In Each of Our Hearts

Not So Guilty

Kiotoko, or at least that's who he was now, looked down in pity at the unconscious boy in front of him. It was seeing people like him that fuelled  his wish to not have been born with such a quirk; a quirk that had led him down a gray path.

And now, going through this child's memories, he felt regret pool in his stomach. He was just a child. A child. Most adults would never have to deal with such heavy weights on their shoulders; and yet, this kid had managed it. He saw so many memories of this "Kaachan," and even more of the oh-so-famous Symbol of Peace. But he continued on.

Kiotoko wanted to ignore the context of the memories, but knew he couldn't. His orders were to make this child as loyal to the League of Villains as he could, and he didn't want to give Shigaraki any reason to follow through on the myriad of threats he'd given. So, despite the pity, he continued to mask happy memories of who Kiotoko assumed was his mother. He arranged some memories, some thoughts, to make the child (a child who shouldn't ever have to deal with such issues,) doubt the current system of heroes. He attached a memory of leaving his first class at the hero school to one of "Kaachan" attacking him, parting with words of suicide. He took one of the many memories with All Might and forced one of the same hero telling him he couldn't be a hero together. And Kiotoko continued on like this, tarnishing this otherwise innocent child's thoughts and memories.

Exhaustion heavily weighed down on him once he finished. He turned away from the still bound boy, not wanting to see his ugly handiwork.

"You're done?" Shigaraki asked, voice muffled from the hand covering his face. Kiotoko nodded, breathing deeply to ward off the guilt he felt.

"He will be disoriented when he wakes, that is when you need to give him your views."

"As expected," Kurogiri spoke now. "Is there anything else?"

"I had to mask and rearrange much of his memories; more than I expected. Because of this, he'll be unstable-"

"It doesn't matter." Shigaraki interrupted, causing him to be silent (though irritated.)

"That is all we needed from you," Kurogiri said. "Leave."

And Kiotoko did. It didn't matter that he could have said more. Could have told them that, should there be a strong enough reminder, all the work his quirk had done could shatter.

They would find out soon enough.

~~~~~~~~~~Line~Break~~~~~~~~

Midoriya woke with a groan, a pain in his head nearly pulsating.

"He's waking up." An almost miffed voice spoke from above him, but it sounded muffled. What had happened to him? He couldn't remember.

"Izuku Midoriya?" He opened his eyes at his name being said. Above him stood several people, or at least, he thought they were people. A few seemed normal enough; a man covered in scars and staples, a rather average looking girl, and so on. Then he saw what seemed to be sentient fog, and what appeared to be a bipedal lizard?

"Midoriya," the fog spoke, "are you coherent?" The boy nodded in response, still not quite sure of his surroundings. "Do you remember what has happened to you?" He shook his head, mind still foggy.

"The heroes you once adored have abandoned you. Left you behind, and for what? Because you're different from them, far too righteous for the mold they force." A blue haired man spoke, a dismembered hand covering his face.

"...What?" Midoriya asked, his voice hoarse and quiet.

"You don't remember? What your supposed "friends" said? What All Might himself said to you?"

As he spoke these memories were thrown into his mind's eye. Kaachan telling him to jump off the roof following the first day of classes at UA. Uraraka calling him Deku constantly, insults from his classmates part of his day to day routine. But, worst of all, was All Might. The Symbol of Peace, the Number One pro hero, his idol for as long as Midoriya could remember, telling him he could never truly be a pro hero.

"Help us change the corrupt system that has hurt you; hurt all of us. We can bring true justice to this world. We can prove to everyone that you are not useless."

Midoriya couldn't hold it back anymore, laughter bubbled up in his throat. It sounded broken; deranged, even to his own ears. But he didn't care. He'd show Kaachan. He'd show All Might. He would show everyone just how "defenseless" he was.

"Yes."