Possible trigger warning involving murder, abuse, and sexual assault

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I sighed, stretching my newly healed arms. Recovery Girl fixed me up while we were at the hospital, and she finally treated the shot wound for me, as well as the other injuries that remained.

It took forever to file all that paperwork at Kitsune’s place, not to mention the elephant in the room. She was super down about not capturing Kei. Nighteye dying didn’t help either.

Apparently the two often did jobs together so she took it pretty hard.

She didn’t even yell or scold me for failing. She really didn’t say anything, just had me do the proper paperwork so she could submit it.

It took so long that the sky was pitch dark, only the lights of the dorms up ahead really offered any help.

Hm? “Izu.” I called. Izu, Kirishima, Ochako, and Asui were out front.

The four turned to me and smiled. “Kiri! Did you have a lot of paperwork too?” Kirishima asked.

I sighed, nodding as I neared them. “Yeah. Went from Kitsune, to Midnight, then back to Kitsune.” Asui tilted her head. “Why at Midnight-Sensei’s? Didn’t you need to go to the station?” I hesitated for a bit.

But I was growing tired of deliberately hiding things. These four are the only ones to know about my father.

“Midnight has been in charge of me for years now. Anything that regards me and Claude can only be done through her.” I shrugged.

I could see it in their eyes the moment I said his name. And Izu looked genuinely hurt that I had never told him. And hurt that my life was a mirror image of Eri, the little girl he’s so attached to.

“Oh, I see.” Ochako murmured, unsure what to say. Kirishima pursed his lips, looking at me carefully. “Um . . . do you want to talk about it?” He asked awkwardly.

I smirked. “Now that’s just weird. C’mon. The other loud ones are probably waiting for us.” I moved past them, well aware of the item I snagged from Midnight.

I decided to take a countermeasure. Claude is coming for me soon. I need to give them all a fighting chance when that happens.

The others fell into step with me, in their own thoughts about the whole ordeal. The fight, the death, the view into my life, and most importantly, how screwed up our world really is.

Izu opened the door and there, our classmates were. Mineta was the first to see us and the first to rush our way. “They’re back! Those guys are back!” Mineta shouted as the swarmed us.

They all began to talk hurriedly, saying how they were worried and just only saw on the news. Of course the gag order prevented any of us from telling them anything. I’m sure it surprised them.

I blinked as they came closer, clearly worried and concerned for us. It was . . . strange. It made me uncomfortable, but . . . I don’t think I disliked it. “Anyway, have some chocolate cake!” Sato’s words drew me and I stared at the treat in his hands. I was about to reach for it but Kaminari moved in our view.

More specifically me, Izu, and Kirishima. “With Kamino and this time, you guys keep getting involved with some crazy stuff! It’s scary, you know!” He gripped my shoulders and shook lightly, before turning his worried gaze to the other two. “S-Sorry.” Izu started.

Mina shoved him aside and stared with wide eyes. “Kiri! Seriously!”

Huh? What did I do?

Toru glomped Ochako and Asui in a hug, everyone was still shouting.

“Ugh, move it!” I shoved Kaminari and Mina away, taking the cake from Sato. “I’m hungry.” Sato smiled lightly and I began to eat some, ignoring the loud noise my class was making.

It’s annoying.

But for some reason, it’s not as annoying as I thought the first time I came here.

It was . . . nice.

Except the loudest one hasn’t made an appearance yet. As I thought that, Iida slid in front of us, blocking the others.

Ah. There he is.

“Everyone!!! I know that you were worried, but calm down! You saw on the news didn’t you? A lot has happened to them. If you’re their classmates, you should console them and let them rest quietly. Because I;m sure it’s not just their bodies. Their spirits must be worn down.”

Ah-ah. As much as he’s a hassle, Iida really is a good person.

Izu and I exchanged glances and we smiled lightly. “Iida.” Izu and I spoke simultaneously.

He turned back to us and Izu offered him a smile. “Thank you. But . . . it’s fine.” Oh? It seems he’s worked out those feelings. Iida adjusted his glasses.

“Then, if I may.” He hurried to Izu, grabbed him by the shoulders and began to shake him. A lot.

“I was extremely worried about you guys! Jeez, you guys! You guys!” I sweat dropped.

Yep. Same old Iida. “You’re being the most violent.” Sero, ever the voice of reason spoke. Yao-Momo turned a bit. “I’ll make some lavender herb tea! It’ll help ease your spirits!” She hurried to the kitchen.

I handed the cake back to Sato who began to force Izu to eat some. I peeked over at Ochako to see her in deep thought. She’s down. Probably about Nighteye.

Sero threw his arm around Kirishima, giving him grief, even Mina asked if he was okay.

Hm? Where’s Katsuki? I looked around and spotted him on the couch. But I only noticed because Kaminari went to his side. “Hey, Kacchan! What’re you sulking for? You’re here because you were worried, right? Be more honest with yourself!” He had his hand on his shoulder, leaning on the couch to get closer as he teased him.

Did he just call him Kacchan? Even I’ve gotten out of that habit.

I waited for Katsuki to shout at him, but he just stood, making Kaminari fall onto the couch as he was leaning on him. “I’m going to sleep.” I blinked, clearly surprised. “Did he just call him ‘Kacchan’ and did Katsuki just not react to it?” I asked Izu who was as bewildered as me.

Wow. He’s really grown out of his old shell and expanded.

All of you have.

I guess even I have to.

I tightened my grip on my bag and slipped away with a ‘I’m tired’. As soon as the door to my room shut I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. I dropped my bag and plopped onto my bed, thinking about what I was about to do, trying to ready the words.

A few hours passed and when it was 3 A.M. and I was sure they were all asleep, I grabbed my bag and fished out a video camera.

The dorms have pretty thick walls, it’s hard to spy. And even if they could, it’s so late, they’re all in bed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” I muttered,

Opening the camera and hitting the record before putting it on my dresser, facing my bed. I walked over and plopped down, running a hand over my school skirt as I tried to figure out my words.

I looked directly into the camera and took another much needed breath before speaking.

“Hey guys. If you’re watching this, I’m probably not here anymore. I gave this to Midnight, and she better not be showing it to you unless I am. I mean it, Nemuri.” I began with a threat, the thing to surely ease myself into what I’m about to say.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “What I’m about to tell you, isn’t pretty. But you guys are . . . special to me. I know I may not act like it at times, but I do care about all of you. Even if you’re all so loud and obnoxious. Not to mention stupid. Come on, I’ve seen your grades.” I tried for a joke, but I know that this isn’t helping.

I sighed again.

“My name is Nozomi Kiriya. And I’m the daughter of Nozomi Claude. Better known as the Red Reaper. He’s a Villain. And I’m his kid.”

I finally just said it. And it felt strange. I’m talking to a camera, not anyone. But it’s still strange. But it feels like there has been some weight lifted from my chest.

“I’m gone because he finally found me. No, he’s known where I was for a while. He was just finally able to get me. Don’t come after me. It’s not worth your lives. I’m not leaving this to ask for you all to get me back. I’m leaving this because when I’m gone, you’ll need to stop him. Claude is pretty much untouchable, but it doesn’t mean he’s all powerful.”

Even if he is to me. “He’s lost his greatest weapon. I’ve kept it away from him for ten years. And when I’m gone, you’re all gonna have to be the ones to make sure it stays that way.”

Man, this is hard. Still, I’ve already made up my mind.

“But in order for you to understand, I’m going to have to tell you the story from the beginning. Back when my mom was still Machida Kanako.”

~

I am the bane to my mothers existence.

My mom was an amazing person. She was kind, gentle, outgoing, filled with curiosity and honesty, with a strong sense of justice. She had always known she wanted to be a Hero when she grew up.

And with a pure soul like hers, it was hard not to believe in her.

She got into the U.A. with ease, naturally the Hero Course and remained in A Class the entire time. She was very popular, everyone loved her. And everyone she met was touched by her spirit. She was the Class President all three years and remained top of the school in grades and Hero Studies.

And she had a great family. Loving parents and two younger sisters who looked up to their sister, already being their Hero.

Her Quirk was Telekinesis. She was already interning her first year and she showed promise. Everyone was excited for her.

She even had great friends. She’d talk about them all the time. She’d tell stories of her precious Kohai the most.

Aizawa Shota, Yamada Hizashi, Shirakumo Oboro, Kayama Nemuri, and Fukuru Reina.

She was so attached to those specifically, even though she was friendly with all the students. Those five were special.

Especially the three men. They were great friends.

My mom was . . . the most amazing person. Not a soul disliked her. And she was always kind to everyone, young, old, poor, rich, even those who have started on a dark path.

She was hope.

And she saw the good in everyone and fully believed that everyone had it in them. That’s just the kind of person my mom was. She brought hope and happiness to those around her and encouraged them to strive to achieve their dreams.

She kind of reminds me of Izu that way. And with ambition as strong as Katsuki. Sure, she was nothing like him personality wise, but mom was always so sure of herself and never gave up on anything. Or anyone. She was the type of person who others couldn’t help but be drawn to.

Beautiful, strong, kind, unwavering, anyone could love her with one smile or conversation.

Unfortunately it drew my fathers attention. At first he was just curious, but in his scrutinizing gaze he found out her secret.

My mothers Quirk was known as Telekinesis with the bloodline Quirk, Berserker. But that wasn’t entirely the truth. She did have Berserker, all in her family have it. But her true Quirk wasn’t Telekinesis.

My mother had the ability to create stone with power. Quirks.

She needs a basic understanding of it, but once she knows, she can create a stone with any Quirk and use it for however much of her power she puts into it.

It was an insanely powerful Quirk. She had discovered it when she was just a child, but even then she realized that she could never tell a soul. Good and bad would search for her ability and use it for personal gain. That type of power should not be available to people.

The damage it could do in the wrong hands is catastrophic. It could kill thousands, even millions. Even other Heroes and the police could bring terror to others, either unbeknowest or corrupt with power.

And most of all, if it were discovered, no matter what side, she’d only be used as a weapon.

Not a human being.

So she picked one Quirk to use and faked it for years.

Unfortunately Claude found out. Mom was never sure how, but he did and that was when my mothers perfect life turned into a horror story.

Claude came from a long line of Villains. Nozomi’s have been Villains for many, many, many generations. Rich and powerful people with influence that stretches across the world. He had to do something to overcome his brother and prove worthy of the next Head.

And when he found out mom’s secret, he knew how he’d do it. She would be the perfect weapon for the Nozomi’s. For him. And with a hereditary Quirk with as much potential as Berserker, she’d give perfect heirs.

She’d be the one to expand the empire of their Villainy. He wanted her.

At first, he tried to woo her. He thought it would be easy. She was just a high school girl, Hero School or not. Claude wasn't bad looking, and with great acting he was charming even. I hear he was quite the ladies man, always turning heads.

When he wasn’t showing his true self that is. Even mom admitted that she would have fallen. But she never did. Because she was in love with her Kohai.

Aizawa Shota was the only man she had ever loved.

She never told him because she wanted him and herself to focus on their studies. And she was always afraid that telling him would ruin their friendship. Because she didn’t know if he felt the same. She’d be crushed if he didn’t. He was her best friend. She didn’t want to lose him.

She always said she’d rather be in his life than not at all. It never stopped her feelings. So she could never really love Claude. He was frustrated but he continued to try. He was trying to find a way to her heart but obviously he couldn’t.

He did find out why though. It was Christmas Eve. He was looking for my mother, tracking her really. And he found her alone with Aizawa in the shopping district.

Mom said she told Aizawa that she needed help looking for a present for her mother, but it was just an excuse to spend time with him.

My father could tell.

He could tell that this was the boy my mother was enamored with. And what angered him even more was that Aizawa clearly liked her too.

He snapped.

In a fit of rage he went straight to her house and he slaughtered her family in the most twisted way. He ripped them to shreds and cut off their heads and placed them neatly on display on the family couch. Once he killed them he turned off the lights and waited for her to return.

When she did, he made sure she saw what he had done and why he had done it. She was far too devastated to fight him back when he just took her away.

He needed her to be emotionally unstable.

As long as she was, she couldn’t use her Quirk against him. As powerful as he was, he was still a teenager. He had one of his people clean it all up and brought their heads with him to continue to torment her.

The story they spread was that she moved away. He knew that if he left at as is they’d find the bodies of her family with only her missing. And because of how loved she was they wouldn’t stop looking for her.

While she was still weak, he had raped her. Over and over again until she was pregnant with his child.

Once she was, it was easy for him to use his Quirk  on her. You see, Claude’s Quirk is ‘Chains’. He is able to create chains and have them leave his body and move at his will. But with a lot of practice, he evolved it.

‘Total Obedience’ is what he called it.

Because his chains were stronger than the strongest hammer and the sharpest blade. And he created a move that brought even more fear to the Nozomi name.

The strongest part of his Quirk was that under certain circumstances that he could always find a way, he can connect a chain so powerful to the person that it bends those attached to him to his will.

It’s unbreakable and those who have it must do whatever he orders. There’s no going against him.

You belong to him.

The conditions are different with each person, and it takes a lot of time, but when all of them are met, he can do it to anyone. What it took with mom was devastation, misery, and forcing her to him with both the chain and a child.

She was just a child herself. A girl with a lot of dreams and opportunities before her.

He ripped it all away from her.

And she hated him for it.

To him, my mother was just a weapon. A tool to further himself. He never treated her like a human being. And he forced her, at such a young age, to have his children. Five of them.

He wasn’t a good father. He only wanted children for beneficial reasons. He wanted the strongest of the strong. And we could not hold any emotions. Because we too, would be his weapons.

A weapon is a tool. And a tool does not need emotions in order to do what its master demands.

It was . . . a difficult childhood.

He trained us. To withstand any beating, any poison, any mental torture. If you couldn’t withstand it, he’d do something much worse. It was abuse, but it wasn’t as simple as that.

It was torture. Actual torture.

In that god forsaken stone room.

I cannot tell you the amount of times he ripped apart my small body. How many times he broke and shattered every bone in me. How many times he . . .

The point is, he really messed us up.

And with the Quirk Stones, he became a fearsome force. He destroyed companies, lands, families, he lived up to his family name. All with the help of my unwilling mother.

She was heartbroken. She had wanted to help people. To save them. And bring good and happiness to them. But because of her, a monster was destroying everything in his path. She couldn’t stand it.

So she made a plan with my older brother. Not Kei.

Kazuya.

Kazuya was the only one like mom. The only one who never conformed to father. Kei and I were trying our hardest to be what Claude wanted.

Because we were afraid.

My younger sister, Karin, was simply too afraid. And Kai was just a baby. None of us were brave.

Not like Kazuya.

He and mom were the only shred of light in that manor. He was just like her. Full of life, kind, courageous, and righteous. He always made me smile and he always tried to protect me and Karin from Claude. 

I loved Kazuya. He was my favorite sibling and I always relied on him. He wanted to be a Hero. And at the start of it, he wanted to save all of us from our monstrous father.

And he was able to partially do it too. With mom.

She used two Quirk Stones in the process. She created a Teleport Quirk Stone and gave it to Kazuya, trusting him. Then she used an Ice Quirk Stone and encased herself in a block of ice and forcing herself into a slumber.

Kazuya then used the stone she gave him and hurled it inside. Just as father came into the room after finding something suspicious.

The stone shattered and mom disappeared forever.

Father was furious. He demanded where he sent her, but Kazuya refused, like he always had. Despite being chained to him like the rest of us, Kazuya never fully bent to his will.

He punished Kazuya for hiding her from him. In a fit of rage, my father killed Kazuya.

Right then and there.

~

I was silent for a moment, swallowing the lump in my throat as I poured out the story to the camera. Knowing that my classmates and Aizawa will see it one day.

And soon.

“Years later, he killed my little sister, Karin, for insubordination. She refused to kill a target. Again. She was deemed weak and useless. And my baby brother Kai was killed for being Quirkless. That just left me and Kei. I always told you guys that I’m not a good person. I’ve done terrible things. On my fathers orders or not, I still did it.” I continued.

My throat was dry and it was painful to talk. Not because of the length of the story, just its contents.

It was painful. “I . . . I was lost. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to be punished. So I had always listened to him. Followed his orders. Just like Kei. Because I wanted to survive. I thought that that was just life. It was terrible and I didn’t see the point, but it was normal.”

I fiddled with my fingers, thinking back on that shitty childhood. “But . . . I did meet two important people that had changed my life.”

I focused my gaze back on the camera. “Izuku and Katsuki. You two were the first flecks of light in that dark world I lived in. When I thought all was lost, I’d think of you two. You showed me that my life in that manor wasn’t normal. That it wasn’t okay. Happiness did exist, but only outside, with you guys."

"So I gathered up my courage and ran away, running straight to the station and demanding a Hero by the names my mother would tell us. The closest one was Midnight. I told her everything, except the truth of what happened to my mom. I told her that she had perished as well, and she took me into hiding. Her and Kitsune worked together to keep me away and safe, and searched for ways to bring Claude to justice. The rest you know.”

I didn’t tell them everything. But I told them just about.

“The reason I told everyone that my mom was dead was because Kazuya made me promise him to keep her hidden from everyone. If the Heroes or police were to find her, so would he. And no matter what, whoever gets her first, will only use her."

"We . . . we really loved our mom. She meant everything to us. Kazuya said that the eternal sleep she put herself in that ice was probably what was best for her too. After everything she had been through, sleep was probably the only bliss she’d ever get. This was our way of protecting her.”

I took a deep breath, my throat tightening painfully as emotions ran over me.

But like my god forsaken father taught me, I shoved it down.

“The only reason that my father hasn’t killed me, is because he knows I’m the only one who could ever find her. That is the only reason he’s allowed me to stay breathing.”

He’d have killed me the moment I ran away and betrayed him. Like he did to Kazuya and Karin.

“My mother is still alive. And as long as she is, he won’t stop until he finds her. If you’re seeing this, he finally caught me.”

I hesitated for only a second. “Don’t try and get me back. You’ve faced a lot of stuff, I’ll give you all that credit. But Heroes can’t touch him. I’m as good as dead, if I’m not already that is. But I need you all to do what my brother and I started. Keep my mother away from him. He must never get her back. He’s running low on Quirk Stones. And without the stones are the only way he will ever be stopped. I . . . I don’t know if he will ever be stopped. But if he ever is, please, save my mom.”

I’ll be long gone. Because I’ll kill myself before I tell him where she is. “She was never a Villain. She and Kazuya were the only good ones in that manor. She didn’t deserve all of this. She was just a kid.”

We were all kids. But she was the only one that had that love and happy childhood. And it was all torn away from her.

“I’m the bane of her existence. I’m the source of misery in her life. If she never had us, she could have had a fighting chance against him.” I whispered.

I shook my head quickly. That wasn’t intentional. “I’m telling you all this because being with you all has changed me in ways that I’m not sure how to comprehend. We were raised to not feel a thing. Emotions are meaningless to weapons. There were no attachments. Because anyone can die at any given moment. There was no more warmth there."

"But you guys make me feel things I’ve never felt. And I feel like I belong. Being with all of you is probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Though I’ll never say it to your face."

"I . . . I love you guys. But I can’t be with you all. I’ve never been free. Not then, and not now. This video just proves it. Take care of each other.”

Please. You must always look out for each other. I don’t want you all to die an untimely death.

“Kazuya told me, he hid mom in the first place she’s ever danced freely at.”

It was a riddle. I don’t exactly know where that is. I can’t remember. But it’s a clue. Something that Claude doesn’t and should never have.

“I’m sure one of my mothers friends will know. But don’t get her. Not until Claude and all of his people are put away. I’ve given Midnight, Kitsune, and the police all I know about as many of his assets. Their Quirks, their business, weaknesses, strengths, everything I know. They’ll do something. But until it’s all done, don’t get her out. I don’t want her to go back. Because that’s what happens to all of us. Pulled back in by chains shackled to us.”

Although it’s not visible, and I can’t physically feel it, I know it’s still there. The chain that binds me to his every demand and shows I belong to him.

“This is goodbye. Thank you all for everything.”

I stood and walked over to the video recorder, ending it.

It’s a long video, and it’s a little awkward, but I feel better. I’ve never been able to tell this story.

Not to anyone.

And while I left out some of the more gruesome facts, I did it for them. I don’t want them to know that he has the ability to kill me.

And then bring me back.

That’d torment them with imaginations of what he’s doing to me.

But I did tell my story. My moms. Kazuya’s. I even gave form to Karin and Kai, who were too young.

But I’m glad they’re dead.

I wish we were all dead.

So that we’d finally be free from Nozomi Claude.

I said a lot of personal things in the video. I don’t want to show anyone. But if I’m going to die, I at least want them to know why. I want them to know me. Even if it’s in my final moment. I put the video recorder in a drawer and turned off the light, flopping onto my bed.

I stared at the ceiling as I began to accept my imminent demise. Images of Izu and Katsuki flashed through my mind, followed my the rest of my class, Midnight, even Itsuka and Tetsutetsu.

I grit my teeth, bringing my arm over my eyes.

“I don’t want to go.”