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Izuku looks up to the stage. Twenty students lined up in graduation gowns. Each of them smiling and laughing. The newly graduated hero course students. His friends. He feels tears start to stream down his face. Both out of proudness for his friends and pure sorrow that he’s not standing there with them.
Izuku doesn’t regret the battle against All for One and Shigaraki, he saved countless lives after all but if he could go back in time and change one thing, he would be more careful with his quirk.
Maybe if Izuku took more precautions and didn’t use One for All so recklessly he wouldn’t have lost it that day. So he looks up at his friends, one at a time he makes eye contact with them.
Uraraka smiles and waves.
Todoroki nods, a small smile on his face.
Denki flashes him a thumbs up.
Iida smiles and nods.
Even Shinsou and Monoma flash Izuku a smile.
One at a time his friends give him happy looks, but he can see the sadness hidden beneath those smiles. They want him up there as much as he wants to be with them.
Then his and Bakugou’s eyes meet. Bakugou doesn’t smile. He only looks down, but when his gaze meets Izuku’s for the second time Izuku smiles for him and Bakugou can’t help but let a saddened smile spread across his lips.
Izuku gave up everything for the city. To save lives. He lost his quirk, his spot in the hero course, and the future he was looking forward to. But he didn’t lose his friends. His friends have always been by his side even after he switched to the general studies course, and even after he moved to the support class. They’ve been there for him.
But to Izuku’s surprise Bakugou jumped off the stage and started making his way towards the Quirkless boy. His hand extended and eyes warm. Izuku smiles and takes his childhood friend's hand.
Bakugou pulls Izuku to the stage. As soon as Izuku’s up there all his friends surround him. Hugging him, clapping him on the back. Laughing like he never left.
In their eyes, he would always be a true hero.