Prompt: This is a continuation of 'A Slap Means More.' Read that before this.SO yeah, I was requested to make a part two and to make it super angsty.

But first, I would like to preface this by saying this: IRL, this is not likely to happen. Most people are not going to address the fact because they won't notice anything wrong (they could, but they are likely to shove it aside to), and the person suffering is not going to say anything about it.

Moving on, this chapter is in third POV. If you are wondering why I use third POV for the more intense chapters, it allows you, the reader, to see all perspectives from all parties to some extent. In addition, I can include Izuku's facial expressions, something I can't do in first POV because Izuku has no fucking clue what face he is making. It also wouldn't make sense for Izuku to talk to himself if he is overly emotional like he will be here. That part is starting to come out a little bit in the fic itself with the recent chapters, but third POV will still happen.

Without further ado now, let's go.

Warnings: Breakdowns, Anxiety, Anger Issues, Eating Disorder, Grammar Mistakes

- - -

3rd POV

Izuku is not okay. Shouta knows that for sure.

Shouta has no clue what triggered it. What he does know is that it started a couple of days before the court trial.

Izuku became overall withdrawn. Not in an obvious way. If someone wasn't used to Izuku, it would have easily slipped under the radar. Hell, even someone close to him might not notice like his mother.

However, Shouta is close to Izuku, and he is an underground hero. He is meant to pick up on these things.

Shouta does not have a clear time of when it started, but the night before the court, he wanted Izuku to sleep. And Izuku, being the kind of kid he is, needs company. Izuku tried to argue against it, but he forced him to bed anyway because he has been working his ass off for his court case. When Shouta laid down and pulled Izuku to his chest, Izuku became stiff. Unusually stiff. It didn't ease Shouta when he felt Izuku's heart racing as if he was having a panic attack or when he noticed how shallow Izuku's breathing was.

Of course, Shouta assumed that it was because Izuku was worried about the case and gave him words of advice. It didn't calm Izuku down, but the kid eventually slept. He thought so anyway.

Either way, Shouta decided to keep a closer eye on him just in case.

The court day came and went and Izuku got his license back. Shouta expected Izuku to revert back to his troublesome self because he is a prohero again.

Except that isn't the case. Rather, it seemed like Izuku became more withdrawn. That isn't the exact wording he can use when Izuku is still being himself for the most part. He still talks to everyone and everything, but Shouta notices minor things.

It's the minor things that add up.

Izuku's voice is not longer boisterous. It's still loud, but there is a hesitance in it that Shouta has never heard before.

Izuku's fidgeting is worse. Sure, Izuku is a fidgety kid in general with his excess amounts of energy, but, in most cases, he's able to keep them in check. Now, Shouta sees how he constantly wants to be doing some type of work. His eyes bounce around the room, sharp on even the smallest of details that he wouldn't usually pick up. When he sees something wrong, Izuku goes to fix it without a second thought, even if it didn't need to be.

He holds a great distance between them. Izuku likes his space, but Shouta can usually stand pretty close without any problems. Izuku stiffens up if he is too close. He tries to put space in between them.

The sleeping situation didn't change either. He decides to leave Izuku alone on that for now after a couple more tries.

The worst thing is the eating. Sure, Izuku is eating, but Shouta can see his expression towards food. He looks sick, and he is forcing himself to eat.

Just what happened?

Izuku is anxious, but Shouta doesn't know why. His first assumption was because Izuku recently lost his arm, which would explain some things, but not everything.

The only positive change that Shouta sees is how Izuku is spending more time with his classmates rather than the teachers. He doesn't know why, but it's something that happened.

Shouta sticks around Izuku more to make sure he is okay.

A week goes by, and nothing changes, and Shouta can't help but be frustrated. Sure, he didn't expect those habits to go away overnight, but it seems like they were on a decline. He doesn't want Izuku to suffer that.

Therefore, Shouta sends him to Hound Dog in hopes he can get something through Izuku's head.

Izuku returns back worse than before. Sure, the habits clear up, but Shouta knows how Izuku works. He's covering them up, but he's in a stage where he can only cover so much up. Stuff is going to slip, and Shouta notices.

He's constantly doing something no matter the time of day. He withdraws from his friends and family to some extent. He eats even less.

Observing Izuku, he realizes that Izuku's actions are similar to those of abuse victims.

It brings up more questions.

After two weeks, Shouta is tired. He just wants Izuku to be happy and healthy. He's so worried for Izuku that, with the advice of Nezu, he removes all the cases that Izuku is on because the kid needs a break.

Shouta is in the teacher's lounge when Izuku's door bursts open, and he comes out pissed.

And now that Shouta thinks about, that's the most emotion he has seen from Izuku in a while.

Izuku does not hesitate to approach Shouta, rage clear in his eyes, "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, SHOUTA?! WHY DID YOU REMOVE ME FROM MY WORK?!"

Shouta knew Izuku was going to be pissed, but he didn't think that it would be to this extent. He hasn't seen Izuku this mad in a while.

What is wrong?

Shouta takes a deep breath, knowing that he needs to be calm, "Izuku, please calm down-"

"NO! I WANT TO KNOW YOUR GODDAMN REASON! I GOT NO PREWARNING OR NOTHING! I JUST GOT A CALL SAYING THAT I AM ON LEAVE! YOU COULD HAVE AT LEAST HAD THE BALLS TO TELL ME BEFORE, BUT NO YOU FUCKING DIDN'T!"

Shouta glares at Izuku, making his voice firm, "I am not telling you anything until you calm down, Izuku."

Shouta almost doesn't notice it, but Izuku's jaw clenches for a moment and he stiffens up slightly. It slacks immediately after as the rage quickly returns. He marks that down for later.

"IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ME SHIT, THEN I'M GOING TO NEZU!" Izuku snaps as he storms off. He leaves the building with a loud slam and crack, probably from the door breaking.

The lounge is silent from the scene. Most of them have never seen Izuku that pissed, so they don't know how to react.

Then, Hizashi comes in a moment later with a concerned look, "Hey guys, what happened? I just walked past Izuku, and he looked like he was ready to murder somebody."

Nemuri answers, more neutrally than expected, "Shouta removed him from his cases, and Izuku got pissy over it. Shouta wasn't willing to talk to him until he calmed down, so he's going to Nezu for answers instead."

Shouta sighs, running a hand through his hair as he tries to settle his racing heart. That's the worst reaction he could have gotten. He didn't expect that at all. Even when Izuku lost his license, he wasn't that mad.

Or maybe he was. He wasn't actually there, but he has a feeling that he would have gotten a report if Izuku destroyed something or similar actions.

Either way, there is something very wrong.

Shouta doesn't even notice Hizashi move until he is right in front of him, "Sho? Why did you remove the tiny listener from his cases?"

Shouta was trying to keep it between Izuku and himself for personal reasons, but Shouta desperately wants to help Izuku. He needs help.

Shouta stands up, "I'll explain in my dorm. You come too, Nemuri," He doesn't bother to look back as he goes to his dorm, leaving the door open for the two of them to come in. He can hear their footsteps entering and the click of the door closing.

"What is going on, Shouta?" Nemuri asks as she takes a seat on his couch with Hizashi right beside her.

Shouta faces them, running a hand over his face, "Have you two noticed how Izuku has been acting differently?"

Hizashi frowns, being the first to answer, "Yeah, thought it took me a couple of days to notice. He's still acting like himself just..."

"Withdrawn?"

"In a way, yeah. It's like there is this one way mirror up between him and everybody."

"When did you notice it?"

"A couple days before the court day."

Shouta nods, "That's when I noticed it too," He faces Nemuri, who hasn't said anything and is instead looking down at her lap thinking. Considering she is usually the first to jump on these types of issues with Hizashi, it's odd. Shouta shoves it aside, "Nemuri?"

Nemuri lifts her head, "Of course. That's when I noticed the difference as well since he was fine before the All Might speech aired."

"Do you think it has something to do with that?"

Nemuri shakes her head, "If that was the case, Izuku would just be attacking All Might. He's never cared about what he said before, so why should he now? Especially after All Might made an interview to make sure to correct himself. You know him well enough, Sho. I shouldn't have to tell you this."

Shouta has a feeling that Nemuri knows something he doesn't. That wouldn't be surprising given the gossip queen she is, but she would have already spat it out by now usually. For once, he actually wants her to spill.

Hizashi interrupts his thoughts, "Did something else happen that day? Was he involved in something else we don't know about?"

"Izuku was at UA all day, so it's highly unlikely," Shouta explains, rubbing the back of his neck as he tries to think through that day.

The first encounter Shouta had with Izuku (since he has no clue if the brat slept or not) was at breakfast. The four of them ate together as Izuku and Hizashi went back and forth with questions Izuku could possibly be asked at court. That lasted maybe thirty minutes before Izuku said he was going to work on building his case.

Then All Might's statement popped up on TV at lunch, and Shouta grabbed Izuku to let him watch since he considered it involved him. Izuku started freaking out, and when Yagi tried to defend himself, he just told him to shut up since he was entering a panic attack. Izuku then started mumbling to himself until he ended up saying some self-degrading comments about himself, some Shouta wouldn't have. Shouta slapped Izuku (which, now that he thinks about it, wasn't a smart move. However, he can't go back to change that, and it wouldn't be the first time the two physical harmed one another) to snap him out of it, dragged him to his dorm, and gave him a much needed talk. After that, the four ended up relaxing the rest of the day...if one can consider playing Just Dance relaxing, but he digresses.

Nothing was off.

It could be possible that the speech affected him more than he let on, but, as Nemuri said, that's not something that he would normally let bother him. If anything, Izuku would just be even more spiteful towards Yagi.

Yet, here they are without a clue of what could be wrong.

"The only time Izuku could have gotten involved with something is in the early morning or late night, right? Those are the only times we weren't around him," Hizashi points out.

Shouta groans, sitting down next to his boyfriend, "I would have known if Izuku went somewhere. I would have heard it since I was up that night grading papers." Or his phone would go off saying Izuku left campus unless he hacked through it.

At this point, Shouta doesn't know anymore. If that was Izuku's reaction to him taking him off the cases, it wouldn't be so far off as to assume that he is sneaking past him.

But why?

Hizashi firmly states, "Sho, we need you to tell us everything you know happened that day. I don't care if we were there or not. That's the only way we can figure out what is wrong so that we can help him." Hizashi is clearly concerned for Izuku based on his demeanor alone.

Shouta faces a wall as he starts to repeat what happened, "The first time I saw Izuku that day was at breakfast. He was with us for about thirty minutes, and Hizashi and him were doing those questions. He then went to his room to work on the case. When All Might's video aired, I pulled him out because I knew he would rather see it instead of hear it from me. He started panicking, told Yagi to shut up, and went spiraling from there-"

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Shouta's phone interrupts him, and he pulls it out to find a message saying that Izuku left campus. What the hell did Nezu do? He really made the problem worse.

He was already moving to leave when a call comes up from Nezu.

Shouta doesn't hesitate to answer the call and snaps, "What the hell did you do to get him to leave?!"

"Now, Aizawa, please calm down. It appears that I may have miscalculated how deep the issue is, and I do apologize," Nezu says, his cheery voice just sounding sickening to Shouta, "I recommend you send Midnight after him-"

Shouta ends the call right there. Nezu already fucked it up enough. He wasn't going to listen to the damn rat's advice. He's going to get his fucking brother no matter what.

As Shouta is leaving, he calls over his shoulder to his friends, "Izuku left campus!"

He ignores them following in favor of finding Izuku.

- - -

Izuku already knew it was going to be a bad day. Shouta has been chipping away at Izuku's nerves the moment he woke up, and he won't give Izuku space. He is so close to crumbling. It's taking so much work and energy to just work with Shouta.

He knows the man is worried. He isn't stupid.

Well, apparently he is considering his body is on a constant flight or fight mode around him. He is so close to drowning.

At this point, he wouldn't fight it. Never has he felt tired, let alone exhausted. Izuku suspects that the lack of food may be part of it, but he rather starve than risk throwing it up. He's tired of the noose around his neck. He's tired of the racing heart and struggle to just breathe.

The only thing he can do is his best, doing his work to distract from his rampant thoughts.

Izuku is kind of shocked that Shouta hasn't called him out. If Izuku looks off by even a centimeter, Shouta is around him like his mother worried. Despite his off-behavior, he hasn't said anything. He has only kept a closer eye on him, something Izuku does not like one bit.

As Izuku is about to start going through his cases, he finds them all gone. The only thing left is a statement saying that he is on leave until otherwise.

It felt like someone took scissors and cut his final line. Except, instead of drowning, he is fighting as aggressively as possible to stay afloat out of spite. They took away the one thing that kept him sane, and, now that it is gone, he has lost it.

The first person Izuku goes to face is Shouta. Despite his ever crippling anxiety around the man, Izuku seems to have gained new confidence (or maybe he is hoping for Shouta to kill him with his outrage).

As soon as Shouta speaks, the anxiety returns. However, with anger guiding him rather than his head, Izuku just screams at him before going to face Nezu.

Izuku doesn't bother to knock before busting the door open to find the rodent waiting for him, "Why the hell was I removed from my cases?!"

"I thought you would know? Did Aizawa not tell you?" The rat asks innocently despite knowing the answer.

"Of course he didn't! He wanted me to calm down when he didn't even tell me he was going to remove me from them in the first place"

"I see. So there is a lack of communication is on both sides."

Izuku's eyes narrow, "I'm not playing your ridiculous games, Nezu! What the fuck is going on?!"

"I believe you are highly aware of what is going on. I do not see why you need an answer from me." The whole time, Nezu's voice is innocent, which is bullshit.

"Except I don't!"

"If you-"

"If you tell me to CALM DOWN, I won't hesitate to leave and do this shit by myself!"

"That is not a desirable response, is it? If anything, it will permanently destroy your companionship with Aizawa. Perhaps, maybe that is what you are after?" Izuku feels the noose around his neck tightening again, immediately forcing him to settle down and figure out whatever the hell Nezu is going on about.

"Of course not." Which is the truth. While Izuku may be scared of him, he would still kill himself for Shouta with no hesitation.

"Are you sure about that, Izuku? There are many signs that would indicate such a want. You immediately become tense whenever you are around him. You have become constantly anxious, it interfering with your daily life to such an extent that you struggle to take care of yourself, let alone anybody else. You have practically-"

Izuku can feel his heart in his throat, struggling to breathe as he softly says, "Shut up..."

Nezu looks Izuku in the eyes, his smile becoming strained, "You are scared of Aizawa, Izuku-"

The anger snaps through once more, but his anxiety still seems to be the leader as he screams desperately, "I AM NOT SCARED OF SHOUTA!" Because it's the truth to him. Why should he be scared of someone who would do anything for him?

"Then why are you panicking when I mention him? Pretending-"

"SHUT UP!" Izuku screams at the top of his lungs, ignoring the burning and fear and guilt, "I'M DONE HERE! DON'T EXPECT ME HERE ANYMORE! SINCE NOBODY IS WILLING TO HELP ME, I'LL DO IT BY MYSELF!"

He doesn't even hear Nezu's calls as he storms out blindly, unaware of where he is going.

- - -

Shouta isn't shocked that Izuku turned off his GPS locator. That doesn't stop him from becoming more frustrated.

Why can't Izuku just talk to him? It's the more logical solution. Shouta doesn't know what is going on, but he just wants to help Izuku.

Why won't Izuku let him in?

"Sho, I don't think we're going to find him just wandering around," Hizashi points out hesitantly, "If Izuku is pissed, where would he go?"

Shouta slows down, not realizing how fast he had been going until then, "He either went to his mom's old apartment, the beach, or, in a worst case scenario, the bar."

"Why don't we check those places then?"

Shouta sighs, "You're right. We should split up and check-"

All the sudden, Nemuri's phone starts ringing.

Shouta considers throwing it because they are trying to find their friend, but instead, Nemuri answers it while ignoring Shouta's glares, " Detective, how may I-?" Her face drops, "Got it. I will be there as soon as possible," She hangs up and faces the boys, "I'm needed. It's an emergency."

Shouta swallows down anything rude he wants to say, "Fine. We'll keep you up on the situation."

Nemuri smiles smaller than usual, "Got it. I wish you luck on finding him!"

Then, she runs off in the opposite direction.

"I'll check the beach, and you check the apartment?" Hizashi asks.

Shouta snaps out of his stupor, "Yeah. Text me if you find him."

"Of course, Sho. And don't worry: we'll find him. Even then, Izuku can take care of himself."

"I know, but I don't want him to be by himself anymore."

Hizashi gives him an empathetic smile, "I know. Let's go find him."

The two part ways.

- - -

"Detective, how may I-"

"Midnight, Izuku just came in my station asking to change the hero contract has. When I told him that he needs permission from Eraser or Nezu, he did not react well. I currently have him in the back, and he looks ready to break at any moment. He asked for you to come."

"Got it. I'll be there as soon as possible."

- - -

Nemuri ran. She doesn't know what is going through Izuku's head, but she needs to be there is fast as possible to keep him from making any rash decisions.

If he hasn't already.

Nemuri enters the station to find Detective Tsukauchi behind the front desk. As soon as he sees her, he stands and walks around to her, "This way. I don't know what is going on."

Nemuri straightens up, "Is he at least alert?"

"Last time I check, yeah." She sighs of relief. That means she can talk to him. She doesn't know what to do if he wasn't.

The two eventually arrive at a door at the end of the hallway.

"He's in there. Good luck," Detective says before leaving.

Nemuri opens the door and can't help her heart from shattering from the sight of Izuku.

Izuku is curled up on a chair in the corner, a position she has never seen the boy in before. When he looks at her, his eyes are glossy, close to tears. The eyebags under his eyes are pronounced even from a distance. His clothes and hair are a mess.

When Izuku notices it is Nemuri, he gives her a shaky smile as his voice cracks, "Hey."

Nemuri moves until she is right in front of him and bends down to his height, "You don't have to hide. Shouta isn't here. He doesn't know you are here. It's just you and me."

That's all it takes. Izuku uncurls himself and tackles her into a hug so fast, and Nemuri doesn't hesitate to hold him.

He sobs, screams, "I can't do this anymore!"

- - -

It's a couple of days after the court day, and Nemuri is grading papers in her dorm when she hears a knock on her door. Putting her pencil down, she goes and opens the door to find Izuku there, but much more fidgety than usual.

"Hey, can I stay here for a bit? Please?" His voice is so soft, and she can't help but wonder what is wrong.

Nemuri gives him and smile and steps aside, "Of course," Izuku's eyes brighten slightly as he enters, and she closes the door, "Is something wrong?"

The brightness that was there disappears, "Yeah. I just want away from everything."

She raises an eyebrow, "Usually, you would go to Hizashi for that."

"Doesn't mean I have to." Izuku takes a seat on her couch, and Nemuri knows, from an answer like that, that something is up, and she is going to get to the bottom of it.

Nemuri moves to the couch beside Izuku, but leaves room between them, "Did Hizashi do something?"

"No, of course not! There's nothing wrong!"

"Izuku, we noticed how you have been acting lately. Or, at least, I have. Something is wrong. You don't have to tell me. You can tell Hound Dog or Shouta," Nemuri notices a flinch when she says Shouta's name. It's barely visible, so most people wouldn't noticed, but being a trained hero plus being around Izuku all the time has its benefits. She goes quiet from that. What did Shouta do to garner that kind of reaction?

Izuku sighs, "Just an off day is all."

"Izuku, you've been acting like this since before the court day."

"Call me out, why don't you?"

"I'm worried. We're worried. You don't have to be by yourself." Izuku doesn't say anything, and it is Nemuri's turn to sigh.

What did Shouta do before the court case to have Izuku possibly scared of him?

After some thinking, it clicks.

Shouta slapped Izuku, right when Izuku seemed to be going into a panic attack. It all started that day. Sure, Shouta and Izuku fight, but, as far as she knows, Shouta has never slapped Izuku or hit him in that type of situation.

Thinking further on it, she noticed how he seems fine around most people, yet when Shouta enters, he calms down suddenly.

It makes her want to slap Shouta.

"This has been happening since Shouta slapped you," Nemuri tries, and Izuku falters. Bingo, "Izuku, he did something to you when you were in a bad situation. It's understandable for you to act how you are."

Izuku looks down at his hand, "But he is my best friend."

"And he is human. You are too. You two need to talk this out-"

"How am I supposed to tell Shouta that I am being a fucking bitch because he slapped me?! Would he even take my seriously?!"

"If he is your best friend, he will."

"But it's my fault-"

"None of that. Look, I won't force you two to talk. However, I will continue to tell you that this is something you both need. You don't deserve to suffer because of Shouta's stupid decisions. Do you understand?" Without looking at her, Izuku slowly nods, "For now, if you ever need a break or just want out of something, come to me, alright?"

"Thanks, Nem...you're the best."

"Of course I am! Now come on, you can help me grade!"

- - -

Nemuri holds onto Izuku tightly ignoring how thin he is as she rocks him, speaking gently, "Izuku, I know you're scared, but I can't have you destroying yourself over this anymore. You two need to talk."

"I can't. I can do so many things, but I can't do this," Izuku gasps.

"But you can, Izu. Do you know why?" Izuku shakes his head, "I'm here with you along with so many other people. You're not alone. You don't have to feel trapped. If Shouta tries something, I will stop him, okay? But you need to tell him what is going on. I promise that, once you tell him, that he won't hurt you anymore. He just wants to help you, and he can. I'm asking you to trust me and do this."

Izuku hesitates. However, after what just happened and how far gone he is, he decides that he really has nothing else to lose and slowly nods.

Nemuri smiles at Izuku, "Thank you," She stands up, bringing Izuku with her, "Now come on. We'll go back to UA and have the conversation in my dorm, alright?"

Izuku nods as they move out, mute the entire walk there. When they get there, Nemuri sends the message to Shouta that she has Izuku with her.

The wait is near unbearable for Izuku. He feels like he is about to get sick at any moment even as Nemuri tries to calm him down.

Ten minutes later, there is a rapid knocking on her door. Nemuri shoots him an encouraging smile as she moves from the couch to open the door that reveals a worried Shouta and Hizashi.

Izuku is starting to regret his choice, and the conversation hasn't even started yet.

Nemuri says something to the two, something Izuku can't hear, before letting them in.

He locks eyes with Shouta, and he wants to run.

Shouta approaches Izuku and reaches forward. Unlike usual, where he would normally deal with it, he gets off the couch and puts distance between the two. He crosses his arms in an attempt to prevent himself from getting sick. His trembling seems worst than usual as he feels close to collapsing.

But he stands.

Shouta's eyes widen with concern, "Izuku, kid, what's wrong?" Izuku tries to say something, but nothing comes out. Shouta becomes desperate, "Izuku, please. I don't care what it's about. I just want to help."

Izuku looks down, unable to look at Shouta as he can feel tears roll down his cheeks.

He says the only thing he can say, a mere whisper, "I'm sorry."

Shouta watches the kid crumble before him, and he can't do anything about it. He tries to approach Izuku, but the kid jumps back and looks at him with fear.

Shouta wants to get sick. Izuku is scared of Shouta. Shouta fucked up. He has been scared of Shouta for so long, and Shouta is constantly around him. No wonder Izuku is a ball of anxiety. He's constantly around someone he doesn't trust.

Shouta wishes he can scream at him. He made Izuku suffer. Honestly, he doesn't deserve to be around Izuku because that's unfair on Izuku.

However, scared or not, Izuku would want him by his side.

He needs to fix this.

Shouta returns to the couch, giving Izuku as much space from him as possible.

Shouta speaks gently, "Izuku, you have nothing to be sorry for. Obviously, I betrayed you somewhere, and that is on me. I need to improve, but I need to know where I went wrong, Izuku. I don't need details. I need to learn that on my own. I just need to know when, please."

The words tumble from Izuku, "When you slapped me."

Shouta deserves to go to hell. He fucking thought that but decided to write it off!

Shouta sighs, "I understand-"

"No, you don't," Izuku states, his voice so weak, but it is still firm, "You don't know how it feels to have your heart racing whenever I am around you. Or how it feels to suffocate. Or when it feels like one wrong move will fuck up my entire life! You don't understand how weak I feel! Eating is a fucking chore now, Shouta! It feels like I am locked in place whenever I am around you, so please don't say that!" By the end, he is screaming, looking at Shouta with eyes that make Shouta realize how badly he fucked up. Izuku then withdraws once more, his eyes glued to the floor again.

"Thank you for screaming at me, kid," Shouta says, causing Izuku to look at him, "I deserve it. I am so sorry for the suffering I put you through. I am sorry for slapping you. I am sorry for noticing it sooner. You deserve so much better, Izuku." Izuku gasps, tears running down his cheeks, "I don't expect that to make things to go back to normal. That's illogical. I need to earn my trust back. I am aware. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. If you want me to stay away or go to therapy or anything like that, alright? This is about you, Izuku. Whatever will help you, I will do it without hesitation."

Izuku slowly nods, "Okay...c-can you leave for a bit? I just-"

Shouta cuts him off, "You don't have to explain to me, kid." Shouta gets up and goes to the door. Before he leaves, he looks back at Izuku and says, "I'm proud of you for doing this." Izuku doesn't get to respond as he leaves.

As soon as Shouta leaves, Izuku collapses on the floor and breaks down in relief, ignoring Nemuri and Hizashi who are still in the room.

Finally, Izuku feels the noose loosen just a little.

- - -

Author's Notes

This took a while. Hopefully, this satisfies your need. Sorry if it's a bit rushed though. I really had no plans going into this.Also, 5k words. Goddamn.