AN: Thanks for the interest and reviews everyone!


It only took the pair a couple of minutes to reach the mall. As they entered, they were immediately greeted by the sight of Hero Wear, a store specializing in hero-themed attire.

Izuku heard Ochako giggling next to him as he realized he was staring at the store.

"Do you want to go there, Deku?"

"Yeah," Izuku admitted sheepishly. "I was going to grab a couple more shirts for the summer."

Ochako rolled her eyes playfully. "How many All Might shirts do you really need?"

"Well…" Izuku said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I'm kidding!" Ochako assured him. "It's ok! We can go there if you want."

"Are you sure? We could always stop there when we're about to leave."

"I don't mind. It's right here after all."

Izuku gave Ochako a small smile. "Thanks."

The two entered the store and with practiced precision Izuku separated from Ochako as he went to the racks and racks of All Might apparel. Quickly sifting through the designs, he found three new shirts for himself.

Holding his shirts triumphantly, he realized his mistake when he didn't see Ochako nearby. He was filled with a brief moment of panic as he searched across the store before he found her in the back corner. As he hurried over, he saw her looking at a rack containing random shirts until she cried out in triumph and pulled a shirt off.

"You found something?"

"Yep!" Ochako announced properly as she held up her prize. A black T-shirt covered in stars, with Thirteen's logo on the upper left corner of the shirt.

"That really suits you," Izuku said as he examined it. "Were there any other designs that caught your eye?"

Ochako's eyes darted to the rack and back at Izuku before she shook her head. "There were, but they weren't on sale. Maybe next time?"

"Okay," Izuku said before he held up his finds. "I'm done too, so ready whenever you are."

The pair paid for their clothes before leaving the store, and then Izuku let Ochako guide him to a department store. Once there, he held her bag while she darted from rack to rack, comparing prices and picking out various pieces before she turned to him.

"How does it look?" Ochako asked, holding a pink top and a pair of black shorts in front of her.

"It looks good Ochako," Izuku said. Admittedly, he can't imagine an outfit that she wouldn't look good in, but he wasn't about to say that out loud.

"Great! I'm glad you like it," Ochako said with a warm smile on her face. Throwing the clothes around her arm, she continued looking.

As she continued through the store, Izuku found himself surprised by how much she valued his opinion on her outfits. After all, he wasn't exactly the most fashionable person, to begin with. Ochako, however, didn't seem to mind at all, treating his opinion at the same level he would treat Himiko's or her friends when it came to the topic.

It made him feel warm.

Izuku lost track of the time as Ochako worked through the department store, piecing together several summer outfits. Finally, after placing her current selection of clothes in the basket, she turned to face Izuku. "I think that's everything! Thanks for all your help!"

"Anytime."


"Are you hungry?" Izuku asked as they were leaving the department store. "We could grab something from the food court?"

Ochako shook her head. "I'm ok! I promise! Besides those places are overpriced, we can just get something on the way home."

"That sounds good," Izuku agreed.

"So where do you want to go next?"

"How about-"

Suddenly, Izuku froze as he felt a cold, clammy hand around his neck.

"Fancy meeting you here," Tomura Shigaraki said in a soft, menacing voice.

"It's you," Izuku said as he recognized the face. He had only caught glimpses of the man through his mask during their brief encounter at the USJ. But, mask or no mask, he would recognize that face anywhere.

"D-Deku?" Ochako asked nervously.

"I'm only going to say this once. If either of you tries anything, he dies," Tomura said, wiggling his index finger so Ochako can see it. "You know how five-point contact quirks work, don't you?"

"O-of course," Ochako swallowed nervously as she looked at Izuku. She saw the panic in his eyes, despite his best efforts to maintain a calm facade.

"Ocha-" Izuku started. "-listen to him. You aren't in any position to help right now." Izuku swallowed the lump in his throat. "And neither am I."

"I'm glad you understand. I knew you'd be smart enough to figure it out quickly."

"S-so what do you want from us?" Izuku asked.

Tomura's demeanor seemed to shift immediately, giving a fake smile as he looked at Izuku. "I want to catch up with an old friend!" He said with a fake cheer in his voice.

"Why don't we find someplace quiet to sit," Izuku said, his eyes scanning the crowd to see if anyone would notice. He saw what Tomura's quirk could do back at the USJ, and without Aizawa's Erase to stop it…

"What a great idea!" Tomura agreed.

He led the pair to a bench in a quieter part of the mall where he sat down with Izuku. Ochako hesitated for only a second before she sat down on Izuku's other side, and grabbed his free hand. She could feel it trembling as she began gently rubbing circles into the back of his hand, a silent reminder that she was there.

"Why?" Tomura finally asked.

"Why what?"

"Why do it? Why be a hero?"

Despite the severity of the situation, Izuku gave Tomura an incredulous look. "Because people need help."

"Really? That's your reason?"

"What's wrong with it?" Ochako asked defensively. "There are people out there who need saving. Who can't help themselves! What's wrong with wanting to help them?"

Tenko grimaced and Izuku felt the pressure on his neck increasing. He felt his heart speeding up until he realized that despite his anger, he was still careful enough to not shift his index finger any closer. "What a foolish idea. It's not like you can save everyone! You save one person, and another person fails to be saved."

"What are you suggesting?" Izuku asked cautiously. "Are you saying we shouldn't try and save people?"

"Exactly. What good are people who don't rely on their own strength to save themselves? To rely on others to save them?" He gestured with his free hand at the mall. "Look at them. People blissfully going about their day. Happily ignoring the problems around them, because a hero–" Izuku could hear the sneer in his voice. "-will deal with the problem."

"You're right," Izuku admitted. "The system isn't perfect."

That caught Tomura off guard. "You can't mean that."

"I do," Izuku turned his neck slowly, careful to not startle Tomura as he turned to face him. "There are too many people in this world who are forgotten, just because they're born different. Mutants, quirkless, people with so-called villainous quirks-"

Seeing an opening, Ochako shoved her hand into her pocket and blindly fumbled with her phone. While she couldn't do anything to help Izuku directly, perhaps there was something she could do.

"If you agree with me, then why? Why help them? Why support the system?"

"Because I want to change it. And the best way to do that is to rise to the top. To inspire people - just like All Might did."

Tomura laughed. "You're delusional!"

"Am I? All Might ushered in the Era of Peace, and for almost forty years his presence alone lowered the crime rates in Japan-"

"And that so-called Era of Peace is the root of the very problem we are facing! Do you seriously think you won't cause new problems?" Suddenly, Tomura realized that he knew the answer to his question. "It's so simple! Why didn't I think of it sooner?"

"Didn't think of what?" Ochako asked cautiously.

"The answer. What I want to do!" Tomura looked at the pair with a strange excitement in his eyes. "You're right! The system needs to change! It needs to be burned to the ground, to pave the way for a new system. A New Era!"

"You can't be serious," Izuku said in disbelief. "All of those people-"

"The system already encourages strength. The strong are elevated above the others and seen as saviors. Look at your precious All Might. Look at Endeavor, and the rest of those fools in the top ten. People look at them and see how strong they are. They wish they could be that strong. To have the strength to bend society to their will. Without the hero system in place, things would just be more honest."

"But all of those people who need help-"

"Would either grow strong themselves or be trampled," Tenko said gleefully.

"That's horrible!" Ochako exclaimed.

"You're wrong," Izuku said firmly. "People wouldn't stand for that kind of system."

"Oh? And what makes you say that?"

"People are fundamentally good," Izuku stated firmly, a fire in his eyes. "And when it really matters they will find the strength to help one another. During the Era of Peace, some people may have forgotten, but they just need to be reminded of that!"

Tomura laughed. "What a good joke. People helping one another. People expect heroes to help those in need. Except the heroes are too busy fighting so-called villains to care. So who's left?"

"People like Deku," Ochako stated firmly.

"What, him?" Tomura looked at Izuku. "Seriously?"

"My sister," Izuku stated. "Himi- Himiko. When we found her she collapsed in an alleyway, covered in blood."

"So one person," Tomura said, seemingly upset by this. "There's thousands of alleyways in Japan, are you seriously going to check every single one, looking for the next kid? The next stray to pick up?"

"No," Izuku said calmly. "That wouldn't be practical. But you can't tell me your way would be better."

"Deku's right. Hero, civilian, it doesn't matter! We need to help each other."

Izuku felt the pressure on his neck increasing again and involuntarily squeezed Ochako's hand, wondering if they went too far, only for the pressure to suddenly ease up. "I see. It's a matter of philosophy." Tomura got a faraway look on his face as he seemed to be contemplating something. "You believe that people are fundamentally good, and I believe they are fundamentally selfish. You think if tragedy were to strike, or if people were "inspired" people would help each other. I disagree. I think some people may try to help, but they will only be pulled down by those weaker than them. Those who will try to use them for their own selfish ends."

"Some people will always be selfish," Izuku admitted. "But that isn't a reason to give up on everyone! Sure, it will be hard, and I may not be able to accomplish it on my own, but that doesn't mean it's worth pursuing!"

Tomura looked at the determination on Izuku's face, and a smile began to form. "I see now. You're the Rival!" He turned to face Ochako. "That makes you one of the Rival's party members!"

"The Rival?" Ochako asked in confusion.

"Don't you play video games?!" Tomura exclaimed. "The Rival and his party are someone you meet early in the game." Tomura seemed stunned as he realized something. "The USJ! The signs were there and I just never saw them! It all makes sense now!"

"What makes sense?"

"The protagonist and his rival grow together. But it's not even growth. The rival always appears to be one step ahead of you - he challenges you and tests your resolve. But!" Tomura turned to them with a wide grin. "In the end, they are destined to fall, proving the protagonist's superiority!"

"T-that means you can't kill me, right?" Izuku asked cautiously.

"Of course not! If I did that, I would stunt my own growth. No," Tomura gave him a sinister look. "I want you to continue growing. To become a hero. And then, when the fateful day comes. Then we will see who was right and who was wrong."

Izuku suddenly felt Tomura release his grip on his neck and jump up. He instinctively used his free hand to grab his neck, beginning to rub it.

"You'd better not follow me!" Tomura flexed his fingers menacingly. "While you're safe, the same can't be said for the others in the mall. Think about how many people I can kill before you stop me. If you can stop me, that is." With a wicked smile on his face, he spun around and walked into a crowd of people.

"Deku, are you ok?" Ochako asked, tightening her grip on Izuku's hand.

Izuku nodded as he tried to follow Tomura's path through the crowds. "I-yeah." Giving up he turned toward Ochako and forced a smile on his face. "I'm ok."

"You don't have to hide it," Ochako said, her own tears starting to form. "I was scared too."

Izuku felt his own tears building as he punched the bench in frustration. "And we can't do anything. He's right. There's too many people."

"Hey," Ochako said. "We can't do anything, but maybe someone else can."

She pulled her phone out and he saw it. The spelling was mangled, but it was a message to the group chat calling for help.

Izuku's eyes went wide. "When did you send that?"

"A few minutes ago," Ochako admitted. "I- It was risky, but I had to do something!"

Izuku nodded, the tears he was trying to hold back finally spilling out. "Thank you."

Ochako didn't have any more words to say as she crashed into him, her tears of relief staining his shoulder as she held onto him, afraid he would disappear. She felt his arms wrap around her, and the two simply held each other, grateful to be alive.


Before long, the activity surrounding the mall began to change as officers began appearing to direct people. Izuku and Ochako finally stirred from their position, standing up, only to see a familiar figure, clad in black and crimson, racing toward them.

"Izu!"

Himiko crashed into the pair, wrapping herself around them.

"Hey Himi," Izuku said, his voice soft as he freed his arm in a futile attempt to dry his eyes.

"My message got through!" Ochako said in relief.

"Of course!" Himiko said as she pulled back, her hand never leaving Izuku's arm. "I called Nejire-chan and she brought her friends! They're working with the police." Himiko pointed upward, and the pair saw Nejire floating above the central fountain, looking around intently for any signs of Tomura. "And what about you two? What happened? Are you hurt? Did he use his quirk on you?"

"No, thankfully," Izuku shook his head. "If he did…" He didn't want to finish that sentence. "He was threatening me, but it was a five-point activation quirk. I'm probably going to have a bruise around my neck tomorrow though."

"Izu…" Himiko took her hand and gently traced her fingers along his neck. Izuku winced a bit, realizing his neck was already tender from Tomura's grip, but he tried his best to stay perfectly still and let his sister finish her examination. Satisfied, she gave him a serious look. "What happened? How did you let him get the drop on you?"

"We just came out of the department store," Izuku gestured to a shop further down. "And we were talking about what to do next when I suddenly felt a hand on my neck. At that point, it was too late."

"I wanted to stop him," Ochako insisted. "But Deku was a hostage. I-" She swallowed. "He said he wanted to talk, and so he led us here. I kept trying to think of a way to help, but it was too risky." She balled her fists in frustration. "All I could do was send you that message."

"That was more than enough," Izuku tried to reassure her. "Just having you there helped. I don't know what I would have done if I were alone."

"Probably something stupid," Himiko said.

"Ehehe," Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "Maybe?"

Himiko sighed in exasperation as she grabbed Izuku and Ochako's arms. "Come on, let's get you to the police. They're going to want to question you before I take you home."