N/a: Hey guys! Yami speaking.
Well, I'm here to let you know that my plan is to publish a chapter every two or three days.
Also, I'll be doing a remake and making some changes to chapters prior to chapter 10, I'll just make a small change to match what I'm doing.
Reason?
I was very green (although I still am) when it came to developing characters and skills, I was a little bit stupid when doing it haha...
Okay! Just so you know, and I'll also make a change to the cover to attract more readers, hehe...
Well, without further ado...
Let's Go!
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[Supermarket]
[Point of view: Third Person]
The cocoon of green tendrils moved gently, but inside it, Hades felt each jolt like a hammer blow on his broken bones.
His right arm was shattered, his legs were fractured in multiple places, and although his regeneration had partially repaired his shoulder, the rest of his body was a mess. But he didn't complain.
I wouldn't do something so pathetic.
He gritted his teeth, breathing heavily, the stinging sensation in his torso reminding him of every burn and blow he'd ever taken.
But then something crossed his mind, like a fleeting idea.
-Hey...
Midoriya, without turning around, muttered something that Hades couldn't understand, but he continued anyway.
—What happened to that mortal you were looking for?
The girl, upon hearing the aforementioned, tensed, stopping dead in her tracks, and between murmurs, answered.
—I... I found it when I was on my way to save you.
Hades frowned, waiting for more answers, but the girl seemed unwilling to elaborate.
With a sigh, she decided to remain silent for the moment, as her eyes were heavy with pain and exhaustion. Still, she managed to notice something floating a few feet away: a cell phone.
It wasn't just that... he was moving, clumsily moving towards some rubble.
Hades narrowed his eyes.
"Do you know her?" he asked in a raspy voice, without taking his eyes off the invisible figure.
Midoriya, who was walking with light but firm steps, felt a slight shudder.
Its tendrils coiled around the unconscious bodies of the villains, wrapping around them with the precision of a snake before dragging them along the floor towards the north wing, where the heroes and civilians were gathered.
He didn't respond immediately. His lips trembled slightly before he spoke.
"Yes… Hagakure Toru," he whispered, his voice softer than usual with a sense of nostalgia. "She… died. And her body was never found…"
Hades looked away from the floating phone and fixed his gaze on Midoriya. His expression was unreadable, but inside, the information was processing quickly.
"Who killed her?" he asked, his tone unadorned and unadorned.
Midoriya kept his gaze on the ground, but his body tensed. The tendrils unconsciously tightened around the villains, causing them to grunt in pain even in their unconscious state.
—A monster is coming… —he said in a low voice.
Hades, despite the pain that ran through his body like an electric current, raised an eyebrow.
—A monster? What do you mean?
Midoriya stopped.
A chill ran down her spine, and slowly, she turned her face towards him, in her green eyes darkened by memories, there was only one absolute truth.
"He... He ripped off All Might's arm..." Her voice strained, her fists clenched, and a tremor ran through her body as she whispered. "Because of me..."
Hades remained silent for a moment, processing the information.
His left arm hung limp, fractured in multiple places, and the stabbing pain in his legs reminded him that they were completely shattered.
Still, he forced himself to maintain his composure. This wasn't the first time he'd suffered serious injuries, but it was the first time his mortal body hadn't responded like a god's.
As Midoriya spoke, he observed her expression. Her lips were pursed, her breathing labored, and her gaze lost in space.
His distant voice wasn't just a sign of fatigue... there was fear in his voice.
"Can you give me more information about this... 'monster'?" he asked calmly, raising an eyebrow. His second personality wanted to come out, since he didn't like seeing her in that state. "Is she on the level of giants?"
Midoriya closed his eyes tightly and took a breath, trying to steady himself.
I didn't want to remember.
Not now, though, he forced himself to give a summary of it.
"He… has multiple Quirks," he said after a pause, his voice slightly trembling. "One for shock absorption and another for extremely powerful regeneration…" he exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself. "The perfect combination to counter All Might."
Hades frowned.
He didn't like what he heard. A being with advanced regeneration was already a problem, but if it could also absorb impacts… that made it a nightmare.
However, before he could say anything else, his gaze shifted as he noticed a set of floating clothes.
A pink shirt, khaki shorts, long socks, and white shoes were hurrying in her direction.
—Hey! Wait for me!
"Strange..." Hades murmured, watching the phenomenon of clothes running without a visible body.
Midoriya blinked and let out a small sigh as he recognized her.
She was glad to see her, but nostalgia hit her hard.
I couldn't find the right words to describe what I felt.
"You can't just leave me behind like that!" she continued, her voice sounding slightly annoyed. "What the hell was all that about? What the hell were those things!"
Hades, his teeth clenched in pain, decided to ignore the conversation.
It wasn't that he wasn't interested, but he found it hard to concentrate when every movement made him feel like his body was going to collapse.
Midoriya, on the other hand, gave her a small, albeit somewhat forced, smile.
—It was a well-planned terrorist attack. The villains were using modified humans as living bombs.
The girl stopped abruptly, her breathing quickening with each word her mind processed.
"W-What...?" Her voice sounded incredulous. "Humans...?"
"Yes," Midoriya nodded gravely. "I don't know what kind of experiments they underwent, but they had no control over themselves and their only goal was to explode."
A chill ran down the girl's spine.
—But... How do you know all this?
Midoriya looked ahead with feigned calm.
—They said so themselves. They began to monologue about their plan before attacking.
Hagakure nodded slightly, processing the information, but her invisible gaze shifted to Hades.
He remained silent, his face neutral, but the tension in his jaw and the way his fingers trembled slightly told her he was in pain.
Annoyed, she clicked her tongue.
—And you? Why aren't you saying anything? You look horrible!
Hades looked at her sideways and snorted in annoyance.
—Because talking doesn't fix broken bones, and besides... we gods don't feel pain.
Hagakure narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, really?" she said in a suspiciously sweet tone.
Without warning, he raised his hand and hit—not too hard, but not gently either—his broken arm.
Hades gasped, his face immediately twisting. The veins in his neck popped out, his jaw clenched, and his brows furrowed in clear pain.
"You son of a bitch!" he growled through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing as he tried to process the pang of agony that coursed through his body.
Hagakure crossed her arms, satisfied.
—Yeah, right. You don't feel any pain. So what was that?
Midoriya, who had been deep in thought, looked at the scene and let out a tired sigh.
—Try not to hurt him more than he already is.
"He started it!" Hagakure defended herself, puffing out her cheeks. "If she's going to talk nonsense, at least back it up."
Hades closed his eyes in frustration.
Not only was his body in pieces, but now he also had to deal with an invisible little girl who seemed to enjoy watching him suffer.
Finally, he snorted and looked away.
—You're... cruel.
Hagakure put her hands on her waist, or so it seemed.
—No more than you, ignoring your wounds as if they were nothing.
Midoriya shook his head, although a small smile appeared on his lips.
Hagakure remained the same… even in the midst of chaos.
Finally, he let out a sigh of resignation and decided to change the subject.
—So… What are we going to do now?
Midoriya finally looked up and pointed forward.
—Let's go to the north wing. The heroes and the civilians are there.
The villains continued to be dragged by Midoriya's whips, writhing unconscious. Hagakure gulped and nodded.
The three continued advancing through the devastated area, with the villains still dragged by Midoriya's tendrils.
Every step they took crunched on the rubble, and the air, thick with the dust from the collapsed buildings, made the scene look like something from a battlefield.
Despite the destruction and exhaustion, Toru maintained his positive attitude, with his phone in hand, while playing the video of Hades' fight against Sosuke.
—Hey, I almost forgot! What are your names? My name is Toru Hagakure.
Midoriya, without stopping, nodded his head and with a casual gesture pointed his thumb at the boy next to him.
—My name is Akemi Midoriya, and this fractured grump is Hades-san.
The aforementioned let out a low grunt, still feeling the burning sensation running through his broken arm and battered body.
—Tch... How cheeky... Just give my name without adding any qualifiers.
"But that would be lying, wouldn't it?" Midoriya replied with an amused smile.
Hagakure chuckled as she checked her phone.
—Anyway, what they just did back there was impressive. How the hell did they not die?
Midoriya sighed, but before answering, her gaze shifted to the floating phone in front of her.
—Hey... what are you watching?
Hagakure blinked for a moment and then nodded.
"Oh, it's Hades-san's fight against that villain over there," he said, pointing with the flowing sleeve of his shirt at the burly man still unconscious on the ground.
Midoriya looked at the screen with interest.
The video showed Hades facing Sosuke with brutal ferocity.
His fighting style was aggressive, rough, and improvised, but something about Hades' stance seemed odd; he didn't seem to move with the fluidity he wanted.
Still, every move had a purpose, every attack was made with the intention of causing as much damage as possible.
Then the image on the screen showed the moment Hades activated his sonic gauntlet.
The first shockwave was nothing noticeable, but it was enough to stagger the villain for a moment.
"Was that... a sonic attack?" Midoriya muttered to himself, his mind analyzing the gauntlet's potential.
The fight continued on screen, and Midoriya saw the moment Sosuke broke Hades's arm due to a distraction. His lips pressed into a thin line.
But then, he saw it.
Hades' smile.
It wasn't a forced smile, reflecting pain or desperation.
It was a genuine smile, full of emotion, full of adrenaline.
Filled with a lust for battle.
—Do you... enjoy fighting...?
The question lingered in his mind, but before he could fully process it, a loud crash shook the area.
—Don't worry, civilians!
The sound rumbled like thunder.
A thunderous laugh shook the air, powerful and full of energy.
—Why? Hahaha! Because I'm here!
Midoriya felt a lurch in his heart. A mixture of relief, excitement, and wonder coursed through him.
Hagakure jumped, looking in the direction of the bang.
Hades... just sighed with an annoyed expression.
"So what now?" she whispered, annoyance seeping from her voice. "Hey, Midoriya, what the hell do we do now?"
But the girl paid no attention to him. A special sparkle appeared in her eyes.
He let out a deep sigh, and without wasting any more time, he quickened his pace.
The villains were dragged harder, causing one of them to let out a groan of pain.
Hades, on the other hand, felt the stirring in his cocoon, the movement causing any attempt at words to choke on the tip of his tongue as he tried to stifle a scream.
But she didn't stop.
Her heart was pounding, her legs moved on their own.
"All Might!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
As the girl went deeper, she witnessed how chaos continued to reign in the area.
Frightened civilians huddled together, some sobbing, others murmuring the names of loved ones, and some simply watching in disbelief. The sound of approaching sirens mingled with the murmurs, but a single voice managed to drown it all out.
The figure of a blond man eclipsed the concerns of all civilians.
The more steps he took, Midoriya's breathing became more and more ragged, his legs trembled and his heart seemed to stop for a moment.
All Might, was there.
Tall, imposing, with his characteristic dazzling smile and his unwavering presence.
But the image in front of her began to overlap with another, her eyes clouding the longer she looked at it.
A staggering figure, covered in blood, one arm missing and the other lying limp at his side, held a fake smile as his blood ran across the ruined battlefield.
Her blond hair soaked in red, her face distorted by pain, but with a determined look, her smile did not waver unlike her features, and with her last breath, she dedicated her last words to him.
Those words he could never forget.
—Get out of here, young Midoriya… I will stop them! The hope of all citizens rests on your shoulders…! So shine… shine brighter than all to impart hope to all hearts!
A chill ran through her body, and her vision blurred for a moment.
But he couldn't stay there.
With renewed vigor, ignoring Hades's grunts and the murmurs of the civilians, he pushed his way through the crowd.
Its black tendrils spread out, dragging the villains along the ground, while Hades, still wrapped in the protective cocoon, rose slightly into the air.
Hades growled again.
—Midoriya… if you keep moving like that… I'm going to break something else…
She didn't answer.
His mind and eyes were fixed solely on the man in front of him.
All Might.
He turned his gaze to the young woman emerging from the crowd. His expression hardened for a moment.
Her green hair was stained with blood, her tracksuit uniform was slightly scorched, and her breathing was labored. But what worried him most was the way she looked at him.
It was a mix of excitement, relief… and something deeper. Something he couldn't quite place.
When his gaze lowered to Hades and the villains trapped in those strange tendrils, his expression changed to a mixture of surprise and pride.
—Young Midoriya… did you catch these villains?
Midoriya tried to answer immediately, but his throat closed.
She had it in front of her.
Alive.
Not covered in blood, not with a broken body or a face disfigured by battle.
But whole, strong, with his imposing smile.
Tears pooled in her eyes without her being able to stop them.
All Might saw how her lips trembled, how she seemed about to break.
Gently, he raised his large hand, wanting to place it on her head, to show her support.
But before he could do so, Midoriya took a deep breath and managed to speak.
"Yes!" His voice sounded strong and determined, yet charged with emotion. "My partner and I caught these two terrorists and neutralized the bombs."
All Might blinked, surprised for a second.
Then, his smile widened.
And with his characteristic boom of happiness, he burst out laughing.
—Hahahaha! Well done, young Midoriya!
Midoriya's chest filled with warmth.
That was his mentor.
That was the man she always trusted.
And for the first time in a long time, he felt like there was still hope.
All Might lightly punched her back, almost making her stumble.
"Go get medical attention!" he said firmly. "Leave the villains alone. I'll take it from here!"
The civilians began to murmur among themselves, surprised that All Might knew their name.
—Who is that boy?
—Did they catch the villains?
—Why did All Might say his name?
—Do they know each other?
But All Might didn't stop.
"The rescue team just arrived!" he announced, stepping away from the crowd. "I'll go look for any casualties, hahaha!"
Midoriya watched him walk away, his vision still blurred by tears.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions in his chest.
Then a firm voice brought her out of her thoughts.
—My name is Naomasa Tsukauchi, a detective with the Japanese Police.
A man in a khaki trench coat and hat approached, showing him his ID.
—Could you please provide us with the captured villains?
Midoriya blinked and nodded immediately.
His tendrils relaxed and dropped the two terrorists to the ground.
Tsukauchi gave a slight bow and looked at the criminals before signaling to the officers behind him.
"You did a good job. But now you have to let the professionals take care of it. Go on, take a break, you earned it," he said with a slight smile as several police officers took over.
Midoriya didn't argue.
With Hades still in the cocoon, he walked out of the supermarket and outside.
As he walked out of the supermarket, Midoriya felt the adrenaline begin to dissipate from his body.
His breathing was still rapid, but his chest no longer felt as tight.
A wave of cold air enveloped her, clearing her mind of the chaos she had left behind.
With a shaky sigh, she lifted her sleeve and wiped away the tears still falling down her cheeks.
I couldn't help it.
Seeing All Might in action, healthy, strong, without the fatal wound that had consumed him in his other life… It gave him back a hope he thought was lost.
But her brief moment of relief was interrupted by an enthusiastic shout.
—You know All Might!
Midoriya blinked and turned to Toru, who was standing in front of her, with a seemingly fixed gaze that held an almost childlike emotion in her voice.
"That was amazing!" he continued, jumping slightly in place. "All Might congratulated you! Are you a fan of his? You've met him in person!"
Her voice bounced off Hades's ears, who, still wrapped in his cocoon of tendrils, frowned in annoyance.
"Damn invisible mortal…" he growled, feeling a persistent ringing in his ears from the previous explosions. "You're very noisy."
He tried to move, but pain immediately surged through his body. Every inch felt like he'd been run over by a Titan's fist.
And then, his consciousness clouded for a moment.
His muscles relaxed, his expression changed, and his gaze became more shaky.
—Oww… It hurts! It hurts so much! We moved too fast! —she complained in a completely different tone.
Toru blinked several times, noticing the sudden difference in his attitude.
—Uh… Hades?
He looked up with teary eyes, showing that his second personality had taken over.
—Don't move me so much! My ribs! I can't feel my legs!
—Ah… —Toru looked at Midoriya in confusion—. —Is he… okay? Is he always like this?
Midoriya sighed and shrugged.
"Hades has… multiple personality disorder," he explained calmly, even though he knew deep down it was something much more complicated.
Toru tilted her head thoughtfully.
—Oh… So… There are two Hades?
-More or less...
The invisible girl looked at the boy who was now writhing in pain and sighed.
—He's someone… unique.
"And future UA student," Midoriya interrupted, with a small smile as he walked toward one of the stretchers the paramedics had brought.
One of the orderlies, a middle-aged man wearing a reflective vest, approached and assessed Hades's condition with an expert eye.
—Is any of you related to him? We need you to accompany him.
Midoriya nodded without hesitation.
—I'll do it.
The nurse signaled him to get into the ambulance with Hades.
As Midoriya climbed into the ambulance, he saw Toru still standing a few feet away, watching with some concern.
"Toru!" he called before the door closed.
The invisible girl turned quickly.
-Yeah?
Midoriya took out his phone and smiled.
—Give me your number.
-Hey?
—I want the video you recorded earlier. The one of Hades fighting.
Toru tilted his head.
-Because?
Midoriya smirked.
—I want to upload it. It'll be good for later.
Toru hesitated a little, but then nodded.
—Okay, but make sure you don't show anything too much... you know.
"I know," Midoriya assured her, quickly exchanging numbers with her.
Just then, the ambulance door closed and the vehicle started moving.
Another paramedic, from another ambulance, approached Toru.
—Are you hurt? Does it hurt anywhere?
"Oh, no, no," she replied quickly, waving her hands. "It was just a little shock from everything that happened."
The paramedic nodded and offered him a bottle of water before walking away.
—Wow... I hope I passed the entrance exam...
On the other hand, Hades continued to writhe on the stretcher, tears forming in his eyes as he complained of pain.
But inside his mind, the voice of the real Hades roared with fury.
—Damn it! My image as God is ruined!
Meanwhile, Midoriya was already inside the ambulance, watching the paramedics cut the boy's clothes with some suspicion.
He had spent several minutes searching for something big enough to fit him, and now those same clothes were being destroyed with a pair of sharp scissors.
A heavy sigh escaped the girl's mouth, but before she could complain, the notification sound on her phone alarmed her.
Several messages had arrived, including messages from his worried mother and the video from Hades.
Midoriya gave a slight smile as he dialed his mother's number.
The phone rang no more than twice before her mother picked it up.
—Akemi! I just saw the news, are you okay? Did something bad happen to you? Oh God, if something happens to you, I'll...
"Mom," the girl interrupted, as she watched the tearful god receiving a dose of what she deduced was a sedative. "I'm fine. Hades and I are handling the situation, but..."
—But what?
—Let's just say... Hades is... a little bruised.
"Akemi, define bruised," Inko's voice hardened, expecting the worst as she held her breath.
"He has... broken legs and arms...?" he replied, lowering his voice on the last sentence.
—Oh my God! Which hospital are you going to? I'll go right away. First I have...
"Mom," he firmly interrupted his mother's fuss, trying to calm her down. "We're fine. Hades just got sedated after making a fuss about how 'the gods don't feel pain.'"
Inko sighed softly and calmed her breathing.
—Which hospital will they go to?
—Let's go to the main hospital in Musutafu.
Inko's breathing became more regulated and calm.
—Okay, I'll go right away.
Shortly after, the call was cut off.
The monotonous sound of the ambulance filled the remaining space.
Her mother's voice was certainly comforting. A part of her was glad to hear it again.
A smile formed on his face as he began to review the video of Hades fighting Sosuke.
He carefully edited some parts, making sure to only show how impressive the battle had been without revealing the part where he had cold-bloodedly executed the bombs.
However, before he could finish, a nurse approached with a serious expression.
"Young lady, what's your name?" he asked as he bent down to check her head, concerned about the blood staining her green hair.
Midoriya looked up and smiled calmly.
—Midoriya Akemi. But I'm fine, this blood isn't mine after all.
The nurse narrowed his eyes, clearly doubting his answer. Before he could continue, Midoriya nodded toward the sedated boy on the stretcher.
—I carried him all the way here. It's only natural that some of his blood splashed on me.
The nurse let out a small sigh, resigned, and offered him a bottle of water.
—Drink this. It's been a long day.
Midoriya took it with a slight nod of thanks.
A few minutes passed in silence, until the ambulance doors swung open.
"Hey, guys!" Recovery Girl's elderly but energetic voice filled the space as she appeared, her signature cane in hand.
Midoriya blinked in surprise at the sight, but his gaze soon shifted further back, where he saw Aizawa standing there, his expression of annoyance partially hidden by his scarf.
On his shoulder, resting comfortably as if there was nothing to worry about, was Principal Nezu, with his eternally sly smile.
"All Might made a call for medical help," the little headmaster said in a cheerful voice.
Before he could add anything else, Recovery Girl completely ignored him and entered the ambulance with quick steps.
"Well? Who's the injured person?" he said bluntly, his sharp gaze scanning the scene until it settled on the only unconscious person. Then he turned to the orderly with the clipboard. "Injury summary, now."
The nurse, startled by the sudden demand, blinked a couple of times before regaining his composure. He adjusted his glasses and began reading with surgical precision.
—Male patient, approximately fifteen years old. Current condition: sedated.
His tone of voice was firm, but as he continued, a look of disbelief crossed his face.
—Requires immediate surgery.
The words made Recovery Girl frown.
—Comminuted fracture of the left forearm, with the ulna and radius involved.
Midoriya, although he already knew Hades was hurt, felt his stomach sink a little upon hearing the breakdown.
—Second-degree burns on the right hand and forearm.
"Burns too?" Aizawa whispered, his voice low but clearly annoyed.
—Right shoulder dislocated and poorly relocated.
"Tch." Recovery Girl clicked her tongue, visibly annoyed.
—Multiple rib fractures on the left side, possible pulmonary contusion. Respiratory distress noted during the journey.
A tense silence filled the ambulance.
—Bilateral leg fractures. Femur, tibia, and fibula affected.
The nurse swallowed before continuing.
—Partial hearing loss, possibly due to eardrum damage. Blood found in both ears.
Midoriya felt his throat close. He knew Hades had been fighting under extreme conditions, but hearing the severity of his injuries out loud was something else.
Nezu, without losing his calm, simply smiled with his eyes narrowed, as if he were processing all the information for some plan that only he knew.
Recovery Girl banged her cane on the ground in annoyance.
—He needs immediate surgery! His shoulder is poorly relocated, and he requires urgent bone stabilization. We also need to control the burns and evaluate his lungs before complications arise.
The nurse nodded quickly, writing everything down on his clipboard.
—We'll move him right away.
Midoriya looked at Hades, who in his unconscious state was stirring slightly, as if he was still struggling in his own world.
[Mind of Hades]
A dark, empty, infinite space. There was no up or down, only shadows twisting like smoke around Hades. Sitting in that void, his furrowed brow was the only thing visible in the gloom. And in front of him, a smaller reflection of himself, with glassy eyes and the vulnerable expression of a child.
—Damn it! Why is this kid crying?
The child sobbed internally, wrapped in a feeling of panic and pain.
—I-It hurts…
"You're ruining my image as a god!" Hades gritted his teeth, helpless inside his own body. "Stop it, you damn whiny brat, and hold it!"
But his other personality didn't listen to him.
He just huddled in his own despair.
Hades growled, his patience already worn thin.
—If you were going to complain so much, you damn brat, why the hell did you decide to change?
The child, the second personality that inhabited the body with him, raised his face with trembling lips.
—I… I wanted to show that it hurts…
Hades gave a dry, incredulous laugh.
—Prove what? You spent the whole time screaming and crying! You ruined my image of an imposing god!
The boy clenched his fists, his body trembling.
—Because I'm human, idiot!
Hades narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark and sharp.
—You should have let me control it.
The boy lowered his head, breathing heavily, and then raised it with determination.
—I'm... I'm sorry... I wanted to know how you felt...
Hades blinked. Was this brat trying to figure him out?
The boy continued, taking a step forward.
—Ever since the day someone ran up to me yelling weird things, I've been in this dark space watching everything you do…
The boy moved forward clumsily, his bare feet echoing in the void.
Although they shared the same face, their expressions were completely different. Hades looked weary and stern, while his eyes were red from crying.
"Ever since the day you snatched my body... I think my life has gotten better..." He swallowed, but his voice gained strength. "We met new people! We got into UA! It's my dream to be a hero!"
Hades sighed heavily, approaching with a firm step.
—Getting into that thing was your fault. I didn't want to be that rat's dog. But tell me, why the hell do you take control of the body whenever you want? You accepted that contract against my will!
The boy gritted his teeth.
—I do this so you don't ruin relationships and opportunities because of your bad temper and self-centeredness!
Hades raised an eyebrow.
—What did you say, dwarf?
With those words, the boy puffed out his cheeks, indignant.
—If I left you alone, we'd still be living under a bridge, without friends and without a future!
Hades clicked his tongue, his expression hardening.
—I don't need friends or a future. I just need power.
"That's a lie!" he pointed with a trembling finger. "If you really thought that, you wouldn't have saved that brown-haired girl! You wouldn't have accepted Akemi-chan's request! You wouldn't have worried about an invisible girl either!"
—Don't mistake my pragmatism for altruism, brat!
The boy glared at him.
—And what about Midoriya? Why do you follow his orders if you don't care about anything?
Hades frowned and looked away.
—She is… a useful ally.
The boy smiled mockingly.
—"Useful," of course… So tell me, if you really don't care about anyone, why do you always let me take control when the situation is too human for you?
Hades gave a dry laugh.
—Don't make me laugh. I don't "let you take control." You just... take advantage of any moment of weakness to butt in where you're not wanted.
The boy frowned indignantly.
—That's a lie! You're the one who pushes me forward every time you don't know how to react!
Hades looked at him with a bored expression, as if he were listening to a capricious child.
—And what is that supposed to mean?
The boy clenched his fists in frustration.
—It means you're terrified of showing emotions! You refuse to admit you have feelings for the people around you!
Hades clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.
—I don't need to feel anything. Emotions just get in the way.
The boy glared at him.
—Then why do you let me cry in your place!
Hades was silent for a second, but soon broke it with a sarcastic snort.
—Because it's easier to let you make a fool of yourself than to admit that I feel it too.
Haruto opened his eyes in surprise.
—…Do you feel it?
Hades gritted his teeth, feeling trapped.
—It's none of your damn business.
The boy pointed at him with a firm finger.
—Yes, it is! We share the same body, and every time things get too human for you, you throw me into the fire without warning! Every time someone shows you compassion, every time someone cares for you, every time you feel vulnerable…! You subconsciously call for me to take control because you can't handle it!
Hades felt a chill run down his spine. His jaw tightened.
—I don't do that…
—Yes you do! You did it when Midoriya hugged us for the first time! You did it when Nezu said you were fascinating! You did it when we were scolded with concern instead of hatred! You always run away and leave me to face it!
The boy was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Hades looked away, unable to hold it any longer.
—You don't understand.
—Then explain it to me!
Hades closed his eyes and clenched his fists.
—If I… If I accept it, if I allow myself to feel, I will become weak.
The boy stared at him, his expression softening a little.
—You're not weak for feeling, Hades.
"I am." His voice sounded rougher, almost shaky. "In the past, when I was a god, I never allowed emotions to rule me. And now… in this fragile mortal body, every time I feel something, my own mind crumbles."
The boy took a step forward, his expression now more compassionate.
—You're not alone in this, you know?
Hades looked at him in disbelief.
-That?
—We're in this together. It's not just my body, and it's not just yours. It's ours. And if you don't want to feel… then I'll do it for both of us, and I'll make sure you do too.
Hades stared at him. In his entire existence, only once had anyone made him feel anything as strange as what this boy was telling him.
—Are you an idiot?
Haruto smiled slightly.
—Maybe. But I'd rather be an idiot than a coward.
Silence fell between the two.
The second soul crossed its arms defiantly. Hades, for his part, felt this was the first time he felt he didn't have an immediate answer.
The boy took another step and stopped in front of him.
—You're not so different from me, Hades. You're just a stubborn piece of shit.
Hades sighed, placing a hand to his temple.
-Brat…
"Haruto!" the boy corrected him with a mischievous smile. "My name is Haruto, and you better learn it well because we'll be together forever!"
Hades snorted, frustrated by her enthusiasm, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
—Fine, Haruto. Until I find a way to get out of this universe or whatever, I'll be living in your body, but I hope you don't bother me.
Haruto stuck out his tongue mockingly, but then lowered his head with a more genuine smile.
—Thank you… for everything you've done for… us?
The shadows around him began to distort.
Hades felt his consciousness returning to reality.
—Don't even mention it, Haruto.
[Real world]
[Recovery Room – UA]
The sound of sheets rustled as Hades tried to move, only to realize how stiff his body was.
His shoulder throbbed with a dull ache, and the rest of his body felt like he'd been beaten by a high-level villain.
His first instinct was to open his mouth and complain.
—Why the hell am I wrapped in so many bandages! Who the fuck...?
BAM!
A loud thud echoed around the room as Recovery Girl's cane landed squarely on Hades's head, sending him staggering on the gurney.
"Don't scream in the hospital, brat!" the old woman frowned before hitting him again on the bandaged arm.
Hades growled and tried to pull away, but his body protested.
—Then don't hit me, you old witch!
BAM!
Another blow fell on his leg, and this time, the pain made Hades bite his lip hard to stifle a scream.
His pride refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing him complain.
From across the room, Midoriya watched the scene with an amused smile, his usual bright expression now combined with visible relief.
"Hahaha, I like watching you beat up a sick person, Chiyo-san." Nezu swirled his small teacup with a mischievous smile as he briefly looked away from his laptop. "But I'd like you to apply your Quirk to him so he recovers faster."
Hades grumbled, turning his face away with a frown.
—Tch!
Recovery Girl clicked her tongue and, without giving him a chance to complain further, leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
A green glow covered Hades completely. He felt his flesh tighten, his shoulder tighten, but along with it, his stamina drained away.
His eyelids grew heavy, his mind cloudy.
"Damn… I hate this…" he muttered, his voice sleepier than he expected.
"That's what you get for being stubborn," Recovery Girl snorted as she checked a clipboard. Then she looked up and calmly asked, "Who relocated your right shoulder?"
Hades blinked tiredly, trying to remember.
—I don't know... I thought about my shoulder and... it just fixed itself.
Recovery Girl raised an eyebrow as she jotted something down.
—Did you think about him?
—Yes... I don't know what happened, but it happened.
Chiyo nodded slowly, before taking a candy out of her pocket and giving it to Hades, who took it without a second thought.
As he chewed, the old woman murmured:
—Nezu… what was this boy's Quirk?
Nezu took another sip of his tea before pulling some paper from his desk.
—According to the tests we performed on him when he arrived at UA, his Gift is based on healing and summoning skeletons.
Hades stopped chewing for a moment, his gaze softening, as Haruto took control.
—Does that mean my Quirk isn't just summoning skeletons?
Nezu smiled in amusement.
—Technically, you never claimed your Quirk was only summoning skeletons.
"And who would think that healing and summoning skeletons can coexist in the same body?" Hades replied, his tone rising as Haruto took control.
—I guess you, Hades-kun.
Hades gritted his teeth and was about to respond when Recovery Girl pulled out a scalpel without warning and made a small cut on his finger.
Blood gushed out.
Hades looked at her, frowning.
—What do you think…!
"Focus, brat!" Chiyo ordered, ignoring his complaint. "Look at the wound and think about closing it."
Hades was about to argue, but something about the old woman's severity made him stop. He snorted, but turned his attention to the small cut on his finger.
It focused.
He visualized the skin closing.
A white glow enveloped the wound. And before his eyes, the cut disappeared.
A chill ran down his spine.
He had healed… by himself.
Recovery Girl nodded, seemingly satisfied.
—Do you feel more tired than before?
Hades grunted under his breath and nodded in annoyance.
—Tch… a little.
Chiyo crossed her arms.
—Your regeneration Quirk is based on the use of your own stamina… Can you also heal a third party?
Hades shrugged, still chewing the candy.
-I have no idea.
Recovery Girl sighed and walked away, while Nezu watched the scene with interest.
"I suppose he can heal others," Chiyo concluded. "But seeing how his shoulder was misplaced, he needs to know exactly what he's doing to heal effectively. Nothing's certain yet. The boy needs to train that Gift more."
Hades clicked his tongue in annoyance.
—And how the hell do you train for something like that?
"Practice, practice, and more practice," Chiyo replied with an air of infinite patience.
Hades sighed, fed up.
—I hate this.
"Hang in there, Hades-kun," Nezu said with a chuckle as he turned his attention back to his laptop.
Hades watched him out of the corner of his eye. The little director was looking at something with far too much interest.
—What are you looking at, albino rat?
—Oh, nothing important. Just a video posted on a forum. It seems someone caught your latest "feat" at the supermarket and is excitedly discussing it.
Hades felt a bad feeling.
Midoriya, who had been watching silently until now, approached the bed with an innocent smile.
—It's definitely a good thing! Maybe people will start seeing you as a hero.
Hades snorted.
—When did you arrive?
—I came in while Recovery Girl applied her gift to you.
Nezu smiled wider.
—I guess we'll have to see and find out.
And with that, he turned the laptop towards them.
Hades looked suspiciously at the laptop screen that Nezu had turned towards him.
His eyes focused on the title of the video, and he felt a pang of irritation mixed with disbelief.
Mysterious teenager fights and defeats terrorists! Who is this boy? A hero student?
"…Shit," he muttered, feeling his stomach sink.
Midoriya smiled widely at his bedside, his eyes shining with false innocence.
—That's a good headline, don't you think, Hades-kun!
Hades glared at her.
—Don't tell me that…
Midoriya tilted his head with a smile that didn't bode well.
—Oh, yes, I uploaded it.
Hades felt a twitch in his eye.
—…I'm going to kill you.
Midoriya laughed, putting a hand to his cheek as if it were nothing.
—If you try it now, you'll probably fall out of bed.
—Daughter of...
Before he could utter a curse word, a sharp blow from the cane landed on his bandaged leg.
—Why the nerve...!
BAM!
Another blow, this time to the arm.
Recovery Girl frowned at him.
—Stop yelling, brat.
Hades gritted his teeth and crossed his arms, though the throbbing pain of the blows reminded him of something.
His gaze was lost for a moment in nothingness, processing the thought.
—Is this why I was regenerating the little bumps…?
He had felt his skin heal after each blow, as if his body were constantly generating the minor wounds.
Was it the effect of his Gift? Did his body automatically react to damage?
As his mind processed that possibility, Recovery Girl's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
—By the way, brat, it's been four days since the supermarket incident.
Hades's eyes widened in surprise.
—… Four days?
—Yes. You were in an induced coma for the entire time after the operation.
Haruto felt a chill run down his spine as he briefly took control.
Because he had never slept so much in his life.
—…How bad was it?
Recovery Girl sighed, resting her cane on the ground.
—If it weren't for your regeneration and the surgery we performed, you'd probably still be in critical condition. You had internal injuries, muscle tears, and your legs were destroyed. Plus, it looked like your body had suffered a massive drain of stamina.
Hades frowned as he exchanged with Haruto.
—Massive stamina drain…?
Nezu nodded, sipping his tea calmly.
—Your Quirk seems to constantly drain your stamina when it activates, especially when you're hit. If you overuse it, you could collapse or even… die.
Hades felt a strange weight on his chest.
—So not only is it dangerous… but it could also kill me if I abuse this.
The silence stretched for a few seconds until Midoriya broke the tension with a lively tone.
—But look on the bright side, Hades-kun! You're an internet sensation!
Hades gave him a look that could have killed someone.
—…I'm going to throw you out the window.
Midoriya just laughed innocently, while Nezu watched the video with an amused expression.
"It seems people are starting to notice you. Maybe it's time to think about how to manage your public image. After all... I'm in charge of you," Nezu interrupted, taking another sip from his teacup.
Hades growled, resting his head on the pillow in frustration.
—I'm surrounded by...
His words were once again interrupted when a green-haired woman abruptly entered.
—Akemi, Hades!
TO BE CONTINUED.