After the League of Villains' attack, the forest remained quiet for a few days.
Nothing from the outside world seemed to reach it. The trees stood still, the air unmoving, as if the entire place existed apart from everything else. And within it, at the heart of that silence, Junsei sat among the trees, his massive form concealed by his wings. They wrapped around him like a living barrier, yet even seated, he still towered over most humans.
Then the quiet was broken by footsteps approaching.
Nezu walked forward in a relaxed manner.
Momo followed behind him.
For the first time.
She slowed as they drew closer, her body tensing despite her efforts to remain composed. The mere presence of Junsei pressed against her instincts. Even without hostility. Junsei's mere presence made her aware of how small she was.
Dola perched quietly on her shoulder.
Junsei did not move.
Nezu stopped a short distance away, glancing once at Momo before looking up at the silent figure before him. "Is there a way to stop whatever you are doing?" he asked calmly. "Ms. Yaoyorozu is uncomfortable."
Dola chirped lightly, as if agreeing.
Junsei remained still for a moment.
Then the light within his faceless head dimmed slightly.
Momo felt the difference immediately, her shoulders relaxing.
"This is much better," she said softly. "Thanks."
Nezu tilted his head, observing.
"So you can do that," he said. "Interesting."
Junsei's voice came. "You are early for your monthly visit."
Nezu shook his head lightly. "Actually, I am late. I wanted to come earlier to thank you for saving us, but…" He paused briefly. "With all the damage and the fact that the United States' number one hero was killed again in our country, it caused all kinds of complications. I'm afraid those will continue for a while."
"I didn't save you," Junsei replied.
Nezu chuckled quietly. "And what do you call what you did?"
"Dola called me. I answered the call," Junsei said. "My help only extended to Dola and Momo. No one else."
Nezu's expression didn't change. "And the villains?"
"I warned them," Junsei said. "About continuing with the Nomu and their abominations. They didn't listen."
Nezu's eyes sharpened slightly. "Hold on. You knew about them? Since when?"
"Yes. After I killed AFO."
For a moment, Nezu said nothing.
Then he exhaled lightly. "And here I thought I was beginning to understand how you think," he said. "Only for you to prove me wrong again."
Junsei did not respond.
Momo hesitated, then spoke quietly. "Regardless of that… thank you, Junsei."
There was a brief pause.
"You're welcome," Junsei said.
Silence followed, heavy but not hostile.
Then he added, "Is there anything else you want from me?"
Nezu smiled faintly. "Why do I feel like you don't want us here?"
"I don't," Junsei said plainly. "Especially Momo. She shouldn't be here. It will put her in trouble with the rest of humans."
Nezu let out a small chuckle. "So you finally show that you have a heart capable of caring."
Momo shook her head slightly. "I don't think anyone would do anything while you're out here."
"I don't want you to come here again," Junsei repeated.
This time, Momo went silent.
Her gaze dropped to the ground.
Dola reacted immediately, chirping angrily at him, her small body puffing slightly as if protesting his words.
Junsei did not move.
He had already decided.
He would not harm Momo. And coming here or being known to be on speaking terms with him was bad for her.
Momo took a breath then said quietly "I understand, but… one last thing. At the edge of the forest, there are a few boxes of sweets. They're a gift from my father. A thank you… for saving and healing me."
She hesitated for a brief moment.
"And… I hope you don't mind if I send you something from time to time. With the principal."
Junsei remained silent for a moment before saying "Thanks"
Nezu's smile widened just a little.
——————
Time moved. Months turned into years, and through all of it, one thing remained unchanged. Nezu came every month without fail, carrying with him small boxes of desserts. One from himself and one from Momo.
They would sit and talk.
Sometimes Nezu spoke about the school, about its growth, its problems, its future. Other times he complained about things that annoyed him. And often, he spoke about his students. Their progress and strange habits.
Junsei listened.
The rhythm never broke.
And from time to time, some unexpected news arrived. Dola, the small bird, eventually reached the end of its natural span. It was sad news, but life continued moving forward. Then came the news of Momo moving on with her life. She married one of her classmates and built a family.
The world continued to shift in ways both large and small, but still, the visits continued.
For fifteen years, the rhythm never broke. Not even once.
Until today. Nezu did not come.
Junsei felt something was wrong.
The light within his face intensified, his attention turning instinctively toward a single direction. UA.
Through Life, he sensed everything.
And what he felt there made him pause.
Nezu was alive.
But barely.
There was a moment of hesitation.
Then Junsei vanished.
The next moment, he stood within the grounds of UA.
His presence alone changed everything.
Students froze. Some turned and ran. Others stood rooted in place, unable to move as the pressure of his existence overwhelmed them. Staff members became alert.
His memory had never faded.
The White Demon.
Junsei did not acknowledge any of it.
He walked forward unbothered.
Until someone stepped into his path.
A man in his early thirties. Standing without fear.
Smiling.
"Hello, Junsei," he said. "It has been a long time."
Junsei stopped.
"It has," he replied. "Shinso. I am here to see him."
Shinso nodded, his expression softening slightly. "He wanted to see you. He was worried you wouldn't come." He turned, gesturing forward. "I was actually about to head to the forest to call you."
Junsei followed Shinso.
As they walked through the school, Shinso spoke again. "I'm a teacher now."
"I know," Junsei said. "He told me."
There was a brief silence between them.
Then Shinso continued, his voice quieter this time. "You know… I regret how things turned out. You were one of the few I thought of as a friend in UA."
Junsei spoke. "You don't hate me?"
Shinso replied. "I'd be lying if I said I hate you, what you did… it's wrong. In my eyes, it is. But the truth is… I owe you my life."
Junsei said nothing.
"Because of you, I got my chance at the sports festival," Shinso continued. "Because of everything that followed, the path I walked… it changed. It led me here."
He let out a quiet breath.
"My family wasn't harmed. And in a strange way… everything you did opened a better path for me to become a hero."
Another pause.
"I feel guilty for thinking like that," Shinso admitted. "But I can't deny it. I benefited from you"
Junsei's response was simple.
"I see."
They reached the medical wing.
Shinso stopped at the doorway of a room near the end of the hall and stepped aside, allowing Junsei to enter first.
Inside, the world slowed.
Nezu lay on the bed.
His breathing was weak, shallow, uneven. He didn't change much, but Junsei knew he was too old, his time was reaching its end.
Junsei approached.
He stopped beside the bed, looking down at him.
For all his intelligence, for all his presence, Nezu was still a mortal.
Shinso remained by the door watching silently.
Junsei's tail moved slowly.
The tip of it reached forward and touched Nezu's head gently.
——————
Nezu opened his eyes and found himself standing in a vast forest. Towering trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their branches reaching upward as if trying to grasp the sky itself. Beneath his feet, countless blue flowers covered the ground, glowing faintly and swaying in a wind he could not feel.
Above, the sky was dark yet filled with thousands of stars, each one shining with quiet intensity. And hanging low above everything, close enough to feel almost within reach, was a massive, breathtaking sight, Earth, whole and unbroken.
He took a slow breath, his eyes moving across the scenery with curiosity.
"So this is what it looks like in the vestige world…" he murmured. His gaze lingered on the planet above, thoughtful. "But Earth is not cracked."
"The cracks were fixed," a voice answered from behind him. "Due to all the killings I have done."
Nezu turned, and for a moment, his expression broke into genuine surprise. Standing before him was a small white rat.
"What's with the new look?" Nezu asked.
"I can control how I look here," Junsei replied. "I figured you would like to see me like this for once."
Nezu studied him for a moment before smiling softly. "Thank you. That's a nice surprise."
The quiet returned, but it carried a different weight now.
Junsei spoke again "You know it, don't you? Your time in this world is coming to an end. You will die."
Nezu nodded calmly. "Yes. I can feel it coming." His voice remained steady, though there was something deeper beneath it now. "Will it be painful?"
"Yes," Junsei answered without pause. "Dying always hurts."
Nezu looked back up at Earth, his expression thoughtful. "You know… now that I am about to die, I can't help but feel fear. This is unknown territory for me." He exhaled slowly, then allowed a faint smile to form. "But at the same time, I am satisfied. With the life I led. With the things I did. I lived a worthy life… of what I am."
He turned back toward Junsei, his gaze steady. "What will happen to me now?"
"I don't know," Junsei said. "You are not connected to Life. You exist outside it… like humans do. I don't know what will happen to you."
Nezu hummed quietly, considering that answer. "So I have to go in blind. Well… that's fine as well."
There was a brief pause before Junsei spoke again, stepping slightly closer. "I can take you. Connect you back to Life. You will be part of us again. It is better than dying like a human."
Nezu shook his head gently. "Thank you, but I must decline." His tone was calm but firm. "I lived all of my life among them, like them. It would feel wrong… like a betrayal. To everything I stood for. To everything I have done."
Junsei lowered his head slightly.
"I see." After a moment, he added, "I wish whatever this ending of yours is… to be a good one."
Nezu smiled. "Thank you, Ao." Then, as if remembering something, he added, "I left you something. In the drawer next to my bed. Don't forget to take it. It is yours." His expression softened further. "I hope it will help you with loneliness."
"I am with Life," Junsei replied. "I would never feel lonely. You can die in peace knowing I will always be alright, Okina."
Nezu's smile widened just a little. "Goodbye, Ao."
The forest fell completely still, and in the next instant, Nezu was gone.
——————
In the real world, Junsei's tail slowly lifted away from Nezu's head. He looked down at the small body resting peacefully on the bed, its breathing gone, its presence faded into silence.
"He is gone now," Junsei said quietly.
Shinso stepped closer, his face tense with grief as he looked at Nezu. "…He was a great person."
"Yes," Junsei replied. "He was."
The room remained silent for a moment before Junsei opened the drawer beside the bed. Inside, he found a small album. He picked it up and looked at it briefly, then vanished without another word.
——————
Back in the forest, Junsei stood among the trees, the album in his hands. He opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Carefully kept.
Images of a lab. Of two white rats in a cage. Okina and Ao, captured decades ago. The pages turned slowly, revealing Nezu growing, learning, changing.
Then came other faces.
Junsei in UA.
Kimi.
Momo.
Dola.
Sai.
Shinso.
Mr. Yaoyorozu.
Junsei stopped turning the pages.
He understood.
It was a collection of everything he thought mattered.
The forest remained silent.
Then a drop fell.
Blue.
Then another.
And another.
They sank into the soil beneath him, disappearing into the earth. Junsei stood unmoving as the light within his faceless head dimmed slightly.
"Goodbye," he said quietly.
After a brief pause, he added,
"Brother."