In the aftermath of the destruction, Izuku had collapsed out of exhaustion. It wasn’t until a few days later when he regained consciousness and got the chance to read the Safety Commission’s report to get a full picture of everything that went down that day.
The hospital that Doctor Garaki was supposedly in was empty, and the heroes were only greeted by a surprise horde of Nomus. However, Mirko, the Number Five Hero, had managed to corner the real Garaki in a hidden lab, where she fought off five powerful Nomus called High Ends by herself.
Meanwhile, the raid on Gunga Mountain Villa went rather well. That was, until Felix appeared. Along with the appearance of Geten, a Paranormal Liberation Front lieutenant, and Gigantomachia, All For One’s enormous bodyguard, the fight quickly turned into a brawl the heroes were not able to keep contained. No heroes were capable of overcoming their raw power, and Gigantomachia was only subdued after he was anaesthetised in a lucky hit.
The final pages of the report included other interesting details. Other than the U.A. High siege, the students’ roles in the Gunga Mountain Villa raid as well as Felix’s fight were largely played down. Only the barest facts were recorded. Even All Might’s part in his mechanised suit was not recorded, despite U.A. High’s overwhelming victory against the League of Villains.
As for the villains, Jaku General Hospital’s Chairman of the Board, Garaki Kyudai, was arrested for aiding and abetting murder, mutilating corpses, illegal Quirk use, embezzling hospital funds, and various other crimes. Other captured villains included Gigantomachia, Geten, Koku Hanabata, and most of the League Of Villains with the exception of Dabi and Shigaraki.
In addition, members of the PLF who had gathered at the Villa for a meeting were also apprehended. Only one hundred thirty-two members of the PLF, including several lieutenants, managed to flee and are still on the run.
Ryukyu remains unconscious in the hospital, and it is not known if her dragon form would be able to regrow her wings.
Mirio Togata’s entire rib cage was shattered, and the doctors had to fight tooth and nail to stabilise his condition.
Gran Torino’s legs were shattered, although he was to make a projected recovery in about a year’s time.
Midnight, Pixiebob, Cementoss, and Endeavour had already recovered from their respective concussions.
Aizawa was still in a coma from his facial fractures, and Present Mic had to undergo multiple jaw reconstruction surgeries.
Although Felix Pagonis had been banished back to his world, the brutality and property destruction he wrought shook Japan to its core. Society devolved into anarchy as citizens lost their faith in heroes, choosing to take up arms and defend themselves against more criminals emerging to take down the hero society.
~ ~ ~
Izuku walked along the path, scarcely paying attention to the light snow coating the yellow flowers all around him. It didn’t seem too long ago when he first met All Might, when his idol passed on his power to fulfil his dreams of becoming the greatest hero.
But now, he wasn’t even sure if he did the right thing.
“Young Midoriya, I’m so glad to see that you’re up and well!” All Might’s cheery voice found its way to his ears.
The boy looked up mindlessly as thin arms tightly embraced him. His expression darkened. Sir Nighteye was accompanying the hero.
“Hey, All Might.” Izuku’s lips curved up slightly. “It’s good to see you doing well too.”
The wry smile slipped off his face. All Might furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, but Izuku did not care this time. He was glaring straight at the bespectacled man behind.
“Sir, why?” The boy did not deign to elaborate. Sir Nighteye should know what he was referring to.
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“It was the only way we could win.” Nighteye exhaled slowly. “To give your classmates the illusion of control by entrusting the Bifrost to them. There are too many variables, and only one path to victory. I had to make sure the future comes true.”
“So you were never planning on giving Felix a chance to surrender?” Izuku’s voice was rising faster than he intended.
The man shook his head in disappointment.
“Being a hero means making the hard choices. Even your classmates, Iida and Yaoyorozu, could see that the Bifrost was required if Pagonis could not be talked down from his actions,” Nighteye replied coldly. “I knew All Might was wrong to choose you as his successor; Mirio Togata was a much better choice. You’re too naive, Izuku Midoriya. How can you be a hero that makes everyone smile if you’re not willing to take out your obstacles?”
Dejection pooled in Izuku’s stomach. Sir Nighteye had always been one of All Might’s greatest fans, and had proven himself a true hero many times over. Was this really the kind of person he is? Is this what the modern hero had become?
“Did you know?” The boy turned to his idol instead.
All Might pursed his lips.
“It wasn’t my idea to-”
“Don’t-” Izuku’s voice raised sharply, before he stopped himself. His eyes pleaded desperately with his idol.
“Did you know that was the plan?” he asked quietly.
The air simmered with a pregnant tension.
“Yes.”
Izuku physically recoiled at the guilt-ridden reply, taking a few steps back to collect himself. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his trembling fists.
“Y-you… promised that you would give him a chance to surrender…” His voice choked with hurt.
“I’m sorry, Young Midoriya. I couldn’t-”
“It was all for the greater good, boy.” Nighteye folded his arms. “If we heroes hadn’t decided on this course of action, hundreds more people would be dead-”
“You are wrong!”
Izuku stormed up to the unflinching hero as green sparks crackled around his body. It felt as though his power wanted to burst from his body.
“All of you were wrong!” he continued to yell. “To turn your backs on him… To turn your backs on all of them! I was this close to getting my friend back, but you chose not to see it. You were too afraid of him to give him a chance!”
“Midoriya, calm down.” All Might raised a hand to placate him. “You don’t know how much the pro heroes have sacrificed-”
Izuku slapped his hand away.
“I respect you, All Might. You’re the greatest hero in the world, and I want to be just like you,” he said. “But how can I do that if I can’t even save a friend? Is this what it means to be a hero? To sacrifice people just to keep the peace?”
“Don’t be foolish, Midoriya. We didn’t sacrifice innocent civilians,” Nighteye said. “We got rid of an incredibly powerful villain to keep everyone else safe. We cannot save every single person. It’s high time you get that through your head.”
“And how about the residents of his own world? You doomed another world just to save our own,” Izuku shot back, teeth gritted. “And what of the League of Villains? Toga Himiko, shunned by her parents and society because of her quirk. Jin Bubaigawara, fated to never be a part of society just because of a small mistake. Tomura Shigaraki, ignored by everyone when he needed help most. Are they villains? Or are they merely victims who slipped through the cracks of society?”
“How did you know all of that?” All Might asked.
“Felix showed their memories to me back when I was kidnapped,” the boy answered hurriedly and turned his attention back to Nighteye. “We can do better, Sir. These people are suffering too. If we don’t stop evil at its roots, it’s only a matter of time before someone more powerful than Felix comes along.”
Nighteye released an exasperated sigh. “I’m not in the mood to debate with children. What’s done is done. You have to accept that.”
Izuku fell silent in response, but All Might’s phone began beeping in a strange sequence. He looked at the two heroes in confusion as both of them fished out their phones, staring intently at their respective screens.
“That’s not possible…” Nighteye cast a worried look at All Might.
“I don’t know how, but I’m afraid it is,” All Might said grimly. “Endeavour’s not the type to play practical jokes.”
“What happened?” Izuku asked, wide-eyed.
“Tartarus is under attack.”