After Shoda-san laid out his plan and heroes left one by one, the room went quiet.
Too quiet.
Only we two of us are left here..
I stared at the table for a long moment, fingers clenched, the weight in my chest growing heavier by the second. There were still things left unsaid—things I had buried deep because saying them out loud would make them real.
"…There's more I need to tell you shoda san," I finally said.
Shoda Akira looked up, calm as ever. His eyes didn't pressure me. They simply waited.
So I came clean.
I told him about my dad—about who he really was, what he had been involved in, and how deep the League of Villains' roots ran into my life. I told him about my relationship with them, the deals, the compromises, the lines I had crossed because I thought there was no other way.
I told him everything.
When I finally stopped, my throat burned. My hands were shaking.
Shoda-san listened without interrupting. No judgment. No surprise.
"…I see," he said quietly.
That was it.
No accusation. No shock.
And then I realized something.
He already knew.
Dad must've told him.
I felt a strange sense of relief wash over me. I was glad Shoda-san hadn't brought it up first. We needed every ounce of cooperation we could get right now—and reopening old wounds would only weaken us.
We needed strength.
Kurohane and Rin were already monsters on the battlefield. Kurogiri's warp ability could change everything if he decided to cooperate. And Dabi…
Dabi was still missing.
I had planned to make him meet Endeavor—to force the truth into the open and let them sort out the mess between them once and for all. But even in the middle of all this chaos, he was nowhere to be found.
I hoped he was okay.
I really did.
---
I met everyone that night.
My friends.
Mom.
The girls.
Everyone looked… fine.
Too fine.
They smiled, laughed, reassured me. No visible injuries. No fear in their eyes.
And yet, Shoda-san's words echoed in my mind.
Be careful of her
Why?
Why would he say that? Who is he talking about i hope it's not Kurohane..
---
Several days passed.
Graduation day was close now.
Too close.
I prayed the enemy wouldn't choose that moment. A ceremony filled with heroes, families, and media—too many lives packed into one place. Too many chances for disaster.
Dad was released on a temporary pardon.
A metal collar—an explosive neck band—was locked around his throat. If he ever turned back on them, it would detonate instantly.
I hated it.
I told him so.
"You don't need to dad," I snapped. "You don't have to prove anything anymore."
He just smiled.
"It's fine, Izuku," he said gently. "This is for the greater good."
I knew the truth.
If this mission succeeded, his pardon would become permanent.
And more than that…
He missed Mom.
---
"Oii, Izuku! How about we fight?"
Kacchan's voice cut straight through my thoughts.
Honestly… he never changes.
"We can't, Kacchan," I said calmly. "If we fight now, we'll both end up injured. And the enemy this time won't be easy."
"Tch. Damn it."
Before I could ask what he meant, an arm hooked around mine.
"Guess you lose, Bakugo~"
Toru grinned smugly, clinging to my arm and dragging me away while Kacchan cursed behind us.
Wait.
Lose?
"…Did you guys bet on me without my consent?"
Her laugh answered that question perfectly.
She'd been controlling her quirk better lately.
Too well.
And she'd gotten… very aggressive lately.
We walked toward the mountain path, the air cooler, quieter, the noise of the city fading behind us.
"Ah, Toru… your home's that way."
"I know," she said, pouting. "But we've barely been spending time together lately."
"I… know. I'm sorry."
"And you met Mellisia-san when you went home."
"…I'm sorry."
She wasn't wrong.
Mellisia had complained too—said I was always working, always rushing somewhere else. She wanted to talk. Told me to come home early.
Fuyumi-san.
Kurohane.
It had been too long since I'd seen any of them properly.
"I'm sorry, Toru," I said softly, stopping and taking her hands. "Once all this is over, I promise I'll make it up to you. I know I've been a terrible boyfriend… to you and the others. But when this ends, I'll become a man you can be proud of."
She smiled—gentle, warm.
"I've always been proud of you, Izuku. It's been three years since we met. You're always on my mind."
She leaned in and kissed me.
"Once this is over… let's get married."
"…Yeah."
I smiled.
Why was my heart racing like this?
What was I—a kid getting flustered over marriage?
"…Are you blushing?" she teased.
---
When I got home, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Mom and Mellisia were sitting together.
Serious.
Too serious.
"…What happened?" I asked, my voice tight.
"Izuku," Mom said carefully, "we need to talk."
My stomach dropped.
What did I mess up now?
"Nana-san… what do I do?" I whispered.
"I don't know," she replied flatly. "Depends on how badly you screwed up."
I gulped.
Then—
POP.
Balloons exploded.
Confetti rained down.
"Izuku," Mom said brightly, smiling wider than I had ever seen, "Mellisia-chan is pregnant."
"…Eh?"
My brain shut down completely.
"I'm gonna… be… a dad?"
I looked at Mellisia.
She was glowing—happier than I had ever seen her.
I walked over and hugged her tightly.
Me.
A workaholic from another world.
Someone who got dumped for being emotionally insensitive.
A father.
My vision blurred.
"Are you crying?" Mellisia laughed softly, wiping my tears. "How cute."
"…Am I?" I laughed weakly. "I'm just… so happy."
"I need to tell your dad," Mom said, already pulling out her phone. "He'll be the happiest man in the world."
This was perfect.
I needed to tell the girls too. They'd be happy—surely they would.
Then—
BOOM.
The world shattered.