Summary:

The day that Deku died

Chapter 12: Number 1 Hero Deku

FLASHBACK

Yuuei Boarding School – The Middle School

"Come on, damn Deku, we're gonna be late for the opening," shouted Kacchan, banging on the bathroom while Izuku calmed himself down as he had to give a speech.

"Hold on," shouted Izuku back at his best friend and hero partner. At 28, Izuku was part of the number one hero duo with Kacchan as the Wonder Duo. After a long battle against Shigaraki and the Paranormal Liberation Front that started the end of Izuku's first year of high school and lasted until Izuku was 22 years old. The battle of attrition between the two forces caused many deaths on both sides, as well as some betrayals (ones unexpected and ones not). For six years, things have been peaceful.

And today was a big day for Yuuei. In order to fix the broken system that failed many people to the point that they became villains because they didn't have the support they needed, Yuuei High School was opening a Middle School branch as part of the pilot program. Between all the red tape and the corruption of the Hero system in general, it was a long fought battle by the alumni of Yuuei High.

Izuku and his graduating class fought and fought—because they were taught that being heroes wasn't always about defeating the villains, but preventing people from becoming villains in the first place.

Izuku exited the bathroom to find his irate partner, glaring at him. "Calm down, Kacchan."

"Don't tell me what to do," said Kacchan, scoffing.

"You're 28, Kacchan, grow up a bit," said Izuku, teasing.

"Careful, Deku, or I might defeat you in our next sparring match," said Kacchan, cockily. While Kacchan had grown up since his teenage years, his and Izuku's rivalry hadn't died when they became hero partners. In fact, their rivalry was intense as ever, much to everyone's irritation.

Rolling his eyes, Izuku walked toward where a temporary stage was set up for the big speech. Kacchan trailed behind Izuku, because Deku did the PR stuff, so Kacchan didn't technically have to be there. But Izuku knew that Kacchan was there for moral support, which was something Kacchan wouldn't have done as a teenager.

"Deku! We're ready for you once Hawks stops talking," said Yaoyorozu Momo, aka Creati, who ran the event for the Twin Stars Hero Agency (the Wonder Duo and their friends' agency). Hawks, the former number two hero, was the new Principal of the Middle School.

"Please tell me someone edited Hawks' speech," asked Izuku, worried. Izuku respected Hawks, but Hawks didn't exactly know how to toe the line between appropriate and inappropriate. The last thing they needed was someone taking something Hawks said out of context.

"Don't worry, Iida's brother did," said Creati, smiling. "So, you ready?"

"Of course," said Izuku, with all his normal enthusiasm.

It took another ten minutes before Hawks got to the end of his speech and another three minutes before Hawks got dragged off the stage since everyone wanted to see Deku and not Hawks. Deku's popularity wasn't surprising with the middle school and elementary school crowds and of course, parents.

Deku stepped on stage and went to the podium.

He hated speaking so formally, but All Might was the best at inspiring speeches, so Deku wasn't gonna back down.

"Hero Deku is here!"

"Woooooo!"

"Thanks, Red Riot," laughed Deku. He smiled his award-winning hero smile. "Today, we're here to promote not only a new school, but a place where students' mental health and happiness are the first priority. Too many people with powerful and misunderstood quirks get hurt because they're different. In this world with heroes, that's unacceptable. This is the first step to a better future, one where the children who need the most help aren't lost amongst the crowd, who won't get overlooked because members of society that "oh, it's not my problem, someone else will help." We can all be a little heroic by not looking the other way and doing something about the situation."

The crowd clapped.

"All Might was the pillar of Peace for many years, and we'll continue to protect those that need it, but we all need to work together to make sure that one day, heroes won't be needed because they're won't be anymore villains."

And at that moment, his words meant nothing because there was an explosive. It was good that Deku's friends were there, so there were many Pro-Heroes in the crowd. Deku and Kacchan, the Wonder Duo, went into action, while the others worked on moving the civilians. Out of the wreckage, there stepped forward a man that Izuku didn't recognize.

"Hero Deku, this is for Shigaraki Tomura!"

Nuts.

He was a follower of Shigaraki.

"How did we miss one of 'em," roared Kacchan, who voiced Izuku's exact thought.

"Worry later, defeat him now."

Ultimately, the heroes were victorious. No civilian deaths and the school was unscathed and it was easily fixed. It was the third toughest fight of his life.

"Shit, Deku, that's a lot of blood," said Kacchan. Kacchan was holding Izuku upright and dragging him over to where the first-aid responders arrived. "The fuck you were thinking, idiot, getting hit so many times."

"Sorry, Kacchan." Izuku coughed. And because he knew his own body, because he already broke it so many times before, Izuku knew that he needed blood transfusions, but it'd be difficult with his six quirks from One-For-All.

"Fool," Izuku's best friend said again, but out of worry.

Izuku laughed, as Kacchan deposited Izuku at the back of an ambulance, and medics swarmed Izuku in worry. Kacchan's furrowed brows let Izuku know that Kacchan was a bit more than concerned. Did Izuku look that bad?

"Midoriya Izuku, it's time, son."

Izuku suddenly was staring at the face of the first user of One-For-All, the brother of All-For-One. He barely heard the medics, or them taking off parts of his uniform to get to the injuries, or Kacchan screaming profanities for them to work faster. Something was very, very wrong. He messed up badly this time, didn't he?

"Is it?"

"Give it to him. There's not much time."

"Kacchan," Izuku called out to his childhood friend. He was able to lift his hand and made a grabby motion.

"Deku, shut up and let them work," said Kacchan. His words aside, Kacchan, stood next to the gurney and held Izuku's hand.

"Kacchan, I'm giving it to you," said Izuku, softly.

This startled Kacchan. He whispered, "What? Deku, the fuck you talking about…No, Deku, you ain't dying yet. I still haven't beat ya."

"Kacchan," said Izuku, sternly. Their eyes met, like the time on the island so many years ago when he lent his quirk to Kacchan the first time. This time was gonna be permanent. Red eyes widened in realization, but quickly turned into a glare, and tears were forming. Izuku smiled. "It's gonna be ok, Kacchan. You can do anything. You're my hero."

With a choked sob, Kacchan brought Izuku's bloodied hand to his lips and kissed them. "I'm gonna kick your ass when I see you in the afterlife. Nerd."

"I'll hold you to it, Kacchan."

THE AFTERLIFE

"And then I woke up in the forest and met you," said Izuku, wiping his face of stray tears.

Immediately, Asta hugged Izuku. Izuku let him. It was sweet.

"We just gotta make the best of it," said Izuku, closing his eyes for a brief moment and enjoying the hug.

"And we will. We'll do it together, how's that sound," said Asta, pulling away from the hug and smiling brightly at Izuku.

"Like a great idea, Asta. Truly."