The air was heavy... After the raid on the Shie Hassaikai, silence had become your default... Even now, days later, that silence followed you like a shadow... Sir Nighteye was gone... Eri was safe. But you weren’t sure what you were anymore...
You stood in the entryway of the Class 1-A dorms, unmoving, just behind Aizawa... Eri gripped the fabric of your sleeve tightly, her small fingers clinging to you with quiet desperation... She hadn’t let go since the medics cleared her... Her horn peeked from behind her tousled hair, her steps uncertain on the unfamiliar wooden floor...
Class 1-A’s common room buzzed with energy, too bright and too loud. Izuku Midoriya stood among them, green eyes wide with concern... He crouched to meet Eri’s height and smiled, soft and reassuring...
“Hello, Eri,” he said gently, voice careful like he was handling glass... “You don’t have to be afraid. Everyone here is really kind... You’re safe now...”
Eri’s grip tightened... She peeked around your leg and whispered.. “Hello… Mr. Deku.” Her voice was barely audible...
Midoriya smiled brighter, but you saw the glance he threw at you... It wasn’t unkind. But it wasn’t trust, either... There was something cautious in it like he couldn’t forget whose side you had been on...
Behind him, Mirio Togata gave his signature grin.. “Hey, sunshine! We’ve got a event planned just for you, Eri... Oh- and you too, of course,” he added with a quick glance toward you... His warmth didn’t flicker, but you saw how it didn’t linger...
The dorm erupted in cheer as the students welcomed Eri... Uraraka stepped forward, crouching with a sweet smile... “We’re so glad you’re here, Eri! We made cupcakes and everything!”
Eri slowly stepped forward, eyes still searching for yours as if needing permission... You gave a slight nod... That was enough for her... She moved toward the group...
They surrounded her, comforting and kind... Kaminari made a funny face...l. Jirou offered her headphones to try... Yaoyorozu knelt beside her, already creating a ribbon from her quirk to tie in Eri’s hair... Laughter bubbled up around her like sunlight...
But no one looked at you....
You stood just behind the crowd, hands tucked into your oversized sleeves, head down... You weren’t Class 1-A... You weren’t a student... You weren’t a villain anymore, either... You were just… something in between...
And you still flinched whenever someone mentioned his name...
Kai Chisaki... Overhaul...
He raised you... Molded you... Hurt you... Loved you in the twisted way only monsters do... You knew him better than anyone else... And even now, part of you still believed in the order he promised.... You were loyal because that was all you’d known...
“Hey...”
You blinked... Aizawa stood beside you, watching the scene. His expression unreadable... “You’re staying here now,” he said.. “Get used to it... No one’s going to hurt you here...”