I smiled softly at my friends and teachers, feeling the warmth of their familiar faces. The air around me, still thick with smoke and the remnants of the flames, seemed to crackle with energy as I spoke. "I'm back," I said, the words hanging in the air like a promise. I lowered my head to nuzzle Izuku, who stood near me, his green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. His expression was a mix of disbelief and relief. "It's good to be back," I murmured, my voice softer this time. "I'm sorry."

My eyes scanned the crowd that had gathered around me—teachers, students, all looking at me with a mixture of awe and concern. My gaze found Aizawa first, his usual stoic demeanor barely faltering as he stood among them. "Where's All Might?" I asked, feeling a sudden lump in my throat.

"In the infirmary," Aizawa replied coolly, his gaze unwavering. I met his eyes and saw the faintest flicker of something—perhaps sympathy, perhaps concern, but it was quickly masked behind his unflappable exterior.

"I see," I said, my voice low. I flexed my claws into the earth beneath me, feeling the cool sensation of the ground against my talons. A sigh slipped from my lips, heavy with the weight of all the unspoken words I had been carrying for so long. My wings flicked back, settling around me like a dark cloak, and I turned my eyes toward the sky for a moment, before looking back at the faces before me.

"I'm sorry about what happened to him," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't..." I trailed off, shaking my head in frustration as I closed my eyes. "I never meant for it to go this far. I never wanted this." I felt the sting of my own guilt, sharp and unforgiving, and the weight of it made my shoulders sag.

Aizawa's voice broke through the silence, his tone lighter than usual, though his eyes remained guarded. "Alright, all of you, go back to your classes," he said, his gaze shifting from the crowd to me. "I'll take Ms. Onyx to the teacher's lounge."

There was a murmur of acknowledgment from the students, some of them lingering for just a moment longer before they turned and made their way back toward the building. The weight of their stares was gone now, replaced by a sense of quiet relief that settled over the area. Izuku, still standing beside me, wiped away the tears that had begun to fall, his smile tentative but sincere.

"You really came back," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. I nodded, my wings fluttering slightly in the breeze. "I'll explain everything soon," I promised him, but for now, I just needed to breathe and collect myself before facing what was coming next.

I was taken aback as I stood there, the weight of my actions still heavy on my chest. Nezu, ever the composed figure, smiled at me, his paw closed around something unseen. It was as if, despite everything, he wasn't angry—maybe even understanding. "It's good to see you back, Onyx," he said, his voice calm and steady. I blinked, unsure if I had heard him right. "Really?" I asked, my voice wavering with uncertainty.

He nodded, his eyes softening with a touch of warmth. "Yeah, you're a good friend of ours, you know."

The words hit me like a soft breeze at first, too gentle to pierce through the storm inside me. But as they settled, I felt something in me twist painfully. I sighed, dipping my head, unable to meet their eyes. "I killed your pro hero teacher," I whispered, my voice barely a murmur, as if saying it aloud would make it too real, too much to bear.

Midnight stepped forward, her soft hands reaching up to cup my giant head. Her touch was gentle, almost motherly, and it comforted me in a way I wasn't prepared for. "We know you didn't do it on purpose," she said, her voice a soothing balm to my frazzled soul.

But the words didn't ease the turmoil inside me. I snarled, my lip curling as I shook her off, stepping back with a harshness I hadn't meant to show. The claws of my frustration dug into my horns, and I shook my head violently. "I still should have controlled it," I growled, my voice rough, edged with self-loathing. "I am Life; I have control over these kinds of things. Muerte was right—hanging with mortals just gets you into trouble."

The bitter taste of regret lingered on my tongue as I clawed at the spirals of my horns, the familiar feeling of frustration surging through me like an electric current. "Why did I have to meddle with my food?" I whispered to no one in particular, my eyes distant and glazed. The sharp edges of my guilt dug deeper into my chest, and it was all I could do to keep from crumbling under its weight.

The others stood in silence for a moment, letting the storm of my emotions pass over them. Nezu's smile was gone, replaced by a soft, knowing expression, as if he understood the complexity of my inner conflict. "You didn't ask for any of this," he said finally, his tone thoughtful. "But what you do now, Onyx... that's what matters."

I didn't know how to respond. All I could do was stare at the floor, lost in my thoughts, as the world around me felt heavier than it had ever been before.

I flicked my tail in agitation and turned to Recovery Girl, who had been silently observing the scene. "I'm going to see All Might. There's something I need to do," I said, my voice low but determined.

Recovery Girl nodded without hesitation, her small frame bustling past me, her movements quick despite her age. I gave the teachers a brief smile before darting out of the room, my wings brushing the walls as I maneuvered through the halls with precision. The air around me hummed with tension as I weaved between the students, all of them unaware of what I was about to do.

As I reached the infirmary, I slowed down, my senses alert. All Might's form lay still, his once imposing figure now reduced to a frail shell of itself. His face was gaunt, and the weight of his injury had hollowed him out in a way that was almost unrecognizable. I sniffed, my eyes narrowing. "This is him?" I asked quietly.

Recovery Girl nodded with a small sigh. "Yeah, this is his true form."

I took a deep breath, allowing the cool air to fill my lungs, then exhaled slowly. The sight of him like this—broken, vulnerable—gnawed at me. I couldn't stand to see him this way. With a soft step forward, I lowered my clawed hand to his chest, the same place my claws had once left their mark.

I hesitated for a brief moment before I began to hum—a soft, gentle sound that carried an undercurrent of power. The melody was slow at first, building gradually as my wings twitched, stirring the air around us. The sound, rich and resonant, seemed to draw something from within me. I felt the energy course through my veins, pushing outward.

As the hum intensified, golden light swirled from the tips of my claws, enveloping All Might's chest. The warmth of the light spread like wildfire, seeping into the very fibers of his being. It wasn't like Recovery Girl's healing touch; this was something more profound. It was life itself, moving through his veins, reinforcing his broken body. The light glowed brighter, pulsing with life and strength, knitting the damage together in ways no one had thought possible.

With each passing moment, the scars I had left on his body faded under the power of the light. The energy surrounding us seemed to hum in response, my wings fluttering behind me as I poured every ounce of energy I could spare into his recovery. It wasn't just healing—it was rejuvenation, a force that breathed new life into his heart.

Then, just as the light began to dim, the humming stopped. My wings folded back against my sides, and I staggered slightly. The exertion had taken its toll, and I could feel the weight of the power I had used pulling at me. But I didn't care. All that mattered was him.

The golden light faded completely, and I backed away, my head lowered as I felt a sharp pang of weakness in my chest. It wasn't easy to use that power, but I had to. I had to bring him back.

A few moments of silence passed before All Might's eyes flickered open. His pupils flashed with a brief light before focusing on me. His lips cracked into a small, strained smile. "Onyx..." he rasped, his voice rough from his coma.

I smiled in return, relief washing over me. "You're back," I said softly, dipping my head in a quiet gesture of respect. "I'm sorry it took so long."

His gaze softened, the weariness in his eyes slowly fading as his body began to regain its strength. "No... you did more than enough."

And in that moment, as I stood there, my heart filled with something I hadn't felt in so long: hope.