The Paragon

Chapter 8 : The Dilemma

Date: 26th February, 2336

Place: Los Angeles, USA

Time: 5 PM

"Tell me you are joking Helen?" Izuku asks as he shows his phone to Helen's hologram. The phone was displaying an article of the list of heroes who were being sent to Japan and the entire team Paragon was on it. Helen grimaces a bit and says, "I wish that this was joke".

"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?" Izuku asks out loud as Melissa herself had a disappointed look on her face. Hologram flickers a bit and Izuku calms himself down and says, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out like that".

"No, I understand", Helen replies knowing very well why Izuku was angry. In fact, she knew that he had every right to be angry. She continues saying, "It is just that this was not in WCRF's hand". The American representative was clearly said to not say that this was all WCRF's work. For the secrecy, she was said to keep quiet about the future Divyansh saw.

"I just don't believe the fact that AHA agreed to send team Paragon to Japan", Melissa says as she looks at the hologram with a small hint of suspicion. "Well JHA personally asked for you guys".

"Seriously? I can't see the reason why JHA would ask for a team of quirkless and former villains", Izuku says mockingly as he remembers the hell he went through when he was in Japan. Helen sighs and says, "Izuku, if it was in my hands then I would have made sure that you or your team would never be suggested. But WCRF is not allowed to interfere in the matters of two countries. WCRF exists not only for international conflict but also to ensure that we, the human race is safe guarded. We just can't barge in to two countries' diplomatic talk". She then looks at Izuku and says, "Izuku, you are like a son I never had. If it was in my power, then I would have made that no problem find their way to you. But sometimes, things just don't go as planned".

Izuku sits down on a chair heavily and says, "Helen, I respect you similarly like my mom. You are my American mom. I am ready to give my life away if you ask for it. But this... this is something which I can't do. I... I just can't".

"I wouldn't go that far Izuku. But you know as well as I know that what happening in Japan is no laughing matter. 42% crime rate is not something a developed country should have. If this goes on, what order is left in Japan would go away. The country would be placed under martial law, and what freedom the citizens had would go away. The situation will be so dire that even Lemillion and OFA won't be enough", says Helen. Izuku remains quiet thinking whether Japan was even worth saving. Even if it has been 10 years, he couldn't bring himself to forgive them. Is he really petty enough to let the whole country to fall, just because of his so called 'friends'? Yes, he was. He couldn't care less about them. Izuku has many things he cares now. He has Melissa, his one and only constant, his anchor, the person whose voice kept him from going insane in the hell called Tartarus. He has friends who trusted him and he trusted them back. He has comrades and people who respect him for who he was. Following All Might's footsteps led him to his doom and he doesn't intend to do that again. Izuku just wanted one thing: To take hold of something he loves, acknowledge that it was real and not lose it and that came in the form of Melissa. Surely people saw him was an independent person, but inside he was a broken man and the love of his life was trying her best to make sure that he won't fall apart. But the more he thought about of letting Japan fall from its grace; his mind was filled with the images of his mom, Eri, Kota, Katsuma, Mahoro, Aizawa sensei and his senpais.

His mom was always there for him. Even when he was declared quirkless, she still loved him and started to blame herself for it. Sure he sends letters to his mother every month, but he was not ready to face her. What would you expect him to do? He didn't talk to his mother for 10 years. 10 long years! Eri, his little sister was someone he loved dearly. Even though they were not blood related, Izuku is willing to sacrifice everything for her. Kota, the boy he saved and inspired to love heroes. At one point Izuku thought whether what he did for Kota was even a right thing to do, but that was shoved inside a box, locked it with padlock and chains, and was dumped deep down in Mariana trench. Katsuma and Mahoro were an interesting case. Mahoro openly hated heroes and Izuku never blamed her for that. She was true in a way. Katsuma on the other hand, reminded him of himself. He might have inspired Katsuma to be a hero, but he was scared that Katsuma will try to follow his footsteps and Izuku clearly knows what that leads to. His senpais; Togata-senpai, Fuwa-senpai, Tamaki-senpai and Nejire-senpai always supported him. They nearly fought the authorities when they came to UA to arrest him. It was a pity that Midnight died during the war five years ago but she was one of the two teachers who were on his side and to some extent she knew that Izuku had hots for a blonde American girl. Aizawa sensei was one of the people who he couldn't forget. His skills were something Izuku truly admired and he helped him to find the teacher to learn binding cloth technique. He was harsh, which was understandable if you went through many though situations in your life, but he meant well. He still shudders remembering the quirk apprehension test.