Katsuki stopped the van at a rest stop outside Hiroshima at around 2:30 PM. Earlier he said the drive was about six hours so, doing the math, Izuku figured they'd reach their current destination at 5 PM. By then they would probably have dinner and wind down for the evening. Tomorrow they would finally reach Fukuoka and idle around all Thursday and Friday.

Apparently a lot of the others would be there Friday night. It would give them some chance to hang out a little before the concert. That would be nice… but for now, Izuku found some quiet and alone time would be even nicer.

Getting out of the van, he took note of his surroundings. Green, forested hills. Or are those mountains? Either way, not something you get in the city. There he went missing home again. Hopefully mom was doing alright. Too bad she couldn't come to the concert. Or at least she didn't want to.

Through half-shut eyes in the sunlight, he saw Tsu and Ochako walk off to some nearby building.

He closed his eyes again and soaked in the summer heat.

A good minute had gone and the sudden ringing of a cellphone shook him half-awake.

"Yeah," he heard Katsuki say.

Looking over, Izuku found Katsuki on his cellphone. His face said it was something serious.

"Yeah," he said again, handing the cellphone to Izuku, "it's Tsuragamae."

Izuku shuddered at the thought of touching Katsuki's stuff, and here he was offering what might be his most prized physical possession. Katsuki probably wouldn't hesitate to kill Izuku if he took his phone without asking, and now he would probably kill him for not taking it.

"Hello?"

"Midoriya?" Kenji Tsuragamae's voice was crackly and grainy coming through the thing, like he was talking with a Scottish accent through a broken fan on a stormy beach.

"Yeah?"

"It's not looking great for Shirakumo but… we're making some progress and handling this as best we can so don't go worrying too much about us, okay?"

How would he know? Do I really worry that much?

"Yeah, okay, uh… Hikiishi?"

"They're talking with Hikiishi and… 'Ujiko.' I just have to do a lot of paperwork but I'll be at the concert on Saturday."

"Oh, okay, I guess we'll see you then."

"Mhrmph, also, they're willing to cut you all some slack this time around but the Commission wants to hear about this from all of you on Tuesday at the latest."

"Oh," Izuku felt himself shrink again, "right, I understand."

"See you then," Tsuragamae said and promptly hung up.

Izuku handed the cellphone back without another word and the two sat against the van in as absolute a silence as the side of the highway would allow.

As awkward as it may have been, sitting in silence with his childhood friend was something Izuku found he sorely needed at the moment. Then the thought hit him—

One more year and they might be out of each other's lives forever. These were the moments he'd be missing the most. And when that time came, he imagined, they would have a moment a lot like this. And then one of them would have to leave.

If, after that, Katsuki Bakugou wanted nothing more to do with Izuku Midoriya… that might be fine. As long as it made him happy.

"Look, I don't know how many times I've apologized… but no matter how many times I do, it doesn't make it all alright. I fucking know that, okay?"

Izuku didn't recall anything recent that would've necessarily prompted an apology. Making him face his fears? As much as he could, he'd done it. He didn't see any reason for him to apologize for that.

It seemed nowadays Katsuki's favorite word had become "sorry."

Izuku wanted to bury his face forever every time he apologized. And no matter how many times Izuku said "thank you," he still felt so empty inside like a "thank you" was all he could give and all he was worth.

Was a "sorry" all Katsuki felt he was worth?

If it was, Izuku wanted the old Katsuki Bakugou back. All the shouting, all the shoving, the belittling and bullying. All of it. As long as he still believed he was worth something more than a "sorry."

There was no easy way that Izuku could find to make him stop apologizing. Even the easiest way would break his voice.

He choked, and said nothing.

…

Katsuki sighed.

"Tsu's still mad at me. Not that I care."

Now would be a good chance to go, hopefully he'll think I'm going to go talk to her. I won't.

Katsuki watched silently as Izuku walked across the parking lot to the building nearby.

He sighed again, then heard someone else clear their throat. He turned to his left and saw Ochako standing there with her arms crossed.

"Jeez, how long have you been there?"

"Long enough to get an idea of how you two communicate."

She stepped forward and took Izuku's place against the van.

"If Tsu's mad at you, why don't you apologize to her instead of apologizing to Izuku for the hundredth time?"

"You of all people should know, she wouldn't accept my apology. Just cause it's me."

"I dunno, maybe she would. You'd actually have to apologize to her to find out."

"Funny. But I don't remember asking."

Ochako tapped her finger against her bicep. Katsuki counted. Thirteen times.

"Please," she finally said, "apologize to her."

Katsuki turned to face her, finding her frowning. It was probably cruel of him to think, but… even when she was sad or angry she was still the most attractive person in the room to him.

He wondered for a moment how she'd rank in that popularity poll that Billboard would be putting out in October. How physically attractive people found you obviously had a lot to do with it but even just based on personality and ability, Katsuki would place Ochako pretty high. Even higher than himself. At least, that's how he assumed other people would see it.

Catching himself putting off the apology thing—

"Okay, fine," he said, "if I figure out what exactly I need to apologize for, that'd be great… so as long as that's not happening, I'm not apologizing."

Ochako tried to think but could only focus on the roar of the cars going down the highway and the heat of the midday sun. Or maybe she was secretly putting off the apology thing as well. And in catching herself do that, she racked her brain for an answer, however plain and insincere it might be or come out:

"I suppose… being a jerk."

Katsuki shot her a piercing look, crossing his arms.

"I'm not apologizing for that… even if I did, she'd know I'm faking it."

"Then don't fake it," Ochako shot back a similar look, and intended to stare him in the eye until he budged.

Gee, why didn't I think of that?

He crossed his arms tighter.

"If it makes you happy, then fine," he grumbled with a tinge of humor.

The notion was too idiotic for Ochako to find anything behind it and thus her spirit didn't care to put a blush on her face.

"Don't," she said, "do it to make Tsu happy. And Izuku."

"But you'll still be happy if I apologize?"

"Of course."

"Okay, then I'll apologize to make you happy."

"Just… screw you," Ochako mumbled and turned away.

Hearing that tone of voice and seeing her turn away was enough for Katsuki to feel something twist or tear inside his chest. Was that what heartbreak felt like? Or was it just heartburn?

"Okay, fine," he sighed the humor away, "I'll… apologize because I mean it. And I do mean it, I just wanna enjoy myself without worrying about everyone else having a shitty time, okay?"

At some point, Ochako stopped trying to guess if he really did do all this to make himself feel better or if, deep down, he genuinely cared a whole lot for how the others were feeling. Of course, there was the third option: that he was always putting on a show to appear more attractive.

Thinking now about how good of an influence Eijirou had proven to be in Katsuki's life, Ochako really wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was the second option.

There was a kind and gentle side to him…

"When she comes back," Katsuki said, "I'll apologize… for being a dick. Okay?"

"Okay."

Ochako smiled and looked down—

"I don't know if I should go find her or wait," Katsuki said.

Ochako decided to wait a moment before answering.

"Just wait," she said.

Katsuki imagined himself years from now, a Pro Hero, perhaps even Number One, being interviewed for some magazine or talk show…

'What would you say is Uravity's best quality?'

…

'Her patience.'

The audience would probably go 'Awww,' as if they were expecting him to say something about her body instead.

Ochako saw his face wrinkle and his head lower.

She wondered about the future. About how things might turn out for him. About where their friendship would go, where it would take them. If this was all just temporary. Who would Katsuki Bakugou be when he graduated?

'What would you say is Dynamight's best quality?'

…

'His willingness to try.'

After about three minutes, Tsu and Izuku returned. Ochako looked up with a start.

"Hey Izuku," she said suddenly, "what should we do tomorrow?"

"Um, I don't know, whatever you guys wanna do—"

Ochako walked around the back of the van in hopes that Izuku would blindly follow. He did.

So that was the cue. Katsuki cleared his throat.

"What's wrong?" he asked Tsu, the both of them still standing outside.

Tsu looked up at him blankly, mouth slightly agape, her finger on her chin. Given the situation, he took that as surprise. Otherwise, he'd have no idea. Being able to read Tsuyu Asui's facial expressions was an art few mastered.

But even an amateur can strike random keys on a piano and accidentally play a pleasant chord… and immediately forget what they had just played.

"Well?" he prodded carefully.

"I'm fine, ribbit… just tired."

Just tired… now or never.

"I'm sorry… we'll go to a hotel soon so you can rest. I'm pretty tired too."

Shit, not what I meant to apologize for.

Much to his surprise, Tsu smiled. And how warm a smile it was despite her being cold-blooded. At least he assumed she was cold-blooded.

Not wanting to ruin the moment, Katsuki hesitated to move onto the 'real' apology—

"That's not really what you were saying sorry for, though, right?"

Katsuki couldn't help but to smile at that, if only just a smidgen.

"How's Izuku doing? I thought I should ask."

"What did you say to him?"

"That you're mad at me."

Tsu said nothing. Perhaps she was thinking. Katsuki couldn't decide whether to continue talking or let her finish thinking. Eventually, he decided to continue…

"If there's anything I can do to apologize, let me know."

Of course, he didn't know if this would work. No form of apology that crossed his mind sounded right. Knowing next to nothing about Tsuyu made it so much worse. The whole world beneath his feet was eggshells.

Tsu never stopped thinking… and thinking… and thinking… and—

"We should get going," she said, but not without some splinter in her expression.

"Yeah," Katsuki sighed, "could you see if Ochako is good to drive? I should rest a while."

Once settled in the back of the van, Katsuki found himself facing Izuku once again. That weary look had never left him since this morning. His eyes shifted to the rear-view mirror where he found Tsu's gaze.

'It's more about how you treat him.'

How do you treat others… who need help? How do you save—

All-Might…

Was it the best he could do? Was it all he could do? At least, at this moment?

To smile. So that others can smile…

"Hey, Izuku."

Izuku looked up, but his face didn't change.

Trying his best and all that he could, Katsuki smiled.

"How are you?"

…

Izuku smiled back.