Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 54• Wounds of the Heart and Body

Hawks' words hung in the air and for a long time, no one moved. Shinso, after finding his voice, spoke. "I'm already in and if what you say is true... if Project Angel can stop what Solace started-then I'll follow it to the end."

Hawks gave a single nod, something like pride flickering in his gaze. "Good man, Shadow."

The pro hero then turned to Izuku. The boy's eyes were wide, torn between disbelief and hope. His throat worked, but no sound came out. He looked at his trembling hands-hands that had once stolen, once lied, once hurt to survive. Hands that wanted, desperately, to save instead.

"Can I really... be a hero?" he whispered.

Hawks met the boy's forest green eyes dead on. "You already are. Now you only have to believe in yourself."

The words hit something deep in Izuku's chest-a place that had never stopped aching. Slowly, he nodded. Once. Then again, firmer the second time.

"Alright. I'm in."

The decision felt heavy but right. Like a wound finally given air. Hawks placed a hand on his shoulder. "Welcome to Project Angel, Hex."

But behind them-Monoma simply stared at the two of them, eyes wide with disbelief.

"You can't be serious." His voice came out hoarse, almost a whisper. "You actually believe him?"

Neither answered and Monoma laugh hollowly. "You actually really think this isn't another leash from yours regular oppressed lives? Another game?"

Hawks tried to say something, but the look on Monoma's face stopped him cold. It wasn't anger anymore. It was betrayal.

The real blond's eyes burned bright angry and glazed with tears. His jaw trembled as he took a step back. "You're both fools."

He pointed between them, shaking. "First you lie to me... then you break my trust-and now you're just rolling over for the next person who offers you a false sense of hope?"

His voice cracked, breaking somewhere between rage and heartbreak. "Screw this."

He took another step back, fists trembling. "Screw all of you and all this bull crap."

Then he turned-boots echoing sharply against the concrete as he ran.

"Monoma-!" Izuku shouted, but Hawks caught his arm.

"Let him go," Hawks said quietly. "He needs to make his choice on his own."

The sound of footsteps faded into the night until only the wind remained.

Shinso stared after him, jaw tight. "You think he'll come back?"

Hawks folded his wings slowly, eyes still on the distant skyline. "If he doesn't... then I just hope he doesn't end up on the wrong side when the real storm hits."

Hex looked down at the shattered comm device, the fractured reflection of the three of them staring back from its surface.

Three names. Three paths. And a war that wasn't just against villains or heroes or vigilantes-but the entire system that made them.

----•----

Monoma ran. And ran. And ran. He didn't know where his legs were taking him anymore-just that stopping would mean feeling, and feeling right now would destroy him.

The city blurred past in a streak of neon and smog. His heartbeat drowned out the rest. Every pulse in his chest was a scream he couldn't let out.

They joined him. They actually joined him.