Stuck Between Realities-Remastered

Part 38~Encounter

Shigaraki pulled Izuku across the mall, talking all the time as he did. "What meaning is there in killing without conviction? You just watch the hero killer. Almost everyone is thinking, 'It's no skin off my back.' No, they're not even thinking that. No matter where someone tried to kill someone else for whatever reason, these guys will just keep smiling thoughtlessly and going on living."

At the side, children laughed as they found Hero Killer merchandise.

"But on the other hand, he has some sympathisers who are far from his ideals. What's up with that? Aren't we doing the same thing, me and him? In the end, he just destroyed things he didn't like, right? What's up with that? What's the difference?"

Izuku gritted his teeth. "He wasn't an asshole." Izuku let out a cough as Shigaraki's grip tightened in response. Shigaraki loosened his grip as Izuku forced himself to calm down.

"I hated everything, but what pisses me off the most right now is the Hero Killer."

Izuku rolled his eyes. "He's not with you then."

"I didn't acknowledge it, but that's how it ended up in the news; that's the problem," Shigaraki spoke as if Izuku hadn't said a word. "Almost everyone is looking at the Hero Killer. That attack on the U.A and the Nomu I released on Hosu city. Everything I did was upstaged by him. No one's looking at me. Why is that? No matter how much he boasts, in the end, he just destroyed what he didn't like, right?"

Shigaraki hissed before he leaned into Izuku's ear. "What do you think the difference is between me and him, Midoriya?"

Izuku closed his eyes, resisting the urge to pull away. "What's the difference? Isn't that obvious? I can't understand or agree with who you are. You are a tornado destroying people's lives. No one feels bad for the tornado. The Hero Killer, on the other hand, I can't agree with him, but I do understand him. The hero killer wasn't destroying because he wanted to. He didn't just abandon it in vain like you did. Even if the way he did it was wrong, he was trying to live up to his ideals."

Izuku glanced back before he froze, spotting the insane look in Shigaraki's eyes. Every nerve in his body wanted to leave.

"It's like a weight off my chest. I feel like I've connected the dots. Why the hero killer pisses me off, and why you irritate me. I feel like I understand now. Everything's because of All Might."

Izuku gasped, feeling Shigaraki's grip tightening as his smile widened. He did not understand how the psycho had come to that conclusion, but he was not going to say anything."

"Yeah, that's it. When all's said and done, that is where I ended up. What was I worrying so much about? These guys are able to smile thoughtlessly because All Might is smiling thoughtlessly. It's because that trash is smiling thoughtlessly as if there was no one he couldn't save. Oh! I'm so glad we could talk. It's great. Thanks, Midoriya! I don't have to do anything different."

Izuku gasped louder, struggling against Shigaraki's hand as he chuckled. "Whoops, don't struggle. Do you want to die? You think it's okay for the masses to die?"

"Izuku!" Out of nowhere, a black-haired man shot out, pushing Shigaraki off Izuku and pulling him away. "I don't know who you are, but come near my son again, and I'll call the heroes."

Shigaraki smiled casually. "Oh, you had a friend with you? Sorry 'bout that. I'm off then. If you try following me, I'll get angry."

Izuku let out a relieved sigh as he coughed angrily, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pill.

"Izuku," the man called out softly as Izuku swallowed the pill and stood up.

"Wait, Shigaraki! What is All For One after?"

The man at Izuku's side stared in shock, his breath picking up a pace. Shigaraki didn't stop. "Who knows? More importantly, you should be careful. The next time we meet will likely be when I have decided to kill you." Shigaraki disappeared into the crowd as Izuku sighed, leaning into the man's side.

"Charlie, get me out of here."

The man said nothing, picking Izuku up and turning invisible. When he did so, he went from a towering man to a small girl, pulling Izuku away. Charlie said nothing, sending a single text before turning off her phone.

Maybe five minutes later, a taller boy appeared. "Charlie! What happened?! I leave you alone for five minutes!" Kakashi looked at his sister before glancing at Izuku. "What happened?"

Charlie glanced at Izuku. "Some asshole was hurting him."

Kakashi sat down. "Do you think?" He drifted off as Charlie sighed.

"I don't think, I know. Dad is involved."

Charlie disappeared not long after as Kakashi took Izuku to the police. The heroes searched the mall by Shigaraki, which was long gone.

~~~

Emiko tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for Izuku. Shoto stayed by her side, pacing back and forth. "I should have been there," he muttered as Emiko glanced at him.

"You couldn't have known."

Shoto gave Emiko a look before he continued to pace.

"Mrs Midoriya?" The police officer looked over his desk as Emiko frowned.

"Miss. I'm his sister."

The police nodded as Izuku walked out. "Emiko!"

"Izuku! Are you okay? Kakashi said you got attacked."

Izuku let out a dismissive sound. "It wasn't that bad. Charlie got him off me."

Emiko blinked. "Wait, Charlie was here?"

"Yep. She was a man this time."

Emiko took a deep breath. "We'll come back to that. I thought she was grounded."

"Like that's ever stopped her before." Izuku grinned as Emiko ignored him, pulling out her phone and texting Charlie. Izuku turned his gaze to Shoto, a soft smile falling on his face. "You look worried, Shoto." Shoto huffed, walking closer and pulling Izuku into a tight hug. Izuku leaned into Shoto's neck, smiling as he relaxed. "You okay, sunshine?"

Shoto nodded weekly. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"Don't be." Izuku pulled away before he took Shoto's hand. "Come on, let's head home. Emiko!"

Emiko jolted, looking up from her phone. "Alright, boys, let's go." She signed a few pieces of paper before walking the boys out of the station.

~~~

Emiko sighed as she walked out of her bedroom. She glanced into Izuku's room, finding both boys asleep on the bed. She smiled, turning off the light and shutting the door.

Her phone buzzed as Emiko glanced at Charlie's message.

'I don't know what you're talking about ;)'

Emiko smiled as she leaned on the counter. 'Don't make me tell your mother.'

'Please don't. She's scary. I've already had to bribe Kakashi to not rat me out. I'm gonna be doing so many chores.'

'Your own fault for sneaking out.'

'But I was so careful! I wasn't dumb enough to go to a mall in my city, and I went as a big, strong man.'

Emiko chuckled. 'Right. Thank you, though. I'm not sure what I would have done if Izuku got hurt.'

'Anytime, Emiko.'