Thank you guys for the warm reception! I've been having a blast thinking about this story and writing this chapter. I hope I can deliver a good, interesting story for all of you to enjoy.
The two pardons.
The rest of the day had been an emotional rollercoaster for Ochako. Her classmates had all rushed to make sure that she, Izuku, Katsuki, and Shoto were okay. Naturally, they were most excited about finally being able to talk to Izuku, after the long months he had spent away from them. The reunion was chaotic, but class 2-A wouldn't have had it in any other way. Mineta, Sero, Kaminari, and Kirishima weren't able to keep the excitement out of their voices as they made sure to let Izuku know how much of a badass he had looked like as he ran around the school saving them all from those nasty Nomus that they could barely contain. Toru and Mina, on the other hand, were hardcore fangirling about him, saying how brave and strong he was, congratulating him for defeating All for One.
Ochako would have gotten a bit jealous, but she was the one carrying Izuku, and his weight against her was oddly reassuring. This was the physically closest they had ever been and she was loving it. She had a tight but gentle grip on him, and part of her was happy to know that he wouldn't be going anywhere. Not without her.
So when Best Jeanist, Hawks, and a grumpy, short old man —whose name she didn't know but that she had seen on TV fighting alongside All Might in the Camino battle— came to tell them all that they needed to get Izuku to the hospital, she refused to leave his side.
"I'll go with him," she stated. She didn't ask for permission. She didn't ask if it was okay for her to join them.
The pro heroes looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Midoriya must be exhausted from the battle," Best Jeanist said. "You also seem to be hurt. Maybe it would be best if you let us—"
"I'm not leaving him," she interrupted, fierce determination on her face as she stood up to the current number two hero. "Deku's my best friend, and I'm not leaving him. Not after so long."
She could feel the rest of the class's eyes darting between her and Best Jeanist. She even seemed to hear Bakugo letting out an approving snicker behind her. She could also see and feel Izuku's green eyes fixed on her, and how he whispered her name with surprise in his voice.
"Uravity, we understand your concerns," the old man said, and Ochako was surprised to find that he knew her hero name, "but there are some things we ought to discuss with young Midoriya, and it might be better if we do it in private."
"With all due respect, sir, I—"
"She can be there."
Ochako turned to look at Izuku. His eyelids seemed heavy, and he was struggling to stay awake, but he made sure his voice was loud and clear when he spoke.
"Deku…"
"She's my best friend. I trust her. I… I probably should start showing more of that trust, instead of just saying it," he said, giving her an apologetic smile. "I don't want to keep any more secrets from her. O-Or any other of my friends, for that matter. I don't mind her coming with us. I…"
He looked away, and they could all see a slight blush spreading on his face.
"I… I would like her company…"
Ochako wondered if Jiro could hear her heart drumming against her chest. She wondered if everyone could hear it because it sure felt strong and loud after his kind words. Her expression softened, and she gently tightened her grip on him. He didn't seem to mind, and forgetting about the dozens of people that surrounded them, they shared a small moment where they smiled at each other. A moment where it all felt alright, where the pain and exhaustion were gone. A moment that reminded Ochako how much she'd missed him.
The old man sighed, shaking his head with a knowing smile. Best Jeanist's expression was unreadable, but he didn't seem particularly thrilled. Hawks, on the contrary, looked extremely bored as he stretched his back and grunted in pain. He took out his broken visor, examining the damages before casually throwing it to the ground.
"I mean if Midoriya's fine with it then what's the problem? No need to make this more complicated than necessary. Come on, kid, let's get on the ambulance."
The two top heroes and the old man turned around, and Ochako helped Izuku walk behind them. Some of their classmates tried to join, but the teachers managed to stop them. As much as they wanted to be with Izuku, they needed to take care of themselves first. Some were just now getting past the adrenaline rush, and their wounds were not only beginning to hurt more, but the weight of everything that had happened was settling in.
It did as well for Ochako, but she tried not to think about it as she dragged her best friend through the path that the pro heroes opened for them, cheering and congratulating Izuku as they walked past. The rest of the school was there as well. Class 2B, the general studies. Even pro heroes who had arrived at U.A. as soon as they found out about the attack, trying their best to help.
"Thank you, Uraraka," Izuku said after a while. "I… I know we have a lot to talk about."
"Oh, we do," she said, flashing a playful smirk at him. "You think you can really just run away for two months and leave only a letter for me?"
He let out a nervous laugh and raised his left arm to scratch the back of his head. "Y-Yeah, I, uh, I know it looks bad, but I was just—"
"Shh, save it. I'm… I'm just happy that you're back," she admitted.
He tilted his head to the side, letting it rest against hers.
"I'm happy to be back."
Her heart fluttered, and she was filled with a warm sensation, like a whole bag of popcorn popping off inside her stomach. She lost control of her quirk for a second, and in an instant, Izuku's body became weightless as it floated an inch above the ground.
"Oops! S-Sorry!"
"Actually, this is better," he said, chuckling. "My legs aren't cooperating. Would you…? Would you mind…?"
He blushed as he trailed off, and Ochako snorted. Was he embarrassed to ask for her to carry him with her quirk?
"It's ok, I don't mind! I probably should have done this earlier."
They quickly got to the ambulance, with the old man joining them, and Ochako only let go of him when the medics took him and placed him on a stretcher. Even then, she insisted on staying by his side, something Izuku made sure to thank her for. Ochako noticed that pro heroes were escorting them on the street, making sure that nothing happened to them on their way to the hospital. One of the paramedics started applying all sorts of first aids to Izuku, who didn't complain or resist, while a second one tried to check on Ochako.
"I'm fine, really," she said, trying to wave her off.
"That's a nasty wound on your hand, miss. At least let me take a look at it."
"Uraraka, she's right," Izuku said looking at her with worry in his eyes.
"It may not be fatal, but you should make sure your tendons aren't damaged," the old man said. "Losing movement on a hand for not taking care of it would be a shame."
She tried to argue for a bit but ended up agreeing. The look the paramedic gave her didn't seem to help her nerves. At least it stopped hurting when she applied a local anesthetic and began cleaning her wound. Ochako turned to look at the pro hero.
"Excuse me, sir. I was wondering… What's your name?"
"Gran Torino, a pleasure to meet you. Toshinori spoke kindly of you. All Might," he clarified when he noticed her confused look.
"O-Oh! I saw you two together during the fight in Kamino."
"He was one of All Might's mentors," Izuku explained. "And he also helped train me when I was still getting used to One for All. It's thanks to him that I developed my Shoot Style."
Ochako turned to look at the old hero with wide eyes. All Might's mentor? She had never heard of him before. And he had helped Izuku with his quirk?
She gently bowed her head.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir!"
"No need to be formal. So, before we get to the hospital and everything gets more complicated, I guess I should ask: how much do you know about everything that has happened in the past few months?"
Ochako winced at the pain in her hand, but it might as well have been at the frustration of feeling like there was so much she was missing.
"I know about Deku's quirk. I know why All for One was after him. I know he left our school to avoid making us a target. We saw him in the news when… when Endeavor and All Might were killed," she said, her face twisting in worry as she saw the way Izuku reacted to the name of his late idol. "And… and that's pretty much it."
Gran Torino nodded in silence, before turning his attention to Izuku. "It would probably be for the best if you told her about the work you were doing with the top three heroes and All Might before the situation escalated."
Izuku sighed. "Yeah, that's probably for the best."
As the paramedic kept cleaning out his wounds and putting bandages over the most serious cuts and injuries he had, he spilled it all out, and the more he revealed, the more worried Ochako grew.
By the time they got to the hospital, she was even more adamant about not leaving his side.
"You were going after such dangerous villains!" She said, holding one of his hands. "Deku, why did you do this all alone? Why didn't you tell me? Us? We would've helped you if we knew!"
"I know. Which is exactly why I didn't tell you," he admitted. "I didn't want to drag you guys into my mess…"
"We're your friends!"
"I know…"
"We were so worried about you, Deku. You… You have no idea how much we worried."
He looked away. "I know. Like I said, I didn't want to—"
"He couldn't tell you," Gran Torino intervened, earning a glance from the two young heroes. "What he did, although for all the right reasons, was highly illegal. His work as a Vigilante broke many laws. Even the pro heroes that helped him were indulging in criminal activity. Involving more people than what was necessary would have only made things worse, and the job he was doing required secrecy. Midoriya may have put too much pressure on himself and refused to share the load, but given how everything's turned out, I think he deserves some understanding from his friends."
Ochako wasn't a fan of that. She obviously understood why he did it. She could see his reasoning and why he thought he was doing them a favor by keeping them out of his troubles. She wasn't going to hold it against him or hate him for it.
But what about her? She had suffered his absence. She had been worried sick. Countless nights she had cried herself to sleep, wondering what he was up to. If he was okay. If he was still alive. If she would ever see him again. She had to come to terms with the fact that she had been right, long ago, when she decided that her feelings needed to be pushed away for her to focus on being a hero. And that, though she had tried her hardest, she had ultimately failed.
She cared way too much for him. And she knew he cared for her too, obviously, but he was too focused on being a hero. After reading his letter and learning the challenges he was facing, she couldn't blame him at all. She was thinking of romance while he had the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, trying to gain full control of his quirk(s) so he could be ready to fight a villain that textbooks didn't dare speak of. She hated herself when she was forced to face that revelation. She felt out of touch, like she couldn't look at the big picture, too focused on her feelings.
And yet, as the weeks went by, she concluded that her feelings mattered, too. They weren't trivial. She felt hurt and worried that he'd left without saying a proper goodbye. She could understand him, but didn't she deserve some understanding as well? She had agency. She was old enough to make her own choices, to decide whether she wanted to risk her life helping him or not. At the very least, she felt that she deserved a better explanation. A conversation. Perhaps it was selfish, but she didn't like the idea of other people making decisions for her.
She lowered her head and clenched her fists. Was she really going to go off about this? Was she really gonna speak up?
She looked up at both Izuku and Gran Torino with fire in her eyes.
Oh, yes. She was.
"I understand why he did it. But just because it worked out doesn't mean that it was the right thing to do."
Izuku looked away, but she put a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to stare at her eyes as she talked. She wanted him to see the honesty in them. The worry.
"Deku, you won. You did something… incredible! And I knew you could do it. I've always believed in you."
"Uraraka…"
"But do you have any idea of how I'd feel if something bad had happened to you? If you died?"
The temperature in the back of the ambulance dropped. The paramedics kept trying to be professional, working on the two wounded teenagers in the least intrusive way possible, trying to stay invisible. Gran Torino tilted his head slightly, his critical eye analyzing their body language and every word that escaped their mouths.
Izuku seemed to be at a loss for words, so Ochako pushed further.
"I would have had to live with that for the rest of my life. I'd wonder if there was anything I could have done. If I should have realized what you were struggling with earlier. If I should've chased after you. Deku… If anything happened to you, I don't know how I could've lived with it."
He tried to sit up, but he was too tired, so he fell back with a grunt and gave her an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry I worried you. I know it was… dangerous. But I had to do it, I needed to—"
"I'm not mad at you for doing it," she said, cutting him short, and her eyes started to sting. "I know that you can't help yourself, you always put yourself in danger if you think that's the right thing to do. It's what makes you such a great hero. So no, I'm not mad at you for doing all this crazy work you did, or for fighting All for One."
She stopped for a second to quickly rub her eyes and push back the tears that threatened to fall.
"I'm mad at you for not letting me help you. I don't care if it was dangerous. I don't care if it was illegal. I'm not as good in combat as you or Bakugo, but I'm going to be a hero, too!" She sternly said. "I want to be the kind of hero that helps people, including other heroes! And I can see it in your face… you needed to be saved, too."
She then surprised even herself as she took a hand and placed it on his cheek. Izuku's face turned beet red and his shoulders tensed. Uraraka could feel her cheeks burning, but decided to shake those thoughts away and focus on what was important right then. She needed to let it all out at that very moment because she wasn't sure she'd ever find the courage to speak up like that again.
"You went through so much, Deku… Fighting all those villains… Being away from everyone you loved… Losing All Might… You were looking after everyone, trying to protect and save us, but who was looking after you? Your eyes —they look like you've been going through so much. Maybe I wouldn't be much help against Nomus and the crazy powerful villains you were after, but I could've found other ways to help. Maybe… maybe just being there for you when you needed to talk! I don't know! I don't even know what I'm saying anymore!"
She let out a nervous chuckle, trying to keep the unbridled tidal wave of her emotions from taking over and drowning her.
"I just know that I've missed you so much. And I'm mad that you wouldn't let me help you. I know you don't want people to worry about you, but you're my best friend! I'm always going to worry about you. So you might as well do both of us a favor and let me help you."
He bit his trembling lip, and when he teared up, any defenses she may have tried to build up crumbled. She threw herself at him, crying on his shoulder. She completely forgot about the paramedics that were still trying to take care of them, and they allowed her to have her moment with Izuku.
He showed once again just how resilient he was, finding strength from within to wrap his arms around her
"U-Uraraka, I'm so sorry. I never… I didn't…"
"I know," she said, holding him like she never wanted to let go. And she didn't. "I'm… mad, but not angry-mad, more like, worried-mad. I'll forgive you… but you gotta promise me that, next time you want to do something crazy, you'll talk to me first."
It was a blatant lie. She had already forgiven him the moment he returned. It was easy to be mad at him when she didn't know if she would ever see him again. It was hard to stay mad at Izuku when she had him in her arms, his tears coating her shoulder, and seeing the regret in his eyes.
Plus, he was the guy that saved the world by punching All for One so hard that the weather changed. He deserved some credit.
But she couldn't let him know that, at least not yet.
Izuku sighed and let go of his grip on her enough to rest back against the stretcher and give her a tired grin. "I promise," he said.
Ochako wiped the trails of tears off her face and then raised her fist. "I forgive you, then."
They sealed the deal with smiles on their faces and a fist bump.
Unfortunately, Ochako was so emotional that she went a bit overboard with the gesture and forgot how fragile Izuku's bones were at the moment. For the next two minutes, she found herself apologizing profusely as Izuku shook his hand in the air like it was set on fire.
Gran Torino didn't stop laughing until they reached the hospital.
By the time the ambulance parked, the painkillers were already taking effect, and Izuku stopped feeling like his body was nothing but a pile of broken pieces being held together by duct tape. It felt more like that one time he had to carry All Might's buffed form on his back all across the beach. Only instead of All Might, it was Fat Gum and Gang Orca, and instead of carrying them across the beach, he was lying on a nail bed while the two danced the tango on top of him.
It was worth it, though. He had won. He had defeated All for One. He'd done All Might proud, showing the world he was there to keep his legacy alive. That there was a new generation of heroes ready to take on the challenge and protect everyone. Feeling pain all over his body was a sacrifice he was willing to make in exchange for that. He was no stranger to pain. He could deal with it.
Having Ochako by his side also helped alleviate his pain. The couple of months he spent on the run, coordinating with the Top Three heroes and All Might had been pretty lonely for him. He only truly talked and spent fleeting moments with his mentor. The rest of the time, he was by himself, capturing supervillains, getting lectures and training from the other successors, mastering the control of all his quirks. The danger, adrenaline, and urgency of his missions were enough to keep him distracted during the day.
Late at night, however, as he found a corner in an alley or rooftop to try to close his eyes and get some sleep, he was helpless against the intrusive thoughts that plagued his mind. He missed everyone. His mom. His teachers. His friends. God, did he miss his friends. He never had any true friends growing up. Only Kacchan, but their bond was far from a typical friendship. He'd told himself that it was okay, that he didn't need friends like that. He was happy just being there in school, analyzing his classmates' quirks and keeping track of Kacchan's progress. It made him think that maybe, one day, he'd be able to catch up to him and everyone else. And maybe, one day, they'd see him as their equal. That thought seemed to be enough for him, and though he had episodes of loneliness and some slight depression —though he would never admit to it out loud—, he believed he had been living a happy life.
And then he got into U.A., and he made real friends. Friends that complimented his brain, his tactics, that were impressed by his quirk, that accepted him with open arms. And that's when he realized truly what he had been missing his whole life. A sense of companionship. Community. People to rely on. To laugh with. To cry with. He had finally gotten that, and then he had to give it away. Turn his back on his friends, and run away. To keep them safe.
He'd cried a lot thinking about them. Iida. Tsu. Kirishima. Kacchan. Ochako… Leaving them behind, going solo to do what was right. At the time, he wasn't sure whether this was a mission he could come out of alive. It pained him to think that, maybe, he would never get to see them again.
The moment Hawks contacted him to let him know that All for One was attacking U.A. to get Eri, he felt his heart stop. He didn't even realize his legs were kicking the air at 80% of his power to get there faster. He wasn't even thinking of how All for One getting Eri's quirk would make him an unstoppable force. He was only worried about the child and his friends. He couldn't let them get hurt. He couldn't allow it.
It was still too early to be sure of it, but he believed that the only reason he could sustain One for All at 100% without breaking his body was because of his resolve to use it to protect his friends. He didn't care what happened to him, but unlike before, he was aware that giving one devastating attack that would leave him crippled wasn't the way to help everyone. Unlike previous times, he was mindful of the consequences of his actions. When he fought Todoroki at the Sports Festival, he was okay with breaking his fingers because he believed that helping his friend was more important. Against All for One, however? He could only save everyone by staying alive. And somehow that determination, that resolve, was able to grant him better control of his full power.
It still hurt like hell, but as the ambulance doors flung open and Ochako stood up, keeping a hand on his shoulder for reassurance, he realized he was ready to deal with whatever came his way after succeeding in his mission.
Of course, when the paramedics took his stretcher out of the ambulance and he realized what was going on around him, he questioned that idea.
Best Jeanist and Hawks were waiting for him outside of the ambulance, but their eyes were set on the multitude of journalists that were stationed outside of the hospital, barely contained by a police line and several pro heroes. The Lurkers were there, with Edgeshot, Kamui Woods, and Mt. Lady. The three seemed to have been escorting the ambulance, and as soon as they got there, they helped keep the reporters at bay. A couple more heroes helped as well, and Izuku's inner fanboy was ecstatic knowing that they were all there because of him.
"Come on, Midoriya, some people are waiting for you," Hawks said, making a sign for the paramedics to follow him as he and Best Jeanist began walking to the secondary entrance to the hospital that had been cleared for him.
Gran Torino walked by his side, while Ochako stayed close to him. As they moved, all the flashes were soon on him, and he could hear some of the questions that they were asking him.
"Izuku Midoriya, what's your relationship with All Might?!"
"Why was the villain All for One after you?!"
"Are you Hawks and Best Jeanist's sidekick?!"
"What is the secret to your quirk?!"
"Is it true that you were engaged in vigilante activity with Endeavor and the current top two heroes?!"
Hawks raised a hand to look at the press. "No comments!"
The reporters pressed forward, asking louder and faster, but Izuku was dragged inside the hospital before he could get a headache.
"Oh, wow," he said, once the doors closed behind him and the chaos of the press seemed to die down. "Thank you. That was insane. Throw a Nomu at me, but I definitely don't want to deal with those guys any time soon."
"Oh, I get you, young man," said a very tired voice a few feet ahead of him, half-yawning, "but unfortunately, we're all gonna have to address them soon."
When the paramedics stepped away, the color drained from Izuku's face. Walking towards him, he saw Yokumiru Mera from the Hero Public Safety Commission and chief of police Tsuragamae. Hawks, Best Jeanist, and Gran Torino seemed unphased by their presence, but Izuku felt every aching muscle in his body tensing.
All Might had warned him of how illegal his rogue escapades were. He made sure to list out every single law he'd be breaking. And at the end of the scary long list, he had still agreed to do what had to be done. It was worth the risk.
But now he was being approached by the chief of police and a representative of the HPSC, and he just knew that he had run out of luck. It was time to face the consequence of his actions. Would he be facing time in prison? Was he going to be banned from ever becoming a hero? What was going to happen to him now?
Just when the questions were starting to become too much for his battered head to handle, he felt Ochako's hold on his shoulder tightening. He looked up at her and realized that she looked worried, but she was also shooting daggers at the two figures of authorities. She was putting two and two together, and she didn't seem to be particularly thrilled at their presence.
"How's the boy holding up? He looks ruff," said the chief of police, showing his dog mannerisms.
"He's stable," said the female paramedic. "I used my Quirk to scan him. There's no internal bleeding or fractured bones, but he has multiple bruised ribs and strains all over his body."
"Is it paw-sible to delay the treatment so we can have a conversation with him first?"
"It is… though I would recommend keeping it short. His body needs to rest."
Chief Tsuragamae looked at Mera and gave him a small nod. Mera let out a new yawn and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah, yeah, we'll go straight to the point. Jeanist, Hawks, Mr. Torino, you all need to come with us. Young lady, you can go with the paramedics to make sure—"
"She's staying," said Izuku, beating Ochako to the punch by a second. He knew she'd insist on staying with him, and it would be better if he was the insolent one that defied the authorities instead of her. He was deep into trouble anyway.
The two adults looked at each other, while Best Jeanist shook his head slightly.
"The things we need to discuss—" Mera began, but once again, Izuku interrupted him.
"Are things she's aware of or things I don't mind her learning. I'll… I'll only speak if she's allowed to be there."
He didn't even know if he was in a position to make demands like that. He probably wasn't. What was he supposed to do? He had a right to make a call, right? Should he spend it to get in touch with a lawyer? Could he even afford a lawyer?
"Who's the girl?" Asked the chief.
"She's part of Midoriya's class at U.A. A second-year student. Got her provisional license last year," Mera explained, sounding even more tired than usual. "Alright, alright. Fine, she can tag along. Everything we talk about is going to become public soon anyway. Come with us."
As they all headed to an empty room, Ochako smiled at Izuku, who tried to shrug his shoulders but winced at the pain. After using the elevator, they soon got to a room that had been prepared for him. Standing outside of it, the Pro Hero Death Arms was keeping watch. He stepped aside to open the door for the newcomers and bowed his head at them. His eyes rested on Izuku for a couple of seconds, and the green-haired boy wondered if he remembered him as the quirkless kid he had once scolded for running straight into danger.
If he did, he didn't say anything, and seconds later, everyone was taking a seat around Izuku's bed. Ochako pulled her chair as close to him as humanly possible, and he had to control his blushing face. If they were going to arrest him and take his picture, he would rather not look flustered.
"Alright," said Mera, resting his elbows on his knees and using both hands to rub his brows, "we have a lot to discuss and not much time, so we should go straight to the point."
He looked up at Izuku and pointed an accusing finger at him.
"You," he said, before pointing at Hawks and Best Jeanist, "you, and you, have broken many, many laws."
"Guilty as charged," said Hawks with a grin, putting both arms behind his head.
"The Hero Public Safety Commission had been shut down due to a lack of employees and all the damages our institution suffered at the hands of Re-Destro's double, but in the past two weeks, we've been restarting our operations. And after today, we need to make our presence strong again to regain the public's trust. And that means we need to take action about everything that has been going on these past few months. We can't keep looking to the side."
"W-What does that mean?" Asked Ochako.
"It means we need to address the fact that the current top two heroes were allowing a young boy to act as a vigilante, going way beyond what his Provisional Hero License allows. Which is, as you all know, an illegal activity."
"He was doing the right thing! You can't… you can't be serious!"
Izuku looked at how distressed Ochako looked, and although he could understand where she was coming from, this was something he had already accepted.
"Uraraka, don't worry, it's going to be fine," he tried to reassure her.
"How can it be fine? Deku, they're treating you like you're a criminal!"
"He is," Gran Torino said like he was just pointing out that the walls were painted white. "He knew the risks and the consequences of his actions."
"He defeated All for One! And what, you guys are gonna put him in JAIL because of it?!"
"That's not what we said," intervened the chief of police. "Just that we need to address what he's done, woof."
Izuku and Ochako looked at each other with confused eyes before tilting their heads at Tsuragamae. Mera sighed and stretched his back.
"At this point, the press is already putting together pieces of information. There have been many reports, in the paw-st few months, of a mysterious figure capturing criminals and delivering them to the police. There are eyewitnesses, and after your battle against All for One that was broadcasted to the entire nation —nay, the world, well, we can't just pretend nothing happened as we did with your involvement with the Hero Killer Stain."
Ochako gasped and turned to look at Izuku. Hadn't he told her the truth about Stain? No? Oh, wow. He needed to start keeping track of all his lies.
"So… They all know it was me doing vigilante work," he muttered, looking defeated. "There's no way around it."
"No, there's not. It's public knowledge by now. What's done it's done, no need to terrier-self up. We're gonna do a press conference tonight confirming that it was, indeed, you who was doing all this illegal activity."
He felt his stomach twisting. He was supposed to be the new Symbol of Peace. An inspirational figure to all citizens. A beacon of hope. Going to jail at sixteen didn't seem like a great start.
"Does this… does this mean that I'll be arrested?" He asked with a dry throat.
Hawks and Gran Torino snickered, and both the chief of police and Mera straightened their backs, seemingly shocked at what he had just suggested.
"Are you insane?" The latter asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "No! Kiddo, you were broadcasted saving the world. People are head over heels for you right now. How could we arrest you?"
Izuku blinked twice.
"But… but you said…"
"We need to address what happened. But as we speak, the heads-up at the Hero Public Safety Commission are redacting an official pardon for you," he explained, and Izuku felt the weight of the world leaving his shoulders. "We will be acknowledging all the illegal work that you were doing for the past few months and talk about the legal consequences you'd normally be facing, but that's just to discourage others from breaking the law. The President herself will make a statement to officially get you off the hook for all the trouble you got yourself into."
Both Izuku and Ochako let out all the air they had inadvertently been holding in their chests. None of the pro heroes seemed particularly surprised to hear this. Mera gave Izuku half a smile and scratched the back of his head.
"We would like to encourage you to stay within the scope of the law in the future, however."
Izuku gave out a nervous smile, looking away. "I-I'll try it…"
"Of course you will, of course. Oh, you two, by the way," he added, looking at Best Jeanist and Hawks, "you two won't get your hero licenses suspended, but you'll have to pay a heavy fine for allowing Midoriya to do vigilante work without alerting the authorities."
Hawks shrugged while Best Jeanist squinted his eyes.
"Does the Commission need money to start rebuilding?"
"Nah, the government is already redirecting all kinds of funds our way. We just need to set an example. You did risk a child's life, after all."
Jeanist ended up letting out a small sigh. "I suppose it's only fair."
"So is that it?" Izuku asked, looking relieved. "Do I have to do anything? Sign any paper?"
"We'll get to the paperwork when the time comes," Mera said. "There's some other stuff we need to discuss. Especially how things are gonna change moving forward for you, Midoriya."
He didn't like the sound of that. It was too ominous.
"W-What do you mean?"
"Well… for starters, I guess I have the honor of telling you that the Hero Public Safety Commission has decided to approve your Hero License and has registered you as a pro hero."
All sound died in the room, to the point where Izuku could hear his heartbeat and the ragged breaths that went in and out of his lungs. Had he heard that right? His hero license? At his side, Ochako kept darting his eyes from him to Mera, her mouth open in evident shock.
"I… I mean… How…? What….?" He realized he couldn't even finish a single sentence.
"You see, the pardon is enough to keep the media from asking too many questions about your involvement in those activities and possible consequences, but there are a bunch of legal ramifications moving forward that would make things complicated if you stay with just your provisional license. An easy way to solve that obstacle is to simply grant you a full license and make things official."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"They also want to capitalize on your triumphal appearance and market you as a new rising star," Hawks explained. "The public is already loving you, so turning you into a pro hero will be a boost to your credibility and will make the Hero Public Safety Commission look good. Which is something they desperately need."
Mera shrugged but didn't deny it.
Izuku was still speechless. He looked at Ochako like she had the answers to all of his questions, but she seemed to be as shocked as he was.
"But… I didn't pass any exam…" He finally said.
"Technically speaking, the ability to grant a hero license is entirely at the discretion of the Commission. The exams are only there as a formality to give us a framework to test newcomers and make sure they're ready and have what it takes to be a hero. If you think about it, it would be a real nightmare and a waste of time to make heroes like Hawks, Best Jeanist, or Edgeshot retake their exams every time their license expires. We know they're good at what they're doing, so we grant them a new one as soon as they pay their taxes —which you won't have to pay for your first year, by the way, that will be taken care of for you. You got above-average grades on your provisional hero license exam, so it's not like it comes out of nowhere. Oh, and you also were recorded live defeating the greatest villain of all time, one that not even All Might was able to truly get out of the picture. So yeah, we don't expect much blowback from that decision."
"Does… does that mean…?"
"That you're a hero? Yes. Congratulations. We used the name you picked for your provisional hero license, so you're legally registered as Deku. Feel free to rebrand yourself if you want."
Ochako let out a high-pitched squeal and hugged him.
"Oh my God, Deku! You did it! You're a hero! An actual hero, with license and all! This is incredible! You deserve it so much! I'm so happy for you!"
She certainly let him know just how excited she was for him, apparently forgetting that his ribs were bruised. He didn't mind though. He was still trying to process this new information, but as the news sank in, his face lit up.
He was a hero. After dreaming about it since he was three years old —if not earlier—, he had made it. It was crazy to think that two and a half years ago he was but a quirkless boy, and now here he was, being recognized as a hero. All his trouble, all the effort, pain, blood, sweat, and tears he'd invested so far to make this happen, it was all being rewarded. He started to tear up. This was almost as incredible to him as the time he got his admission letter to—
He went stiff and all the happiness left his face. Ochako sensed his change of demeanor and quickly gave him space.
"Deku?"
He looked at her for a second, and then back at Mera.
"Does… does this mean I don't… I won't be able to come back to U.A.?"
His words hit Ochako like a punch in the gut. She opened and closed her mouth, turning her attention to the representative of the HPSC. He scratched his chin and let out a small yawn he didn't even bother covering.
"Well, technically, you still need to finish your high school education and get your diploma before you can even apply to be a sidekick, so once the school reopens its doors, you may want to go back to it."
Both Izuku and Ochako sighed in relief. Best Jeanist, Hawks, and Gran Torino all exchanged knowing looks at the youngsters' reactions.
"Besides, it's the baseline educational requirement if you want to open your own hero agency," Mera commented nonchalantly, "which is what you're probably gonna be spending the Hero Compensation Grant the government is giving you."
"Wait, what?" Izuku asked. "Compensation what?"
Chief Tsuragamae coughed on his fist, and took over the explanation, while Mera sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"Well, as you know, besides private sponsors and their licensing deals, heroes get economic compensation from the government and the HPSC based on their ranking in the Hero Billboard Chart and specific high-profile cases they manage to solve, woof. To make sure their agencies can stay afloat, they can pay their employees, and continue to serve the public. After your… astonishing victory today, the government is preparing an exemplary grant, enough to give you a fair headstart in making your own hero agency."
"My own hero agency?!" He said, jolting up before feeling the pain in his chest. "B-But I… I can't…! How do I even…?! S-Shouldn't I start as a sidekick somewhere?!"
"I mean, I'd be more than happy to take you in for a few years if you want to gain some experience in the field," Hawks said, "but to be fair, you've been doing actual hero work for a while now. You know the ropes. You're more than capable of making your own agency, start lowkey, and then progressively get involved in bigger cases on your own. You would only need to hire someone to help you with your branding, a few accountants, secretaries… you know, people to handle all the boring paperwork for you so you can focus on doing some heroing."
This was a lot for Izuku to take in. Getting a license was already unexpectedly fulfilling his dreams, but being told that he may be ready to start his agency? That was… such a big deal. He had always pictured himself as a sidekick for the first… what, decade or so of his heroic career? Maybe less if he turned out to be great and found some sponsors… But right off high school? That was insane.
"So… the government will give him money to make his own hero agency?" Ochako asked. "That's… a lot."
"Oh, yeah, the final numbers aren't in yet obviously, but I think they sent me an estimate," Mera said, taking out his phone and scrolling a bit. "Ah, yes, here's what's currently being talked about."
He turned his phone around to show them the screen.
Both Izuku and Ochako's jaws dropped.
"T-That's a lot of zeroes…" she muttered.
Mera turned his phone again with a quizzical look. "Oh, wait, sorry. The picture was cropped." He then flipped his phone horizontally, allowing the screen to fit the actual full number.
Izuku nearly fainted, and Ochako's grip almost left a mark on his stretcher's rails.
"T-T-That's too many zeroes!" He stuttered, his face redder than it had ever been. Ochako was almost in a catatonic state next to him, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
Hawks leaned in to take a look and let out a whistle before giving Yokumiru Mera a questioning look. "You guys are really pushing him to be a public figure, aren't you?"
Mera sighed, pocketing his phone away.
"I'm trying to be transparent here, Midoriya. The people have lost their faith in heroes for a while. After All Might, no one's been able to fill in his shoes right, and after so many incidents and revelations about our hero society… the ideal image of heroes has been tainted in the public eyes. Not to mention the rise in villainous activity."
The dire tone of his voice and the content of his speech took Izuku and Ochako out of their stupor and were now listening carefully. He was especially focused now, with a growing sense of dread spreading in his stomach. He could tell where this was going.
"Not even Endeavor's sacrifice to allow the three of you to escape from All for One a week ago was able to fully redeem him in the eyes of the public. The old guard of heroes still has a lot to do before they're forgiven for their sins. But then, out of nowhere, you appear in the scene. A young boy that —and by now this is something the press has figured out— was trained by All Might himself. A boy some may remember from the Sports Festival as a revelation, a promising hero in training. By now, I'm sure they've found out about your involvement in the capturing of the Hero Killer Stain; which, by the way, we should probably tell the truth about. In any case, they'll learn that you were also part of the Shie Hassaikai raid. The exact reports of who defeated Kai Chisaki have been kept secret, but I believe Ryukyu's statement mentions a student hero, so you can count on that being figured out as well. There are videos of you fighting alongside Endeavor and other pro heroes against Tomura Shigaraki a few months ago. And now, they've seen you defeat All for One, smiling and standing just like All Might would have."
He leaned back on his chair and gave him a tired smile, brushing his bangs off his forehead.
"I don't mean to make this harder for you, and I know it's a lot to take in at once, but you're the rising star this society needs right now," he said with unsuspected sincerity. "A warm sunrise after the darkest of nights. Chosen by All Might himself. There isn't a better pitch for a new inspirational figure to bring people's hope back into the hero society. The fact that you've already captured dangerous villains like Muscular and Moonfish can't be overlooked either. As of right now, the only high-profile villain that remains to be brought back to Tartarus is the Hero Killer, but he hasn't made a single move since he escaped. All in all, the situation seems to have improved beyond our most optimistic expectations, and you're the face of it. You're the hero we need, Midoriya Izuku. Please, help us bring hope back to our society."
And then, both Yokumiru Mera and Kenki Tsuragamae stood up with their arms to the sides of their body and bowed until their torsos were almost parallel to the floor.
Izuku knew he had a bad habit of crying in public. Probably not what people wanted or expected from a hero. Certainly not how he wanted to present himself in front of the two top heroes, one of his mentors, his best friend, and two members of the government that were telling him that he needed to step in as the symbol of peace.
Exactly what All Might wanted him to do. The reason why he was chosen as his successor. The whole point of his training and all the obstacles he had crossed was to reach this point, to ready himself and fulfill his dream of becoming the next symbol of peace. Someone strong enough to save everyone without having them worry. Someone that could give them the hope and security that All Might always gave him.
He could be the one hero on a video that even a young, quirkless child may watch over and over again, thinking to themselves that that's who they wanted to be when they grew up. He couldn't think of it and not get emotional. As much as he tried, heavy tears fell from his eyes, staining what little was left of his ragged hero costume and the small bandages the paramedics had applied to him.
He covered his face with an arm, the pain striking him again, but he needed to save some dignity. He didn't complain, however, when Ochako gave him a side hug, letting him rest his head against her shoulder, patting his back, and gently stroking his hair.
"It's ok, Deku," she told him, and even though he couldn't see her face, she sounded like she was ready to cry as well.
"I know it's a lot of pressure we're putting onto you," Mera said, sounding slightly uncomfortable. "No child should bear this responsibility. We understand you need time for yourself and to process everything that's going on."
Izuku tried his best to control himself, but he was still an emotional mess. Everything was affecting him. The pain, the exhaustion, knowing he'd defeated All for One, the reunion with his friends, becoming an official hero, getting more money than he knew was possible to have, being told that it was his time to own up his status as the symbol of peace… His mind was trying to make sense of everything at once, and he could almost feel the steam coming out of his ears.
He needed to stay strong, however. He needed to be focused on what needed to be done. He lowered his arm, revealing his puffy, red eyes, and his trembling lips, but trying his best to keep the conversation going.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"No need to a-paw-ologize, young man," Tsuragamae said. "We should be the ones apologizing for relying so much on you. You are, of course, more than free to refuse our proposals. You can focus on your studies and stay out of the public sphere, woof. If that's what you want, we can help you by keeping the press somewhat away from you, though we can't promise much."
"N-No, I…" He had to swallow the knot in his throat. "All Might… He wanted this from me. He told me I needed to step up as the next symbol of peace. To show the world that heroes are still standing strong. This is everything I ever fought for. I… I'm ready to do it."
His still crying face was probably not conveying much security, but no one in the room seemed to care. Ochako was still hugging him. Best Jeanist and Hawks were nodding sympathetically, and Izuku could see a proud sparkle in Gran Torino's eyes. Mera and Tsuragamae nodded at him before sitting down once again.
"Well… If that's the case, then we want to suggest one last thing before we wrap this up and leave you to rest for the day," Mera said. "The president of the Hero Public Safety Commission will hold a press conference in about two hours to make the announcement of your hero license, the government grant, and to make some general statements regarding the events that happened today. However, she will make a point to avoid giving details about you and the reasons why you were involved in the first place."
Izuku nodded.
"We believe it's up to you to share as much as you feel comfortable without us getting into the details of your life. However… the public is looking forward to learning about you. And we do believe that it's important for the audience to know their heroes. So we would like to ask you to give an interview where you can present yourself to the world. It doesn't have to be long, you don't have to get into many details, but people want to hear from you. Your voice. Your story. They're dying to know the kind of person you are. Would you be comfortable with that?"
He managed to push every other thought away as he considered that proposition. He wasn't the best at talking in public. He always got anxious and worried that he would mispronounce a word, or say the wrong thing, or embarrass himself. However, it made sense from the perspective of the Hero Public Safety Commission and their idea of setting him up as the new symbol of peace. Doing hero work and protecting people was the most important part of the job, but to earn their trust he needed to also look and play the part of someone they could rely on. All Might's interviews had always been a big reason why people loved him. It made him feel relatable, trustworthy, it grounded him and made him a likable character. It was the same as patrolling; it wasn't something heroes did just to look for crime, it was also a way of showing themselves to the population and making their relationship with those they protect closer and more personal. He wasn't confident in his speaking skills, but he assumed he could do a good enough job to—
"Deku," Ochako said, softly shaking his shoulder to get him out of his trance. He looked at her and saw that she had an apologetic look on her face. "You, uh, you were muttering again."
He looked at the other pro heroes and adults in the room, and they all were staring at him with wide eyes. He felt himself go red once again.
"I-I can do it," he finally said, clearing his throat. "I… I can deal with that."
Mera nodded. "Perfect. It doesn't have to be a press conference. We can pick one reporter to make a short, personal interview with you. We can ask them to give you a list of preselected questions if you want."
"I, uh… I don't know. If I know what the questions will be beforehand, I'll probably overthink the answers. All Might was always so… spontaneous, right? I think that would be better. People will need to know the real me, the authentic Deku. Even… even if I'm…"
He struggled to find the right word.
"Kind of a dork?" Ochako suggested, earning an embarrassed look from Izuku. She chuckled. "I think you're right, Deku. People need to see the real you. And I'm sure they're all gonna love you!"
He felt like dying. H-He wasn't someone people would "love", right? He was so… so bland, and plain-looking, and there was nothing special about him…
"Very well, if that's what you want… So, do you have any preference on who conducts the interview? Any journalist you know or that you're familiar with? The interview will be broadcasted on all channels so don't worry about choosing a signal. You can pick literally anyone. You're the most wanted guest in the country right now so they'll say yes, and people are gonna watch you even if your aunt is interviewing you. Try not to pick your aunt, though."
Izuku stopped to think for a second. Truth be told, even though he tried to keep up with the news, he wasn't very familiar with TV journalists. He knew some by name, and a few others he could recognize if they showed him a picture of their faces, but he didn't have any preference. He'd never been close to any journalist that he could think o—
It suddenly hit him.
"Uh, does it have to be someone from TV?" He asked. "Can it be someone from a newspaper?"
"It can be anyone you feel comfortable with."
He was about to make his suggestion, but there was some screaming coming from the hallway. It sounded like a stampede, and they all turned when they heard Death Arms trying to stop someone. Mera's phone buzzed, and he took it out to read a text.
"Oh, right. Well, Midoriya, I'll tell the president that she can announce that you'll be giving an interview in the next couple of days. That'll keep the media busy for now. I thank you for your time and your cooperation. We'll come back tomorrow to keep working out the details of how we're gonna be moving forward."
The ruckus outside of the room was increasing in volume. Izuku and Ochako exchanged worried looks.
"W-What's going on?" He asked.
Mera and Tsuragamae stood up and walked towards the door. The employee of the HPSC grinned and put a hand on the doorknob.
"You have visitors," he simply said, before opening the door.
And then, with a speed that would make the Iida family jealous, Inko Midoriya ran straight into Izuku's arms.