Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A HUGE thank you to my dear friend Narcy for the art! You can find her here: Narcyzus Instagram

The sky that shone above Musutafu was perfect, as Izuku gazed in amazement at an endless sea of the deepest blue. The sun gleamed with gold that kissed his skin, filling his soul with an aetherial warmth. No matter where his eyes turned, they were met with a brilliant shine that came with a promise of a wonderful day. He was relieved, for he had been wishing for some peace for quite a while now. 

The last three months had been anything but peaceful. He thought his troubles would dwindle after One for All’s purpose was completed, but they’ve only changed shape. The world around him was accelerating towards something better, yet he could only see the opposite for himself. What else was there to look forward to? His dreams were gone alongside his powers, and the crippling evidence of his failures haunted him still. Even with the relief that came with a grand destiny’s completion, he couldn’t help but feel a part of him was still fighting for its life, still trapped in a war that had already been concluded. 

But now? Now, he was free from his burdens, free from his pain. No villains, nor heroes. No crime, nor justice. No All for One, and no One for All. In this moment, he finally felt secure. It was just him, a wide open sky, and a mind emptied of its woes. 

That was until his gaze met his arm. 

His arm stretched out in front of him and ended in a tightly clenched fist, covered in blood from his knuckles to his elbow. He tried to focus back on the glorious blue sky just beyond the horror, but all he could see was the torn figure before him. Shattered, broken, and fading quickly. 

Tomura Shigaraki. 

Shigaraki’s face contorted into one filled with immense pain and regret, complete with tears flowing from two hollowed eye sockets. Trickles of blood littered the air, painting a clear connection from his obliterated form to Deku’s fist. His eyes welled up with tears as he shook his arm in a desperate attempt to shed the viscera, yet it refused to come off. With every vigorous shake, the stains only soaked further into his skin.

Then with a flash, he was on the ground — in the very center of Deika City. Before him now was a small child groveling on all fours, begging for his life, PLEADING with Deku to spare him, to forgive him, that it was all an accident and he was sorry. 

Tenko Shimura. 

With a sudden burst of ear-splitting noise, a turbulent sea of roars erupted from behind him, and he turned to face a massive crowd of enraged civilians. Some of them he recognized as families of those that Shigaraki had killed, others were ones he had saved himself, and some he found familiar, yet couldn’t quite place where he had seen them before.

 They raged and yelled, destroying any hope of focus. They commanded Deku to do his job, to KILL the villain, to protect them from him, to avenge their loved ones who had their entire lives snuffed out at the hands of Shigaraki. How could he be a true hero when he couldn't deliver justice to a merciless killer because of moral hangups?

“TRAITOR!” “COWARD!” “SPINELESS!” “MONSTER!” “PATHETIC!” 

“HE DESERVES TO DIE FOR WHAT HE’S DONE!”

“YOU CAN’T FORGIVE HIM FOR ALL OF US!”

Tenko only continued to wail behind him, now past the point of coherent speech. With every new attempt to beg for mercy, only choked sobs bubbled through. 

He gritted his teeth, steeling himself to challenge the crowd.

“Stop! Please! He isn’t what you think! He’s not a monster! Please, just give me a chance to expla-”

“YOU’RE JUST GOING TO LET HIM LIVE? SO HE CAN KEEP KILLING MORE?”

“HE’S KILLED THOUSANDS! HOW CAN YOU STAND THERE AND DEFEND HIM?”

“YOU CALL YOURSELF THE GREATEST HERO WHEN YOU COULDN’T EVEN SAVE US?”

His eyes widened in stupified horror. Some of them he had saved, some of them he had seen on TV, and some of them he had recognized as victims themselves.

He could only watch as their fury-fueled voices turned into howls of agony as they disintegrated into dust, one by one. 

“STOP!” 

Deku spun around to face Tenko, only to see Shigaraki in his place. He wore a wide, crazed smile that stretched across his leathery face, cracking open as he cackled in glee. 

Before he could speak, he was blinded by another flash, and he was now in the center of Musutafu. In front of him once again stood Tomura Shigaraki, but this time, something was off. His scars were gone, his hair was jet black, and he wore a warm smile on his face. 

“Thank you for saving me, Izuku Midoriya.” 

His smile widened as he shifted down towards the ground with his hands outstretched. 

“You really are the world’s greatest hero.” 

His fingers mingled with concrete, sending cascades of cracks into the earth.  

“After all, you believed that he could change. You even gave up One for All just to reach for a worthless puppet.”

Tenko’s face melted away, leaving behind one marred with wrinkles and scars with no facial features to speak of, spare a lone mouth that bore a toothy smile.

“Not long til you're completely worthless again. And all you'll be able to do is watch.”

The ground split apart and screams filled the sky as his home crumpled into nothingness. A piercing white void quickly encircled him, and just as it was ready to swallow him whole, a voice echoed in the void.

“Do your damn best.”

Izuku shot straight up from bed, gasping for breath. He clutched his chest as he came out of his terrified stupor, wrestling for control over his lungs. His face was caked with sweat, and his ears still rung from the ocean of screams.

A few moments passed before he won the fight for his composure. He closed his eyes and focused on the truth, that this was just another night of nightmares. With his mind now grounded back in reality, his breathing slowed and his pulse calmed. He sat for another minute to let time wash away any lingering bits of panic. Once he felt calm, he wiped the sweat from his brow, and let his hands remain to bury his face. He let out a deep, muffled breath before rising from his bed, craving some fresh air. 

He opened the doors that led to his balcony and leaned against the railing to find reprieve in the night’s cool breeze. Izuku’s mind honed towards the late-night city skyline before him. 

It’s been three months since the death of Tomura Shigaraki, and the world appeared to be on its way to a full recovery. The destruction wrought by the Final War had been wiped clean thanks to a combined effort between heroes and contractors from all over the world. Brand new buildings rose from the ashes, appearing seamless from the old, bringing a return to normalcy at last. Though to him, their lights appeared a tad dimmer now.

Most important to him was that society seemed eager to rid itself of the societal poison that created new villains from neglect and rejection. His last battle inspired countless hearts to be better to each other, to be the heroes they’d wish for when the world seemed darkest. He should be thrilled. Overjoyed. Ecstatic even, but his deepest thoughts would always return right back to his failures. Right back to his impending regression, how he failed to save a lonely boy failed by the world, and how he nearly failed two of the people he cared for most, nearly costing them their lives. 

He let the cool night air soothe his nerves for a few minutes longer, as it seemed just enough to allow another shot at getting a little sleep. He retreated back inside and plopped back down onto his bed. Forgoing any blankets, he was hopeful that this time, sleep would find him still. 

Ten minutes passed, and not so much as a yawn. He adjusted his position and continued trying to brute force some rest. 

Another ten minutes with nothing to show for them. He tossed and turned, begging to fall back asleep. 

Yet another ten minutes went by, and he was even more awake than he was half an hour prior. Frustrated, he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He was willing to use a little ember just to knock himself out at this point. 

Each time he closed his eyes, he was met with another volatile onslaught of memories. They would build upon themselves until they’d form a searing tempest in his mind, each pass bringing waves of recollection that would take another piece of him with it. It flayed him again and again until he was forced to open his tear-filled eyes. He groaned in frustration while wiping them away.

“This is the worst it’s been so far… Something REALLY doesn’t want me sleeping tonight.” He rolled onto his side, trying to stop his mental state from plummeting any further. “Why is it so much worse? Nothing out of the ordinary happened today. I really don’t understand; everything was fine!” 

Tears returned. No matter how he tried to shake it, tonight continued to prove one of his worst. He had tried to think of something else, ANYTHING else, but nothing proved to be enough. His mind refused to turn towards anything else for more than a few seconds.

He rolled back over and wiped his tears away once more. If he couldn’t sleep, then he could at least try to piece this puzzle together. He honed his focus as best he could, sifting through the monsoon of nightmares that poisoned his mind, searching for anything that might free him from his horrors. And just when he was about to give in to another sleepless night, she entered back into his mind.

He recalled their heart to heart from two months prior. He remembered how she tried to mask her pain only to crumble into grief-filled tears. He remembered the way she lamented her pain to him, the way she shared her guilt-ridden regrets with him, and the way she cried into his chest with such sorrow and regret. 

The regret of letting that moment slip away still haunted him. While he was glad he got the chance to soothe her pain the best he could, he wished it could’ve remained just the two of them for just a little longer. 

With them being as busy as they’ve been, he’s had no chance to check in with her since. All of their interactions had been focused on school, hero work, or just hanging out amongst others. While he enjoyed this as much as he always had, he still longed for a second chance to be there for her in a way that no one else could, and to selfishly rely on her strength once more. He could tell she still struggled with her trauma, some days clearly being worse than others. Each forced smile and obvious sleepless night further proved to him that they were shambling through a shared hell, just across from each other. 

“But does she know that?” 

She knew he had some similar feelings, but aside from that? He never got the chance to tell her everything. About exactly what happened with Shigaraki, or how he’s been in a desperate struggle with torment himself. The sleepless nights, the aching grief, and the ceaseless, crushing weight of guilt. 

As he longed to share their burdens together, to take on their twinned torment with combined strength, a familiar sensation crept into his heart. It felt similar to his compulsion to save someone in need, but there was something unique about it. He had felt it once before when he had a hunch Ochako lied about going home and instead went to their spot. 

Someone was calling him, and he hoped he was right about who it was.

He got out of bed for the second time, and threw on his pair of slippers. Quietly, he opened the door of his dorm room and crept out into the hall. He paused for a moment to listen to the air for anything that stood out, anything that could be calling for his help. Nothing responded but the crisp late night breeze brushing against the windows.

The night appeared calm, yet his instincts intensified. He let them guide his night-time walk, hoping they would lead to who was calling him. He went down the stairs and drifted out into the common room, letting his eyes adjust as he squinted out into the darkness. 

There, sat alone on one of the couches at the far end of the room, sat a lone figure. They had their knees pulled up to their chest with their arms pulling them in tight, their head hunched over to bury their face within them. They were silently crying to themselves, clearly trying their hardest to keep quiet. Despite their best effort, nothing could keep him from recognizing those cries, as much as it broke his heart. 

“Uraraka?” 

She let out a yelp as her legs shot out from her chest, trying to wipe away her tears before they could be noticed. 

“O-Oh! Deku! I’m, uh… I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were there! Hey!” she said, sniffling her way through every word. 

“You don’t have to hide, Uraraka. I’m sorry, but I just-” 

“Had a feeling I’d be here? Heh… You’re really something.” She smiled, as her sorrow slightly lifted with his company. “I’m sorry, I… I should know better than to try to hide from you.”

He grabbed a box of tissues from a table, sat down beside her, and handed them over gingerly, eager to help alleviate her sorrow in any way he could. That included turning on a lamp on the coffee table, since he knew from experience that sitting in the dark was not great for easing one’s suffering.

“Thanks…” She had to use a few before she felt clear enough to hold a conversation again. “That feels way better. Thank you.”

 “You’re welcome. I’m just glad there were already some out.”

“Yeah, they’ve… gotten a lot of use lately,” she chuckled, but her smile quickly gave way to a distraught look. 

“Uraraka?” 

“It’s just… It’s been three months since it happened, now. Three months of everything around me getting better, everyone moving on, everyone helping one another… And then there’s me, and I just… hoped I’d start to feel the same by now.” Her eyes welled up with more tears as her lips quivered. “I don’t… I don’t want to spoil anything, Deku. I…” 

He responded by gently resting his hand over hers, which was clutching her knee. “It’s okay. You’re not ruining anything, trust me. I’m here.” 

She choked up and turned towards him, meeting his tender gaze with watery eyes. “I just… really hoped that what you and everyone else said last time would’ve stuck, y’know? It made me feel better for a while, but lately it’s all just come right back. And… deep down, I’m still not convinced anything I said to you was wrong... I can’t go a single night without everything just replaying in my head, over and over and…” 

He handed her another tissue which she accepted without hesitation. He tightened his grip on her hand ever so slightly, quietly helping her to continue.

“I don’t know. I was just hoping it would've kept getting easier after that, but… It just hasn’t. Going home worked for a little while, but even that didn’t last long.” 

“Are you sure you’re ready to stay here again? You could always go back to staying home, there’s no pressure to be here for our sake.” He said with a reassuring look.

“No, no. It’s none of your fault, I promise. I… missed staying here. Once I realized I was going to feel like this no matter where I stayed, I figured I’d much rather be here. With you… and everyone else. It was nice being home, but I’d just rather be here.”

He was really happy to hear that. While he understood her choice to stay home was in her best interest, he still couldn’t help but feel a bit sad when she left. Hearing that it didn’t even bring her any lasting relief tore his heart.

“Well, for what it’s worth… I’m glad you decided to come back. I missed you.”

She chuckled at how stiff he got with that last part, and managed to cover her even further flushed cheeks by wiping away the last of her tears.

“Well, I'm glad I was missed. And… I’d be lying, if I said I didn’t miss y-”

*Creak…*

Both shot up in attention to the noise that came directly from the hall that led upstairs. It was brief, but there was no doubt that someone was spying. To Izuku, another interruption was the worst thing that could happen. 

“Hey, could we go somewhere else?” He said, with a blatantly obvious look of worry. 

This question took her by surprise. She honestly hadn’t counted on their conversation lasting much longer, figuring it’d be cut short just like last time. 

“I-I mean, we don’t have to! I just didn’t know if you’d like to keep talking, and-”

“Sure.” She said with a smile, melting away any lingering doubt he had in his heart. “It’d be nice to get a chance for it to just be us again. Plus, I wouldn’t want to disturb anyone else. Where did you have in mind?”

While he did have a place in mind, it would take more than just a walk to reach it. He considered some other options. 

“Maybe the roof? No, it doesn't feel right. Plus, there’d still be a chance for someone to stumble on us. Maybe one of our rooms?” 

A white hot flash of embarrassment snuffed that one out quickly. 

“Hmm… nothing else really feels right, does it? But how will we get there? I don’t think a walk that long is really appropriate… But maybe if we?”

“Deku?” 

“O-Oh! Right, sorry. But I actually think I know a place. Are you up for going out?” 

“Sure. A little walk actually sounds like just what I need. Just need to get my shoes on and I’m ready when you are.” 

“Let me go grab a few things from my room real quick and I’ll meet you outside, alright?” 

“A few things?” she said with a chuckle. “Deku, we’re going for a walk, I don’t think we need to be THAT prepared.”

“Just trust me, It’ll be worth it. Ok?” 

“Hmm… okay then! I’ll meet you outside when you’re ready.”

“I’ll be right there, give me 5 minutes!” 

He immediately headed in the direction of the stairs and climbed up to his dorm. All the while, he kept his eyes and ears peeled for any signs of someone else being awake. Despite his best efforts, he noticed no signs of any eavesdroppers.

“Still not risking it.”

Outside, Ochako patiently waited for her guide to finish collecting his mystery items. 

“What could he possibly need for a walk? Maybe he just went to get his shoes or something? As cool as limited edition All Might slippers are, they aren't exactly for walking outside.” 

She looked down at herself and was thankful she was already wearing lounge wear with a pair of sneakers, suitable enough for a short walk late at night. The air was calm and just the right temperature for it.

“Sorry about the wait. I’m all set!” On top of putting on shoes more appropriate for the outdoors, he had a full duffel bag in his hand.

“Wow!" she said. "You really brought a whole bag!” She couldn't help but break out into a fit of laughter the moment she saw it. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh! But just where are we going, Deku?”

“Uh, let’s see…” 

He scanned his surroundings while mumbling a mixture of calculations and topography to himself. It wasn’t long before he had figured out what he was looking for and pointed in a direction towards the horizon. 

“It’s about 30 kilometers that way.” 

“Huh?” She could only stare at him in disbelief. “Deku… that’s a bit more than just a walk.” 

“Haha, yeah, I know. But I have an idea! Here-” 

He threw his bag over his shoulder, letting it rest over his stomach. He then lowered himself into a kneeling position with his arms stretched out behind him, ready to start a piggyback. 

“This is a great chance to try something I’ve been thinking about! If you get on my back, you’ll be able to use your quirk to let me fly us there, just like I could before!” 

“W-Wait, seriously? Don’t you only have so much ember left? Is this really a good idea? Are you sure?” 

“I am. This means a lot more to me than a little bit of ember.” He said, unaware that his words nearly made her heart thump out of her chest. “Besides, with you helping me, this shouldn’t take much at all! Promise.” 

She hesitated, twisted in a conflict between being selfless and selfish. While she trusted him and truly did want to continue their talk alone, she didn’t like the idea of him using any of his fleeting power just for her sake. He still needs to make it last another 2 years before school ends, not to mention anything past that. Yet despite this, she wasn’t ready to let this second chance slip away. If they walked to wherever he was talking about, it could easily take hours, and they didn’t have that kind of time. But where did he have in mind? Why there? 

“Is there nowhere around here we could talk?” 

“This one’s special. A surprise!” 

He smiled with confidence, filling her with the urge to be a bit selfish for once. She was done holding back her curiosity and wasting time. 

“Alright, Deku. I trust you! Let’s do it!”

She jumped on his back, wrapped her arms around his chest, and let him hold her legs in place. Not having to worry about him seeing her, she reluctantly let her face light up like a light as she felt his toned muscles under his shirt. Unbeknownst to her, he was also grateful she couldn’t see his face, since his also brimmed with a deep crimson.

“U-Uh, you still need to use your-” 

“R-RIGHT! Here we go!!” 

With a flash of pink, Izuku felt himself become lighter than air. With physics no longer holding him back, every movement had become effortless. Relief of this level would allow extreme efficiency when utilizing his embers.

“All right, we’re good! Once we get close, I’ll have you drop your quirk for just a second to let us float back down. Ready?” 

“Got it! I’m ready!” 

Excited to finally get going, he aligned himself in the direction he had chosen and began to gather power in his legs. With a calculated leap, he launched into the air with 10% of his power, taking care to cause no damage to the pavement below. 

While this would be little more than a leisurely flight to him, Ochako couldn’t contain her overwhelming unease. She had never traveled at such speeds before, especially in such an unconventional way. She gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on him, keeping her eyes shut tight. 

“Hey! You okay back there?” 

The sheer force of wind proved to be louder than he expected. She clearly couldn’t hear him, and he realized he had to yell in order to even hear himself. She started letting out a constant groan that seeped with anxiety, clearly too scared to even open her eyes. 

“Oh no, okay, hold on, let me just-” 

She let out a terrified shriek as she felt him let go of one of her legs, and squeezed him even harder. He outstretched his arm and sent out a moderate shot of air with a flick, slowing their trajectory to a smooth glide. He quickly grabbed her leg again, pulling it close.

“How’s that? Better now?” 

She heard him that time, and realized the wind no longer nipped at her ears. She opened her eyes and was awestruck at the scene that awaited her. 

They were up quite high, high enough to soar past the tallest building with ease. The city whizzed by underneath with a dazzling display of lights and sound. Monotone yellows from highrise apartments mingled with rich reds that trailed behind cars, mixing into a vibrant dance of color. The sound of air kissing their ears clashed with city life below, creating a chaotic, albeit pleasing symphony. They had a clear view of the horizon from all sides, with Musutafu’s neighbors appearing as distant, twinkling giants. From up there, the stars in the sky had a much easier time bleeding through the city lights. It was filled with them, a boundless sea of shimmering starlight. And all of this was complimented by a full moon that bathed the earth and all who called her home in a rich moonlight.

Izuku rarely flew without a clear purpose or goal, so he never had a chance to truly take in the sights he had taken for granted. But on this night, he had every intention of taking it all in. 

“It’s amazing… I’ve always wondered what it'd be like to fly like you do!” she said.

“I’ve never really gotten to appreciate it before. I’m glad that I finally can!”

With their new steady rate of speed, Ochako started to find the flight much more enjoyable. With the spectacular sight, soothing wind, and the calming safety that came with him, she felt more at ease than she ever thought possible. She rested the side of her head on his back and continued to admire the show. 

“Thanks for showing me, Deku.”

He smirked, glad that she was also enjoying their time together. He was worried at first that this flight would put her off a bit, but was happy that she seemed to be warming up to it.

“Maybe we can do this again? Now that we know it works? I mean, if you don’t mind, of course.” 

“Let’s make sure we can land first, okay, hotshot?” She said, giggling at his slight overconfidence. 

“Oh, right! It should be coming up in just a moment! Get ready to cancel your quirk for just a second!” 

“Got it!” 

Now that they were getting closer, where he was taking her had become more and more apparent. She smiled, flattered at how much thought he had put into this, yet unable to shrug off a sliver of worry. 

“Oh god, here? Heh, he’s so over the top… A 30 kilometer flight just to talk on a cliff…” She tightened her grip on him just a bit, as another blush flashed across her face. “He’s such a sweetheart… But I really hope he brought more tissues in that bag of his.”

“Alright, go ahead and cancel your quirk, but just for a second! You can let your hands go, I’ve got you.” 

“A-Alright, cancelling!” 

She released her grip from around his chest and pressed her fingertips together. With another flash of pink, the duo began to return back to earth. She quickly re-engaged her quirk by wrapping around him again, while he established a safe landing speed with another flick towards the ground. Combined with one last flick to adjust their angle of descent, they managed a smooth landing exactly where he had hoped. He took a few reassuring steps before she cancelled her quirk completely.

“Wow, that was perfect! It worked even better than I’d hoped!” He kneeled down and let Ochako dismount from his back. 

“That started off pretty scary, but it was amazing once I got used to it!” 

Both laughed, fully satisfied with their teamwork. 

“Next time we do that, you can try it with a little more speed! I’ll be ready!” she said with overflowing excitement. 

“We’re going to have to fly back, so maybe then if you’re up for it?” 

“You’re on!” 

They shared another round of laughter, eager to start practicing their new method of flight. Once their glee dissipated, they walked around while taking note of their surroundings. To everyone else in the world, this would appear to be just a regular old cliff with an amazing view of the city. But to them? It had become something far more. 

“I had a feeling you’d take me here. This is the same spot we’ve shared before.” 

“Yeah, that’s right, haha…” he rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed by his own sentimentality. 

“It’s perfect. I can’t think of a better spot to talk on such a gorgeous night.”

Standing at the edge of the cliff, the city of Musutafu was splayed out before them in all its beauty. The lights of the city and the shimmer of stars clashed in a beautiful spectacle, all while the full moon illuminated it all in an atmospheric glow. 

Izuku paused for a moment, starstruck at the sight that was in front of him. While he was excited to see this view of the city again, he saw something different when he heard the word “gorgeous.” With the moon being completely full, every inch of the world had been bathed in stunning moonlight. Everything, including her. Even in just a sweater and sweatpants, she was as stunning as ever. From her cute rosy cheeks, to her flowing auburn hair. Her warm and bubbly personality practically shined through the night. And to him, her charm had eclipsed the night’s. 

“So, why the bag?” 

He snapped out of his entranced stupor, thankful that it was tougher to see any blush in moonlight.

“O-Oh, right! The bag! Here, let me get it ready.” 

He slung the bag over his shoulder and onto the ground. With a zip, he exposed its contents and neatly splayed them out on the ground for them to enjoy. A blanket combined with some pillows cushioned the hard ground, ready to make for a far more comfortable place to talk. 

“Oh! That actually makes a ton of sense now! That was actually really sweet of you, thank you.” She too was suddenly thankful for the sun’s absence. 

“Oh, it was nothing! Nothing at all. I just wanted to make it more comfortable for us since it was planned this time.” 

With a mutual smile, both took a seat next to one another atop their makeshift mat. It was indeed much better than the hard ground, and would make it far easier to have another difficult conversation. 

“I wanted to take you out here because I really couldn’t think of anywhere else. Nowhere else really felt right. I’m sorry I dragged you out here for such a dumb reason, but-” 

“No, you were right. I kinda had the same feeling about it, I think. Something about it just seems… special now. It was a great idea, Deku. I just wish it wasn’t so far now.” 

“Yeah, I know what you mean. I really didn’t think it through very far, though. Getting here, I mean. As soon as I heard someone else moving around, I just knew I had to take you here, and… while I love the others, I just really didn’t want to be interrupted this time.” 

“I didn’t either.” 

He looked at her, surprised that his selfishness was reciprocated. 

“While I’m grateful everyone followed you to check on me," she continued, "I also felt something private was taken too. At first I didn’t even want to be seen by you, let alone the others. It’s only because you had already helped me open up that I was able to be ok with it. But you… you’re really the only person I’d want to find me like that, honestly.” 

A grin crept across his face and his heart skipped a beat. Hearing that he was this special to her meant the world. 

“You don’t know how glad I am to hear that. Really.” 

She reciprocated with a smile, letting the mood continue to soften. 

“I meant to check on you again sooner. Much sooner. But with how busy our lives have gotten again with school, hero work, and everything else, I just never saw a moment.” 

“I did too, Deku. I’m sorry it took you finding me again, but I’m glad you did. So, where were we?”

“...We were talking about how you were struggling again.” 

“Right…” 

A long pause came between them. It was obvious to both that they were about to delve right back into pains and troubles; burdens that a part of them would rather keep bottled up. Hesitant to sacrifice the lighthearted mood they had just created, they used the moment to steel themselves for what awaited them next.

“You don’t have to say anything else if you really don’t want to, but, I’m here. And there’s nothing you could possibly ruin for me. Trust me,” he said.

“No, I know. And I want to, it’s just… tough to jump back into it. You’ve only found me when I was already drowning in it.”

“…I meant every word of what I said.” 

“What?”

“Back then, when we were here last. Every word I said to you, I meant. About how you always prioritize others, how you’ve always saved me, and how you’ve been my hero since the day I met you.”

She laughed through an embarrassed smirk, trying to hide her obvious fluster.

“And it’s because I know who you are that I know you did your absolute best.”

Every muscle in her body clenched.

“...That’s not true, though.”

“With what you’ve told me about everything that happened between you two, it is. And if anyone’s at fault for not figuring her out sooner, It’s me.” 

Disbelief had overwritten her uncertainty. “H-Huh? What makes you think that?” 

“She was in love with me, right? She said it herself. Since training camp?”

“Yeah… that’s right.” 

“All the signs were there for both of us. You weren’t the only one she reached out to, but you were the only one who reached back.”

She took a moment to reflect on his words. Despite knowing deep down that they held truth, she couldn’t help but fight them tooth and nail. The night had only just begun, yet she already failed to hold back her sorrow. 

“Even though she hurt so many people, all I could see was a little girl who was shut away from the whole world just because of how she was born… All she wanted was to live her life without being treated like a monster, to live and love as she wanted, but that’s all anyone ever saw when they looked at her… just some freak not worth helping…” She said, as her mind began to splinter with reopened wounds. 

“And that’s why she chose to save you. Because you saw her when no one else did.”

“N-No, It’s not just that…”

“You did the absolute best you could, which was more than anyone else.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping onto her lap. “H-How did I not see it sooner? It’s all because of my stupid choices that she-”

“It wasn’t your fault, Uraraka. You didn’t ask her to-” 

“No! No, she… there had to have been another way! I…I just wasn’t good enough…”

“That’s not true, you-”

“NO! You weren’t there! She-”

He shuddered as she struggled to speak through her cries, wavering in her fight against an impending flood of emotion.

“She sacrificed herself to save me! She-she’s dead because of me! Because I couldn’t save her sooner! Because I let myself get hurt! B-Because of my stupid choices… I failed her! I know there was a way to have gotten through to her sooner! There HAD to have been!”

Tears pooled in his own eyes as he put his hand over hers, desperate to grant her the same strength she so often gave him. She flinched at his gentle touch, yet found herself unable to even consider pulling away from him. 

“You did your best with what you were given. There’s nothing more you could ever ask of yourself.” 

“T-Then why…”

She choked on her tears, fighting with a punishing desire to reject his words. She looked directly into his eyes as tears rolled down her face.

“Why do I feel so guilty?!” 

He tightened his grip on her hand, begging to take on all of her suffering and woe. His heart writhed in agony at the sight of her in such despair. “...Because you’re a hero, and because you survived.”

She used her free hand in a vain attempt to clear her tears away. In response, he reached into his bag and brought out a new box of tissues. She plucked one and continued trying to regain her composure. 

“...Sometimes, I wonder if I was right to have left you and Froppy alone with her.” 

“D-Deku… we both know you were needed somewhere else.” 

“I know, but still. I ask myself all the time, could I have made it work? Could I have apprehended her quick enough, preventing you from almost dying, while still making it to them in time? I know the answer is probably not, but still… What if?”

“Deku…” 

“Once I found out how you nearly died, that question was the only thing I could think about for days. I still think about it a lot, and… I know exactly what you’re going through. All of the questions, the self doubt, the ‘what if’s’ and the guilt… all of it.” 

Her eyes widened in mortified realization. 

“...Do you have nightmares every night too?” 

“...Every night.” 

“When you close your eyes… Do you see him?” 

“Every time.” 

Hearing his answer, her expression erupted with mortified guilt, ushering another torrent of tears with it. 

“I-I’m sorry! I should have asked you sooner!” 

“W-What? Asked what sooner?”

“You and Shigaraki! I told you about what happened between me and Himiko, but I never asked what happened between you two! I never stopped to consider what you’ve been going through! I’ve been so selfish with my own pain that I never-” 

“No, stop, you-” 

“No! It’s true! All that talk about who would save you when you needed saving! About reaching out! H-How could I say that when I let you struggle with your suffering all by yourself after you helped me with mine? I’m so terrible! I-” 

Her crying only intensified. She pulled her hand from his to better control the tears pouring down her face, completely forgetting about the tissues. 

“No, Uraraka, please don’t, I-” 

“I-I’m so sorry! We’ve been so b-busy, but I should have found the time! You even told me you were struggling with the same feelings before!” 

“Please! It’s okay! You didn’t do anything wrong, so please-” 

Her cries turned to uncontrollable sobs, which brought him back to tears too. It was clear there wouldn’t be any easy way to calm her down. Her sobs were coming straight from the heart, a heart that was breaking from an overwhelming sense of guilt. Between Toga and now him, it was simply too much to bear. 

Unsure of what to do, Izuku did the only thing he could think of. He reached out for her hand and gently took it back. 

“Do you remember when we talked here for the first time? When I said I saw Shigaraki as a crying boy?”

After a moment, she managed to fight through her tremors to manage a response. She nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks.

“Turns out I was right. Have you watched any of our fight?” 

“Mhmm…” She sniffled, managing to slow her sobs enough to manage a shaky composure. “I… I didn’t want to at first, but it was really hard to avoid for long. T-the entire world had it on repeat for weeks.” 

“How much of it did you see?” 

“M-Most of it, I think…” 

“Do you remember seeing the last hit? Right before All for One took over, I mean.” 

“I… think so? The one where you… w-where you both ‘froze’ or something?” 

“Yeah, that’s it. That was the moment that I gave One for All away.” 

Her tears lapsed for a moment as she stared wide into his eyes, stunned at the revelation. The entire world believed One for All was stolen or lost.  

“G-Gave it away? It wasn’t taken?” 

“No, I chose to pass it on to him. It was the only option we had left.” He squeezed her hand a bit tighter, pleading for her strength to continue on. “There was no way I could beat him with force alone, and a battle of attrition was impossible because of his regeneration. So the only option we had left was to use One for All itself as a weapon. When I passed it on to him, they weakened him from the inside. And because of that, I was…” 

He swallowed hard, as trying to say it out loud made him realize how completely insane it sounded. But with an affirming look, she quietly assured him that he would be believed without a doubt. He cleared his throat and continued.

“His mind broke, and I got to experience his memories.” 

“You… went inside of his mind?” 

“Yeah. That’s the best way of describing it. I even got to meet him.” 

“Meet who?” 

“Tenko. Who Shigaraki was meant to be. The crying boy that I saw before. I… got to meet him.” 

Her mouth opened, making her disbelief blatant. She could see how hard this was for him to talk about, as he was clearly on the brink of something deeply personal. She forced her mouth closed and gingerly squeezed his hand tighter. 

“What did you see?” 

“...Everything. I got to experience exactly what happened to him that made him what he was. And I wasn’t just watching, I was there. I could feel, interact, everything.” 

His eyes flinched at the twisting storm of recollection that ravaged his mind, but with the strength she had lent him, he finally found the courage to challenge it. 

“He wanted to be a hero, just like I did. But his dad hated heroes, because the seventh abandoned him when he was young to do what she needed to do. And because he hated heroes, he hated his son. He hated how he’d see her in him. So whenever he got excited about heroes, or even talked about heroes… his dad would beat him.” 

She tensed up. She figured whatever turned Shigaraki into the monster he was must’ve been horrible, but if this was just the beginning, she could only imagine where this was going.

“I don’t know how long that went on for, but… that’s how it started. After I found a way to stop his father, that memory crumbled away, and then I-”  He choked up. 

“...And then I saw the moment decay manifested. He was no more than 5, and… he was holding his dog, and the poor thing just… fell apart. It fell apart into a pile of blood and he just panicked. He was so scared he couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t talk, he couldn’t do anything but choke on his own fear…” 

He felt his composure crack as control over his tears began to falter. With this new chip in his defenses, the floodgates within his heart screamed to be opened. 

“Then a little girl came out of the house, and I could see what was about to happen. I knew what was about to happen. He… he killed his entire family, Uraraka… Because he couldn’t control it… The face he made…”

She failed to hide her horror. While she had heard about Shigaraki’s story on the news, it was entirely different to actually hear Izuku’s mortified first hand recollection of it. 

“But I got in his way before he grabbed her. We locked hands and the decay just started eating my arms… but no matter how bad it hurt, I kept holding on. With every second, I could feel his hatred melting away more and more until… I got through.” A smile found its way to his face. One of relief, a brief glimmer of hope. 

“I got through to him. I could see him. The real Tenko. Even after everything he had been through, he was still there just like I thought. Broken, but there. Even as a villain, he was concerned about his friends… he wanted to be their hero! But before I could try to bring him back with me… then…!” 

His smile vanished and his voice crumpled. His entire body was consumed by tremors as an immense buildup of stress boiled over from within his heart. The floodgates that held back everything he bottled up slammed open at last, paving the way for a flood of raw emotion.

“HE came back! It was all HIM!”

He gritted his teeth as anger mixed with sorrow. He squeezed her hand tighter still, not noticing that she started to fall back into crying herself. This was a side to Izuku Midoriya that she had never seen before, and the sight of it brought unendurable heartache. 

“Tenko’s birth was planned! All for One convinced his parents to have him! He stole his quirk shortly after he was born! He convinced his dad to hate heroes! To hate his mother for what she did! He gave him decay and ensured he’d kill his own family! Ensured he’d become a murderer! All of it just to make him the perfect villain! The perfect ‘vessel!’ And then… he…” 

His eyes pulled shut in a desperate attempt to control the never-ending torrent of tears. His anger subsided as Tenko reclaimed his focus, giving way to crippling grief.

“All for One ate his soul… ejected me from his mind… and then I was forced to kill him.” 

Her heart ripped itself apart as she felt him fighting for each and every breath needed to continue.

“I destroyed any trace of his existence… destroyed any chance he had left! Any hope of changing, any hope of answering for his crimes, any hope of reclaiming what remained of his life, gone! Because of me! Because of HIM!”

Her tears matched his and flowed with overwhelming speed, desperate in her desire to comfort him, to take all of his pain away. The compulsion to let everything he’s bottled up spill out was all that held her back.

“And this guilt is just eating me alive! H-How can I mourn Tenko Shimura when Tomura Shigaraki killed so many people?! How can I feel guilty when the families of his victims are going to suffer for the rest of their lives?!”

His voice broke, struggling to bear the weight of words any longer. Each and every utterance now seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, requiring a war won against his own despair. 

“You… and Kacchan… you almost died because I wasn’t good enough… a-and even after all of that, I-I failed him… I had to kill him! All because I wasn’t good enough! I… I…!” His voice disappeared into a fit of crippling sobs, sinking into himself as he recoiled with each breath lost to his cries.

Unable to fight it any longer, she erased any empty space that separated them by pulling his quivering form towards her. Without so much as a thought, he immediately reciprocated, and desperately wrapped his arms around her. Their bodies met, his head resting aside hers as she nested in the crook of his neck. The rhythm of their sobs synchronized, a heartbreaking duet to a trauma only they understood. In that tight, seated embrace, tears flowed freely, dampening both fabric and skin, with each tear marking a burden being shared. 

“I-I’m so sorry, Izuku… I had no idea you were holding all of this in! I’m so, so sorry f-for not finding you sooner!” 

“No… I c-could have too…” 

“You a-already did! It should’ve b-been my turn!” 

The ability to bear the weight of words had worn out. They desperately clung to each other, relying on each other's strength to anchor them through this violent storm. While they basked in each other's anguish, both made a silent promise through their actions. To each other, this was a promise that no matter what came upon them, no matter what storm would come to them, they would weather it together. Their wails echoed through the night with harmonious sorrow. They did not care if the entire city below could hear, only that they could sing together to be heard at all. 

After what felt like hours, their torrent of tears had at last slowed to a trickle, granting easy breaths at last. Their focus had slowly evolved from letting all of their shared sorrows out, to simply enjoying each other's comforting warmth. Though tears still lingered, vibrant and loving smiles had found them in the dark. 

The pair slowly withdrew their arms from one another, much to each other's secret hesitation. Izuku reached for the box of tissues and shared them with her. She gladly accepted, allowing them to finally pick up the pieces they shed.

“It’s… just like you told me, Deku. None of it could have been helped. You did the best with what you had.”

“But-” 

“You’re a hero. And so am I, and… I feel like this guilt will always stick with us.” 

He let his gaze falter, making his disappointment clear. Even as amazing as she was, it seemed not even she could grant him the magical answer he naively wished for.

"...But that doesn’t mean we have to carry them alone.” 

The pull of her determination was irresistible. He returned her gaze, allowing her guiding light to shine on what remained of his tempest of doubt.

“Both of the people we tried to save… did unforgivable things." She said. "Nothing could ever change that. But both of us know they were just as human as anyone, people who were failed by the ones who were supposed to protect them most. So even though things ended the way they did… we should admit that we did our best. Because I know you did, and you know I did. So maybe… we can help each other believe we did too?” 

With a hand that pierced the night, she reached for him, taking his hand with a feather-light touch, providing a silent promise of assurance.  

“Holding a hand can be enough to soothe the pain, right?” Her gentle, soothing grasp seized the vortex that gnawed at his mind. “Even though we failed to save them… we’ll carry the memory of who they really were. Together.”

In that moment, Izuku could feel the violent tempest in his mind come undone. While it may never fade completely, and wouldn’t stay calm forever, a beaming ray of sunlight had forced it to sleep. Despite being blinded by her radiance, he couldn’t pry his gaze from his guiding light, even if he had wanted to. 

“You… you’re right. Thank you, and… I’ll always be right there for you, too, Uraraka. Whenever you need me, whatever for, no matter what. We’re in this together.”

Her heart soared, beating like a drum that had finally seen the end of a battle long fought. She felt the vines that choked the happiness from her life finally begin to recede. While they may never wither away, and may even creep back some days, a shining beacon of hope had at last cut them down. And she knew, in her heart of hearts, that it would never stray far.

“And here I was thinking I took you here to help you, when you’re the one who’s done all the saving tonight.”

“What? Come on, we both know that’s not true, Deku… Thank you for sharing your burden with me. Just knowing that you’ll always be right there with me through this, believing in me, cheering me on as I do my best, it helps more than you could know. It means the world to me. You’re the only one who can really understand me now, I bet. Though, I think that’s been the case for a while.”

“It’s nothing! Really, but… that makes me really happy. And… I feel the exact same way.” 

“...Because we’re both weird.” 

Both giggled at the callback, which proved a hopeful change of pace for the rest of the night. With as much crying as they had done, they were glad to get a break for a while. 

“We’ve… Been through a lot, huh?” she said. 

“Yeah, that’s one way to put it. But it's okay, because just like I said, I’ll always find time for my hero.”

As he finished those words while staring into her stupefied eyes, a beet-red burn erupted across her face. Overwhelmed by the sudden rush of fluster, she shot up from her seat like a rocket. 

“L-Let’s make this our spot, then! Whenever we need to get something out, or whenever we need to tackle something head-on together, let’s remember it. One we can always come back to!”

He looked up at her with eyes twinkling with pure admiration. He smiled, and stood up to meet her. 

“Sounds perfect. Though, this spot was already pretty special to me. Heh…” He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment while a deepening crimson red blush found home on both faces.

Surprisingly determined despite her lighting up like a flare, she held her hand out to invite his.

“Let’s promise! Going forward, no matter what happens, no matter where our lives take us, we'll always be there for each other!”

Overjoyed by her words, his smile widened even more. He outstretched his hand until it clasped around hers, an eternal confirmation of their promise. Both pairs of eyes shimmered with a determination to stick together, no matter what came next.

“I promise!” 

Both allowed their clasp to become a sweet, unwitting hold as they had become unable to pull their gaze from each other. The realization of how long they had stayed connected did not help their shared blush, but it did remind them to come apart. 

“S-So! Uh, should we… head back?” he said. 

She checked her phone and realized that they had not actually been here as long as she had thought. The night was still young, and she knew it would be another while until they could get a chance of talking like this again. 

“Actually, why don’t we keep talking? About other stuff, I mean! Don’t know how long it’ll be before we can talk like this again, y’know?” 

“That is true….”

He noticed the moon hadn’t moved nearly as much as he thought it would’ve by then. It feels like they’ve been sitting there for hours, but it couldn't have been more than one.

“I’d love to,” he said. 

With a shared smile, the pair retook their seats to begin a conversation anew, sinking into the cushions he had brought despite them being damp with tears. A refreshing breeze blessed their extended stay, further assuring that lingering a little longer wouldn’t hurt. 

“Besides, I’ve been meaning to ask you a few things. Like what are you planning on doing from here on out? I mean, with One for All gone, that is.”

He sat quietly for a moment to collect his thoughts. This was a question that he himself had been racking his brain over ever since he knew he’d be quirkless again. While he believed he had an answer, he could feel the winds of change still nipped at his back.

“Oh, I’m sorry, was that too much?” she said, clearly worried she had overstepped.

“No no, I’m just… thinking about it. I don’t have any plans of dropping out or anything. And I don’t plan to ever quit training, either. But being a pro?” He glanced down at his scar-torn hands, permanent reminders of a fleeting dream now gone. 

“I don’t know." He continued. "As much as I’d like to believe it’s possible to be a pro without a quirk, I just… don’t see it happening. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never stop doing my best even after the embers burn up! …But a pro? Honestly?" He stroked his wrist with his thumb, taking in each and every defacement and what it cost to earn them. 

“After the last year, I’ve gotten to see firsthand what it takes to be one, and… As much as it hurts to admit it, I… I think that dream’s gone.”

Ochako felt her smile drop as she heard the life leave his voice. She knew being just like All Might was his lifelong dream, and it tortured her to realize that it had been ripped away from him. It wasn’t just One for All he sacrificed, but his dreams as well. The thought alone nearly brought her back to tears.

Much to his horror, he quickly noticed his mistake. “B-But that doesn’t mean I can’t keep being a hero! Who knows how long the embers will last, anyway? And even without One for All, I’m still pretty strong! Plus, with how technology is progressing, who knows what kind of support items I’ll have by the time we graduate? And, well, besides… I’ve actually been thinking about something else.” 

Her demeanor perked up as curiosity overpowered her concern. “Really? Like what?” 

“Well, I, Uh… I’ve actually been thinking about… teaching. At U.A, if I could.” 

She couldn’t help but smirk as an image of “Mr. Midoriya” danced across her mind, finding herself especially smitten by the formal wear.

“Mr. Midoriya, huh? I can see it! It absolutely fits you, but what got you thinking about it?” 

“Well, as you know… I’ve always loved quirks. And I’ve always loved studying them and coming up with all kinds of ways they could be used! And there are so many amazing quirks out there, but there’s also a lot of unconventional quirks… as we both know. So… I just feel like I could do a lot of good by helping out the next generation with theirs, and I think I would love it just as much as being a hero.” 

He twiddled his thumbs together, clearly embarrassed to share his newfound ambition. Unbeknownst to him, his prospect struck a chord deep within Ochako’s heart. 

“It’s not just that, either," he said. "One for All was a power that depended on being passed down from generation to generation, but I’m the first user to have nothing to give. But if I could pass on my knowledge and experience, I'd still be passing it down in a way. Right?” 

“I think it’s perfect for you, Deku. Being both the world’s greatest hero and the world’s greatest teacher is something I could absolutely see you doing! Those kids don’t know how good they’ll have it! I’ll be there to cheer you on!”

Even in his embarrassment, he couldn’t help but smile along with her contagious optimism. “Well? What about you? What are you going to do after we graduate?” 

“Oh, me? Well…” 

She felt her cheeks flush, not realizing he would naturally ask her to reciprocate an answer. As she delved deeper into her thoughts, she donned a more serious tone, clearly taking her answer very seriously. 

“...I’ve had a dream of my own for a little while, one that actually mirrors yours a bit. I got the idea shortly after we started school again.” 

 He listened intently, watching as she began to tap her fingertips together to maintain her focus. 

“I haven’t shared this with anyone else, so uh, it’s a little embarrassing, but… I think I want to start some kind of a quirk program. Like therapy? Some way to reach out to kids with unconventional quirks before they have a chance to…” Her voice faltered for a moment, but she caught herself quickly, refusing to let herself waiver before her newfound dream was shared. 

“I want to help build a world that would’ve helped people like Himiko and Tenko before they ever became villains. I want to be the hand that reaches out to the kid who feels obligated to separate themselves from others! A world that helps the ones who need it most before it’s too late. A world that shines brighter than ever, filled with all of their happy faces. That’s what I want.”

The fire in her eyes was enthralling, and he found himself completely infatuated by her fiery ambition. While he expected something akin to opening her own agency, he had a hunch she'd blow him away with something incredible.

“That's absolutely amazing! What an incredible idea!” He said, unable to contain his awestruck amazement.

He caused a wave of embarrassment to wash over her, overwhelming her with such loud praise.

“That’ll be revolutionary! I can see it helping thousands of kids who struggle with difficult quirks and societal pressure! It’s-” He caught himself, realizing how intense he had become. “Hah, sorry. It’s just- It’s incredible, and so inspiring, and so… you. I have no doubt that you’ll see it through and be the change you want to see! And, if you’d like… I’d love to help in any way that I could. If you ever wanted me to.” 

A smitten grin found its way to her face. She had already anticipated this response from him, but hearing it for herself meant the entire world to her. 

“I wouldn’t expect anything else from you, Deku. I was planning on asking for your help already! I can’t think of a better person to help shine a light on even the most unconventional of quirks.”

“Of course! I’d be honored to be a part of something so incredible.” 

“As long as you don’t mutter like a madman in front of the kids!” 

She let out a hearty laugh at her own joke, which was followed by an embarrassed chuckle from him. From the sound of his laugh, she could tell that she might’ve hit something a little too close to home. 

“Hahah, yeah, I’m sorry. I know it creeps people out..." he said. "I still remember how it would always freak you out especially! I’ve gotten better at controlling it, but it just slips out sometimes. I’ll do my best!” 

He tried to keep his insecurity hidden with another shaky laugh, but she saw right through the facade. “Oh Deku, I was joking! I didn’t think it was-  Uh, well actually, if we’re being honest…” 

He braced himself for the worst. 

“I did find it a little bit creepy at first, when we were still getting to know each other. Some of those faces you made didn’t help!” 

“She has a point there.” 

“But… the more I got to know you, and the more I realized your mutterings are just part of who you are, I actually started to find it really endearing! So while everyone else might’ve thought it was a little off putting still, I’d only think ‘Oh, there he goes again.’ Y’know? And you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t do it! So you don’t have to ‘control’ it around me, okay? But you miiight want to work on some of the faces you make though!” 

To her, she was glad to be able to make that clear. But for him, this healed a part of himself he didn’t even know was hurt. He couldn’t help but put on a cheerful smile, one that mirrored his innermost warmth. 

“Thank you. That… actually means a lot to me… Heh, I guess you’re the only one who really understands me, huh?” 

“I like to believe so. Well… maybe except for your mom.” She said, causing both to burst into a fit of laughter.

“Hey, speaking of parents, how have yours been? I hope the reconstruction efforts haven’t been running them down too bad.” 

“They’re actually doing pretty good! This is the first time in a while that they’ve actually had a lot of good work coming in, and since Japan’s getting so much help from all over the world, they’re not working themselves ragged either. Things are finally looking up for Ground-Level Construction!” 

“I’m glad to hear they’re doing good! But if I were you, I’d be telling your dad to change the name.” 

“Oh yeah? And why’s that?” 

“Well, seeing as his daughter’s going to be a top hero before long, it seems like a good way to get in on it early. Something like 'Zero Gravity Contracting!' Or maybe 'Float & Fix!' or something?” 

She burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. “I’ve been trying to get him on board with that for years! But I’ll tell him Deku himself approves! He’s actually a pretty big fan of yours, now.”

“Of me??” 

“Yeah! And not just for the whole 'saving the world' thing, either. He credits you with giving the family business the biggest boost it’s ever gotten! For good reason, too.”

He stroked the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Oh! Well, I certainly- I mean, I definitely won’t take the credit for wrecking the city, but I, well, I’m… glad I could help?” 

Her joy proved irresistible as her laugh turned contagious, as he found himself joining her in yet another fit of laughter. 

For a while longer, they continued to chat about their lives. From family, to friends, to school work and beyond. All the while, the city below sparkled silently as it eavesdropped on their conversation. And in their eyes, it now shined just a bit brighter. 

“Well… we should probably head back now, huh?" she said. "I wish we could talked more, but we still have the world to wake up to in the morning.” 

“Right, But… I think we should do this again. I don’t know when, but-” 

“I’ll make the time. Promise.” 

They shared another smile, silently swearing to keep their promise close to their hearts.

“Right!” he said. 

Both rose from their cushioned seats, ready to begin their trip back home. They worked together to collect what he had brought for them, and prepared themselves for their flight back. 

“Hey, Deku?” 

“Hm? Yeah?” 

“I just want you to know something.”

He turned from his bag to meet her gaze properly, and when his eyes met hers, he felt his eyes glisten with a light of complete fixation. She wore a warm, bashful expression that captured his gaze like an irresistible lure.

“No matter what happens to you and your embers, or what you decide to do after we graduate… you will always be my greatest hero. And you’ll always have me in your corner, no matter what. Okay?” 

Despite thinking he was through with tears for the night, he was helpless as his eyes welled up once more. A smile surfaced from his deepest heart, inspiring her to smile right back. Without another word, they entered a deep, unshakable embrace. One last testament for the night, one that would force the world around them to acknowledge their bond. 

“You have no idea how much that means to me…” 

“I mean it, Deku. Always.” 

It wasn’t a quick separation, but a slow, reluctant unwinding. 

“S-So, you ready to go?” 

“Yeah! Yeah, when you’re ready.”

With one last mutual smile, they at last readied themselves to return back home. With his bag slung around his shoulder, his feet barely touching the ground, and his hero clung tight to his back, he was fully prepared for launch. 

“Hey… If I’m your hero, why isn’t your room filled with posters of me?” she said. 

“Haha! Uhmm…. Well, you see, uh… Hey, didn’t you say you wanted to go faster this time?”  

“I did, but don’t… H-HEY!” 

With a kick of his legs, he launched back towards U.A with 10% of his power. A shocked gasp filled his ears as his feet left the earth, one that filled him with a playful enjoyment rather than regret. While she was clearly not happy with the surprise takeoff, her annoyance quickly gave way to a familiar wonder. She could feel herself getting hooked on traveling like this. 

“I gotta get a jetpack or something.”

The city welcomed them home with another spectacular dance, confirming to him that the world was indeed brighter than ever before. From over his shoulder, he could catch glimpses of the lightshow below reflecting in her eyes, a sight filled with a radiant splendor he would never forget. 

With U.A in sight, both were ready to say goodnight to this wonderfully painful night.

Ochako collapsed onto her bed, relieved by the lack of biting wind in her ears. She had hoped the emotional turmoil of the night would mix with the adrenaline rush of flying, at last granting a quick end to her day.  But with her mind turning elsewhere, she was swept up by a cascade of memories of a different variety. 

She lay still, helpless to her mind replaying their time together like a projector. One by one, each and every moment ensured a permanent spot in her memory. 

“He’s been going through his own hell just across from mine, yet he’s still as amazing as ever.” 

Her mind honed in on Izuku Midoriya. His dreams, goals, passions, tendencies, accomplishments and ambitions. 

“He’s going to keep changing the world, quirk or not. He'll always be the greatest, and now the whole world finally sees it too.” 

She happily let her mind continue to flip like a picture book, reveling in each and every recollection. That was, until she came to the one it had up next. 

She had called him by his first name. 

She could only lay in baffled silence as a red hot glow painted across her face. She recalled the warmth of his embrace, and how tightly he had held her close to him. She could still see the sparkle in his eyes as they shared the skyline together, and his blinding smile when she expressed her secret love of his habit. With each and every memory, her blush grew deeper and deeper. But one in particular, she had subconsciously saved for last.

‘I’ll always be right there with you, too. Whenever you need me, whatever for, no matter what. We’re in this together.’

Finally remembering her ability to move, she tried to cope with the embarrassing thoughts by kicking her legs and letting out a muffled shout into her pillow. Next, she gave rolling around in her blankets a try. Finally, she downed an entire bottle of water to cool herself off. All of which proved completely ineffective. 

“Oh god, I said Izuku? How tight did I hug him?! How tight did he hug ME??? How does he make his smile so bright?? How did he say that with a completely straight face?!? He MUST have been blushing! Please?? How is he still so cute after crying??? What would she-”

An ice cold jolt froze her solid as her cheeks dropped all color. The giddy smile she wore had been replaced by a blank, empty expression.

“...What would she think?” 

Her mind wandered back to the thicket, which was goading her to walk back inside. She gingerly stroked the puncture marks on her right arm, which had only just begun to scar.

“You love him too. We both do. And knowing that… what do I do?”

She could feel thorns wrapping around her feet, pulling her closer. She saw right through them, into the twisting labyrinth of vines that she had only just been cut from. But just as it tried to swallow her whole, her beacon of hope had come for her again. 

‘That's absolutely amazing! What an incredible idea!’ 

The vines loosened. 

‘I have no doubt that you’ll see it through and be the change you want to see!’

Her heart pounded with resolve, granting her the strength to pull away. 

‘I’ll always be right there with you, too. Whenever you need me, whatever for, no matter what. We’re in this together.’

Her thorny shackles tore, proving no match for her burst of determination. Yet for the briefest of moments, through the furthest corner of the thicket, she spotted a single tree, sitting alone in an oasis of grass and sky. And from within that oasis, she could feel someone waiting patiently for her, calling her with a deafening silence. But before she could process the oddity that caught her eye, it was swallowed by a slithering mass of vines. 

They retreated from her mind, yet left behind a promise of their eventual return. But with her hope reclaimed, as her mind fell back to him, she knew she would be ready to face them again. 

“Just for a bit longer. I’ll keep it tucked away just for a bit longer… we’ll both achieve our goals. No matter what.” 

While most of her felt satisfied with this choice, a part of her stirred with disapproval. It nipped at her as if to nudge her towards reconsidering, but with her mind clearly made, it reluctantly gave way.

“But… I’m glad I listened when my heart told me to wait for him to find me.”

“Oh, actually… before I forget.” 

She rose from her bed, turned on her desklight, and grabbed a small paper bag that sat on top of her desk. From inside, she pulled out a special release ‘Deku’ keychain, first edition. It was modeled after his “Zeta” costume, and the chain was even made to resemble blackwhip. Since it was a special release to commemorate his victory, she had to wait in line for hours to get one. 

“Good thing it’s big enough for two.” 

She set it beside her costume locker key, assuring she wouldn’t forget it come morning. She would sneak it inside the compartment in her costume, keeping it close alongside the one he had gifted her. 

She let out a long and drawn out yawn, realizing just how tired she truly was. She laid back down in bed, more than ready to meet her exhaustion with a well deserved rest. 

‘Let’s promise! Going forward, no matter what happens, no matter where our lives take us, we'll always be there for each other!’

Her eyelids begged to be shut, eager to finally have some genuine rest.

“Tomorrow… I’ll talk to him again tomorrow…”

With the thought of their promise keeping her warm, she at last drifted off into a peaceful slumber. For the first time since the war, the thicket remained still. 

Izuku lay awake, unable to shake his mind from the night’s events. He thought sleep would be easy to find after the emotional rollercoaster he had just experienced. Despite his heavy eyelids and his muscles begging for another shot at sleep, his mind proved rebellious. The same memories continued to replay over and over, bringing him nothing but a deepening shade of red. 

How she called him by his first name, how she held him tight, and how he never wanted to let go of her. How she complimented him, how she had grown to admire his ramblings, and how she had promised to remain in his corner. How her smile gleamed brighter than the city that lay past them, and how she had shined brighter than any star in the sky. 

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t pull his thoughts away from how she had once again saved him. But what truly surprised him, was this strange feeling he had in his core. Where he had earlier felt a gut instinct to search for whoever needed him, some strange longing had taken its place. And while he couldn’t exactly understand what it was, he couldn’t shake that it was more familiar than he realized.

His gaze wandered from the ceiling to the top right corner of the wall that sat behind his desk. There he had hung a first edition, special release poster of The Anti-Gravity Hero: Uravity. It depicted her most modern costume, complete with all her support devices. He had to wait in line for hours to get one.

“She really is the greatest. I truly meant it, every word…  my greatest hero.”

He closed his eyes, finally ready to let sleep take him at last. And with the black void that came with such waiting, he had realized something. This is the longest he had gone without poisoning himself with his thoughts, and he knew it was all thanks to his guiding light. His greatest hero. 

‘Let’s promise! Going forward, no matter what happens, no matter where our lives take us, we'll always be there for each other!’

“Together. We’ll achieve our dreams together. No matter what.”

With the idea of their promise keeping him snug and cozy, he finally felt the call of a good night’s rest. 

“I’ll talk to her tomorrow again… for sure.”

With that last thought, Izuku Midoriya at last fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. For the first time since the war, the vortex remained silent. 

This night had been perfect, and it was all for them. 

BONUS

“Alright, Deku. I’ll meet you outside then.”

“I’ll be right there, give me 5 minutes!” 

They could hear Izuku walk past the storage room door, who thankfully did not think to investigate further. They listened as he scaled up the stairs, came back down, and jogged outside. 

“Dang itttttt! How did he know???” 

“You made a noise, Mina. You’ve never been very good with being quiet.” 

“Should we follow them?” 

“No. I’ll take this as a sign to mind my own business this time. Ribbit.”