Izuku watched the clean-up with tired eyes as he lay against a pile of rubble with his right arm in a makeshift sling. He needed to rest, but he couldn't. Not with this empty feeling inside. It shouldn't feel that way. If anything, it should feel back to normal. Having this world's broken version of One For All inside mixing with his, it felt foreign. Invasive almost. But during the battle against All For One, it suddenly felt right. And now that it was gone, he felt like there was a hole where it should be.

He clenched his left hand and flexed his fingers. Stray sparks of turquoise energy dance across his palm before dying out. Bioelectricity had been the Quirk of the Second User of this world, her name being Seitai. Evolving from a minor emitter Quirk that involved charging up the bioelectricity in your body and discharging small amounts of it to the powerful Quirk it had been in battle, just like Gearshift was. From what the other Izuku had told him, it could now draw upon the Bioelectricity in others as well as the residual energy given off of One For All, which was normally harmless until harvested by Bioelectricity. It allowed for massive energy discharges as well as powering up his speed and strength. It was a beautiful Quirk and Izuku would give anything to study it more.

Well, I suppose I'll just have to take a look at his notebooks before I leave, Izuku thought as he watched another dead villain get added to the growing pile. It's bound to be in one of them.

Todoroki came beside him, sliding down the flat rock into a sitting position. Izuku glanced at him, unable to read his expression. "Are you... alright?"

Todoroki gave a silent shrug. Izuku pursed his lips, looking back at the pile of bodies. He wondered if Cryoheart's corpse had already been added.

"She hasn't," Todoroki said, having seen his gaze wander. "I... I'm going to take her home. Her home, where she lived with her parents. Back when she was... wasn't Cryoheart." He stared at the bodies along with Izuku before dropping his head. "I don't know if I did the right thing."

"I... I don't know if I did either. But this-" he gazed around the ruined battlefield. "This is war. And war comes with a price. We're just going to have to live with it."

"Well said, Mumbles."

Both boys looked to their right to see Tokage walking over. She crossed her arms as she stared down at the pair of them. "Up and at 'em. We need to get moving. There's people back at home waiting to hear the good news."

Todoroki nodded and stood, helping Izuku up. As they went to move, Tokage held Izuku back. Motioning for Todoroki to continue on, Izuku studied Tokage's expression. "I'm-"

"Don't say sorry, gods that would be so predictable of you," Tokage groaned, rolling her eyes. "There's no need to apologize. In fact..." she looked away. "If it weren't for you coming to this world, I don't think I would have gotten a last goodbye to him. So thank you."

"I just wish I could have done more."

"You did more than enough," Tokage said, giving him a soft smile. "Also, I want to apologize again for everything I said to you before. And-"

"No apology necessary," Izuku waved her off, giving her a smile in return. "I mean, I definitely didn't like getting slapped but... it helped me realize what I was doing to myself and my friends."

"Well, that's good then!" She slapped him on the back, making him cough in surprise. She grinned mischievously. "It'll save your friends a whole lotta grief when you return home."

He blinked at her. "When you say that...?"

She shrugged. "Mei said she'd work on a way to get you back home while we were here fighting. But I bet a certain prisoner may be able to help move the process along faster." She glanced at his sling. "How's your arm?"

"Well, it's not broken, so that's different." Izuku wiggled it a bit, wincing at the pain. "Your Izuku really knew how to fight and take care of himself."

"A, uh, few of us had to beat it into his skull that constantly injuring himself was not the way to go," Tokage elbowed him softly before looping his uninjured arm around her shoulders. "Come on, let's go. There's a boat waiting for us."

As they trudged through the broken remains of Tartarus, Izuku couldn't help but ask, "How did you two meet?"

"Me and Izuku?" She chuckled softly. "Well, it wasn't anything too fancy. Our classes had another joint training session and we were on opposing sides. Man, it was certainly something to go up against someone as intelligent and strategic as him. He won, y'know. He was always good at judging what Quirks were good in certain situations and using what he had to the fullest. I fell for him." She smiled wistfully. "He was fun to tease, and that just made me love him even more."

The boat was in sight, Hitoshi waving to them from the cockpit as a few other hero students rested aboard. Setsuna came to a stop, turning to face Izuku. "Talk to her."

"Huh?" He gave her a quizzical look. "Who?"

"Me, your Setsuna, duh." She rolled her eyes. "Look, you still have All For One to beat in your world. And I bet Shigaraki is still alive, right?" At his nod she looked grim. "Look, this war was drawn out far too long here. It's why we had to do things today that... we never wanted to do in the first place. You have a chance to make sure what happened here doesn't happen in your world. Only All For One needs to die. Shigaraki... maybe. He has a small chance, but don't count on it."

"Toka-"

"Let me finish," she interrupted him. "My point here is that you need to get a head start on fixing your world. While we can give you information that should prove helpful, you're going to need others who have the same head for strategy like you. And if the other me is anything like me, then she will do great. I'm not asking you to hook up with her. Who you fall in love with is your choice, it doesn't have to be her. Just, promise me, okay? Promise me you'll let her help." She stared pleadingly into his eyes. "Because even as your friend, she'll want to help you no matter what."

Izuku didn't have the heart to say what he truly felt inside. The Izuku of this world had been lucky to find Tokage, because even he could see what he saw in her. But these feelings were brought on in such a quick time frame and while he was in a vulnerable state, so he wasn't sure what to think. But he knew one thing. If he was to develop feelings for Setsuna Tokage, it could not be the one of this world. It would be too cruel.

Instead, Izuku nodded. "Alright, I will. I'm going to need all the help I can get, I see that now."

Tokage smiled warmly. "Good. Now, let's go before Hitoshi comes over and strangles us."

...

"And why the hell should I help you?" Starfall glared at them with clear hostility.

It felt weird to be on the opposite side of the interrogation table standing alongside Tokage and Todoroki. Last time he'd been the one interrogated. This time, well, it wasn't an interrogation, but an appeal.

"Look, we get it," Tokage snorted. "You're a villain, we're heroes. Mortal enemies yadda yadda. But I have a feeling you want to get home as much as Izuku here, don't you? But-" She held up a hand as Starfall went to retort. "Before you say something like you'll break out and get back on your own, let me remind you that this is most definitely a new power for you. Do you really want to go and use it again without extra insurance? What if this time you warp and end up somewhere much less desirable?"

Starfall didn't say anything, but her glare deepened.

"If we help one another," Izuku stepped in. "And you manage to get us home, I'll... I'll let you get a head start. O-or I could even help you get away from All For One." He mustered the best hardened look he could produce. "Look, I beat him once already. And I plan on doing it again. I'll find a way back with or without your help, and without our help, you're at the mercy of your own Quirk without any idea if you're going to accidently come out in the center of the sun."

Todoroki whistled softly below his breath as Tokage shot him an impressed look along with a roll of her eyes. Crap, she probably knows all about my desire to play bad cop.

"Yeah, I'm not buying it," Starfall huffed. "You know how dangerous I'd be if I went back. I would obviously tell All For One about the ability to cross to other worlds. You wouldn't ask me to help unless you actually needed me."

Tokage nodded slowly. "You're right. But I think you're forgetting something."

The villainess didn't look at all worried. "And what's that?"

She was met with a sharp-toothed grin. "What's stopping All For One from stripping you of your Quirk the moment he realizes its immense potential?"

The color slowly drained from Starfall's face.

"We'll let you think on it," Tokage told her as she turned and walked out, followed by the two boys.

...

"For the record, I hate all of you."

Starfall had her arms crossed, Quirk Suppressant Cuffs connecting her wrists. Meanwhile, Mei was busy explaining the details of her new baby to Izuku as they stood in the middle of the mess that was Gym Gamma. Izuku had already said his goodbyes, but Todoroki, Shinso, and Tokage had still come to see him off.

"This here will allow you to confirm you're in the correct world." Hatsume pressed a button and Izuku watched as the screen lit up. "It'll scan the environment for your world's unique signature and compare it to yours. First we gotta sync it up to you. Hold still now-"

Izuku studied Starfall while Hatsume began connecting various wires to his body. "What made you decide to help?"

"I still could not help," she said crossly. "But for the sake of being civil, I want amnesty. I've never actually killed anyone, and I'm attached to our world. And I... I have my own reasons for wanting All For One defeated."

"Why join him in the first place?" Hitoshi asked, sucking on a mushroom flavored jelly pack.

"You think any of us had a choice?!" She shot him a nasty glare. "There are many who genuinely enjoy working for him, but there are also many of us who despise him, but we can't defy him. But I just saw you defeat him here." She narrowed her eyes at Izuku. "So you better damn make sure to kill him again."

"He'll win," Tokage patted Izuku on the shoulder as she came up to him. "I have full confidence in him."

Starfall rolled her eyes as Hatsume whooped. "Finished!" She yanked the wires off Izuku, at which he yelped in surprise, before she thrust the device into his hands. "So this here-"

"You going to be okay?" Hitoshi asked Setsuna, shooting her a concerned look. Shouto glanced at them, obviously listening in.

"I'll be fine, no sweat," she smiled sadly at Izuku geeking out with Mei. "Him coming here, it helped in more ways than one. I got to see my Izuku again. I got to say goodbye." She almost choked up, but composed herself. No need to worry Izuku right before he left. "It will never be the same without him here, but at least... at least we got to say our goodbyes, and he was able to fulfill One For All's purpose."

Shouto shook his head. "It's unfortunate it couldn't be passed on. All For One, that bastard."

"No," Setsuna said quietly. "It's better this way. The vestiges, and Izuku, deserve this rest. The world doesn't need One For All. All it needs are the sort of people who could've inherited it. Remember, it's not the Quirk that makes the hero."

"Damn straight." Hitoshi sucked the jelly pouch dry just as Mei finished explaining everything to Izuku.

"Alrighty, let's test this baby out!" She clapped her hands together in obvious excitement.

"Don't try anything funny," Shouto warned Starfall as he unlocked her cuffs.

"Don't tempt me," she responded dryly as she rubbed her wrist. "Mind you, I don't know if I can replicate what I did. For all I know, it was a one time phenomenon."

"We need electricity." She blinked at Izuku, who went on. "Back when we first fought, a power line hit the ground near us as you opened up your wormhole. I think it mixed in with the properties of it and made us travel not just through space, but across realities. We can probably assume that whatever happened triggered a Quirk Awakening, so you might not even need the jumpstart, but since this would only be the second time ever attempting it, you might still need to get used to it. So we need something to replicate the energy given off by the powerline in order to actually create a wormhole that'll reach across from this universe to ours. Oh, if we want to get to ours and not some other random universe, maybe you need to focus on home. Like, really focus. Like Mei said, we have unique biosignatures and-" He shut up once he realized everyone was staring at him. His face quickly grew red. "S-SORRY!!"

"Man, I missed this," Hitoshi snickered.

"That's Izuku for you," Shouto shook his head in amusement.

"What. The. Fuck." Was all Starfall said.

"He's not wrong," Setsuna mused. "We'll need electricity to jumpstart the dimension travel part of your Quirk, at least for now, and you'll need to concentrate on your home universe. What it felt like. Not just the sights, sounds, and whatnot, but what it felt like in your soul. In your Quirk."

"E-exactly," Izuku stammered, grinning at her.

"I could probably whip up a generator real quick," Mei hummed thoughtfully, glancing around at her piles of junk.

"Why not just use Bioelectricity?" Shouto asked, pointing at Izuku.

"I... don't have it," Izuku confessed. "That's one thing that was different about the One For All here. The Second User in my world had Gearshift, not Bioelectricity. But..." He held up his hand, closed his eyes, and concentrated. Searched deep within the recesses of One For All.

"It's here, but it's faint," Yoichi spoke. "The other vestiges were here only briefly, so they left only an imprint of their Quirks. Their souls have moved on, but there's just enough of Bioelectricity left that can be used."

His hand lit up slightly, turquoise sparks coming to life across his palm. "I have just enough left according to the vestiges. So we need to hurry."

"Right." Setsuna whirled on Starfall. "Hurry it up now."

"Yeah yeah," Starfall held out both hands, closing her eyes as her skin began to light up like moonlight. The gravity around her changed slightly, her long raven colored hair floating up around her. Her eyes shot open suddenly, brilliant white light pouring out. The air in front of her hands rippled and pulsed as the villain bit her lip, her face scrunching up as she poured more energy into it. "This feels... very weird!" She grunted. "But also... not quite... right!"

"Here goes," Izuku said, holding out his hand. The last sparks of Bioelectricity shot into the distortion and immediately it turned a milky blue color. It pulsed and throbbed erratically and it seemed to make Starfall strain even more.

"Can't... hold it... for long!" She let out as she grit her teeth.

"Izuku!" Setsuna gripped his shoulder. "I... Good luck. Don't die, okay?"

Izuku clasped her hand. "Not when I have so much to live for. Thank you, for everything, Setsuna."

She laughed softly and pushed him gently towards the supercharged wormhole.

"Look after the other me," Shouto told him. "He could probably use a little more opening up."

"Same here," Hitoshi chimed in. "Help him get some sleep if you can."

"Don't forget to give other me those blueprints!"

"Wait, what-!?" Setsuna, Shouto, and Hitoshi shouted in unison as Izuku and Starfall stepped through the wormhole and it collapsed in on itself right after, as if it had never existed in the first place.

...

Izuku awoke upon scorched ground. He rose, taking in his surroundings. Twisted and burnt metal lay all around him and he soon recognized it as the power grid station he fought Starfall at.

"Was it all a dream?" He muttered to himself, before he realized he still clutched in his hand the device Hatsume had given him. He held his breath as he checked it before letting out a sigh of relief. He had come home. And there was a lot to do.

"What first, Izuku?"

He felt them all around him. From the Yoichi to Nana, and even the faint presence of All Might's vestige who wasn't quite real yet. He didn't know who had spoken, it felt like they'd all voiced the same question.

He took in his surroundings again, confirming that Starfall wasn't here. But that was fine. So long as she disappeared, he was fine letting her go. But if she began to make trouble, he would find her.

"First... We go home."

...

Izuku watched them approach as if in slow motion. The citizens being controlled by the villain known as Dictator, fear written across their faces. Maybe before he had traveled to the other world, he might have been on the brink of exhaustion here. Unable to do a thing to save these people before being killed by them. He wouldn't have even been able to muster a reassuring smile. But now he can. He smiles because he is here!

Blackwhip curled around his right arm, tying it back into a secure cast before leaping into the air. He shot himself forward, the wind pressure knocking down the civilians just hard enough to break them free from Dictator's control. He flew straight over the villain's head, locking eyes with him before Blackwhip shot down and wrapped around his middle.

The villain yelped as he was brought up into the air, coming face-to-face with the hero known as Deku. "Detroit-!" Izuku pulled back a fist, One For All's aura coming to life around him. "Smash!"

It's during his awkward smiles and reassurances to the people after he tied up Dictator with Blackwhip that they showed up. His breath caught as they approached. They'd all come. He shouldn't have been surprised, not anymore. Logically, he knew they all were still alive and well, but after many of their fates in the other world, he couldn't help but feel relieved. So with longing in his heart, he goes to them, finally knowing that with them beside him, there is hope yet for this world.

...

It's hardly been a day since he got back to UA, and already he was moved to tears by Uraraka's speech and the hugs he'd gotten from Kota and Ippan Josei, as if an old wound was healed from Kacchan's apology, and endured a half hour long lecture from Recovery Girl. The only thing she praised him for was not managing to actually break his arm this time around. She had questions for him, along with All Might and the others on where he'd been the last week, how he got the injury in the first place, and where he got the new, albeit slightly ruined, costume.

Izuku opted not to tell them. Not because he didn't think they'd believe him, but because they weren't the ones he really wanted to tell the story to.

After being forced into a bath with the other guys in his dorm, he came out feeling both refreshed and tired. But there was still something he had to do. So dressed in sweats and his black sweater with the Katakana word for 'chair', he tried sneaking out of the dorms before Todoroki caught him.

"Where are you going?" He asked with that blank expression on his face, his tone holding a hint of accusation.

"I'm not leaving," Izuku said quietly, not wanting to draw any more attention to himself than necessary. "I just... There's someone I need to talk to.

His dual haired colored friend raised an eyebrow before nodding. "Alright. I trust you."

Izuku smiled, turned to leave, then stopped. He looked back. "Hey, Shouto, don't... don't go down the path of revenge. No matter what, okay?"

"O-okay?" Shouto blinked at him as Izuku left. He just stood there for a minute, digesting what he said before realizing what he had called him.

He had called him Shouto.

...

"Midoriya?" Shinso looked up at him, the mystery flavor jelly pouch halfway to his lips. He was leaning against the wall in the hallway outside the cafeteria doors. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be resting."

Izuku shrugged and offered a slight smile. "I'm looking for someone. You haven't seen Set- I mean, Tokage around, have you?"

His brows furrowed. "Tokage... Lizard girl?" At Izuku's nod, he shook his head. "Can't say I have. She could be getting food, but it is late you know. She might be in her dorm." He suddenly looked interested. "Why are you looking for her specifically?"

"I..." He looked away, embarrassed. "There's something I need to tell her."

Shinso's eyebrows rose. "Oh. Well, good luck then."

Fully aware of the misconception his friend had come to, Izuku felt too tired to correct him. "See you later, Hitoshi."

"Hitoshi?" Hitoshi repeated after Izuku disappeared through the cafeteria doors. Shaking his head, he took the first sip of his jelly pouch before coughing in surprise and disgust. "What the hell!? It's ranch flavored!?"

...

"Set? Oh, yeah she said she was going for a walk. That wasn't too long ago, so you might be able to catch her."

He'd thanked Kendo before rushing off, ignoring the sounds of her berating a giggling Yanagi and Tsunotori, along with a suspicious Monoma.

Izuku came to a stop to catch his breath. He'd jogged around almost the entire UA campus, but saw no sign of her anywhere. He was about to give up and look for her tomorrow when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Young Midoriya?"

Toshinori looked like he'd been jogging. Whether from just exercising or an attempt to catch up to his young protégé, he wasn't sure.

"You were missing for a while," Toshinori said when they relocated to a nearby bench. "You don't have to tell me what happened, but... I am here for you."

"Thank you, Toshi," Izuku offered him a smile. "I'm... actually feeling better than I have in a while. I finally know what to do. How to do it. And I promise, I will tell you what happened, I just... There's someone else I need to talk to first. It's... complicated."

He hoped Toshinori would understand. He wasn't disappointed.

"Of course." His shoulder was squeezed by the retired hero. "I trust you, Izuku. Whenever you feel the need to open up, I'll be here. I promise."

"Thanks," Izuku wiped at his eyes. Come on, don't cry.

"So, who are you looking for?" Toshinori asked, casually handing him a tissue.

Izuku accepted it gratefully. "Ah... S-Setsuna Tokage."

Toshinori blinked at him. "Young Tokage? Why?"

"Complicated," was all Izuku could offer with an apologetic smile.

His mentor huffed in amusement. "Well, I shouldn't get in your way. Oh, maybe try looking up now and again," he offered with a wink before jogging away.

Izuku stared after him, then raised his gaze.

Oh.

...

He landed gently on the roof of UA. There he finally saw her. Sitting on the edge, legs dangling over the side as she gazed at the moon.

She glanced back at him as he approached, quirking an eyebrow as he sat next to her. "Midoriya? And what brings you all the way up here on a fine night like this?" Setsuna Tokage smirked, a twinkle in her eyes as her lips separated from her face and spoke in his ear, "Don't tell me you've come to confess~"

Izuku clasped his hands together, thinking where to best start. "Could I... ask you something?"

"Wait, is this actually a confession?" Tokage popped her lips back onto her face, a teasing grin forming. "Wow, didn't take you for the bold type, Midoriya~"

"Would you think I was crazy if I said I knew you... from another world?"

Tokage's smile stays plastered on her face. "What?"

Izuku took a deep breath before beginning his story. Tokage's smile turned into an amused sort of grin, before slowly fading. By the end, she had adopted a solemn look and was staring straight ahead. Izuku opened his mouth to say more, then decided against it.

"Gosh, you make me sound like some sort of badass," She gave an awkward laugh before giving him a weird look. "Why come and tell me this exactly?"

"Because... she made me promise to," Izuku said honestly. "She thinks you'll be good for me, especially with how the war might shape out. B-but I didn't come with any intention to like h-hook up or anything!" He waves his hands about, wanting to clear any misunderstanding beforehand. "Y-you were a great person in that world, s-so I w-wanted to get to know y-you a little better, th-that's all."

His face dropped at a sudden thought. "D-do you... believe me? A-about the other world, I-I mean?"

She pursed her lip. "I mean... It's certainly tough to swallow. But... what reason would you have to lie to me about something as ridiculous sounding as that?" She chuckled, glancing at him from the side. "And it does sound ridiculous, albeit in a horrifying and what-the-hell-that-actually-happened sort of way." She tilted her head to the side. "So you and I, in that world, we were a couple?"

"Y-yeah."

"Huh," she nodded. "I always thought you were a bit cute."

"H-huh!?"

She laughed loudly, clutching her sides. "Okay, yeah, you're going to be so fun to tease Mr. Red-Faced!"

Izuku fought his blush, but he also found himself smiling. It wasn't meant to reassure a scared victim of a villain attack, and it wasn't one he sometimes wore in order to make people think he was okay. It was a natural smile, one that just couldn't help but form as he interacted with her. If he didn't understand before how the other Izuku fell for his Tokage, he certainly did now. She was the complete opposite of him. Outgoing and clearly loving to tease him, yet it was all so endearing.

"Alright!" Tokage clapped her hands together.

"Huh?" Izuku startled at the sound.

She stuck out her hand to him, popping it off and moving it closer. "I can't say for certain whether or not this whole other world stuff is true or not, but I do get one thing. You came to me for help, cause you believe you'll need me. As a budding, and might I say just a bit sexy, heroine, how can I say no? And, well, if it is true..." Izuku couldn't tell if it was the trick of the light or not, but he swore he saw a hint of a blush before it disappeared. "This other me clearly trusted herself enough to know that I'd hear you out. Plus you're cute and seem fun to tease, so I don't see any downsides to this. So," she raised her floating hand ever so slightly. "To our friendship!"

Izuku stared for a few seconds before shaking himself out of his stupor. He grasped her hand. "Likewise."

"And perhaps..." she smiled sweetly as she leaned towards him, face getting uncomfortably close to his as she reconnected her hand to her body. "Something more?"

He blushed harder than before as she howled with laughter, her head popping off for comedic effect. Izuku chuckled weakly, scratching at his cheek. This felt... nice. It also felt right in a way he couldn't explain.

As he watched her, he made a promise. He still had no idea if he would actually fall for her, but regardless, he would fight to protect that smile. So he promised then and there, in order for that smile to remain, he would see All For One stopped long before this war could become a tragedy. And that meant that no one was allowed to die. Including him. He saw what had become of a world without him, so he would make sure that this one was one where he, and everyone else, remained.

To those of you with that burning question of if I'm planning a sequel, yes and no. Yes because I did somewhat leave the door open to do a sort of sequel down the line. But no because I'm not planning to do it anytime soon, maybe even never. As it is, this stands perfectly fine as its own thing, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out.

Moving on. I have a bigger MHA story in the works. It's still in its infancy, but planning is going along pretty good. Once I have it more mapped out, I'll go ahead and get to actually writing and publishing it, so be on the lookout for that. And possibly some one-shots. Maybe. I can be a fickle writer at times.

Thank you all for reading and I hope you'll stick around for my future works! With that, I bid you all adieu. Toodles!!