Death

by tmb1112

What if the Quirk, Death, existed? A perfect Quirk for a villain, but what if the boy who manifested that power just wanted to be a hero? Enrolling in U.A. might not be enough when all your Quirk can do is kill people. Expansive AU. Goes through multiple years. Warning: gore, death, loss, depression, and a lot of other stuff a few readers have found triggering. Just a heads-up.

256. Chapter 256

Disclaimer: I don't own Boku no Hero Academia

Chapter 256:

A few miles down the J-43 Highway west out of Tokyo, the Kaio Springs Lodge had been rented out by U.A. for the evening. The sun had already set but the sky was not dark completely yet as the arrivals started pouring in a little before the start time of 7:00 p.m. Even when the natural light disappeared completely, the bright city of Tokyo and its connecting cities and districts kept the darkness at bay. In only a few days, whatever damage had been done to the electrical infrastructure of the city had been repaired enough that Tokyo illuminated the night sky as much as always.

The Lodge had a gateway at the bottom of the driveway that wrapped around a loop in front of the building with a fountain and a red carpet entryway. Some people getting out of the limos they arrived in hung out in front of the building while talking about each others' dresses and suits. It had been a few days since many of them had seen each other, and they slowly moved into the building for the U.A. Senior Dance, or the "prom" which most of the students called it despite its official title.

The Lodge was a huge estate that people rented out for fancy weddings and ceremonies of the sort. It had a huge back area with neatly trimmed hedges around a pool that was apparently only for decoration and was very shallow. The building itself had two floors with the second being one giant ballroom that had been set up for the event. Tables around the room, a large dance floor, a DJ station on a stage on one side, and decorations a party-committee club at the school had put together. The U.A. budget easily handled the fee to rent the property for a night, even accommodating for 1.5 times the senior class' size.

Many of the students had arrived with friends from other schools, or classmates from U.A. who were only second years, and the occasional first year and the recently-graduated too, though those were much more rare than just second years. Ashido arrived again to the dance for the second year in a row with someone other than a boy from her own U.A. year, though this time he was the same age as her unlike the year before when she went with Nagiso Mondo.

Trabo spotted a friend of his as he walked side by side with his date through the entrance and into the first floor of the Lodge. The lower floor had several different rooms that were mostly closed off and could be rented out for cheaper prices if several groups were having events on the same day. Arrows and signs the party-committee had put up on the first floor all pointed towards the stairwell at the end of the first floor hall for them to head upstairs to the main ballroom.

Ashido and Trabo just walked away from one of the first floor doors that was open and had two staff members inside at a table where they were taking arrivals' coats and giving them numbers on slips of paper to hold onto so they could get their jackets back at the end of the night. Now without her coat on, Trabo Santosa felt a lot more anxious around the cute girl in a tight-fitting slim red dress who had done her make-up and hair to make her look even better than he thought she already did. The boy surrounded by U.A. students felt some relief though at the sight of his classmate ahead who he led Ashido towards so he could be around a friend of his at least while at a venue full of strangers.

Hisashi Kuredo also let out a breath of relief at the sight of Trabo coming towards him. The dirty-blond-haired more muscular boy than his classmate, and once again ranked 3rd now with Lifebringer out of their classroom, put a hand on the shoulder of the girl next to him then motioned towards Trabo and Ashido. The pink-haired girl from the support course spun around from her two classmates who just motioned towards the stairs themselves to show they were heading up. "Mei! You look great," Ashido said excitedly while looking at the girl who she had never seen put effort into her outfit before but actually made herself look really nice for the night.

Ashido glanced at the boy next to Mei Hatsume and then back to Mei herself. "How do you two know each other?"

Hisashi opened his mouth. Hatsume spoke quicker, "This evil monster was about to swing a giant fist down that it was going to crush me with when Hisashi here flew in out of nowhere and saved me. Then he held me in his arms and dove out of the way. A real true hero saving me and-"

"There were a lot of us who saved Mei," Hisashi started.

"But no one else held me with strong gorilla arms, then turned into a lion to protect me from that Nomu. No one except for this dreamboat right here," Mei elbowed into the side of the larger boy who was glancing away and feigning embarrassment while actually basking in the moment.

Hisashi winced and ground his teeth after that elbow in his side. Don't let it show! He yelled at himself in his head. Hisashi imagined it would look pretty weak to let it show how much that elbow hurt while he was basking in pride about the way he rescued Hatsume so heroically. I'm taking it easy tonight. As long as I can avoid more rib shots like those, Hisashi thought with a bead of sweat dripping down his face. Fighting the Ultimate had not been an easy task, and some of his friends were still in the hospital from it like Elinari and Dimarko.

"What about you two? Did you meet during the battle- or I guess you had the joint trainings together, huh? Oh! You did meet in the battle?" Mei wondered, seeing the initial reactions from her question that led her to think it was more than just the training Class A and Class 1 had had before.

Trabo scratched the back of his head. "Yeah," he began. Ashido looked to him uncertainly like she did not know what to say about it. Trabo cracked a small smile though while avoiding thinking of the end of that fight. "It was, kind of the opposite for us," he admitted while just thinking about the part of the fight where Ashido joined in to help him. "Pinky showed up when there was no way I could have taken Dismembermen on my own…"

On the way upstairs, Pony had her right elbow locked with the taller boy from Class 3-2 of Shiketsu who was Rank 1 in his own classroom. She and Blaze, or Sama Ledoni, had started dating after the joint training between Class 3-B of U.A. and Class 3-2 of Shiketsu that year. Sero spotted Pony over the heads of the two he was talking to at the middle section of the stairwell where he and Komori had stopped to talk to two other pairs: Iida and Tokage, and Kendo and Shinso. He made sure not to look for too long as his own date, Komori, was Pony's classmate and knew their history well, so he did not want her thinking he was being distracted by Pony's nice dress or the way his ex-girlfriend also glanced back towards him. The two just shared a look and Sero gave her a small smile before looking back to the others all talking about their own experiences during the Battle of Tokyo which was still fresh on everyone's minds.

Pony glanced down then smiled and looked back at the boy she was walking with who wondered what her look was for. She shook her head though at Ledoni, just smiling brighter at him while thinking about a conversation they had the other day. Blaze was coming to America after graduation to meet his girlfriend's parents and work with an agency there that Pony had known for a while she would be working for. Good luck, Kinoko, Tsunotori thought with sympathy for her classmate and friend.

She and Sero had ended on good terms, but Pony still questioned herself, Did you really just want to stay here in Japan, or was it the idea of moving abroad for me? Commitment, isn't an issue Sama has. Or maybe that wasn't an issue at all for Hanta and I'm just overthinking this. Pony laughed to herself then started looking around the main hall that she and Ledoni finally reached. The two searched the room for a table with some friends at it, though Ledoni knew only one other from his class was there tonight and it was one of the girls who he was not particularly close to, so he imagined it would mostly be Pony's friends he was going to hang with tonight.

Komori started up the stairs with Sero as well as the others after Iida and Kendo mentioned that they were taking up too much space in the stairwell. Shinso and Tokage glanced at each other after both having the simultaneous thought wondering if their dates might not have preferred coming with each other instead as the two had practically finished each other's sentence while bringing up taking this upstairs. Sero looked back at Shinso with a jokingly understanding look and laughed with the once general studies' student who paused for a second before smiling back.

Komori had noticed a look that Pony darted back to her while her friend continued up the stairs after glancing Sero's way. Because of her long bangs that fell like they always did even on a night like tonight, the other two had not noticed her actually seeing their shared looks, as well as the one Pony darted back after Sero only glanced for a second in order to make Kinoko not feel insecure. She liked that about him. And she also smirked with slightly red cheeks after Pony had looked back away the second time and started talking to her date. Don't worry, girl. I know exactly what you're thinking. I'm not in this for commitment though. Just, a fun night. Komori darted a look back to her side at the boy who gave her a questioning look wondering what the look was for, only for Komori to shake her head then ask him to get them drinks as they reached the second floor.

"Drinks? Yeah, sure," Sero replied. He glanced over his shoulder without making it too noticeable, but he did not see Iida watching him. This is going to be tough. In a room full of heroes, I probably shouldn't be thinking about spiking my non-alcoholic drinks. Komori thought it would be funny though when I joked about it. Then I went and asked cousin Mako for a fifth. Why'd I do that? I should have just said I couldn't find any. At least our pre-gaming was fun. I'm keeping the rest of that bottle in my jacket though. Don't want to lose my license immediately after getting it! He still wore his own suit jacket, and many of the guys did as well which was a relief to him. He knew he could use the excuse that the outdoors areas were open to their use and it still got pretty chilly in the April nights.

Sero glanced towards the glass doors on the front of the second floor which were one way to head outside in here. The large balcony sticking out of the front of the second floor was empty, as was the middle of the dance floor at the moment. Most people were up getting food and drinks at the long side bars against the walls. Sero noticed Midnight at the end of one line, talking to Sahara and Kazumi who had become stars of their respective courses in the past couple of days, despite getting scolded by half the faculty for breaking the lockdown during the battle and sprinting to their immediate deaths. Hatsume had given them credit for saving her life though, which made it doubly hard for anyone to blame the couple who announced their engagement on QuirkBook the day after the attack.

Sero darted his eyes the other way in the room and spotted All Might speaking up to Principal Nezu who stood at the top of a ladder in order to keep an eye on the entire room. Sero immediately looked away. Nope! I bet he can tell just by looking at me! Am I drunk? We only had a shot or two each! Does that make you drunk? I didn't know Principal Nezu was one of the chaperones. Between him and Zach, someone's going to know. This risk was not worth it! Sero headed for the soft drink tables, ready to get his punch cups and return to Komori without any extra steps in between.

Sero reached the drink line and then looked in surprise at the girl on his right side talking to her date. "Mimi?" Sero wondered.

The short girl with pink skin and a pig snout spun her head and looked up at the black-haired boy looking down at her. Sero glanced up past the girl from Class 2-B who he knew because she was close friends with Azure, another of his ex-girlfriends. The blond standing to her right was in Class 3-B, and Sero looked from Monoma back to the girl and back again, "Are you two-"

"We interned with Clean Sweep together," Mimi responded before Sero even asked his question. "And we fought together the other day too."

"We defeated a much stronger villain than any of you Class A's, defeated…" Monoma cleared his throat and coughed a few times while Sero rose an eyebrow and looked skeptically back at him. "More powerful than any you defeated," Monoma specified at the other boy who frowned while trying to think of a villain he actually defeated worth mentioning.

Zach kind of took out Moonfish and Raijin, my biggest fights for the day. Sero shook his head though rather than get upset at the thought of that. "Still keeping up the rivalry, huh? You know we graduate tomorrow?"

"Then maybe after tomorrow, it'll be finished," Monoma retorted. His retort made it sound like he was telling Sero that the rivalry was not over yet then, but it also suggested that he might actually be letting it go after one more day which just made Sero grin to hear it.

Behind the drink line but at one of the tables on this same side of the room, Sato sat on a chair with Koda across the table from him. On Koda's right and Sato's left were their dates who were speaking to each other while the two Class A boys tried nodding along and focusing up, while at the same time trying not to look nervous. Sato felt even more awkward at the feeling he had that Koda was actually less nervous than him here with his date. Koda had arrived with Reiko Yanagi who he had apparently fought alongside during the Battle of Tokyo at some point, but Sato had done a surprise last-minute ask of Shiozaki Ibara who was not expecting it but had been happy to say yes to the boy who had been incessantly teased about it back in the hospital by Sero and Mineta.

Mineta came back to their table himself with the girl who had gone up for plates of food with him. Unlike the larger two boys who had girls from Class B with them though, Asui stepped up with Mineta and sat down on Sato's right side with Mineta taking the seat on her right. Music was playing in the background but quieter at the moment than the students expected it would get later, once people actually started to dance, which most of them hoped actually would happen at some point. Right now though it seemed like it was time to sit, eat, and drink, and maybe the dancing would start a bit later.

At the other side of the table closer to Koda, Jirou and Yaoyorozu walked over and smiled at their friends who broke off their conversations and mentioned the girls' dresses. Jirou wore a dark blue one, with the left side of her skirt open from around knee-length down so a lot of skin showed. Mineta's eyes snapped up even higher than the girls' heads after noticing that fashionable split on the side of Jirou's dress, just in case Asui were to dart a look in his direction to see where he was looking.

Yaoyorozu's dress did not pull as tightly near the legs and was a more classical-styled dress than most of the girls in the room had as it widened a bit near her lower legs instead. The purple strapless dress had frills from the waist down, and the Class B girls both told Yaoyorozu how much they liked it, which Jirou and Asui did not need to as they had been with Momo when she was trying it on during their shopping trip two weeks before. Yaoyorozu was not the type to wait until the last moment to prepare, and her friends appreciated that more now than ever that they did not have to go shopping in a city under reconstruction or while exhausted and resting after the Battle of Tokyo.

Some of the boys were not as prepared, and Tokoyami and Shoji both leaned back in their seats on the opposite side of the room across the dance floor as the table that Jirou and Yaoyorozu just sat down in. The two had gotten swarmed at the mall earlier when they went to rent their own suits. They had worn masks to try and keep some cover, but that did not work out well considering their unique mutations, and the fact that Shoji always wore a mask anyway. The hero course of U.A. had a disproportionate amount of boys to girls, and several of the Class B guys sitting with Shoji and Tokoyami did not have dates either and were all just hanging out with others in the hero course. With how busy they always were in their preparation for becoming heroes, not many of them actually had time for relationships at school, and even most of those who had dates were not actually dating them.

For some it had worked out though, like Kodai Yui and Awase Yosetsu who were standing and talking to Ojiro and Hagakure on the far side of the room as the stairwell that people were still pouring in from. Despite the rigorous workloads of their courses, the couples in both classes had found ways to make it work for them.

Someone who just entered the room got a lot of people turning heads and staring at her in surprise. She could fight villains in the field and take on monsters every day, but the looks from all these teenagers made the twenty-four year old woman feel her stomach twist in knots. I must be the oldest person here- the oldest one actually invited, she corrected herself with a glance towards Midnight who she felt even more awkward about seeing here, though Midnight just smirked in a weirdly excited way at the sight of her. Plucky felt an arm lock in hers though and the boy at her side a foot taller than her just kept walking without focusing on anyone's looks. Honenuki Juzo mentioned to the woman at his side, "Come on. Let's go find a table first then get some drinks. Non-alcoholic, of course," Honenuki figured he should mention, since she might be over the drinking age but the rest of them were not.

Plucky sweatdropped that he would add that caveat for her in case she forgot. She glanced at him and then frowned as she saw he was smirking and only did it to tease her. "I don't know why I agreed to this," she muttered under her breath.

"Because you know you like me," Honenuki responded, and Plucky's green eyes widened while darting back to the boy who actually responded when she was just commenting with no desire to hear an answer. He smiled to the side at her too, and added, "Besides, I'm eighteen. What's it matter? If we're going to start dating right after I graduate, might as well go for a test drive here." He grinned a bit more after saying that with no effort of hiding his voice whatsoever.

"I don't remember, agreeing…" she trailed off with a mumble at the end. Plucky rolled her eyes at his nonchalant attitude of the boy who had no lips but spoke just fine despite that mutation. She had her pink hair done nicely at a salon before meeting up with him, and he had mentioned how it looked great, so she tried not to fidget with it when her hand instinctively went to her hair to twirl some strands behind an ear. She was older than her date by 6 years, but the two had become very close friends while he was interning with Vixen over the past two years. Plucky still felt embarrassed to be there, but Mudman felt none of that same feeling.

Honenuki added, "I still need to tell most… everyone, here that I'm joining the Feisty Foursome by the way."

"You haven't told them?" Plucky wondered in surprise to the boy who had been talking about this for a while already with their agency.

"Well, before Spunky decided to retire, I didn't know if it would really work out. The Feisty 'Fivesome' somehow doesn't sound as good, even if the syllables are somewhat more similar," Honenuki explained to the girl who cocked her head to the side that he was actually delaying for something like that. Honenuki laughed after a moment though then mentioned, "But actually, Spunky just wasn't sure about it because she could tell I was crushing hard on you. Didn't want that to get in the way of our work-"

"You were? She could?" Plucky stopped and asked these things in surprise.

"Big time," Honenuki admitted. "And you know Spunky. She picks up on everything."

"Hahh, it's going to be tough getting on without her," Plucky mentioned with a sigh, moving past for now that her friend and leader of their team had apparently known their intern was crushing on her long before she did. Plucky frowned a bit more thinking of Spunky's reason for retiring. We all tried to convince her otherwise. That knee injury from fighting Dandy got in the way during the Battle of Tokyo though. She thinks it's time to back away. At least for a while, until maybe she gets one of those new-fangled Virtucorp surgeries, and some PT. She hasn't given us any time duration though on how long she'll be retired.

Spunky knows Vixen can handle leading us. And Vixen trusts me enough not to let this get in the way, after I promised her I wouldn't let it, Honenuki looked longingly at the woman at his side who he had fallen for. But the heart wants what the heart wants!

"Hey, how are, you two feeling?" A hesitant voice asked the pair who were walking past a table and turned to the boy who looked up at them.

Honenuki rose his eyebrows in surprise and made a shocked look on his face at the sound of that question. Plucky was not as surprised, and instead she just shook her head at the teen for asking. "I'm fine. Spunky and I both just feel bad that all it took was that one blow to knock us out of your fight with Pinoko. It was her who hurt us, not you."

Bakugo grunted in acknowledgement. He did not respond to her attempt to get him not to feel guilty for it, and Plucky frowned herself as she did not know if he blamed himself for blasting her with an Explosion. "We honestly should have been the ones to stop her and help you out, not the other way around," Honenuki admitted in his own guilty tone after letting the surprise fade that Bakugo felt the need to ask how they were. "After Machia went down though, I suppose all of our situational awareness took a hit. I mean, who would imagine a villain running straight towards whatever heroes just took down that monster? I would have imagined that all of them would run the other way. So it's as much on us that we let you get grabbed, as it is on you for still being that damn strong after taking the beast down."

Bakugo cocked an eyebrow up, as even though Honenuki sounded like he was splitting the blame between them, he was only blaming Bakugo for being too strong which was not something Katsuki felt bad about. "Whatever," Bakugo muttered, as it sounded like Honenuki was doing fine too.

Honenuki turned his head and then moved aside as he and Plucky were standing in the way of the seat it looked like this girl was heading to with a couple plates in her hands. He looked at the brunette in surprise but then grinned his teeth up more with a glance back at Bakugo and down at his arms that still had casts on them that he had shown up to the dance in spite of. "Heard it was really you who saved our butts from this guy," Honenuki commented to the girl who stifled a laugh as Honenuki pointed a thumb down at Bakugo.

"Pretty much," Uraraka agreed, making Bakugo gawk at her as she had usually been just as quick to bounce the credit back to him. She grinned back his way though in a joking way and laughed aloud when she saw his annoyed grumbling expression. Uraraka placed the plate of food down in front of Bakugo since it was still difficult for him to go up and get his own, and she added as she did, "Joking joking. Well… somewhat joking," Uraraka tilted her head to the side and admitted, as she had been the one to stop Bakugo- albeit with his help. She stuck her tongue out after saying it so it was hard to tell if even that last edit was still just part of the joke, but Bakugo tilted his own head to the side as he had to admit she was right about that.

A table diagonally back from their round one which sat on the edge of the wide center aisle of the room, one closer to the wall on the far side from where most everyone was up getting their food and drinks, Shinso and Kendo sat down with one of Shinso's old classmates from the general studies' course. Kazumi turned from Sahara who was talking to some girl friends from the support class standing next to their table with their own dates they brought from outside their school. He was glad to get out of it as the other two guys he did not know were stuck awkwardly listening to the girls exclaim about each other's dresses. "How're the arms?" Kazumi wondered to Shinso who glanced down at his own right that was still in a sling, though Kazumi knew his left had been in bad shape too.

Shinso also knew something about his own former classmate and just nodded down at Kazumi's right arm himself. Kazumi lifted the arm in his white shirt sleeve and glanced at it uneasily, but then he just shrugged his shoulder and lowered it back down. "It, doesn't feel any different from the old one. More like the old one just came back, rather than it being a new one at all. If that makes sense?"

Kendo shrugged her own shoulders back at him, though she did glance hesitantly down at the table in front of her and some light snacks she grabbed. She was not planning on stuffing herself when the dress she bought already felt a bit tight on her. Kendo fidgeted around in it then glanced up and realized both of the other boys she was speaking with were looking at her. Kazumi grimaced and remembered that Kendo had died herself before too, "Sorry."

She shook her head back at him with a smile to show it did not bother her. Quickly getting their minds off it, she mentioned, "I heard that you and Sahara acted very heroically that day. Maybe Shinso was not the only one in the wrong course," Kendo added.

Kazumi felt a bit awkward to hear that and glanced at Shinso wondering what he thought of his date saying that to him. Shinso just nodded in agreement though to the surprise of Kazumi who lifted a small grin of his own a second later and glanced back at Sahara who waved off her friends whose dates seemed to want to go grab drinks and food themselves. Sahara looked back at him as Kazumi mentioned, "Principal Nezu, and all our teachers actually, recommended us to enter in the next hero licensing exam."

Sahara grinned and looked past Kazumi to the others who were even more surprised to hear that. "After they scolded us big time," Sahara added with a laugh. "But we told them how we just, felt like we needed to help. We needed to do something. And, Mr. Principal said that it was very heroic to 'put our lives in danger for the sake of others when no one expected us to.' Or something like that," Sahara added, despite knowing exactly what the Principal said as the words had been ingrained in her head afterwards.

"Hatsume thinks we're insane," Kazumi added after Sahara mentioned that. Sahara laughed thinking about the conversation they had with their friend after the talk with the teachers and principal. "Because we told her that we're actually considering it."

"I think she'd be happy to never see a villain again," Sahara joked. "Though she told us she'd make us free gear for life if we do wind up trying for our licenses, so that's pretty awesome."

"Free support gear from Hatsume Mei for life?" Kendo wondered in amazement. Everyone in their class knew that Hatsume was going to be one of the very best, if not the best in the country after graduation when it came to her support items. That promise actually sounded amazing to the two Class B students who were already working with various hero support companies they had been introduced to during internships and taught to stick closely with for their future careers. "Lucky," Kendo told the two who grinned back at each other. They still did not know what their decision was on this, but they were happy to know they had a head-start if they did choose to give being heroes a shot.

"I guess, congratulations are in order as well," Shinso mentioned. The other two looked back his way after looking into each other's eyes there for a moment, and Shinso motioned down at their hands the two held over the table. Kendo's eyes bulged at the rings on their fingers as she had forgotten about that and needed to congratulate them too.

The couple had been receiving those words from a lot of people since the battle. The grins they had while considering maybe trying to be heroes shifted. Getting married comes before figuring out what to do next, Kazumi admitted to himself. We died together. Now, it's time that we live together.

Sahara's smug smile about getting free gear changed to a more emotional one thinking the same thing as her fiancé. Being heroes? She wondered. Maybe. All our friends always thought we were in the wrong classes to start with. My Quirk didn't get me in the Hero Course three years ago. I didn't have you back then though, Hiro. Enamor was always meant for use with a partner. So maybe we can be a hero team, one day. But right now, all I want is to be with you.

Ashido scooched her chair to the side to make room for her invisible friend who popped a squat next to her. Ojiro sat down as well with his date and greeted Trabo who felt more appreciation to their teachers than ever for the sleepover night after the last training. He had made friends with a lot of the U.A. students who had been nothing more than rivals and opponents until that night, so the dance was already turning out more fun than he expected even without many of his classmates around.

On Trabo's other side as his date was his friend Hisashi though, who just brought something up that had the U.A. students all looking back towards him. Even Trabo looked to Hisashi in surprise as he had not heard about this either. "…The League's Doctor, the Dice guy, apparently knew a lot more that Kimmatsu Shi didn't know about. So it's still thanks to Shi's confession that got us Dice, but now all the extra Trigger the League had stockpiled. The labs they hid away. Hidden backup Nomus too, apparently. Though I wonder why they didn't bring out their full force if they had some in reserve?"

"Dice gave all of that?" Ojiro wondered. He knew the Dissector already because the man was responsible for the human testing and bio-engineering of villains he had fought on the day of the battle. He also knew that apparently not all of the test subjects had survived, or that they had even been volunteers like the Liberators were. His tone darkened because of the what sounded like a lot of good information they were getting here. "What did we give in exchange for that information?"

"He wanted his freedom," Hisashi began, but he held up a hand while saying it to the thick-tailed boy who Hisashi could tell would be very angry if that deal had been brokered. "But that was not an option. Apparently he has even more that he refuses to give up unless more freedoms are put on the table, but his sentence hasn't been reduced any. I think he has provisions for while he's in Tartaros now. A better cell, or something like that. Still several life sentences to carry out though," Hisashi added and Ojiro hummed while nodding back.

"I'm sure what he gave up will help us out a lot," Hagakure assured the boy at her side who continued frowning but did tilt his head to the side acknowledging that that was true. "But there's no way we'll forget the role he played. I doubt he has that much more to offer now. Unless he knows where Intanzo ran off to, maybe," Hagakure admitted the last part more hesitantly as she could see them letting Dice off if he could give them that.

Ojiro leaned back in his seat though and nodded. "If that were the case, I'd be all for it. Intanzo's not going to sit still for long. It was the first time he'd ever been beaten, and he nearly killed Endeavor and De- uh, the Gentle Criminal, fighting together." Ojiro cut himself off then just shrugged his shoulders while a few of the others gave him weird looks that he would censor the fact that Gentle was the new Death. Among heroes, that was practically common knowledge at this point. A general unspoken consensus.

"You know what else the heroes just got their hands on with all that?" Mei asked, sitting with her arms folded under her busty chest and a pout on her face. Hisashi chuckled and glanced away as Hatsume had already been complaining about this to him when he brought up the information on Dice's confessions he learned earlier that day. "The schematics for all of the League's A.A.N.T.'s. I really wanted to get a look at those, but nooooo."

"Oh yeah, I heard about that!" Ashido leaned over the table and exclaimed. "No more ANTs, huh?"

"The whole ANT program is being terminated," Hisashi responded with a nod to the pink girl. "The top officials all came to the agreement that they don't want Anti-Nomu Terminators if that means making weapon capabilities greater than those of heroes."

"Still…" Mei started to argue but in more of a grumble.

"Keeping heroes as the strongest and best line of defense is smarter than making weapons that can be turned against us too easily," Ojiro agreed with Hisashi.

Hatsume humphed loudly to shut up the boys seeming to pleased with the shutdown of the ANT programs. Villains could always get their hands on the more powerful weapons and steal weapons made by heroes, which had caused so much destruction in the Battle of Tokyo that most people believed could have been avoided. "I still want to make robots. But, I suppose, they don't all need miniguns," Hatsume admitted with a sigh, though her friends sweatdropped while wondering if she had been planning on arming a bunch of robots with miniguns before these new rules were made.

Hatsume glanced around and saw uneasy looks all focused in her direction. She smirked menacingly at them, then laughed and said, "I'll stick to making support items for your costumes in the meantime. Robots will always just be a side project of mine. My real babies are the ones designed specifically for each person. Unique! Villains can't use tools made with one person in mind."

Building robots as a side project sounds like such a cool hobby, Ashido admitted to herself in awe of the intelligent but somewhat crazy support girl. I definitely want some of your support items though when I head out in the field. Not that you haven't already designed half of my current costume!

Ashido spotted something out the corner of her eyes that made her face brighten instantly. There! Ashido reached over and grabbed Trabo by the arm. "Look at that," she mentioned with a nod in the direction of a dazzling blond in her class who was strutting out onto the dance floor with no hesitation.

The DJ played the music a bit louder as a few daring teenagers made their way onto the floor. The room was abuzz with people chatting and eating and drinking, but many plates had emptied already and the conversations were just going on with no real change in the atmosphere yet. Too many people were hesitant to get up even if they wanted to dance. The ones who wanted to go but who did not want to be the center of attention were all just waiting on the ones who did not care about that to get up first so that they could all follow.

Aoyama Yuga walked out confidently onto the floor seemingly paying no mind to the attention he got, though secretly loving it. His right arm was locked with the left elbow of his boyfriend from off-campus who wore a suit himself. Both had their hair flipped up at the front, Aoyama's blond and his boyfriend's brown hair styled the same way. They were not the first heading out there, but he was the first in Ashido's class who she saw going for it, and she tugged on Trabo's arm to get her date to stand up with her.

Trabo glanced around and slowly made his way to his feet, hoping others were also heading out in the same moment. It was still a bit early and definitely going to draw some gazes, but he felt relieved to see that Pinky getting up made even more people feel confident about it.

"Oh look! Seems like this is the song to start dancing to. Do you… maybe want to go for a dance?"

"Oh come on, I'm sure you're a great dancer."

"Why don't you show us your moves?"

A group of Class 3-D girls who came to the dance on their own were gathered around Shoji and Tokoyami's table and leaning down or sitting next to the boys who had shown up alone. The girls came to the dance solo in knowledge that some of the single Class A and Class B hero boys were alone and could be snatched up right before graduation. Tokoyami and Shoji glanced at each other in surprise and with beads of sweat dripping down their faces, as neither were expecting so many requests to get up and dance right now.

"I don't dance," Tokoyami said, his expression stoic as his eyes closed in a serious way.

"That's so cool. But here, I'll show you how."

"Yeah! Let us help you. We'll get you out of your shell!"

Hands grabbed onto Tokoyami's arms. His eyes snapped back open in shock and darted to the girls from Class D who smiled ominously in at him and made his cool-guy expression falter as he tugged back against being dragged onto the dance floor. Shoji did not have to worry as much about that as his lighter friend did. Shoji gave a sideways look at him while the girls all turned solely on Tokoyami now seeing that he was budging a bit. Sorry, Tokoyami, Shoji thought while turning the other way and ignoring his friend's plight right as Tokoyami turned to him for help here.

Tokoyami dropped his lower beak, and then he realized his mistake. He was distracted for too long in that moment of betrayal from his friend. The girls got him up on his feet while he meekly protested against it, trying to be mysterious and silent too much that it kept him from making firm declarations denying their requests. "Wait, I don't, hold on- Shoji!" Tokoyami and a group of eight girls made their ways onto the dance floor while Shoji bowed his head behind his fallen comrade. Shoji just thought off in their direction, Good luck, my friend.

Jirou nudged the boy on her side with her elbow. He was big enough that her action was missed by the girl on Koda's other side. He gulped when he felt Jirou elbowing him, and then he asked in a soft voice to his date, "Would you like to, start dancing?" Reiko looked at him in surprise for asking like that in a pretty formal way, and then she just slid back her seat and motioned with her head to the floor as an answer to him.

Koda jumped up quickly, making his chair skid a bit too loudly. He darted his eyes back to it anxiously then to the girl who just giggled once before nodding away again and starting off to the floor. Koda looked back to Jirou who gave him a thumbs up and motioned herself after Reiko who Koda headed after. Jirou smiled back at her best friend on her other side who noticed what Jirou did but pretended not to be looking for Koda's sake. Yaoyorozu just shook her head with a small laugh of her own at Jirou's proud expression.

Jirou thought back though on Koda coming up to her and asking in a very nervous voice how he should go about asking Reiko to the dance with him. He was so worried about it beforehand. I'm proud of you, Koji. I was worried you weren't going to try, but I shouldn't have doubted you. You've got this!

Now that Jirou and Yaoyorozu had fewer people at their table, the two did notice some stares from various tables surrounding them. The girls from Class 3-D had been a lot more forward with their attempts to get the single hero guys to dance with them, than all the single boys from these other classes were being. They sat all around the two Class A girls who had no dates and suddenly realized they were surrounded by awkward and nervous teenage boys thinking of asking them to dance. There were many single guys in the general and support and business classes who considered asking Yaoyorozu or Jirou to dance with them. Of course, these were all students in the same year as the girls and their ex boyfriends. It was not common knowledge to everyone in the country who the two used to date, but at least to their own school?

They were a bit hard to approach. Of course, some of them looked more closely at Jirou than Yaoyorozu. Yaoyorozu was the beautiful, busty, rich, semifinalist in the last Sports Festival. Her ex-boyfriend was not dead though. He was also a lot harder to meet the expectations of. Those who looked towards Jirou were hyping themselves up with the mantras: "I couldn't be worse than her ex," "At least I'm not a supervillain," and "I'm better than Raijin!" It was not a very high bar to set for themselves. But then again, some rumors actually spread around the school that Jirou herself was also one of Zach Sazaki's ex girlfriends. Just as that same rumor spread about Ashido as well. It did not help that Zach had been calling her 'Kyoka' lately, though Jirou appreciated that he had been freely doing that more at this moment than she had since he started doing it. Zach too often called his female friends by their first names, something reserved in most instances for a girl's boyfriend.

Jirou relaxed back in her seat in a comfortable way after seeing that most of the guys who she noticed around her looked away when she glanced towards them. If they were too cautious to even make eye contact, she doubted she had to worry about them coming up and asking her for a dance which she would have denied… but still felt a little bad about the rejection.

Sero had gotten up with his date and was on the dance floor with Komori who spun her back to him and lowered his hands on her sides down to her hips. He was surprised by how much she seemed to be enjoying this already, but he was not one to complain as he was having a good time himself (even if he still felt a nagging concern about the bottle hidden in his jacket). They were enjoying the music and the fact that the dance floor was so crowded now that it was not weird at all to have to be so close to their date as people were getting cramped nearest the middle of the room near the stage.

As much room as there was farther away from the stage, people were squishing in more in the main dance floor rather than spreading out into the wide aisle between all the tables, even if the music was only a little softer out there than directly up against the speakers. That left the aisle in the center of the room from the door to the dance floor mostly open though, as if by design to allow late arrivals to have a wide space to walk down before reaching the dance area or breaking off to one of the tables. Anyone arriving late found themselves entering the room and getting a lot of eyes darted straight towards them as the people who were seated all turned back towards the double doors that had been closed for better acoustics in the main ballroom.

Outside of those double doors, a group of three guys who just arrived stood without opening them yet. The music was dulled due to the doors being shut, but they could tell how loud it was blasting on the other side. "Maybe no one will even notice us coming in," Midoriya mentioned.

"Sure," Zach agreed. "That's possible." He hid any smirk from coming to his face, but Deku still glanced at him in an uncertain way as he swore he heard Zach's tone sound like he was joking.

Midoriya grimaced at the idea that Zach thought what he just said was laughable. Then he sighed. "Alright, let's get this over with."

"I'm sure we won't draw too much attention," Kirishima mentioned. "Isn't that the point of being late?" He wondered, looking back at Zach with an eyebrow cocked up.

"No no, fashionably-late is just because no one is expecting us to get there on time. It's not to avoid attention. People will still notice." Probably more, to be honest. Zach cocked his head to the side. "But showing up on time or early might make us look too eager to be here. Like we're super excited about it."

"Well I'm pretty excited," Kirishima admitted.

"Yeah, me too," Zach replied with a laugh. "But you wanted to know. I think showing up stag it makes more sense to come late. Like, if you don't have a date, then why be super excited?"

Midoriya nodded along. Zach had explained various phrases about parties to his hero friends who had come with him suit-shopping in disguises down in Kyushu that afternoon. Neither of them had really been to one before, and they had argued with Zach that this was not really a party either. Zach caught a glimpse of Sero's expression while at the hospital the night before after getting a text and subtly darting a look around the room, before bringing up the dance and how he heard there was an after party some of the last graduating class held the year before. Some people are treating it more like a graduation party than anything, Zach admitted to himself, not that he would bring up what he suspected to his other friends by his sides.

"Might as well head in there. You guys ready?" Zach wondered to the two at his sides who were fidgeting with their ties and collars.

Midoriya just fixed his green bowtie again for the third time in the past minute, and Kirishima moved his right hand from his collar up to his hair that he pushed it back through once more. "Yeah," Kirishima said while lowering his hand and wiping it twice on the side of his pant leg as some of the dried hair gel still felt like it stuck on his sweaty palm.

"As I'll ever be," Midoriya admitted with a shrug. He cracked a smile while looking to his right at Kirishima, then back to his left and at Zach who nodded at the doors for his friend to push open as the one in the middle who could push both at once. Midoriya took in a deep breath and then reached out, and he pushed the doors open for him and his two friends to walk through.

Zach glanced over his shoulder once while the doors were opening up. Perfect timing, he thought at the sight of a pair of men in black suits with serious expressions on their faces rounding the middle platform of the stairwell. They both looked up towards him and caught a glimpse of his stare back towards them, but Zach was already turning forward to step out into the ballroom with Midoriya and Kirishima.

The doors opened up and people sitting in their chairs glanced over. Some people at the edge of the dance floor who did not want to get too cramped with everyone else noticed quicker than the others in the middle of it. They saw people at the tables snapping their heads over and freezing while looking that way. The music continued to bump, and the room vibrated with the DJ's stereos, but the noise in the room noticeably got quieter as the talking quieted more and more. People farther in the middle of the crowd on the dance floor noticed others all looking back across the room, and they slowed and stopped their dancing to stare over themselves.

Sero stopped dancing and stared across the room with a grin spreading wider over his face. "Now that's a sight," he mentioned in a soft voice and laughed a few times in a lighthearted and happy way. Most everyone else was just staring across the room in amazement and admiration at the trio who just entered. "The heroes of the country right there," Sero added with a laugh while the girl next to him who also stopped dancing just glanced back and up at his face that looked too emotional about what he was seeing. Never thought I'd see it, Sero admitted to himself though as he watched the three of them coming in.

Deku's loss of an arm was global news, but he looked like he had two perfectly fine arms right now. Some of his friends focused on his left side and smiled at the sight telling them that his surgery had gone well. Most everyone else was focused up though and on his hair that looked a lot different than Deku ever had it. All three of the boys who just came in had on nice-looking suits. Zach wore a black tie with his, while Deku had his green bowtie, and Kirishima a red tie that like his friends' matched the color of his hair. Deku's hair had been straightened out though for the event from his usually curly natural style, and it was tied back into a ponytail behind his head in a way that had many of the ladies in the room looking at him in a completely new light.

Others looked to Midoriya's right side, or to their lefts for most of them looking towards the trio walking in. Kirishima's spikes of hair were missing. He had actually gotten a pretty bad hair day from his fights on the day of the Battle of Tokyo. Hardened spikes of hair had broken off in his battles. When his hair was full of gel though and slicked back over his head, no one could even tell. Kirishima had left his jacket downstairs, and the sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up a bit halfway up his forearms. He was the only one who left his jacket downstairs, as Midoriya still wore his but with the buttons undone, and Zach had his own black jacket off but draped over his right arm while his sleeves were rolled all the way down.

Zach's hair looked nicer than the messy way he had left it at the hospital the past few days. The barber had neatened it up from the uneven mess it had been in after his fight against Kaminari. So it was a bit shorter now, but it parted to the right and then up at the ends in waves. Instead of being spiked up, the waves of hair fell over his forehead and just dipped off the sides before raising up a bit at the ends. It still looked a bit messy, but it was clear that the stylist had intended for each spike or wave of hair as that kind of messiness as not natural. Zach walked forward without pausing even when everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing to look towards them, and even the DJ turned down the music as if he was expecting them to make a speech or something with their grand entrance.

Kirishima sweatdropped. He did not feel like it was a grand entrance until everyone just stood or sat there staring at them. Thought showing up late was to get less attention. Everyone was so absorbed in what they were doing. They were distracted! Guess there was no way to avoid this, Kirishima admitted to himself. Those medals they gave us this morning, is that what everyone's waiting for? There wasn't a speech or anything then. At least, not from us.

Midoriya felt awkward too, but he stopped focusing on anyone else in the room and just stared towards one table and a pair who were still sitting there. The blond with spiky hair that he did not do anything to before the dance had not invited his date up to dance yet as she was impatiently waiting for. Both of them stared towards the entrance and straight at Midoriya and his cool appearance that Bakugo immediately scoffed at the sight of. No way Deku chose that look. Zach must've… Bakugo grumbled under his breath but stopped his last train of thought when he saw Midoriya's gaze in his and Uraraka's direction.

Midoriya smiled wide at the sight of the two of them. His look made Uraraka's big eyes get back to normal size and soften. They filled with gratitude too while looking towards Deku. He's just happy, Uraraka thought. Of course he is. That's who he is! Uraraka laughed that she had even for a minute felt worried about it, as she had. She had spent a lot of time that day feeling very anxious about this exact moment, from the second that Bakugo had asked her.

Bakugo looked at Midoriya still with the usual scowl on his face, but it did lift a bit with his own feeling of gratitude rising for his childhood friend who just smiled towards them. "Oi, Deku-kun. I need to talk to you, about something…"

"Oh God! Kacchan! Are you alright? Is it your arms? Are they worse than you've been letting on-"

"Just shut up for a second!" Bakugo thought about how he and Deku had been heading back to campus in the early morning before the city was awake. When it was still dark outside. The two had been walking to U.A. campus a little over 14 hours ago now, and Bakugo had to bring it up. The fact that he had gotten serious for a second had scared the hell out of Midoriya who was not expecting the tone from his friend that he rarely ever heard, if ever.

"It's not about that. I… Tonight, I'm…" Midoriya had been surprised when he saw it. Kacchan struggling to find words. He had seen the uncertain and even nervous look on his childhood friend's face about what he was about to say. As if he was worried what Midoriya would say about it. "I'm going to ask Uraraka to the dance… Alright? I- well you, you aren't going to, right? Between you two… there isn't anything, anymore- Say something, Deku. Fucking, just say-"

"That's great!" Bakugo had expected a lot of reactions. None of them were close to how his excited classmate had responded. He thought back on it now though and wondered why he even felt concerned about it in the first place. He wasn't just putting on a show for me. That's him. He wasn't faking some happy look for me. For her. Didn't even look like he was hurt by it. I thought it was a dick move; I didn't expect him to actually be happy about it? I don't get it. I really don't, but I should have guessed that's how he'd react.

"I know Uraraka will be really happy to go with you! I can tell. She'll definitely say 'yes.' Wait, does this mean… Kacchan, do you, like-"

"Don't you finish that Goddamn sentence," Bakugo had snapped at his friend that morning, which only made Midoriya's face light up even more at the time since Bakugo had responded like that rather than just deny it. Midoriya thought on that now and just felt a warmth in his heart that was stronger than the other feelings that he buried deeper down.

Even though he had buried them deep enough to hide them all from both Bakugo and Uraraka, Midoriya felt that prick in his heart that the warm feeling could not completely overshadow. Despite feeling that pain still, Midoriya accepted it without letting it get him down. I made the choice a long time ago. A decision to become the Symbol like All Might was. That means sacrificing some things. Things that I have long accepted I will never obtain. I can sacrifice a whole lot, Zach. Midoriya thought back on a conversation the two of them had had once about this very thing. It had come to his mind back while he was fighting Shigaraki, but he was reminded of it again now. More-so than an arm, it's things like these that were the hardest to give up. Knowing that I put my mother in danger. Knowing, that I gave up on any chance of a future with Uraraka… But that doesn't mean I don't want her to be happy. Or Kacchan. I love them both. And I've seen how close they've become.

I think, I wasn't surprised that Bakugo was asking her. Midoriya thought to himself while taking his eyes off the two of them and looking around at other friends in the room. He continued thinking on those two though even as he pretended to get them off his mind. I was surprised that he was telling me. I guess I thought that if it happened, they'd just tell me afterwards. Did I really expect it? I wasn't surprised! Maybe, I was surprised that I was right. But I think I just wasn't expecting you to, ask my permission? No. You would have done it anyway. Not permission then. But, you just, wanted my blessing? Or you didn't want me to be surprised and hurt, because you're a hero. Midoriya did not think the last option as a question, because it sounded like the one that made the most sense to him. You're a hero, and you're my friend, Kacchan. Even if you might not ever admit it!

I can't have that life. I've cast it aside as something I was willing to sacrifice. That doesn't mean the people I love most shouldn't get to have it. Like Kacchan and Uraraka. And, like Zach, Midoriya glanced to his side at his more confident friend who could walk into this room and not look nervous at all even as hundreds of people all stared straight towards them. Midoriya shifted his gaze back into the room and specifically to one table while thinking, I know Zach's a pillar too. A Symbol to so many. But there are things he won't give up now. He won't give up anything anymore. Especially one thing, in particular, Midoriya thought, that I know he wants more than anything else in the world.

Zach saw Midoriya's glance towards him after also noticing himself the other new couple who he imagined he might see tonight already. Whatever serious thoughts were on Midoriya's mind just made him chuckle to himself though at the moment. Even at a dance like this, he's so into it. The Number 1 hero. I don't want that spot, Midoriya. It's all yours, long as you can beat Bakugo for it. Heh. I know you will. Just don't let your guard down for a second. I've got my own plans.

I might be fully healed. I might be stronger than ever thanks to Kaminari. That's a strength I'll take responsibility for in a new kind of way though. One you told me you support with your whole heart. It's a responsibility I take on myself to keep the hero Chargebolt alive. Another way I can do it. Save more people, thanks to what I learned from him. Zach relaxed himself after realizing that he was similarly starting to think about much too serious stuff, which he blamed on Midoriya. All that starts tomorrow…

But for tonight? There's only one thing on my mind. One thing I care about even more than any of that… Zach looked towards one of the tables that Midoriya had glanced specifically at, and he smiled at the girls sitting there who were staring towards them as well. Or, more specifically, the two girls were staring straight at him. Just as he was only really looking towards one of the two of them himself.

Ashido blew some air out her lips out on the dance floor and did a silent whistle of air as if cat-calling but under her breath. "Wow," she whispered at the sight of them. She stared straight towards Zach herself too and despite getting a similar small soft smile that many of her friends gained just from the sight of Zach's lighthearted and easy-going expression, another look formed on her face too. She bit down on her bottom lip for a second and shook her head disappointedly. If I wasn't rooting for you and Momo so badly, Ashido thought to herself.

Trabo glanced sideways at his date and felt a strong twinge of jealousy. It was a feeling many of the guys in the room felt at that moment as they noticed their dates ogling at least one of the three muscular heroes who just strode into the room. It was hard for that jealousy to actually upset any of the guys who could not for the life of them hate any of the three who had saved their country.

It was why Sero said what he did under his breath as they walked in. The trio were an amazing sight to see. Everyone had seen them earlier that day too, though Todoroki and another had been with them during that medal ceremony the five of them took part in. There were many medals and words of thanks to go around, but the five of them in particular had been given special treatment. Todoroki stared over from the stepladder where he had been speaking with the Principal about some work he planned on doing after graduation and which he wanted Mr. Principal's help with. He watched the other three who had talked about where they were heading after the ceremony that morning and invited him to come along down to Kyushu. He had told them then that he was going out with his family for lunch and that they were going to stop and buy a suit for him on the way home.

Glad I didn't stick around with you guys all day… though, I'm sure it was fun, Todoroki appreciated not being the center of attention. A part of him did feel like those three had a fun day though based on the looks on their faces as they walked into the room.

"The 'heroes of the country?'" Komori commented back at her date who had said that practically in awe while watching his friends walk in.

Sero shrugged at her skeptical look as if she was wondering if he bought into the accolades given to them at that medal ceremony that morning which left a lot of others out. "Lifebringer, the one who beat Raijin and brought back everyone who died that day," Sero began to her. Komori nodded, as of course using Zach as an example was easy… "Deku, who defeated Shigaraki Tomura and effectively destroyed the League of Villains," Sero continued, and Komori frowned deeper as that was another good point, and she definitely also considered Deku as one of the saviors of the country herself. "And Red Riot, who saved the Princess-"

"It wasn't just Red Riot," Komori cut in quickly this time.

"Kirishima was the one who took on Duke Dread and beat that Taizo character," Sero argued back at her, as if claiming that his friend and classmate had done more.

Komori smirked though rather than getting upset at the way Sero was describing it. "Oh? Well, I wonder if the Princess feels the same way? Considering…"

Sero looked back the direction Komori just stared to. Zach had looked over his shoulder which got Midoriya and Kirishima to do the same as they realized someone was behind them. Their eyes bulged though as neither of them had noticed the next group about to enter the room like Zach already had. They moved to their rights while Zach stepped out of the middle aisle and to the left, allowing everyone else to see the group of six who just entered through the open doors.

The two guards in front in their black suits stood sideways and facing inwards to move out of the way of the couple who walked between the four guards. Everyone who was already staring over and admiring the three heroes who just walked in, dropped their jaws as the only thing that could have topped their entrance came through the doors. Tetsutetsu had a bead of sweat dripping down the right side of his face, and he tried to keep from fidgeting while holding his left arm out and crooked at the elbow for his date to lock her right arm in. Or he had hoped she would just lock her right arm there, but instead Aya had both arms wrapped in that crook of his elbow, with her left hand cupped over her right wrist in front of his elbow in what still looked like a natural way to enter but seemed a bit close for those who were wondering what their relationship might be.

Princess Aya was used to parades and waving at the amazed people all cheering for her. She had no problem being in the spotlight. Then again, Tetsutetsu was used to it at the Sports Festivals too. This was different though because of the date each of them were holding onto as they entered the room. Tetsutetsu suddenly forgot about the harsh stares from Aya's guards always seeming like they were daring him to hurt her like that would be his last action in life. The jealous feelings in the room switched hands instantly, and the girls started getting annoyed at their dates this time rather than the other way around. The majority of boys in the room had dropped their jaws at the sight of the beautiful princess walking in with her bright pink flowery traditional kimono that seemed to glisten in the lights of the ballroom. Her long orange hair was braided by her many servants who had painstakingly spent the entire afternoon fussing over every aspect of her outfit that certainly was befitting of royalty.

"Oh wow," Komori whispered sheepishly after just pointing out how Tetsutetsu was the one who took the Princess to the prom out of him and the Class A boy who also saved her. Once she got a closer look of how Aya looked though, the comment just slipped out in a breath without her consciously meaning to do so. Sero gulped with a dry mouth and just felt relieved that his date was the one to say it, because if she hadn't, he probably would have.

Aya had a similar idea about late arrivals as the three boys who had just gone in before her. Tetsutetsu was also sweatdropping for that same reason as his date. During her last hospital visit she had hinted so hard at him while wondering who he was asking to the U.A. Dance, and what he thought of dances, and other girls, that before he knew it, he had found himself asking if she wanted to come. He had also been grateful though to her maidens who she claimed had made her late by fussing for too long over her hair, as he had hoped that meant they could slip into the Lodge without drawing too much attention. Tetsutetsu swore he saw Zach smirking at him even though Lifebringer really just bowed his head in a respectful way with a relaxed expression when the Princess looked his way after entering. Aya smiled at Lifebringer, and then over the other way at Kirishima too who she had seen just that morning. She had been there with her father during the medal ceremony to thank these particular young heroes for doing their duties on that fateful day.

"Princess Aya in the houssseeeee," the DJ called out into his microphone, and half the student body spun with their dropped jaws dropping further as the DJ broke the uncomfortable silence with that shout. It was not really silent, as the music was still playing but just quieter now, but the fact that he broke it like that shocked most of the students there. The DJ was a hero himself though. Frisky Disky, an Indonesian hero who worked as a DJ too due to it being his passion, could see the awkward expressions on that couple's faces after their entrance. She's still just a teenage girl, he reminded himself. "Now let's try this track on for size," Frisky turned back up the volume and switched tracks to another dance song to get people back into it and refocused elsewhere.

Toyo hummed to himself where he walked on Aya's back right, closest to her of the Royal Guards who accompanied her to the dance. He was closest not just out of the four of them inside the building, but also the other six who had joined heroes on the perimeter as well. He decided to let slide the DJ's casual call-out of Aya's name lacking the respect she deserved. Calling out the Princess's arrival acknowledges that it is in fact amazing that she is here in the presence of all of you. Which is very true. You should all be in awe that she would come here to mingle with her people in such a raucous venue. The Princess has never been to one of these functions before though, and getting the attention off of her is well-and-good as well. Very nicely done, hero.

The Princess in her more traditional Japanese kimono than the majority of the girls in the room wearing more western-style dresses maintained a lot of the attention as she moved farther into the room. Zach unbowed his head though and greeted her and Tetsutetsu when they got closer, and the two stopped and started speaking to him too. Deku and Kirishima moved back into the aisle as they had gotten out of the way at first like Zach had to allow the pair to make an entrance. Zach could tell that an entrance was not what they wanted though and just stepped up to talk to them like normal people, which the Royal Guards had no problem with in this very specific case.

"You look amazing in that kimono, Princess," Zach complimented the Princess who blushed and glanced down at her kimono she liked more than the one she wore for the ceremonial parades. When she looked down, Zach flashed his smile towards Tetsutetsu in a way as if telling him not to feel threatened at all because it was just a nice gesture he was making and nothing more. Tetsutetsu just stared back with wide eyes that Zach would give him that look before quickly looking back at the Princess himself.

Uh-oh, Toyo thought to himself after catching sight of that look. Lifebringer thinks- No, he doesn't just "think" it. He's far too perceptive to be wrong about this. It may not just be a crush our Princess has on this hero. But him for her. Requited? I don't approve! I… Toyo grimaced while imagining that young hero putting his body on the line to protect her, and holding her close, and risking his life for her. He grumbled to himself while the other Royal Guards felt similarly suspicious but also less-so than they would be about anyone else who could possibly attempt to enter a courtship with their charge. They knew to be suspicious of anyone who might just be trying to use her for her political leverage or her family name… which they had always imagined would be any man the Princess could ever consider a relationship with. None of them really saw that as a possibility here though. Then again, if there was the possibility of that, the date never would have made it this far in the first place.

"Well, you look good in a kimono too, or a hakama," Aya mentioned. Zach lifted his eyebrows in surprise. So did Midoriya and Kirishima who came up on Zach's left, as well as Tetsutetsu who looked to his date in surprise that she said it. "I saw that video. The one on Heroes' Day! Where you stopped those kids from bullying the younger one?"

"I remember," Zach said, as it sounded like she was trying to remind him of it because of how he had looked surprised. That was not what surprised him though. Didn't know they gave you free access to the internet at your Palace. What did I think your life was like? Prison? Weird that I just assumed you didn't have internet access. Did I think that? I don't actually know why I'm surprised.

"Uh, and in your suit now though, I mean," Aya corrected herself. She realized that he had complimented her current appearance and she responded by complimenting how he had looked on a different day. She smiled to her right and at Deku and Red Riot too. "You've all cleaned up a ton since this morning! I barely recognize you now compared to in your hero costumes."

"Yeah, you're also, in a different, outfit," Kirishima glanced to his left several times while saying it, wondering if one of the Royal Guards might stop him here. He had no idea how to do this. None of them were frowning at him though or upset about them being casual with the Princess. He was another of the few exceptions to any suspicion they could have. Aya had been done-up for her appearance in public that morning for the medal ceremony too, but it felt like she had done a lot more for how she looked now which was really drop-dead gorgeous. It was actually what made Kirishima feel more awkward in this conversation than he thought he would be after meeting the Princess a few times already. That she looked that great. You're a lucky guy, Tetsutetsu, Kirishima thought, the exact same thought that echoed around a few hundred different teenage minds at the same time.

The music got louder and the dance continued on, with some people finally taking their attention off that impressive group just in from the main doorway. Some Class B's who felt uncertain about going up and talking to Tetsutetsu felt more confident about it after the trio who came in before that couple turned to just start talking to them as if they were the same as anyone else there.

Kamakiri and Kaibara came up to the group which widened out a bit into a circle for them to stand in. "Just wearing a suit like the rest of us, huh?" Kaibara wondered in a mock disappointed tone at Tetsutetsu.

"Yeah, you should have worn a kimono too to match the Princess," Kamakiri joked, making Tetsutetsu grimace. Then he froze, as did his friends who had just grinned to themselves at the way the Princess smiled with them in their poking teases of Tetsutetsu.

"I concur," Toyo agreed with the Class B boys. "He should have." His tone sounded much less joking and made the teens who initially joked about it lean back at the sight of the man frowning at the back of Tetsutetsu's head. "That would have been more appropriate."

"Toyo, it's fine." Aya scolded him curtly without looking back at the man who nodded and stepped back at the tone in the Princess's voice. She had already complained about how many of her guards were accompanying her inside, and it sounded like she was not happy with the four overbearing guards surrounding her. "It's nice to meet you two," Aya greeted the boys who had just joined them. She bowed her head a little, "I am Aya."

The boys who suddenly saw four seriously harsh and dangerous glares focused onto them snapped their bodies ninety degrees at the waists to much lower bows than the Princess's.

"Kaibara Sen!"

"Kamakiri Togaru!"

"Hahaha," Zach laughed at the two of their reactions to the Princess bowing to them before they could do so to her. His laughter turned Aya's head his way and Zach mentioned after she faced him, "I guess I didn't really give a proper introduction when we met, did I Princess?"

"That's not true actually!" Aya exclaimed back at him. "Don't you remember?"

Zach cocked his head to the side and wondered what she was referring to. The two who had bowed too far and exclaimed in a more formal way their introductions got out of their bows and lost their anxious expressions while looking towards Zach now. The two still had some sweat on their expressions after seeing those Guards' looks that told them they were being too casual with the Princess, but Zach was ignoring that entirely in the way he was speaking to the Princess himself. For a second they wondered if Zach just considered himself important enough that it was fine for him to do it when it clearly wasn't for either of them. Kaibara and Kamakiri glanced back to the Princess herself though who started recounting how Zach had bowed his head to her in greeting right after reviving her Royal Guards.

Zach nodded as he did remember that now. "Was a bit out of it, to be honest," Zach admitted to the girl a year younger who went wide-eyed but then nodded quickly as she had been able to see that herself at the time.

She just snapped at that guard. The Princess just, wants to be treated like any of us? Is that what you're thinking, Zach? Kaibara wondered while looking back at the other black-haired teen in their circle.

"…It's not that I don't remember. But the later it got in that day, the blurrier things get. I honestly don't think I was even needed there to finish off the rest of the Jazz. I mean, of course for the revivals I still had to come, but I'm sure these two would've handled it. These three," Zach corrected and nodded back at Toyo too who opened his eyes wider as Zach added him into the group, even though he was on the verge of death when Lifebriner had arrived.

"We weren't-" Tetsutetsu began.

"I'm sure they would have!" Aya agreed affirmatively and without the doubt in her voice that came out in her date's. Tetsutetsu spun to her in surprise but Aya just added, "They wouldn't have let the Jazz get me, no matter what. I have faith that they still would have won the day too. All four of them," Aya reminded Zach, then she winked at the boy who laughed and then smirked as if sharing some secret with the Princess that she just reminded him she was keeping.

"Well, I'm sure whoever 'that guy' who helped you out was, he just appreciates knowing that you were alright," Zach said. "I was stunned he didn't step forward after the battle to take credit though. He must be shy." Zach joked and the group around him either gawked or let themselves laugh a couple times at what he was saying. "So many shy people joined in with the fight. Did you hear about those two Naruhata vigilantes, Deku?" Zach wondered while looking back to his side at Midoriya who got even more surprised, like everyone, as they all thought he was just sneakily referring to the other Army of Death members.

"Pop-Step and The Crawler," Zach mentioned. "Apparently they used to work with some of the teachers on the odd job. A while back though," Zach added.

"I've, actually heard about them before," Kamakiri mentioned. He tried to keep going straight away even when the Princess turned back to him, though for some reason he felt more hesitant that Lifebringer looked his way and met his gaze. "I didn't know- they helped out in the Battle too?"

"From what I heard," Zach responded. "It sounds like they saved Mt. Lady's life during it too. I wouldn't have been able to bring her back either, so they really made the 'Miracle' possible. Though it's probably a good move on their part not stepping forward now. Unlike the civilians who came forward, the two of them might actually be considered vigilantes still. I mean, considering that we're still referring to them as the 'Naruhata Vigilantes,' haha- it might be better if they just go back into retirement…"

"Look at him," Jirou muttered under her breath. She shook her head while staring back across the room towards the group who maintained the most gazes on them throughout the hall. Most people had gone back to what they were doing, but they still darted looks over and stared at the circle of people who made this feel like a way more important function than a regular school dance. "Even with the Princess here, everyone's staring at him," Jirou whispered in amazement.

It was true. Even after most had gone back to what they were doing, everyone was conscious of Zach's presence in the room now. Somehow it felt even more out of place than the Princess, and those who had stared over in awe at her still found their eyes darted towards Lifebringer instead.

Monoma noticed his date anxiously looking past him and over towards that group again even though they had just gone back to dancing. He glanced over his shoulder again and towards the group, and he saw everyone in that circle all looking towards Zach as well. He was the center of attention in a group of people including Deku and the Princess. They all looked absorbed in whatever it was he was talking about, and Monoma sighed after staring over for a few seconds. "If only Zach had been in our class," Monoma muttered disappointedly. We really would have been better than Class A then. That's all it would have taken.

Ashido glanced back again and smirked while seeing Zach leaning his body back and laughing about something. "He's so confident," she mentioned to her side at her invisible friend who nodded her head while staring over as well past the boys in front of them. "It's like it just radiates off him."

"I know! That's totally what it is," Hagakure agreed as she felt the same way.

Ojiro sweatdropped but just smiled softly himself while his date looked past him and towards Zach. Trabo felt a bit more jealous than the Class A boy who felt no reason to be, and Trabo glanced back himself towards his old classmate. It was too hard for him not to get jealous when Pinky was fangirling over Zach like she was. After staring for a second though, Trabo quickly looked away from the more muscular guy whose stature just gave off that feeling of confidence that Trabo just heard the girls talking about.

He acted like that from the first day at Shiketsu. It feels like he's gotten even more cocky though! Not that he doesn't have a right to be, Trabo admitted to himself. He easily took on our class and got rank 1. Then did so much more- and all after he was already Death, and just what he did as Lifebringer too! Man's so cool.

Shinso stared towards the guy who once faced him with an intense look as they fought in front of the nation. The sheer weight of who he is and what he's done. It's hard to separate that from the guy here at the dance right now. Too difficult, really. No one can just ignore it all and act like he's just another one of us. Well, maybe the Class A's can. I can't though. And I feel like I do know him better than, many people.

But he's Death. Or he was Death, Shinso reminded himself. Yet he's also Lifebringer. And he was in the League of Villains. He killed his best friend Kaminari during the Battle of Tokyo, where his army showed up in secret and saved the city but left without taking any credit. Saved the Princess. Then he revived all the dead. Half of that happened last weekend. It's like every day he does something more amazing. Just being here in his presence feels, unnatural. I mean, he could be reviving the dead right now, right? That's up to him though. What is he going to do after graduation? If it's him, it has to be something incredible.

"Come on, Shinso. Let's get up and dance," Kendo encouraged her date who turned towards her and then pulled his head back as she looked serious with that suggestion.

He motioned down at his arms. "I don't think Recovery Girl, would want me to-"

"Oh excuses excuses. You just need to move your feet-"

"And not even that much," Kuroiro's date said quickly to the darker boy next to Shinso who looked back at her in surprise as she seemed to be jumping on the bandwagon to try and get her similarly injured date up to dance.

Shishida's date from Class J opened her mouth while looking back at her date at the same table. The hairier Class B student had his head pointed in the exact opposite direction of her though and was acting like he just saw something that took his attention away and that he really needed to focus on. "Well if you boys don't want to dance, I think we'll go dance on our own then. Ladies?" Kendo wondered while getting up to her feet.

The other girls just sitting with their dates glanced at each other and then grinned and got up. "Come join us once you get bored of being boring," Kuroiro's date joked back at the boy who sweatdropped more and started rubbing his upper legs that he was using as an excuse to not get up.

The dance floor got even more crowded than before. Some of the late arrivals went to grab plates of food before the buffet stations got shut down. Clearly it was time for music and dancing, and the DJ got louder again as the floor filled with more students and their dates coming out to enjoy the mix and their last nights as kids. Graduation was tomorrow, and everyone had it on the back of their minds. U.A., like many schools, made the decision to put graduation directly after the prom to discourage late night parties of high schoolers letting loose on prom night as they would have to be up early the next morning for the ceremony.

"Zach?" Kirishima wondered as he was heading over to grab food after Midoriya just split off to go talk to some of his other friends. They had stopped at a table not far from the entrance just for a second where Zach draped his jacket over one of the chairs, and Kirishima figured they would eat here.

"I ate already," Zach replied with a lift of his hand showing he did not need to get any.

Kirishima frowned at him though and Zach looked back from where he had just stared off to. "I mean, I'm good." He realized he had lied right there and Kirishima knew it since they had been together for the whole day. Kirishima also looked confused though as he realized himself that Zach was much too good of a liar to botch a simple lie like that.

The redhead glanced in the direction Zach had just been staring and smirked himself when he realized what made Zach distracted enough that he would slip up so easily. Despite most of the room seeing Zach as the most confident person in there who could deal with anything, Zach himself was wondering at the moment, Why'd I spend so long talking to the Princess? Maybe I was trying to get attention off me, or maybe I was just stalling for this moment. I'm not sure. No reason to doubt myself though. I have the courage for this. I've got this.

"You've got this," Kirishima encouraged his friend who he patted on the shoulder before turning and going to get his food on his own.

See? Totally have this, Zach chuckled to himself that Kirishima read his mind without knowing. No need not to make it obvious. There will always be eyes on me. That won't ever change. So no reason to act like it will. Zach took in a deep breath then started walking towards her.

You can do this. Still a question you need to ask. Or, an answer you still need. You've got this. Zach's heart raced despite his encouraging thoughts that built up his courage to walk across the ballroom towards their table. As confident as he assured himself that he was here, he wondered why he had stopped and talked for so long to others after coming in. Why did he waste time? Ground Zeta appeared in his head. Life and death situations are a dime a dozen. Guess rejection just scares me more. Hurts a lot more. I, don't think she will though. Zach smiled as he walked towards the table and the girl who turned her head and watched him walking straight towards her now.

Zach stepped right up to the tallest girl in his class who smiled up at him. He beat her to the punch when she was about to mention his nice suit, "You look great, Momo. That dress really fits you."

A light shade of pink rose on Momo's cheeks. She had been given a hundred compliments already tonight. She had been appreciative of each one, but only one made a fluttering feeling in her chest that could make her blush like that. "You look, very nice as well, Zach."

He held his left hand out in front of her. "Would you like to dance?"

Most others in the room were up already, but Yaoyorozu had stayed at her table with Jirou who Zach had not addressed yet. Jirou saw him coming over though. She turned away from Momo when she spotted him and started talking to someone else at the table, making sure that Yaoyorozu was free to approach without Zach needing to focus on her or anyone else. Jirou just smirked as she heard the question that Zach wasted no time in getting to, and then she lifted the corners of her lips even higher as Yaoyorozu lifted a hand and took his.

Yaoyorozu got to her feet while her heart pounded, around the same speed that Zach's was racing as they walked over onto the floor. Zach pretended not to notice them, so Yaoyorozu tried to do the same. People will always be watching him. Eyes on him at all times. I don't mind. She did not look around at them all. She just focused on him, and he looked back at her after looking ahead for a few seconds there as they walked to the floor.

Forget all of them, Zach reminded himself. It's just the two of you here.

One girl watching Zach and Yaoyorozu walk out onto the floor that was opening up for them blinked a few times then raised an arm and wiped her large eyes quickly. Her date next to her only slightly taller than she was gave her a confused look. "Tsu-chan, you okay?" Mineta wondered in surprise as it looked like Asui had been tearing up right there.

"I'm fine," Tsuyu said, shaking her head that Mineta did not get it, which the boy did not. I didn't believe it, Tsuyu thought. Her heart stabbed and she bowed her head a bit to look down at her hands that shook in front of her. From the day he came back. I just… I didn't think he was really back. I couldn't accept it. It had to be someone else. But- that's him. That's really him. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Zach-chan.

Jirou looked back to her side and turned in her chair to try and watch despite how crowded the dance floor was. She had turned away from Zach when he got close because she just knew that he would not be able to help himself from complimenting her and starting an entire conversation. I knew why you were heading this way, she thought towards her guy friend whose request to her best friend had made her feel so giddy a minute ago. Don't need any distractions. Not, that you look distracted. Jirou rose her eyebrows up higher as Zach maintained eye contact with Yaoyorozu after walking between a few hundred people out onto the dance floor.

Zach lifted his right hand up after turning to face Yaoyorozu out on the floor. She looked surprised, but she reached over with her left and took his right hand. "I'm surprised," she told him. She did not want him to think that she was hesitating before grabbing the hand he offered to her. Yaoyorozu knew it was safe if he was going to offer, so she added to explain her initial pause of surprise, "You usually try to keep your hand so far." A smile formed on her face though that she could feel the hand inside of his black glove that was a real one and not a fake covered in realistic skin but still just a prosthetic.

Zach moved his left hand down to Yaoyorozu's side, and she moved her right to his shoulder too after they switched which hands were being held. They switched up their movements to the background music, and Zach replied to her, "I've mastered condensing Death so solid that it doesn't absorb into anything."

"Like with Hagakure," Yaoyorozu mentioned.

"Exactly," Zach replied. The explosion at Heroally that Raijin created in order to bolt out of there came to their minds. Zach had caught his invisible friend with an arm of Death without it hurting her at all. He rose up his right hand and Yaoyorozu smiled at him and allowed him to spin her around. After the spin her pulled her a little closer by pulling both of their hands out to his right side, extending their arms fully out which brought their bodies closer. He looked right towards their hands though and added to the girl who looked towards his gloved hand curled in hers as well. "Inside my glove is a condensed hand of Death. I know it feels real, but it's actually replacing the right hand completely."

"I don't want to have the hand of instant Death anymore," Zach admitted. "It's the only part of my body I'll constantly keep as Death for now on," he added after. Momo looked back to his face in surprise for a second but then smiled that he assured her of that. They thought back on Recovery Girl's diagnosis when he got sick and how he could not turn his vital organs into Death for extended periods of time. Yaoyorozu hummed to herself but tilted her head to the side as it sounded alright that he would do it for one limb at least.

"It'll also double as a precaution in case anyone ever tried poking holes in my glove to make me slip up. I've, always been nervous about that," Zach admitted.

"You've done an amazing job preventing accidents," Yaoyorozu told him. "I'm sure enemies have considered doing exactly that. Your legitimate fears aren't paranoia, and you've kept them from succeeding at a sabotage like that. Are you, able to subconsciously keep it as Death?"

"If you mean while I'm sleeping, then I can't say for sure," Zach admitted to her. "I've only just started doing it. I think with more practice I could possibly do it, but I didn't often sleep with my hand in my glove anyway… Gets it sweaty," he laughed and Momo did as well.

"You must have many pairs," she started.

"You'd be surprised how many get destroyed… and how many I lose in the wash," Zach added and Yaoyorozu laughed again.

By not having instant-kill with my right hand anymore, I can do this. Hold your hand. Zach's other reasons meant very little to him. Dance with you without fear that I may hurt you. I never will. Zach pulled back and extended his right arm in front of him with Yaoyorozu leaning back on her heels and extending her arm fully too. He pulled her back in and spun her right as she was coming close, putting her back to him right as their bodies touched.

Yaoyorozu gulped but smiled with her head turning to the side and looking at the boy behind her whose eyes widened a bit at what he just did putting her back to him in a very close position. It was a similar style to how many of the other students had been dancing, a very modern style, but Zach still felt like he might have overstepped for a second. Her smile reassured him and made the lump in his throat go back down, though she did spin herself back the other way and face him again. She lifted her right hand in front of her mouth for a second to stifle a laugh. "Is that how you would dance in disguise at clubs?"

Zach's eyebrows rose higher but he cocked his head to the side admittedly a moment later. "You got me," he confessed. There had been several times where he was in a nightclub and danced in a much closer, pretend-sensual way with grinding involved where the girl's back was to his front… occasionally with Darling. Zach felt more awkward about who it had been with, though he reminded himself it was not always with Airi. Though when I disguised and danced with someone else like that, Airi would always act up. Except that one time with La Brava. That time it felt like Gentle was the angrier. So much passive aggression that night- Zach stopped thinking about it as Yaoyorozu gave him a questioning look. He paused again though as he wondered if she would be upset with him just keeping it to himself. "I've actually got a lot of experience dancing. Not that I'm very good at it compared to you."

"That's not true," Yaoyorozu replied quickly. "I just… we have our own ballroom, and I've had lessons since I was a girl-" her cheeks turned a little red as Zach grinned wider. She smiled huge a second later though, thinking back on the first time Zach ever visited her house for tutoring and the amazement on his face at the sight of all the grand rooms of her mansion. He had teased her about it quite a few times, and she pursed her lips for a moment before telling him, "Shut up."

Zach held both hands up defensively. "I didn't say anything," he promised. Then he lowered his arms back and took one of Momo's hands and grabbed her side again with the other. He stepped to his right so she stepped left, then he leaned back and stretched his hand-holding arm out as he felt her arm tugging the other way. Then he pulled back towards himself again with a spin of his partner, and they continued to dance while Zach added, "Though, I suspect your dance classes were much more formal. And, to different music," Zach bobbed his head while saying it, and Yaoyorozu pursed her lips again before admitting it with a glance away and short nod.

The bumping DJ music was much different from the classical orchestra she was used to. Luckily for her though, Ashido had suspected her lack of variety in training for a dance like this. Yaoyorozu sweatdropped while thinking on a meeting in Jirou's room between the two of them, Tsuyu, and Ashido. They were all wearing yoga pants and casual clothes, except for Ashido who came in wearing a full flashy spandex singlet with a headband on. She had pressed play on her computer and filled Jirou's soundproofed room with blasting dance music that she had determined they were going to practice to for the prom, so that the other girls would not "embarrass themselves entirely." It was harsh, but Yaoyorozu admitted to herself now that had Ashido not straight up told them they were going to embarrass themselves, they might not have gone along with it at all.

I think Tsu-chan was most concerned with being a worse dancer than Mineta, Yaoyorozu admitted to herself when she thought back on it. Though, I suppose, I was also worried at the time. Yaoyorozu looked into her date's eyes which she had imagined in her head when Ashido suggested their dance practice. She looked at me like she saw this coming miles away… Which admittedly she did.

There was a lot of movement in the dance to a pop song remix that made it even better for dancing. The two were not just nodding their heads like some others, or grinding as a few had been, and instead almost looked like they had choreographed a dance by how smoothly they were dancing in a way less formal than Yaoyorozu was used to but showed that she was adapting a classier style. It was also a style a bit more formal than Zach had ever tried dancing to, but he had predicted Yaoyorozu's experience and danced in a way adapting to that as well without losing the vibe that the music had which required faster movements and more movements than a slower ballroom piece.

The two were just dancing and talking to each other loud enough for each other to hear over the music but not loud enough for the others around them. Everyone was around them though. The space that people had made for them to walk between did not close back in. Many had been staring at them as they walked past, but they did not go back to what they were doing. A circle had been made on the dance floor with rows of students curved around the pair who had told themselves that there were going to be eyes on them so they were ignoring it anyway. Yaoyorozu was trying harder than ever not to acknowledge them all though. Even after telling herself that people were going to stare, it was a bit awkward that most people she could see had stopped dancing and were just staring at her and Zach dancing so casually as if that was an okay thing for them to do.

Unfortunately, the DJ did not pick up on it this time. Instead, the way the two were dancing seemed a bit too fanciful compared to what he was used to. Frisky Disky typed in a few things on his computer then twisted knobs on his soundboard to transition the song smoothly. The faster-paced beat in the background started to trail off while the treble shifted as well. The DJ turned on a slower song. It was a school dance, but the prom needed at least one slow song on the mix, and it felt to him like a good time for it as he had seen Lifebringer request a dance and bring Creati out on the dance floor too.

Some people had already pulled out phones and snapped pictures or videos of them dancing together. The room was spectating their dance. Recording it. Watching the two of them who were doing too well of a job at pretending to ignore all of them that the DJ actually thought they were not feeling awkward at all. Zach was no longer bobbing his head as the beat shifted and then trailed off entirely. He took a deep breath but then held Yaoyorozu in a more formal dance position that he figured she was more used to anyway. Momo's eyes darted around once, and Zach instantly snapped his to the right quickly then right back on her when she stared at him and tried to maintain focus.

Ashido Mina's eyes bulged. She saw Yaoyorozu's facial movements and the nervous dart of her eyes. She watched as Zach's gaze snapped directly onto her. It's my time! Ashido thought. She knew Yaoyorozu well enough to see her tells. She could tell Yaoyorozu's body language better than most, but it was Zach's quick glance towards her that told her to do something. At first she was just grinning to see that her friend could feel nervous and was not so much more confident than she would be in this situation. Yaoyorozu's lack of any reaction to the attention even made Ashido jealous, because Mina could handle it so well and thought that was one of her stronger points against Yaoyorozu. The second Zach looked to her though, her own smugness at Yaoyorozu's fidgety-ness vanished in place of her own nature of heroism.

He's asking me for help! Ashido curled her fists in determination. Zach's used to handling this attention! He loves Momo though and doesn't want her to have to deal with it! As much fun as it is to watch you squirm, girl… I've got this. Ashido spun to her right and to her date.

Ashido was not the only one who noticed though. And Hagakure felt especially aware of the attention they were getting, so even as Zach darted a look to Mina in particular for help, Hagakure was even quicker. "Come on, Mashirao," Hagakure ushered her boyfriend who looked surprised but then let himself get taken by the hand and walked out into the circle.

Ashido cleared her throat loudly at her date who was just watching like everyone else. He turned his head and looked at Hagakure and Ojiro for a second, before snapping his head down at the sound of that cleared throat and seeing Ashido looking impatiently at him. Dang it, Toru! You're too quick! Ashido felt like she was letting him down by not being the first one to come to their rescue and get the attention off of them, but she was not going to be third! "A-hemmm?" She cleared it again and waited though, not dragging him out as she waited for him instead.

"Ah, yes," Trabo stopped hesitating at the expectant look on his date's face. So much attention was on this circle that it was a difficult thing to do, but at least one other couple had already walked out who Zach and Momo glanced to next to them. Hagakure and Ojiro just focused on each other though, and the two couples were joined by another as Trabo took Ashido by one hand and stepped out for the slower dance with her.

The circle broke apart and the dance floor filled back up with people dancing again. Many who were more uncertain about dancing like this with their dates stepped back, taking a "break" from the dance because they were "tired" after all that upbeat dancing. Most actual couples though, and a few who just felt more confident with their dates like Sero, and even Monoma, remained on the floor though and kept dancing with their dates.

Yaoyorozu glanced to her other side as her invisible friend. Ashido flashed her a side-smirk but then refocused on her date who she was happy took the lead as she wanted him to rather than forcing her to drag him out herself. A relieved and grateful look formed on Yaoyorozu's face for a second that the opening around them had closed in to make the dance floor more cramped again. It gave them less room for movement with each other, but that was an okay trade-off for not feeling like they were on display.

The tone of the song made the moment when she stared back at Zach feel a lot different than a minute ago too. The two of them had danced together in front of everyone, but now with the focus off, the two had not started speaking again. They just danced. A slower song, dancing together without needing to worry about everyone else this time as there were enough people around them that it was tough for anyone to stare, and the recordings had stopped too. A few allies had secretly spoken words to some of the filming students too, getting their classmates to leave the pair alone.

One girl stood from a table in the middle of the room where she and her date, and four older Royal Guards, had sat down. Princess Aya got up and spun to her date who looked up at her in surprise as she jumped up at the slow song. Tetsutetsu got a bead of sweat on his face as she told him, "This song is great. Don't you think? Come dance?" She invited him up.

The four Royal Guards all started standing up. "I'm asking Tetsutetsu, not you," Aya scolded the guards. "Just him," she added.

The group looked hesitant about it and darted looks around at the security risks in this room. "Sit. Stay," she ordered the group who were acting as if what she said was a suggestion and were still looking for reasons to deny her. Aya used a firmer tone on the group who all sat back down, but darted glares immediately towards Tetsutetsu who had turned around to them while getting up himself when Aya had looked past him to the four.

The Royal Guards all glared at Tetsutetsu. He pulled his head back. Are those looks because they don't want me to dance with her, or, is it because I'm hesitating to do just that? Or am I just supposed to protect- Aya grabbed him by his left hand before he could figure it out. He turned and looked down at the shorter girl's look. She opened her mouth but then paused, seeming hesitant like she knew she could not just order him out there like she could order her guards to stay here. Aya looked to be struggling to find words to tell him to come dance with her without sounding stuck up like she thought he had to dance just because she wanted him to. I'll just do what she wants, Tetsutetsu figured, and he nodded back at the Princess and held her hand back firmly to show she was not dragging him out on her own, and that this was his choice too.

The Guards all looked around at each other and hummed after seeing Tetsutetsu take her by the hand and lead her out on the floor. Toyo frowned deeper himself but then sighed and sat back in his seat. The weight he thought he would feel on his shoulders only felt lighter at what he was seeing. I cannot protect her forever. All my fears about the first boy she would come to like though and his intentions with her, are coming apart. We could not have been luckier that the Princess has fallen for a hero.

Midoriya stood near the wall past some tables that had been slid back a bit once they emptied out. He had been one of the ones to tap on recording students' shoulders and ask them quietly if they could stop recording his friends, which no one was going to deny the guy who defeated Shigaraki Tomura and saved their capital city from total Decay at the cost of his own arm and nearly the cost of his life. They felt guilty about it just by the fact that Deku had to even ask. He stood at the edge of the room though instead of dancing, not that this was a song to dance to without a partner. He stared through the crowd and past other couples dancing to look straight at the pair who continued swaying and moving in the middle of the floor.

Deku just watched the two of them, knowing that neither of them could see him by the way they were looking at each other. His lips lifted higher at the corners with a soft look in his eyes at the scene he was witnessing that he had so many times believed would never be possible. His first trial. VTS. The Lifebringer Incident. The second tr- or, third? The most recent trial… So many times, I've thought you were gone, Zach. So many times I doubted I would ever see you standing with me at graduation. That we would be here, in a time of peace. Together.

The slow dance continued. Zach slowed down even more than the song was already going. He and Yaoyorozu were no longer talking. They had continued to move, but they just stared into each other's eyes while stepping with one another. The quiet had gone on for long enough. She stared back at him with a small smile but wondered what his look was for and then why he stopped moving altogether. Zach glanced around them.

He looked back at the girl in front of him. "There's a lot of people around. Could we, talk outside?" Zach motioned towards the windows along the wall behind Yaoyorozu and the set of sliding glass doors that were still open. Only one person was outside on the balcony out front of the Lodge just outside the doors. That girl was on her phone and facing the other way from them, but other than her, the balcony was free. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

Yaoyorozu looked back herself towards the balcony and her heart started beating faster. I'm the one who needs to talk to you, Yaoyorozu looked back at him and nodded her head. "Let's," she agreed. They let go of each other, and the two started for the balcony. People moved out of their way without either having to say anything. They just shifted to the sides and let the pair go by. I need to tell you something. I should have said it already. I've been waiting for my chance, but you also… you also want to tell me it again? Or, something else? Whatever it is. Yaoyorozu moved her left hand over to his right when they walked side-by-side towards the open doors, and she curled her fingers back with his again.

Zach darted his eyes down to his right side then up at the face of the girl who turned it once he stared towards her. She motioned outside again, but the grab of his hand already made Zach's heart pound as this was outside of the dance. His heart raced, but he smiled back at her in the same way. The butterflies filled his stomach again, but they were fluttering rapidly in Momo's.

I want to tell you first, Momo thought while pursing her lips and glancing down. She stepped outside with him and they walked past the girl on the phone who bobbled it in her hands then quickly told her mom that she would call back later, before rushing inside. Yaoyorozu glanced sideways at Zach who cracked a bigger grin at her, and the two of them laughed to themselves once they were sure that girl they overheard was out of earshot of their giggles.

As Zach walked out of those doors and glanced back to check that the girl had gotten far enough away, he spotted a friend with his green hair tied back in a ponytail who was staring straight off towards him. Midoriya. Thank you, Zach thought at the moment he met eyes with Deku.

Zach turned away and continued with Yaoyorozu towards the railing at the edge of the balcony. Midoriya's pounding heart started to settle down, but it felt so warm as he watched the two of them head out to talk about something he could guess pretty easily. Zach, Deku thought. You deserve this. You have given up more than anyone could ever be asked to sacrifice. You don't have to do that anymore. I'll make sure of it.

Zach, I know that you're a pillar too. You know that. But I also know that to you, some things are more important. I know you won't give up anything anymore. I know you can't. Midoriya's lips curled up softly at the corners. And that's fine. You can get everything you want. But right now, there's only one thing I think you do want. All your plans for the future. All the people you'll help. There's one thing that you care about more than anything. There were tears in Midoriya's eyes that he had held back until after Zach got farther outside and was no longer looking in back towards him. Once there were people in the way and his friend could no longer see his face. Midoriya could imagine his face looking like it did back in the courtyard only a few nights ago though, as Zach talked about wanting a better world for kids in the future. For his kids… Things will work out for you this time.

I appreciate it, Midoriya, Zach thought while walking towards the railing with Momo. The girl at his side was the only thing he wanted to focus on. The thing that had his heart racing ten times faster than usual. He thought of that look he saw a second ago though. The reassurance in his friend's eyes, as he carried on with this while Midoriya stood inside, alone. I admire you, Deku.

And I was wrong, Zach added, glancing down towards his feet for a second with his lips actually curling down a tiny bit from the way he was smiling at the feeling of Momo's hand in his. I asked you what you were willing to sacrifice. I thought myself so superior in that moment. And I was wrong. I was wrong.

You saw me lose my family, yet you kept on even knowing that they would target yours. Your mom was put in danger. You gave up your arm! I… I believe, that you could have killed Shigaraki had you chose to. In the moment you arrived, you probably could have. You lost an arm in order to not do that. You didn't let him kill any civilians. Yet you didn't kill. I wouldn't have done that. I would have killed. Those are different things we were willing to sacrifice. I thought less of you, if even for a minute, because I didn't believe you could sacrifice that ideal if it came down to it. But you found something else. You chose the loss of your arm rather than kill a man. You chose to lose a chance with Uraraka rather than risk All Might's pillar of peace from being shaken.

You're going to continue making those kind of sacrifices, while I no longer can. I'm done giving things up, Deku. It might be selfish of me, but there's nothing else in this world that matters more in this moment to me, Zach turned his head and stopped walking. He twisted his right hand to continue to hold Yaoyorozu's left but now while facing her. They stood less than one arm's length apart between the two of them.

The stars were out. Even this close to Tokyo with so much light pollution, there were some up there. More of those tiny lights in the sky were blinking though to show satellites and planes. A cool breeze blew by the two of them, but both of them were feeling hotter and had sweaty palms rather than getting shivers from the wind. Yaoyorozu let go of Zach's hand and lifted it quickly to her hair, feeling a bit anxious and moving to push aside some strands of hair that blew in her face from the wind. She brushed them behind her ear, then she lowered her hand back down but did not take his again. "Zach," Momo held her hands together down in front of her waist as they were fidgeting too much and she did not know what to do with them. She leaned forward on the balls of her feet then rocked back more of her weight onto her heels. I don't know what I'm stalling for! Yaoyorozu pursed her lips but struggled to speak. Her heart was racing though, and she just stared into Zach's eyes feeling a sudden wave of anxiety that she was not expecting to hit her out of the blue.

"What, are your plans for after graduation?" Yaoyorozu wondered.

It was the question on the minds of everyone in the country. Zach had told his friends some ideas he had. Some lofty long-term goals and ambitions. It was still a mystery though what he actually planned on doing once tomorrow came and went. After graduation was finished, the rest of them had plans for the immediate 'after.' Post-graduation plans had been made a year or more in advance in some cases. Zach had actually rejoined U.A. after most guidance-counseling sessions had ended, and most of them already figured out whether they were beginning their own agencies, or where they would be going to act as sidekicks, or partners.

Lifebringer's post-graduation plans were an unknown that had kept the world in suspense though. Yaoyorozu was no different. It was the one question that she still needed him to answer. Zach just stared back towards her though, no answer as the seconds ticked by. He did not respond but that in itself was the answer, and she smiled. Yaoyorozu smiled and her racing heart settled a bit even as it felt so much warmer still. Oh, she thought. Her lips curled up higher at the corners. She glanced down and away from him, hiding her face for a second and then lifting a hand and brushing some hair behind her left ear again. I see. I know now, for certain, that your answer to that question is reliant on my own answer to yours.

She glanced back at him and then lifted her head and took in a deep breath through her nose. It doesn't feel as heavy as I thought it would, she realized. Yaoyorozu noticed just how light she was feeling. It was surprising to her. He's the most powerful person in the world and can do so much, but I don't feel some huge pressure knowing that what I say will affect your actions. I don't feel guilty for it. I'm just happy, that you care that much for me that my response would change yours.

Wow, Zach thought. Her eyes seemed to shine in what light there was out on the balcony while she smiled back at him like that. She's beautiful. Do I speak? She asked me a question. I- I feel like, she knows. I don't think I need to answer that.

…Even with all the lives that he could save, Yaoyorozu let out her held breath. It's not something to feel weighed down by. Because I care that much about you too for me to want you to do any of that. I know how much it hurts you. Even if my answer might stop you from reviving nonstop. Even if my answer could change the world. The realizations only made the girl smile brighter as she felt no doubt in what she was thinking. None of that matters as much to me, than the knowledge that you're okay. Than the idea of, being with you. Being happy with you.

I know I haven't given him an answer yet. I told him I couldn't answer it. But after the Battle of Tokyo, Yaoyorozu gulped and then opened her lips. She took in another breath but through the mouth that she left open this time. After that dance, Yaoyorozu still felt the butterflies that had been so stomach-wrenching and at the same time amazing the whole time they had danced in there. I know now. I know, that I never did get over you. I only tricked myself into thinking it. Thinking that I was, falling all over again. When it was really always there.

"Zach," Yaoyorozu started. He could already see it from the look in her eyes. The expression on her face. The way she was looking back at him told him more than the three words she was about to say. "I love-"

BreeEEE Doo-Doo-Doo. BreeEEE Doo-Doo-Doo. BreeEEE…

Zach's pocket started making some very loud and annoying beeping noises. His face twisted in horror while Yaoyorozu's eyes darted down towards his pants' pocket where Zach's right hand had snapped to immediately, only to not turn off the beeping alert. "What is that?" Yaoyorozu asked, failing to finish the declaration to him that had Zach's heart falling in his chest.

"It's-" Zach started. He wanted desperately to turn off the phone. Hell, he wanted to curl his hand so hard around it that the phone would break. "I-" Zach started and he slid the phone out of his pocket. "It's an, emergency signal…" Zach regretted every word out of his mouth. He wanted to say 'It's nothing' a hundred times and throw the phone into the distance. The call could not have possibly come at a worse time.

Yaoyorozu lifted her left hand up in front of her mouth and let out a small laugh into the back of her hand. It was such horrible timing that she could not help herself. She did not mind though. "It's okay," she told him. She could see how horrified he was, and she could also see just how badly he did not want to answer this phone call. "If it's an emergency, answer it," Momo told him. "I know you're going to. I know, you're always going to," she added. Zach's heart sped up twenty times as fast at that addition that made Momo's cheeks flush red a second later like she realized what she just suggested. What she was hinting at- that she would be there with him anyway into the future even knowing that he would always be picking up these calls. That he could never decline them.

It's not who you are, Yaoyorozu thought while Zach frustratedly stepped back and then lifted his phone to his head.

"Rebel, I swear to God. This better be good," Zach hissed in English while turning and walking briskly away from Momo to have this hopefully brief phone call. The distinct way that his phone had rung was a signal he had worked out with his friend from the Command center back in the Army of Death. It was similar to how his sat-phone had gone off to warn him of the missile flying towards Yutapu.

Eziano was gone though. The world was at peace, for once. Even though he told Rebel that it 'better be good,' Zach found himself less nervous that it actually was something horrible, and his eyes still just darted back over to Yaoyorozu who smiled to her side at him before turning and looking off the balcony that she put her hands on the railing of. He focused on her back for a moment while she looked off into the distance and in Tokyo, but Zach turned away a second later as he heard a voice snap back at him, "YO! I'm getting reports from all directions here, Zach! Paris! Rio! Seoul!"

"Hey- Hey! Calm down," Zach snapped back, though he did solely focus on the phone call now at the kind of panic in Rebel's voice that he had rarely ever heard before. "What's going on?"

Yaoyorozu stared out into the Tokyo skyline. She glanced up and at some of the blinking lights high above, and one was moving down a bit so the blinking was brighter. The plane looked to be on a descent towards Tokyo. Probably to Narita Airport, Momo thought. …ooOO! OooOO! She lowered her gaze from the descending plane and looked towards the city. Distant sirens echoed from what sounded like a firetruck to her. Err Err Err… Or is that an ambulance? I hope it's not villains taking advantage, of the…

"Rebel! Just calm down and speak clearly. What's happening?"

"The reports just keep pouring in! Every emergency dispatch I'm monitoring across the world. It's never looked like this- damn it! Reports of people in NY, and LA?! Zach, I'm seeing blinking from Tokyo too. The calls, they're saying people are getting- ack, that they're ka-ack, agh," Rebel's voice choked up.

He started coughing over his words into the microphone, and Zach's hand gripped his phone tighter. "Hey! Hey Rebel! What's-"

"Oh fuck-ack, it's here too. Everywhere? I- I can't- ACK kah, agh- unnhhHH-" Clsh- CRSH!

Zach did not call out the name of his friend who he just heard falling. He heard the chair rolling out behind him and crashing into something over the line, but Zach was already lowering the phone from his head.

"AhhEEEAAA!"

"Hey! HEY cut the music!"

"AHHH!"

"What's happening?!"

Zach lowered his phone farther. The device slipped through his fingers though. Clatter. The phone hit the floor. Zach stared towards the edge of the balcony. He stared at the girl standing there. She was staring off into Tokyo where more and more alarms started sounding from. The music in the Lodge behind them cut off, but the screams of panic were getting louder.

Yaoyorozu was facing away from Zach. He saw her right hand was not on the railing anymore though. Her left was still curled around it, seemingly too tightly from what he could see. He did not know if it was the tense way in which she was gripping that railing, or the fact that her right hand was lifted up to her face and her nose that made Zach freeze still. She started turning her head towards him. EeeeeeooooooosssSSSHHH… A plane falling out of the air high in the sky behind Yaoyorozu was clearly listing to one side and on a strange descent. It made such an unsettling noise as it dropped out of the air. Smoke rose from the city of Tokyo in the backdrop behind her, while she turned her head towards Zach with her right hand moving away from her face.

Momo stared down at the top of her hand. She looked at her fingers covered in blood. Then her eyes rose up to the boy staring at her frozen in place. His eyes huge. His mouth wide open and shaking as he tried to make a sound. The sight of the trails of blood coming out of her nostrils though was too much. The sight of the smoke rising from a city full of sirens, while planes fell out of the sky, was nothing. The lightening color of her skin though turning pale though. The blood under her nostrils that dripped over her lips and down to her chin. All the sounds of screams and sirens, but the world was silent to him. All he heard was his own heart thumping ever louder in his head.

"Z- uch, agh, kah-" she tried to speak, but blood spilled from Yaoyorozu's lips instead.

Zach sprinted forward as he saw her legs wobble in the bottom of his vision. His gaze had not left her eyes though. He caught her in both arms and then dropped down to his knees as she had no support holding her weight up. "H-Hey! What's… what's…" Zach's arms were shaking. "Momo! I've got you. Hey, hey I've got you."

"I don't… I- I ack- I can't-" Yaoyorozu lifted a hand and grabbed his right with it. Her heart was in agony but it raced faster in panic at the sight of his face. "I, do- I love-ack, AKh-gah- I… love you, too." Her fingers that curled into his lost grip. The bloodshot eyes staring up at him stayed open, but they were looking past him now. Zach darted his eyes up, then snapped them back down just as quickly. Her eyes were just unfocused really, not actually staring at something above that had taken her attention off him.

"Hey? Momo," Zach whispered. He curled his right hand tighter into the one that just lost grip. Even with the amount of times he had seen it, it happened so fast, and so suddenly, that it did not process for a few seconds. "Momo?" Zach wondered, his voice cracking.

"Zach! We need your help!"

"Oh God! Everyone's collapsing!"

"ZACH!"

Kendo staggered out onto the balcony behind Zach. She had a blond boy's right arm held over her shoulder, and she looked sideways at him with tears pouring down her face. "Come on, Monoma. Stay awake! Zach!" Kendo screamed towards the black-haired boy who was down on his knees across the balcony. She opened her mouth to call at him again, as did others who ran out behind her too, some carrying other friends of theirs. Kendo froze though at the sight of the boy kneeling there and bowing his head while he held a collapsed girl in his arms.

"Zach, you need…" Midoriya had run outside but froze. He stopped moving, just as Todoroki, Bakugo, and Iida all did as they got out and snapped their gazes above Zach and Yaoyorozu. They were trained heroes. As insane as what just happened inside the Lodge was, they still had common sense and kept their heads to still be collected enough to notice the sounds of sirens. To see the smoke rising from Tokyo, and the sight of a falling plane in the distance that finally dipped too low and then crashed, a huge fireball blowing up and billowing flames and smoke into the sky with a flash.

All Might stumbled out of the glass doors behind some more of his students who dragged collapsing or already-dead classmates. As he was reaching the doorway, he glanced to his left and winced at the sight of his colleague falling while trying to stagger towards the door with one of their students in her arms. Midnight fell, and she failed to get back up, collapsing on top of the dead student who she had tried to carry outside.

All Might got outside but froze when he saw where some of his other students were already looking. It's not an attack on the Lodge, All Might only realized in that moment.

"It's everywhere," Zach whispered. "New York? Seoul? Rio?" Zach's voice was choked up and he could not believe what he was saying. "I can't… save them," Zach bit down as hard as he could. "But I'll save you. As many as I-" Zach froze again. He froze, because the darkness coming out of his fingers did not instantly fill him with pain.

"Huh?"

"I… I don't…" Zach shook his head around. It's because I'm in a stupor! He yelled at himself. It doesn't make sense though, he thought. He had tried to reason with himself, but the Death coming out of his fingers made him feel nothing. Zach moved his hands away and quickly pulled the black glove off his right hand. A few of the others behind him ran closer, but they froze as Zach peeled his glove off and tossed it to the side. His pitch black hand turned back to a lighter skin shade, and Zach placed his real hand down on Momo's chest. He pressed it there, and the world fell apart around him.

"It's not working," Zach whispered. "That doesn't- That… That doesn't- make sense?" Zach pressed his hand harder down on her chest. "I haven't- I never… This doesn't…" Zach tilted his head to the side while staring down into Momo's half-open eyes.

"Zach! What's wrong?!" Midoriya yelled while running closer to his friend.

"What is going on here?" Iida shook his head in disbelief. He did not understand a thing, but he glanced to his right side and then pulled his head back far as Todoroki failed at stifling a cough. His friend with half white and half red hair lifted a hand up and covered his nose with it, shaking his head around to try and get a grip.

Zach's shoulders slumped. His right hand stayed pressed down on Momo's dress. He slid it up to her neck, touching directly on skin, and he just got some blood on his fingers but still felt no change. No pain. No sign that his Quirk was working. "I don't understand," Zach whispered softly, his eyes clenching shut and his world just breaking. His heart falling apart in his chest into a small mass of Death to try and quell some of the pain, which also stymied his emotions. His brain flushed with Death to try and think faster, but nothing made sense anymore.

"Well now. Isn't that sad?"

The people down on the balcony outside of the Lodge lifted their heads up. Zach did not. His stayed bowed like it was while he kept muttering to himself in confusion. His eyes grew massive though. His nonexistent heart would have skipped a beat. No.

"You," Midoriya growled.

"What are you doing here?!" Bakugo shouted.

All Might staggered backwards and fell down to one knee. "No," he whispered aloud, his eyes filling with tears.

The ones who made it outside stared up at a man wearing all black. He had no eyes on his disgusting face. He was smiling though as he floated there, smugly facing down at the ones who could still stand who stared back in horror at that look on his face. "What am I doing here? Well isn't that obvious?"

All For One smirked down at those down below. "Who else would I spend the end of the world with?"

---

A/N I lied. You thought I was giving review responses this chapter? Nope. I'll reply at the end of the final chapter. Death 257: The End. Enjoy this cliffhanger. Leave me predictions for what you think just happened and how the next chapter will go. No spoilers.