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Guren Ichinose | Red | #A5211F

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Can't help it. [Izuku mutters, but he swipes at his eyes to dry them anyway.]

Is it really okay to just...move forward even after this? [When he finally speaks up again, it's in a small, uncertain voice.] I didn't mean for anyone else to get hurt. [How do you stop feeling bad about something like that?]

That's why it's called an accident.

Just remember, no one died. [He hasn't stopped being serious, but it gets deeper now, and he looks for Izuku's eyes.] You need to keep everything in mind, but remember what worked, too. A few of you suffered more than the rest of us, but you came back.

We take what we learned, and we do better next time. We avoid the forest in large numbers and try to control how many people go in. That's our first step. If you don't know how to handle it, then leave it to me. You can rely on me.

No! [Izuku blurts out, panicked, before blushing and bowing his head again.] I...I can handle it.

[The last thing he wants is to burden Guren even more, to make Guren think that he's incapable of handling himself in a situation like this. Guren's right. Mentally prepared or not, he has to keep moving forward.

Part of him is still surprised that Guren is even giving him a choice, though.]

I thought you'd be... more disappointed. [In him, he means. Accident or not, it still happened.]

I'll never be disappointed in you when you're trying your best.

[He's very clear on that, watching Izuku closely.] You can't expect one person to be able to handle all of this on his own. Not you, not me. That's why we have each other, and everyone else.

No matter what you do, you should rely on all of us as you do it. Measure what you can do and what you can't, and move forward. I'll only be disappointed if you give up.

[If you want Izuku to stop being a crybaby, maybe you should stop saying things that make him cry, Guren!! At least time, the tears fall from relief rather than guilt. There's a strange, conflicted look on his face, like he wants to believe Guren's words, but still can't help but cling to those expectations of himself.]

I... [What if I'm supposed to be able to handle it all? He thinks. All Might was able to do it... so what does that mean for me? What he says is:] Then... I'll have to keep doing my best so that I don't let you down.

Cut that out.

[Reaching over again, Guren pinches Izuku's cheek harshly. It's short, at least.] Do your best because you want to. Because you're living, and because people are counting on you, but never to "not let them down." When someone counts on you, trust their faith in you.

Getting hung up on whether or not you deserve it is only going to trip you up. Trust me.

Wah! [Izuku yelps, rubbing at his cheek while he stares at Guren with that wounded expression.]

I.... [What Guren's trying to tell him now, Izuku has trouble wrapping his mind around. He knows he should do his best no matter what, but... shouldn't he try even harder when someone's relying on him?]

Okay. [Izuku bows his head slightly, voice still soft.] I-I'll try not to think about it too much. [Just because he tries doesn't mean it'll work, though.]

Good. You better.

[Guren's going to keep an eye on him, of course. He doesn't want him to overwork himself or get too in his own head. But, Guren's also watching the whole town... It's hard. He'll have to do his best, too.]

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