Deku tried to identify each colour he saw, still amazed at how vibrant life could be. The pale pink blossoms on the trees, with darker carnation centres like infinitesimal stars. The lime-green inchworm crawling along the branch. The countless hues of greens and yellows, the balance of shadow and light on the leaves. And most of all, the true blue sky, where birds flew and butterflies danced, their glowing now relegated to the night, but jewel-like colours gracing the day.

Inko walked out of her dwelling, her pink-and-yellow dress swishing at her ankles. She carried a basket loaded with fruits and sweets in her bare hands. She no longer wore a shawl or layers of blankets to keep warm; her smile was bright as day. "Miss Uraraka will enjoy these, too."

"Thanks, Mom. I'll be back before... before the sun sets on the night of the boat moon." Moons later, and those words still carried an unfamiliar, scrumptious taste. A setting sun! A moon that looked like a boat! Even though Uraraka had explained otherwise, Deku used to think that the changing tides were due to the moon actually floating very, very close to the land, hovering as an invisible but powerful force.

Inko planted her hands on her hips. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Izuku. I have a feeling today will be an interesting day. Mothers know when their children are ready to leave the nest."

Deku waved at her and then walked down the dirt path, carrying the basket in one arm as he took the path through the woods. The sand used for preserving the goods made the basket slightly heavy, but Deku wanted to train his body, anyway. Real heroes fly. "Good day, Mirio. As you can see, the people are a lot happier. The bard Kyoka Jiro will be visiting the High Court to perform for the upcoming festival. It'll be just in time for Ida to depart with his mentor and for Uraraka to start her training journey."

Many of the other villagers thought he was crazy, rambling on to the sun, even giving the sun a name. Uraraka was not one of them. She understood. Her auburn-and-cocoa-streaked hair was done in a loose bun. She wore her trademark velvet maroon cloak and had found a new sorcerer's stick, which was adorned with an amber opal at the hook. She also wore sturdy hiking boots for her journey. "Hi, Deku! Are you ready?"

Deku nodded as he and Uraraka climbed onto Ruby Cuperni. Uraraka placed her fingers on the golden unicorn's pelt and then herself and Deku's back, making them all weightless. Ruby Cuperni cantered above the air and reached the castle in only a few days.

Lady Yaoyorozu greeted them in the main courtyard; the gallows had been replaced with spindly fruit trees that were just beginning to bud. "Welcome to the Castle of Chusei." She printed visitor badges for them from her chest and directed Ruby Cuperni to the newly hired stableboy, a silent fellow who resembled a peach-barked tree gone human. Mirio Togata may be a kind, warm sun, but Tamaki Amajiki was the remnant of a cruel, awful one, leaving a mark on humankind like a stain.

The bard arrived early, and Lady Yaoyorozu left Deku and Uraraka to head to the dungeons on their own so she could greet the other guest. With each step, foreboding pressed on Deku. There were two prisoners: Lady Nejire Hado, whose thick silvery hair had been cropped short to prevent lice, and Mr. Shirakumo, a half-dead man with scratches down his face from where he'd tried to claw out his eyes.

Uraraka shivered. "He's been like that since he saw Kurogiri. Mr. Aizawa and the others left him here knowing Todoroki would keep him alive while they hunted down the villains who captured him all those years ago." She took the basket from Deku, not minding the weight – she made it weigh nothing, anyway – and sat in front of Nejire's cell, her back to Mr. Shirakumo lying on his cot. "Hello, Nejire. We brought nanaimo bars and granny smith apples—courtesy of Mrs. Midoriya. Eri said they're your favourite. Before... you know."

After her horn grew back, Eri had rewinded herself to just before she'd gotten her sun mark. She no longer had her horn, nor her memories of meeting the other Cardinals, making it impossible to convict her. She was like a different person: still timid and gentle, but without the brokenness that Amajiki's sun had forced onto her. She looked the same age as Deku and his friends.

Nejire didn't respond. She did not reach for any of Uraraka's offerings. Only her wave magic kept her alive.

Uraraka set down the basket and ran away in tears. Deku hesitated. "You're still beautiful, Your Grace."

He didn't expect a reply, but she croaked out, "He'll come for me."

"Uh... Togata?"

"Tamaki. He'll save me and Mirio."

"Mirio doesn't need to be saved."

Nejire returned to her silence. Deku left the dungeons and tried to look for Uraraka or Ida. Technically, they'd said their goodbyes over a bowl of waffle fries and crunchy carrots in Miss Kayama's bar – currently operated by a dashing girl with pink skin and blackened sclera who had immediately befriended Kirishima and even Bakugo – but Deku wanted to say a final farewell before leaving.

Life, it seemed, had other plans. Todoroki and Bakugo argued over a riding formation, with Bakugo wanting to take his dragon to the sky and Todoroki insisting that they stay on the ground together. Todoroki broke off when he noticed Deku. "Well met, Midoriya."

Bakugo was less friendly. "You're late, Deku."

"Um, yeah. Hi." He took a shaking breath as he brushed his hand through Ruby Cuperni's mane. "Congratulations on your coronation, Todoroki."

"Thank you."

"Are you sure it's wise to leave the castle to your father?"

"Lady Yaoyorozu will be in charge of castle affairs. The King is merely a figurehead."

Bakugo scoffed. "She's far more capable of ruling than the old geezer, anyway."

Todoroki smiled in agreement. "Well, then. Shall we ride?"

Bakugo placed a ringed hand on his dragon's neck. "We'll race you two losers to the bog."

Deku and Todoroki got on their unicorns; Ruby Cuperni and Silver Lancea stayed just behind the tip of the dragon's tail. The three of them would learn from All Might, who would pass on his power and wisdom so they could go on to fight alongside the vigilantes—but as proper heroes, like knights, supported by the Castle of Chusei. There were many people for them to save, many villains for them to beat: Tomura Shigaraki, the angel of death; Toga, the girl who lusted for blood; the arsonist who lurked in the castle's shadows; Kurogiri, Mr. Shirakumo's counterpart pulling the strings; Stain's followers, who were calling for the Cardinals to be executed. Not to mention Tamaki Amajiki, the one who harboured the original sun. And all the petty criminals, invading foreigners, and crimes of passion that the cold had subdued.

But Deku didn't like to think about villains. After all, he reminded himself as he rode on Ruby Cuperni with Todoroki at his right flank and Bakugo leading them toward the setting sun, we want to be heroes.