Chapter Forty-Six

Aizawa

Aizawa sat in the sterile quiet of the hospital room, the exhaustion weighing on him heavier than it ever had before. It had been a long time since he'd felt this defeated. His mind kept replaying the events, the mistakes, the moments he couldn't undo. One of his students was missing—taken—and no matter how much he tried to convince himself that he'd done everything he could, the guilt gnawed at him. I told them I wouldn't let Y/N remain missing... but here I am, he thought bitterly, staring blankly at the walls.

He had been out there, fighting, pushing himself harder than ever, doing everything within his power to track her down. But now, here he was, sitting helplessly in the hospital, unable to act. His body ached more than it had in years, his mind a blur of frustration and doubt. The heroes had searched, but each passing moment felt like a failure—a constant reminder that he couldn't be everywhere at once. Not this time.

Was this the cost of failure?

He clenched his fists, knuckles white against the sterile bed linens. There had to be more he could do, but right now, all he could do was sit, wait, and hope that Y/N was still out there, somewhere, safe.

All Might and Recovery Girl entered the room, the door creaking softly as they stepped inside. All Might winced, adjusting the sling around his injured arm with an almost reluctant motion. His usual booming voice, full of energy and strength, was now tempered by a rare note of discomfort.

"Aizawa, there you are," he called, his tone strained but warm. He tried to mask the exhaustion, but the strain was clear—his once-vibrant presence now weighed down by the toll of the battle. "How are you feeling?"

Despite the triumph over All For One, the consequences of the fight were written all over him. His arm, hanging awkwardly in the sling, was only the most obvious sign of the damage done. His body, though still physically imposing, was battered—he suspected multiple fractures, aches in places he hadn't realized could hurt. Worst of all, though, was the absence of his heroic form, the symbol of peace now nothing more than a shadow of its former glory.

His once-pristine posture slumped slightly as he approached the bed, the weight of the years, the injuries, and the battles dragging on him. He wasn't invincible anymore, and it was clear in the way he moved, the way he looked at Aizawa—not as a mentor or a hero, but as someone who had seen too many battles, too many scars.

But there was still that flicker of determination in his eyes, the unspoken resolve to keep fighting, no matter what.

Aizawa's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with barely contained anger and grief as he looked up at All Might. "How do you think I'm feeling, All Might?" His voice was low but laced with venom, each word sharpened by his frustration. "I've lost Y/n! We were supposed to protect her, but we failed. Now she's out there, in the hands of them—Shigaraki and his cronies—who knows what they're going to do to her!"

The words tumbled out like a torrent of frustration, the weight of their failure crashing over him in waves. He had promised to keep her safe, to protect her from everything, but now, with Y/n missing and the world spiraling into chaos, all he could feel was the gnawing emptiness of his own helplessness. The thought of her suffering, vulnerable in the hands of their enemies, was almost too much for him to process.

For a moment, the room was silent, thick with the suffocating weight of what had happened.

All Might, despite his own pain and broken form, stepped forward, the weariness in his eyes evident but still holding on to a flicker of his former strength. He placed a gentle hand on Aizawa's shoulder, offering the only comfort he could. "Don't blame yourself, Aizawa," he said quietly, his voice strained but sincere. "Y/n knew what she was getting into, as did we. We did the best we could, but sometimes, that just isn't enough."

His words, meant to console, seemed to sink into the heavy silence, failing to lift the burden that Aizawa carried. The truth was too sharp, too raw—they had failed. And now the consequences were unfolding before them, and it felt like the world was crumbling because of it.

Aizawa's gaze hardened, his eyes cold and full of something darker as he glared at All Might. "Just go, Toshinori," he growled, his voice thick with resentment. "I need time alone."

All Might's expression softened with understanding, though his shoulders sagged in defeat. "I understand," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He hesitated for a moment longer, then spoke with quiet resolve, his voice firm despite the frailty in his body. "But remember this—this isn't your failure, Aizawa. Y/n will come back to U.A. I'm certain of it, and we won't rest until she's safe with us. Even in this form, I won't stop searching for her."

He clenched his fist, the determination still burning within him, but his words seemed to disappear into the thick air, swallowed by Aizawa's guilt and anger.

Aizawa didn't respond, his gaze fixed out the window, as if trying to see beyond the glass to some place where everything was still in control. His thoughts were too clouded to hear the quiet conviction in All Might's voice. All that was left was the sense of loss, the quiet sting of defeat.

Sighing deeply, All Might turned to leave, his form heavy with the knowledge that nothing he could say would change what had already been set into motion. Recovery Girl, ever the calming presence, approached quietly, pulling a small box from her bag and offering him a piece of candy.

Aizawa took it, his fingers trembling slightly as he accepted the small gesture, but he didn't eat it. He just stared down at the candy, his mind elsewhere.

"It's not your fault, Shota," Recovery Girl said softly, patting his knee before standing to leave. Her words, simple and comforting, seemed to hang in the room long after she had gone. There was a sincerity in them, but they did little to ease the crushing weight Aizawa carried.

When the door clicked shut behind her, Aizawa was left in the quiet, his thoughts swirling in a storm of guilt and helplessness. And even as he tried to steady his breath, even as he tried to believe that All Might was right—that Y/n would come back—he couldn't shake the fear that she might not. And that, more than anything, was the hardest thing to bear.

-

Y/N

The League of Villains, surprisingly, treated you with an unexpected kindness that left you on edge. Their words were gentle, their actions considerate—completely at odds with the brutality you had braced yourself for. Even Shigaraki, the man who had instilled fear in so many, showed an unusual tenderness, making sure you were as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. It was almost unsettling, this contrast to what you'd imagined, the silence of your captivity filled with kindness you didn't know how to trust.

You sat in a dimly lit room, once occupied by Kurogiri, now your unwilling prison. The walls felt too close, the air too heavy. Before you, a bowl sat untouched—something that vaguely resembled soup, but the texture was far from comforting. It looked like porridge, cloying and unappetizing, but you couldn't bring yourself to touch it. The ache in your heart was far too overwhelming.

The door suddenly burst open, and Toga flounced in with her usual exuberance, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Y/N, there you are!" she trilled, her voice high and cheerful as she rushed forward and embraced you tightly. The sudden contact was jarring, but you didn't pull away, your body stiff as she wrapped her arms around you.

Toga didn't seem to notice—or perhaps she didn't care—about the tension in your posture. She continued, her words tumbling out in a rapid, excited stream. "All for One gave it to me before he went to fight All Might. He thought you would like it!" She spoke like she had been entrusted with something precious, the joy in her voice almost childlike.

Before you could process the flood of words, she gently took your hand in hers, placing something cool and hard in your palm. You glanced down, blinking in confusion. What she revealed made your breath catch in your throat.

A diamond. Shaped like a dragon.

The form was instantly recognizable—it was Toothless, your partner, your king. The dragon that had been with you through so much, your companion, your strength. The diamond's sharp, intricate cuts caught the light, resembling the very eyes of the dragon you had once loved so fiercely.

Your heart clenched painfully in your chest, an overwhelming rush of emotion flooding through you. Your mind struggled to process what you were holding. The reminder of him, of everything you had lost, hit you like a tidal wave. How had they gotten it? Was he...?

Toga's voice cut through the haze, though it felt distant now, as if you were underwater. "Isn't it beautiful? He's a real treasure. All for One thought it would mean something special to you."

Tears threatened to spill, but you fought them back, unwilling to show any weakness in front of her. The room felt smaller, the air thicker, and despite the gentle kindness the League was offering, you couldn't shake the feeling that it was all a game. A cruel, twisted game, and you were a pawn caught in the middle.

But as you held the diamond-shaped pendant, your fingers trembling slightly around its cool edges, you couldn't help but feel the sting of longing. Toothless—your partner—was gone, and no piece of jewelry could bring him back.

You glanced at Toga, your gaze hardening as a cold shiver ran down your spine. "What have you done?" you asked, the words thick with the weight of fear and confusion. "How did he know who Toothless is?" Your voice betrayed none of the panic roiling beneath the surface, but your grip on the diamond-shaped pendant tightened, as if holding it could somehow stop the storm of questions in your mind.

Toga simply shrugged, the playful glint in her eyes unchanged. "The boss knows a lot," she replied nonchalantly, as if the answer were obvious. She didn't seem to understand—or maybe didn't care—about the depth of the question. Her gaze was casual, almost amused, as she leaned against the doorframe, her hands resting behind her head in a relaxed pose.

You swallowed hard, your pulse quickening. All For One had known, somehow, about Toothless. That knowledge, that connection—how had he acquired it? Was he watching you more closely than you realized? The thought made your skin crawl. He had always been a shadow in the background, pulling strings from the darkness, but now it seemed like he was always one step ahead.

You opened your mouth, but words failed you for a moment. The implications of what Toga had said—the casual mention of the "boss"—sent a chill through your entire body. It was clear now that they were no longer just keeping you captive. They were learning about you, studying you, and using your past against you.

Toga, noticing your silence, tilted her head with a grin. "What's wrong, Y/N? You look so serious. Don't worry, it's not like the boss is going to hurt you or anything. He just... likes to know things."

You could hear the underlying tone of mockery in her words, the almost teasing lilt to her voice. But it was clear: she was enjoying this. Enjoying the discomfort, the uncertainty.

"Don't worry, Y/N," Toga repeated with a wink. "We all have our roles to play. You'll understand soon enough."

Your jaw clenched as you tried to steady your breath, the sharp edge of her words lingering in the air. The deeper the League dug into your past, the more twisted your situation became. You had no idea what All For One was planning, but it didn't feel like it was going to end well.

And in that moment, you realized just how little control you had left.