It was all a haze. A scary, itchy, mortifying haze. He didn't mean to do it. Well... one, he did.

It was such a beautiful day. Warm, sun shining, a light and graceful breeze dancing through the streets. It was such a beautiful day. But all Tenko could think was that he wanted someone, anyone, to come help him.

Passerbyers would stare at his bloody hands, his dusty clothes, and either assure him anxiously that a hero would come help him, or they'd just scurry off.

"Oh my-" the voice was female, and full of shock. A figure knelt down in front of him, "Young man, where are your parents?"

The question made him itch.

"Young man?" she frowned at him. "Are you..." she trailed off as her eyes locked onto the blood. Her tone grew serious, "Do you need help?"

He blinked at her. Was she... Oh, right. She was asking a question. He nodded slowly and she quickly dug in her pocket, fishing out her phone. He supposed that she dialed the police. He couldn't remember. It was all a haze.

A man soon came up to him and the woman talked to him. The officer then took his turn to kneel down in front of him.

"Hey little buddy, I'm officer Takahashi, I'm here to help you. Can you tell me your name?"

Tenko's head tilted to the side slightly. Oh, yes. Another question.

"Sh-shimura Tenko," why did his voice come out so weak? So wavering?

"It's nice to meet you. I just got a few questions that I need to ask. Is that okay?" the man asked in a soft and friendly tone.

Tenko nodded slowly. It was just a few questions. He could do this.

"Why're you out here all alone?"

He couldn't find the words. He just looked down at his bloodied hands.

"Did... someone hurt you?"

Yes. And he hurt him back.

The man waited patiently. Oh, right. The question. Tenko nodded.

"I see... Did you run away?"

Tenko nodded.

"Alright. Can you come back with me to the station?"

Wait... No. Tenko did a bad thing. Bad kids get hurt. And villains got arrested and put in prison. He didn't wanna go to prison!

Tenko did realize that his breath had started to come out heavy and uneven.

"Hey, kid, it's alright-" the officer reached his hand out towards Tenko.

No- no-

He was going to hurt him. He was a bad kid. The man was going to hurt him- Father was going to hurt him-

Instinctually, Tenko reached his hand out...

-~-=-=-=-~-

The boy... he'd beat up that kid... he was so... so... beautiful, covered in all of that blood.

Eyes were wide as she gazed at him, stared at him, her heart clenching, stomach twisting. Goodness... it felt like something was knawing at her from the inside out. She'd always had the small feeling, like being poked with little needles constantly, but now it felt like she was being ripped open from the inside out.

She needed something... she couldn't stand it. It was eating her alive from the inside out.

"Himiko?" one of her friends frowned, "You don't... look so good."

"Huh...?" she blinked, breaking out of her stare, almost dropping her cup of coffee. The feeling was still there. She almost subconsciously grabbed for the knife she often kept in her pocket. She knew she wasn't supposed to have it, especially at school, but it helped her feel grounded and stable.

"Do you need to go see the nurse? I can go with you," he offered with a lighthearted smile.

No. She didn't need the nurse. Was she needed was- The cute boy was walking away.

"I... need to go-" Himiko rushed away without another word. She had to get to the boy before he cleaned up. Didn't he realize how beautiful he looked?

She followed him into a hallway. Her heart fluttered as she realized that they were alone. The cup of coffee was still gripped tightly in her hand as she crept silently behind him.

They were alone. It was so romantic!

She paused, trying to conjure up his name in her mind. Oh, right!

"Saito," she whispered, and he startled, whipping around to face her.

"Oh, it's just you. Himiko, right?" he questioned, hand on his chest. His beautiful... bloody... hand. She couldn't keep her eyes off of it.

"Yes... H-hi, Saito," she smiled. Was there something wrong with smiling? As soon as she did it, he looked extremely uncomfortable. Was there something on her face?

"Hey... Uh, something you need?" he took one step backwards. Why was he leaving? They'd just started talking.

She stepped closer to him, perhaps too close. He looked highly unsettled, with a spec of blood on his cheek...

There it was. That feeling, that need, that stabbing urge in her... Huh. Urge. That's what it was, wasn't it? It hurt, it burned, so much. The people around her always wanted her to be so happy. But the urge... it made her quite the opposite.

So shouldn't she make that feeling stop?

... Yes.

She grinned.

She should.

Himiko grasped her knife, diving at Saito with it. Oh! And her cup had a straw! That would definitely come in handy when she was done.

Her spine shivered with excitement and glee.

"HIMIKO WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" she recognized the cry. It was her friend, from before.

She was caught off guard for a moment, and Saito used that moment to shove her away. He then sprinted down the hall, away from her.

"Saito!?" she cried.

Her friend dove in and grabbed the knife from her hand, twisting her wrist to get her to drop it.

"Ouch! Hayatooo!" she whined, rubbing her wrist.

"Wh-what-!? I- Why did you attack him!?" Hayato exclaimed incredulously.

"I-" she froze. Any answer would make her sound crazy. She was not crazy. Tears welled up in her eyes, "I..." her parents were going to hate her.

Hayato dropped the knife, walking over and wrapping his arms around her, "Hey... It's okay. I'm gonna help you, alright?"

"I-i-" no. She didn't want help. Help just meant putting back on the mask. She didn't want to go back to hiding behind a shell!

"You can be honest with me. It is okay, Himiko. I'm your friend," he said softly, "Friends don't bail, even when the other attacks another kid with a box cutter," he chuckled sheepishly.

"Why...?"

He frowned, "Why what?"

"Why don't you hate me? I'm not normal. I'm not good," the words came out quietly, each dripping with reluctance and bitterness.

"I have a mutant quirk. Normal isn't my style," he grinned at her, somehow, with a beak, "We're gonna get through this, okay?"

A long moment passed.

Himiko felt herself start to relax in his arms, despite the burning urge churning in her stomach. She nodded, although very hesitantly. She trusted him. Even though her parents never liked him. Maybe that was a part of the reason.

Hayato was her friend, even with the mask off. That was all she wanted from him.

"Okay."

-~-=-=-=-~-

Endeavor had rejected him.

It wasn't his fault that he got his stupid mom's weak body! Besides, he was fine. He was perfectly fine. A few burns meant nothing. Well, a few meaning a dozen. On his arms, his stomach, his hands.

His father was ridiculous. And NOW he had pumped out another Todoroki, this one was perfect. It made him sick.

Shoto was perfect in every way he wasn't.

Endeavor had marveled over the disgusting snot factory. His mother had been relieved. His siblings had gawked over the little half and half brat.

It was unfair! He should have been the one to carry on the legacy of Endeavor! He worked so so hard. It wasn't okay! If he couldn't do this, then why was he even born?

There was a sharp and firm knock at his door. He recognized it. Endeavor. The sounded angry. To be fair, he had just attacked his baby brother earlier.

Touya wiped his tears and said in the toughest tone he could muster, "C-come in."

Endeavor opened the door was a solemn expression, "Touya. There is something we need to discuss."

"What is it, Father?" he looked up at him. He was sitting on his bed, knees pulled up to his chest.

Endeavor sat down by him, not meeting his gaze. Oh no. That was a bad sign. "Son..." he started, expression dead serious, "You've been hurting yourself, and you've started hurting your siblings. The..." he let out a sigh, "The Hero Safety Commission approached me a few weeks ago."

Touya gazed up at him, frowning.

"They have a program, that trains you to be a very good hero-"

He gasped. He got to be a hero still!

"I didn't want you to continue down this path, but they have the resources and people to help you manage your... condition," he explained, bitterness leaking into the last word, it made Touya's heart sink.

"But Touya... you won't get to see us often."

"Huh?" his frown deepened.

"You'll live somewhere else. And you won't get to see us very often. Me, your mother, your siblings."

Touya didn't know how to feel. This was his purpose. This was what he was born to do. But he loved his family, even Shoto.

But he knew what he had to do.

He knew...

Touya knew.

-~-=-=-=-~-

Izuku cried, holding his head in his hands.

The man chuckled, patting his head softly, "It's okay... I am here."