Cherreads

Chapter 44 - Chapter 42

I am watching TV… now…

wide awake…unable to sleep at night.

The room feels strangely heavy, the faint sound from the television doing nothing to calm my thoughts. No matter how much I try to relax, my chest feels tight, like something is about to happen.

Then—

The doorbell rang.

The sharp sound cuts through the silence, making my heart jump.

…Mom and Mellisia are sleeping…

their rooms quiet, peaceful.

I don't want to wake them, so I slowly walk toward the door, each step cautious, my instincts screaming for no reason I can explain.

I open it.

"..Yo, Izuku… you doing well? Where's Mom? Is she still sleeping? What a sleepyhead…"

For a second—

my brain refuses to process what I'm seeing.

Then it hits me.

I get startled—I scream—and reflexively activate One For All, green lightning crackling around my body.

At the same moment, the TV behind me erupts with urgent noise:

"Breaking news—Tartarus Prison has been broken down. Surprisingly, no other villain escaped… other than All For One. The whole city is now under high alert."

My blood runs cold.

"Oii, oii, no need to worry, son," he says calmly, raising his hands.

"I don't plan to fight. I just want to see my son… and my wife."

My breathing is uneven.

Calm down.

If he wanted to…

I'd already be dead anyway.

Besides…he's my dad.

What's the worst he can do…?

"…What's all the noise… so early…?"

Mom's sleepy voice comes from behind.

Inko walks in—and freezes the moment she sees him.

"…Where have you been… all this time…?"

Her voice trembles.

Before I can say anything—

She pulls Dad toward her using her quirk and punches him straight in the gut.

The impact is brutal.

Dad drops instantly.

I just stare.

Was Mom… always this strong…?

She just punched the lights out of All For One.

She's terrifying.

I don't even want to imagine what she'd do to me…if she ever learns about my relationship with the girls…

Inside my head—

The vestiges start yelling.

"LOOK, GUYS!" Banjo shouts.

"She did what we failed to do in TWO HUNDRED YEARS—in one minute!"

"…I feel really pathetic right now…" En mutters quietly.

"Oii, stay sharp," Kudo warns.

"It's still All For One. One hit can't take him down."

But Dad…

really looks knocked out.

Then—Mom drops to her knees and hugs him tightly.

"I missed you… you bastard…"

Her voice breaks as tears fall.

Dad slowly wakes up.

"I'm sorry, Inko…"

He's crying too…

hugging her back like he's afraid she'll disappear.

"…Should I join in?" I ask Nana-san softly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Nana says gently.

I step forward and wrap my arms around them.

For the first time…

it feels like a family again.

Mellisia comes closer and joins the hug too, pressing herself against me.

"…Izuku… who's this… girl here…?" Dad asks between sobs.

"We'll talk about this another time…"

I dodge the question instinctively.

After that…

we all sat in the hall.

The room felt strangely quiet, like the house itself was listening. No one spoke for a few seconds. Even the air felt heavy, weighed down by everything that had just happened.

"So, Izuku…"

Dad finally broke the silence.

"Who's this girl… who's sitting near you?"

His eyes flicked toward Mellisia—curious, gentle, unreadable.

"…She's—"

The words caught in my throat.

"…That aside," I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze,

"don't you… have something to say to us… Dad?"

My heart pounded.

Don't let him be a maniac…

Please… don't let him be a maniac…

"…Yeah…" he answered quietly.

Then his eyes softened.

"That girl… is it okay?" he asked.

I took a breath.

"Yeah," I said firmly.

"She's my girlfriend. I plan to marry her soon… so it's fine."

Mellisia froze for a second—

then her face turned bright red.

She squeezed my arm, flustered and embarrassed.

She's cute like this…

I really don't want to remember her other personality.

"Oh…"

Dad chuckled, a small smug smile forming.

"My son… was popular… just like I was."

If anyone else heard him say that, they'd laugh it off.

People wouldn't believe me…

if I told them this man was the world's greatest villain.

"…Ah…"

He snapped his fingers.

A sudden jolt ran through my body.

Sharp. Clear.

Mom gasped beside me—

she felt it too.

Then—

Memories surged forward.

Moments I spent with Dad…before I awakened the memories of my previous life.

Him smiling gently.

Him patting my head.

Him laughing softly.

He was warm.

Kind.

Happy.

Tears slipped down my face before I could stop them.

"…What's this, Hisashi…?"

Mom asked, pressing her hand to her head, confused.

"Inko…"

His voice dropped.

"I'm… not who you think I am."

"I am All For One."

The words hung in the air.

Then he explained everything to Mom.

Even though I already knew…

hearing it directly from him felt different— heavier, more real.

"When I met you, Inko…"

"For the first time in my life… I felt human again."

"I fell in love."

"You… changed me."

"When Izuku was born…"

"I was really happy."

"Truly happy."

"For once… I got to live my life again."

Mom didn't interrupt.

She just listened.

"Why didn't you tell me before…?" she asked softly.

"…I thought I might lose you, Inko…"

"I didn't want to lose my family again…"

His hands trembled as he spoke.

"Then why now?"

"What changed?"

"You moved away… manipulated our memories…"

"Didn't you?"

"…Honey…"

"If I was caught…"

"I feared Izuku might be experimented on."

"So I tried to fix my mess…"

"By killing… All Might…"

Mellisia stiffened beside me.

Her grip on my hand tightened—hard.

She looked shaken… truly shaken.

"But I lost…"

"I lived on life support for a while…"

"I didn't want you to be outcasts…"

"So I went into hiding…"

"But our Izuku found me…"

"Two years ago…"

"And you know what happened after that."

Then—

"…You always have a choice, brother."

Yoichi's voice suddenly came out of me.

"Izuku?!"

"What's wrong, honey?!" Mom asked in panic.

"Oi—what's happening?!"

I shouted inside my head.

"Why is he talking through me?!"

"Let them talk, kid," Kudo said calmly.

"He's been carrying this for a long time."

"You don't understand!"

"I didn't tell Mom about One For All!"

I screamed internally.

"You should have used your power for good," Yoichi said gently.

"Yoichi…"

Hisashi whispered.

"It's been so long… since I heard your voice…"

"…Is that so?"

"I feel like I'm stuck in the past… every time," Yoichi replied.

"Hisashi…"

"What's wrong with Izuku?" Mom asked anxiously.

"It's my brother," Hisashi explained.

"He's speaking… through Izuku."

"…Nice to meet you, Inko-san," Yoichi said politely.

"I've been under your son's care."

"…Is it… a ghost?"

Mom immediately sprinkled salt on me.

"…I'm not a ghost, Inko-san…"

"He's talking through One For All," Hisashi said.

"…One For All?" Mom asked.

"It's a quirk passed down through generations,"

"Izuku is the current user."

"Izuku will explain later," he added gently.

"Our son is still in there."

Yoichi gave a thumbs-up.

I'm screwed, I thought.

"…It's still not too late, brother," Yoichi said.

"My hands are too stained with sin…"

Hisashi whispered.

"No," Yoichi replied firmly.

"You still have hope."

"Those tears of yours are proof."

"Your love for Inko-san… and Izuku…

is what changed you."

"You can still change."

Yoichi hugged him.

"…Dad…"

I said softly when control returned.

"…Oh," Hisashi smiled faintly.

"You're back."

"So…"

"What's it gonna be, Dad?" I asked.

"Isn't it obvious, son?"

"I'll turn myself in again."

"I'll repent…"

"And then I'll come back to my family."

For the first time…

it felt like everything was finally over.

The world felt saved.

I could finally rest.

"…Oh," he added quietly, leaning closer.

"Izuku… promise me something."

"Protect your mom… if anything ever happens to me."

My chest tightened.

Is he still planning something…?

"Eh?"

"What are you talking about, Dad?"

"Ah, Inko," he said louder, smiling.

"I'll come by evening."

"Let's have some father-son bonding time."

As we walked toward the front door—

We saw him.

"All Might…"

Hisashi stopped.

"…All For One," All Might replied.

"We'll talk," All Might said firmly.

"Take him with us, Izuku."

I used Blackwhip, binding us together.

Dad activated a quirk—

lifting us into the air, similar to Float.

"All Might," Dad said calmly,

"I don't have any ulterior motives."

"I plan to surrender tomorrow."

"How can I trust you?"

"You're still the world's greatest villain," All Might replied.

"Think, All Might," Dad said evenly.

"If I wanted a rampage… it would've happened the moment Tartarus fell."

"I just want to meet my family…"

"Before I cut some loose ends."

"…Loose ends?" I asked.

He didn't answer.

"I promise," he said quietly.

"I'll return tomorrow… to Tartarus."

"You know I'm a man of my word."

For now…

Even All Might seemed to trust him.

Dad dropped us back home.

"See you, Inko…"

"Izuku… and Izuku's girlfriend."

"And Izuku…"

"Take care of your mom for me, will you?"

"Ah… All Might," he added lightly.

"See you later."

He flew away into the sky

I stood there, watching him.

I wonder where…

Dad is going.

----

At Garaki's Lab

"…Garaki."

The word alone made the air feel heavy.

"Ah—Master… you're finally here."

The underground lab hummed with life.

Cold lights flickered above steel tables. Tubes pulsed. Machinery breathed.

"Here are the advanced Nomu I created," Garaki said proudly, spreading his arms.

"…Stop this."

Hisashi's voice was low. Controlled. Dangerous.

"…Stop what?" Garaki tilted his head, smiling.

"The experiment," Hisashi said, eyes darkening.

"To create another me."

"…Ah."

Garaki's grin widened.

"So you knew."

"You think my quirk is a toy?" Hisashi said coldly.

"I suspected you the moment you took my blood. I stayed silent because you were useful."

"…How disappointing," Garaki chuckled.

"So the great Demon Lord softened after meeting his family. How… human."

"You think this is funny," Hisashi said.

"I can erase you so thoroughly it'll be like you never existed."

Garaki laughed.

"See? This is the real you, Master. No matter the era."

"I even gave you my quirk so I could witness the Demon Lord succeed…

so I could watch the world burn."

"But instead…"

Garaki's eyes sharpened.

"You made a family."

"You grew soft."

"That woman," he sneered.

"She's the one who ruined you."

"I should've killed her."

The lab shook.

Hisashi was suddenly in front of him—

hand wrapped around Garaki's neck—

lifting him off the ground.

"Don't," Hisashi said quietly.

"Talk about my wife."

Garaki coughed… then smiled.

"I knew this would happen," he wheezed.

"That's why I prepared."

The floor split open.

Ten Nomu activated at once.

"Each of them," Garaki said proudly,

"has twenty quirks. Advanced regeneration. Strength refined beyond High-Ends."

"You think this will stop me?" Hisashi said, turning slowly.

"It seems you've forgotten," he continued,

"who I am."

The lab ceased to exist.

Metal folded.

Nomu screamed.

The ground collapsed under sheer force.

Garaki lay broken, laughing through blood.

"Ah… yes…"

"This is the real you, Master."

"Ruthless."

"Tactical."

"Destruction incarnate."

"Stop," Hisashi said, gripping his neck again.

"Whatever you're doing—I'm ending it."

"You can't," Garaki whispered.

"The plan is already in motion."

"Even you can't stop it."

"Not your protégé, Rin."

"Not your so-called son—Izuku Midoriya."

Hisashi's grip tightened.

"Don't," he said softly.

"Say my son's name."

"I assure you," Hisashi continued, voice ice-cold,

"If you go after my family…"

"You won't find peace."

"Not even in death."

CRACK.

Garaki's body went limp.

Silence followed.

Got it.

Same rule, same promise: no cutting, no shortening, no changing events or dialogue.

I'll expand emotions, atmosphere, subtext, and unease, and I'll lean into the false safety at the end so the last lines feel quietly terrifying.

Below is your emotionally enhanced version of THIS PART ONLY.

---

And then…

Hisashi went to the League of Villains.

The familiar hideout greeted him with flickering lights and the low hum of machinery.

But—

Dabi wasn't there.

The absence was noticeable.

Unsettling.

Hisashi's eyes lingered on the empty space for just a second before he turned to the others.

He explained everything.

The truth.

The change.

The future.

"You guys…" he said calmly, his voice carrying authority without force.

"The new world… Izuku will change the world for the better."

The room went quiet.

"So do well," he continued.

"And support him."

"Rin… Toga… Twice… Rika…"

"You are also my children."

For a brief moment—

there was warmth.

Then—

"I'm not your child… Master…"

Rika stepped out of the hug, her voice firm, eyes sharp.

Hisashi blinked.

"I'll be your daughter-in-law," Kurohane said instead, stepping forward without hesitation.

The declaration was immediate. Absolute.

"…It looks like my son is quite popular," Hisashi said, smiling faintly.

Kurohane clasped her hands together, eyes half-lidded, voice dropping into a soft, dangerous murmur.

"You don't have to worry, Master… I'll take care of Izuku."

"We're already husband and wife… in our hearts…"

"And body… and soul also became one too…"

"…Ah… what to do…"

She mumbled the last part dreamily, clearly lost in her own thoughts.

Hisashi paused.

"…Was she always like this nowadays?" he asked, genuinely confused.

Rin sighed quietly.

"Your son, Izuku… he did something to her, Master."

"I see," Hisashi replied calmly.

He looked around at them all one last time.

"See you later, kids," he said with a small smile.

"I still have some life sentence to attend."

"Don't worry," he added.

"If anything ever happens… I'll come running."

He turned toward the mist.

"Kurogiri," he said firmly.

"Protect my family… and the kids, okay?"

Kurogiri bowed slightly.

"…Understood."

"Ah," Hisashi added, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Open a portal to my home. I'm tired."

The warp gate opened.

And just like that—

he was gone.

---

At the Midoriya Household

The house felt… strangely normal.

That illusion didn't last long.

After I received a whooping from Mom for hiding the secret of One For All—and Dad—

I also told her about all the girls.

That earned me another whooping.

Honestly… better late than now.

Then—

The doorbell rang again.

"I'm home," Hisashi said casually.

Dad came back like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn't just been the most feared man in the world.

Like there weren't consequences waiting for him.

The loose ends… seemed simple.

I laughed it off internally.

I was worried for nothing.

We spent some quiet time together as a family.

We ate.

We talked.

We laughed.

For a moment—

It felt real.

The next day…

as promised…

Dad went to Tartarus on his own accord.

Seven years left on his sentence.

With the jailbreak added…

now eight.

The world felt safe.

Dad had surrendered and became a good guy.

The danger was gone.

For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to relax.

But deep down… something felt wrong.

Like a knot in my chest that wouldn't loosen.

Like the calm before a storm no one else could sense.

And somewhere in the darkness,

the danger that never truly disappeared

was quietly preparing to return.

More Chapters