once forgotten, twice removed

chapter 3

Japan burned as the sun set over the horizon.

Ash blanketed the nation, covering the buildings in a thick smoke. Dust curled in his lungs and burned his eyes. The fire and setting sun cast an eerily red glow throughout the empty halls of UA. Screams (the screams of thousands of innocent people fighting for their lives) could be heard in the distance. Cries of different sorts—deep, guttural—echoed through the empty city. Nomu were not an uncommon thing to be heard.

There Izuku sat, curled up the corner of his old classroom as Japan burned around him. The halls of UA had never been so empty, so without life. He remembered running down the very same halls with his friends, eagerly rushing to their next classes as they trained to become heroes. That seemed like such a long time ago.

Izuku's throat burned as he breathed in another lungful of ash.

The sound of a single pair of footsteps bounced off the walls. Izuku pulled himself tighter into a ball and tried to focus on his breathing. His head throbbed and his arms burned. His arms were bandaged down to his fingers, but the ash had covered the one white bandages a dirty grey color.

The footsteps stopped directly in front of him. Izuku didn't need to look up to see who it was.

"It's time," Shoto said.

Izuku looked up. Shoto held out his hand. Izuku took it without hesitation and Shoto hoisted him up off the ground. No words were spoken as Shoto lead him through the empty halls of UA up to the roof.

The rooftop was crowded, surrounded by various people in all shapes and sizes. Old, young, big, small. Mothers, fathers, children, civilians and heroes alike. Ochako was talking in hushed voices to a group of first years. Tenya was putting a splint on Koda's leg. Shoji and Yaomomo were huddled in a group, discussing what looked like a strategy. Hagakure was covered in so many bandages that her outline was clearly visible. Aizawa was around a group of younger students (students that should've had their lives to learn to become a hero instead of being thrust into a battle their very first year) corralling them into a safe place. All Might was helping Recovery Girl tend to injuries.

They were all tired. Knowing that the end to this chapter was coming and they had no idea who was going to live to see the next day.

Japan continued to burn.

It was Jiro who noticed him first. She sat up from her position on the floor, both hands wrapped and leg in a splint. She smiled, but Izuku would tell she was exhausted. "Glad to see you up, Midoriya."

Ojiro nodded at him, broken tail at his side. Tokoyami was asleep two feet away, bandage wrapped around half of his face. Kacchan glanced at him only for a moment before going back to bandaging a wound on Ashido's side. All Might gave a thin-lipped smile in greeting.

"Good to have you back on the field, Midoriya," Kirishima called. The other greetings were lost to the background sounds.

Ochako walked over and pulled him into a hug. When she pulled away, her smile was sad. "We don't have much time."

"I know," Izuku answered. He glanced at Shoto who gave him a nod of encouragement in return. Eyes turned, expectant gazes of all kinds. From his friends, his family and heroes alike. They were waiting—waiting for him.

"Midoriya..." Yaomomo sounded tired. "What do we do?"

There was a speck on the horizon. So small that it would normally be insignificant, but Izuku knew better. He heard the nomus' roars even from here. The outline of an approaching army. They didn't have a lot of time before Shigaraki Tomura and his league would be here. The thought of the thousands of innocent lives that would suffer (or end) should they succeeded steeled Izuku's nerves.