grim as he took in the information. He asked a few more questions before nodding, signaling that Izuku's statement was complete. After Izuku and the rest of the class finished their questioning, he waited in the station's reception area for his mom to pick him up. The quiet gave him a moment to let it all sink in. He'd faced real villains, and there was a small part of him that still couldn't believe they'd survived it.

When his mom arrived, she didn't hold back. The moment she saw him, she threw her arms around him, her voice breaking as she said, "Izuku! Oh, my boy, you're safe... thank goodness."

Izuku hugged her back, trying to reassure her. "I'm okay, Mom," he said softly, though he could feel her arms tighten around him. She only let go long enough to fuss over him on the way home, constantly checking him for any new cuts or bruises as if she could mend them herself. That night, she made his favorite food and hovered over him, making sure he was comfortable and repeatedly expressing how scared she'd been.

Later, after his mom finally went to bed, Izuku lay in his room, staring at his phone. A new message popped up: "Hey, little bird. I just heard about the attack on your class. You okay?" It was from Hawks.

Izuku let out a small sigh of relief. Even though he hadn't told Hawks about USJ attack, it was a small comfort knowing his mentor still had his back. "I'm okay, Hawks. It was... scary, but I'm fine," he replied, feeling the lingering tension ease a bit.

Hawks texted back almost immediately. "Good to hear, kid. Just remember, these things happen, but they don't define you. Keep your head up."

Izuku felt a warmth spread through him as he read the message. Hawks always had a way of making things feel less overwhelming. "Thanks, Hawks. I will," he typed back before closing his phone.

The school granted them a three-day break after the incident, and Izuku spent those days meeting up with his friends, Uraraka and Iida. They each dealt with the experience in their own way—Uraraka trying to look at the bright side, while Iida was more serious, reflecting on leaving the class to fight villains while he runs to get help.

During one of their meetups, Uraraka placed her hand on Izuku's shoulder, her eyes filled with warmth and encouragement. "Hey, Midori" she said, using his nickname affectionately, "you were so brave at the U.S.J. I mean it. You saved so many of us by going up against the Nomu."

Iida nodded in agreement, his expression solemn but full of respect. "Midoriya, you demonstrated true heroism, even in the face of overwhelming danger. That's not something just anyone can do."

Izuku blushed, scratching his cheek. "Thanks, guys... but we all helped each other. I couldn't have done it alone."

They spent the rest of the afternoon together, letting the familiarity of their friendship wash away some of the lingering unease from the attack. He also made sure to keep up with his daily workouts, finding solace in the routines that grounded him.

As a class representative, Izuku felt it was his duty to check on Aizawa, who had been badly injured during the attack. When he arrived at the hospital, however, he was surprised to find that his homeroom teacher had already been discharged on the second day.

"Huh... Mr. Aizawa really does live up to the name 'Eraser Head,'" Izuku murmured to himself, both awed and a bit worried by his teacher's stubborn resilience.

When classes resumed, the atmosphere at school was different. They were all trying to get back to normal, but the memory of the U.S.J. attack lingered, casting a shadow over everyone. Even the students who hadn't been there seemed affected by the gravity of what had happened. Still, Izuku noticed the teachers were doing their best to keep things normal, and the class gradually began to settle into their routine again.

On his way to class, Kirishima walked up beside him and gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Hey, Midoriya, you okay?" he asked, his voice as genuine as ever.

Izuku nodded, a small smile on his face. "Yeah, I am. It was just... a lot to take in."

Kirishima nodded in understanding. "I get that. But you're a fighter, and you've got all of us here for you, too."

With that reminder, Izuku entered the classroom with renewed determination. The U.S.J. incident had been a harrowing experience, but it also reminded him of the importance of his goal: to become a hero who could protect others, just like All Might and Hawks. The incident might have left him shaken, but he was more resolved than ever to keep pushing forward.