Keep Running! (Free Runner Part 2)

Let's go!

The walk back home was meant to be a simple one. Kaito and I were both exhausted but still buzzing from the workout. As we crossed through the familiar alleys leading back to our neighborhood, Kaito nudged me with his elbow.

"Alright, nerd," he said with a grin, "one last challenge for the day."

I raised an eyebrow at him, already sensing where this was going. "Seriously? After all that training, you still want more?"

He shrugged, that ever-present cocky smirk plastered on his face. "What can I say? I'm competitive. First one to the rooftops wins."

I sighed, feigning exasperation, but my legs were already moving. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And you're too slow!" he shot back, leaping for the nearest fire escape.

It wasn't long before we were back on the rooftops, racing each other like kids playing tag. The city sprawled out beneath us, the lights of the streets and buildings blending into a hazy glow. The air was crisp and cool, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only ones in the world.

We darted across gaps and scrambled over ledges, laughing and taunting each other the whole way. Kaito was faster on straightaways, but I had the edge when it came to agility.

"Catch me if you can!" I called, vaulting over a narrow beam.

"You wish!" Kaito yelled back, his footsteps pounding close behind me.

But just as we reached the next building, I heard it—the unmistakable sound of a hero's voice amplified through a megaphone.

"You two! Stop right there!"

Kaito groaned audibly. "Oh, come on! Not again!"

I glanced over my shoulder and spotted two heroes closing in. They were fast—probably patrol units who'd noticed our antics. "Guess they're not fans of rooftop running," I muttered.

"No time to stop!" Kaito said, pushing harder. "Let's lose 'em!"

What started as a friendly race quickly turned into a chase. Kaito and I weaved through the cityscape, our movements sharper and more frantic. I could hear the heroes shouting behind us, their footsteps echoing against the rooftops.

"Keep moving!" I called to Kaito, adrenaline surging through me.

"I know, I know!" he snapped, though I could hear the nervous edge in his voice.

We were almost clear—just one more jump to the next building and we'd be out of their line of sight. But then it happened.

As Kaito leaped for the ledge, his foot caught on a loose brick. His momentum carried him forward, but not far enough. He missed the edge by a fraction of an inch, his body slamming against the side of the building.

"Kaito!" I yelled, skidding to a halt.

He managed to grab onto the ledge with one hand, but his grip was slipping fast. His legs dangled helplessly over the side, and for the first time, I saw real fear in his eyes.

"Don't you dare let me fall, Deku!" he shouted, his voice trembling.

"I've got you!" I said, dropping to my knees and reaching down. My hand found his wrist, and I gripped it as tightly as I could. "Just hold on!"

But it wasn't that simple. His weight was pulling me forward, and the rough surface of the rooftop made it hard to brace myself. Every muscle in my body strained as I tried to pull him up.

"Kaito, you need to find something to grab onto!" I said, my voice shaking from the effort.

"There's nothing!" he snapped, his other hand flailing uselessly. "You're it, Izuku!"

The heroes were getting closer. I could hear their footsteps and their voices, but all my focus was on Kaito.

"You're not slipping," I said through gritted teeth. "I won't let you."

"You're quirkless, Deku! How do you plan to pull this off?" Kaito barked, though his usual bravado was gone.

I ignored him, planting my feet as firmly as I could. Slowly, I started to pull, inch by agonizing inch. My arms screamed in protest, my muscles burning like fire.

"You're heavier than you look," I grunted, trying to force some humor into the situation.

"Not the time for jokes!" Kaito growled.

Finally, just as my arms felt like they might give out, I managed to hoist him high enough for him to grab the ledge with his other hand. From there, it was easier. Together, we scrambled back onto the rooftop, collapsing in a heap of exhaustion.

For a moment, neither of us said anything. We just lay there, gasping for breath. The world around us felt distant, like it wasn't even real.

"You okay?" I finally asked, turning my head to look at him.

He nodded, his face pale but his smirk returning. "Told you not to let me fall, didn't I?"

I rolled my eyes, too tired to argue. "You're welcome."

"You saved my life, man," he said, his tone unusually serious. "Like, for real. I was two seconds away from falling, and you just... didn't let go."

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "I wasn't going to let you fall. You're my friend."

Kaito smiled, a rare, genuine smile. "Yeah, I guess I am."

"Thanks, Izuku," Kaito said as we parted ways. "Seriously."

I smiled. "Anytime."

Before we could catch our breath fully after everything, the heroes finally caught up. One of them, Hawks as luck want sit, landed gracefully on the rooftop, his arms crossed.

"Alright, you two," he said, his voice calm but firm. "That's enough of the rooftop antics for one night."

Kaito groaned, sitting up and rubbing his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. No parkour on rooftops. You gonna arrest us or something?"

Hawks raised an eyebrow. "Arrest you? No. But I am going to have a chat with your parents."

I felt my stomach drop at that. My mom would absolutely freak out if she found out about this.

"Look," Hawks continued, crouching down so he was at eye level with us. "I get it. You're kids, you're having fun, and honestly, you're pretty good at this whole rooftop thing. But it's dangerous, and you're making my job harder. Plus I did saw what happened."

"We weren't trying to cause trouble," I said quickly. "We just... got carried away."

Hawks sighed, his expression softening. "I believe you. But next time, keep it to ground level, alright? You don't want to end up falling—or worse."

Kaito and I exchanged a glance, both of us nodding. "Yeah," Kaito said. "We'll keep that in mind."