Eri sat on the bus, her small hands gripping the edge of her seat. The world outside blurred as they passed, but she hardly noticed. Her focus was on the silence—on the absence of Deku's voice, the one she had relied on so much since he had helped her find hope again.

She tapped her phone, looking at the screen where her messages to Deku remained unread. The pit in her stomach grew. She had heard things about Musutafu, about how the city was struggling in the absence of so many heroes. She just wanted to see him—to make sure he was okay.

Kota sat beside her, quiet as always but radiating worry. "Eri," he said softly, "are you sure we should do this? Mr. Aizawa's going to be mad."

Eri's lips pressed together in a firm line. "He's already mad. He doesn't care about me anymore."

Kota frowned but didn't argue further. He had made up his mind to stick with her. Eri was his friend, and he couldn't leave her alone, especially not now.

An Unexpected Ally

As the bus arrived in Musutafu, Eri and Kota stepped off, their eyes scanning the worn streets of the once-vibrant city. Invisible Girl was waiting for them, her faint silhouette shimmering as she materialized nearby.

"Toru?" Kota blinked in surprise.

"Eri," Hagakure's voice was urgent. "I've been looking for you. You shouldn't be out here—it's not safe."

Eri stiffened, clutching her small bag closer. "I'm going to see Mr. Deku," she said, determination in her voice.

Hagakure frowned, glancing at Kota for explanation.

"She ran away," Kota admitted reluctantly. "She thinks Mr. Aizawa's been mean to her, and... well, I didn't want her to come alone."

"Ran away?" Hagakure repeated, her voice incredulous. "Eri, you can't just—" She stopped herself, realizing there was no point in scolding the girl now. "Fine. Let's go."

Eri's eyes widened. "You're coming with us?"

Hagakure nodded. "I'll help, but we need to talk to Mr. Aizawa too. Something's not right with him."

The Midoriya Apartment

When they arrived at Deku's apartment, the door was unlocked. Inside, the space was eerily quiet.

Eri ran ahead, calling out, "Mr. Deku? Are you here?"

There was no answer. Kota followed her cautiously, while Hagakure lingered near the door, her instincts on edge.

Hagakure's gaze swept the apartment, noting the signs of recent activity. Plates on the counter, a chair pulled out from the table—but no one in sight.

"Something's off," she murmured.

Eri's voice cracked as she called out again, "Mr. Deku!"

"He's not here," Kota said softly, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Hagakure looked around one more time. "Aoyama said he'd meet us here," she said suddenly. "But I don't see him either."

The three of them exchanged worried glances.

A Troubling Encounter

Deciding to regroup, Hagakure led Eri and Kota to Mr. Aizawa's house. The door opened slowly, and Eri's heart sank when she saw him.

The man standing before them looked like Aizawa but wasn't the teacher she knew. His posture was more rigid, his expression sharp, and his eyes glinted with an uncharacteristic arrogance.

"What are you doing here?" Aizawa's tone was biting.

Eri flinched, stepping back behind Kota.

"You don't care about me!" Eri cried, tears welling in her eyes.

Aizawa scoffed. "Care about you? You're a burden, Eri. I don't have time for childish tantrums."

Hagakure stepped forward, her voice firm. "What's wrong with you, Aizawa? This isn't like you."

He smirked, a cruel twist of his lips. "Maybe you didn't know me as well as you thought."

Before anyone could respond, a familiar voice called out.

"ERI!"

Miss Joke, and Present Mic rushed into the room, dropping to her knees and wrapping Eri in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her face. "Oh, sweetheart, are you okay? I've been so worried!"

Eri sobbed into her shoulder, clinging to her tightly.

Miss Joke turned to Aizawa, her face filled with anger. "What's wrong with you, Shouta? How could you say those things to her?"

"Eri are you okay?" Present mic asked worried

Aizawa crossed his arms, unbothered. "She's not my responsibility anymore."

Miss Joke's jaw tightened. She looked back at Eri, her expression softening. "It's going to be okay," she said gently.

The Pattern Emerges

Hagakure stepped aside, piecing things together. Aizawa wasn't himself. The cruel tone, the dismissive attitude—it was a stark contrast to the tired but caring teacher she knew.

"This isn't you," Hagakure said firmly, staring at Aizawa. "You're under some kind of quirk."

Aizawa raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Miss Joke stood, holding Eri protectively. "If there's one thing I know, Shouta, it's that you're not this kind of person. We're going to figure this out."

Hagakure nodded. "It's not just you. Everyone in Class 1-A is being affected in some way. We're all connected to this."

Eri sniffled, looking up at them with wide eyes. "Even Mr. Deku?"

Hagakure nodded. "Yes, Eri. But we're going to help him—and everyone else."

A steely determination filled the room as the realization settled over them. They weren't just fighting to escape their own nightmares—they were fighting for each other.