Shattered Light: A Neglected Izuku Story

chapter 40:aftermath

As I sat on the cold ground, medics moved around us, patching up the wounded, but I was fine my regeneration had already taken care of my injuries. My hero suit, however, was shredded beyond repair, barely clinging to me in tattered pieces. I couldn’t shake the feeling of frustration and self-loathing bubbling up inside me.

I sighed, watching the medics move from person to person. Katsumi and Izumi were in the worst condition; they’d taken brutal hits from the Nomu. I noticed Bakugo standing near Izumi and Katsumi his face a mask of barely contained rage and concern. He didn’t say anything, but his clenched fists spoke volumes

not like I cared whether they lived or died

I only did it because of what I told nezu, to protect the students

And well I think I did a "good job"

I thought. And Katsumi too. They would heal.

Aizawa:You did well, Izuku

I heard Mr. Aizawa's voice break through my thoughts.

I looked up at him, a part of me grateful for his words, but another part too angry at myself to accept them. “Please,” I muttered, “don’t go there.”

I clenched my fists, feeling a raw frustration tearing me apart.

Izuku:if I hadn’t held back... if I’d just gone all out from the start… that Nomu, that Chimera… it would have been over before it even began. You wouldn’t have been hurt, none of you would have been hurt!

My voice cracked, frustration spilling out.

Izuku:But I hesitated.

Aizawa sighed, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. “Izuku…”

I shook my head, feeling my anger spike again.

Izuku:I was ready to end it. But when he mentioned that he was a clone… Dr. Kuroki’s clone, another experiment like me… I hesitated. Suddenly, I wasn’t even seeing him as Chimera. I was seeing… myself.

My voice came out a whisper, dripping with contempt. “I’m pathetic.”

Aizawa’s hand gripped my shoulder, his voice firm but calm.

Aizawa:Izuku, stop. You saved Tsuyu and Mineta. You stopped Chimera. You kept us all alive. To be honest, if it weren’t for you, people would have died here.

Izuku:But they shouldn’t have gotten hurt at all

I shot back, the frustration boiling over.

Izuku:I could’ve ended it. I could’ve—

My voice faltered, my throat tight.

Izuku: I thought… if I just reached him, just talked to him somehow… I thought he’d understand what we both went through. That maybe there was still a person inside of him.

Aizawa’s eyes softened.

aizawa:I zuku… you did what you thought was right. You were fighting against someone who was more than just an opponent to you. But that doesn’t make you weak, or pathetic. It makes you human.

Izuku:but being human is what got people hurt

I said

Izuku :couldn’t separate my emotions. I held back, thinking he’d listen, that he’d understand. But he was just… another monster. Just another weapon like me.

The words felt bitter on my tongue.

Aizawa’s gaze was steady.

Aizawa:You’re not a weapon, Izuku. You never were. Don’t you see? That’s what sets you apart. You may have been an experiment, but you’re not defined by what they tried to make you. You’re defined by the choices you make. And today, you chose to save people. You chose to protect, even if it meant risking your life.