It is said that waking up is supposed to be a slow, calm process. Well, either that, or a completely opposite feeling of abruptness and suddenness.

The light shines brightly pushing into his eyelids heavily. They flutter and squint, an already lost battle. Through the blurriness, he spots milky white tiles, cracked and yellowing with time. The ceiling above him is almost too familiar. He spent way too much time in hospitals not to recognize their walls. The sharp, distinct smell of antiseptics and unnatural cleanness aren't unhelpful in his reminiscing.

Something clicks next to him, stealing his attention. A brown-haired woman, clearly a nurse from her scrubs, is fiddling with the IV stand by his bedside. When their eyes make contact she stops her ministrations. Her eyes widen and then narrow in an instant. A cold expression flits across her pretty features. Twisting her face into an ugly sneer for half a second before her eyebrows smooth over and her expression relaxes. The change is so fast and jarring that he might've thought he'd imagined it if he didn't know any better.

He's seen this expression so many times before, he's practically an expert at spotting it.

She turns towards him, a deceptively soft smile on her face while she gently takes hold of his arm. He tenses nonetheless. Shoulders hunching in on himself, not at all surprised when she yanks the needles straight off his skin. An involuntary hiss escapes his throat as his flesh stings and stretches with her actions. Catching onto the needle slightly on its way out. A small trail of blood immediately wells up in its place. Trailing crimson across his pale, freckled skin.

She lets go of his arm as if burned, hands poised up as if she'd touched something vile.

It's only as she's walking away that he notices the other occupants of the room. Two hospital beds are propped up on opposite sides of each other. Filling the space of his room. Their room, he corrects mentally.

Both his classmate's eyes are trained on him. Todoroki's gaze is narrowed, his expression mirrors that of his right side's quirk. Cold and dangerous. His eyes flit from Izuku's arm to the door then back.

Iida on the other hand seemed to be at a loss for words. Eyes wide and confused. Seemingly not understanding what he just witnessed. He seems conflicted, as though he didn't know whether he wanted to comfort him or go off to lecture the nurse who'd just vacated the room.

Izuku doesn't give him time to decide. Instead, he tries to distract them and shift their attention.

"How long was I out?" He asks, voice coming out rough as he shifts to press his fingers against his bleeding arm. Wanting nothing more than to hide it under the covers. He would if it wouldn't bring even more attention to it.

"Ah- uhh three hours give or take." Iida fumbles with his answer, eyes seemingly more even confused and wide.

"Are you really going to ignore what just happened?" Todoroki's voice is even. Was the room always this cold?

"Yes, Midoriya, that nurse's behavior was unacceptable. Especially towards a hero in training such as yourself. We should report her immediately!" His previous stupor seems to be broken, overshadowed by his need to correct the wrongs done to his classmate.

"Nah don't worry about it, alright? It's nothing new." He tries to laugh while he delivers his response, wanting nothing more than to break the mounting tension. It comes off as an awkward huff instead. Todoroki seems unamused.

"It happened during our train ride too, he keeps disregarding the way people treat him." He says almost casually, completely ignoring Izuku's presence.

"Look, I'm quirkless and an SAO survivor," He gestures to the exposed brand on the inside of his wrist. Ignoring the flinch it gets him from Iida. "That's double the usual stigma. I'm not surprised. You shouldn't be either. This is just how it works."

"B-but that's not fair." Iida murmurs, his fist clenching in his lap.

He doesn't know how to respond to that. It wasn't but... the world wasn't fair. He learned that a long time ago.

"About that..." Todoroki says slowly, almost tentatively. "You say your quirkless but your moves back there... Even the way you were resistant to Stain's quirk. That wasn't normal. How did you do that?"

Ah, he was afraid of that.

"W-well, I really am quirkless." He starts, an old nervousness making itself known. "Have the double toe joint and all to boot." He wiggles his toes childishly. "But well..." He swallows audibly. "The two years I spent in the game... they sort of, changed me, I guess?" He looks at them, watching for some reaction. Their intent eyes will him to continue. "You know like, my instincts and reflexes sort of adapted to what they were in the game. Muscles memory even if virtual translated into my moves in real life." He brings on hand up to rub at the back of his neck, looking away.

"Look, I can't really tell you guys everything just yet but just- I don't think any of the others went through that so you probably shouldn't talk about this to anyone else."

He looks back at them and sees their slight hesitance. They know he's not telling them everything. However, the expressions are soft and open.

Accepting his explanation. Trusting him to tell them the whole truth later on.

They trust him and it makes all the difference.

"Alright."

"Thank you for telling us."

They say, the silence that follows is comfortable. Only interrupted by the beeping machines around them.

The peacefulness around them doesn't last long though.

The atmosphere breaks when the door opens and their mentors file into the room. Endeavour and Manuel aren't alone, however, for following them is none other than Tsukauchi and the chief of the police department himself.

They collectively stand, despite some of their obvious difficulty in doing so.

"Midoriya, it seems when something big happens, you're always somehow involved." Tsukauchi says in way of greeting. His stern voice barely serves to hide his amusement.

A grunt from the chief makes his demeanor harden, back to professionalism.

The conversation that happens next is a rollercoaster of instinctive anger and relief as the chief explains that despite their obviously illegal actions and vigilantism, the police department recognized their actions for their heroic nature.

With a warm thank you and a stern order to not repeat the night's events, they take their leave.

Tsukauchi, however, lingers a little longer.

His presence draws the curious eyes of his classmates, who do their best to appear discrete in their eavesdropping.

"How are you doing kid?" The man asks warmly, his shoulders relaxing visibly.

"I'm alright." His face falls and it makes Izuku's stomach twist. "Really, I am." His words must ring somewhat true for it draws a slight smile from the man in front of him.

"Well, try to stay out of trouble. Okay kid? You're going to give me grey hairs." He stops just as he turns to leave. Eyes shifting to survey the other occupants of the room before lowering his voice. "There have been some... developments in our investigation. Nothing concrete enough yet, but I may have to contact you again soon."

He doesn't know how to feel about that. He resigns himself to another night of restless contemplation following these words.

He's grateful to be somewhat kept in the loop nonetheless.

With a quick but sincere goodbye, the detective takes his leave.

His face must say it all, because neither Iida nor Todoroki make any move to ask him about it.

_________________________

That night, stepping into his apartment, he is immediately accosted by the worried form of his mother.

Her body language is shifty and fretful as hovers over him. Her worry overshadowing her need to make him comfortable by keeping her distance.

After countless reassurance and impromptu hugs, she finally releases him with a promise to sleep early and call out if he needed anything.

The warm feeling he gets at her actions makes it worth it.

His room is quiet when he gets there. His only moment alone in the past couple of days.

His phone is heavy in his pocket as he flops onto his bed. Green hair spread out on his sheets as he slides his hair tie out. Freeing them from their confines.

His scalp hurts and he takes a moment to card his hand through his curls to relieve some of the tension.

Maybe he should cut them soon.

His phone vibrates and he's once again reminded of his previous dread.

He needs to talk to Yui. He knows he should. She must be worried beyond belief. But somehow, he thinks talking to her now would be a little overwhelming.

Sighing softly, he picks up the device, twisting it in his hold absentmindedly.

When it rings again he answers.

"Kirito." Her voice is soft. His name is not new but certainly rare and uncommon coming from her. "Are you okay?" She asks quietly as if having sensed his need for a little calmness.

"I'm fine, sweetheart." The endearment is light on his tongue, his fondness for the little Ai is greater than he can express. "You don't have to worry about me."

"I can't help it, what if something happens to you." His voice is higher now, louder. It makes his eyes squeeze shut, wanting to erase the worry and fear in her voice. If shinshi was here, he'd know exactly what to say to reassure her.

Thinking of him makes his heart hurt.

"I'm not going anywhere, alright?"

She must sense his mood drop for she just answers with a soft. "Alright. Goodnight dad."

The beeping of the call ending makes his stomach drop. He really was selfish, wasn't he?

He rakes a hand over his face, grunting into it in frustration. He needed to do better, be better. Yui needed him to be strong.

He doesn't sleep that night. Mind wandering everything and nowhere.

He missed him.

He missed him so much it hurt.

chapter 20 is already up on my patreon! link in my bio, 

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