Chapter 89

Students... My little brother, Izuku, along with Akira and the rest of his class, were being pushed to the front lines of a war. A war they weren't ready for.

As soon as she left, the room felt like a pressure cooker. All Might, Endeavor, Hawks, Vlad King, and even Aizawa-sensei--they all stared at me. They could see the storm brewing behind my eyes. My knuckles were white, clenched into fists.

Endeavor, that arrogant bastard, broke the silence first. "Why do you hate me?"

The sheer audacity of the question made my blood boil. "Are you serious?" I practically spat the words. "I have a few reasons, but the big ones? How you treated your family, and how you treated mine!"

I didn't wait for a response. I couldn't stand to be in the same room as him, breathing the same air. I stormed out, leaving the confused, and in the case of Hizashi, likely ashamed, faces of the pro heroes behind.

I ended up at Dark Red headquarters, seeking refuge in the common room. It was a familiar space, even comforting in its own way, and I needed to think.

My fingers hovered over my phone, then I texted Izuku and Akira. Two separate conversations. Two delicate balancing acts.

Anos to Izuku: Hey, you okay? How was the meeting?

Izuku to Anos: It was... intense. They want us to be ready for anything. Mom's worried sick.

Anos to Izuku: I can imagine. Listen, be careful, okay? Don't take any unnecessary risks.

Izuku to Anos: I won't. But... we have to do something, Anos. People are counting on us.

Anos to Izuku: I know, Izu. Just promise me you'll look out for yourself.

Izuku to Anos: I promise. Love you, Anos.

Anos to Izuku: Love you too, little bro.

My conversation with Akira was different, more measured.

Anos to Akira: Hey, how are you holding up?

Akira to Anos: Scared. But determined. You know?

Anos to Akira: Yeah, I know.

Akira to Anos: I keep thinking about what you said, about controlling my quirk...

Anos to Akira: You're strong, Akira. You can do this. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Akira to Anos: Thanks, Anos. You always know what to say.

Anos to Akira: Just be safe. Okay?

Akira to Anos: I will.

Putting my phone down, I went to grab coffee. The rich aroma filled the air, a small comfort. I spotted a tray of doughnuts – Simon or Kyto must have been baking again. Those two were always in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes. I took one, a glazed chocolate, and bit into it. It was amazing, as always.

A sigh escaped my lips as I settled into a worn armchair, coffee in hand. I pulled out my journal. Tristan, my therapist, insisted sketching was a great way to relieve stress. He wasn't wrong. I started to draw, a chaotic swirl of emotions taking shape on the page – jagged lines representing the fear for Izuku and Akira, softer curves for the hope that they could somehow make it through this.

I took a sip of coffee, then began to write, trying to untangle the knot of anxiety in my gut but I groaned. I was frustrated. I felt useless my phone buzzed again. It was a cascade of apologies.

All Might: Young Anos, I understand your anger. I only wish you could forgive me.

Hizashi: Anos, son, I'm so sorry. I should have done more.

Hawks: Kid, I messed up. I hope one day you can see I was trying to do what I thought was right.

Aizawa-sensei: Midoriya. I know you're angry. I understand why. But we need to work together.

I ignored them all. What was the point? Words were just words. They rang hollow when my brother and sister were heading into a warzone.

Simon walked into the common room, still clad in his uniform. He must have just finished a mission. He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat beside me, his blue hair a stark contrast to the dimly lit room.

"Rough night?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.

I told him about the meeting, about the Hero Commission's decision. His expression hardened.

"They're kids, Anos," he said, his voice tight with anger. "They're not ready for this."

"I know," I said, running a hand through my white hair. "And there's nothing I can do about it. We're stuck with our own battles."

Soon, the rest of the team started trickling in. Kyu, Lexi, Kyto, Avis, Takai, Jiax. They were all coming off of missions, school or sports, their faces etched with weariness. They were my family, the only people who truly understood the weight I carried.

I shared the news with them, and a wave of anger washed over the room. They knew the feeling of being pushed into roles they weren't ready for. We talked late into the night, sharing our fears, our frustrations, and our hopes. We were a team, a shield against the darkness, but even together, the shadow of the coming war loomed large.