MHA: The One Who Laughs

Johnny POV

I tried to get out of Joker's grip. However, nothing worked. I tried everything—punching, kicking, even poking his eyes. But nothing happened. All my attacks passed right through him.

I don't know how he's managing to hurt me when I can't even touch him.

He held me for a few more seconds, and my vision started to blur. My limbs stopped struggling, and my mind went blank.

Seeing me nearing passing out, he threw me down the hallway, my back slamming against the hardwood door of the lab.

Cough Cough

I coughed while holding my neck. "H-How?"

He walked toward me, making me instinctively crawl backward, but the door quickly stopped me. I reached for the doorknob, but he had already reached me. He opened the door and dragged me inside, sitting me down on a chair.

While seated, I mocked him as he got his own chair. "Ha… So much for being my other half."

When he sat down, he simply stared at me, and for the first time, I saw him without a smile.

Seeing him not smile froze me momentarily before he spoke. "Tell me, Johnny, do you think humans should live?"

Taken aback, I stuttered, "W-What?"

He continued, "No matter what world, no matter what universe, humans are all the same. Full of hypocrites and fakes."

"What the hell are you talking about?! Don't tell me you're gonna go on about humans and justify your killing spree?!"

He chuckled dryly. "No, I'm not here to justify anything. Because, quite frankly, I don't care what you think. I kill whoever I want, whenever I want."

"You piece of shit!"

He glared at me. "Let's continue. Let me ask you again—do you think humans should live?"

Without hesitation, I answered, "Of course! You can't generalize everyone just because of a few bad people! What about the innocent? Should they also suffer because of the minority?"

His smile returned as he laughed. "Innocents? There are no innocents."

"W-What?"

He continued, "All humans are hypocrites. No one is saved from it. They make mistakes and call it human imperfection, but that's just an excuse. As soon as someone else makes a mistake, they ignore the so-called human imperfection."

"Is that really your reason for killing?!"

He shook his head. "No, no. Of course not." He paused, looking directly at me. "Let me ask you a question, Johnny. The people who bullied you—do you think they're innocent? Do you think they're bad people?"

I frowned, remembering Hyoshida. "Of course not. People like those are evil. But you can't just say everyone is evil because of it."

"Then what about your classmates, huh? Are they innocent too?"

"Y-Yes…" I hesitated, quickly cut off by his laughter.

"Hahahaha! You can't even say it with confidence!" His laughter stopped, and he frowned. "They aren't innocent! There are no innocents! They watched you struggle and did nothing! They had the power to help you, but they didn't. Not. A. Single. One."

I stayed quiet, unable to find an answer. He continued.

"The same thing is happening in this world. No matter the place, time, or universe—the human race is the same. Let's use your kind, the quirkless, as an example. People without quirks have suffered since the birth of the first quirk user. Yet no one has stood up for them. Not your so-called heroes, not the people you vote for in power. None!"

He chuckled. "Aren't heroes supposed to save everyone?"

I tried my best to respond. "We're all trying to improve. Not everyone is perfect, and there will always be prejudice. But even with all the imperfections, we as humans have improved. People with quirks and those without are now working together for a better future."

"Hahahahaha! Oh really? Name me one person without a quirk who holds a high position in your government."

I couldn't think of anyone, so I stayed silent.

"Like I said earlier, humans are filled with hypocrites and fakes! No one is truly innocent. Well… maybe good children, hahaha!"

He laughed at his own words, which annoyed me. I mocked him. "Sounds like this is from personal experience."

His laughter stopped, his smile fading. He looked at me, stood up, and walked toward me.

Bam!

He kicked my ribs, knocking me off my chair. "Watch your mouth."

Cough

I coughed, clutching my chest in pain. I glanced at him. "What's the point in telling me all this anyway?"

His smile returned, and he extended a hand, helping me stand up.

"In every single world, in every timeline, on every Earth—humans are the same. You asked me earlier about my goal."

He glanced at me with a smile. "My goal is to create a world with no fakes! No goddamn hypocrites! A world with equality!"

"And how are you gonna do that? Through destruction and carnage?" I mocked.

He scoffed. "And how do you propose I make such a world? Using diplomacy like a dog? Throughout history, when was the last time diplomacy worked for the quirkless?"

I rolled my eyes. "I won't ask again. Why are you saying this to me?"

He chuckled. "Because you've experienced it. You know I'm right, but you refuse to believe it because of those fake morals of yours."

"Fake?"

He walked up to me, pointing his finger at my chest.

"Yes. Fake."