Shinsou was expecting excitement. He expected his heart to be fluttering at the mere thought of seeing his friend.

Izuku was awake. His friend was back, he was safe and alive. Yet... yet it didn't feel right. Why didn't he feel right?

Why were his guts shunning? Why was his mind swirling with a hundred possible ways this could go wrong?

This was Midoriya, the boy who came into his life like a storm. Entering and invading his life like a force of nature. Abolishing the resolve that he spent years accumulating, destroying the walls he fought so hard to put up and finally opening his heart to the world.

This was the kid that stood up for him when no one else did. The boy who defended him and stood by him even though he was facing his worst problems.

The boy who gave him hope when he was drowning in his sorrow. When he was losing faith in the world itself.

So, why wasn't he happy? Why was he so... soscared?

Looking around, he realized that he probably wasn't the only one harboring these feelings.

The class decided that going all at once would be too overwhelming for the boy. They split themselves into small groups. The first group, consisting of Iida, Uraraka, Todoroki and himself.

They were all walking, painfully slow. All of them dreading what they were going to find on the other end of that corridor.

Were they going to find the same green-haired boy they had come to know and love so much? Or were they going to find a broken, shattered version of their friend?

Either way, they were going to stand by him. Just as he did when they were the ones in need of a friend.

____________________

Now, standing in front of the white hospital door, it was easier said than done.

Decisively, Uraraka- the bravest of them all- lifted her hand up and knocked gently on the door. Each knock resonating through the deserted hallway.

A soft voice called out for them. The tone so quiet and meek that they'd almost missed it.

Tentatively opening the door, they stepped in, one by one. Shinsou's eyes scanned his surroundings, as he followed Uraraka into the room.

The room was bathing in natural sunlight, the curtains having been drawn open. Finally, his eyes landed on the small figure sitting up on the hospital bed.

He couldn't blame Uraraka for the quiet gasp that escaped her throat as he too was trying to come to terms with Izuku's appearance.

Izuku's once green effervescent hair was now a pure, snowy shade of white. A great contrast to the few green locks he still had left.

"H-hey guys." The boy in question greeted hesitantly, snapping them out of the shocked silence that had settled over the room.

"Deku!" Uraraka was the first to react. Quickly charging at the boy, encasing him in a bear hug. The gravity wielder having missed the subtle flinch that overtook her friend at her actions and her loudness. Shinsou, however, took note of this too late. "We're glad you're okay! You scared the living hell out of me!" She rambled on "I just- We were so scared! And then we saw you being taken away by the medics and- and w-we thought you- "She faltered at the end, her eyes tearing up, as her emotions became too overwhelming for her to finish her sentence. Yet, she didn't have to. They knew all too well the risk he was in.

"Midoriya." Iida was next to announce his greetings. "I am relieved to see you up and awake! I must say, you gave us quite a scare!" Despite his formal nature, they could all sense the concern and immense relief in Iida's tone.

"Yeah... we're glad you're safe." Todoroki added quietly. His demeanor no longer as cold and distant as it was in the past few days.

"I- I'm sorry for worrying you guys... but It's okay! I'm back now!" Izuku replied, a smile adorning his features. Yet, it didn't quite reach his eyes. It felt... wrong.

"Are you okay Izuku?" Having kept quiet until now, his question made everyone turn towards him at once.

Izuku looked up at him, finally meeting his eyes ever since he'd walked into the room. His arms twitched and Shinsou noticed that. If they weren't wrapped in bandages and put in a cast, Shinsou thought that Izuku would have been fidgeting. A nervous gesture he'd come to associate with the green- Oh...

"I- I'm fine." Lie! Izuku was lying to him.

"Are you su-"

"I'm fine." He cut him off abruptly.

Tension filled the air, enveloping the room like a thick blanket as an awkward silence settled between them. All of them exchanging worried glances at each other.

Uraraka ever the social butterfly, took over the conversation and diverted their attention to other, lighter subjects. Quickly diving into an explanation on the new dorm system and the eagerness of the class to see Izuku. The others shimming in with occasional comments and news.

As they were about to leave, Izuku asked them to tell their classmates that he'll be seeing them at the dorms in a few days. Stating that he was tired and couldn't take any more visitors.

Shinsou's gut churned as he recognized the other boy's behavior. Izuku was shutting himself off. Trying his hardest to keep everyone out and keep his emotions in check.

_____________________

Aizawa watched as Shinsou, Uraraka, Iida, and Todoroki exited the room. All of them wearing a similar dejected look on their faces.

He hoped that Izuku would open up after seeing them. However, given the desperate look on their faces, things didn't go as planned.

After initially waking up in a storm of emotions and chaos, Izuku had reverted back to an almost completely indifferent state. It was as if he had formed a wall around him. Keeping away his true emotions from the world around him and shutting himself off from everyone close to him.

When he looked into his eyes. He couldn't find the vibrant, lively eyes of his ward anymore. Instead, he was greeted with dull green eyes. Eyes that seemed to be constantly glazed over, as if Izuku wasn't even there most of the time.

It was worrying. Seeing his son go through all of this alone. He shouldn't have to. Izuku shouldn't even feel the need to. Yet, somehow, he did. His kid was willingly isolating himself. It made his heartache.

Gathering his resolve, he entered the kid's room.

He expected to find the kid in his bed. Instead, he was greeted with an empty hospital room.

Fear and worry spiked in his heart. However, it was then that he took note of the slightly ajar bathroom door.

Taking fast but tentative steps, he made his way towards the small opening.

There, stood Izuku. Slightly hunched over the sink, his one unbandage arm holding onto its side with a death grip, knuckles white and shaking as he looked in the mirror.

Through the reflection, their eyes met.

"What's wrong with me" It was muttered in nothing more than a mere whisper. Yet, it struck Aizawa like an arrow through his heart.

His kid sounded so miserable, so... sad.

Izuku turned around to face him, it was then that Aizawa noticed his eyes. They were red-rimmed, yet Izuku wasn't crying. It looked like he wanted to with everything he had, but he wasn't.

"Nothing is wrong with you Izuku-"

"Then why am I like this! Why am I so weak! S-so BROKEN" He cried out abruptly. His tone desperate as his breath caught in his throat.

"Izuku come here please," Aizawa asked quietly as he sat back down in the chair next to Izuku's bed. Wanting nothing more than to comfort his kid and shield him from the world.

The kid hesitated at first. His eyes narrowing in a dangerous manner. Aizawa ignored the sad, hurt voice in his head, saying that his kid was afraid of him.

Finally, Izuku moved closer, taking a seat in front of him on the bed.

"You are not weak. You are not broken." He began softly, making sure his tone was firm and resolute. "You are the strongest person I know. You are brave and kind and oh so strong.

The world is a cruel place. It is full of sadness and hatred and you learned that the hard way. Yet, here you are. You didn't give up, you didn't stop fighting, even when it seemed like all the odds were stacked against you. Even when it seemed like all the hope in the world had vanished. You are by no means weak."

"T-then why am I like this. Why can't I just be okay? Why- why can't I get over it already."

He paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath and debating how he was going to convey his next words. "The thing is Izuku... it's okay not to be strong all the time. You don't have to get over it...but learn to live with it. You can rely on others. You are not alone anymore. You have people who love you and care about you. People who are willing to take on the world with you." Izuku's eyes looked even redder now. However, his ward was looking at him head on now. He took it as his opportunity to continue, making sure to convey the genuine truthfulness behind his words. "You need to know that sometimes It's okay not to be okay."

As if a switch had been flicked, tears started pooling from his eyes like a river. A flood that was finally unleashed. His kid sobbed as he threw his arms around Aizawa, clutching onto him like a lifeline.

"You need to talk to someone, it doesn't have to be me. It can be your friends or your teachers or anyone you trust." He whispered silently into Midoriya's hair "You can't keep it all locked up inside of you. You'll end up bursting."

A small nod was his only response as they once again stayed like this.

____________________________

The next day came faster than expected. After his request, the class had finally agreed to go home. All of them leaving some kind of gift for him before they went. Whether it was small cards or sweets. It warmed his heart. He tried to ignore the guilt gnawing at his insides for having asked them to leave. He just... wasn't ready to talk yet.

He'd promised Aizawa that he would and he intended to keep that promise. However, he wasn't ready yet.

Right now, he was contemplating whether or not he had it in him to face All Might. He'd spent all morning watching and rewashing the news feed from that night at Kamino. Skipping over the part that included him and focusing on the fight between All Might and All for One.

All Might had won. But... at what cost. The number one hero had shown the world his true form.

Addressing everyone in his final statement. A bold 'You're next.' Aimed at the world.

Everyone saw his final declaration as a threat to the villains. Yet, Izuku knew the truth.

This was the end of the symbol of peace. All Might had wasted his last bit of power in that fight. He had lost his strengths forever.

The legacy was now passed onto Izuku himself. A torch handed down to him to carry on.

The weight of the legacy finally settling on his shoulders, threatening to suffocate him. To crush him.

Yet, he'd made a promise. He made a commitment and he sure as hell was going to live up to it.

This quirk. This power he'd fought so hard to protect back at Kamino. It was finally his. In every meaning of the word.

That, however, didn't mean he felt worthy. It didn't make the guilt go away. Didn't make the doubts disappear.

His choice was taken away from him, when All might, in all his skeletal glory, walked into the room.

They looked at each other for a moment. Each one of them taking in the state of the other.

His mentor was looking worse in truth. The fight having taken its toll on the man. And if All Might was shocked at his appearance, he didn't comment on it.

"Izuku, my boy." All Might began. Oh! How it felt right to finally hear those words coming from his mouth. He'd missed them. He'd missed him. "I'm happy to see you awake. You gave me quite a scare."

"H-hi All might."

"How are you! The doctors wouldn't let me get out of bed to visit you in the first few days!"

"It's okay. I'm ok- I'm getting better" He corrected himself, mentally applauding himself for the honesty.

"I wanted to ask you about Kamino... The detective said you'll have to talk to him but that you could take your time and do it when you're ready-"

"I still have it. You don't have to worry." Izuku interrupted suddenly, his eyes holding a tense seriousness.

"Wh-what..." confusion clear in the older hero's features.

"I didn't let them take it. I didn't let them have One for All" Understanding flickered in the hero's eyes as he finally understood what his student meant.

"Izuku my boy..." He started gently. Sadness, evident in his tone. "I wasn't asking about that. How could you think that this was what I was concerned about?" He started, tone firm and earnest. "I couldn't care less about One for All when it was your life that was on the line. That power is all it is. A tool. It's you. Your life that matters. It's you I was worried about Izuku."

"Oh..." Izuku answered quietly as if not expecting someone to be genuinely concerned for his well-being. He knew it was irrational, knew that he had a lot of people that loved him and cared about him now. Yet, it still came as a shock to him. "I'm sorry... for assuming."

"It's okay my boy." All Might have reassured him softly "You've been through a lot. I just want you to know that I'm proud of you. That you can talk to me, whenever you want to or need to."

All Might suddenly stood up, startling Izuku for a moment.

Izuku was about to question his actions. However, the next thing that happened, made him at a loss of words.

All Might was bowing. The symbol of peace was bowing to him.

"I'm sorry young Midoriya. I'm sorry that I allowed you to get hurt. It was my job to protect you, not only as a hero and a teacher but also, as a mentor."

"N-no All Might it wasn't- "

"I don't need to make any more excuses. I just hope that you'll forgive me and that from now on, you'll let me dedicate my whole time for your upbringing. That you will let me teach you and help you become the next symbol of peace."

"I- I- Thank you All Might. I forgive you."

That night, Izuku slept slightly better. A weight having been lifted off his shoulders. He still had nightmares, and his thoughts were constantly plagued by flashbacks and dark thoughts. Yet, hope bloomed in his mind and heart.

Hope that things would get better.

Guys! i just posted an animatic of Hamilton if you want to check it out under : alexander hamilton- animatic by kira