Warning: Getting sick and blood. If you have read to this point, you'll probably be okay though.

---

"I know where he is, but I want in."

To say that the mood shifted drastically would be an understatement of the year. It went from a complicated conversation to what feels like a war.

There would hardly be a consideration when Aizawa snaps, "No. You're done. You're not getting involved anymore than you are."

Of course, the intensity isn't going to stop me from clapping back.

"Uh, sir? I'm way deeper in this than you are. You really can't say shit."

"Izu- Mikumo-" Aizawa starts again, but I don't want to hear it. I cut him off.

"I'm already on my death row. If my life brings him down, I'll die happy."

"Mikumo!" Aizawa sounds pissed.

Then, Yamada intervenes, "You can get that life back! We have a way of getting rid of that quirk so you can live a normal life again!"

I turn to Yamada, "How?" He sighs.

"A while ago, you stole a quirk factor destroyer from a yakuza. If we use that to get rid of your quirk, you will have your life back. But, Mikumo, you can't do this."

"Uh-huh," I start with, "You're lying or partially lying." Which may be bold to say, but I am starting to pick up on everyone's mannerisms now. Not too hard if you pay attention.

Aizawa sharply interrupts us, "No, he is not-" I don't hesitate to cut him off again.

"Partially lying. I don't deny that it doesn't exist because of course it fucking does. Sounds like some yakuza shit to me. You're lying about getting rid of my quirk. If it was possible, it would have already been done unless something was in the way."

"We can make it happen somehow," Yamada nods quickly in agreement.

Kayama adds, "It wouldn't be the first time we broke the law for you."

As appealing as that may be, there are flaws to that plan. One, we have to actually get it. Two, once we get it, we are on the run. If I am on the run, then, three, I can't go back to the Motel. I'm also dragging other people into my drama, but I am not sure if that is four or not.

Either way, those aren't even the most significant flaw to the plan.

I stand up, "I do enjoy the kind gesture idea, but I'm going to have to pass. We need this quirk to find him, especially if he decides to move. I prefer revenge."

That's when Aizawa moves in front of me, "This is your life that you're talking about." I don't back down, instead standing as tall as possible...which doesn't mean much when Aizawa is tall AF compared to me, but I digress.

"Yes. This is my life, not yours, but you know what? You're not the one growing weaker every day or throwing up anytime you need to eat or replace the tank or on a time limit. You know who is? Me! I'm going through all that bullshit and more, and I am tired of it. If I take out the man who did this to me, I'll be happy with that as my dying wish because everyone would be safe with that piece of shit out."

Aizawa goes to say something, but he cuts himself off and steps back. Nobody says a thing. That's kind of awkward. I wonder why Aizawa stopped because he has been going at it ever since I brought it up.

I sigh, "If you want to help, please help whoever comes to the shelter. They and their families come for help, and I won't be here forever. I want them to have as much support as possible."

Once again, there's no immediate response. I don't like this. I didn't want to dig into possible trauma. I wanted to get a job so I can make lots of money, and I am starting to believe that this is the very opposite of that.

"You were always like this," Aizawa interrupts my thoughts with a tired tone and maintains eye contact with me, "Even before your health problems, you were always willing to throw yourself away no matter how many times I told you not to."

"Sho?" Yamada asks, clearly concerned for the man.

"I know you don't remember, but I promise that you are there. You would have never gone this far to help people. You would have helped them, but you would have only given them money and good luck. Doing what you are doing now is something I watched you grow into, so it didn't erase who you are. You just lost your memories," Aizawa sighs, "I just want to know why then when you could live a full life. A life without the pain you have gone through."

Well, that's heavy.

I feel like even if my death was not so near, I would still be doing what I am doing. I want to help people. I am not doing this to repent for my past mistakes so I go to heaven. That's fucking stupid, especially when I don't remember my past. I'm doing this because I want to, and I believe that is pretty obvious.

If I had the capability to choose whether I live longer without helping others, I don't think I could expand my life at the harm of others.

Well, maybe some, but I am assuming that I wouldn't have much of a choice there. However, can I say the same for Izuku?

"Somehow, I feel like asking the man who has lost his memories why he was self-sacrificing before he lost his memories is not the best way of going about this," I respond.

"I'm asking how you feel now. You're going to provide a similar answer, whether you like it or not," Aizawa points out. Maybe, but I don't know how that shit works. I shrug.

"Well, I would simply say that I prefer a short life of happiness over a long life of misery." Which is true. A long life of misery sounds like hell.

"You don't have to sacrifice yourself to be happy."

"I never said that, did I? That just happens. However, when your life is expected to be short with this bullshit anyway, you kind of don't care. You just want to do the most you can. I was a hero student, right? Tell me the hero life expectancy," I get no response, "Exactly. I don't know if I was thinking like that before all this, but that's the best you're getting out of me."

Well, that shut them up for a minute.

And with my luck, they aren't the ones to interrupt the silence but rather my phone for a call. If I was a normal person, I would ignore it. However, it's a call! If someone really needs me, they call. Otherwise, they can text and get a response within ten minutes due to my lovely cellphone addiction.

Ignoring the glares I get, I pull out my phone and answer, "Good day, how may I help you?"

As soon as I hear who it is, my blood goes cold.

"Atanki! It has been a while! Or do you prefer Izuku?"

All for One. I probably should have known he had his eye on me somehow and not just through his little minions. That's too easy.

That's a fuckup on my part.

I pull the phone away to swallow before bringing it back, "For you, I prefer Queen, King, or to never hear from you again. I prefer the last one for your information." Doesn't stop my mouth from running apparently.

"It's nice to hear your snark again, especially given the situation," All for One muses. He sounds sick in the head as always.

"Do I want to know what you mean?"

"I presume you do since it involves your recent investment."

"Which one? I invest constantly."

"Still the smart mouth as always. It may be better for you to see it. Come to the Motel."

It takes me a moment to process what he means. However, once it clicks, I hang up and run out with a single thought:

Let everyone be okay please.

"Mikumo!" I hear Aizawa yell from behind me. I did sort of just leave them, so I suppose that is expected.

"Business call, we can talk later!" I call back as I continue to run. However, I don't get very far as I feel something wrap around my chest and arms. I then get pulled back until I am caught by someone's arms, "Let me up!"

"No, what's wrong?" Aizawa questions.

"This is one, but the second and more important is that somebody is visiting the Motel!"

"Who?"

"Your favorite! Now let me go or I will chew your arms off!"

"Shit."

"I'll go get the car!" Yamada informs from behind me, and I can hear fast footsteps.

Kayama appears in front of me, "Hold up, is this sudden or-?"

"No, he heard us," I tell without a second thought, "We need to go. If you aren't letting me go, move!" Maybe it would be a bit of a stretch to say something like that, but when I just said it and figured it out? Not as much as you would think.

Aizawa lets me go, but it does not last long as he comes in front of me, turns around, and bends down, "Get on. You're already struggling."

I can't even rebel. We're already wasting enough time. I quickly climb on his back, and we rush to our right. I should be concerned about dragging three random people into this, but if past me trusted them, I'll trust them as well. I have to with my shitty positioning.

"Do you know how Izu-Mikumo?" Aizawa questions as a car drifts in front of us. I jump off his back, but I hesitate to get in the car as I think about his question. There's pretty much two options. The first one would be the All for One way with a quirk. However, given I have not seen him for a couple months at least, that's a bit of a stretch seeing as he would need a quirk that would last that long in the first place. Most don't.

Thus, it has to be the second one. A bit more out of All for One's style, but I suppose he has to if he wanted something that would stay no matter what a vast majority of the time. It's actually brilliant. If only he used that intelligence for less shitty things. Nevertheless, I know what is wrong easily, so I guess he isn't that smart.

Before I stop myself, I rip off my mask, slam it to the ground, and stomp it to pieces.

Unfortunately, that's all I could do before my body starts to reject me. I collapse on my knees. I cough and heave heavily as it tries to get rid of nothing. My body trembles while my stomach and throat quickly grow in pain. I feel hot and cold and-

It's so damn much. So much so that I barely hear what Aizawa says.

"You can't go like this. We need to get you to Recovery Girl."

That is enough to inspire me to move. I slowly rise with my arms crossed over my stomach and my body half curled while still trying to cough out a furball.

I doesn't stop my snark between each heave and cough, "Go fuck- your- yourself."

"No, this is ridiculous."

I lean against the car as I open the door, "I need- to- to see- him."

Aizawa grabs my shoulder, "The Motel is at least an hour away, remember? Do you think you can make it in this state?" Obviously, I nod yes as I throw myself from Aizawa's grip into the car seat, "Mikumo, you genuinely look like you are about to collapse."

Kayama adds from beside Aizawa, "I agree. This is stupid to do. We can send a bunch of heroes after him instead."

I bring the inside of my elbow to my mouth as I continue to cough, and I can smell iron. Fuck. It doesn't help that my throat is burning like hell.

"B-both, wants me," I mutter, which is true, "Use i-in p-p-plan, no f-fight."

"We don't have the power to go after him now," Aizawa informs me as he bends down to my level.

"S-stronger time. N-n-now-!"

I can't talk anymore as more blood decorates my sleeve. Shit shit shit!

Suddenly, a hand clamps over my mouth and nose and a sweet smell-

---

Shouta's POV

Before I can ask Izuku what he means, Nemuri suddenly puts a hand over his mouth and releases her quirk. Shockingly, it does not take long for him to collapse against the back of the seat, trembling still.

"I'm sorry, but Izuku was going to kill himself if he stayed awake any longer. However, we need to figure out what to do now," Nemuri apologizes as she lets go of Izuku.

I inspect Izuku, and he genuinely looks terrible: Pale skin, dark eyebags, shaking, sweaty, and blood on his mouth, chin, and sleeve. He looks like he has been at death's door for a while.

That mask was keeping Izuku alive.

"Here, put these on him," Hizashi interrupts my thoughts as he throws me handcuffs, "They're quirk suppressant cuffs."

I catch the handcuffs, and I follow his instructions by cuffing Izuku despite preferring not to. However, as soon as they activate, his trembling disappears.

"Good thinking, Zashi," Nemuri compliments, "He can't go like that."

I reach forward and remove the sweat-drenched curls from his forehead and sigh. I then move my hand to his neck to check his pulse to find how weak it is.

I'm sorry, Izuku.

I reach in, scoop Izuku up bridal style, and say, "He isn't going."

Without another word, I start carrying Izuku back to the school. I know Izuku wants to take him down. I know he didn't lie when he said he would be happy as long as All for One is dead.

However, Izuku is so young. He's 16. He deserves a peaceful death, not a death on the battlefield. I just got him back. I'm not going to let him unless I have to. It is already unfair enough that he got involved in the first place.

I'll compensate Izuku later for it. If his death is still near...I don't want to think about it, but if it is, I'm going to make sure he gets to do everything he wants before he dies, even if it's his stupidest dreams.

"Shouta," Hizashi suddenly says. That's when I realize we're in Recovery Girl's office, "The bed?" I must have zoned out. I mutter an apology as I set Izuku on the bed.

Recovery Girl immediately appears beside the bed and sets him up quickly, "Give me space. I'll figure out what is wrong with him."

I step back to where Hizashi is, and he immediately pulls me to his side.

I lean into Hizashi as I ask, "Where's Nemuri?"

"She's letting Principal Nezu know what is going on. He'll take care of it from there," I nod to show that I heard him, "Our job is to just be there for him."

"Good. I'm tired of leaving him alone."

"I am too. I just hope he'll be okay long enough for us to get the quirk factor destroying bullet."

"Me too."

From there, the room goes quiet until Recovery Girl finishes setting Izuku up and switches him to a collar instead of handcuffs. Given Izuku's lack of energy, she can't heal him. Izuku will have to take the slow route to heal this time.

I expected Izuku to wake up within a couple of minutes, a few minutes maximum. He always had whenever Nemuri used her quirk on him, yet he is still asleep. He doesn't even seem to be reacting to his surroundings.

"Was he like this while I was...?" I ask Hizashi softly.

Hizashi slowly nods, "He could hardly move, Sho. Hell, the kid had to sleep a couple hours after moving from his bed to the couch in the teacher's dorm, and that was an improvement compared to before where he just slept in bed all day. It was a corpse of him. He'll probably revert to that with the collar back on him."

"...we need to get that bullet soon."

"I agree, but how?"

"I don't know."

Nothing else is said after that. We ended up sitting and waiting for Izuku to wake up. Nemuri joined as well, but that's all that happened. The room was still for over an hour.

Until it wasn't.

Izuku still has not woken up when Nezu comes into the room. That is expected as Izuku is one of his favorite humans unfortunately. However, we knew it was not just a checkup when Nezu does not have a smile on his face. He looks angry.

Despite that, Nezu holds his typical tone, "How is Izuku doing?"

I look over at Izuku before turning my attention to Nezu, "He's still asleep. What's wrong?"

Nezu doesn't react as he moves in front of us, "The Motel got burnt down."

"You're kidding me," Nemuri states with a hushed tone.

"I am afraid that is the truth, but I am afraid it gets more complicated. I assume it would not be a surprise that All for One is involved with whoever is under him given it was done with Dabi's flames," Nezu goes quiet for a moment as if considering how he should say the next thing, but he goes for it anyway, "He is threatening to expand the damages beyond the Motel if Izuku does not come."

I can feel my heart pounding by the end. It isn't shocking, but it's clear that, at this point, he plans on killing Izuku. I don't know what his plan with Izuku was originally. However, Izuku likely ruined that plan by realizing who he is.

"No," Hizashi suddenly says, bringing our attention to him, and I can see tears running down his cheeks, "We're not bringing Izuku back to him. H-he's sacrificed enough! This is bullshit! Let us heroes deal with All for One like we're supposed to!"

Nemuri agrees, "He's not going to make it. I don't know what the hell you're expecting. Izuku is physically destroyed. It's murder practically."

"And we just got him back," I point out.

"I do not like it either," Nezu points out, "It is why the heroes are already informed about the situation."

"And their plan?"

"I believe you can garner a guess," Nezu wanders over to Izuku and places a paw on the bedside, "All for One does not plan on killing Izuku. At least, not immediately. He wants to fight Izuku and prove that he is better."

"Is that a guess or a guarantee?"

"A guarantee. All for One specifically said that Izuku can bring whatever he wants to the fight."

Who is this screwed up that they want to fight a child that they have tortured just to prove that they are better?

"What the fuck? Doesn't he have anything better to do?" Hizashi snaps as he stands up.

Nezu shakes his head, "He believes Izuku is his biggest threat. Izuku is his biggest enemy. If he kills him, he believes he can do anything. All for One took Izuku originally because of that very reasoning, but he did not kill him because he thought Izuku would be of use to him. Now that Izuku understands again, he is no longer of use to him. Based on his actions, that is the only logical explanation."

"Ah, yes! A child who is struggling to move is his biggest threat!" In an ironic way, yes.

"Calm down, Present Mic. You know that is far from All for One's concern."

I interrupt, "Did he give us a time?"

"Two hours."

I can't help myself from stomping the ground hard. He is really having us choose between however many people and Izuku.

"It's a waste of time. For all we know, he is going to destroy everything anyway," I point out.

"Perhaps, but this could be our chance-"

"We're not sending Izuku to fight All for One, you goddamn rat!"

"I'm not suggesting that! In fact, it would work against us to have Izuku fight."

Nemuri huffs, "Stop with the mind games and just tell us what you have in mind."

"We have Izuku run." Run?"

Hizashi growls, "He can't! Not like this."

"That's where the heroes will help. If we have Izuku run, All for One will follow him. That will leave an opening for other heroes to attack and plan around him. We just have to keep Izuku moving." That sounds like a sound plan except for one thing.

"We don't know what Izuku will do. He may end up fighting him out of anger."

Nezu nods, "That is a risk. We could keep him asleep during everything if need be, but that's a risk on its own."

"No. I'm not going to leave Izuku helpless on a field. I don't even know why I am considering this. This is stupid."

"Because All for One will chase Izuku until he is gone, and you know this. Avoiding this will put all the students at risk."

Damn rat. Damn All for One.

"Why can't we just take Izuku away from here?" Nemuri brings up.

"UA is still a target, and there will be more destruction as he'll continue to search for him. I understand that this is undesirable, but we are not in a position to fight against it. And no, you are not capable of fighting him, Present Mic. I do not want to do this either. However, Izuku would do this without hesitation. I know that is weak given Izuku's lack of preservation, but I also know that he is limited on time. Even if the quirk is removed, Izuku will not be able to fully recover at this point as I deny he will let Eri help him."

Hizashi sits down, leans down, and covers his face with his hands as sobs wreck his figure. Nemuri is now leaning against a wall with her arms crossed as she looks away from us.

All I can feel is my heart pounding. How come every single time something good happens, even with consequences, it just gets worse for Izuku? It's disgusting. It's sickening. I am half-tempted to just steal Izuku and take him far away from everything.

But I know that isn't what Izuku would want. Even if Izuku had not just told me that, I know Izuku is a self-sacrificing problem child. He would do anything to take All for One down, even if it involves killing himself in the process.

I hope that thought remains throughout. I hope he doesn't back down for once. I wouldn't be doing this otherwise.

Slowly, I stand up and go to Izuku's beside. I bend down, take his cold hand, and hold it in one of mine as my other hand reaches up to his tangled curls and combs through as best as it can.

"You better have been honest the whole time, Izuku," I mutter, causing everyone to look at me.

"Sho, are you serious?" Hizashi questions, and I look at him to find a tear-stained face, "After all this, you're just going to let him go?!"

"He would hate himself if I didn't let him. Besides, he's not going alone. I'm going to make sure that someone is by his side no matter what. I'll make sure he survives."

Hizashi watches me for a moment. Then, he sighs, "If he dies, I'm killing you, Shouta."

"I would let you, "I turn to Nemuri, "Are you in?"

Nemuri huffs, "If we don't go with him, the dumbass will find a way out to find him. If he wants to go out with a bang, so be it."

"I won't let him die," I reaffirm.

"Physically." Unfortunately, she is right there. Who knows how he will turn out mentally and emotionally. However, I will help him there as much as I can.

For now, we need to prepare Izuku and get to the Motel.