There they were, one boy carrying a lifeless body and another boy walking beside him. It was Hikari and Karui, with Itsumi's body in Hikari's arms. He couldn't bear the thought or sight of his actual love being dead. Now he was carrying her lifeless body to where she lived.

"I feel like this is mostly my fault" Hikari said in a saddened tone
"Hey man, don't worry if anything you saved me…. But at the cost of her" Karui replied while looking down at himself.

Hikari let out a glare at Karui to let him know he was not helping the situation. Karui took this as a sign to let Hikari mourn, so he decided to be quiet the entire walk.

Nearing the house, Karui kept trying to lighten the mood towards Hikari but to no avail. Hikari rested his eyes on his lover's corpse. He kept thinking back to the words she said before she died
You can be a hero. It starts with your heart. The pure emotion behind those words, the fact that she believed in him. Itsumi believed Hikari can become a hero.

This made Hikari change his mindset about people. He went from being a secluded individual who cared only for his closest to someone who cared for everyone and wanted to make a change in the world. Those hours leading to the house were filled with an awkward silence.

Karui saw the Itsumi's house and speed-walked to the door to ring the doorbell, while Hikari kept at his own pace, seemingly never taking his eyes off the body.

It was around 11:18pm when someone opened the door. A tall beautiful woman with light pink hair just like Itsumi wearing casual everyday clothes. She had a look of happiness when opening the door but her smile went away as she saw Karui.

"Mayumi…."
"What is it Karui?" Mayumi asked

She then saw Hikari close behind, walking towards the door step carrying a body. It wasn't long before she noticed who the body is. Tears began forming in her eyes.

"O-oh my god, my ba-baby, n-no THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. WH-WHY HOW. TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED HIKARI?!"

Mayumi said this in a ferocious tone but I understand. A mother losing her one of her children at a young age is beyond unbearable. I knew the pain she felt in her heart, I had grown to love Itsumi since we were kids. I thought I would have her in my life forever. She was my guidance, my light in the dark, the hand that pulled me from the darkness.

"It's a long story Mayumi…."

I couldn't even look her in the eye when I said that. I didn't have the will to tell her how Itsumi was murdered by a villain. I just never understood how someone can feel good about themselves after inflicting pain on others. One day it would come and bite whoever is wrong in the ass. And it's exactly what that villain got those hours earlier.

"I tried to stop him, I did. Believe me I… me and Karui tried to take care of the villain, but Karui had passed out due to him overusing his quirk."

"Quirk? Karui has a quirk….." she said sounding surprised
"Yea I have a Psychokinesis quirk" said Karui
"AND YOU COULDN'T PROTECT MY BABY?!" Her tone rose to a level beyond loud. The whole neighborhood could hear it, It's as if she was going to bring her wrath down upon us.

"Calm down Mayumi please, it's not our fault" I said trying to calm her wrath. I did until I explained in detail what happened.

"It all happened so fast, Karui passed out. I tried to fight back but the villain kept pushing me back and injuring me even further. While I was down he went after her… he tortured her. He brought her to the brink of death, I watched helplessly as my friend was getting the life ripped away from her. He threw her at me the last time I got up to continue my attack. She died in my arms due to blood loss."

Mayumi was beginning to show tears as I told her that I desperately tried to save Itsumi.

"First I … I lose her father and n-now her too" Mayumi did not want to be in the room anymore as she rushed upstairs.

"I guess it was too much…" I told Karui
"Ya think? WE'RE TELLING HER THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS KILLED, any mother would go crazy if they heard that. Let alone see the body of their child, c'mon man think your smart for a reason." Karui replied frustratingly

At that moment Hikari and Karui decided to leave Mayumi with Itsumi's body. Feeling as if they were both at fault. The next day at school, announcements were made that the administration would hold a funeral service for one of their top students. The moment of silence for Itsumi was overwhelming because she had so many friends. Even staff who knew her were mourning. During the weeks she had a mural constructed in her honor.

(Time Skip)

The three young men had arrived at the auditorium and were stunned at how things had turned out. The mural itself had been appreciated by not only the boys but her family, the level of effort being put into the resting peace placed upon Itsumi's grave had truly gained the respect of her loved ones.

Though it was well known that everyone would rather have her in person then as a lifeless mural but there they were in completely different parts of the room not aware of the connection they shared with her.

Hikari being the invested romance in her life who had to witness her untimely passing with his own eyes, Mizu which was her caring yet extremely occupied brother who was always trying to bring them closer only if just a little, and then Saihan the friend she could always come to no matter the time, day, or hour.

But still no amount of attention, trust, or love was enough to keep her out of harm's way. The questions were sure to occupy their minds for years to come: Was their something else I could have to done to protect her? Was giving their all truly not enough? Then a sound erupted from the stage it was the principal

"We have all gathered here in memory of Itsumi Shokunin to remember all her best moments instead of dwelling in the past. To recall all her treasured smiles and playful statements, to remember her greatest academic and social achievements such as being voted the school's social butterfly or how she was always in a league of her own with her almost always perfect test scores. But most of all we gather here to permanently wish her eternal peace in the other world, to watch over us with her angelic status, and to enjoy a better life with the one and only creator of all. May we please rise and have a moment of silence for young Itsumi."

The auditorium was filled with a depressing silence and fallen spirits all around the silence seemed to be thickening and suffocating the masses. The principal had dismissed the students and the day was resumed as normal but three souls remained lingering staring at the mural as it was being removed and taken from the center stage.

They were most likely going to place it somewhere else but at the moment those three didn't see that, that statue leaving the room felt more like her final resting and leaving them once and for all.

They knew letting go was the right thing to do but still they didn't want her to leave they weren't ready to. Eventually they had to leave the auditorium and get to class but the day remained dismal and lethargic for them only communicating basic human functions so remain in existence.

They knew Mayumi would be holding a funeral service for Itsumi, making it a priority to attend was haunting them. She would have wanted them there but Hikari was unsure if he was welcomed since he hadn't talked to Mayumi since he had to tell her the news of her daughter's tragic death, he would have to go and talk to her personally while Saihan would need to introduce himself to her family once again it had been long since he had last time he went to visit her father had joked about him taking care of his daughter.

How would he be able to explain that he wasn't even there to try and protect her. The experience will sure to have some sort of confrontation he'll have to prepare himself for that.

Nonetheless the boys were more than ready to take responsibility for their faults and they at that point seemed to be willing to even give their lives for the young Itsumi, they knew the family cared for her deeply despite her not being fully related to them.

Hikari was the first to go and start walking the halls, whispers emerged the moment he stepped out of the auditorium rumors were going around saying that he had been linked to her death and that it was his fault that she had died.

"Hey isn't that Hikari?" spoke a voice,

"Yeah it is he's the guy who caused Itsumi's death" spoke another.

"Wow how could he show up after doing such a thing he should be expelled!" spoke a third

With that he had enough rushing away while avoiding as much contact as possible leaving the school.

Then came out the second young man Mizu he walked at a slow pace while his head down and an aloof look to him clearly not wanting to be bothered by others as he had clearly been affected by the loss of his sister. Some watched him and others looked away not knowing if he wanted to share how he is feeling or shutdown every emotion possible in his body.

" Poor Mizu he must be feeling horrible about what happened with his sister maybe we should go talk to him." Spoke out someone from a distance,

"I don't think he'd want to share how he feels with someone he doesn't know." someone replied with quickness

" Yeah it's probably best if we don't have him confront it now and give him some time to grief." spoke a third in agreement with the second.

With that Mizu was out the door and setting sights on home and home only. Then finally came out the third boy Saihan he seemed down but still no one approached him but no one seemed to know his connection to her either. He walked off thinking about some of their best moments together but was saddened by the thought of not being able to make more with her.

He left the building with deep regret of not being able to have her smile one last time. The boys truly weren't ready to say goodbye but not all good things last forever.

-The next day -

Both Hikari and Saihan had received invitations to the funeral from Itsumi's mother Mayumi. This shocked them considering that they thought either one or the other parent was upset with them for their lack of being able to help Itsumi in her time or need the letter had read:

" To everyone who received this letter,

The funeral for Itsumi Shokunin will be held at MONKO CENTER starting at 2:00 pm please come dressed appropriately and say your final goodbyes to the young lady.

~From Mayumi"

The sun was setting the last gleams of sunlight flickering off the cherry blossom trees people were just finishing up their goodbyes you could feel the dread in the air it was thick enough to be cut by a knife.

Hikari felt the glares burning into his neck not caring enough to turn because he knew that no one there had truly understood what had happened that day, what happened when Itsumi died.

It started to rain as if the sky itself was crying, people started to leave one by one, little by little until there was only four attendants left Hikari, Mizu, Saihan, and Mayumi. Mayumi had approached the three boys with the intend to talk in private, Hikari had known what was coming.

" Hikari… Saihan… Mizu." Tears had started to stream down her exhausted expression.

"I just wanted you to know…" Hikari's eyes welled up as if tears were to spill over at any moment.

" It's not your fault!" She exclaimed with tears rolling down her eyes. They looked towards her almost speechless from the display but then Hikari spoke with a shake to his voice.

"No… you're wrong she died because I wasn't strong enough, I wasn't fast enough, I WAS TOO WEAK!" he spoke.

"You're still a child there was nothing more you could have done, you tried your best and that's all I could have asked of you no child should have been put into a situation like that." she looks over to the boys with a weak smile

" Hikari, Saihan, Mizu promise me you'll train to be stronger, I want you to be the best pro heroes even rivaling All Might himself." she sighed and the three fell silent.

"Mayumi I promise to get stronger, I promise to make you proud of the man I will become." He looks down with his final regrets.

Mizu agreed with a nod of the head not being able to form words at the display the mother was showing. Hikari had stared blankly not being able to wrap his head around what was being said, Mayumi was putting her trust into him after letting her down so painfully.

" Hikari don't blame yourself for this anymore use this power to further yourself and grow, let the guilt wash away and advance you with true and pure resolve." Mayumi had given a weak smile to the boys and took her exit leaving the three of them together in the rain to ponder upon those words.

" You know she's right, we shouldn't keep this anger within ourselves." Stated Mizu placing a hand on the other two.

"Yeah… right we have to move on for her and Itsumi we can't let this affect us we can use our power to help others before they end up like Itsumi." Replied Saihan

But Hikari remained in his position unmoved, unblinking, and unheard. On his knees in front of the grave as if he was trying his best to bring her back even if the slightest chance that it make actually work.

"Hey man come on get up she wouldn't want to see you like this." Said Mizu, Saihan joined by place a hand on Hikari's shoulder and stating

"Right, she needs you to be strong for her even now it's the least we could do." Hikari looked up at the two and saw the sad eyes all around they had also been feeling his pain and emptiness. But they were right he had to gather himself and work towards making himself someone she could be proud of, he would be someone she would be proud of.

" You two are right I'll work till i'm the best for her, so that others don't have to experience similar fates."

He rose taking them in hand. That that moment they all connected feeling the same striving passion that will lead them for years to come.

The young boys Mizu, Hikari, and Saihan exchanged numbers and addresses they promised to keep in touch so that they can get to know how and why they were so close to Itsumi. They had later found out that Hikari was her childhood friend, Mizu was her half brother, and that Saihan had been her best friend for the longest time.

Eventually they had to leave the graveyard on their way out Mizu was telling the other two boys about how he does martial arts.

"Wow that's super cool maybe you should train us." Spoke Saihan with a little chuckle as he joked but Hikari became inspired and practically yelled:

"Yeah that's a great idea, so you'll train us right?!" His voice echoed with determination and a suffocating willpower. Mizu seemed to be on the same level of intensity almost if they had auras. Saihan stared at the two knowing they'd hit it off instantly and joined in with the idea until they had reached the exit and had to go their own ways.

A/N: Where will this experience take these three striving young men and how will they move forward in the near future. Excitement, thrill, and challenge awaits them with their striving journey of becoming the best as they promised to Mayumi. This chapter seemed to take the longest to write in my opinion but hopefully it is providing enough of a background on how they all met/ will continue to know each other.