Letting out a loud frustrated groan as she passed by an alley, Hikari quickened her pace, panting slightly as she went.

This damn son of a bitch, where is he?! she screamed in her mind as she looked around, searching for any kind of sign that could point her to the whereabouts of her green haired friend.

She was definitely beginning to get worried. What if All Might hadn't even realized Izuku had held on to him? What if he had pushed Izuku off of him?

All Might didn't seem like the person who would do something like that, but you could never be too careful.

"Damn it Izuku, where the hell are you?" Hikari muttered as she paused to look around.

A sudden yell tore through the air, coming from above. Some passerbys stopped and began looking around, while Hikari began to run to where the sound had come from. That yell sounded very much like it came from a certain green haired friend of hers.

Though she did wonder what could have happened to make Izuku yell like that. Hasn't the day been crazy enough?

Focus on finding your idiot friend now. Question everything that's happened later, she told herself before continuing her search.

A few minutes in, and she still hadn't the faintest clue as to where Izuku was. So, she went to her last resort. Cupping her hands over her mouth, Hikari took a deep breath, and yelled as loud as she could, "IZUKU!"

Her voice echoed around the place, and finally, she heard the voice of the person she had been searching for.

"Hikari?!"

It was somewhat faint, but still audible, and it came from above her. Looking up, Hikari spotted a mop of green hair followed by Izuku's face as he peered over the edge of the building he was on.

"The heck are you doing up there?!" the female called out.

"Would you believe if I said I was sight-seeing!?"

"I would if there were things to see around here!"

Even from where she was, Hikari could see Izuku cringe a bit. Before anyone could say anything else though, a loud explosion from behind Hikari made them both look around.

"Over there!" Izuku yelled as he pointed at something.

It took Hikari a moment before she was able to spot the rising plume of smoke. For some reason, it seemed very familiar. And knowing Izuku, he was probably gonna want to check things out.

Though he took longer than Hikari expected to show up.

"You alright?" Hikari asked.

Izuku opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

"I-I'll tell you later" he said.

Sensing the fact that he didn't want to talk about it at the moment, Hikari nodded, and looked back at the rising smoke.

"Against my better judgment, something is telling me to check out what the heck is going on over there" she said, before giving Izuku a side glance.

He smiled a little, and nodded, but the smile faded as he began walking while pulling out his ruined notebook and looking at it. Letting out a light sigh, the female caught up with him and walked alongside the boy.

"I know you basically said you don't want to talk about it, but, what happened up there?" she asked in a low voice.

Izuku sighed.

"I went after All Might because I still had questions that I wanted to ask him. Mainly because I still had some doubts. We ended up landing on the rooftop of the building you found me on, and, I asked if I could still be a hero, even without a quirk..." he said.

Hikari stiffened before looking at the ground.

"He said no, didn't he?" she guessed.

Any respect she might've had for the pro hero disappeared the moment when her friend nodded.

"Not only that, but apperently, he can only maintain his form for three hours before he, deflates? Shrinks? He became a practical shell of his former self when we were talking" he added.

Now that was news.

"Wait, what?" Hikari asked.

"He showed me this really bad scar he had on his side, and said it was from a fight five years ago. He did his best to keep that fight a secret. I didn't even know about it. That's how much of a secret it was" Izuku told her before he fell silent.

Then he turned away.

"I, wasn't supposed to tell anyone about this" he added.

So, All Might, number one pro hero, is only a hero for three god damn hours of the day? Just how bad was that injury?! she thought.

Hikari was still trying to process the information she had just been given, so she didn't even notice when Izuku began wiping at his nose and eyes. However, his sniffles were enough to bring Hikari out of her own mind and back to reality.

"You might not get into the hero course, but I think the General Education course, which is directly below the hero course, could still be a great option for you. Just because you might not get to be a hero, doesn't mean you can't still apply to U.A." she said, wrapping a comforting arm around Izuku's shoulders.

"It won't be the same though" he replied with a sniff as he wiped his nose with the cuff of his sleeve.

Hikari opened her mouth to say something, but another, much louder-than-before explosion sounded from the place beside them. Looking over, Hikari spotted another plume of smoke that was rising from what looked to be the entrance to a mall.

"That's strange, is the fight from earlier still going on?" Izuku asked.

"Only one way to find out" Hikari said as she took a couple steps towards where the action was.

She paused, then turned around, holding out her hand.

"You coming?" she asked.

Izuku glanced between her and her outstretched hand before taking it. Though the two separated as they began running.

"Wait, that's Slimy McBoogers! The villain that attacked us earlier!" Hikari realized as she spotted the familiar slimy tendrils.

Izuku stiffened up beside her, and began muttering about how it was his fault the slime villain was released from its bottle prison since he distracted All Might.

"Why aren't the heroes doing anything?" Hikari overheard one of the bystanders ask.

"It looks like they've met their match. Plus the villain captured a kid. Things aren't looking good for him" another answered.

Judging from the look on Izuku's face, he had also overheard what the bystanders had said.

"He caught someone?" the boy whimpered out, standing on his tip toes to see things better while putting a hand over his mouth.

Hikari knew that he was probably remembering how he felt when the villain had caught him, and now, another kid was going through the same suffocating pain.

"Wait, I'm confused. Isn't that the villain All Might was chasing earlier today?" someone asked.

And just like that, the name spread around like a wildfire.

"What? All Might? No way he lost, where is he?"

"Well, can someone call him or something?"

"Seriously! Why hasn't he shown up to help the heroes?"

Hikari looked around as the voices continued before looking back at the villain. The moment she did, she spotted something that shook her to no end. She could recognize that spiky yellow blonde hair anywhere.

"Katsuki?" she breathed as horror fell over her.

The explosive teen was struggling to free himself, but like Izuku, his attempts were growing weaker by the second. Hikari was frozen in shock, but the moment the part of Katsuki's expression that she could see turned desperate, it was like something in her mind had switched to autopilot. Dropping her satchel to the ground, she weaved through the crowd, powering up her electricity as she went.

She didn't have to look to know that Izuku was following her, probably caught up in the same blank minded autopilot sense. Ignoring the hero's attempts to tell her and her friend to stay back, Hikari activated her hyperspeed, and stopped when she was right beside the villain.

"Hey! Slimy McBoogers! Remember us?!" she shouted, gaining the villain's attention.

"Not you brats again!" the slimeball hissed.

The villain hissed in pain as Izuku's backpack hit it in the face, some of the contents poking the villain's eyes. The head of the creature reeled back, and the slime around Katsuki's face pulled away, granting him access to air again. Hikari began bringing her hand to the slime.

"Katsuki, if I hurt you, I'm sorry in advance!" she called out before letting electricity flow from her hand to the slimy villain.

The creature screeched as electricity danced through and across the surface of his slime. Though, Hikari had to stop her attack when Izuku rushed forward, and began to claw his hands through the slime, trying desperately to reach who used to be his childhood best friend. Hikari ended up going to his side, and began adding to the somewhat little progress that was taking place.

"Get the hell off me!" Katsuki managed to get out.

"Just a little bit longer kid" the villain rasped out.

"And I'm done playing with you two!" he added, swiping a slimy tendril at Izuku and Hikari.

The female let out a yelp as she was sent sprawling on the ground, hitting her temple on some rubble as she went. Everything became a muffled, somewhat blurred mess, and she became vaguely aware of something warm trickling down the side of her face. Lifting her hand to where the liquid was, she touched the tip of her fingers to it, then pulled her hand away.

Red.

That's the color that now tipped her fingers as the substance began to drip to the ground. That, was probably not good. Hikari didn't have much time to dwell on it before another sudden explosion caught her attention.

"I really am pathetic" a familiar voice said, making her eyes widen a bit.

Right there, was All Might, all filled out with his fist extended and caught in the slime. She guessed that he must've punched the villain head on.

"I told you the traits that make a great champion. But I see now that I wasn't living up to my own ideals!" the number one hero cried out as he broke himself free of the slimeball.

Then, he grabbed Katsuki's hands, which were somehow still visible, but also pinned together.

"Pros are always risking their lives! That's the true test of a hero!" All Might yelled before pulling a fist back.

The villain yelled something that Hikari's frazzled mind didn't fully pick up, but she did clearly hear the hero's next words.

"DETROIT SMASH!" All Might cried out before slamming his fist into the villain, keeping the other on Katsuki.

From what Hikari saw, the villain had been blown to oblivion, though Izuku would later on tell her that the villain had simply been scattered to pieces. However, All Might was no long holding Katuski. After a moment of looking around, her slightly disoriented brain finally registered that he was right between her and Izuku.

He was probably unconscious, because there was no way he would willingly lay that close to Hikari or Izuku. Seriously, the hair on his head was almost brushing against Izuku's hand and it was actually touching Hikari's lower arm. It was surprisingly soft, despite its spiky appearance.

Hikari was distracted from his hair by the feeling of something landing on her nose. Reaching up to wipe it off, she discovered a clear liquid running down her finger.

Water?, her mind supplied.

Looking up, Hikari took in the slowly rotating dark clouds above the city while a few more droplets landed on her face. Then it began to rain.

This guy actually changed the weather with that punch, she realized, looking back at All Might, who had maintained the same pose the entire time.

Everyone had been silent the entire time as they all recovered from the shock. Then the cheers came. Hikari wondered if she was the only one who noticed how he lightly stumbled, though he quickly corrected himself before raising his fist, which made the cheers even louder.

After that, Izuku was scolded for putting himself in danger, Katsuki was praised for being brave, and Hikari got both ends of the treatment while her head injury was wrapped up. Turns out it was just a simple cut. She would put some butterfly strips on it later to keep it closed.

Heroes tried to talk her into going to the hospital, but she blatantly refused. Though that didn't really stop them from continuing to try, so she simply ignored them. Thanks to that, she managed to catch the ruby red eyed glare that was set on her.

She maintained half-lidded eye contact with the explosive blonde for a couple seconds, before directing her gaze to a rain puddle that had begun to form.

...

After everything was taken care of, the clouds decided to disappear, revealing the sun that was dipping down towards the horizon and casting a pale orange light on everything. Like they had agreed, Izuku and Hikari were walking side by side in silence towards the female's house, clothes and hair still dripping wet from the unexpected rain.

"We're probably gonna catch a cold, aren't we?" Izuku asked as he picked at his clothes.

Hikari glanced at her own soaked appearance.

"Probably" she replied with a light smile before facing forward again.

The two fell into silence again, which allowed Hikari to hear running footesteps that were steadily growing louder.

"Deku! Haruka!" a familiar voice shouted out.

"Katsuki/Kacchan?" Izkuku and Hikari chorused as they both turned around.

The spiky yellow blonde haired male slowed his pace before stopping in front of the two, panting hard. Hikari wondered just how long he had been running to catch up to the two. He had quite a bit of stamina for his age.

Hikari and Izuku waited for him to slightly catch his breath before he spoke.

"Listen, I would never ask for weaklings like you guys to help me. Don't think you two can look down on me! Huh?! Got that?! I was fine by myself!" Katsuki snapped before pointing a finger at Izuku.

"You're just a quirkless failure who won't even cut it as a cop!"

Then he turned on Hikari.

"And you're just a nobody with barely any friends! Niether of you helped me! You did nothing, don't forget it! I don't owe either of you anything!" he yelled before turning around and, walked? away?

Hikari was too doe with everything to place a name on whatever motions he was doing to get away from the two. Izuku leaned towards her.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Who knows? I'mma just assume that's his way of thanking people or some shit like that" Hikari replied before she turned and continued walking.

Like a normal person. Izuku began to follow her, but both kids were startled bad when someone made a sudden appearance by zipping out of an alley and stopping in front of them.

"I am he-" All Might started to say before he was cut off by a startled scream and a punch to the face.

The hero froze, Izuku let out a yell of absolute shock, and Hikari stood stock still as the realization of what she had just done washed over her like a tidal wave.

"I-you-I-" she stuttered before letting out a torrent of words.

"Iamsososorrybutyoudon'tjustsneakupoutofnowhereanddothattopeopledamnit!DearKami!"

"Hikari, you just punched him!"

"I know but can you blame me?! He came out of nowhere! I panicked! Jeez!"

All Might stood up straight, and Hikari turned her full attention to him sputtering out apologies before he held up his hand, which made her go silent.

"You, have some very fast reflexes" he stated, placing a hand on where her fist had collided with the side of his cheek.

"I am so sorry" Hikari stated as she bowed in apology with her hands over her mouth.

All Might waved it off. "Unfortunately, that is not the first time that has happened. You are forgiven" he said.

Hikari let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding, but the forgiveness didn't stop the train of guilt that was plowing into her.

"So, All Might, why are you here? How did you get rid of all those reporters?" Izuku asked before looking around, like he was expecting them to leap out of nowhere too.

Hikari desperately hoped that that wouldn't happen. All Might simply laughed a bit.

"I stand for justice, not sound bytes! Because I-I am All Mi-" he said before literally exploding and deflating.

"OH DEAR KAMI WHAT THE HELL?!" Hikari cried out in shock and surprise.

All Might now looked like an old man in overly baggy clothes!

Even Izuku was taken by surprise by the sudden change, if his yell of surprise was anything to go by.

After coughing a bit, and having some blood droplets splattered on the sidewalk, the deflated All Might looked up. "Perhaps you could explain to her later. As for your question. Young man, young lady, I came here to thank the both of you. And also to discuss your question from earlier" All Might before he turned his attention fully to Izuku.

"If you hadn't told me about your life, if you hadn't run into that fight, I would have been a worthless bystander watching from the crowd. So thanks" the older male said.

"Oh, no! It was my fault he was there to begin with! I got in the way of your hard work. I wasted your energy and not to mention your time" Izuku told him, earning a small sigh from Hikari.

He never really knew how to accept a 'thank you' from someone.

"I'm not done. You told me you didn't have a power, so when I saw this timid quirkless boy try to save a life, it inspired me to act too" All Might told him.

Izuku perked up a bit and looked at him. Hikari suddenly felt like something big was about to happen, though she had no idea why.

"There are stories about every hero. How they became great. Most have one thing in common. Their bodies moved before they had a chance to think" All Might said.

Hikari gently nudged her shoulder against Izuku's as he began to tense and sniff a bit. Then he started to bend over as his hand clenched the fabric of his uniform, which prompted the female to start running her hand over his back.

"How many times have I told you that you can do it?" she whispered as the boy's tears began to fall.

"And today, that's what happened to you" All Might stated.

Hikari moved her arms so that she could hold Izuku as he began to fall to his knees, and she went down with him as she started to tear up herself.

"Young man, you too, can become a hero"

Hikari could only imagine the feeling that those words brought to Izuku as the boy sobbed against her chest. Having so many people telling you 'no', then finally having that one person tell you 'yes', really could bring about a whirlwind of emotions...