Melissa: So, yeah, that's how we found it...

Eri looked down, her hands bawling in to her fist, holding her dress tightly.

Tsuyu: After that, we called the rest of the family since we needed help and wanted you to feel safe. Kero

Momo: Hence, your grandparents on my side of the family aren't here.

*Momo said in a poor excuse to lighten the mood, but it did not work as Momo looked back down. Izuku coughed to get the conversation back on him.*

Izuku: Like I said we're not mad; we just want to know why.

Eri:.....

Izuku: You know you really are more like me than anybody else, which is good, but it has its downsides, like thinking keeping the pain to yourself is the correct choice because everyone else has it worse.

*Izuku saw Eri's body start to shake as he rubbed her back.*

Izuku: When it's really the opposite, you're a daughter, a stepdaughter, or a granddaughter. You are a child that has so many people looking after her; please tell us why. You needed it.

Eri: It helped me. It made me feel calmer after a bad day.

Eri mumbled softly. Momo had to fight not to let a heartbreaking noise come out of her throat.

Tsuyu, but what gave you those bad days? Kero

Eri:.....

*Izuku saw it; it was a flash in Eri's eyes, but he saw the disgust in Eri's eye when Tsuyu talked.*

Izuku: Does it have something to do with Tsuyu's siblings?

Eri flinched, giving everyone the response they needed. Tsuyu hugged herself to calm her anger.

Tsuyu:Of course they're involved, Kero."

Eri:Sa... Satsuki doesn't like you...

Izuku: I'm not too fond of her either. If my suspicions are correct, I'm going to actively hate her after tonight.

Tsuyu: That makes two of us Kero

Everyone looked at Eri as she scoffed at the very notion of Tsuyu's words. Eri looked at Tsuyu with nothing but hatred; it wasn't directed at her, but all Eri could see when she looked at Tsuyu was her little sister, Satsuki.

Eri: Like, I'm going to believe that; you probably told her to bully me!

Momo;eri!

*Tsuyu raised her hand to stop Momo; she looked at Eri with nothing but patience.*

Tsuyu, and why do you think that? Kero

Eri, because she's your sister!

Tsuyu: So because we share blood, we are the same? You share blood with overhaul; does that mean you'll be the same as him when you grow up? Kero

Eri flinched and looked back down. Tsuyu's bluntness is like always cutting right through the bullshit. Tsuyu got up and kneeled in front of Eri. She gently put her hands on top of Eri's bawled-up fists, giving her a gentler smile.

Tsuyu:blood doesn't mean anything; yes, she's my sister, but I don't control what she does, Kero. I control what I do and what I believe in Kero; do you know what I believe? I believe you're a scared little girl who has the world on her shoulders. I believe that you cling to the past because you're terrified of making the same mistake in the future. I see a girl trapped so much by the guilt of her mistakes that she believes she deserves the pain she gets because it's somehow retribution for not believing Izuku's innocence. Kero

*Tsuyu lifted her hand and rubbed Eri's cheek, cleaning the tear that fell from her eye.*

Tsuyu: I believe you're scared of asking for help because you're scared that help will only cause more stress for those you love. I know since your father is the same, I can see it in his eyes just like I can see it in yours, so please tell us everything, and I promise that we'll be on your side. I'll be on your side. Kero

Eri: How can I trust you...?

*Tsuyu hummed, and Eri flinched when Tsuyu took her apple necklace and looked at Tsutu as she looked at the necklace.*

Tsuyu: Words are cheap and can be easily broken, but actions are strong, so here, Kero

*Tsuyu took off her engagement ring and put it on the necklace chain.*

Tsuyu: Your father gave me this as a promise of his love; you know, you were there, so I'm giving it to you as a promise that I'll be on your side, that I'll be here to protect you. Your my stepdaughter, you mean more to me than my sister, who is so filled with hate that she can't even see it. If I break this promise, you can keep the ring, and I'll break off the engagement with Izuku Kero.

* Tsuyu kissed the ring and put the necklace back on Eri's neck. Eri looked at Tsuyu, her eyes wide and filled with tears, while Tsuyu kept giving her that same patience smile. She got up and sat back down, rubbing the place where the ring once was. I'll be it; she'll miss it, yes, but it's only for a little while.

Inko: That was a very touching thing you did, Tsuyu.

Tsuyu: A ring is still just a ring. I know my love for Izuku is true, and I know my love for Eri is true, so I'll get it back. Kero

Ryuko: Alright, kid, it's your turn. Please tell us what's going on.

Eri: I'm.... I'm getting bullied at school by Satsuki Asui, but not just her.

*Tears kept falling from Eri's face as she continued.*

Eri: As soon as I told everyone who my dad was, everyone but my friends started to bully me. They started saying I don't belong in the hero course, that I should leave, that I'm nothing but a villain, that I should kill...

*Once Eri started, she couldn't stop. She finally told them everything that had happened, every single detail, no matter how much it made them sick or how much the guilt inside Momo would grow. Eri didn't stop until she had no more tears to shed and no more tales to tell. Once done, Eri took a breath and, with a little bravery, looked at the faces of everyone, all with different reactions. The one reaction that gutted her was that of Momo, who had a haunting expression.

Momo: I'm such a horrible mother...

Izuku: No, no, you are not

Momo: I'm not?! How can you even say that?! I didn't know any of this was happening. What kind of parent am I?!

Izuku:a busy one?

*Izuku's casual tone pissed Momo off as she glared at him.*

Momo: I should've known! Stop making excuses for this. This is my fault.

Momo calmed down as she covered her face with her hands.

Momo: I was far too busy to see the signs. How can I be anything less than a horrible parent?

Izuku: By that logic, my mother is a horrible parent because she didn't know that I used to cut myself.

You could hear a pin drop from the silence Izuku's sentence created. Momo looked at Izuku in shock, Inko was horrified, and Eri looked at her father, surprised. Tsuyu? Not so much.

Inko:you....you...

Izuku:cut myself? Yeah

Zuku looked down at his wrist and rubbed it softly, remembering those dark days.

Eri:why...?

Everyone looked at Eri, who was looking at her father for some kind of answer. Izuku glanced at Eri, then back at his wrist.

Izuku:dad was off playing vigilante, mom was busy holding 2 jobs just to keep the lights on, Bakugo was on his ego drip harassing borderline abusing me, I felt like I couldn't tell my mother because I didn't want to add more stress, I felt like I couldn't tell Aunty and Uncle because they're Bakugo's parents, so they would never believe me.

Masaru hugged Mitsuki's shoulder for support since he knew how much that hurt her. Ryuko was doing a similar action to Inko, and Chizome? He's done a lot of things; will he regret this one? This one is his biggest regret, but he'll live with it; he'll learn from it.

"I can't change what happened, but I'm here now. They are my family, and I will be here for them. I promise that."

Izuku: I felt like I couldn't talk to anyone about it, like I was drowning in a sea and couldn't swim for air, so one night I just had enough of everything and thought the world would be better without me, so I grabbed my mother's razor and cut myself and waited for death, but it never came. The next morning while I was alive, I actually felt better; cutting myself gave me some semblance of control, gave me something I could take away my frustrations out on and no one would know. Tell me, baby girl, does that sound familiar?

Eri cuddled closer to her father; they really were a lot alike—the good and the bad.

Eri: How did you stop?

Izuku: As much as I hate the bastard, when I met Toshinori Yagi, that's when I stopped. When he gave me OFA, it made me feel like I was worth something, and I went cold turkey. It wasn't easy. Fuck, it wasn't easy. There were days where I would fall off the wagon, but your mother actually helped me feel better. She never knew, but she did help me whenever we were together.

*Izuku gave Momo a smile, who smiled back softly. The smile never reached her eyes; how could it? Two of the most important people in her life took such actions, and she never knew.

Izuku: Then the whole jail arc of my life happened, and I was filled with hatred for the world that stopped me from killing myself. After that, Tsuyu came in to help me with my demons and is still helping me.

*Izuku blew Tsuyu a kiss, who, by her part, did not look amused; she had a mix of anger and determination that Izuku has seen only a few times.*

Tsuyu: You are so going to therapy after this, Kero.

Unlike before, this time Tsuyu's tone left no room to disagree. So Izuku chuckled and gave Tsuyu a small, awkward grin. Tsuyu shook her head, but Izuku could see the small amusement in her eyes.

Izuku: Fair, but I'm not the only one going

Zuku looked at Eri, who gave a small nod of agreement.

Izuku: Thank you for telling us, baby girl. You were very brave. Go to bed. I promise things will change tomorrow.

*Izuku gave Eri a small but long kiss on the forehead before giving her a smile. Eri smiled back a little. The demons were still there, but at least now she didn't feel like she was completely alone. So with a breath, she gave Momo a kiss on the cheek, said goodnight, and walked to her room with one hand touching the ring that now belongs to her until further notice. Once they heard her door close, Izuku took a deep breath as everyone stopped with the forced smiles to make Eri feel safe. They let their true emotions show, and Izuku frowned deeply, letting everything that Eri told him sink in.

Masaru: Okay, so what do we do now?

Everyone kept quiet, letting the small words of Masaru sink in deeper than any of the others they had today. What will they do now? Izuku closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Izuku: For one, we have to take her out of that school. Maybe put her in a private school.

Momo: That might work, but with Mirio's video out there, everyone in Japan knows your father.

Tsuyu: Both of you are dancing around the issues. Kero

Momo flinched, and Izuku looked down, frowning deeply. Both knew what Tsuyu was talking about, but neither wanted to hear it.

Tsuyu: It would be best to have her study abroad. Kero

Inko: I wish I could say that's taking it too far, but...

Izuku: Yeah, the rest of the world doesn't care as much. Give her a fake last name, and no one would know since out there they don't call you by your last name.

*Izuku said his face tight as he hated this idea of having her daughter so far away from him again; he wasn't the only one as Momo was having similar feelings.*

Momo: She could take a semester abroad in Spain, France, or somewhere in Europe; that would help her since she won't be on this magneto-forsaken island.

Mitsuki: What about her habits? How are you going to make sure she doesn't do them? You can't trust a child to tell the truth to his parents, no matter how tight the bond is. A child will lie about something.

Izuku: Hm, money is not an object for me and Momo, so we could pay for her friends to go with her and keep us updated.

Momo: I know for me there is no object, but how much money did you two get?

Zuku smirked as Tsuyu pulled out her phone and showed her bank statement, making Momo almost do a spit take.

Izuku: Turns out Nezu and Ass might have had a whole lot of money that is now ours to do as we please.

Momo: Magneto, that is almost as much as my family.

Izuku: Was that final almost really necessary?

Momo:yes.

Momo said with a small smirk, her first true smile since finding out the truth. Izuku pushed her playfully, making her giggle.

Chizome: Alright, I'm sure you three can convince the parents to move their children abroad for a semester, but can you all really trust her friends to be truthful?

Tsuyu: If she goes to France, they won't need to since Marinette and Chloe live there; they can provide housing and check up for Eri. Kero

Izuku: True, and I suppose we can visit on the weekends, so it won't change much for me and a girl named Tsu.

Momo: I'll talk to Eri about it in the morning.

Ryuko: What about the other children—the ones who harassed her? And at the school, I refuse to believe that they didn't know

Izuku: uncle

Masaru:yes?

Izuku: Go feral; UA is not surviving this time.

*The evil smile that grew on Masaru's face sent chills of fear to everyone in that room, except for Mitsuki, whose chills were of a different variety.*

Tsuyu: Keep it in your pants, Aunty Kero.

Mitsuki: I'm not wearing any pants; this is a skirt, and no.

Tsuyu:as for satsuki. Me, Izuku, and Eri are going to their home to have a talk. Kero

Momo, will you be okay with that? I know what you said to Eri, but there is still your family.

Tsuyu gave them a chance to change; they chose hatred. Kero, beside me, I have my family right here.

*As Inko tried to hug Tsuyu to death, she got up and started walking away.*

Tsuyu: I'll let you all tinker with the details. I'm going to the restroom. Kero

Momo:last room to your right

Tsuyu: Thank you, Kero.

Scene change

Eri was in her room; she couldn't sleep, and the itch on her wrists was annoying her.

Eri: This must be the withdrawal of stopping cold turkey; they're not so bad.

Eri said to herself, blissfully unaware that her withdrawal hadn't even started yet. She heard a knock on the door.

Eri:come in

*The door opened, and Eri saw Tsuyu walk in. Both looked at each other confused; Tsuyu intertwined her fingers and looked a little embarrassed.*

Tsuyu: Sorry, I thought this was the bathroom. Kero

Eri: Mom said the last room was to the right, didn't she?

Tsuyu:yes Kero

Eri: She always gets confused. I swear this house is just too big; it's the 6th door to your right.

Tsuyu: Thank you. How are you holding up?

Eri: A little better, kind of exhausted.

Tsuyu: I get that. I'll leave you to sleep. Kero

Eri: You'll leave me to wake. I can't seem to fall asleep.

Tsuyu:oh? Why not? Kero

Eri: I just don't feel tired. I know it's late, but after everything, I just.... I don't know.

Eri hugged one leg and looked disinterested at her book cabinet. Without her favorite book, she has no reason to keep it since she never really read it; it was just a front to keep her secret hidden. Tsuyu hummed and walked closer to her.

Tsuyu: When I was bullied because of how my quirk made me look, my mother sang me a lullaby she made up just for me. Later on, when my siblings were little and couldn't sleep, I would sing them a lullaby. I could do the same to you if you think it would help. Kero

Eri: Do you...do you know once upon a December? Daddy used to sing that to me.

Tsuyu: Yes, but I'm not going to sing that, Kero. I think it would be best if we left that song as a special song for you and your father, Kero. But if you still want, I can sing you one of my favorites.

Eri: It... I guess it couldn't hurt.

*Eri turned on the a/c and got under the covers. Tsuyu sat on the bed, and on instinct, she started to play aftly with Eri's hair. Tsuyu started humming the melody. Before she started to sing, her voice was almost completely changing; what was once a neutral tone turned into a soft and loving one.

Tsuyu:You said they made fun of your body.
Humiliation in your eyes when you told me
Well, I'm going to find them.
Don't you worry.
I'll make sure.
They're really fucking sorry. Kero

Eri gave a small snort of amusement at hearing the tsuyu curse.

Tsuyu: You said you're embarrassed by your body.
You told me you think you're really ugly.
Well, my love I know you don't see
What I see is kero.

Eri closed her eyes, feeling safe and enjoying the song. Tsuyu's voice got softer and her tone more gentle.

Tsuyu:Anything that is beautiful
People want to break
And you are beautiful.
I'm afraid
Anything that is beautiful
People want to break
And you are beautiful.
I'm afraid
You said you're ashamed of your body.
You'd rather die than show me.
But I would love you in any
Form you take

*Tsuyu gave a small sigh as a memory appeared while she was singing—an old memory before things became so complicated and hateful—a memory of Tsuyu singing this song to her little sister.*

She made her choice; now I have to make mine. Where did my little sister go? Kero."

Eri:t.. tsuyu? You stopped singing.

Tsuyu shook her head and gave Eri a small smile.

Tsuyu: Oh, sorry, Kero ajem. You said that they say you're disgusting.
They told you that you were fat and unworthy. Well, my love, I hope you trust me. When I say you have a perfect body,

*A tear fell from Tsuyu's face, but she quickly cleaned it up as she looked at the peaceful Eri, making her smile. Tsuyu got close and kissed Eri's forehead before getting up and starting to walk away.

Tsuyu:Anything that is beautiful
People want to break
And you are beautiful.
I'm afraid
Anything that is beautiful
People want to break
And you are beautiful.
I'm afraid, Kero

*Tsuyu closed the door softly and walked away to the bathroom.*

Scene change

*After another hour of discussion about what they'll do and another 3 driving home, Izuku and Tsuyu were exhausted. They lazily took off all their clothes except for the underwear and collapsed in to be beds. Slowly, they met each other and started to cuddle, with Tsuyu resting her head on Izuku's chest. She grew a soft smile on her face as she heard the constant beat of his heart lull her to sleep. For Izuku, just the fact that he can feel Tsuyu in his arms and that he can feel her warmth gives him a sense of calm enough to fall asleep and ignore the absolute monster of a headache they'll have to deal with tomorrow.