(After what seemed an eternity, I had finally been accepted back at U.A... Izuku and I were going through a very tough moment, and that felt like a liberation. I remember that the girl with dolphin features, whom I saved days ago, came to me and called me 'her crybaby hero.' Then, once again, I fell asleep. I did not faint -- I fell asleep. Y'all remember my drowsiness, right? Add it to the fact that I hadn't slept for days. Now, though, I was back at U.A., and I still couldn't believe it.)
Class 1-B dormitory
"Water temperature: 42 °C!" Tetsutetsu exclaimed as he carried Satoru, who was wrapped in a white towel.
"Warm it immediately!" Yosetsu said.
"Take off his clothes!"
Satoru was thrown into the bath. What the hell...
Kosei threw a bucket of hot water on his face. "Clean him, he stinks like a pig!"
"And then... throw him in!"
Satoru was then thrown inside the tub.
What the hell just happened... Satoru wondered.
"A good ol' bath always solves everything!" Tetsutetsu said.
"Hey! You're making the tub dirty!" Monoma said. "You must follow the instructions!"
"C'mon, don't be like that," said Yosetsu. "Come inside and take a bath with us."
Monoma jumped into the tub.
"Calm down..." Togaru said as he shielded his eyes from the splash.
"Don't think I've forgiven you," Monoma said. "I don't hate you, but you're still a Villain to me, Hid- Satoru."
Monoma splashed water into Satoru's face.
"You don't have to forgive me, Neito," Satoru said, shaking his head. "And if you really can't call me by my real name, you can still call me Hideki."
"There's nothing I can't do!" Monoma said.
"Let's take advantage of the situation to throw Monoma underwater," Sen said.
"Situation my ass!"
__________
"Where is Itsuka?" Satoru asked once he had finished his bath.
"She's sleeping," Yui said. "After the tension disappeared, all her tiredness came out. She isn't the only one, though."
"Oh, I see...." Satoru sat on the sofa. "Guys... thanks. For everything, really. And sorry for causing you problems."
"Oh, you mean the All For One thing?" Setsuna asked. "You could've told us so that we could've stopped you earlier!"
"Nah, don't think so," Satoru said. "It was a secret, and All For One would've killed me..."
"Speaking of that," Manga said. "How does this All For One work? Like... how many Quirks do you have now?"
"Too many, Fukidashi-kun..." Satoru looked at his hands. "Just know I can do almost everything."
"Sat must be the most tired among us," Tetsutetsu said. "Let him rest. Otherwise, why would we have brought him back here?"
Tetsutetsu sat beside him. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, Tets," Satoru replied. "But even if I can sleep, I can't rest properly."
"Why?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"I've been rude with my brother Oro," Satoru said. "I told him I didn't need him. And I still haven't apologized. I want to apologize, but he doesn't answer my calls..."
Tetsutetsu pointed at the window. Satoru looked at it and saw Oro outside. "HE WAS THERE THIS WHOLE TIME?!"
__________
"I'm the one who apologizes," Oro said once he entered the room. "I'm sorry for not being able to help you earlier, Ototo!"
"Stop it, Aniki! You helped me a lot!" Satoru said.
"You should apologize to us, too, Oro!" Setsuna said. "You can't disappear like that!"
"The final battle is probably around the corner," Oro said. "As the Number One Hero, I'm prepared to give my life to win this time. Sorry for making you worry."
Toshinori-sensei said he met Stain. Even if he's in that condition, Toshinori-sensei will fight, too. So will I. I want to see how much these kids' flames burn inside 'em.
"I'll spare you the details, but I've obtained information by... someone," Oro continued. "We'll have answers in a while. We'll need every one of you. I still haven't recovered properly from my injuries during the Paranormal Liberation War, but it doesn't matter."
"Aniki," Satoru said. "Your care towards me has given me strength. If I reduced that condition, it was because I ran away from you. So, let's stay together, as two brothers should!"
"Let's protect everyone!" Tetsutetsu added.
Oro smiled and patted Satoru's head. "Arigatou, Ototo."
I'll demonstrate I can keep up with these kids. I'm the Number One Hero, after all.
__________
"Well, thanks for the hospitality, but I must go," Oro said.
"Already?" Setsuna asked. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to Endeavor and the others," Oro replied. "There's still something I must do."
Oro left.
"So... Oro and the others won't join U.A.?" Shishida asked.
"Don't think so," Setsuna said.
"Oro can't appear in public at this moment," Tetsutetsu said while holding a sheet. "Even if Sat has been allowed to stay here, he's still a Villain to everyone but us, and Oro-san is still that Villain's older brother. Everyone sees Mato's shadow behind both of them, but they don't understand the Villain Mato is dead. Now he's just... Satoru."
Yui looked at the sofa and saw Satoru sleeping. "He's finally resting..."
Tetsutetsu placed the sheet on Satoru. "Satoru is still a Villain, and Oro-san is his brother, that's what everyone still thinks. But I'm sure they'll change their mind soon. They're both Heroes, and they'll prove it."
"This situation must suck for both of them," Yosetsu said. "I mean, Oro-san did nothing wrong, and Akiyama has clearly redeemed himself."
__________
"Don't run away from me, Satoru... now it's your turn."
Satoru's eyes snapped open, and he unwillingly activated his Umbrakinesis Quirk--the one he was born with.
"Oh, good morning, Satoru-kun!" Itsuka was sitting in front of him.
"Itsuka..." Satoru muttered.
"Hey, hey, you still are half-asleep?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"You're safe here, remember?" Yosetsu said. "C'mon, make those dark things disappear."
Satoru deactivated his Quirk. "Oh, sorry... It's been such a long time since I used my birth Quirk that I was starting to forget how to use it."
"Don't worry, Akiyama," said Togaru.
"We'll stand by your side now," Yui added.
"Exactly," said Pony. "We'll fight together."
Satoru nodded and stood up.
(The final battle was near. But... strangely, I'm not afraid. I know I've made the right choice switching sides with the Heroes. As much as I still consider the ones in the League of Villains my friends, I don't want to fight by their side anymore. U.A. is my home now, my place. I'm home. Because my 1-B fellas are with me. I've got my fellas with me. They won't abandon me, and they'll stay with me. We'll move forward. Now that they've forgiven me, I swear on my life I won't fail them again. We'll get past the desperation and go even beyond.)
Chapter 75 - End