Arriving at the funeral was more nerve-wracking than Hitoshi ever could have imagined. The venue was pretty big and yet it still seemed to be full to bursting. With everyone dressed in black it was interesting to observe the different levels of sadness upon the expressions of those in attendance. He knew what grief was now and it was obvious that there were a few other people who seemed to be going through it just like he was.

Without even realising it Hitoshi had shrunk back, positioning himself slightly behind the number one hero and ducking his eyes down to the floor. All Might seemed to notice this a few seconds later as the hand he had been holding on the way there was offered out once again. He took it quickly, a soft, reassuring squeeze following before the pro hero crouched down a little to be on his eye level.

"If you need to go out for a bit at any point then just let me know okay, and we only need to stay for as long as you wish too, don't feel like you need to force yourself through anything for my sake."

Hitoshi nodded.

"Toshinori."

They both turned to see Sir's husband walk over to them. He was the last person he wanted to see, not with the sheer amount of guilt still churning inside him. What was he even supposed to say?

"And of course Hitoshi."

He offered the smallest of nods, unsure how to respond.

"Eiichi, how are you doing?"

Hitoshi couldn't help but notice the almost shuddering breath he took before he responded.

"I've been better."

Sir's husband turned to him.

"It's nice to see you back on your feet once again, you gave everyone quite a scare back at the hospital."

'SORRY'

All Might translated for him.

Eiichi chuckled.

"It wasn't your fault your lungs were trying to kill you. It's not surprising considering how far past your limits you pushed yourself on that raid, I read about it in the report, I mean I've heard of quirk overuse but the damage you caused to yourself because of it… thank goodness little Eri was there to heal you."

Hitoshi's gaze fell to the floor.

Yeah, she was too busy wasting her time healing me when she could have been helping Sir.

"Hey…" Eiichi's voice began softly. "Your head is probably a little loud right now I'm guessing, too many 'what ifs' floating around?"

He nodded.

"How about I tell you something? Back at Kamino Ward, Mirai and I watched the whole thing. The news cameras got there pretty much the same time as Toshinori here did but they only had helicopter shots at that point; Mirari being Mirari though he found a way to use the CCTV from the street where the fight was going down."


Laptop projecting to the TV in the living room, Mirai and Eiichi's eyes were nervously glued to the screen, Nighteye's phone buzzing like crazy with texts and attempted phone calls had was sending straight to voicemail.

"Wait, is that them?!"

Out walked the League with one of their members shoving the two UA kids along with him, their wrists clearly tied behind their backs. They looked positively ill, a sickly pale even in the low light of the night and far too skinny, Mirai didn't want to think about how scared the pair of them would be in the situation that was still unfolding.

Seconds later the member's hand lit up in fire as he taunted it beside the face of the purple-haired kid the UA report had listed as Hitoshi Shinsou. With a little research he had found out all about him, the young teen having spent almost his entire life in the grasp of the League of Villains, only having found some kind of normality after being arrested during the USJ attack on the school. He had been taken in by Eraserhead and Present Mic who were acting as his guardians.

"Fuck man, they could have taken any pro hero; not that I would wish that on anyone but you know what I mean, they're just damn kids, they don't deserve to have to go through any of this!" Eiichi shook his head.

A warp gate opened seconds later before Mirai froze.

"Is that?!"

"All For One." He confirmed.

The purple-haired kid looked beyond terrified at the new arrival and Mirai couldn't blame him.

A gust of wind blew through the street.

"Surely that has to be Toshinori."

Eiichi's prediction was confirmed as the number one attempted to land a punch against his old foe.

"I'll have you return my students!"

Suddenly both of the UA students were swept from their feet as the shockwave from the attack knocked them from their feet, the dust cloud that followed making it impossible to see how the kids had fared.

They could vaguely hear taunts being thrown before a loud crash followed and Toshinori was thrown through numerous blocks of buildings into the distance.

"ALL MIGHT!"

"Holy shit!"

Shigaraki walked over to the purple-haired kid and grabbed him by the collar with a grin that sent a shiver down Mirai's spine.

"Fuck. You."

The laughter that followed filled him with fear, his eyes widening seconds later as the loudest of gasps escaped his lips at the scene unfolding in front of them.

Shigaraki had slashed the purple-haired kid across the eye, the sight causing Mirai to gag as a gush of blood fell. As he slumped to the ground both he and Eiichi were silent.

"HITOSHI!"

The other kid threw out a fiery blast to force Shigaraki back as he threw himself to his knees, collecting his friend in his arms.

Mirai had to look away as he collected himself, standing up from the couch and pacing the room as he listened to the desperate begs of someone far too young to be that afraid. He scrubbed a hand down his face.

They were both too young to ever be in a situation such as the one taking place before them.

Toshinori flew back onto the scene shortly after but their attention was still focused elsewhere.

Eiichi furrowed an eyebrow.

"Mirai?"

He looked back to the screen to see where his husband was pointing; walking closer to the screen he could vaguely make out something approaching from the sky.

"What is that?"

"Please tell me that's not more kids… fuck it is."

"Kacchan?" The weak voice of the purple-haired kid was barely audible over the connection they were using, Mirari almost wished they didn't have any sound at all like the CCTV of old, but here they were.

"I'm right here. I'm right here, Toshi."

"Thank you, for everything."

Eiichi shook his head.

"No, no, no, what is he planning to do? Please don't be stupid."

The other kid seemed to realise something.

"No!"

"Use your quirk to grab onto them. Get out of here."

His friend fired up his blasts once again before he seemed to burst up into the sky where the cluster of kids were waiting, the UA student managing to grab one of one of their hands before they continued on their trajectory away from what had now become a battlefield.

"HITOSHI!" A new voice screamed.

A new warp gate appeared before the League were seen leaving, Mirai could only take that as a positive although he knew the night was far from over.

"Where are the heroes?!" Eiichi was on his feet too now, clearly too nervous. "That kid needs a fucking doctor and there's no one there to help him, he's gonna' bleed to death!"

"First to go will be your self-respect and ridiculous public image. Show the world how pitiful you really are, 'Symbol of Peace'."

Mirai's attention had been caught by the statement; it had after all been his area during his time spent as the sidekick to All Might. His breath caught in his throat as the dust cleared to reveal Toshinori stood in his normal form.

"No, no, no, no!" Eiichi shook his head, hands pressed over his mouth.

The secret Toshinori had been trying to so hard for so many years to keep away from the public eye, and now it was being broadcast for all to see across the entire country; no, the whole world. People were going to see what had become of their Symbol of Peace after his last encounter with All For One.

The last time he'd been his sidekick.

Memories of screaming for him in the corridor of the hospital flashed to the forefront of his mind before he shoved them away. That was the last thing he needed right now.

Lost in thought he'd missed the context for his friend's pained howl but his attention was once again caught as he watched the number one scrape across the ground as he came to a stop just shy of the UA student.

"No… they're both going to… they can't die…" Eiichi had tears in his eyes; clearly struggling to watch anymore.

"All… Might…" The smallest of voices emerged from the purple-haired kid as he reached out a hand towards Toshinori, the damage to his sight causing him to miss which only tore at Mirai's heart more.

Toshinori pushed himself up, something which clearly took some effort, before he came to a kneel beside the kid and took hold of his hand.

"You need... to keep fighting. Giving your own life won't achieve anything, and it won't save us, you need to stay strong. You can do this." He paused. "I was raised around villains so I know what they look like and you're not one of them."

Mirai had collected Eiichi in his arms in comfort, the two of them struggling to hold back the tears trickling down their cheeks.

"Don't lose… Please…"

Eiichi buried his head against his shoulder.

Mirai watched as Toshinori offered the kid a soft smile.

"Rest, Master Shinsou."

"I believe in you... All Might..."

The kid passed out cold after that but he'd done more than anyone could ever have asked for. Even bleeding to death, alone, and in the presence of Japan's deadliest villain he'd still fought through the pain to reassure All Might of all people. He was incredible.

"Fear not child, I'm not done yet." Toshinori was making his way towards All For One once again. "You were right; a hero has so much to protect in this world. Which is why I will defeat you! I'll beat you, not because I'm a symbol, but because I will do as my master did for me. You look at these people with such insignificance that you fail to see their strength. I promised Master Shinsou that I won't lose and so... I refuse to die!"

"Nice trick, still weak though."

"That's because… I didn't put my back into it that time!"

Mirai's eyes widened knowing full well what he was prepared to do.

"Toshinori… no…" His voice was breathy as weak as he pressed a hand over his mouth.

"UNITED STATES OF SMASH!"

The ground beneath them was destroyed as the villain plummeted into it under the force of All Might's greatest attack.

"Goodbye, One For All."

The words were so quiet that he only just managed to hear them but he had all the same. It was only Eiichi's arms that kept him on his feet as his legs almost gave out beneath him.

Toshinori what have you done?!

He watched as his friend dragged himself across the battlefield to the purple-haired kid.

"He did it." Eiichi gasped.

Lifting the kid into his arms he struggled to his feet before raising a fist to the air in his usual pose. It was all too clear though just what the action actually symbolised.

This was the end of All Might.

Everything was coming true.

Mirai couldn't draw his eyes away from the unconscious teen who'd shown so much strength.

"I may have my criticisms of that school but I must say, they certainly know how to spot incredible heroes."


Hitoshi took a breath as he fiddled with his fingers; eyes back down on the ground.

He didn't have the words to say how even back then he'd sealed the fate of Sir. Nighteye. His connection with the League had led to his and Kacchan's kidnapping, and the only reason All Might had been there that night was to save them.

He never should have had to face All For One in the first place then he wouldn't have lost the last of his power.

He never would have had to step down as the number one hero.

Sir would never have had to go into that raid without All Might.

Sir would never have died.

Hitoshi pulled at his hair as he tried desperately not to cry.

Seconds later All Might came to kneel in front of him, the thoughts in his head were drowning out whatever the pro was saying. Gentle hands came to stop him from hurting himself before he was drawn into a warm embrace against the number one's chest, his arms coming to wrap around him in a protective hold.

He held on tight, fisting a hand in the material of All Might's suit jacket as he desperately tried to stop the voices tormenting him.

Hitoshi wasn't sure how long they stayed like that as he seemed to lose time somewhere, finding himself outside as he came back to himself. He was still in the pro's arms as they sat on a wall outside the venue. The gentle breeze from earlier was calming.

'SORRY' He motioned to himself. 'ME SORRY'

"Master Shinsou…"

'MESS EVERYTHING UP'

All Might took a breath before beginning to stroke a hand up and down his back.

"Everything must have gotten a little much back there and that's fine, you're out of there now and you can take as long as you need, there's no rush."

'RUIN'

"You've done no such thing."

'E-I-I-C-H-I'

"Is worried about you."

'WHY?'

The pro held him a little tighter.

"Because he cares about you, as did Nighteye, as do I."

Gravel crunched underfoot as Hitoshi noticed Eiichi slowly approach, clearly in an attempt not to spook him.

"Hey, Hitoshi, you feeling any better, kiddo?"

'SORRY'

He shook his head.

"I should be the one apologising to you, I should've considered how that story might have affected you with everything else going on, the fault is my own. What I was trying to get across is that Mirai held such a high opinion of you since that night and it never faltered. The second the internships were announced he was determined to make sure you joined the agency. Mirai knew exactly what kind of person you were and that you were going to be an amazing hero because of your selflessness and how much you cared for those around you. I mean, he trusted you before he even met you despite not being able to use his quirk."

'MISPLACED TRUST'

Eiichi was almost tearful at this point, he shook his head.

"No Hitoshi, I don't think he did."

All Might looked down at him.

"You don't have to go back in there if you don't want to."

Hitoshi took a deep breath.

'STAY WITH ME?'

The number one's heart almost broke right then and there with those weak words.

"Always."