Chapter Text
Give up.
Jump.
Useless.
Worthless.
Give up.
Jump. Jump. Jump.
The wind whipped around Izuku, snatching papers from his bag and hurling them over the side of the building. Slowly bending, he removed his shoes and stacked them on his notebook, leaving the small pile away from the ledge before walking back toward the edge of the building.
The railing was laughably easy to get over, almost like they weren’t even trying to discourage it. There was a reason that quirkless suicide rates were so high in this area of the city, and it wasn’t because the kids lived close. Other parts of Musutafu didn’t necessarily care more about the quirkless population, but they were less open about their active encouragement for quirkless kids to… take care of the problem. Everyone knew the quirkless were nothing more than a burden on society. It’s about time Izuku gave up and got with the program.
Gripping the bar behind him tightly, Izuku clenched his eyes shut. The view from the rooftop was making him dizzy and the stinging wind brought tears to his eyes. He felt bad for leaving his mom, but at least she wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore. He knew that she still resented him for Hisashi leaving, no matter how terrible a father and husband he’d been.
This is it. This is the end. This is it, so why won’t his feet move? Why can’t he let go of the bar? Why does he have to be so useless all of the time? Why can’t he do one. thing. right?!
Eyes still shut, Izuku pried his left hand from the bar, one shaking finger at a time. If it was possible, his right clenched even tighter around the metal, almost like he didn’t want to jump. But that was stupid. It’d be better for everyone if he could just—
“What are you doing?”
The sudden voice startled Izuku and he spun around in shock, losing his balance and tipping backwards off the edge of the building as his feet scrambled for traction.
Thank you random stranger, Izuku thought. At least now—
His thoughts were cut off by the feeling of fabric wrapping around his limbs and an accompanying jerking sensation that pulled him back onto the roof, landing harshly on his knees.
“Let me ask you again, kid,” the stranger said, kneeling down to Izuku’s level. “What are you doing?”