My Hero [ Aizawa Shouta x Reader ]

Chapter 32: This Is Goodbye

Under the vast grey sky, I observed solemnly at the two graves before me. Azami's grave situated right next to Y/n's where all the flowers lined up. Seeing how they had to go away so quickly made my heart ache, but at least their souls would meet. Even for a short time.

Hizashi and Nemuri stood right beside me, all dressed in black. Nemuri looked beyond exhausted from crying too much. Her red eyes were swollen and her drenched cheeks were puffy.

"I'm so sorry this had to happen to you," she sobbed unceasingly.

The once loud and high-spirited Hizashi became silent for the first time in a very long time. Both their deaths sucked all the vitality out from him, leaving nothing but an empty shell.

My eyes shifted back to their graves. I breathed steadily before opening my mouth to ask, "Say, if you had the opportunity to go back in time, what would you do?"

Hizashi's head spun quickly towards me.

"What are you talking about...?" He asked with a slight tremble.

"Would you still choose to save Azami even if it will result in y/n's death and eventually her own, or would you save y/n that will only cause Azami's death and no one else?"

The two of them remained silent. Their eyes bulging from the sudden question. I gazed back at them.

"Oi, Shouta. Don't tell me..." His words trailed off. "Don't tell me you're going to use the time machine to rectify the past...?"

My lips curved up slightly to form a wan smile as they stared at me in utter disbelief.

"I'm going to go back. And i will remain in that timeline where y/n will continue to live,"

Hizashi's shoulders jolted up. Rage and annoyance was written on his very face. He frowned and stomped aggressively towards me, pulling the collars of my shirt.

"What are you saying?! Are you going to leave us? Are you going to leave me?!" He cried at the top of his lungs.

"I have to-"

"NO. I lost Oboro, I can't lose another best friend too. Please, Shouta. You can't leave me behind," He cut off my sentence, begging me to stay.

I clasped his hand softly, making his eyes widen and grip loosen.

"But if i dont go back, then y/n will forever remain dead. It's my fault that she died so I must take responsibility. Y/n has a bright future ahead. Its too soon for her to go,"

His eyebrows shot up and he soon released me completely. The way his tearful eyes stared into me with so much pain and sadness ached my heart. He was no longer the happy-go-lucky person we all knew.

"...Do you love her that much?"  Hizashi asked weakly in defeat.

"Yes, yes I do," I nonchalantly said.

Nemuri approached me as her hand retracted back, and it soon came down hard across my cheeks. The slap echoed through the surroundings silencing everything, from the buzzing sound of the cicadas to the rustle of the trees. I froze in my position, staring at the ground while feeling the sting on my red cheek.

"You're so reckless, Shouta!" She yelled with a tinge of sorrow in her voice. Her hands clenched into a fist to the point where it turned her knuckles white.

My eyes slowly traveled to face her and that was when it dilated. I watched Nemuri's tears cascade down her flushed face endlessly. Her eyebrows were pulled into a frown as she vigorously wiped the tears with her sleeves.

"You're always putting others before yourself and carrying all the burdens behind your back alone. You're not at fault, Shouta..." she said.

"If i could, I would stop you with everything I have but I know you're too stubborn to listen. However, I don't dislike that. You care and love too much. Strong yet kind, Resilient yet soft. You'd do anything to help the people you adore and that's what I love about you, Shouta," She continued, each word made her blush even more.

"So, do your best. Change the future and let her live again," she faintly smiled.

I looked at the both of them, they were beyond crestfallen yet they never fail to support my decisions. This was the true meaning of friendship, being able to care without hesitation, love without limitation and forgive without any explanation.

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When the clock struck 12 in the morning, I swiftly climbed over the fences and slid my way to the basement, avoiding every surveillance camera. It was said that no one should ever enter the basement, however Maya was the only person, apart from the principal, who possesses the key.

As the door creaked open, I was greeted by Maya along with two other figures. My heart almost stopped until I realised they were my two friends, Nemuri and Hizashi.

"Why, How did you-"

"Maya sensei told us. Of course we're not letting you go without a proper farewell!" Hizashi grinned from ear to ear. My face softened upon his usual demeanour, he was finally back to normal again.

"Are you ready?" Maya said while activating the portal and I only nodded.

The light swirled to form multiple colours that blinded our vision and illuminated the entire room. Before entering, my head turned to watch the two of them for the last time.

"Do it once and do it properly! I wish you all the best," she spoke.

"Yeah, don't forget about us! Stay safe..." his voice faded away towards the end.

That was when a tear slipped from his eyes. He realised that he wasn't ready to let his best friend go. The thought of living in a world without 'Aizawa' made his heart ache in despair and he didn't know if he would be able to overcome the loneliness.

I approached him and grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look into my eyes.

"I will never forget you, I promise." I sternly assured him.

He rubbed the remaining mucus of his nose and stared back. "Come back someday, will ya?"

My eyes widened in surprise, but my eyelids soon drooped slightly. I gave him a small smile.

"I will,"

Maya walked towards me as he handed me a small metal box that contained a syringe with green liquid in it. I frowned and looked back at him.

"This is a painless way to take out the other Aizawa. Inject this into his neck and he will immediately disappear without a trace,"

I gripped the box tightly before putting it into my back pocket. It was crazy to think that I'd have to kill off my own self but it had to be done.

Before entering the time machine, I gazed at all 3 of them one last time and beamed a smile with my teeth showing. It wasn't a sad one, instead I made sure to display a smile ever so genuine and pure that even the most amnesic could not forget.

"I'm thankful to be blessed with such great friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," I uttered before finally embarking on a new chapter to rewrite the story.

—— end of flashback ––