Everyone buzzed about me, causing a ruckus. As soon as we got back to the dorms they started to make a fuss about getting their licenses. I had tried to escape to my room after showering, but Mina caught me and dragged me into the living room to listen to all of their yapping.

Honestly, I just wanted to go to sleep. It's been a long day and the exam was a big hassle. 

Still not sure how I, of all people, got a Hero License. Well I'm sure it'll come in handy at the very least. This way I won't get in trouble like I did with the whole Stain incident. I can do what I want and not get in as much trouble as I normally would. 

Hm? I glanced over to see Kacchan pass by Izu, having said something that made him stiffen. Oh? What's going on here? 

After a while everyone headed to bed, but I stayed up and waited. Like I thought, Izu and Kacchan headed out. Together.

So naturally I followed.

How could I not? They're together and Kacchan hasn't started screaming yet. Something's up. And I have a vague idea what it is.

The duo didn't notice me following them, sticking to the darkness the night offered me. 

In no time we ended up in front of Ground Beta. Oh boy. So they're finally going to hash it out properly, huh?

"This is the first place where we had our first combat training where I fought and lost to you. You've always made me sick." Kacchan spoke. Actually talking without shouting. And to Izu of all people.

This is serious.

"You were Quirkless and useless so how'd you get into U.A. and how'd you get a Quirk? When you said you received it from someone else, that you'd make it your own, that you'd beat me with it. I didn't understand this guy that said some stuff that made no sense and then looked satisfied with himself and just kept on climbing up, higher and higher. Ever since the Sludge Villain, no, since All Might came to town. Higher and higher until finally for the provisional license, you passed but I failed. What the hell? Huh?"

Kacchan kept his back to Izu as he spoke. I leaned my back to the wall of a building next to them, looking up at the starry sky.

Ah-ah. He knows. Well I knew he would figure it out one day. Kacchan isn't stupid. He's a smart kid. And Izu, Izu is as honest with him as he possibly can be despite their relationship.

But I wonder if knowing will fix their relationship, even if it's a little. If they could get a little closer to becoming friends again.

If I could be with them one more time like we were before. 

"That's not a matter of ability, but-" Izu was cut off. "Shut up and listen, damn scum!" Kacchan shouted for the first time tonight, making Izu jump and meekly apologize.

I peeked out around the corner again to see Kacchan finally turn to face him. "You've always made me sick and pissed me off. But that thing in Kamino helped me understand, kind of. I've been thinking about it this whole time."

There was a minute of silence, strong and heavy that weighed on my shoulders and caught my breath in my throat.

Awaiting for him to say it. To ask. The tense atmosphere is the buildup to it after all. Tonight's the night.

"You got it from All Might, didn't you? Your power." Ah. He asked. Izu. Will you tell him?

He seemed to be expecting the question himself, making Kacchan continue. "The boss Villain. Apparently he could steal people's Quirks and give them to other people. It's hard to believe but one of those old cat ladies lost her Quirk and can't work anymore. After you met All Might you changed. And then All Might lost his power." 

There's a look in his eyes when he spoke the last sentence.

It's buried in the pale red pools. Underneath all of his usual impassiveness and hostility. It's almost like . . . guilt.

Katsuki. What's going on?

"What All Might said after he beat the boss Villain." Huh? What did he say? Oh, that's right. It was all over the TV. And Izu came to me crying.

'You're next'.

"Back then you were the only one who took it differently. Thinking about how those Nomu scum had multiple Quirks it seems pretty credible. Besides. All Might and that boss bastard knew each other. Quirks could move from one person to another and All Might knew the guy who could do it. So it all connected to what you said about receiving your Quirk from someone."

Izu continued to stare at Kacchan, eyes pursed, eyes stuck on him. Kacchan continued.

"I asked All Might about it. But he wouldn't answer me. Then I asked Kiri, because she has taken this whole thing without any surprises. But she played dumb. That's why I'm asking you."

I leaned back against the wall, looking up at the waning moon. Kacchan did ask if there was some relation between the two.

I wanted to tell him. He's my best friend, and I can't stand lying to him. But it's not my secret to tell. 

No, that right is my other best friend. Izu's. What'll happen? How will this play out? Hey, Izu. What'll you do?

"Since you're not denying it, it must be true. Damn it." My eyes fluttered closed as I waited for Izu to respond. He must have known it as well. What coming out here would entail.

So he must have resolved on what he'd tell. "What're you going to do with the answer?" His only reply. 

"You and I both wanted to be like All Might. Right . . . that's how it was. Someone I'd always thought was just a pebble was acknowledged by the person I admire without me realizing it. That's why . . . Let's fight. Right here. Right now." 

A fight. Just as I expected. Of course it'd be here. Where their first real fight took place. It's only fitting. Almost poetic actually.

But this time it'll be different. Last time it was for Izu to make Kacchan truly see him. This time it's Kacchan's response. That he does see him.

"Huh?! Wait, why does it have to end up like that? No, this is bad! We're not even supposed to be here. If we're going to fight, at least do it during free practice or something. We should reserve a training room and do it there! There's no reason it has to be now, is there?"

My eye twitched as Izu spouted out nonsense.

Well, not nonsense. But that'll never work for Kacchan, he should know this by now. 

"If we fight seriously we'll be stopped. What part of you made All Might do what he did? Let me see for myself. If the way you admired him was correct, then does that mean my admiration was wrong?"

Katsuki . . . "Kacchan." Izu murmured.

Please Izu. Fight him. Understand that this is the only way he can express himself honestly. 

Peeking out again, I see Kacchan lunge at Izu using an explosion to propel him forward. He swung his right arm his way and Izu watched intensely, calculating.

He probably thinks it's a feint. But actually- The explosion made the ground tremble and the building quake. Seems he got a good hit on Izu. 

If I stay this close I'll get caught in the crossfire. I slinked back and away, using the smoke from the attack as coverage as I ran across the street and scaled up a building, crouching on the ledge of the roof.

Izu moved past him, and Kacchan continued his assault, Izu dodging the best he could. I held my arm out to protect my face as their attacks wreaked the surrounding buildings.

Damn! I jumped back some more and did my best to cover myself. 

Kacchan is not holding back. They're going to get caught soon.

Izu's voice carried out as he continued to try and talk Kacchan out of fighting, which is stupid. He knows him as well as I do. There's no way he'll stop. 

This continued for a bit, with only Kacchan attacking and Izu evading. But how long will that last?

Come on Izu. Fight back. Please. He needs you to do it. He's hurting. You can see it in the way he's fighting. Izu. 

Ah. I turned my gaze off to the side, hidden from the boys. It's All Might. I moved across the rooftop before jumping down, landing in front of him. I held my arms apart, blocking him. "Stop. You can't interfere. They . . . they need to do this." I spoke.

I can't let him interfere. I won't let him. They need to do this. Even if it's ridiculous to everyone else, it's important to them.

A sad smile made its way onto All Might's face. "Don't worry Young Nozomi. I didn't plan on interfering. I knew this would happen. That's why I stopped Aizawa-Kun from coming." 

I blinked, eyes widening slightly. Huh? He did? But why?

He placed his hand on my head, looking over to the two boys behind me. "I'm aware of how important their fights are. I will watch as well."

He won't interfere. That's a relief. I turned to continue observing my friends. 

Kacchan stumbled and fell back and fell as his own explosions caught him.

That's sloppy. Kacchan isn't sloppy.

"A-Are you okay?" Izu ran to him, his hand outstretched towards Kacchan. And instead of blowing him up like he normally would, he slapped his hand away.

"Don't worry about me! Fight! What the hell's wrong with you?! Why? Why did I end up having to chase after the back of someone who was always behind me? Why did a damn small fry like you get strong and become acknowledged by All Might? Why is it that you became strong? But I . . ! Why was I . . ." 

Kacchan looked up and I gasped, chest tightening painfully. Kacchan . . . he's crying. Kacchan never cries in front of anyone.

"Why was I the one who ended All Might?!"

Oh Katsuki. A deep sorrow welled within me as I watched my friend drown in his own guilt. "If I'd been stronger and if I hadn't been kidnapped by Villains then that wouldn't have happened!" 

He swiped his arm over his eyes making my chest tighten even more. "All Might tried to keep it a secret. I couldn't tell anyone! Even if I try not to think about it, it just comes to mind unexpectedly! I don't know what to do!"

I'm an idiot. Katsuki is different from Izu. Izu can't hide his sorrow or his pain. So I can see it and try and console him.

But Katsuki hides all of his away so no one can see it. If I had paid a little more attention, if I had looked after him properly, I could have figured out he was in pain. That he was hurting. But I didn't. So he's had to carry it with him this whole time.

Izu was suffering, and I could see it. But I couldn't see his. 

My fists tightened and my jaw clenched. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Katsuki. 

Izu got into stance, green sparks dancing across him. He sees it now. That this is the only way for Katsuki to express how he's feeling.

He's going to take it. Because he's the only one who can. The only one who'd understand. The only one Katsuki wants to tell. 

And just like that they fought. Leaving a path of destruction in their wake. And I just watched. It was all I could do. Just like their first fight.

This isn't one I can interfere with. This is theirs to work out. All I can do is watch as they express their raw emotions.

I . . . I can't do anything right now. And it's frustrating. Painful even. But I know that it's not me. Not about this fight.

This isn't their norm where I am the mediator. This is much more than middle school quarrels.

It's a change. 

I'm genuinely surprised. Izu and Kacchan are both amazing fighters. All I see is them when we were little kids. But watching them now I see how much both have grown. How much they've changed.

And they see it too. 

The fight against All Might and All For One was incredible. But to me, this fight is more beautiful.

As Izu had delivered what I thought was the final blow, Kacchan was able to turn the tables with his raw determination and fling Izu to the ground and keep him pinned there. Both boys were bruised and panting heavily. Neither of them moved as Kacchan kept him pinned.

He won. 

If I could cry, I would right now. But I can't so I just watch the two as they stayed where they were, trying to catch their breath.

"Is it alright with you if I intervene now?" All Might asked me. I looked up at him, my emotions skillfully masked. "Yeah." He nodded and began to head out of the hiding spot and towards them. 

I continued to watch, unable to hear them but I could see them clearly.

Kacchan's pain, Izu's sincerity, and All Might's guilt. I even saw a sight I never thought I'd see. All Might pulling Kacchan close in a type of hug.

And for some reason I saw her. Hugging my small frame to her for the last time.

Maybe like me, Kacchan had forgotten that feeling. 

Unable to bear remembering my last moments with her, I turned and headed back to the dorms.

The boys don't need me to watch over them. So for tonight, I'll leave them be. So I can push back all these unwanted feelings that I haven't felt in years.

This year has been a struggle. There is so much I learned. So much I felt. And so many memories that have returned.

I want to grow like they have. I want to be able to let go of my past and move on like they did. I want to be free of this ever present darkness that drowns me. 

I want to be like them. 

If they could grow away from their own complexes, their fears, their darkness, can't I? I have never wanted to be rid of it more than I do right now. But no matter how much I want to be like them, I can't.

Because whenever I think of doing it, cruel red eyes and overwhelming bloodlust starts to suffocate me and I can feel the chains that are my prison tighten more around me.

I can never be like them.