Oh.

I was going to tell Ochako I was in love with her. This meeting sure didn't go the way I'd planned.

But could I really do it now? Like, right now?

I still planned on it, especially now, but…I should plan something nice. Make a day as fun for her as possible. And, it would be wrong to tell her right now. I didn't want her thinking I was confessing because of what she told me. Even if she shoots me down in the end, that would be okay. I just want her to smile.

I thought of something quickly and ran my fingers through her hair. "Can I steal you for a day next weekend?"

Her head bobbed up to look me in the eyes, causing me to chuckle. "Is there some kind of event?"

I shook my head. "I just want to spend time with you."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, okay! It shouldn't be a problem. Are we going to explore the town?"

I didn't want to tell her I had no idea and I came up with this on the spot.

"It's a surprise," I said.

She squeezed me tighter. "Oh! Thank you, thank you, Izuku! I can't wait to spend the day with you."

All Might's warning suddenly flashed through my mind. I didn't want to confess today, but she still needed to know what was going on. He wouldn't tell me that unless the risk of it happening was high. He probably was forbade from even talking with me about it by the other pros.

"But, Ochako…there is something I need to talk about. You can't tell anyone this, not even your league is moving in big. They've paired up with the meta liberation army and there's a real possibility of war. I hope it waits but…there's a chance it could happen soon."

She stayed silent for several moments, fear locked into her eyes. "And you'll be their target, because of One for All," she said.

I nodded.

She took a deep breath. "That's…terrifying. That you'll be the prime target in a war full of horrific villains. But…I have no choice but to believe in you. I know you and you always find a way to work things out so…do your best, okay?"

I nodded. I could tell she was scared of what I told her. And, honestly if I wasn't so emotionally drained I likely would be too. Even though she was scared, she was putting her faith in me. I will do everything in my power to put her fears at ease and end this quickly.

Ochako cleared her throat before speaking again. "But Izuku…if you're at war, and I die—no, stop it. Let me finish—if I die, you have to promise me you'll keep fighting," she said, grabbing my arm. "If you're their prime target you can't lose focus, not even for me. You have to promise me you'll keep on and not get distracted."

I felt like I wanted to break again. "Do you even know what you're asking? Could you do that if it was me?"

She stayed silent, and I knew she understood what I meant, romantic feelings or not. She was important to me. I couldn't act like it wouldn't affect me.

"But if you die because you were distracted by me, then what's the point?" She asked. "Please, Izuku. I don't want to spend my last moments worried you'll throw away your life. I want you to live. Would you please just do it? For my sake?"

I didn't want to agree. I wanted to argue and plead that I knew exactly what would happen when—if—something happened to her. I didn't want to make a promise I couldn't keep. But I had to do something. Some kind of compromise. Because I understand that she's clinging onto me as much as I am to her. I am important to her too.

I sighed. "Okay, I promise. I'll keep fighting, no matter what. But please also promise me that you will fight with everything you have to be okay. I want you to live too."

She nodded and we stayed in silence for a long time afterwards. We were too souls barely hanging on. And we were running out of time.

My quirk started expanding. I couldn't explain it, but during a joint-class training, black tendrils shot out of my arm and painfully spiraled and flailed around the buildings, causing massive destruction in its wake. Only after Aizawa used his quirk on me that the darkness had gone away.

Afterwards, I couldn't help but think about what Ochako said about trusting Kacchan. Could I really trust him?

She did.

And I trusted her.

I walked up to him as we were approaching the dorms and others were starting to turn in for the day.

"You're not going to ask me to fight you again, are you?" He asked.

I scratched the back of my neck. "Sorry, again. But no. I wanted to talk to you."

He stared at me. "Okay?"

I pointed to my room. "Let's talk in private."

He followed me without a single complaint and sat down at my desk. "What is it?"

"What I'm about to tell you, has to stay between us," I started.

Finally, he grumbled. Something I was used to and could understand. "I ain't no damn gossiper."

"I know, I know. I just have to make sure you know. It's about my quirk…"

I told him everything. From our encounter with the sludge monster to the weird new power that was unleashed earlier today. He sat in silence, looking more stunned than anything. When I stopped talking and he still sat in the same spot, I tried to be patient and let him process, even though inside my mind was reeling wondering if I had just made the biggest mistake.

"So All Might picked you to be his successor…" Kacchan said in a low voice. It wasn't angry but it also didn't really seem like he was too thrilled about it either. But mostly he sounded dejected.

I gave a small nod in response.

"That explains a lot," he said. "I didn't think you were hiding a quirk like that but I also didn't believe you just happened to develop your quirk right at the entrance exams."

"The fewer who know the better. Not even my mom knows about One for All," I said.

"Does Uraraka?" He asked.

I nodded. "She suggested I tell you, actually."

"Why?" He asked. "Haven't I…I don't deserve that kind of trust."

"I need an ally, Kacchan. Someone I can trust with this. You're smart and strong. I want to know if you'll help me with One for All," I said, surprised by the confidence in my voice. Something I didn't have months ago.

"Okay," he said. "But only because it was her idea."

I smiled. He still wasn't very friendly but part of me wondered if he simply just didn't know how. "Thanks."

"I'm sorry…about Uraraka," he said, shocking me. "I know you care for her." Which meant that I was obscenely obvious about showing my feelings. I could deny it, but what's the point? I already knew I was in love with her and he clearly knew it too. I sighed.

"I appreciate it, Kacchan." We still weren't friends, per say. But we were allies and that was fine with me.

"Let's work on getting control of black whip."

Kacchan was a big help. A huge help, actually. I felt like I was making more gains with my quirk in days than I had in months. All Might was very pleased and so was Ochako. I'd come back from my internship with Endeavor with Kacchan and Todoroki and for once, nothing had happened.

Ochako had been talking about how excited she was for the weekend every day. I didn't know what it was about it that made it different from the other times she got out of the hospital, but perhaps she was just excited about those too.

Either way, I was a nervous wreck.

I thought about just going ahead and telling her my feelings beforehand so I wouldn't screw up the weekend—what could be her last outing…I didn't want to think about that. I couldn't think about that.

Ochako told me that Mirio and Eri had come by and she let Mirio know about her worsening condition and he hugged her, causing Eri to get jealous and want to join in. It's crazy how before I may have been jealous but still like that felt so small now. They didn't want to tell Eri right now, not with everything going on. He told her that they were going to start Eri's quirk training soon—she was so happy when Ochako encouraged her.

Late the night before the weekend, I came back from training with Kacchan exhausted and wanting nothing more than to hop into bed. The girls were together in the main area huddled around a tv in the center.

Normally I would just keep walking, but something about what they were watching seemed familiar. Like I'd seen the movie before but I just couldn't place it.

So I stood there, watching in the doorway to my room. I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.

A couple, a younger man and woman in front of a telescope. The man comes over and looks in it as well then proposes. They show a scene of their wedding and their vows to love one another. The man narrates their summer of love—and then how she passed away.

I realized what the movie was. A Walk to Remember. A love story about a girl dying of cancer.

"Hey!" Kacchan's voice barked.

The girls grumbled about him interrupting their movie.

I remained motionless.

"Watch your damn movie somewhere else," he said.

I could only half process that Kacchan was being kind again.

When Mina gasped, covering her mouth, a few curse words came out but I rushed into my room and slammed the door.

I didn't care if they could hear me, I laid there, on my hands and knees, sobbing harder than I had when she'd first told me she had cancer. More than when she told me she was dying.

Why did it have to be her?

I would take it from her. I would be happy knowing that she could just live. I didn't care if she loved me back or if she wanted to marry someone else…

If she could just be alive, that would be enough.

I just felt so powerless. I'd been handed the strongest quirk in the world and I could still do nothing to save her. It wasn't some villain I could just punch away. I couldn't just break my bones and somehow everything would work out. And I would, I would break my bones over and over and I would be so happy to do so if it gave Ochako a chance to live. Why do I get to save everyone else but her? Why can't I be her hero?

My phone buzzed beside me and I almost didn't look at it, thinking it would be Mina or Tsu or one of the other girls, but to my suprise, it was Ochako.

I answered, putting the phone to my ear. My breathing was still labored and I was nearly gasping for air when I heard her speak.

"I'm here, Izuku. It's okay," she said.

She said the words over and over. She was here, she was alive. For now.

What was I going to do when she wasn't?

The next morning, I left my dorm room only to be tackled by my entire class, excluding Kacchan. The girls expressed their apologies which I reminded them that it wasn't their fault, it was just something that hit a little too close to home for me.

Kirishima, Todoroki and Iida had figured that her condition had worsened for my episode last night. I told them about it, and they held me tight. They each promised to spend as much Time as they could with us, see her. Help me make good on my promise to keep her smiling.

When I went to check out Ochako for our outing today, all my nerves were gone. Maybe it was because I'd spent them crying on the phone with Ochako, from all the crying I'd done prior to that. I was done crying now.

I wanted to smile.

I wanted Ochako to smile even more.

When I got to her room, I hugged her tightly. Her bony arms, weakened over time, placed themselves as tightly as they could around me.

"I'm sorry I am such a mess," I said.

She shook her head against my shoulder. "You can be a mess anytime and I'll help you…I just wish I wasn't the cause of it."

I wanted to retort, but I didn't. I leaned away, reaching for her wheelchair so I could help her in it. "Ready to go?"

She beamed. "Yes! I am so excited!"

I chucked at her before placing my hands on her waist, lifting her gently and placing her on her wheelchair. Once she was cleared to leave I wheeled her through the hospital doors and into the city streets.

"Where are we going?" She asked, her knees bouncing in her wheelchair. The air was chillier, but she was dressed warmly in a long maroon sweater that seemed to nearly swallow her thin frame with black leggings underneath.

I'd worn one of my nicer gray sweaters and dark jeans, but my outfit couldn't compare to hers. Maybe it was just because she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen, no matter what she wears.

"We have the full day, so I was going to take you to a few different spots around town," I said.

Her smile was nearly infectious as she clapped. "Is there going to be mochi involved?"

I chuckled. "Of course there is!"

To be honest, my plans weren't that extravagant. I really just wanted to spend time with her and let her be outside her hospital room. She looked around the town with wide eyes, pointing to various buildings and shops that she liked.

I did take her to the candy store with the flavors of mochi and only stopped her when she looked like she was about to throw up from eating so much. We laughed and laughed. I took her to a bookstore and she picked out a few things to keep her distracted at the hospital.

I took her to see a movie. It was something corny, but I knew it would be good for her to have something where she could relax and not strain herself too much. She reached for my hand and I held it tightly. In a way, it felt deeper than friendship, deeper than a crush. We just wanted to be close to each other.

While we still could.

It took considerable effort on her part to stay awake but she'd managed and when we were done, she talked the entire time about her review of the movie. I offered my review as well, and it reminded me of the first time we were out in town together. Before her diagnosis, before the league of villains, when it was just us. Two lonely souls finding each other. Learning how to live.

I wheeled her to the beach I'd cleared with All Might, watching her face light up with surprise as I told her about how hard it was moving all those pieces of junk.

"So that's why you're so buff," she stated, causing me to flush.

"I'm not—" I stammered when she cut me off.

"Yes, you are. You worked hard for that strength, Izuku. It's okay to be proud of it."

I leaned my head toward hers, the sides of our foreheads touching as we looked out into the ocean. "Thanks, Ochako. Am I still incredibly handsome?" I teased, causing her to back away from me, cheeks aflame.

"Well…am I still beautiful?"

I know she was trying to catch me off guard, but I didn't have it in me to be embarrassed. I looked her in the eyes as I responded.

"Absolutely."

The sun was starting to set in the sky, the view in front of the ocean showed the sun surrounded by yellow and orange, swirling in a pink sky, above the purply-looking water.

"It's not like this in the hospital," Ochako said. "This, today…felt real. Felt like I really was alive. Thank you, Izuku. It means more to me than you know."

I reached my arm around her shoulders. "I promised to keep you smiling."

"I'll always smile if I'm with you," she said, leaning her head on my shoulders.

It was nice, more than nice. I was warm and happy but—I couldn't stop thinking that this was it. That we wouldn't get more moments like this and I would be at this beach again—alone.

Ochako sensed me tense up.

"Izuku?" She asked, her voice quiet.

"Yes?"

"Thank you, for everything," she said, smiling though I didn't feel warmth from her smile. I felt fear. "For being the best friend anyone could ever ask for. for believing in me and giving me strength— I know that you are what's kept me from falling apart so many times."

"Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?" I could barely ask.

But she only smiled. "Because I want to tell you—all the time. How much I appreciate you and how much you mean to me."

"How are you? Really?" I asked.

"I feel weird, honestly. I'm happy but I'm not. I'm scared but I'm content. None of it really makes a lot of sense right now. Even when the doctors told me what to expect—my organs are going to slowly start to fail and I'll become less and less coherent and a lot more uncomfortable until it's over but I have a hard time accepting it. it doesn't seem real. I think about experiences I'll miss out on but it doesn't really feel like I'm going to die soon. Maybe I'm still in denial."

I couldn't linger on a lot of what she said, the imagery already far too painful to even think about happening to her. But 'experiences' reminded me of kissing her under the stars at the school festival. She'd known she was dying then. I had no idea I would be her first—and last kiss.

"I can't help with some of them like UA but…maybe I can help you get some of the other experiences?" I asked quietly.

She was quiet for a few moments, refusing to meet my eyes. "I think you've helped with everything you can. The things I want…I just don't have time for."

I reached for her hand. "Can you tell me anyway?"

"I want to travel far away from that hospital and see the world I don't have time to appreciate. I want to be a hero and save people like Thirteen and All Might. I want…to get married and have a family and worry about stupid little things that don't really matter."

Her words felt like a weight pressing against me. She was right. I couldn't help her with those things. If we only…had more time…

But there was something missing from her statement that I was curious about. Something she's never talked about with me before. She spoke of getting married, but not falling in love.

"No Prince Charming?" I said finally, trying to make her smile. It half worked, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.

"Why would I need Prince Charming when I have you?" She said.

I couldn't move or think or breathe. Does that mean that she…feels the same? Was I reading too much into it?

I looked at her, my lips parted as I took in her expression. The same one that left me breathless and dazed. Even thin and pale, it didn't make her eyes any less alluring. It didn't change the fact that I wanted to kiss her when she looked at me like that. When she looked at me like that…did she want to kiss me too?

"Ochako, I—" I stammered. Her eyes bore into mine, making it hard for me to speak.

Now. I needed to tell her now.

A crash sounded downtown followed by glass breaking and horns and sirens going off. Screams filled the air in the distance.

An attack.

Likely the league—the liberation army. I had no way of verifying from here but somehow I knew. I could feel it.

Our time was up.

AN: Hi all! We're heading into the final bits of this story and let me just say again that this will have a happy ending! I am, however, changing the ending up a bit as I didn't like how rushed it felt. Usually with these stories I have them completely typed out and I edit and post as I go, making updates rather quick. So it may take me a minute to try and get the ending to go and feel exactly how I want. But, it will likely still be finished sometime during the weekend.