Chương 2350: 92
Chapter 92: Crushed
A/N: And a talking chapter, yipee! Read on as we follow Izuku's adventures in a hospital bed!
His eyes wearily opened up. There was a sort of fogginess in his vision, an odd blend that fell in between black encompassing splotches across his eyes and the shapes around him moving in and out of focus.
There were shadows leering over him — mysterious figures moving to and fro without any stop in their step.
Their mutterings and whispers were interrupted by the steady beep of a heart monitor, just as he'd grown accustomed to in his time with—
No.
There were wires coming out of his arm, leading up to various machines on the wall and surrounding the bed. There was—
A poke in his arm. Hamd. Needle. Blood. Samples—
NO NO NO!
"He's going berserk!"
"Sedative! We need a sedative!"
I can't— NOT AGAIN!
"Hold him down!"
I need to get out—
"You should consider yourself lucky that I haven't yet fixed our bug control, you know. Otherwise we'd be dealing with fourteen dead hospital staff and a couple of asphyxiating heroes. Not a pretty sight, I'd tell you."
Izuku shook his head, blinking his eyes open in closed as they adjusted to his surroundings. When he came to his senses, he was only barely able to make out Taylor's outline standing before him.
"What?" he mumbled whilst rubbing one of his eyes.
Taylor grinned. "You're in a hospital, duh. No need to be so panicked. The place is being guarded by over a hundred pros at the moment. Nobody's getting in — and even if someone does, you'd basically be screwed anyway. So… no need to worry about it, I'd say."
Izuku blinked, grimacing once his mind finally caught up with Taylor's words. "...Oh."
"Yeah." She shook her head in amusement. "So, anything you want to talk about? Now's the time for all those nitty gritty details that have been bugging you. Heh, 'bugging.' Get it?"
…
"What? Not funny enough for you?"
…
"Hello?" Taylor waved a hand in his face. "Anyone there?"
Izuku blinked, sighing before seating on the ground.
"Want a chair?" Taylor asked as Izuku moved. "I can make one for you, you know."
"No," Izuku responded. He looked up at Taylor. "I'm fine. But if you're offering answers..."
"I'm guessing you want to stay away from the heavier topics for now?"
Izuku sighed. "Yeah…"
"I'll keep that in mind. Ask away then."
Izuku stared back at the ground, pausing for a few seconds before speaking. "The two of us are essentially standing in the middle of a gateway that connects my brain to that thing — QA — up above us, right?"
"Mmhmm."
"And QA's presence is the only thing mandatory for use of my power, correct?"
Taylor leaned against a pillar that had suddenly appeared out from the ground. "Yup."
"Thought so… But if that's the case, what are you, exactly? Why are you even here?"
Taylor quirked her head to the side, eyes slightly widening at the question. "That's... quite the loaded question there, you know. What brought this along?"
"You're in my head," Izuku shot back. "I want to know more about you — as in, 'the technically unnecessary thing inside my head' you — if you're going to be puppeteering people left and right."
"I'm not going to—"
Izuku glared straight at her.
"...Okay. Maybe a little."
The boy shook his head before lowering his gaze once more.
"Sorry," Taylor said. "It's just… We've already discussed my previous attachment to QA. If anything, there's only one question left to ask of me, considering my nature…"
Izuku sent over a questioning gaze. "That question being…"
"Simple. 'Am I really me?'"
"...What do you mean?"
"I mean that I'm not exactly the same person that I was back on my Earth. I died. And I woke up here. The. truth is I'm more of a… simulacrum, you could say."
"Meaning…"
"Meaning I'm not really real, now am I?" she scoffed.
"You seem real enough to me."
Taylor froze.
"Well?"
"Well…" Taylor gulped. "I guess if you really want to know… I suppose One For All and QA are similar — in regards to vestiges, that is. Parahuman-wise, a part of us lives on in shards — memories, experience; things like that."
"But you're different, right?"
"That's the thing. There've been a multitude of shards we've stumbled upon. But for QA the connection to its previous host, that host being me, seems to be more… pronounced."
"As is the case with Kentaro?"
Taylor nodded.
"Then—" he paused. "Then why do you two happen to be the only 'shard-bearers' with such a strong connection to their previous hosts? And why exactly are you able to reach out to both One for All and All For One?"
"I— You understand that I'm still not all too knowledgeable in these things, right?"
Izuku crossed his arms. "You're the one who offered to answer my questions."
"I… guess you've got me there," she sighed. "In that case… I'll try my best."
Izuku gestured for her to continue.
"You see," Taylor began, "there are a bunch of uncertainties I have with your world. I mean, are quirks just some offshoot of shards? It's a possibility I can't discount, especially with QA's lack of knowledge on the topic."
"And don't get me started on Tokoyami's quirk," Taylor huffed. "It has its own personality, for fuck's sake! That's something that can't be explained away with simple genetics. Does that mean this is the start of a new cycle? Because All For One is certainly capable of doing such a—"
"That's not what I asked, Taylor," Izuku interrupted. "I asked about your… excessive control over my body that other shard-bearers aside from Kentaro don't seem to have."
"Oh! Well, that's an easy one. You weren't all too fitting for QA desires in a host, you see. An aversion to conflict, for one. But my perusal of your memories lead to me not wanting to leave you powerless. But you were pretty young, and a mind so malleable is vulnerable to a shard burrowing in deep. Hence my ability to… guide your actions, let's say."
"Right… One more thing, then. These mindscapes," Izuku gestured around him, "you can control them, right? Shape them to your every will and being, even change how you look if you wanted to?"
"Got it in one."
"Then why do you keep your arm like that? Why not fix it up?"
"...You're really not pulling any punches, huh?"
Izuku shrugged his shoulders."Just trying to understand you a bit more, is all."
Taylor smirked, but the expression died not long after. "It's... just a reminder; of what I did. Can't have myself making the same mistakes now, can I?"
"I— ...Yeah. I suppose."
…
…
"If that's all, you might as well wake up, eh? It's been long enough, and some people are just aching to talk to you. Just remember that you're in a hospital and not anywhere near Garaki's clutches, 'kay?"
"Taylor—"
But she was already gone. The walls began to disappear, the lights growing darker and his surroundings fading into nothingness.
He was just on the verge of being shot right back into the real world.
It's alright Izuku. You'll be fine. It's a hospital. A hospital. Hospi—
This time around, Izuku took care to thoroughly interpret his surroundings. When he opened his eyes he took in the purely white walls, the blue-grey of his hospital gown and the glaringly bright ceiling. Thankfully, the sheer starkness of it all was offset by the presence of one familiar face sitting by his beside.
Izuku let out a contented sigh. "Well. This is quite a familiar scene. Don't you think so, Momo?"
The girl in question puffed up her cheeks in response. In return, she lifted up her left arm and slightly bonked Izuku over the head.
"You're lucky that I'm not Mei," Momo muttered. "Otherwise that would've hurt more."
"Heh, don't I know it." Izuku sighed. He shifted his eyes over at Momo, not even adjusting his head before doing a once over of his friend. He noticed the bags under her eyes, her ruffled appearance, and the still present grime and muck on her hero costume. "Dang, you look horrible."
Momo gave him a light — if slightly strained — smile. "Says you. Do you have any idea how horrible you looked when Ashido brought you in?"
Izuku let out a light chuckle. He closed his eyes, taking note of the still present aches and pains littered across his body and how the feelings when he moved even the slightest bit reminded him of— your fine Izuku. Just fine. You're safe, with a friend and—
"Is it just you?" he asked, doing what he could to keep his anxiety from seeping through into his words.
Momo raised an questioning eye in response.
Izuku instantly knew the reason for it. "Ah! My… bug control is broken at the moment."
Momo blinked.
"Yeah..." Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "I know how it sounds. I could explain, but then I'd have to repeat it to everyone later and—"
"No, no I get it," Momo said, waving her hand. "Best to save the trouble. That way we can all get mad at you at the same time, hmm?"
Izuku gulped. "That's not—"
"As for the others," Momo interrupted with a devious smile, "they're all helping around with the injured."
It was Izuku's turn to raise a questioning brow. "And you aren't?"
Momo raised her right arm in response, Izuku only then noticing that it was splint.
"They won't let me," Momo said, a bit of irritation in her voice. "Don't want me straining my injury, apparently."
Izuku looked at her arm, only then realizing her state of being. "Huh… Didn't even notice that until now."
Momo tsked. "Ashido wasn't lying. You really are out of it."
Izuku frowned, averting his eyes to his bedsheets. "Did she… tell you? What about Ga—"
Momo stopped him from going any further, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to worry about him, Izuku. He's far away from here."
Izuku let out a shaky breath. "Are you… sure?"
Momo nodded. "Crystal, one hundred percent." She paused, her fingers subconsciously drumming upon Izuku's shoulder. "As for Ashido… She didn't tell us everything. I could tell she was leaving things out of her explanation. I don't really know what happened exactly with you over the past week, but I have a good idea considering..."
Momo's eyes widened. "Not that you need to talk about it or anything!" She said rather hastily, scowling right afterwards. "Ugh! Stupid! I shouldn't even be mentioning it in front of you—"
"Momo!" Izuku interrupted. "Stop. It's fine."
"But—"
"No, really. I'm the one who asked, wasn't I? Besides, I think I can handl—"
It was Momo's turn to bite back a response. "Don't you even think about finishing that sentence, Izuku Midoriya!" she yelled.
"Momo—"
"Nuh uh. Nope!" Her voice filled the room. Her uninjured hand slammed down with a fist, miraculously hitting the surface of the bed rather than the shoulder it had been atop of just moments before.
"You're having some quality time with Hound Dog, you hear me?" I can't stand back and watch you kill yourself from the inside out again. I was willing to abide by your wishes before when you told us you were fine. But this time!? This time we aren't going that route, you here?!"
Izuku was struck speechless, completely shocked by Momo's rather uncharacteristic explosiveness. He didn't dare move a muscle, scared out of his wits by his friend.
At the same time, Momo herself was a bit surprised by her sudden riling of her demeanor as well. It was only after she calmed down that she realized what she had done, and was blatantly abashed for it.
"Sorry Izuku," Momo muttered. "I'm just… a bit stressed, you know? What with the battle, Tartarus, Gigantomachia… Midnight..." She bit her tongue, then letting out a frustrated huff.
"Nevermind," Momo continued. "I shouldn't be making up excuses. You've been through a lot. Me yelling at you probably isn't something that you want right now."
Izuku took a breath, filing away Momo's mutterings for later. For now, he steeled his resolve to speak to his friend, trying to prevent another outburst from her. "No, I get it. We're probably not in the best conditions to be talking about this, thinking back on it. The direct aftermath of the battle and all. And… you're right. I should probably… probably talk to Hound Dog."
Momo perked up at that. "Really? You mean it?"
Izuku nodded. "Yeah… Sorry about trying to brush you off… again. I guess I'm still getting used to having more people to rely on."
For one short moment, everything was silent. That is, until Momo let out a muffled chuckle. Which subsequently evolved into a choked sob, and her draping herself over Izuku's lying form in a sort of messy hug.
"I'm just glad that you're alive, you know?" Momo sniffled. "Do you know how relieved I am that you're right here in front of me? The absolute second that Setsuna told me about what happened was just… just… And the fact that nobody was doing anything about it! It was infuriating!"
"Because of… the raid that was happening, right? Izuku asked, recalling the sparse details he had gathered from Aizawa and Edgeshot. "They didn't want the villains becoming suspicious?"
Momo backed up, taking her place back in her chair. She wiped away a few of her tears before confirming Izuku's guess. "Yeah. I felt so mad, even if I understood why they were doing it in the first place."
Momo shook her head again. "Sorry, I'm being a bit of a downer again. I should focus on something else… like… like—"
"Like giving all of my students some well deserved time off!"
Momo shrieked. Izuku shrieked. And Nezu was scrunched up between the two of them without batting an eye.
"Principal Nezu!" Momo yelled after she had caught her breath. "What are you doing here? And did you really have to show up like that?!"
Nezu, making his way off the floor to sit on the edge of the bed between his two students, let out a chuckle. "Apologies, Miss Yaoyorozu. But you know me! I can't live without making my signature unexpected appearances."
Momo sweatdropped. "Right… And what was that about relaxation time?"
"Ah!" Nezu spread his arms out in the air. "It's just as it sounds! We've taken some… rather considerable losses recently. I think that garners the lot of you some time off. Somewhere off campus preferably, since it might end up a target. You never know how things have been over the last day."
"That… sounds nice," Momo reluctantly admitted. "But are you sure that it'd be wise?"
"I sure think it does," Izuku said. "I've been strapped down to an operating table for the last week. I'd rather not be in any cramped quarters for longer than I need to be."
"See? Midoriya finds my idea appealing!" Nezu cheered. "As long as there is an overly-sufficient hero presence, I'll go with it. But enough about that. The two of you can discuss matters later, seeing as you're both responsible for class duties. There's something else I'd like to discuss."
Nezu pointed a paw at Momo. "Yaoyorozu."
Momo straightened at being directly addressed by her principal. "Yes?!"
Nezu chuckled. "I just got word from the cafeteria that they need some volunteers. There's a couple things down there that'd be capable of aiding in."
Momo blinked, her confusion clear on her face. "Wha... But I thought—"
"I know what the others said. But I'm the principal! I can overrule them all I want! And it's clear that you feel like helping, especially in such a dire time. Consider your capacity to contribute to the hospital staff approved, and point any dissenters otherwise in my direction, you hear?"
Momo vigorously nodded her head, moving to stand afterwards. "Yes! Thank you, Principal Nezu! I'll go now!" She turned towards Izuku. "And you, you stay in that bed, okay? I'll be mad if you don't!"
And without another word, Momo was out the door.
Izuku stared at his friend as she left the room, then slowly moving his gaze towards the small figure on his bed. "What was that about?"
Nezu let out a sigh, moving to take the newly abandoned seat beside Izuku's bed. "She's been feeling uneasy the entire time since the battle's ended. Thinks that she didn't contribute enough, that she could have… stopped certain outcomes from occurring. She's been wanting to devote all her pent up anxiety to helping around the hospital to ease up her worries. I just gave her the chance."
Izuku narrowed his eyes. "And that's it?"
Nezu shrugged. "And I may or may not have wanted you to wake up to a friendly face. Preferably, one that wouldn't physically assault you the moment you woke. Yaoyorozu was the most practical choice amongst your friends that are in the know of your rather extravagant problems."
Izuku frowned, slightly raising his eyebrows. "Momo just bonked my head though. And she nearly chewed my head off; I didn't even know she had something like that in her."
Nezu smirked. Izuku could already tell by the expression that the rodent wasn't going to chase any further into the matter.
"Ho—"
"No questions regarding losses. I'd like to keep the atmosphere… optimistic, for now. You should rest up a bit more before we have to discuss the heavier topics."
"Right…" Izuku sighed. "Then… Then how long was I out?"
Nezu plopped himself down on the chair. "Not long, surprisingly. I say surprisingly because the charts showed you to be in a condition similar to that coma-like state you were in after the raid on the Shie Hassaikai. Your recovery period this time was much faster than then."
Izuku nodded along as Nezu explained. "That's probably Taylor working behind the scenes…"
"Oho?" Nezu moved forward in his seat. "That wouldn't happen to be your friend in your head, hmm?"
Izuku nodded. "She's… taken a more active role recently."
Nezu simply nodded at that, the implications clear. "Maybe… she can come out? So the three of us can talk?"
"Probably not," Izuku said. "She's… erm… busy. Fixing my bug control."
Nezu blinked. "You mean it's broken?"
Izuku huffed, sinking into his bed. "It's… a long story."
"I can imagine," Nezu chuckled. "I'm guessing that it would involve some background as to why I've had reports from Inui and Miss Ashido of some entity — who's definitely not your resident brain ghost — taking control of villains left and right? And some reasons as to why Togata-san mentioned you showing up alongside him when he was pulled into All For One?"
"Did—"
"Don't worry," Nezu smiled. "I made sure they all vowed themselves to silence for now. The only person it got out to was Shota-kun."
Izuku's eye twitched. "And it definitely wasn't something you could stop, I'm assuming?"
Nezu smirked. "Of course!"
Izuku seemed to sink even deeper in his bed. "Just wonderful."
"Isn't it?" Nezu cheered. After a moment, he stood up in his chair, the movement catching Izuku's attention.
"So…" Nezu began. Followed by him pulling a complete tea set seemingly out of nowhere. "Tea, before we get started?"
Izuku groaned. "I'm not even going to think about how you did that. My head might actually explode after all it's been through."
Nezu chuckled, already beginning to pour out some tea. "Wise choice, my boy! Now, go on! On to storytime!"
A/N: Not even after escaping from a mad scientist while at the end of his wits, being thrust into a death-defying battle right afterwards, and waking up in the hospital can Izuku escape Nezu's machinations. Hopefully Izuku can last just a bit longer until his principal's satisfied, eh?
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