Chapter 52

The warm water of the shower did little to wash away the grime I felt inside. Leaving Shigaraki, Dabi, and Hawks in that dingy alleyway had left a bad taste in my mouth. Still, it was done. I toweled off, the white of my hair a stark contrast to the freckles scattered across my face, and walked into my room. Peter, ever the considerate best friend, had already laid out the futon and was leaning against the wall, a knowing smirk plastered across his face.

"You know you've got that conflicting look," he said, his voice low. "What are you thinking about?"

I sighed, running a hand through my still-damp hair. "I'm starting to have panic attacks again," I admitted, the words heavy in the air. The memories, the weight of knowing everything I did, it was all becoming too much.

Peter's smirk vanished, replaced by genuine concern. "You need to see your therapist soon, Anos. Don't let this build up."

I nodded, knowing he was right. "I know. Thanks, Pete."

We settled down for the night, the silence punctuated only by the distant sounds of Musutafu. As I tried to drift off to sleep, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Dabi.

Dabi: hey

Anos: hi

Dabi: look i will cut to the chase, we have a villain attack tomorrow in tokyo so yea just heads up. shiggy said their wont be to much damage...but still cant be to sure hawks will be there to so thats that.

A grin stretched across my face. He was actually looking out for me. I typed back a quick reply.

Anos: thanks

Dabi: mhm for sure

A wave of relief washed over me. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. If I knew when and where the attack was going to happen, I could minimize the damage. Maybe, just maybe, I could actually trust them. I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion pull me under. Little did I know, sleep was a gateway to a nightmare.

I was falling. Plummeting through a swirling vortex of darkness and fire. Screams echoed around me – Izuku, Inko, Hizashi, Momo, Diamond - their voices distorted and filled with pain. I reached out, trying to grab hold of something, anything, but my hands grasped only empty air.

Flashes of images assaulted my mind. Izuku, broken and bleeding, his eyes filled with despair. Inko, trapped beneath rubble, her face a mask of terror. Hizashi, engulfed in flames that even his own quirk couldn't control. Momo, lying motionless on the ground, her creation quirk failing her. Diamond, struggling against an unseen force, lightning crackling uselessly around her. All of them, suffering, dying because of me.

A figure emerged fromthe darkness. It was me, but not me. A twisted version, radiating malevolence. His eyes burned with a cold, calculating light, and a sinister smile stretched across his face. "You can't save them, Anos," he hissed, his voice a venomous whisper. "You're just like me. Destined to destroy everything you touch."

I recoiled in horror, desperately trying to deny his words. I wasn't like him. I was Superman, a hero, a protector. But the doubt gnawed at me, a persistent seed of fear that threatened to take root.

Then, the scene shifted. I was standing in the middle of a ravaged city. Buildings lay in ruins, fires raged uncontrollably, and bodies were strewn across the streets. The air was thick with smoke and the stench of death.

"Look around you, Anos," the twisted version of me said, his voice dripping with mockery. "This is your legacy. This is what you're capable of."

I sank to my knees, overwhelmed by the devastation. I had failed. Everyone I cared about was gone. The weight of my power, the responsibility I had shouldered, had crushed me.

Suddenly, a hand gripped my shoulder. I looked up to see Peter, his face etched with concern. "Anos, wake up! You're having a nightmare!"

I gasped, jolting awake. My heart was pounding in my chest, and sweat plastered my hair to my forehead. Peter was kneeling beside me, his eyes filled with worry.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

I shook my head, trying to catch my breath. "It was just a nightmare," I mumbled, but the fear lingered, a cold knot in my stomach.

The villain attack tomorrow…the nightmare…It all felt connected. What if Dabi was wrong? What if Shigaraki was planning something truly devastating? What if I couldn't protect them?

I looked at Peter, his familiar face a beacon of hope in the darkness. "I need to be ready, Peter," I said, my voice trembling. "Something bad is going to happen tomorrow. I can feel it."

He nodded, his expression grim. "Then let's get ready. We face it together, like always."

I took a deep breath, trying to regain control. The nightmare had shaken me, but it had also solidified my resolve. I wouldn't let fear paralyze me. I would use my powers, Superman's powers, to protect those I cared about. I would save them, even if it meant facing my own inner demons.

The dawn was breaking, casting a pale light over the city. Tomorrow had arrived, and I was ready. No matter what awaited me, I would face it head-on. For Izuku, for Momo, for everyone I loved, I would be a hero.