𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐢 『Bakugo Katsuki』

◆Chapter 128◇

Katsuki froze in his tracks, ignoring his mother's yells coming from behind him and Miyuki. Izuku turned and his face brightened when he saw his two closest friends standing there.

"Kacchan, Yuki-Chan?! I'm glad you guys are safe!" He said like his normal self.

Mitsuki and Masaru finally caught up with the both of them, panting. "I'm so sorry, All Might," said Mitsuki, "but these kids were pretty worried about you both. Sorry, Izuku-Kun!"

Miyuki paused for a moment when she heard a sharp intake of breath, the small smile gracing her lips fading when she glanced over her shoulder and saw her boyfriend's expression. It was filled with shock – a little remorse, too, that made her heart lurch slightly.

"The embers...?" Katsuki breathed, aghast. "Huh? So that means... you'll..." His face crumpled. "...be Quirkless...?"

"Yeah. But I was born without a Quirk to begin with," Izuku said, "so I'm really not sad. I transferred it of my own volition. I'm actually pretty happy I got to live this dream."

"Izuku..." Miyuki mumbled.

He didn't sound at all bothered by the fact, either, much less heartbroken. That was comforting to know; that at the very least, even though the thing he treasured most was gone, his will hadn't been moved at all. If anything he seemed to have an inner glow to him, but maybe that could've also been due to the hospital room's incredibly bright lighting.

Katsuki, on the other hand...

It was faint at first, but when the sniffling came, soft and barely detectable, Miyuki didn't need to turn around to know where it was coming from.

"Huuuh?" Came his cry of disbelief, voice thick with emotion.

Izuku's eyes bulged out of his head. "No way! You're crying?!"

"Huh? No... I... just..." he turned away as he rubbed his teary eyes. "Seriously... just how have I been treating you guys until now? I just thought... that we three... would keep competing... and stuff... for a while. Somehow... I dunno..."

Miyuki held her cheek, being mindful of her injuries. Her heart clenched as Katsuki's sniffles filled the silence momentarily.

"Stop! That's not like you!" Izuku said cheerfully. "My body is messed up, and my mental state is a bit off. But, hey! I still got the embers...!"

"So it's not all totally over just yet..." Miyuki added in, trying for a smile. "Things are just going to get a little different for a little while is all... w-with the embers and stuff, I mean...! A new normal."

"You got stronger," came All Might's voice, quiet and slightly hoarse. "All of you. You've changed a lot since the day I met you. Young Midoriya, that day... when you ran off, you became my greatest hero. But now, you're the one who makes people stand up again. That means you're the greatest hero to everyone else, too."

"A-All Might..." Izuku teared up.

"Young Sasaki, you... have always made me proud. From the day I met you, that shine in your eyes never lost hope. You became my steady, reliable anchor. Now you're the protector everyone can turn to in order to clear the way forward. An unwavering beacon of hope for each and every one of us. I wouldn't have been able to fight as long as I did without your mech-suit. It goes without saying you, too, are the greatest hero. Thank you."

For some reason, words failed her in that moment, throat clogging up with emotion and eyes misting over as All Might's words reached into her heart and reminded her of Nighteye's last words to her.

"And young Bakugo... it's thanks to you that I got the opportunity to tell you three... all of this. You are also the greatest hero. Thank you so much."