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The Shie Hassaikai had been defeated.
And yet, the aftermath was still harsh. When the Yakuza base was searched, they found documents on another experiment like Eri: Y/N. The information on them was scarce. Eri could confirm Y/N’s existence. Eri spoke of Y/N, someone who often snuck around to see her, but one day, just vanished without a trace.
A group of investigators began an effort to track down this other experiment. After some mindful interrogations, that led to a dead end: Y/N escaped.
That was it. There wasn't much else they could do. There weren't any more leads in the Yakuza files.
The investigation ran cold until there was a report of a cabin in the woods, thought to be abandoned. Nearby townsfolk have reported sightings of a stranger residing there, matching what little descriptions they have of Y/N. They thought this could be it, but sending just anyone out to a traumatized person was just asking for problems. They wanted someone who could help.
Being the caretaker of Eri, being familiar in caring for a certain victim of Chisaki, Aizawa took on the case.
Just as promised, Aizawa found the house.
An old, rundown house in the middle of the woods. Nearby a stream, where Aizawa could see some clothes hanging off a tree branch, left to dry.
When Aizawa stepped on the porch, the wood creaked under his weight. The house was old, but not abandoned. He saw the evidence of life, with a recently burned fireplace and some leftover food sitting out. Some bandages were laid out on a dusty table, along with other medical supplies.
Out of the corner of his eye, Aizawa spotted movement.
A person, staring at Aizawa with wide eyes, and their stance broad, defensive. Like one wrong move would send them into a fight or flight.
You were watching him but you weren’t saying anything, your body was tense, your stance defensive, like how a scared animal would be ready to run if it saw danger.
Aizawa knew the look well. It was one he'd seen plenty of times on Eri.
He was careful in his movements. He was well aware that one wrong move could send the person running.
He raised his hands slightly, so they were in full view. He couldn't make any sudden movements. Not until he was certain the person wouldn't bolt.
You watch him, your eyes scanning every inch of him, trying to determine if Aizawa was a threat or not.
You take a small step back, shifting your weight.
Aizawa keeps his movements slow and deliberate, not breaking eye contact but making sure not to stare too intensely. His voice comes out low and even, the way one might speak to one of his cats—calm, measured.
"I'm not here to hurt you." A pause. He doesn't advance any further yet. "Eri told me about you."
The name was a gamble, but if this was who he thought it was… Eri might be the only bridge he had right now. He watches carefully for any flicker of recognition in their expression—any sign that they remember her too.
You feel your heart skip a beat and your eyes dart up to his.
“E-Eri?” You ask hesitantly, you couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth and you didn't know whether or not to believe him and listen just yet.
Aizawa's gaze softens slightly as he sees the shift in your expression. He had to keep himself composed, for your sake.
"She talks about you often," he says, keeping his voice steady. "You used to visit her."
Aizawa knew he was treading on thin ice. But your reaction—the slight widening of your eyes, the way your breath had hitched—told him everything he needed to know.
This was them. Y/N.
Your eyes narrow at him.
“You... You're lying to me—” You say, shaking your head.
Aizawa could hear the disbelief and fear in your voice. He couldn't blame you; why would you trust him? A strange man shows up after all this time claiming to know the little girl you used to visit? It was perfectly rational to be skeptical.
"I'm not lying," he replies, his tone firm but still calm. "Eri… she's worried about you, you know."
Another gamble. But if anything could get through to them, Aizawa was hoping it would be that.
You shake your head. “She wouldn't... She— hates me…” You say, your voice trailing off, you can’t hide the light flush of red in your cheeks.
Aizawa raises a brow. "Hates you?" He asks, tilting his head slightly. "Why do you think that?"
He can hear the guilt and shame in their voice. As for Eri…
Eri could be reserved and quiet. She was often scared and closed off. But if there was one thing Aizawa knew for sure, it was that the little girl had a kind heart.
And she didn't hate anyone.
“Because she does…” You say. Your voice remains quiet, and you shift your weight again on your feet and look down at the floor.
Aizawa lets out a soft sigh, but not out of frustration—more of a knowing sigh. He takes a slow pace forward, his footsteps barely audible against the old wooden floor, his hands still out in front of him.
"No, she doesn't," he says, his tone firmer this time. "Eri could never hate you. She misses you. She talks about you every day."
He can see the guilt eating away at you, the way your body was ready to run at the slightest sign of danger.
It made his heart ache.
You take another small step back, shaking your head. “No, y-you're wrong…” You mumble, hugging your arms across your chest. A small shield from the past memories.
Aizawa's expression softens slightly as he sees them take another step back. He understands their reluctance, their hesitation.
But Aizawa won't give up. He takes another step forward, maintaining the distance between them but making his movements predictable, slow, and cautious.
"I'm not wrong, I’m not lying." He repeats, his voice low. "Eri remembers the days you'd sneak off to visit her. She still keeps the doll you gave her."
Your expression darkens. “He hurt me for that.” You say quietly. “H-he told me he got rid of it…”
Aizawa's eyes narrow as he hears their words, and his heart sinks a bit as he realizes that his suspicions were indeed right.
He could guess who they were referring to. And he had an idea why they felt as if Eri would hate them.
He continues to take slow, measured steps toward them, his movements deliberate.
"He lied to you." He tells them, his voice even. "He told you all sorts of lies, didn't he?"
You watch him, observing everything about him that you could; his stance, his height, his expressions. Anything to potentially use for later.
Aizawa continues to move closer, carefully studying their expression, their body language—any little sign that they might bolt.
"He manipulated you. Made you feel things you didn't need to feel."
He knew how people like Chisaki worked. He'd seen it before with Eri, the way the little girl had been brainwashed to believe she was cursed.
He stops a few paces away, a good distance but within reach. Aizawa keeps his body relaxed.
Your body remains tense as Aizawa gets closer.
Aizawa senses your tension, how you were still on edge and ready to run. It was a natural response, he knew, after what you had been through.
Aizawa keeps his demeanor soft. He speaks gently, his voice remaining calm and even. Another small step forwards.
"I know it's hard to believe," he says, taking another step forward. "But believe me. Eri doesn't hate you. She misses you. She wants to see you again."
You shake your head. “No she doesn't…”
Aizawa's gaze softens as he sees you shaking your head, still denying what he was telling you.
Aizawa takes another step forward, closing the distance between you two even further. He was within reach now. He could reach out and touch them. If he wanted to.
"She does," he presses, his tone firm but still gentle. "I promise you. Eri's been worried about you. She asks about you all the time."
You shake your head. “She shouldn't, n-not after what happened—” You say, your voice trailing off, you take a small step back, your back hitting the wall behind you.
Aizawa's expression darkened a bit as he heard their words. He could guess what they were referring to. But he needed to know for sure.
He took a step closer, standing so close to them now that if he reached out, his fingers would brush their arm.
"What happened?" He prompted quietly, keeping his voice gentle. "What did he do to you?"
You shake your head. “It wasn't him. I-It it was…” You pause for a moment before speaking again. “It was me…”
Aizawa felt his heart clench at their words. He could sense the guilt and self-hatred radiating from them, the self-blame.
He knew that mindset. Knew the way it could eat away at you, how it twisted your thoughts and perceptions.
Aizawa took another small step closer, now only a few feet away from you.
"What did you do?" He asked softly, the question hanging heavy in the air.
You twiddle with your fingers before answering him. “I—I hurt her, it was an accident…” You say quietly.
Aizawa listens carefully, his expression hardening as he listens to your confession. He could hear the guilt in their tone. The way they were fidgeting with their fingers, the way they spoke so softly was an obvious tell.
He wanted to reach out, to comfort them, but he knew better. Not yet.
"... how?" Aizawa prompts, his voice low, but not harsh. He needed to hear the whole story.
You slide to the ground against the wall behind you. The tone of his voice making you slightly nervous. You don’t say anything.
Aizawa gets a small pang in his chest. You were hurting, and he didn’t know how to help. He quickly dials it back. His expression softens as he tries to reassure them, his voice returning to a more gentle tone.
"I'm not mad," he says quietly, holding his hands out to show he wouldn't try to grab you as he slowly sits on the ground against the wall a foot or two away from you. "I just need to understand what happened. Please. Tell me... how did you hurt her?"
You hesitate for a moment before speaking. “I–I lost control of my quirk once... I–I hurt her… It was an accident—”
Aizawa listened intently as they finally began to open up to him. He could sense the guilt and remorse in their shaky voice as they confessed to losing control of their quirk. And when they stated it had been an accident, his heart twisted even more.
His expression softened even more, and his eyes took on a more sympathetic look.
"What happened when you lost control?" Aizawa prompts gently.
Your voice quivers. “I–I killed some people, s-some of his…” You say, your voice trails off for a moment before you speak again. “S-she tried to help before he did, before he stopped me— but I…” Your voice trails off and you don't continue.
Aizawa's entire body goes rigid. He knew exactly who you were talking about.
Chisaki.
That bastard.
He could feel the anger bubbling up inside of him, but he pushed it aside for now. Right now, he needs to remain calm, for your sake. His eyes widen slightly, the image of a young Eri trying to help, playing over in his mind.
"He... he stopped you?" Aizawa asks quietly, turning the upper half of his body slightly towards you.
“S-she tried to before it got too bad, but I hurt her... And so he stopped me—” you say quietly.
Aizawa could imagine the scene far too clearly. He could picture you losing control, the accident that hurt Eri, and Eri's misguided attempts at trying to stop them. And then Chisaki...
His hands balled up into fists, his brow furrowing. He couldn't believe how far Chisaki would stoop to control and condition them. The rage was building up, but he kept it suppressed. For them. He had to stay focused. He had to keep them talking.
"And then he...?" Aizawa prompts quietly, taking another cautious step forward.
Your voice goes quiet, barely above a whisper. “He used his Overhaul, and then put me back together again... and then—” You pause, hesitating to continue before you finally do. “He sedated me and then put me back in my cell…” you whisper.
Aizawa's anger only grew as you recounted the horrific aftermath. The use of Overhaul, the sedation, the confinement back in their cell. It was sick, sadistic.
And the fact that they had been treated like a lab experiment, as if their life was worth less than nothing... It made Aizawa's blood boil.
And through it all, the only one who tried to help them was Eri—A little girl who had endured hell at the hands of Chisaki himself.
Aizawa's heart ached at the thought. Right in front of him was a person who'd been through so much, someone who had endured the cruelty of a madman and still carried the guilt over an accident. Someone who was in desperate need of help.
And Chisaki... That bastard.
You stay quiet for another moment more before speaking.
“W-why are you here?” You ask. “You're not gonna take me back, right?” You continue, your voice barely above a whisper.
Aizawa shakes his head, his eyes softening with a mixture of sadness and understanding. He could hear the fear in your voice, the hesitation, but also the hope.
"No," he says unequivocally, his tone firm but gentle. "I'm not here to take you back. I'm here to help."
You glance sidelong at him. “W-what do you actually want?” You ask.
Aizawa notices the way their eyes roam over him.
You still didn't trust him. Not yet. How could you? You’d been through hell and back, manipulated and controlled, forced to endure things no one should have to experience.
Aizawa takes a deep, steady breath, trying to find what to say next.
"I want to help you," Aizawa repeats, his voice low and firm. "I'm not here to hurt you. You've been through enough."
“Why?” You ask, your body still incredibly tense, you bring your knees up to your chest and hug them against you.
Aizawa could feel the tension exuding from you in waves. Your body remained coiled tight. You didn't trust him, and why should you? You’d been taught to fear anyone unknown.
He takes in your words. It was a simple question, and another thought nagged at the corners of his mind.
Why did he care? Why was he here, willing to extend a hand of help to someone who was still practically a stranger to him?
Aizawa's expression softens even more. "Does there have to be a reason?" He asks quietly.
“T–that's what he said before he took me…” You whisper.
Aizawa's eyes narrow as he takes in your words. Chisaki... That sick bastard.
His fists clench once more, the mention of that man bringing back the familiar anger surging through him. But he reigns in his anger, keeping a stern composure. He had to stay focused.
"What do you mean?" Aizawa prompts quietly, his tone taking on a bit of a hard edge as he speaks. He had a sickening feeling he already knew the answer.
“M-my dad needed money, Chisaki had it, my dad didn’t even hesitate.” You say, pausing for a moment before continuing. “Chisaki said that he just wanted to help me… That he wanted to make me better…”
Aizawa's stomach sinks and he watches you for a moment before speaking quietly. “What happened next?”
“I asked, why? I wanted to know what was wrong with me. I asked every day, and every day he always asked if he really needed a reason. He didn’t think that I needed to know what was wrong with me…” You whisper.
Aizawa’s brow furrows. “There isn’t anything wrong with you. Chisaki was lying, you are amazing, everything that you’ve been through and everything that has happened in the past and even now. Has made you into an incredibly strong person. Chisaki is gone, don’t let him continue to control your life.” Aizawa says, scooting a little closer to you on the floor.
Your body remains coiled as Aizawa closes the distance a little more.
You glance at him before back at the floor in front of you. “You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do.” Aizawa responds without missing a beat. “I know that because if there was, you wouldn’t have tried to protect Eri, you would have wanted to protect her from yourself, but you didn’t, you visited her even knowing that you could get punished for it, and that alone means that you have a strong will, even stronger than some Pros that I know.”
You look over at Aizawa, tears starting to well in your eyes. “Really?”
“Really,” Aizawa says. “I’ll never lie to you, not like he did, I promise.”
You look at him for a moment, a confused expression lining your brows. “Promise?”
Aizawa smiles. “Yea, promise. Like an unbreakable agreement between two people. And then if you break the promise then you get seven years of bad luck.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
There’s a long silence. Until finally.
Aizawa speaks.
“Eri really does miss you, y’know. She talks about you every day. You should see her, come out of hiding.”
You stay silent for a moment before speaking. “Are you sure?”
“Promise.”
There’s a beat before you look up at him again.
“She doesn't hate me?”
“No, she doesn't, she doesn't hate anyone.”
Aizawa watches you for a moment before scooting closer and putting a gentle hand on your knee. “It's okay. I promise, nothing bad will ever happen to you, or to Eri ever again, not as long as I'm still alive and kicking.”
You look at him for a long moment before you spring up and wrap your arms around him, hiding your face in the crook of his neck.
“I dont wanna be afraid anymore… Afraid that someone else will come just to hurt me—” You whisper more to yourself than to Aizawa, who slowly runs his hand up and down your back, his other hand cradling your head against him.
And for the first time in forever.
You relax.
The tension in your shoulders disperse and all of the bad memories fade away, making room for others, giving you a chance to start over.
Your life is yours, now how are you going to live it?