inheritance | IC Inbox

... Yeah, we did. Me, and my team. We... had to.

[Minato looks down at his hands...but then he clears his throat, lifting his chin.]

Because humanity didn't deserve to die over a mistake. Maybe... maybe to a lot of people it felt like there wasn't anything left to live for. But if they just had more time, then I'm sure they would have realized--just how much there is.

So...we had to fight her. Even though we knew we couldn't win.

Everyone deserved a second chance.

Arisato-kun... [Though he knows this didn't end well for Minato in the end, Izuku can't help but be struck by how incredibly brave his friend is at the same time. He exhales shakily.]

You're really incredible, you know that, right?

That's...

[Not the answer he was expecting--though after a moment's startled blinking...he smiles, dipping his head a little.]

Not me, Midoriya-kun.

Without my family--my team--we never would've been able to get there in the first place. They're the ones who helped me do it. They're the ones who fought with everything they had, even knowing.... even knowing they would probably die.

They're so brave, and so amazing...and I owe everything to them.

[Before Minato even finishes talking, Izuku's already shaking his head in disagreement.]

You, too, Arisato-kun. You're part of the team, aren't you? If you think they were brave and amazing, that means all of that should apply to you, too.

I think you being there with them must have helped them fight in the end. Is that so hard to believe?

[That's how friendship, camaraderie works. Also, just take the compliment, Minato.]

[compliments are hard, okay...

But he just hums softly, a very faint noise, and bows his head.

...]

And me too... a little.

[He'll accept that he had to be there, anyway. That was his role. In a way, that was his purpose in life.

... It's how it was supposed to be.]

... I hope that everyone can live better lives now. Fuller ones, and happier ones... nothing would make me happier than that.

Just a little? [Izuku murmurs, with just a hint of teasing. Come on, Minato, you helped save the world! That's more then "a little" as far as Izuku's concerned.]

I'm sure they can, Arisato-kun. Thanks to you and your friends. [Izuku pauses.] How many people know about this? I mean... a goddess showing up would be hard to ignore, wouldn't it?

[JUST A LITTLE... he never intended on becoming a hero or anything like that, so it's hard for him to accept any sort of praise.]

... Nobody.

[Oh.]

It's...a little complicated... but I guess you could say that since everything happened during a time that wasn't supposed to exist, everyone forgot about it after.

[...]

Even my team did. Everyone forgot. [Except him.]

[It takes a second to process.]

Wait--what do you mean everyone forgot it happened? [Normally, the feeling of the pieces falling into place, the click as things begin to make sense, is one that Izuku loves. It just leaves him with a sense of dawning horror now.]

Then... that memory from now.... [Minato's feelings make too much sense now.]

... Yeah.

[Minato...shrugs a little, because he doesn't know what else to do. The hardest part of dying wasn't dying--it was dying slowly, without anyone to remember with him what had happened.]

We knew it was likely that we'd all forget...

It's just that I didn't think I'd be the only one after all of that to...well, remember.

[And it was very, very lonely, even if he's striving to keep a level tone.]

[Even for someone as removed from that situation as Izuku is knows that it must have been lonely for Minato to be the only one who remembered. If all of Izuku's friends suddenly forgot the things they'd all been through, getting closer as classmates and allies on the field...he doesn't know what he would do. And Shouto... it's been Izuku biggest worry, that they might forget what they've gone through together here. To think, it isn't just a worry for Minato, but his reality, makes Izuku's heart hurt for him.

Wordlessly, he reaches for Minato's hands, holding them in his own if Minato lets him.

There's... something that he should say, he thinks, to comfort Minato, but he's drawing a blank. Nothing feels like it would be enough to convey the loss that Minato's had to face alone, after such a difficult battle. So this is all he can do for the moment.]

[... Minato willingly squeezes Izuku's hands, meeting his gaze with a small smile. There's a hint of bittersweetness to it--it would be a lie to say it wasn't hard, after all.

But even so...]

It was my choice.

I don't regret anything that happened...and I don't regret my situation, either. Okay? So... don't worry too much over it.

I feel like that might be asking a little too much.

[Izuku gives him a watery smile. Minato's his friend...how could he not worry?]

At least you're here right now. That makes it... a little easier to swallow.

[... Ha... Minato just squeezes Izuku's hand again, gently.]

...Yeah.

I'm right here right now.

And I'm not going anywhere.

[At least... not yet.]

[He'll get a gentle squeeze back.]

Thanks... for telling me. I just wish the town wouldn't force people to reveal these things.

[Though Izuku is grateful that he's allowed to share Minato's burden like this.]

[Ha...]

It's not like I mind that you know, or anything. I'm not ashamed of it, and it's not something that has to be kept a secret.

It's just...

... I was enjoying being treated normally, you know?

Maybe not, but you would've wanted to tell people on your own time, right?

[Izuku looks down at their joined hands, then back up again, filled with determination again.]

It's...a lot to take in, but I'm glad that I know now. At least now you're not carrying something like this alone, whatever your reason for it was.

[... Yeah.

It's true that now... no matter what, he's not alone.]

... It's not too much to bear, is it? [Softly:] It's... I never wanted to make any of you sad, more than anything.

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