I refused to believe it.

I absolutely refused.

This was my best friend, my first love.

She can't…

I can't even think the word.

Her treatments have to work they have to for all the hell they've put her through over the last few months. Living everyday in the hospital and being sick and in pain…it all had to be for something, right?

I couldn't lose her.

We sat there together, holding hands. The only sound in the room was her crying into her hand. The clock ticked on, but I couldn't move a muscle. Ochako stayed still even after her tears dried.

"How long?" I asked, my voice void of emotion.

"A few weeks. Maybe a month or two if I'm lucky," she said.

Weeks?

"If you need some space…that's okay," she whispered, causing my head to snap to hers. "I didn't take it very well when I found out."

I froze. "How long have you known?"

She looked to the ground. "Since your internship with Gran Torino."

"That long?" I snapped. Red, hot anger coursing through me.

"You've known for months and didn't tell me?"

She flinched, refusing to meet my eyes. I didn't bother wiping the burning tears going down my cheeks.

"Ochako, I'm your best friend! You've had to deal with that all on your own while helping me with my petty, hero bullsh—"

"It's not petty, Izuku. It's important too," she said.

"No!" I snapped. "Nothing is as important as you."

I heard her gasp, but I kept on. My own tears flooded my vision. "How did you deal with that all on your own?"

"I just didn't want to hurt you—" she started.

"So you wait until you have weeks left to live all the while you've known and kept it to yourself. I don't care if it's too much for me to handle, Ochako! How could you be worrying about me when it's you who is—" I grimaced.

I hadn't noticed. Again, I hadn't noticed that she was suffering more than she let on.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm really, really sorry."

If I wasn't so angry I would collapse right into her arms.

"You've got the wrong idea. I'm not mad at you, Ochako," I said. "Honestly I would probably do the same thing. But I'm furious about this. Can't they do anything? Try something else?"

"They've done everything they can," she said before frowning at me."You're shaking, Izuku."

Was it? I hadn't even realized. I tried to calm my body down but it was no use. Her hand grabbed mine once more. "Go home. Sleep it off and come back tomorrow. I understand. It won't do you any good being pent up here."

I gave a sickly laugh while my body still trembled. "How are you still thinking about comforting me?"

She smiled and for a moment, it almost worked to calm me down. But not today.

Today, I was livid.

"Will you be okay while I'm gone?" I asked.

She nodded.

"I'm so sorry, Ochako. You deserve so much better than this."

I didn't have the patience to walk once I was outside the hospital. I powered up One for All and blasted my way back to UA. When I touched down, I was after one person. I was angry, and I needed someone who had just as much anger as me.

When I approached Kacchan, he was taken back not expecting me to approach him.

"What do you—?" He started.

"Let's fight," I said.

He raised his eyebrows. "Right now?"

"Yes, will you do it or not?" I snapped.

Kacchan narrowed his eyes and stood up. "Alright."

We went to the practice area that was deserted.

"Why do you want to fight so suddenly?" He asked.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay. But don't expect me to hold back," he said.

"That's what I'm counting on."

He charged in with a right hook that I was expecting, using my quirk to launch me to the side.

I threw a punch that connected with his hand before launching another explosion, dragging me through the dirt several feet. I grit my teeth and jumped up preparing a full cowling, he narrowly dodged and rolled on the ground, shooting his arm up to send another blast.

"Midoriya! Bakugou!" All Might shouted in the distance, but I ignored him.

The blast stung like hell but I ignored the pain, jumping up and charging at Kacchan. He was up in seconds, grabbing onto my fists in his palm but didn't attack.

"What happened?" He asked.

I pushed with my quirk more but he didn't budge. I pushed and pushed and pushed. Tears started to prickle at my eyes. My eyes were already raw from the tears earlier. They burned with the rage I was dying to unleash and I knew my body hadn't ever stopped shaking.

"Fight me, dammit!" I shouted.

All Might stood next to us, ready to jump in when Kacchan spoke.

"Why are you so angry? What happened with Uraraka?" Kacchan said and I snapped, falling to my knees with a thud as my eyes couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

"She's dying," I sobbed, finally saying the words out loud. I crumbed all the way to the ground, letting out all the emotions I'd been holding in since she told me. Neither of them complained or said a word, even when I'd cried so much even my sobs sounded hoarse.

"I'm sorry, Izuku," Kacchan said. My head snapped to him. He hasn't called me by my name in…a very, very long time.

"For everything. For her, for being an asshole to you and a shitty friend. I should have been trying to do better from the start. I can't say anything to make you feel better but…I can be here. If you want," he said. "I don't know Uraraka like you do but she's good, strong. Regardless of whatever some dumbass doctor told her, she'll fight as long as she can."

I looked up at him as he reluctantly reached his hand out to me.

I never thought he could change so much.

And it was because of Ochako. She really…helped him want to be a better person. And if she believed in him…I guess I could too. At least I could try. I was too exhausted for anything else.

I took his hand and he pulled me up and brought me into what was probably the most awkward hug in existence, but I was too shocked to move. He was trying…to help me.

Kacchan stepped away and looked at All Might. "I'll take responsibility for us fighting."

I shook my head. "No, I was the one who started it. It should be me—"

All Might looked at us with teary eyes. "Let's just agree that you were sparring and I was supervising."

My eyes widened. I should be suspended for starting a fight on school campus I should—

"Midoriya," All Might said. "How about the three of us go visit her tomorrow? Would that be okay with you?"

I nodded, turning to Kacchan and extending my hand.

"Thank you, Kacchan."

He accepted it nonchalantly without saying a word.

"I'll meet you guys here in the morning," he said walking off. It was odd. It was like he knew All Might wanted to talk to me alone, but he didn't say anything about it. Even All Might looked puzzled.

"I'm sorry too, Midioriya," All Might said once Kacchan was gone. "I've been pushing One for All on you so much—"

I shook my head. "No, none of this is your fault. Or anyone's fault But…I hate this. I can't accept it, All Might. I can't even think about a word without her. Things were so good because of her. She makes me better. I just realized I'm in love with her and now… We had so many plans for after she got better. She was going to try to get reaccepted into UA and join the hero course and she was going to be such a great hero—"

I felt his hand on my shoulder and I looked up at him. "You know, Young Midoriya, I have no doubt that she was meant to be in your class full of amazing, young heroes. But I think she already meets the criteria of one. She gave you confidence and reassurance that I couldn't ever hope to provide. Your progress in One for All has shown it. She made you better just like she inspired Bakugou.

"He even tried to make amends with you and…that boy has a lot of pride. He's working so hard to be someone worthy to the public, but also to her. Uraraka has managed to succeed in something I've been trying to do since the beginning. She inspires people and helps them, all without even using her quirk.

"My boy…I really don't want to talk about this right now but the league won't stop on her account and we don't know when and where they will strike next. Make each moment with her count. Don't waste a second. Regardless of what may become of your relationship, you two have something special. I know that something is what will keep you anchored and stop you from ending up just like me. Give it your all," All Might said.

"I will."

I didn't sleep that night. Neither All Might nor Kacchan commented about the bags under my eyes and we made our way to the hospital in silence.

When we got there, All Might knocked and announced that we were there in his loud and overly dramatic yell. We opened the door and she was up and holding onto her bed.

"Oh, hey! It's so good to see you guys!" She said, her face bright and carefree. Like she wasn't holding onto the burden of knowing her time would soon be could she still smile like that?

She started to hobble a few steps before I rushed over to her. I wrapped my arms around her and she melted into my embrace. I made sure I was supporting her enough while holding her, and held her for a few moments.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you properly yesterday," I whispered.

She just squeezed me tighter.

"Where do you want to sit?" I asked softly.

"I'm a little tired, actually. Can you put me on my bed?" She asked.

I laid her down gently, taking a hand in mine as I sat down beside her. I motioned for the other two to come closer.

"I'm happy to see you, Bakugo," she said with a smile.

And for once, he didn't grumble or complain. His voice was even as he spoke.

"It's good to see you again."

This new leaf from Kacchan was very disorienting.

She turned her attention to All Might. "It's an honor to meet you, sir."

All Might chuckled. "There's no need for formalities, dear. The pleasure is all mine."

Ochako smiled before turning to me. "I assume they know?"

I nodded, hoping it was okay that I'd told them.

She nodded. "Good, then I don't have to watch what I say. All Might…since you're here, do you have any embarrassing Izuku-stories?"

"Wait, what?" I gasped.

Kacchan grinned. "Now that, I would like to hear too."

All Might grinned. "Oh, I have quite a few of those…"

As much as I didn't want to be embarrassed, it was good to see everyone smiling. It was amazing how even after such devastating news and how tense everything was, she somehow managed to turn it around into something pleasant. She comforted us instead.

The pair left a while afterward and I was left with Ochako who was still laying down on her hospital bed.

"You should tell Bakugou about One for All," she said.

I raised my eyebrows. "Why do you say that?"

"You need more than just me to rely on. Plus, he's in your class and smart too. He'll be able to help in ways I just can't."

I thought about her words for a moment. While it was true that it would be very helpful, and Kacchan is smart like she said…but can I really trust him with such a secret so soon? I still don't think we can consider each other friends.

"You don't have to," she said. "Just think about it. The others too. I'm sure they would understand. Iida, Todoroki and Kirishima all seem close to you. It's your secret, of course. But when you keep a big secret like that to yourself, it becomes a lot heavier. It feels a lot better when you can talk about it."

And I knew she wasn't just talking about my secret.

"I'll definitely consider it," I said. I turned to face her. "I really am sorry about yesterday."

She pat the side of her hospital bed, scooting over to make room for me.

I flushed and nervously climbed to the spot beside her.

"You really changed him, you know?" I said as I stared up at the ceiling beside her. We were flush against each other, I could feel her body heat. It anchored me in warmth.

"Like I've said before, I didn't change him," she said. "I only told him the truth. He did the rest."

I felt like she was trying to be modest again. "All Might called you a hero."

She turned her head over. "What?"

"He told me that last night. That you inspire people and make them better. He called you the best kind of hero," I said.

Her eyes started to water and I chuckled, reaching my hand up to wipe the little tears away. "He's right, you know. You're my hero."

She didn't say anything, but I knew she was happy.

I should've told her this a long time ago. Why did I wait so long?

"Then you should know that you're mine," she said. "You were the one who not only saved me from getting injured, but you told me to go to a doctor. If it weren't for you, I would've put it off and who knows how little time I would've had. And you come to visit me so much and tell me about everything going on at UA and with the world and because of you I've gotten to make other friends too. You really are my hero too. I'll never be able to repay you."

I reached over and cupped her cheek, enjoying the way she leaned into my touch. It wasn't romantic like when I kissed her but it had the same intimacy. Two souls clinging together for comfort, just like we always had been. "I just want you to be happy, and—"

Alive.

But I didn't have to say it. She knew.

"I'm not afraid of it, you know," she said after a moment of silence. "Of dying. I'm just scared…to run out of time with everyone. With my parents and everyone I've gotten to know. I'm scared to have wasted so much time worrying about stupid things and never truly living my life the way I wanted. When I met you I thought things were going to be so much better and then I found out I was sick then I ended up just stuck here at the hospital. I felt like my life has been on pause while everyone else gets to live around me. But mostly I'm terrified of running out of time with you."

My hand left her cheek moving to her arms and bringing her closer to me. I wrapped my arms around her and she laid her head on my chest. This wasn't fair and we were far too young to be dealing with this. But we were and we clung to each other hoping that somehow, things would turn out okay. Even if we both knew they weren't.

"Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me," I told her, willing myself to stay calm and hold back emotions that were threatening to unleash.

She squeezed me just a little tighter. "This might be a selfish request but…can you help me smile a little longer?"

And I lost it, the tears flowing freely going down my cheeks. Would I ever stop crying?

"Anything you want," I said.

She laid her head back down on my chest and we laid there until we'd both calmed down and our breathing evened out. It felt nice, holding her like this. I wouldn't allow myself to wonder how many more times I would get to hold her. She asked me to help her smile, so I was going to make sure she smiled as much as possible.

It wasn't until a long moment before she spoke again.

"So what was the important thing you wanted to talk to me about?"