Ryuu's jaw tightened. "What do you want me to say? That I'm devastated? Traumatized? That I can't stop seeing my father die? Should I pick whichever answer makes this conversation end faster."
Aizawa didn't react to the hostility. Just watched him with his dark eyes.
"Your quirk," he said after a moment. "It connects you to the people you amplify, right? You felt your father's death directly?"
"Yes."
"That's not something you just get over. That kind of trauma leaves marks." Aizawa leaned forward slightly.
"I'm not going to force you into counseling. You're eighteen, technically an adult. But I'm recommending it strongly. UA has specialists who work specifically with quirk-related psychological trauma."
"I don't need—"
"I had a friend once," Aizawa interrupted. "Oboro Shirakumo. We went to UA together. Unfortunately, a training exercise went wrong. He died protecting civilians." His expression remained controlled, but something flickered in his eyes. "I didn't talk to anyone about it. Thought I could handle it alone. Push through. Be strong."
He paused.
"It took me three years to realize I was destroying myself from the inside out. By the time I finally got help, the damage was extensive." Aizawa met Ryuu's gaze directly. "Don't make my mistake. The wound is fresh right now. It can heal properly if you let it. Or it can fester."
Ryuu looked away. "What if I don't want it to heal? What if feeling this is what I deserve for surviving when he didn't?"
"That's called survivor's guilt. It's common. And It's also a lie." Aizawa's voice was firm. "Your father made a choice. He chose to fight so you could escape. Dishonoring that choice by punishing yourself doesn't bring him back. It just means his sacrifice achieved nothing."
The words hit harder than expected. Ryuu's hands clenched in his lap.
"I'll think about it," he said quietly. "...The counseling."
"That's good enough for now." Aizawa stood. "You're excused from classes this week. Focus on recovery. Both physically and mentally of course. If you need anything, my door is open. Literally. I'm staying on campus for the foreseeable future."
"Why?"
"Because you're not the only student dealing with trauma from recent events." Aizawa moved toward the door. "And because security is being increased across the board. We're not taking chances."
He paused with his hand on the doorknob.
"One more thing. There will be a memorial service. For your father and the other casualties from the facility collapse. The Hero Commission is handling arrangements. Your mother will be contacted with details."
'Other casualties...Right. I was so self absorbed that I forgot it wasn't only my father that died in that building.'
"When?"
"It will hold in a few days. They're still... recovering remains." Aizawa's tone suggested that process wasn't going well. "I'll let you know when it's finalized."
He left. Mina and Momo immediately slipped back inside like they'd been waiting just beyond the threshold.
"What did he say?" Mina asked.
"He recommended counseling. Told me I'm excused from classes this week." Ryuu rubbed his face. "And there's going to be a memorial service."
Momo moved to sit beside him. "That's good. The closure helps with grief."
"Does it?" The question came out bitter. "Will standing in front of a casket make him less dead? Will saying goodbye to a body make the guilt disappear?"
"No," Momo admitted. "But it marks the transition. Gives your mind permission to start processing instead of staying frozen in the moment of loss."
She would know. Her family was what they call 'old money', and is very traditional at that. They probably had extensive experience with formal grief rituals.
ZZZZT
Ryuu's phone buzzed. But he ignored it.
ZZZZT
It buzzed again. And again.
Mina picked it up. "It's Midoriya. He's asking if you want company or if you need space."
"Space."
She typed out a response. A few seconds later: "He says okay, but to message him if you change your mind. Ochaco, Tsuyu, and Jirou are asking the same thing."
"Tell them I'm fine. Just tired."
Another lie. But easier than explaining that he didn't want to see anyone else. Didn't want their sympathy or concern. The only reason he could tolerate Mina and Momo was because they'd been there from the start. They'd seen him break. There was nothing left to hide from them.
Everyone else would look at him differently now. The boy who got kidnapped. The boy whose father died saving him. The boy who brought tragedy upon tragedy...
"Are you hungry yet?" Momo tried again. "I can make something light. You don't have to come to the kitchen. I'll bring it here."
His stomach was empty. Well...that's to be expected since he hadn't eaten for a while. But the thought of food made him nauseous.
"Maybe later."
Momo exchanged a glance with Mina. Some silent communication passed between them.
"Okay," Momo sighed. "But you need to eat something today. Even if it's small."
They spent the afternoon in his room. Not doing much. Mina sat cross-legged on his bed, scrolling through her phone and occasionally reading out messages from classmates. Momo worked on homework at his desk, calmly writing on the books. While Ryuu lay on his floor, staring at the ceiling, trying to make his brain quiet down.
But just as always...It didn't work.
Every time he closed his eyes, he was back in that cell. Or running through corridors. Or feeling the connection snap.
Around five PM, there was another knock.
Knock! Knock!
"It's Recovery Girl," came the elderly voice. "I need to do a quick follow-up examination."
Ryuu dragged himself to the door and let her in. She carried her medical bag and wore her usual nurse's outfit.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, setting her bag on his desk.
"Tired."
"Have you used your quirk at all since returning?"
"No."
"Good. Keep it that way for at least a week. Your quirk factor needs time to recover from the overextension." She pulled out her equipment. "Any dizziness? Headaches? Nausea?"
"All of the above."
"Have you eaten?"
When he didn't answer, she made a disapproving sound. "Tsk...Kazama, your body has been through significant stress. You need proper nutrition to recover. I'm not leaving until you eat something."
Momo stood immediately. "I'll get food."
She left before anyone could protest. Recovery Girl continued her examination, checking his vitals, his quirk readings, his overall condition.
"Physically, you're recovering well," she said after several minutes. "But you look worse than you did yesterday."
"I Didn't sleep much."
"Nightmares?"
"Something like that."
She put her equipment away. "I'm prescribing sleep medication. Just for a few days to help you rest properly. And I want you back here tomorrow for another check."
"Fine."
Momo returned with a tray. Rice balls, miso soup, sliced fruit. Simple food that was easy to digest.
Recovery Girl pointed at it. "Eat. All of it. I'm not leaving until you do."
Ryuu picked up a rice ball. Took a small bite. It tasted like nothing. He chewed mechanically, swallowed, took another bite.
Recovery Girl watched him eat half the rice ball before nodding approvingly. "This meal will do for now. But you need regular meals. Your body is still recovering from dehydration and malnutrition."
She left the sleep medication on his desk and departed with final instructions to rest and eat.
The rice balls sat heavy in his stomach. Ryuu managed another few bites before setting it down.
"That's better than nothing," Mina tried to cheer him up encouragingly.
-----
A/N : so guys...I'm grateful to some of the readers reading this particular book, cause without them...I wouldn't have know the problems this book have currently...and I'm glad yall still read it despite its lazy writing, lack of proper introduction and build up.
And not to talk about the tempo and pacing been an issue for some or most of the readers...since most of y'all don't comment or review or even say what can be corrected for maximum immense reading.
So I hope I see y'all can leave comments and reviews so I can know the issues this book have for its betterment.
And y'all might be wondering why was it lazy writing in the first place...well, that was because I was having exams during the beginning period so I barely did much except enter the website and paste my chapters and call it a day...I didn't have time to even check the comments then.
So as you can see, this arc is about to come to an end...so I wanna announce that I will not be publishing chapters on weekends, so I can have time to review the chapters and write better, and if possible change my writing style while I'm at it.
I had alot to say but I can't say much right now without webnovel having a problem about it so I will end it at this for now...I will go get started with the next Arc...
I hope to see you guys comments and reviews...
Have a great holiday...
The lazy author.