Ocean waves lapped gently against the golden sandy shore, its quiet roar resonating through the primrose grains that tumbled and swirled. It pounced like a predator, drowning them in the cobalt sea that captured the shimmering light of the setting sun. The delicate array of warm summery colours bled out into the coming night sky as though they too were running away from the darkness that threatened to swallow them whole.
Izuku welcomed the chilling rush of an evening breeze that swept through his green locks, knees sinking into the earthy ground beneath him. He gazed out with sad eyes, watching the shadows dance and flicker across the shore just as his once did with a man no longer left standing. Tears prickled his throat, stinging as though he'd drunk the salty water before him.
He turned his attention once again to the thick grey stone glaring back at him, hearing the echoing sounds of children from far off. His cue to hurry up. It was unfair to him however, because he wanted more time. More time to sit at the beach, a place that had been a home to him years back. A place he'd seek out in times of needed comfort. Now it was merely a ghosting graveyard. A shadow of what it once was.
"We did it," Izuku spoke, his voice low and trembling, addressing the stone as though it were a person. The person whose name was engraved upon its stubborn brick.
"We did it, All Might," he repeated, placing down with a bouquet of flowers the golden award the young hero had received earlier that day. A wavering smile reflected in the metal that caught the rosy hues of the sky.
He could still recall the events of this morning, the roar of cheers that filled the room when he was announced Japan's number one hero. If he was being honest, he never expected it, but accepted the award with a beaming smile and a heart full of joy, because his dream, their dream, was finally being accomplished.
The award he won, he did it for All Might, to make his idol proud. The greatest prize Izuku could ever receive was seeing the bright eyes of those he rescued, the greatest gratification after doing his job right.
Sat in the sea of flowers and wreaths set down by the whole of Japan, Izuku's seemed small and insignificant. The day of All Might's death – roughly two years ago – had been a shock to the whole world, let alone Izuku. but no-one was hurting more in self-blame than he. If he'd just been faster, stronger, braver, better, then maybe he could –
The young hero let out a sigh, feeling his phone buzz in his back pocket.
"Hey," he answered, raking a hand through his messy hair.
"Hey, Midoriya-chan," Asui greeted with a smile he could see. "We were meant to meet at the café fifteen minutes ago. Are you still coming?"
Shit! He'd been so focused on coming to visit All Might that he completely forgot. "Yeah, sorry, I just lost track of time. I'll be there in five."
He slipped the phone back in his pocket, hiding his face beneath his hood, so he wouldn't draw a crowd after him and headed to meet his friends. He used his quirk to boost his speed, getting across town in no time by travelling over the roofs of the city. He preferred it this way, able to see his home in a new light, watching the moving shadows of the buildings caked in magenta hues.
He came to a stop at the café he was supposed to be at. They didn't get much time off what with their job requiring them to work twenty four seven, so these moments were important for them. The only times they could act and live like regular people again.
"Sorry I'm late you guys," Midoriya apologised, shrugging out of his jacket as the door opened with a ting. Iida, Asui and Hagakure all turned with matching smiles and waved.
"It's fine. Is Ochaco not with you?"
"No, I thought she was already here. Let me give her a call."
Midoriya scrolled through his contacts whilst ordering just a simple cup of coffee, hunting for the brunette girl's name yet instead froze at another's. His breathing slowed as he glanced at the one name in particular, swallowed up by old memories.
"Why was the one who ended All Might?!"
"Don't lose again."
"I'm weak too you know."
Katsuki Bakugo.
The date in the corner showed him just how long ago it'd been since the last time he'd text him: exactly a year ago. Which meant he was due another message. Opening up their chat, he found himself skimming through old texts. Most – well all – from Izuku while Bakugo never said anything. Nor did he read them. But Midoriya expected that. It didn't stop him however from sending countless messages the day his once childhood friends (or rivals as Katsuki would prefer) disappeared from his life, and then one every year that same day.
Six years and still,
Nothing.
[Kacchan, hey, I know you won't reply to this but I was just seeing if you were okay? You didn't come to school today...or yesterday...or the day before and both our house arrest has ended so I was just...worried? Haha, pathetic, right? But it's the truth. So anyway um...I realise I wont get a response, so this message is kinda pointless really. But yeah...anyway hope you're okay!! (＾ω＾)]
sent six years ago
[Sorry to bug you again, but you...you've been off for two weeks now. I checked Recovery Girl's room but you weren't there. I also knocked on your dorm door too but heard nothing. I know I'm probably being stupid for acting concerned. Maybe you took a holiday, maybe something bad happened in your life, so maybe I shouldn't pry. Just at least speak to Kirishima or anyone for that matter if you can't to me.]
sent six years ago
[Where the hell are you? I saw the caretakers go into your room and when I walked by it was empty. So you must have left...did you transfer to a new school or something? Do you really hate me enough to leave UA? You couldn't have done, it was your dream, right?]
sent six years ago
[The teachers know something. I can tell. Every time I bring it up with Aizawa-sensei and All Might they change the subject and refuse to talk about you. They don't give me answers. I need answers Kacchan]
sent five years ago
[School's started again. I guess I realise by now you're not coming back Kacchan. There's a new kid in our class now that sits in front of me. They're super talented and really cool...but I'd rather be staring at the back of your head]
sent four years ago
[Kacchan, please talk to me]
sent three years ago
[Kacchan. Hey...]
sent two years ago
[Kacchan. Say something.]
sent a year ago
Kacchan,
Kacchan,
Kacchan.
[I miss you....]
sent now
Izuku scrubbed the back of his hand over tired eyes, drawing out a long and heavy sigh. He stared at the screen a little while longer, every last ounce of leftover hope pouring from him until he really decided his friend was never coming back. He raised the phone to his ear, to call Ochaco, almost forgetting to do so and when he glanced back up, he was met with equal expressions of sympathy.
"He's going to come back!" Izuku yelled, defiant. He didn't know how he knew, he could just feel it. Or perhaps that's what he chose to believe.
"Midoriya-kun," Iida sighed. "We all want for him to return, but listen it's been years now. The chances of that happening are very slim. You need to put the past behind you."
"I need some fresh air," the troubled boy snapped suddenly under his breath. He tossed the phone on the table as it rang and took off.
"What the hell is wrong with me," he sighed, grabbing at his hair in frustration. "He's gone, you're just too stupid to accept that. Six years, Izuku, just let it go."
But in all honesty he didn't want to. He felt that if he did it be like he gave up on trying to save him. He was a hero, so he couldn't let this slide. All Might once told him: "You can't save everybody." But Izuku could still try. Bakugo just up and left without an explanation. And that...that hurt. Bakugo had always been in his –
A scream. "Help! The city's in danger!"
The ground shuddered beneath his feet as he watched plumes of smoking reaching up to the sky with their misty fingertips. With a loud crack, a building up ahead wobbled, its rows upon rows of glass windows shattering each at a time as the stench of burning filled the air.
"All for One has returned!"
And suddenly Izuku was running, sprinting, in full costume toward the danger, the screaming, the inferno. He powered up his quirk to the highest it could possibly go, quickly moving the trapped and screaming civilians in need. Their faces were all full of terror, as the sound of the crazed villain's voice boomed over that of the city tearing to pieces.
"Bring me, your number one hero, your saviour!" He taunted, hidden amongst the shadows of fumes and smoulder. But it was him, Izuku could tell that much. How the other managed to break out of jail, he'll never know.
Squinting through the chaos, the green haired boy tried to locate the criminal, so he could hope to put a stop to all the madness created. Yet this being the most powerful villain Japan had ever faced, and one even All Might himself struggled against, Izuku felt his stomach churn. He was nowhere near close to All Might, even now. He had so much yet to learn but learning without the one person who could teach it to him was hard.
"All for One!" Midoriya yelled, his heart beating faster with every breath, but he couldn't afford to be scared in the current situation. "Stop hurting these people. I'm the one you're after, so come for me, instead. No-one else needs to get hurt."
"Ah, Deku. The hero this country absolutely loves and admires." The villain snarled. "It makes me sick."
Moving through the rubble and cascading brick, came an attack: a large burst of explosive flame. Izuku tried to dodge, but he knew that would only lead to further damage to the people. Activating one for all, letting the power surge through his veins, he drove a punch into the air that sent the fire stumbling backward and away, dissipating into the atmosphere. Then came another attack, this time bigger, this time from behind Midoriya. He had barely just enough time to react, puzzled and fearful as to how All for One had moved so fast.
Again and again, more attacks kept coming, too fast for Izuku to ever get close enough to land a solid hit to the guy, whilst he in return was being pummelled and bruised and scathed. He had had one too many meetings with the concrete rubble piled around them like a boxing ring, and his head was starting to feel fuzzy. Midoriya could only hope that his friends back at the café were tending to the injured and frightened civilians, but he also was becoming more and more desperate for help himself. He'd never faced anyone this powerful before, he'd never fought a villain such as this, and it scared him. It scared him that even though the country believes he's the number one hero, he still can't himself, and it was starting to show.
"My, my. What is this? They said you were supposed to be the best of the best. But this. Such feeble attempts, it must be so embarrassing. I pity you, you know. It was stupid of you to dream. To dream you could be just like All Might."
Something within Midoriya snapped at that. He didn't want to fall into such a trap All for One was surely luring him into. He didn't want to admit to his own inner demons just how far away he really was from All Might. How much he was lacking in terms of power, strength, bravery, everything. He was going to prove not only to himself, but to the world, the people he was fighting for, to the memory and shadow of his idol that he was worthy. He was good enough. He was reliable.
He hoped that somewhere, in a small town, a little kid would be watching Izuku and pointing with a smile, saying: "I want to be just like him one day!" That he could inspire even those who thought themselves the weakest in society were actually just as strong as everybody else.
Midoriya pushed himself up onto trembling knees, a warm blooming cut forming at his head, the blood flowing down his face like tears. No matter what, he'll stay standing. He promised he would. With a grunt, he powered up his quirk, sprinting toward his opponent at blinding speeds, ready to strike like a serpent, but it seemed All for One's taunts weren't just for fun. He had a plan.
Izuku let out a cry as the right side of his body was burnt, singed, his wrist grabbed in an iron lock, preventing him from moving for a few seconds. But a few seconds was all it took to finish him. His heart froze as he saw, through the dying trails of smoke someone running to his aid – a mess of ashy blonde hair. The last thing he ever saw before a machine was fired up and a blinding white light spread over Midoriya's vision. He screamed in pain, the bones in his arm shattering, as he crumbled to the ground like a broken toy.
The earthshattering bangs of explosions sounded, followed by the angry yelling of someone Izuku could almost recognise. Yet before he could place the voice, his mind went blank, his world turning dark and his eyes closed shut.