Hero is dead

[herodrawing]

[1]

[Getting Izuru out of Grungust Alpha's cockpit is no easy task. But after a few hours, it just opens, and the Rabbit stumbles out.]

...

[He looks absolutely miserable. Considering the circumstances - who wouldn't?]

[2]
What would a hero do?

[Some time later, Izuru somehow made it to his usual hanging spot (Asagi's room). He acts partially zombified, not quite aware of his surroundings. The dried out trail of tears is still visible on his face.]

Find a way to save everyone?

Or...

Sacrifice a friend to save a lot of people? And the friend is okay with it?

I'm sorry Seta. I can't be the hero you wanted me to be...

Comments

1

[majestic_keiki]

[Kei had apparently been waiting for you, Izuru. She's right out there ready to step up to give him some support to show that he's not alone when he leaves.]

[herodrawing]

Kei...

[Izuru blinks, swaying as he stands up - not without trouble even with assistance.]

Hello.

[majestic_keiki]

Hi.

[Kei quietly supports him, clearly calming herself to provide emotional stability as well as physical. She's quiet and letting him take the lead for now, rather than try to force anything.]

[herodrawing]

Seta...

Seta is gone.

I thought I helped her but I couldn't do anything.

2

[mc_of_mcs]

[A certain tiny goddess overhears this and decides to step into the room. Much to her surprise...she finds Izuru in a complete wreck.

It takes a while before she actually approaches, and when she does, she gently puts a hand on the Rabbit's shoulder.]

[herodrawing]

Ah!

[Izuru jumps up, startled. He quickly turns to see who approached him.]

I didn't see you there!

[mc_of_mcs]

Just checking.

You...don't look too hot.

[Nep forces a smile, but it comes out looking a bit sad. Even she knows how to read a situation.]

[herodrawing]

No...

Sorry. I kinda... need to be alone for a while.

I think. I don't really know anymore.

2

[cloningblues]

...We had to do it. If there was an alternative, only Seta knew. Or Astara. And neither said anything.

[herodrawing]

You make it sound like it's their fault.

...

[Izuru gasps as he realizes what he just said.]

Sorry Asagi, I didn't mean it like that!

[cloningblues]

No. It wasn't their fault. It just means there was nothing else that could be done.

...I'm sorry.

[herodrawing]

It's okay...

[But Izuru doesn't say anything else. The room's atmosphere becomes very awkward.]

2)

[broken_frightener]

Izuru... I guess that's the sad truth of the world.

[Leos is going to gently put his hand on Izuru's shoulder.]

As much as we want there to be... true happy endings are once in a lifetime... and as much as we want them to be for real... heroes don't exist.

[Not very comforting is he?]

But she thought that you were one... and you've gotten closer to it than anyone else here. You did your best... you really did.

[herodrawing]

Is that really the best we can hope for?

That's not the best at all...

[broken_frightener]

It isn't. But that's the world we live in.

But that doesn't mean you should stop trying to be a hero Izuru. I said heroes don't exist now doesn't mean they won't later. maybe one day when something like this happens again...

Someone who you inspired would be able to save everyone.

Right now the world needs people like you to guide it to something better. Then maybe there'll always be a third option to take.

[herodrawing]

Mm...

[Izuru looks very conflicted. He takes a while before responding.]

A hero will save everyone, or as many as possible. A hero won't put his friends over lives of many strangers.

There are heroes, but...

But Seta is still...

2

[a_monetized_mind]

Depends on the hero.

[Jen stands by the open door, knocking gently. She's brought something from one of Star Rose's shops.]

Mind if I come in?

[herodrawing]

It's okay, it's not my room, anyway.

[So Izuru has no problem letting people into it, apparently.]

What do you mean? Depends?

[a_monetized_mind]

[Jen takes a seat at the table, setting down her bag.]

Well, you're talking about superheroes, right? There have been an awful lot over the years. And when it comes to a no-win situation, how they react can be...pretty different.

Some of them would have done what Kei and Asagi tried, some would have done what Astara did, and some would have reacted like you did.

It's a situation where all options are bad. I don't think you can blame yourself for having trouble deciding.

[herodrawing]

All options are bad... so I can't blame myself no matter which I take?

2

[keep_your_dignity]

WRONG QUESTION, HITACHI.

[Kagura walks in, not asking for permission, with that barely audible step of hers that feels so incongruous on a half-ton battle suit]

DON'T ASK WHAT A HERO SHOULD DO, THAT'S HOW GAVIN THINKS.

ASK WHAT IZURU HITACHI SHOULD DO. WHAT HIS FRIEND WOULD HAVE WANTED HIM TO DO.

1/2

[herodrawing]

What I'd do?

That's what I did, right? Or was it?

2/2

[herodrawing]

[What'd Izuru do? He'd try to save Seta no matter what. But... that'd mean dooming Earth and a lot of people a least, all anew. So what happened was good from perspective of many.

But not from Izuru's perspective. And it tears him apart...]

Ah!

[Until he gets a certain thought.]

Re: 2/2

[keep_your_dignity]

[Kagura simply waits patiently for Izuru to finish his train of thought before interjecting. You have to give humans a minute, sometimes.]

[herodrawing]

I am Hitachi Izuru, and I realized a lot of things. Even back then. So what I did in the end... it was painful, but it was what'd Izuru do.

[Izuru tries to force a smile. But actually... this smile may be very slight, but it doesn't feel forced at all.]

Seta knew what has to be done. I tried to stop her, but... but I knew that was not the right thing to do because it'd make a lot of people suffer and die.

So in the end I didn't. I let her do it, even if it means...

[Hey, the tears are welling up again.]

That she's gone now.