The Aftermath

"We are very sorry and understand your feelings, but we suspect that your child is involved in an extremely heinous murder case near the entrance of XX Park not far away. We must ask you to come back with us for investigation."

Uraraka Shige sat quietly on the sofa at home. He was silent and didn't say a word. His clothes were covered with congealed blood and fragments of body tissue. His face was extremely blank and expressionless. Even the sounds coming from the doorway could not attract his attention.

In fact, ever since he brought Ochaco home, he has been like this, exuding an aura that is completely unfamiliar and out of place with the world, and is quietly settling down in his own world.

He was thinking, or perhaps reflecting?

In a moment of hot-blooded rage, he slaughtered most of the group of 'Quirk' thugs to protect Ochaco. After successfully leading Ochaco out of their encirclement, he finally came to his senses and began to regret his actions once the thugs, even though their minds were clouded by drugs, started to look at him with fear.

But by then, it would be too late for regrets, because the deed was already done.

The survivors among the thugs quickly scattered and fled. Realizing his mistake, he didn't pursue them to the end, but simply took Ochaco directly back to his home without making any attempt to conceal their identities.

Because he kept thinking about himself the whole way.

Come to think of it, he had never killed anyone in his previous life. No, he had never even killed fish or chickens. Although he had eaten fish and chicken, he never bought live ones.

You could even say that he always had a strange sense of pity. He would always feel pity for any creature other than humans, whether it was flowers, grass, ants, or moths. He enjoyed the feeling of being a 'higher being' through this pity for the weak.

This is an arrogance, ingrained in his very being, yet it perfectly fits his selfish persona.

But after he came into this world, his mentality seemed to be changing imperceptibly until he fought to the death with the escaped 'enemy' for the first time for Genga and himself, and finally succeeded in sending the 'enemy' to meet Yama at the cost of serious injury.

This was his first murder.

Thanks to the fact that he hit the 'enemy' with the final blow, he fell into a coma because his body had reached its limit, so he did not experience the feeling after killing for the first time as rumored.

Even the intense sense of crisis brought on by that 'enemy,' the overwhelming sense of relief after escaping death, and the guilt towards Genga and the policewoman caused him to instinctively ignore his first murder experience, which wasn't actually that important to him, after waking up.

Therefore, from this perspective alone, it can be said that after his first murder, he felt nothing at all.

But this time, it's clearly different from the previous one.

This time, he wasn't seeking revenge for anyone, nor was he trying to survive. Even if he could find an excuse to protect Ochaco, he was actually facing a group of 'Quirk' 'weaklings,' a group that was at the very bottom of the thug community.

Despite the overwhelming number of these thugs, and despite each of them being much older than him in this life, it doesn't mean they are strong in his presence. Perhaps without him using his 'Quirk,' or even if he deliberately holds back, these thugs could cause him considerable trouble, perhaps even rendering him powerless to protect Ochaco.

Even so, these 'Quirk' thugs were by no means a strong opponent in his eyes, because once he cast aside all his concerns, these 'Quirk' thugs, like the pervert from long ago, were utterly vulnerable.

And the facts have proven this to be true.

But why did he lose that strange compassion when facing this group of thugs?

Is it because these thugs are all human?

Ke Uraraka Shige is not someone with anti-human or anti-social tendencies.

So, given this, why did he disregard all his concerns and the consequences, and choose to go all out against those thugs?

Perhaps...

"If I had to pinpoint it, it would probably be something I remembered from when I was in the warehouse... something I overheard from an elder in my previous life..."

"Young people should have the drive of youth. You're not some old man; sometimes you need to be a little decisive... It's better than letting opportunities slip by."

Besides...

"The anxiety you felt after seeing and hearing Ochaco's cries for help, and the various thoughts that flashed through your mind... and the anger you felt after seeing that Ochaco was indeed surrounded by those thugs and somehow knocked unconscious... right?"

Ochaco was sitting on the sofa next to Uraraka Shige. She vaguely heard Uraraka Shige muttering something, but the voice was so faint that she tried hard to listen but still couldn't make it out.

However, this did not affect her joy. Sitting next to Uraraka Shige, she could even notice that Uraraka Shige's previously empty eyes gradually regained some luster and color, and she could even feel that the incongruous and isolated aura that had surrounded Uraraka Shige was gradually dissipating and receding.

Then, at that moment, an idea suddenly popped into her mind.

"Shige... is awake!"

Meanwhile, the police officers at the door were still trying their best to communicate with the mother.

"But my two children are only nine and a half years old! How could they possibly be involved in such a serious case as you're talking about?!"

At this moment, Mother looked completely different from usual. In fact, in the eyes of the police officers, Mother now seemed like a shrew, making them utterly disgusted.

So they began issuing ultimatums.

"We understand your feelings, but please do not obstruct us from performing our official duties."

Then, Uraraka Shige, who had completely broken free from his own thoughts while inside the room, happened to hear this and responded.

"Mother, thank you, but it's alright, please let me go."