Broken Soul

Chapter 28

Izuku sat at the bottom of the tree, watching as the grass moved with the wind. He was still shaken up from the situation that took place earlier, the memory haunting him.

"Class was such a drag!" Toga exclaimed, arriving at their meeting spot.

They'd agreed to meet at the tree, seeing as that was a place they all felt comfortable in. Not too many people, not too much noise. Just peace.

Shigaraki placed his arm around Izuku, seeing his trembling state. Although it had been a few hours, these kinds of situations don't go away immediately.

"Don't listen to Hell Might, Zuku." he said, smiling warmly at him.

Dabi burst out laughing as Toga suppressed a giggle. "H-Hell Might?" he asked through continuous laughter.

Midoriya smiled slightly at the scene before him, but one thing was on his mind. He was still curious as to how All Might hadn't recognized him from the rooftop. He understood All Might had seen lots of people since then, but he had shown Izuku his greatest injury and saved him from a sludge villain previous to that. Wouldn't he remember that?

"Zuku, what's on your mind?" Shigaraki asked, pulling him closer. "You've been zoning out a lot recently."

Izuku nodded. "I was just wondering how All Might didn't recognize me.."

"But, he did." confusion was written all over the ravenette's face. "We're villains, so of course he recognized you. You've been all over the news."

"I didn't mean All Might knowing 'Deku', I meant him knowing 'Izuku Midoriya'." he could see the pure confusion in their expressions. He leant his head on Tomura's as he began to explain. "I met him after getting attacked by the sludge villain. He told me I couldn't be a hero without a quirk."

Dabi and Toga exchanged looks, already knowing this story from when they'd shared their pasts. They knew it had struck him hard, seeing as he appeared more anxious around heroes, particularly All Might.

Izuku, however, wasn't exactly there. Yes, he was physically there, but his mind had travelled to a different place.

- FLASHBACK -

All Might sat in front of the railing, knee up as he kept his injury exposed. Midoriya stood in front of the man, not believing what was happening before him.

"I'm supposed to be the guy who's always smiling, right? I'm the Symbol of Peace." he refocused on the child in front of him. "People everywhere have to think that I'm never afraid. But, honestly, I smile to hide the fear inside. It's just a brave face I put on when the pressure's high. This job isn't easy."

Midoriya gasped.

"Pro heroes are always having to risk their lives. Some villains just can't be beaten without powers. So can you be a hero? Not without a quirk."

Izuku's entire world collapsed. Everything he'd been working towards, only to be shut down by the person he admired most. "I-I see.."

All Might began to walk towards the rooftop doors. "If you want to help people, there are plenty of other ways to do it. You could become a police officer and get crap because the heroes capture most of the villains, but it's a fine profession."

He opened the door. "It's not bad to have a dream, young man, just make sure your dreams are attainable, realistic, understand?"

- END OF FLASHBACK -

Izuku refocused on what was happening before him, as his eyes focused on the grass once again. Toga sat beside him, a cheerful expression on her face as she handed him an apple.

"Are you really okay?" she questioned, worry evident in her eyes.

He nodded, taking the apple. "Is this poisoned?" he chuckled, trying to joke around.

She laughs along, happy to see a smile on his face. He took a bite of the apple, the sweet taste satisfying his tastebuds. He turned his head, looking at Shigaraki. "How's your lesson going?"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's actually going pretty well." he admitted. "Thirteen has been teaching me how to control my quirk and use it safely as our quirks are similar."

"I thought Eraserhead was training you." Dabi said.

He nodded. "But, he can only train me when Zuku's class is doing combat training with another teacher."

"What about you, Dabi?" Toga asked, eating her own apple.

He rolled his eyes. "Ectoplasm is plain boring when it comes to training, but he knows sarcasm, so he's somewhat bearable."

"Why are you with Ectoplasm?" Izuku asked curiously.

"He's helping me control my quirk as well as extend its limits by letting me burn the clones he creates. It's equivalent to when I used to train with Twice back at the base."

Izuku nodded, noticing a familiar blonde walking towards them. He seemed zoned out, looking at the ground as he walked over. The greenette couldn't help but smile at the pretty black lightning bolt in his hair.

"Do you mind if I join you?" he asked, fidgeting with his hands.

Izuku smiled. "No, come join us, Denks."

Denki sat down next to Dabi, looking around the field for something. This reminded Izuku of the first time they'd met. He had been looking for a flower. Was he looking for the same thing now?

His eyes sparkled as he stood up suddenly, wandering over to a patch of flowers. He picked up a few from each patch, smiling brightly. Izuku couldn't help but smile at the sight as his family had pure looks of confusion on their faces.

He walked back over, holding four flowers. Without hesitation, he placed a pure white lily in Shigaraki's hair, flustering the older male. Although, Midoriya could see that it fit perfectly with his character.

Kaminari had been teaching him about flowers and their meanings over the last few days, before the league arrived. If he was correct, pure white lilies represented redemption, which was perfect for his older brother.

He placed a purple zinnia flower in the greenette's hair, like before, making him blush. He moved onto Toga, placing a royal blue iris flower in her hair, which represented new beginnings and hope. Kind of like the villain rehabilitation they were going through.

Lastly, he moved onto Dabi, placing the pink dahlias flower in his hair strategically. Midoriya knew that meant inner strength and positive changes. Technically, it was a true statement. Dabi was overcoming his past and making a positive change.

Midoriya smiled as Denki sat down beside the ravenette, unaware of how flustered he'd made the league become.