Disclaimer: I don't own Boku no Hero Academia

Chapter 128:

"We hadn't tested it!" Lemillion shouted, his voice carrying over the gust of wind that just rushed through the park. He glared towards Deku and he balled his fists tighter before shaking his head and shouting at the younger teen who was looking angrily right back at him, "She wasn't ready!"

"Wonderlass would have died!" Midoriya yelled back. "And she did it!" Midoriya called that out and then loosened his fists. He looked into Togata's eyes and said in a lower voice, "Eri succeeded. She saved her life."

Mirio Togata's fists clenched harder though the anger left his face and frustration covered it instead for a moment. "What's next then?" He asked it and looked towards Midoriya with a strained look on his face that he brought back to being angry as he asked, "Now that Eri knows what she can do?" Midoriya froze and he stared back at Togata with his breath speeding up, and the older teen already a pro hero and the fifth ranked hero in the country at that called out louder, "Putting that kind of pressure on a little girl?"

Midoriya turned his head to the side and he ground his teeth in his own frustration. "Midoriya, did you ever see your old friend Sazaki struggling with that power?" Midoriya turned back and looked into Togata's eyes, as the taller blond boy looked back at him and said, "The ability to bring back anyone and everyone?" Midoriya froze. He thought back to a lot of conversations he used to have with Zach about the immense pressure of knowing he could save anyone. Midoriya's eyes shook as he thought about it, about how strained Zach had looked those days when he would talk about how he thought he should be doing more. "Now that you've shown her she can do it, that little girl is going to start feeling responsible every time someone is hurt and dying, because Eri's that good of a kid!"

Togata stopped himself for a second at the look of so much frustration on Midoriya's face. He shook his head again though and he said in a lower voice as the wind had died down and he knew he should not be shouting this outside too, "And she's proud of what she did. She didn't say anything about it, but I knew it was her when I just went to say hi. I could see she's proud of what she did helping Wonderlass. And now, she thinks she can do it again…"

I had to save her. I had the power- Eri did. Eri could, and I could get her to- I did get her to Wonderlass in time! Midoriya looked back at Togata and opened his mouth to say something like that, but he froze at Togata's harsh look and had to turn away again. She was right in front of me, and I couldn't let it happen this time. I saved her life, but now it might hurt Eri. If she really does start to think like Zach did… Hawks said I need to think about what is right and not just make all decisions based on the rules. I saved Kacchan outside of the rules before, but I became so strict with following them after what Zach did in that forest. But there are levels to breaking the rules! It's not cut and dry… There were more downsides than I thought though. I just thought, about myself. About how if it worked I might start breaking more rules, that it might lead me to thinking I can break them whenever, lead me to thinking I could kill if I have to.

"Never, do this again behind my back," Togata started to warn in a threatening tone.

"In a time like we're living in right now," Midoriya rose his gaze strongly into the older hero's. "We need heroes like Wonderlass more than ever, and heroes like Gran Torino too." Midoriya said it and did not falter at the angrier look Lemillion gave him after what he was suggesting right there like it was unthinkable to him. It was not unthinkable to Midoriya though, and he stepped towards Togata this time just like the blond had stomped towards him at the start of his questioning. "You might be trying to protect her, but if you stop Eri from trying to bring back Gran Torino's Quirk, you're only going to be hurting her. She'll know you're doing it to protect her and that's the reason why Gran Torino can't have his Quirk back, even though he lost it saving her life. She already feels that pressure!"

"But before, no one ever told her that she should seriously consider using her Quirk to save him," Lemillion growled back. He balled his fists and said, "Because she knows the horrible things that could have come from using it!"

"But that's not what happened this time!" Midoriya retorted loudly. "And the more she practices with it the less likely an accident like that does happen again. We'll only be hurting her by telling her she can't as long as she knows she has the power but not the right to use it-"

Togata ground his teeth in frustration and then said back in a tone that matched that frustrated look, "She doesn't have the right, because she doesn't have a hero license."

"I know that!" Midoriya yelled back, in just as much frustration. He started panting and he stared back into Togata's eyes from a few meters away with an angry and upset look. And then his fists loosened up.

Lemillion lowered his angry look and let out a sigh, his own fists unclenching like Midoriya's. Togata rose up a hand and rubbed it up his face and then through his hair a few times in an exasperated way. Midoriya looked back apologetically but also like he might do it again, and Togata sighed again before lowering his arm down and gaining a somewhat more serious look on his face. They were friends. The two of them were close, and as much as they were having problems the two of them calmed themselves down quickly. Togata still looked seriously at his younger friend though as he said to him, "I need to know that you're ready to follow my orders, in all other situations."

Midoriya nodded back at him. "We'll work this out together," Midoriya said, referring to the argument the two of them just paused as it was getting too heated and they both knew they needed to chill. "But not out there," Deku continued. "Out there we have to stay focused."

Lemillion nodded back at him. "In that case, welcome to my agency." Midoriya smiled at his old friend who had recently started up his own hero agency, and who had offered his old classmate an internship position after hearing about what happened with his last one. "By the way," Lemillion continued. "You're not the only new intern I'm getting for the coming months. I actually got a request just today from one of your other classmates about teaming up too. Though, I'm guessing he doesn't know that you're starting up with me."

A bead of sweat formed on the side of Midoriya's face as he realized who Togata had to be talking about. Oh, this could be… fun?

In U.A.'s Class 3-A dorm building, Momo Yaoyorozu and Kyoka Jirou were sitting together in Jirou's room. Jirou was laying back on her own bed with a magazine held up over her face, flipping the pages and sighing each time she went to another one. She flipped over onto her stomach and leaned off the side of her bed holding the magazine out in front of her, and she flipped it around to show her best friend sitting at her desk. "What about Yuki? Says she's looking for a sensory type," Jirou added, pointing down to the bottom of the page on the right when Yaoyorozu turned to it.

"I have heard great things about Yuki as a hero. I believe you would work well with her and-"

"Ugh," Jirou flipped the magazine back and rolled her eyes. "I want you to give criticism at least once you know? That way I've got something to base your good reviews against." Jirou sighed and Yaoyorozu apologized to her though smiling and with a bead of sweat on the side of her face as she did not know what Jirou asked her for if not for an honest answer.

With the bead of sweat on her face and her eyes almost closed, Momo mentioned, "Though, I believe she can feel movements in the snow she creates with her Quirk, Blizzard." Jirou looked back up in surprise that Yaoyorozu said that, though she smirked herself as Yaoyorozu managed to compliment the hero while at the same time suggesting Jirou may not be needed as much. "I am sure there are ways you could assist her if she is looking for a sensory-type Quirk for assistance, but perhaps, there is someone you could help more?"

"There we go," Jirou said, and she chuckled which made Yaoyorozu smile more that her advice was deemed helpful this time. Jirou sighed again though as she flipped to the next page in a magazine about female heroes in Japan who were up-and-comers in popularity and fashion, bit-time celebrities, top rookies (where Jirou had spotted Nejire Hado and considered for a second before remembering the older girl's quirky personality that put her off too much). There were many in there who Jirou considered contacting to offer her help, but none she was sold on yet as much as she was with her previous pro hero. Maybe I should've just stuck with Top Notch. I wanted to go with a female hero this time though… though who am I kidding, I'm just doing this 'cause of Momo. "Ballerclava is an amazing hero, however I believe that while we are at school we should learn from as many pro heroes as we are able to in order to become the most rounded heroes ourselves." It makes too much sense to just hear that and go, "Nah, I'm good sticking with the same one through my third year too."

Jirou looked up and she lowered her magazine a bit as she saw how focused her best friend was on the laptop she was scrolling through a hero registry on. "How about you?" Jirou asked, and Yaoyorozu turned her head back to the side to glance at her friend again. "Nothing yet?"

"I have highlighted a few numbers that I plan on calling," Yaoyorozu countered, and Jirou sweatdropped more at how much farther ahead her classmate already was. "I wish to search thoroughly though, and then make my decision based on the times that I am offered for interning from each. I hope to make my schedule not stretched too thin, as I am sure this will be the hardest year yet that U.A. has in store for us."

"You got that right," Jirou replied in a mutter. "Already those first few days are wiping me out. Guess they want us knowing what we're in for. Or maybe they're trying to spook us too…"

"Hmm," Yaoyorozu hummed, and she nodded her head while turning back to her laptop. It is a possibility. I do hope the teachers do not think that the fame of Class A has gone to our heads. I have heard Bakugo got into a "disagreement" with a first year who called our class out. Hopefully most people know that we are not slacking in our efforts, at all… Yaoyorozu stared at a name on the registry she was scrolling down, glancing at pictures of heroes next to each name and the Quirks listed next to them. She stared at a man who was muscular and wore a hero costume, a costume with no sleeves, but also no arms so the costume was just closed up his sides. Grappler. He is back on the registry. So he did come out of retirement after all, for teaching purposes alone though, that extra piece of information was written next to Grappler's name too without Yaoyorozu needing to click on it to be sent to a different page with more information.

"…I was so close, but I didn't kill that Nomu and it- it crippled Grappler. He's been my hero since I was little kid, and I could have saved him…" Yaoyorozu kept scrolling down the list. Her smile was lowered down though and her eyes softer, and she could not get her mind off of the voice in her head that easily. Zach. Your report's been coming true lately. Momo's eyes stayed locked on her screen but she pursed her lips and her mind wandered farther as she stopped scrolling too. People call it Lifebringer's Law after you. You… you posted your own report online didn't you? It's something you would do, leak it yourself and then not deny it was yours that day… You were- are so smart like that. Others call it manipulative, but it's just the way you know how to do things. You see a way to do something good and you try your hardest to make it happen…

One more year and I, can finally come after you. Bring you home. As soon as I'm a hero, it's the first thing I need to do. I don't know if I'll be able to do it. I don't know if you'll even listen to me. You pushed me so hard away and I believe- no, I know you did it so it wouldn't hurt as much when you left. And to keep me out of danger. You don't need to protect me though. You should have known that- and yet, it was easier. I would have been so angry, so much more betrayed had we kept dating and you, did what you did. But you knew that. You couldn't betray me like that… Yaoyorozu lowered her eyes from the laptop screen to her hands hesitating on the keyboard. I know I told myself to push you from my mind until I could do something about it. I told myself to leave this alone for now, but, what if I'm too late?

Last Month…

Yaoyorozu sat in the common room at Class A's dorm in Heights Alliance with only one of her classmates. The two of them were not often alone together, but they had been studying with a few others who had all left already leaving them studying diligently by themselves. Midoriya sat on the couch closest to the front doors and Yaoyorozu was on the far left of the center couch so she was still close to him. They were using a low table brought over just in front of their couches, and they had books in the same subject opened up as they were studying for the same final.

Midoriya felt a buzz in his pocket and he reached down and pulled his phone out. There was a notification on the screen and he looked to the tv, but he was hesitant and glanced back at Yaoyorozu wondering if he should turn it on. As he wondered that though, Yaoyorozu pulled out her phone and Midoriya's eyes widened a bit as he realized she got the same notification as he did. It was not a text message or call, but a buzz that went off when only certain news stories occurred. She looked at the screen and then Midoriya and his phone, and she asked, "Do you mind-"

"Go right ahead," Midoriya said quickly, as he was glad she asked instead of hesitating like he was.

Yaoyorozu reached over and grabbed the remote from the table, and she turned on the tv and switched to a major news station. She hummed as nothing about the breaking story she and Midoriya just saw a notification for was on the screen. She pressed the channel-up button to another news station, and this time the Breaking News graphic was already up and spiraling to the corner of the screen right as they got on it. Yaoyorozu lowered the remote and then turned up the volume a little. Midoriya glanced around after the news was put on, checking if anyone else was on the floor going to come over and watch with them. It was pretty late though and the two of them were still the only ones on the first floor of their dorm building.

"…A picture of the rumored flying headquarters of the Army of Death. Sent from northern India, this picture from the town of Delhanai is remarkably close to Huangset where just this morning Indian heroes Tiger Mama and Equinox arrested a group of villains operating a drug trade across India's borders."

"Too close to be a coincidence, Jamie? You think the Army of Death may have assisted those heroes in capturing the villains?"

"Maybe… all I'm saying is that Endeavor should maybe look into it. Maybe he calls those heroes up and asks if maybe there's something they maybe left out… maybe."

"What're all the maybe's for? Wondering if it's really worth his time on this lead, wondering if Endeavor really should go after them, or wondering if it's worth it for him to leave the country and risk villains-"

"I'm thinking there are a lot of reasons he stays, though if he lets up leads like this one I don't think we're going to be getting anywhere with the Death hunt anytime soon-"

Yaoyorozu turned off the tv and she sighed. I was hoping for more. Her brow furrowed and she lowered her gaze down to the floor. She turned back to Midoriya who nodded once in agreement that they did not need to keep watching anymore. The two of them looked back to their books, but they had lost focus on their subject and even where they were in their own textbooks.

The two of them looked back up and shared a look. Their looks were similar, but neither had said anything about Death or the Army of Death to each other before. They had never had a conversation about them, just the two of them, but at their looks they knew the other was thinking the same thing that they were. "The Army of Death suffered heavy casualties the other day," Midoriya began softly, and Yaoyorozu nodded in a way that told him she was in fact willing to talk about this right now. It was all that was on their minds now, and the reason they had been so quick to check the news about them.

A recent fight in Indonesia, Yaoyorozu thought, her eyes lowering from Midoriya's for a second. She lifted them quickly instead of keeping thoughts to herself as she did want to talk about this with him, as it had been eating her up inside for a few days now. "Reports from the heroes who wound up fighting alongside them, against the biggest villain group in Indonesia," Yaoyorozu paused after adding that part, feeling weird as there was no reason to mention that extra information. She continued instead of over-analyzing why she would say it like that any longer, "Claim that eight, Army of Death members died during the fight along with their own Island-Girl."

"She was memorialized across the country yesterday," Midoriya added, his voice lower and his expression looking conflicted as he mentioned it. "Alone," he added in a softer voice. The two of them fell silent for a few seconds. They knew about the Army of Death's involvement because of the other heroes who had fought with them and Island-Girl, who had not downplayed the importance of that group's help in their interviews and press conference right after. The two teenagers trying to study for finals looked back into each other's eyes. They were thinking about the same thing but neither knew if they should mention it to the other. "Yaoyorozu, do you… you think he's Death, right?"

Yaoyorozu opened her mouth to reply with 'I know he is.' She stopped though and slowly closed it, and she just nodded at Midoriya in a more solemn and hesitant way. "He's alive though," Yaoyorozu added in a soft voice of her own. Midoriya nodded fast in agreement. They were both hoping to see a sign of Death when they turned on the news. The thought of so many of the AoD dying along with a hero who they doubted had been brought back to life before, it made them worried that Zach was not able to bring them back for some reason. "He probably, just wasn't there," Yaoyorozu whispered.

"Probably," Midoriya agreed with a slow nod. Midoriya had been mad at Zach for a long time, and he had long accepted that they were enemies now. And yet he could not help but feel sad, a pain in his heart as he thought about the times he heard Zach crying for the ones he cared about. I know you're hurting. I know, losing those comrades had to hurt you, Midoriya sympathized with him and then his face scrunched up. If you're not dead already, he thought, and he hated the thought that he had countered aloud a moment ago.

"He's still trying to change the answer," Midoriya whispered. Yaoyorozu lifted her eyes up in surprise and stared at her classmate whose hands just clenched into fists over his legs as he stared down at the table between them intensely. You wouldn't die. I won't believe that so easily. You still have things you feel you need to do. Plans you need to finish, I'm sure. "He always has been," Midoriya said quieter, shaking his head at the thought. At the courthouse that day, I never fully understood what it meant to you. How much all-

Yaoyorozu started shaking her head. "Zach, got over that," she began. Midoriya looked up and into her eyes in confusion, and Yaoyorozu just nodded her head at him once as she knew it was so.

Midoriya shook his head back at her though. "Zach said he'd never get past it," Midoriya started. A confused look covered Yaoyorozu's face and Midoriya lowered his gaze back down. He thought about a conversation he once had alone with Zach, and he wondered for a second if he should talk about it before deciding there was no point in hiding it at all. "Goodbye." "He told me after he came back from the League, that he had already passed a threshold. He, he said that he had reached a point where the question if it was a good thing that he was born, he could never change it. Because of all the bad he had done…"

Yaoyorozu started shaking her head. She thought Midoriya was talking about the things Zach had done with the villains, but her eyes widened and filled with more pain as he continued, "It was mainly because of Jenny." Midoriya shook his head and he continued in a whisper, "He only referred to Jenny as 'Her' at the time, saying he could never make up for it no matter how many people he saved, because 'She' died because of him. And he said that because of that he could no longer quantify all the wrong, and he was going to have to spend his whole life making up for it as much as he could." Midoriya finished in a sad tone, remembering that day and then what he had told Zach after hearing all that from him. Do I regret telling him everything about One For All? I believe him, that he wasn't the one who told Raijin-

Yaoyorozu shook her head more after hearing what Midoriya said, and the boy in front of her looked at her sadly that she could not accept what he said. He started to regret telling her it, when Yaoyorozu said, "That's not true. He told you that, before the Sports Festival right?" Midoriya hesitated and then started nodding his head. Yaoyorozu lifted her lips into a small smile then and shook her head again at him, "I believe he thought that then, but for a while it wasn't true."

Midoriya shook his head and had a sad look on his face that he tried to make look accepting after that initial expression. He wanted to let her believe that it was true, but he was also looking a bit confused himself just as she was at that pitying head shake he gave her. Yaoyorozu looked down and she pursed her lips, but she shook her head fast again when she tried considering that maybe he was right. "That doesn't make sense though," she said, lifting her gaze back to Midoriya's. "Because at the Sports Festival, when he was dying… He was saying that he changed the answer. After you had run off," Midoriya started opening his eyes wider and Yaoyorozu continued to her surprised classmate, "He said it a few times. I thought maybe it was just because, he didn't want Monoma bringing him back afterwards, but that wasn't it. Even after he believed he had convinced him, I think, he still believed it. That he had changed the answer. I could see it in his eyes as he looked at me that it was the truth."

Midoriya realized it and pulled his head back with a look of pain flashing over his face. Oh geez, Midoriya felt his heart ache and he looked closer at the girl in front of him who started giving him a confused look at why he was looking at her like that. Midoriya wanted to change his expression, because Yaoyorozu was sharp. He turned his gaze away because he could not keep it locked on hers without feeling like he was giving it away.

Yaoyorozu watched as Midoriya forced his eyes away from her. It took her a few seconds but she put together what Midoriya was thinking based off what he had said to her only a minute ago. Yaoyorozu's heart started racing and she leaned back herself with her eyes huge and then lowering down to her hands that she held at her sides starting to shake. She remembered holding his hand as it lost its tension, as he died in her and Kirishima's arms with a smile on his face. "Momo…" she heard him say her name and remembered the smile that had covered his face only seconds before. It was one of the last things he said, before whispering again, "I changed the answer."

It's because he saved me.

Yaoyorozu pursed her lips and kept her eyes down while telling herself desperately to stay strong and keep it together in front of her classmate. Jenny, mattered more to him than anyone. He told me he only realized it as she died in front of him. He believed he could never make up for getting her killed… but he- because he saved me?! Yaoyorozu gripped her hands into her pants on the sides of her legs. Dying to save me, made him believe it was a good thing that he was born. I changed that answer for him. No, he changed it himself. But he- he cared enough about me that… Oh Zach.

Present

Momo rose her eyes back up from her hands on the laptop's keyboard. I told myself I'd change it again. Or I'd help him change it, again. Either way. I know you think it reversed. You blamed yourself for all the people your parents couldn't save, so thinking about all the anti-heroes Raijin talked about killing… the weight that you feel, the amount you feel like you need to do, it's too much. But, saving me made up for failing to save Jenny. Destroying a society of people who work outside of the law to stop heroes, and replacing it with a new one? Is that your goal? It's different from the old one, not as secretive though we all still don't know anything about them.

I wish we knew. I wish we knew, anything about you right now. Or just your health. Just your health would be fine…

Behind Yaoyorozu, Jirou had been staring at the side of her friend's face for thirty seconds now. Jirou had lowered her magazine to the bed at her side and she slid her legs up it and rested her feet off the edge. The look on Yaoyorozu's face was unmistakable. Jirou had seen it a thousand times. She's thinking about him again. Why is it that I'm unfocused on this but the one thing that can distract you, I don't even want to think- Jirou noticed that her eyes had shifted off of Momo's back. Jirou pursed her lips and she leaned her body back with an afraid look in her eyes. She shifted her gaze from her desk drawer back to Yaoyorozu, Please don't open it- she wouldn't. Of course she doesn't even know it's in there. Because I hid it from her. I stole it. She'd never forgive me. I'd lose her, and… no I wouldn't. She wouldn't leave me. Maybe for a while though she'd be… or maybe she would leave. How much more does she care about him than me?

When I was hurting after the fall finals she just got mad I was blaming Zach. And maybe I was shifting some of my anger for messing up, but- But I took that letter to help you forget about him! I didn't want… I don't know what I didn't want! I just thought it would do you good, and now I'll lose you just like I lost them and- and I'm too scared to show you it now. And I can never open mine, read it while denying you the chance to read yours. I'm so selfish. I want you to move on though, and I'm scared of what will happen if you haven't and I show you now. Jirou got up from her bed, and she stepped towards Yaoyorozu's back. Maybe it would be something that you could look at and feel better at a time like this. Maybe taking that letter and never showing you it, was the worst thing I could have done. I don't know. But if it was something that could have made you feel better, then that's on me, and I need to make up for it.

Jirou took in a deep breath, then she leaned down behind her desk chair and put her arms around her best friend's sides. Yaoyorozu's eyes shot open and she spun her head in surprise, "Kyoka-"

"I just thought," Jirou began before Yaoyorozu could ask what she was doing. "You could use a hug, Momo." Jirou had her eyes closed and her head rested down on Momo's left shoulder. She had to keep her face pointed away from Yaoyorozu's a little in case her friend could somehow figure out everything just from a glance at her face she hoped hid well the shame she was feeling. Kyoka's face was a tad red as she hugged Yaoyorozu, but she stopped thinking about the letters and how nervous and scared she was. She just hugged Yaoyorozu thinking about that look she had seen on half of her friend's face, and she gave her a tighter squeeze after a second when Yaoyorozu stopped tensing so much at the surprise she felt from that hug.

Yaoyorozu's smile appeared wide but soft over her face, and she rose up her hands and rested them over Jirou's around her. "Thank you," Yaoyorozu said in a quiet voice. "What's the hug for?" She added, though she kept smiling as it was a rare occurrence from Jirou and she felt happy about it for a lot of reasons.

"No reason," Jirou said back, a smile on her face too at the happier tone in Yaoyorozu's voice. She finally loosened her hug after a few more seconds and then said while standing back up straight, feeling awkward about that as Yaoyorozu turned back and kept smiling at her. Jirou turned with red cheeks and said, "Let's uh, keep picking internships. I'm still nowhere if you've got any suggestions?"

"Hmm, well I did see a hero on the list who I think you would like," Yaoyorozu began, turning to the computer and getting back into it in a brighter mood again. Jirou walked up to her side and leaned in, and Yaoyorozu continued, "Though I know you said you wanted to go with a heroine this time, I really think you should consider…"

Class 3-A had twenty people in it on a brisk morning in mid April. The nineteen students who had just started up their final year at high school faced their homeroom teacher, their fourth one in not as many years. Vrishnuku who had been their homeroom teacher for the previous two terms had returned home to India creating a need for another replacement to watch over Class 3-A for this their final year. The students expected another foreign teacher after Mother Russia and Vrishnuku, but none were disappointed when one of their other teachers took the place as their homeroom teacher.

All Might stood in front of the nineteen teenagers he had gotten to know well over the past two years. Without his Quirk, being the Foundational Hero Studies teacher had become a lot more difficult for him as well as something that he needed assistance from other teachers too often to do. Principal Nezu had suggested the shift, and All Might gratefully accepted. He had the chance to watch over his successor much closer for the final year of his teaching. All Might smiled at the children in front of him, and it was the last time he believed he would be able to see them all like this. All nineteen of the students in front of him were seventeen years old for a few more days before the oldest, Bakugo, would be turning eighteen.

"As many of you may already be aware," All Might began. He saw some grins around the classroom and knew the rumors had spread like wildfire. "The decision that had been left undecided for several months now was finally decided on. The Sports Festival will be going on this year." All Might smiled as he said it and he looked around the students in front of him who had serious and excited looks on their faces. Determined expressions and balled fists, but All Might saw not one of them pull back nervously at his statement. This is why. "You are the beacon of hope for the world," All Might continued, his smile lowering down almost flat but staying lifted a bit at the corners. His voice had just become so serious yet it was still soft and teacherly. The students looked closer at their homeroom teacher though, looks of surprise covering their faces at what he just said.

"This is the most important Sports Festival. Far more important than the last one, even though we had told you back then that it was important too. This time, we need to stand before the world more than ever." All Might paused and his smile lowered fully as he continued, "The Sports Festival last year started off one of the most chaotic years I can remember, and I wasn't able to do a thing about it this time. I couldn't help-"

"That's not true All Might!" Ashido called out, interrupting her teacher who was the least strict of any homeroom teacher they had ever had, a dynamic they were all still getting used to.

"Even without your Quirk, you have still been doing very much," Tsuyu Asui started.

"Because you taught all of us how to be better heroes," Kirishima said, grinning big at the teacher who turned to him with his eyes huge.

"And if you consider us to be signs of hope for this world," Yaoyorozu started from farther back behind Kirishima. "Then you are still shaping the world."

"We're all grateful to you for staying," Uraraka said over to her teacher, and hero, who she had seen looking upset there for a moment as he talked about not being able to do a thing. She leaned forward and called to him, "For teaching us what we need to know, to protect the world like you did!"

"Yeah!" Mineta called out, though he sweatdropped as he wished he had something more to add on top of that.

Midoriya looked around the room as his classmates were so quick to jump at the chance to help All Might there. He had wanted to say every one of those things, though he had immediately thought about going to talk to All Might later about it. Everyone else, is close to All Might too though. There's no point in keeping quiet to hide a relationship. Everyone knows, we are all All Might's students.

All Might smiled at the sound of his students' encouragements. He could not feel warmer at the sound of them, and he told them with a small smile back on his face, "And this is why we need to hold the Sports Festival. You. Each one of you." All Might looked into individual students' eyes and looked proudly at the young heroes they had turned into already by the start of their third years. There was room for improvement, and he believed he could help them all reach the top level through the next year, but they were already all great heroes in his mind. "The year of heroes who have already been out there fighting in internships for three years, at home and abroad even, showing everyone what you're capable of. The attacks and ordeals you have made it through that have become synonymous with your names. The world-famous Class A."

All Might shook his head once at his students still with that smile on his face. "The villains thought this world was unprotected without a Symbol, but each of you are doing your part. And holding the Sports Festival despite what happened last year is a sign that our society has held strong. That we have not faltered in the face of villains. That we are still here, and that we have risen above."

Mezo Shoji took in a deep breath behind his mask. He lowered his gaze to his desk that he had two large fists clenched over. Back out on that stage. The last time I walked out there, onto an arena like that, I died. I can do it though. It's not a question of can I. I have to. I'll walk back on that stage at the Sports Festival and, even though I know it's a new stadium we'll be using to leave the old one as a memorial site… It is going to be hard to get back on stage after what happened last time. I knew it from our final exams against the ANTs, in that arena that looked so much like a Sports Festival stage. I've prepared though. I am ready. I have to get back out there and show the world, show myself, that I have what it takes to be a hero… Zach, losing to you last time without you using your Quirk was hard for me. Watching you die after you had brought me back to life was harder. I really thought they would have caught you by now. I thought I would beat you that day too though… This time, I won't lose. I've trained a long time for this.

Never did get to finish that bet, Kirishima lost his smile for a second. His eyes stared farther away right through All Might, A fight we never had even though we should have been against each other in the semi's. They interrupted the Sports Festival last time. The League of Villains, using Kurogiri. They could do something similar this time without him. Except, the League is smaller. Villains are scattered among different villain groups, the Radians, Jazz, the Subspace Devils, there're so many who've become the villains to focus on while the League's been quiet. Any of them could try something. This year we'll be prepared though. We won't let anyone die.

This year, Bakugo smirked and he curled his fingers into fists again and again. An indisputable first place. I will get it. Bakugo turned his head to the right and looked across a few seats to Deku who turned back his way at the same time. Midoriya's face did not look nervous as he stared back at his classmate, and instead he started grinning himself back in a competitive way accepting the challenging look Bakugo was giving him. The two of them thought it at each other and could have jinxed each other's thoughts as it came at the same time. Don't lose.

Until I beat you, Bakugo kept thinking, his thoughts diverging from Midoriya's.

Until our rematch, Midoriya went on while looking at his rival and childhood friend. Kacchan, I won't lose this time. I know you won't either, and that means we're going to face each other. In front of the world. And I will tell them I'm here… No. This time, it's just about you and me. I want to beat you for me. Midoriya's fists clenched tighter than they ever had in anticipation for the Sports Festival. More than they had for all the reasons in the past, and for all the other reasons they had going into it this time. Looking into his rival's eyes he saw Bakugo standing over him and holding a hand over his bruised and bloody face the last time they fought each other seriously. This time, Midoriya thought, and he turned back forward to All Might while clenching his hands even tighter than before. With the power I was given, and the strength I've built up since then with the help of so many… I'm going to show you what I've got. Kacchan, I'm going to win!

A/N Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. It was Eri who Midoriya got to help Wonderlass, which I tried to imply with the last paragraph in the last chapter with him facing off against Togata. Anyway, Midoriya starts off an internship with Lemillion along with another student... (no spoilers but pretty obvious it was KB). An occasional spotting of the Army of Death and rumors about some of them dying, has Yaoyorozu and Midoriya worried about the fate of their friend. And the Sports Festival! A lot's happening in Japan where I've been focusing for a lot of chapters now... Leave a review below telling me what you think! Comments, predictions, questions for what's ahead! Also, Merry Christmas everyone! I got my gifts today since I'm spending tomorrow on a plane and traveling to Flordia to meet with family, probably not going to update this next week on my vacation. I hope you all enjoyed the Christmas update though! And if I don't post again this next week, then Happy New Year's everyone!

Naruffoku chapter 128 . Dec 22

Amazing! How long did you have the name Lifebringer's law in your head? Was this always in the greater scheme of your plans? Also what are your thoughts on Midoriya in the latest bnha chapter?

NO WAY! MIDORIYA ASKED ZACH FOR HELP!? WHAT IS GOING ON! Seriously, I'm shaking right now as I'm writing this, so little action, but yet so much! I'm literally having an overload

Don't know how you reviewed on chapter 128 as it says next to your name... you must be from the future XD Anyway I really made up the Lifebringer's Law maybe the chapter before the one it appeared in, I liked the alliteration so... haha I'm glad you're getting hyped, but nah Midoriya went to the next best thing. Sorry to get you hyped on that when he really had Eri come, I swear I wasn't trying to make it too much of a cliffhanger. Thanks for the reviews! Merry Christmas!

radoddish chapter 127 . Dec 22

O boi, what did Midoriya do?

Nothin' good. Or, well, it worked out but he's got some stuff to work out with Lemillion now as they work together this next year.

papaprep chapter 127 . Dec 23

What happened to wonderlass?
Why is she alive? Explanation plzz

Explanation granted. Wonderlass is back! Togata's worried about what that means for Eri, but Midoriya's trying to defend his actions here. We'll see how it goes... Thanks for the review!

xilios2000 chapter 127 . Dec 23

Right now there are 3 possibilities nummer 1 izuku got zach to heal wonderlass. Number 2 izuku got eri to heal wonderlass and seeing as she "looks younger" this is fairly likely. Or number 3 izuku gave wonderlass one for all i dont know if that would even work but it would be retarded either way

Number 2 is a winner! Nice call, only one who guessed Eri in the reviews so good job and Merry Christmas!

Obakekarakasa chapter 127 . Dec 22

Wasn't bakugou's hero name Ground Zero? Or is that non Canon. The ending makes me think she got revived by zach, but I have zero basis for that. And now we have whatever deku did, Great Chappie. Thanks for the tips about writing, I always find it hard to write entire paragraphs of thoughts or speech without it feeling like I'm making a mistake :/

I don't think it's canon. Def not right now, could be a spoiler someone leaked or something from what I saw when I just looked it up. Either way, this story's diverged enough that lots of things that would be canon have changed/are changing constantly through it. Wonderlass saved by Eri not Zach. You're welcome for the tips! :) I'd say even if you feel like you're making an error while writing, just keep going and then you can always fix and reword it when you edit. I look over my chapters at least once after writing them to make the words sound better in my head or aloud. Anyway, thanks for the review, and Merry Christmas!

Readingdan chapter 127 . Dec 23

So I stumbled onto this story bout a week and a half ago. I saw how long it was and was curious about it. And throughout my time reading it, You. Kept. Updating. I can't tell whether I'm happy or stressed cause I've been trying catch up for days, and I just finally caught up. Overall I think it's an awesome story and I can't wait to read more. You have an amazing talent. Keep up the great work.

Wow, I'm glad you've caught up so quickly, and really happy to hear you've liked the story and my writing! Enjoy the new chapter! Merry Christmas to you, and to everyone who reviewed, faved, followed, or just reads this story. Can't wait for another million words, and another fun year of writing Death! Thank you all, and Happy Holidays!