FanFic Enjoyable but sometimes frustrating (Review of chapters 1- 29)
I have mixed feelings about this fanfic but lean more towards positive than negative. I enjoy the characters and the exploration of Toushiro's PTSD immensely, but find aspects of the plot and Academia characters' reactions to certain events to be aggravating (and not in a good way).
First, what I enjoy. The characterizations of most characters (especially Toushiro, Bakugo, and Aizawa) are extraordinary, as are the relationships between them. Seeing Toushiro grow to trust and befriend people his age (Toushiro is mentally fifteen years old like his peers), and their support of him as he struggles with PTSD is wonderful. Personally the interactions between Toushiro and Aizawa are my favorite. Aizawa knows when to give Toushiro space, and Toushiro knows he can let his guard down and be vulnerable in front of his teacher. It's heartwarming to see an adult make an effort to help this teen. Toushiro himself is very well-written. He is a great balance of badass and vulnerable, and his habit of manipulating others into bettering themselves is fun to read. It is the character growth and interactions that really sells this fanfic.
Now what frustrates me so. My biggest gripe is the conflict between Toushiro and the Heroes because of their different morals. The students and adults are near-pigheaded in how they treat Toushiro because he killed. They continue to treat him like a potential villain despite being told that Hollows eat souls and seeing it happen for themselves. Midoriya is particularly frustrating in this regard. He completely fails to see the moral grayness of the situation and refuses to believe killing is sometimes necessary. While this trait may be endearing to some, it comes across as naive at best, foolishly stubborn at worst. Again: Hollows kill humans and eat their souls. The Academia characters witnessed this happening, yet they treat Toushiro like the bad guy that needs to change in order to fit their idea of goodness. In the moral argument, I side completely with Toushiro, while Midoriya and company come across as antagonistic and close-minded. If siding with Toushiro morally is the author's intent, it works but makes the fanfic feel imbalanced against the UA characters. If that is not the author's intent, well... It is this flaw that keeps me from recommending this fic, but if the story goes a certain way (the UA characters learn the world is not black and white), it can be forgiven.
Overall, YMMV on this one. I enjoy it a lot, but its flaws can be frustrating. If you love friendship and mental health stories, read this. If one of your pet peeves is "characters are needlessly antagonistic towards someone and continually arrest and belittle the hero for trying to save the world", skip it.
FanFic Attempted Moral Conflict Gone Wrong (Spoilers)
The friendships and mental health aspects are well-written but they are tarnished by horrible "moral conflicts". Unless you want to see warped and obstinate caricatures of the My Hero Academia characters make Toushiro's life hell, you will really dislike the UA characters in this. Over and over and over again, Toushiro's so-called "friends" and other people that supposedly want him to open up to them refuse to see his side of the story whenever he is forced to kill a dangerous or suffering enemy. They just arrest and belittle him over and over while blabbering on about moral arguments that have no weight. The no-killing "moral highground" the heroes preach about cannot work in a setting with Hollows and Arrancar. That obstinacy and Arrested for Heroism happens after the deaths of the Nomu, the Arrancar, and All For One and it gets old fast. The "heroes" immediately think any moral action that does not align with their views means Toushiro is becoming a villain. Their view of the world goes past societal influence and straight into idiotic insanity. I can't even call them Ron The Death Eaters because the story thinks their characterization and way of treating Toushiro is sympathetic. It's not. Toushiro having enough and saying he will fight the Pro Heroes if they continue to stop him from saving people is one of the best and most satisfying parts of the story. You just want to hug the poor Captain and tell the UA characters to leave him alone and stop judging him.