Cancer.

The word that seemed to weigh so much.

I couldn't say anything for a moment.

How? How could she be dealing with something so terrible? That's what she was facing at the entrance exams. That's what she was holding back all day today trying to make sure that I had a good time and somehow still smiled with me when I got my acceptance letter. Even when she knew…

Was she going to be okay? Was she going to—I couldn't even let my mind think of the word. I just got her. I couldn't lose her.

She was supposed to be in UA with me. We were going to be heroes together and have classes together and—

"Midoriya?" She asked softly, bringing me out of my thoughts. I was about to apologize for not responding, but she spoke first.

"Do you think that I…even if I'm sick…can still be a hero?"

I froze, stomach sinking to the ground. Different wording but same question that plagued my existence until a few months ago. I remember the conversation with my mother, with All Might. How I proved them both wrong even if I was never meant to. I wouldn't let her feel like I did.

I turned to face her completely, holding her eyes with my own. Eyes that threatened to burst any moment. She needed to hear the words I didn't. I would make sure she didn't lose sight of her goal no matter what.

"Yes."

She broke, the tears she'd been bravely holding back now releasing down her cheeks.

"Ochako Uraraka, you can be a hero. And I'm going to help you," I told her. She reached for me and I opened my arms and held her as tightly as she hung onto me.

It was the first time I'd ever embraced someone and I didnt have any room in my heart to be embarrassed or shy away from her. It wasn't even about being a good friend at this moment.

We were two souls hurting and clinging to whatever comfort we could find.

"Thank you…" she sobbed. "Thank you. I'll fight it with everything I have so that I can be a hero with you."

I clutched onto the back of her shirt. "I know you will."

We sat and cried and cried until she pulled back, her tear stained eyes looked at me and smiled.

I don't know how she could find the strength to smile.

"I know…it's just been a few weeks since we've met but…is it okay that I consider you my best friend?" She asked. "It's just…it's so easy to talk to you and I feel like you just understand me. I don't have hardly any friends. You don't talk to me like I'm weird and I can trust you…when I told you about my condition…you still believed in me."

For the second time today, I was at a loss for words. Only this time, it was because I was happy. Never in my life have I related to someone so much, and she was amazing. She seemed like she was entirely out of my league even as a friend but…makes me feel like I belong.

"It would be an honor to be your best friend," I said, bowing my head slightly.

She giggled slightly before leaning back on the bench.

"Are you ready to head back?" She asked.

I gave her an odd look. Just like that?

"But once we get back…won't you have to go home?" I asked.

"Are you saying you'll miss me?" she teased.

"Of course I will! You're my best friend," I said.

She stood up and I followed suit. "I'll miss you more! But, even if we don't go to UA together, all my treatments will be here in town so maybe we could see each other on those days."

I smiled. "I'd like that. But…how many treatments are you going to have?"

She shrugged. "They said they'd go over my treatment plan later but likely I'll have to start chemo soon and from what I've read…probably weekly."

I would have to do all the research later. I've never known anyone who's gone through chemo before so I had no frame of reference how it would be for her but…it didn't sound fun. But she's determined and she trusts me. I'll do my best to make her happy through it.

"You sure you won't get tired of me?" I teased.

She bumped my arm and we started walking back. "Never."

We walked in a peaceful silence. I couldn't help but admire her. If that were me and having to postpone my dream like that…I don't think I could manage to smile. She'll make a wonderful hero.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked as we passed by some of the shops.

"You're pretty inspiring, you know," I said.

She paused for a moment before beaming brightly. "You mean it?"

"Of course!"

She bumped my shoulder with her own. "Thank you."

We started getting closer to my apartment when she had her first coughing fit of the evening while I was there.

I quickly put my hand on her back while she leaned over into her hand, her entire body shaking with every cough. She gave me a sheepish look.

"Sorry about that," she said.

I shook my head. Is she really worried about what I would think right now?

"Don't be sorry. But if there's anything I can do to help, please tell me," I said.

And I absolutely meant it. Looking at her while she was coughing like that…was hard. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to experience it.

"You'll tell me what goes on in UA, right?" She asked. "Even if I can't go…I'd still like to be in the loop of the school I almost got into."

She was feeling left out. I couldn't blame her, I would be too. "Of course. I'll tell you everything that happens."

We made it to the door, my mother rushing to open it and soon after, Uraraka had to go.

After everything that had happened today while I was exhausted and ready to sleep for the next day and a half…I didn't want to be away from her. This time, i reached up to her, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I'm here for you," I told her.

She gripped me harder. "Thanks, best friend."

I let her go and said goodbye to the Uraraka's who promised to return when she has her first treatment.

As soon as she was out the door, I felt empty. It felt like a week had passed in just one day but it was gone in what seemed like an hour.

"She's lovely, dear," Mom said.

I nodded. "We're best friends now."

She smiled, tears filling her eyes as she reached over to me, pulling me into a hug. I rested my head against her shoulder as my own tears started to leak down my cheeks. It was almost funny. You would think after all the crying I did earlier with Uraraka, I wouldn't have any tears left but I was wrong. Mom and I seemed to be able to tear up anytime.

"Why do bad things happen to good people, mom?"

She held me tighter, a hand coming up to run through my hair as I sobbed into my mother's shoulder.

"I don't know, sweetie," she said. "But you have each other now. She's your friend and I know you'll both be there for each other. I know what she's going through is scary…It may even be hard to be there for her but I know you'll do your best. You always do."

"What if…" I trailed off, letting all my fears out into the open. "What if something bad happens to her?"

"Let's not think about that right now. We need to be optimistic for her, she has a very hard journey ahead. She may need something positive to cling to," Mom said. "Even though it's scary…let's just try to do our best for her. I'll help in any way I can."

I stayed there like that, feeling mom's hand brush through my hair, letting her words sink in. I would be strong for Uraraka. I'll be the friend she deserves though all of this. Even though it was going to be hard…I was happy she was in my life. I could be strong for her….just maybe not tonight.

"Thanks mom."

My phone buzzed, I pulled it out of my pocket to reveal one new message from Uraraka.

Miss you already, Bestie!

I smiled at my phone. To think that I probably would have passed out from that a few weeks ago…now it just made me smile.

I thought of her words earlier as I typed my response.

Miss you more!

How was it possible to be so happy and sad at the same time?

All Might showed up the next day as Mr. Yagi, asking if we could meet on the beach. After my mom's approval we walked in silence to the place I'd done my ten month training.

"Congratulations, young Midoriya on your acceptance to UA," he said, flashing me a smile.

It was crazy, with everything going on…I almost forgot that I had been accepted into my dream school, I had a quirk, I was All Might's successor and bearer of One For All. It was like, all of that got put on pause for a moment.

I smiled back. "Thank you, sir. It's still pretty new to me."

He nodded. "I understand. But that's not all I wanted to talk to you about."

I braced myself for what he was about to say. If it wasn't about UA or One for All…

"I heard about your friend."

Oh. I guess he would know since he was a teacher at UA and she probably would have been one of his students…Is he mad that I have a friend? Is he concerned I'll slack on my training? Is he worried I'll tell her about One for All? Is he—

"Midorya, I would tell you what I was going to say if you would let me speak," he said with a glare.

I gulped. "Sorry, please continue."

He rolled his eyes. "I don't think I have to worry about you slacking off on your training with your determination, and while I told you not to tell anyone about One for All, it's ultimately your power now. Who you tell is on you, I just ask that you keep in mind the repercussions it would have on that person before sharing it. What I really wanted to say was that I'm happy you two are friends. You need more people in your life than me and your mother. I know you'll make friends at UA too but I'm glad you're already connecting with people. It's good to have a life outside of being a hero. And for her too. She has a difficult road ahead of her."

"I told her I would do my best for her and keep her updated. She really wants to be a hero too. I told her she could."

He smiled. "Good, Midoriya. You understand better than likely anyone else how it feels to have someone believe in you. I'm sure that will help her on her road to recovery. But since we're here…how about some training with One for All?"

On the first day of school, Uraraka demanded I send her a picture in my UA uniform. I flushed bright red while flashing a peace sign to the camera, making her promise she wouldn't share that picture with anyone else.

I thought about what she would think of UA as I entered the campus. Everything was so pristine and shiny…she'd probably marvel at how much each building probably cost to make. I'd learned her parents owned a construction company and wondered if she would know how much it cost to make certain structures. I took as many pictures as I could to share with her later.

When I reached the 1–A classroom, the one I later figured out Uraraka would have been in with me, the boy with the glasses from the entrance exams approached me.

"Hello! My name is Tenya Iida. I'm sorry I judged you in the entrance exams. You knew that there was more to it than just the test, didn't you?"

I gaped at the information overload. Did he always talk like that? "Oh, I didn't, I just—wanted to help. It's nice to meet you, Iida. I'm Izuku Midoriya," I said, bowing.

He gave me a curious look before nodding. "Have you seen the girl from the exams? The one you were helping?"

My face fell at the mention of Uraraka. If she were here, she'd be so excited to talk to Iida.

"She decided to take an online high school course back home," I said.

"Strange, why would she pass up an opportunity about UA—"

A man in a yellow sleeping bag cut him off. "If you're here to talk about girls, go home. I'm Aizawa, your home room teacher."

Aizawa was…interesting to say the least. But what I was really curious about was his quirk.

I didn't have much time to dwell on it. He called us out to the field, and I felt my old childhood friend's glare on my back ever since I'd walked through the door. He never expected me to get into UA but he only knew I was a quirkless nobody. Things were different now and I'm not the same scared little boy anymore. Even though I could only use One for All scarcely, I would still show him how capable I was even without my new quirk.

I did my best I could. I'd managed to throw a ball using One for All through only one finger, causing minimal damage to my body. It wasn't by any means perfect, but it was the start. I'd gotten a bit of Aizawa's approval but he was very weary of how much harm my quirk caused me. And for good reason.

At lunch, I finally checked my phone, receiving several messages from Uraraka.

OMG, I love the uniform! It's so fancy! Good luck on your first day!

Sorry, I wasn't feeling well this morning.

Those pictures are so cool! Maybe I could come visit you at UA sometime.

I smiled, knowing the exact tone she would use while saying her texts. Gosh. UA was amazing but…I just can't help but think that it would be perfect if she was here.

Make sure you're resting! I'll check on you later. I start my next class with All Might soon, wish me luck!

To my surprise, Iida sat next to me at the lunch table. I think my save of Uraraka got him to warm up to me. I would have to tell Uraraka later that I may have another friend soon!

When it was time for All Might's class, I couldn't help but be excited.

We put on our hero costumes, and I remembered my design that Uraraka had helped me come up with. We talked on the phone for hours and I sketched out several ideas. Uraraka quickly pointed out that it highly resembled all might but I swear nobody else would catch onto it. What she doesn't know is that I was also sketching out ideas for her. Something that maybe I could surprise her with. Something to look forward to.

All Might gathered us and explained our first training exercise. A mission to recover an item with a time limit. When he announced our teams, my heart nearly sank.

"Since our teams are uneven, one of you will have to compete twice—" All Might started.

The missing person was Uraraka.

I pulled out my phone, looking at our messages today for a second before shoving my phone back into my pocket before anyone saw.

A boy with flaming red hair stepped forward. "I'll go twice."

All Might beamed. "That's the spirit, my boy!"

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I had a job to do while I was here. I had to get stronger, master my quirk. Be someone worthy of the title of All Might's successor.

"Then let's get straight into it," All Might said. "Heroes: Midoriya and Kirishima versus villains: Iida and Bakugo."

AN: I know that Orientation and the first day are two different days, but I wanted to speed things up since I'm going to be covering a lot of ground so I just combined the two into one day. Also, this is a romance fic, so while there will be some action and fight scenes, I'm not going to be covering every fight and every class member's fights, etc. just as a warning.