The next few months were a complete blur to the students. After all of them had been cleared by the hospital to leave within the next few months, a major question swirled within Izuku's head as to where they would go. He threw out the idea of putting them up in some random adoption or group home. A few hero and support agencies reached out to him with interest for quite a few of the students, but he knew they were going to exploit them for money and notoriety. He told them to stay quiet and not confront the press, so the Class remained secretive of the truth to the rest of the public.

With winter blowing past into spring, the palm leaves lining the streets of Los Angeles flew over the drab tunnels and tent cities towards the oceanfront. Bicycle wheels kicked up the fallen leaf and swished along the wind created by rolling skaters and joggers over the asphalt trail. It swirled around and through the air before floating upward towards the rail of the Santa Monica pier. It slipped through and cascaded over the worn boardwalk. The leaf danced around various shoes and bike tires with a few families trampling past it. It was undeterred and slipped past a hot dog vending cart and rolling on the wood towards a pair of black shoes.

The leaf rested on the bare ankle of James who felt the soft and fragile skin tickle his skin. The boy, now tan and clean shaven, picked up the leaf and held it in his hand. The class had decided to take a trip to the real Santa Monica Pier. Nobody had bothered them on the quiet weekday, but James still had reservations with being out in public. With some of the students basking in sun on the beach below, he isolated himself and stood at the familiar edge of the pier to observe the beach beneath him.

He pressed his palm between the leaf and the metal railing of the pier. The teal water sloshed with ivory foam washing over the sand. A person whistled past him with the clicking of a bicycle racing past. Tourists chattered and strolled the day away with the cerulean sky holding cotton ball clouds that drifted past.

Footsteps cracked on the squeaking wood behind him. James stared at the soft waves and sparkling ocean as a person stopped and leaned on the rail beside him. His hand landed close to James, but he paid no mind with his eyes locked onto a specific spot right underneath the boardwalk where water met the shoreline.

"You didn't have to jump, you know."

James frowned and saw Lloyd staring at him from the corner of his eye.

"Huh?"

"When we were here for the bomb hunt," Lloyd said. "You jumped for the fake bomb. The stairs are right over there. Even in the digital universe, they were there."

Lloyd pointed at the railing for stairs built into an outcropping of the wood by the hot dog cart. James ignored him and ticked his tongue.

"I don't care," James said. "It's not like any of it really mattered."

"It did matter," Lloyd said. "It really happened, right? We really stopped All-For-One, didn't we?"

James threw his hands up in exasperation and turned to walk away. "No, none of it mattered."

Lloyd grabbed James shoulder and spun him around. A surprisingly serious expression etched on his face when he pulled James closer to him.

"It did matter," Lloyd said. "It had to, otherwise we wouldn't have gone through it."

"Oh, shut up," James smacked Lloyd's hand away. "I couldn't stand this shit in the digital world. I'm not taking it in real life."

Lloyd frowned and took another step towards James. "You've barely talked to anyone in months. Even Moxie! All you do is sit alone in your room and watch television, and I want to know why."

"Why," James said. "Why don't you think about, you worthless manatee. Really rack your brains on it. I find out my entire life is fake, and the one guy I could stand in our class died. Leo was like the one person I could stand in our class other than Moxie, and she's been busy with Deku learning about One-For-All most of the day. So, yeah. I'm going to be alone most of the time. What am I gonna do? Hang out with you?"

"Maybe," Lloyd said. "Would that be so bad?"

"Yes!" James shouted. "Because I hate you!"

Lloyd swallowed and paused with the breeze pushing over his red hair. "You don't mean that."

"Then why would I say it."

"Because you're angry," Lloyd said. "And it's completely understandable. I've been angry about this, too. I had a family. A home in Canada. So for me to realize that's fake was heartbreaking. But I prayed and I asked God about it, an-."

"I'm done," James waved a hand at Lloyd. He turned back to leave, but Lloyd grabbed his arm again. James tried to pull away, but Lloyd had activated his quirk and had a rope of black dust attached from his arm to James encompassing the two together.

"James, think about it," Lloyd said. "We saw the afterlife. We saw part of what's beyond. That means something. We were out here for a purpose, and now we've been allowed to live a life for another purpose. And we get to find out what that is."

"We cheated," James said. "Deku said it himself."

"We cheated the Central Platform," Lloyd said. "But if God really wanted us dead, he would have made it so. Why didn't he?"

"Because God sucks, that's why!" James yelled in Lloyd's face. "He's some sadist who uses people for what he wants and then throws them to the curb like some cheap prostitute in West Palm Beach. You know what family God gave me in that world we were stuck in? You know what memories I have?"

"No, I don't," Lloyd said. "Because you don't tell me anything."

"I was some runt in Florida," James planted himself right by Lloyd, their noses almost touching. "A loser. Some weakling growing up in the Muslim neighborhood in North Miami. My parents weren't there for me. I didn't have friends. People picked on me. And…one day…I met someone. And I still remember her name. Julie. She called me JJ. I still don't know why. They aren't my initials. And she was funny and beautiful and she cared about me. We did everything together, and she was the first person that really mattered to me. And one day, I remember it like it really happened. It was raining, and the whole school smelled like mold. I just got out of science class after failing another test. I got a note on my locker. It told me to go out to the woods by the school. I remember that. The sticks under my feet. The crickets and mosquitos flying past. The rain mixing with my sweat. And…in the middle of the woods…there she was. Her clothes were all torn off. Her face bloody and beaten. She…she needed someone to save her, and I couldn't do it."

Lloyd only stared when tears formed in James' eyes. The boy kept his gaze right at Lloyd and furrowed his brow.

"I knew who it was. I saw them at school the next day, and I heard them bragging about it. I could've run to the cops like some pussy right there, but I would never forgive myself if I didn't do something. So…I took them down. One especially, I beat to a pulp. He almost died, and I was thrown in Juvie. You think my parents tried and bailed me out? They practically disowned me. When I got out, the saw that school as a chance to get rid of me, and that's what they did."

James let out a deep breath that rustled Lloyd's jacket collar. Both of the boys stood resigned with a the palm leaf crushed in James' hand not covered by Lloyd's dust.

"So that's the life I was given," James spat out. "And it's not even real. But…that pain still is. And it doesn't go away. No matter how many times I tell myself it wasn't real, those memories…that image of her in the woods…it still drowns me."

Lloyd reached over to James. He stuck his thumb out and wiped away a tear that had snuck out of James' eye. James flinched, but allowed for Lloyd's touch.

"I wish I could say I knew why," Lloyd said. "Why all this happened to us. What it truly meant. Why you were given that pain and I wasn't. Why you still have to be tormented by something like that. But what I do know is, someone as smart and powerful as yourself, you were given a cross to bear. And you've taken that cross and made yourself stronger."

"But I wasn't strong when I needed to be," James said. "For Julie. For Moxie. Even for you. How can I be a hero in the real world when I can't do it there."

Lloyd flashed a sad grin and placed his hand on James' shoulder. "I've had to think long and hard. When people pray, James, they ask for things. Praying for money or fame. People think of God as a gumball machine. You pray enough and you're supposed to get what you want. But that's not what it's for. What it really means is asking God what you're supposed to do for him. When you start looking at the world around you, the situation you're in, and you starting asking him not why you've been out there…but what you're supposed to learn from it. What you're supposed to do for God with the hand you've been dealt. That's what prayer means, James. And that's the question we should be asking. What are we supposed to learn, and how can we be even stronger and better humans for it?"

"And," James said. "You don't have the answer."

"No, but it's out there," Lloyd said. "Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves and asking why bad things happen to us, we should ask what we can gain. What we can learn. How we're supposed to grow. And when we start to figure that out, then our place in the world will be that much clearer. Whether as a Pro-Hero, or in some other way."

James gave off a soft chuckle. "Well, for me, it's gonna be Pro-Hero. So don't worry about it."

"Are you sure?" Lloyd asked. "There's many other avenues you could turn in life."

"There are," James said. "But I know the one I'm going, so either you can follow me there, or get out of the way."

Lloyd smiled. "I have a feeling I'll be following you for a while then."

"You got a problem with that?"

"Not at all."

The two boys, for once, flashed genuine grins at one another. Lloyd released James' hand from the dust, but their hands remained clasped together. Lloyd's heart quickened with James leaning closer and closer as if the ocean breeze was tugging him closer to the boy. Both of their faces betrayed a stark crimson blush, and James eyes became lidded with the tip of his nose almost touching Lloyd's. Both boy's paused their breathing, and Lloyd felt James mint-tinged breath tickle the top of his lips.

Closer. Closer.

Lloyd, who had leaned back to give James space, now stood upright. He had no idea what was happening nor what his body was doing, but he was prepared for whatever followed.

Closer. Closer.

Their lips almost touching.

Until James head slid towards the side of Lloyd's face. Lloyd's eyes opened when James lips touched the edge of his earlobe.

"If you ever stop me from saving Moxie again," James whispered. "I'm cutting your dick off."

Lloyd gaped when the boy pulled back and glared right into his yellow eyes. James cocked an eyebrow and awaited acknowledgement.

"Well? You got it?"

Lloyd nodded. "Understood."

"Good," James said.

Then, he envelopes Lloyd in a warm hug. He squeezed his arms around Lloyd's middle and placed his head on his broad shoulders. Lloyd, slightly surprised, smiled and out his arms around James. While he knew there would be more complications from entering this new world, he felt much better and felt his body relax in the embrace with James.

The two remained in their hug by the pier for a long time. With the sun still bright and the wind blowing harder, James released the crushed leaf from behind Lloyd's back. The remnants of the leaf fluttered away into the endless ocean behind him and disappeared into the turquoise beyond. He breathed out a deep sigh and closed his eyes.

Things are going to be very different, Lloyd though while closing his eyes as well, the only sound being the hushing waves on the old wooden pier.

But thing, Lloyd thought. Things will still be Good. Quite Good.

Izuku never liked wearing business suits. The one his mother bought for him, a navy blue with a matching tie, was still stuck too tight to his chest. Every breath stretched the fabric of the creases. He looked down at his clasped hands and avoided the gaze of the press in the courtoom.

In the jury box, the foreman rose to his feet and cleared his throat.

"In the case of United States v. Void Industry Character Creators," he said. "We the jury find the defendants, on the charges of Conspiracy against rights, Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud the United States, Failure to Report child abuse, Engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, and fifteen counts of Accessory to Kidnapping and False Imprisonment...guilty."

A few members of the court clapped. The judge banged his gavel and called for order in the court.

"On the charge of sixty counts of RICO violations and fifteen counts of Laundering of monetary instruments," The foreman continued. "We the jury find the defendants, Void Industry Character Creators...guilty."

One of them men shot to his feet. "It was my wife! She cashed all the checks!"

The shorter woman next to him slapped his cheek. "Shut up. Take it like a man."

"Order!" The judge pointed at his bailiff. "I'm charging both of them with Contempt of Court. As for this trial, sentencing will be in three weeks. Adjourned."

The creators all protested and shouted at the officers, but they were taken away in handcuffs to the back of the courtroom. One of them tried to bite the hand of the baliff, but instead missed and bit the hand of another fellow character creator. As the man cried and had to be held back by guards, Izuku approached one of the lawyers who walked down the aisle.

"So, what's gonna happen," Izuku said to the lawyer by the table.

The lawyer dragged her briefcase and headed for the door. Izuku walked with her towards the tall oak doors of the courtroom. He walked past his students who conversed with each other on the ongoings of the court case with one of the defendants still screaming as he was dragged out the room.

"Defense is trying to get them a break on the abuse and kidnapping charges," she said. "They're gonna appeal as far as they can."

Into the hallway, Izuku scrambled past a mob of reporters who snapped photos of him. The bright bulbs blinded him while he struggled to keep up with the lawyer.

"But it's over," Izuku said. "You said the sentence would be sixty years. In maximum security."

"It will be," she said. "But they'll appeal, and their case will take a while to beat. This whole thing is complicated, so we-."

"There's nothing complicated about it," Izuku said. He followed the lawyer into an empty office to the side of the main hallway. Police stopped the reporters from going inside, and the door shut behind Izuku.

The room was a simple black table with a few chairs around them. There was a small window that allowed sun rays to poke through and showcase the dust floating in the air. The blinds covered the rest of the vie to the street outside. The lawyer put her case onto a plastic table in the center of the small room and sat on the edge. "It is complicated, because they're going to argue that your students aren't real people."

Izuku frowned and peered at the lawyer. "They are real people."

She sighed and pushed up her glasses. "They were created in a lab. Their quirks and history were created in a lab. They don't have kin on Earth."

"They're real," Izuku said. "They have skin. They have hearts. Just like you and I."

The lawyer chuckled. "I agree, but that's what they'll argue. And we will beat them, but it's going to be a long fight. Might go to the Supreme Court."

"You said they'd be in jail," Izuku said. "They wouldn't be able to harm anyone else. Create any other characters!"

"Look, Mister Midoriya," she said. "Even if they somehow convince a judge and jury in appeal that your students aren't legally human beings, they'll still be in jail. The RICO charges and laundering will stick, and they'll still be held liable for your false imprisonment."

"I don't want them held for just that," Izuku shouted. "And we're not losing to them. This court decided they were human enough, right? And that's because they are. They're human beings. They laugh and they move and they think. They feel. That's all that matters to me, and that's what should matter to you and everyone else."

"I agree," The lawyer said. "We just need to keep convincing people of that in the appeal."

"We shouldn't have to."

"That's what being a hero is."

Izuku whipped around at the soft, familiar voice. Seated in the corner by door was Hawks now healthy with his hero costume, but his mouth remained shut while a certain short creature with bear ears and a scar over bead black eyes.

"Principal Nezu?" Izuku asked.

"I remember the graduation speech I gave your class," Nezu jumped out of his chair and waddled towards Izuku. "Being a hero is doing what shouldn't have to be done, but what no one else will do. I admit, it's a bit of a redundant thought, but I thought it bared repeating."

Izuku smiled and gave Nezu a deep bow. "I'm happy to see you again. How are things going at school?"

"We start the fall semester in month," he said. "And I was hoping to welcome a few new students and teachers into the fold."

Izuku stood straight and blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I heard from some of your old classmates that you were in a predicament concerning your students," Nezu said. "Paparazzi, hero agencies, model agencies, and I believe in the military expressed interest in housing the kids and studying them. Correct?"

"Yes," Izuku said. "They've been followed everywhere."

"Well, that's American culture for you," Nezu said. "Obsession over glitz and glamor. People who want a selfie with the hottest headlines. And right now, your kids are the hottest headline maybe in the whole world. So…I was thinking that Japanese hospitality may work better for their development."

Izuku turned back to the lawyer. She grinned with a curt nod at Izuku.

"We think it would be a nice change of pace for you," Nezu said. "Also, based on the footage of yourself from the digital universe that's been publicly released, I could imagine worse recipients of One-For-All turned teachers. Wouldn't you?"

Izuku scratched the back of the neck with a bashful look pointed at the ground. "Principal Nezu, I didn't really do that good of a job."

"How about a little negotiation then," Nezu said. "We will house and welcome your students as U.A's first foreign exchange class, and you will be their second year teacher in the Hero Course."

"That would be incredible if you took them in," Izuku said. "But there are better teachers. I'm sure none of them are busy."

"It's not one or the other, Midoriya," Nezu said. "Either we welcome both you and your students, or you will have to find some other resolution."

Izuku's face fell into an annoyed glance. "Doesn't sound like much of a negotiation."

"Oh, you accepting is a foregone conclusion to me," Nezu said. "The negotiation was in regards to teachers pay. I will warn you our budget is tight from the new assistant principal we hired."

"That's okay," Izuku said. "It doesn't matter to me."

"Are you sure?" Hawks chimes in behind Nezu. He rose to his feet and sauntered over to Nezu's side. "You could make much more at my hero agency."

"No, it's what I'm meant to do," Izuku said. "All I can do now is inspire and push the new generation. Just like how All Might did for me."

"Excellent," The lawyer opened up her suitcase and pulled out a folder of papers. "We already have the contract ready to go."

"And you better hurry," Hawks said. "Other schools will be coming for your kids very soon to recruit."

Izuku pointed at Hawks. "I don't want to be rude, but what are you doing here?"

"Well," Hawks said. "Part of it was to help convince you with Nezu in case you actually said no. The other part is to tell you that I may be scouting out your students for my own projects. Next years internships, I already struck a deal with the school to have first pick on who I would need."

"Need?"

"Your case may be over for me," Hawks walked for the closed window shrouded by thick blinds. "But a new case has just been thrown on my desk. There's a major question still unsolved. At least, it's the major question I care about. Someone encoded All-For-One into the digital universe. Shigaraki has been under non-stop surveillance in Tartarus. Yet, his last physical a month ago showed he still had All-For-One. So who did it? Was it him? Was he working with someone? Whoever it was, they're still out there. And we need to find them and the technology they used."

"Maybe it was Void?" Izuku said.

Hawks wedged his fingers between the blinds and peeked out to the city street. Reports climbed the steps with the students from Class 1-A pushing through the sea of media with officers ushering them to a charter bus at the curb. On the street, other fans held up signs and notepads begging for autographs from some of the students.

"We already looked at the data," Hawks said. "She had nothing to do with All-For-One nor Alistair, the person it was uploaded into. So we need to find who it was and learn how they did it."

Hawks smirked at a red head of hair that flew over the mob of reports. He clapped his wings and glided towards the bus before making the dragon appendages disappear and climbing into the vehicle.

"And I think I know just the one that can help me with this case," Hawks said as Drake entered the bus.

Moving in was much smoother than Izuku thought it would be for the kids.

The school allowed them all to move into the dorms behind the school at the start of the summer break. Principal Nezu even spring for a private jet for the group to use. Moxie was hesitant to get on considering she had never flown on a plane before. However, Abel calmed her down by stating that none of them had actually been on a plane.

The class made it to Japan and were ushered in the school bus to U.A. Their dormitories were quite similar to the ones at USAHS with the exception of the wall and floor color. The students adjusted to life on the empty campus quite well. Principal Nezu allowed them to explore the grounds, and each students wandered around discovering a new facet of the school every day. Martel took an immediate liking to the support room, while Hunter was more than happy to test out any new inventions he created. Megan took the time to run around the track, and Synaes practiced her fighting skills with Austin who would attempt to jab her with his spikes. Sadly, he would never be able to paralyze her. Anton would eat chips with Pathogen droning on in his head about every little thing he saw. Despite appearing annoyed, Anton was very happy that Pathogen and everyone's quirks still transferred to the real world. The new school would get quite lonely without him.

Soon, Izuku decided it was safe for them to travel outside of the school. With special earpiece technology Martel was able to create in the school, the class could understand what was being said to them by the Japanese citizens who routinely crowded around the odd characters from other countries. However, speaking back to them was still a challenge, and Katsu found himself working overtime to translate for the english speakers. Fortunately, Drake new a small amount as well from his mother's side, so he went to the other half of the class in case they wanted to say anything more than a few canned phrases the students generated.

The last night before the school year had arrived. While they were in a new dorm building separate from the other classes, Abel had heard they were already the talk of the town. It helped that Deku, the former number one Pro-Hero, was going to be teaching and he would be their homeroom class. As much as Abel cared about attention, he payed no mind as he mashed the buttons on the controller and twisted it in his hands as if he were pulling the steering wheel of a car. Next to him, Austin sat up straight, but he leaned and stuck his tongue onto his lip once he saw what was occurring on screen. Synaes and Megan watched them from the sofa they sat in front of with mild amusement. However, the amusement became excitement when they saw the game coming to an end in a shocking way. His glasses slid down his nose from the slick sweat dripping from his forehead. His hands were cramping, but he grit his teeth through the pain.

Blam!

You're Winner!

Abel dropped his controller. He stared in astonishment towards Austin.

"You...you beat me."

Austin released the controller into his lap. A massive weight rolled off his shoulders when he pushed the bridge of his glasses back on the top of nose and saw the results ont he screen. He flashed a small smile and stood up.

"Yes. I believe I just did."

"You...you've never beat me before! What?"

Behind him, Synaes grabbed his arm and curled herself around him. She had a smirk on her face and perched her sunglasses downward just so Austin could see the strange gleam in her dull grey eyes.

"Well, I believe that deserves a reward. Doesn't it, Austin?"

Austin blushed, but he walked with Synaes out of the boy's dormitory lobby towards the staircase that would lead to Synaes' room. Abel could only watch them leave with his jaw on the floor. He froze in shock with his sunglasses falling off his nose and revealing his stunned green eyes.

Megan, seeing the boy still welded to his spot, slid off the couch and grabbed the controller. She pressed a button and returned the game to the main menu.

"Wanna go?" Megan asked. "I've been playing this game for years, so prepare to lose again."

With Abel still gaping at his loss, Moxie and Katsu strolled in laughing amongst themselves. They headed down the hallway to Katsu's room with the girl trying to choke out her giggles.

"And then he started crying! And his tears hit the ceiling!"

Katsu laughed with her until they stopped by his door. Katsu grabbed the handle and tiwsted the knob.

"So, you wanna come in," Katsu said. "I got a mini-fridge with some Dr. Pepper."

Moxie twirled a finger through her hair. "I'd like to, Katsu. Mister Deku wants to start physically training me before homeroom tomorrow. He said I can't let up a minute in learning how to use One-For-All."

Katsu nodded with a solemn sigh. "Okay, then I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

The boy sighed and let go of his door handle. "You know, a lot of shit has happened."

"It has," Moxie said. "I'm still processing it."

"I...I just have a lot of complicated feelings about it," Katsu said. "About my memories. About Shoto. About...you."

"I had a feeling that was the case," Moxie said.

Katsu let out a soft chuckle. "Well, I wish I could say all the things I wanted to. But...I don't really know what that would even be."

"You don't have to do it now," Moxie said. "We got time. And when that time comes, you can say what you mean."

"Right," Katsu said. "I can say what I mean."

Moxie reached over and gave a quick peck to Katsu's cheek. She whipped around and walked with a brisk pace down the hallway. Katsu rubbed the spot of the kiss on his cheek, and he sighed with the ghost of a blush on his face. He controlled his breathing and threw the door open into his room.

Slamming the door shut behind him, Katsu walked towards his bed and gazed out the window. The campus was illuminated like a bee hive at night with the city beyond the gates twinkling under the full moon. He looked around at his dark room that was decorated almost as an exact replica to his USAHS room. He was not sure if he did that on purpose, but he still found it comforting. The only light in the quarters was the home screen of his computer which had a background of a picture of him and his class.

Wanting to be ready for the new school year, he took his clothes off and reached for his corduroy nightgown by a coat rack next to the wardrobe. However, as he traversed over the beige rug towards the rack, a strange flicker came from the computer monitor. Katsu stopped and examined the frame, but the screen stayed stationary.

Katsu shrugged and took another step to the rack.

Another flicker.

Katsu furrowed his brow and took a step towards the computer.

Flicker. Flicker.

A green window kept popping up on the screen. Lines of coding typed over the new screen and continued to disappear before arriving back onto the monitor. Then, the screen fizzled back into the black screen with a wall of neon green numbers rushing through a long script of code. The numbers morphed into a shape that resembled a square, and then they flickered back into horizontal lines that rained down the screen like rapids tumbling over a waterfall.

Then, the code stopped moving with only one line of words blinking on the screen.

CENTRAL PLATFORM. ACCEPT TRANSMISSION.

Katsu saw no other instructions on the window. His first instinct was to believe this was a prank by someone in the class. However, his curiosity and hope made him press on the enter button.

Then, the code disappeared and revealed nothing but black. Katsu saw his bare torso reflected on the dead monitor and narrowed his eyes. He braced himself for a jump scare prank to pop up and cause a loud noise. However, what did arrive on his screen made him even more shocked.

Fizzling from an obscure white outline, the image of Shoto Todoroki appeared with a dreamlike gleam around his image.

"Katsu!"

Katsu yelped and fell onto his back. He crawled backwards before climbing onto his bed and holding his hands out in a defensive pose.

"Kastu," Shoto said. "It's me. Can you hear me?"

"Shoto," Katsu said. Then, Katsu looked down at his lack of clothing and cried out in embarrassment. "Shoto, I'm naked! Why do you keep doing this?"

"Clothes aren't important," Shoto said. "But what I must say to you is."

Katsu snatched a thin baby blue quilt and wrapped the tin fabric around his waist. He tied it to himself and rushed for the monitor. Only Shoto's head could be seen with the top of his shoulders in front of a black screen. His image fizzled in and out of focus with the boy gaping in disbelief at the image of his mentor.

"Shoto," Katsu said with tears already welling up in his eyes. "Is it really you?"

"It is," Shoto said. "I am contacting you for what I'm afraid is likely the last time. At least for a while."

"But how are you doing this," Katsu said. "Wait, are you gonna tell me we're stuck in some digital universe? Is All-For-One back? Or am I actually real, but you're stuck in some weird universe?"

"No Katsu," Shoto chuckled. "You are very real now. And all is well as far as threats to the universe is concerned. I struck a deal with the Cental Platform up here. They weren't thrilled with the stunt I pulled concerning you all, but I was able to convince them I was more of an asset than a liability."

"How?"

"I had to do a few favors for them," Shoto said. "Travel to other universes. Defeat other major threats. I thought being a Pro-Hero would end with death, but evil lurks even this close to heaven. So, I've spent the last few hundred years working with the Central Platform."

"Hundred years?" Katsu asked with a gasp.

"Time works different up here, Katsu," Shoto said. "Days can feel like centuries. Centuries can be seconds. It's very strange how much time and how little time has passed all at once. You won't be able to understand until you experience it. Fortunately, my debt has been repayed, and my time has come to an end. So, I was able to sneak away and access the system to contact you once more. Tomorrow, I will be allowed to board the train and travel onward."

"Onward," Katsu sniffled. "So...you're really going to be gone now."

"Of course not," Shoto said. "I'm always with you. Whatever memories or moments we shared together, they mattered. I meant every word and every second I spent with you. Even the moments I weren't privy to. I do want you to know, however, that I have an idea of what is to happen to you in the near future. I certainly won't tell you everything, but I will say that there are still threats out there that will challenge you and your friends in some extraordinary ways. I can't guarantee that you will win every fight or you will get over every heartbreak. It's a war you will face everyday, but it's a way you can win everyday. However, with all your future has to offer, I will say that you will live a joyful and fulfilling life."

"Joyful?" Katsu asked. "Shoto, I'm not feeling very joyful right now."

"Believe it or not," Shoto smiled at Katsu. "You actually are. When you divulge yourself in a story, whether it be comedy or tragedy, you feel the emotions of the characters within that story. Correct?"

"I do."

"That's joy, Katsu," shoto said. "Joy isn't being happy. Joy is appreciating and celebrating life despite whatever emotions you hold. Even in the darkest and most upsetting scenes, you still feel the joy of having experienced a story that meant something to you. And finding the meaning in your story...that's the great joy of life."

Katsu wiped away a tear and gave a toothy grin towards Shoto. "Great. Now, I'm crying in front of you again.

"That's okay," Shoto said. "Heroes cry when they need to."

The boy in the dark room chuckled. "So...this is it, Sho-off?"

"It is," Shoto said. "But we will meet again. Make no mistake about that. And when we do, it will be in the most beautiful and rewarding places the likes of which you can't imagine. Paradise. A place where you'll never know the feeling of hopelessness or wanting ever again."

A flicker.

"I just hope-."

Flicker.

"That whatever you experience in life."

Flicker.

"Whatever you do."

Flicker.

"I hope it means something to you."

Flicker.

"Please. Make it mean something."

Flicker.

Katsu placed his hand on the screen by Shoto's face. "Don't worry., Shoto. It will."

Flicker. Shoto smiled with a peaceful look of resolve on his face.

"In that case, all is well. Amen."

Shoto's image drifted away into the window of green code. On it, a single phrase in the center of the black screen.

TRANSMISSION ENDED. CONNECTION SEVERED.

ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD. AMEN.

"Hey salamander."

Drake sighed and released the handle on his door. Just when he thought he was having a peaceful day, James stormed up to him with his hands in his pockets. Preparing for a fight, Drake readied a claw to come out and swipe at him.

"Yes, James?"

James stopped and examined the face of the boy. He swallowed his pride and closed his eyes.

"Thanks."

Drake cocked an eyebrow. "For what?"

"Just thanks."

As quick as he arrived, James ran away. Drake needed a second to process the odd behavior, so he shrugged and opened the door to his room. He appreciated James wanting to bury the hatchet for his past animosity, and he hoped a more mature version of the boy would be arriving starting the next day for the new school year.

Meanwhile in the room next door, Drake walked into his new room with a strange set of eyewear on his bed. In fact, it was an exact replica of the glasses given to him in the digital universe.

He grabbed and examined the glasses. They felt the same as the other glasses as well. Was this a prank by one of his classmates?

When he put them on, a strange sight morphed before him.

Drake, not one to be caught by surprised, let out the loudest gasp of his life.

Abel tumbled out of his door.

His U.A. uniform slipshod on his body, he tugged at his tie to create more space between it and his throat. He rushed out with his backpack and headphones playing a soothing song despite his rush to get to class. He threw himself into the stairwell and slid down the railing to the main floor. He ran though the lobby and burst out into the bright summer day beaming down on him.

He huffed and slithered around the mob of students walking to class. With only one sling of his bag over his shoulders, the backpack swung behind him like a tail that bumped into a few students he raced past. He saw the entrance to the school, and he sprinted for the doorway. His feet pounded on the ground, and his heart thumped in his chest with anticipation.

That was until his heart stopped at the sight of a green-haired man that crossed into his path.

Slam! Abel collided with Izuku. The two tumbled onto the ground, and Abel sat up and held his head to stop the world from spinning. He looked over at Izuku and grimaced at the sight of his teacher groaning on the floor.

"Sorry about that, bud," Abel said. He got up and bumbled towards Izuku. He reached down his hand towards the man who rubbed his back and squinted gazing up at the apologetic shaggy brunette with star-shaped sunglasses.

"It's okay, Abel," Izuku said. "It's a big day for everyone."

He grabbed Abel's hand and walked with him through the doors of U.A.

Izuku and Abel waltzed into chaos when they entered the classroom for Class 2-A.

The room itself was the same as Izuku's old homeroom his first year. The windows displayed the beautiful skyline outside, and the classroom was fit with the standard large wooden desks that most of the students were not seated in. Instead, all of them were broken off into various groups. Hunter tried a new web shooter that made his attacks much more precise while Martel took notes in the corner.

"These shooters are amazing," Hunter said. "You think we can make them ball up the web into like a ball?"

"That idea sounds like it could easily backfire," Martel said. "I'll start on the design tomorrow."

Next to them, Drake read an old history book about interstellar travel and multiverses with the intense concentration of a brain surgeon. In the desks in front of him, James and Lloyd were bickering like an old married couple as usual. Megan rolled her eyes and spoke with Synaes and Austin who sat next to each other. Anton mesmerized Katsu who awed at the purple cloud of Pathogen that billowed out of a cut from his arm. Katsu tried to poke at Pathogen, but the lavender Pathogen avoided every jab.

"Sorry I'm late," A British voice behind them said. Abel and Izuku were split apart by Alistair who burst into the room like a hyper puppy. "Lots of traffic in the hallway. Fans and autographs, y'know?"

"It's okay," Izuku said. "We're all a little late."

Alistair adjusted the tie on his U.A. uniform and approached Moxie who sat on her desk by the window. With the crystal gleaming around his neck, he grinned and strutted to the girl who was staring out the window with a faraway glint in her grey eyes. He tapped on her shoulder, and she turned with a light gasp when she realized who was in front of her.

"What do you think?" Alistair spun around in the uniform that clung to his svelte frame. "I even had it tailored."

"Alistair!" Moxie stood up with a happy giggle and examined the boy. "I thought you were in the General Course!"

"I was," Alistair said. "But Mister Deku pulled a string or two. So, what do you think of my uniform? Almost as good as my old school's?"

"In fact," Moxie ruffled Alistair's blonde hair into a tussled state. "I think this makes you even more handsome."

"Oh, really," Alistair teased. "Then, maybe I'll have to sit away from you after all. I wouldn't want to distract you from my handsome self."

James, seeing an annoying blonde Brit talking to his girlfriend, grabbed a textbook from Lloyd's desk and chucked it at Alistair. "No talking to my girlfriend, you dumb snake!"

The textbook sailed clean through Alistair and crumbled in the corner. Alistair clutched his middled with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Would you like to try that again, James?" He asked.

Alistair Leonhardt! His quirk: Ghost! He can control his and other objects intangibility and visibility at will. He can turn invisible and pass through objects as well as turning other objects invisible as well. At least, he will be able to when he learns how to use his quirk better!

"Hey," Alistair said towards the P.A. system that blared out the voice of The Announcer. "That wasn't very nice."

"Great," James grunted. "Just when I thought we got rid of that guy."

"He's still less loud and and obnoxious as you," Anton said.

"Shut up, frog," James said. "You're even greener in real life. I want to give you a top hat and cane and make you sing!"

Izuku cleared his throat and clapped his hands together. "Okay, everybody to their desks! The day is about to start!"

The class scrambled to their assigned seating. Moxie sat right by the window with Alistair behind her and James in front of her. Katsu, however, flashed a grin at her when he snagged the seat next to her. She returned the smile with the rest of the class falling into various desks. Thirteen seats were filled with two desks representing the loses of Robyn, Leo and Blake by themselves in the corner closest to the doorway.

Izuku stood in front of the podium in the center and glowered at his students. His grin stretched over his face, he let out a deep breath with his heart melting within him.

"So," Izuku said. "Before we get started on the first lesson, I-."

The door opened. Without any other warning, a strange face poked into the room with a long mane of curled black hair. The man wore a tuxedo and the football in his grasp bounced in his hand as he tossed it up in his grasp.

"Oh, hi everybody," Principal Tommy said. "What's new with you?"

"Principal Tommy!" The class shouted in unison.

"Actually, it's Vice Principal now," he said. "Nezu hired me cause I do such good job at USAHS. Ha ha ha."

Izuku blinked. "But wait...aren't you like the real Tommy? The actor?"

"Yeah."

"And...you weren't in the digital universe, were you?"

"Yeah."

"And you were in the Central Platform."

"So you weren't actually principal, were you?"

"Yeah."

"So...were you real or not?"

"Yeah."

Izuku sighed and wiped sweat from his brow. "Well, I'm about to say some things to my students. I'd prefer if you gave us some space."

"But I want to see lesson," Vice Principal Tommy said with a frown.

"It's a private lesson," Izuku said. "Only for my students' ears."

"But I should be able to hear, too," he said. "I treated you like a princess."

"What? No you didn't."

"Now, you betray me?" Vice Principal Tommy started to wheeze in anger. He squeezed his football and gnashed his teeth. "You stab me in the back?"

"No," Izuku shouted. "I just want to speak to my students."

"Please, Deku! I love you, and I'd do anything just to please you," he said.

"Great. Then leave!"

"No."

"Then, I'll get you fired!"

"YOU ARE TEARING ME APART, DEKU!"

Just then, Vice Principal Tommy's body split in half. A giant light flashed and erupted within the room. A few of the desks skidded to the side from the force of the blast. Izuku shielded his eyes, but the flash dissipated as fast as it arrived. The odd man was nowhere to be seen.

The students all sat in awkward silence. They exchanged confused glances with each other with only the sound of rumbling feet upstairs and the grandfather clock in the corner ticking time away.

The door slid open. The same weird man poked his head back out good as new.

"Sorry for the outburst," Vice Principal Tommy. "I'll see you at lunch, Deku. A ha ha ha."

Vice Principal Tommy! His quirk: Torn Apart! He is able to travel and cross dimensions and universes by literally tearing himself in half. Dramatic emotional outburst optional, but likely.

The weird new boss of Izuku closed the door. The class sat in a slightly disheveled state, but they returned their focus towards Izuku.

"Okay," Izuku coughed into the fist of his hero uniform. He planted himself in front of the podium and clasped his hands in front of him. "So, I know we've talked a lot about the events of the past year. I know a lot of the students here will be very curious. You'll het a lot of questions, and you still may not have the answers. At least, you won't have answers that they will believe. Not only that, but you are the first foreign class at U.A. You're basically on the same level as Class 2-A already as far as fame expectations are concerned. You have a lot of pressure on you, and I'm sad to say that pressure doesn't go away just by graduating here. You will be watched with a microscope from here on out, but I don't want to talk about that with you."

Izuku stepped forward and locked eyes with each and every one of his students. He paused and nodded to the class.

"I don't want to talk about that because I know you'll succeed," Izuku said. "Specific goals I will have to help you with, but being able to meet and exceed expectations? Each and every one of you can do that. So that's not an issue with me."

Izuku bit his lip and took a second to swallow back his emotions from spilling over. "I actually wanted to give you two pieces of advice. Not really advice, actually. Mostly just me talking to myself. But I thought it could help you. Worst case scenario, you could consider it a mini-lesson in English and literature. But...I wanted to talk to you about story."

The man leaned on the podium and lifted up a picture of him with Shoto and Bakugo. It was the day they graduated from U.A, and he ran his thumb around the edge of the frame. Izuku jumped for joy in the snapshot with Shoto giving off a small, content smile. Bakugo appeared annoyed and shook his fist at Izuku, but he knew Bakugo was actually happy with the events of the day.

"Not my story," Izuku set down the picture. "Not anyone's story in particular. Just...story."

Izuku stood up straight and twirled a pencil through his fingers. "Some of you like writing. Some of you don't. But we all do it. Whether you know it or not, you're actually an author. Just like the ones that write all kinds of things. From silly fanfictions to romance novels to even manga artists, everybody that exists is a writer. And every person that writes has a story to tell. You probably still have a lot of questions about your story. What is it's purpose? What is it about? How to make a character arc? How to show growth? How to convey real human emotion? How to end it. Some of you have thought of these questions to ahead of their time. Some of you are afraid to answer them, but I thought I could help you with a few of those questions. There's two basic rules on how to make a story, and I thought maybe it could help you."

Izuku set the pencil down and held up a finger. "Rule one. Focus on what matters in your story. The story you write is going to be long. There will be tedious moments. There will be painful moments. There'll be moments you can't quite explain through words, and there'll moments that you won't want to explain. Moments you want to forget. Also, there will be moments that don't add to the story. Moments that maybe don't matter as much. That's why you have to focus on what really matters in your story. Find the scenes that don't work, or the scenes that don't add to the meaning of the story, and take them out. Don't forget those moments. Just learn from them and know that they don't represent you or your story. Think about what you want your story to mean. To you and to people you care about. Many of you won't know what that is for a long time. I'm still trying to figure it all out, myself. But one day, you'll realize what your story means, and finding the moments that truly matter will become so much easier. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm close. And I see quite a few reasons for my being right here. And some that aren't here anymore."

Izuku stared at the empty desks in the back. He glanced at the photo of Shoto and Kacchan.

"Rule two," Izuku held up a second finger. "Focus on your scene. The path to writing your story seems impossible. Like keeping an egg from exploding in a microwave. You're going to be worrying so much about what comes in one chapter, five chapters, even ten chapters ahead...that you stop yourself from finishing the scene you're in right now. The scene that is your present is the most important one. It can inspire or provoke or even change the entire direction of your story in an instant. If you worry about what's to come in the next act, and you don't even bother to find joy in the scene you're in now, your story will never be good. It will be a story of a person who only regrets the past and fears the future. There will be no growth, and there will be little meaning."

Izuku stepped away from the podium and stood at the desk by Lloyd at the center of the room. He sniffled and gave an unsteady smile at the class. "That doesn't mean to never think of the next scene or beyond. Plan the future. Plan what you want to say or do in your next scenes. But understand that good story is good adversity. And good adversity makes a good protagonist. So, think about what could happen in your story's future, but focus on finishing the scene you are working on first. If you do that, then your scenes will only become more and more fulfilling. More and more joyful."

Izuku looked over each student again individually. Megan, Synaes, Anton, Abel, Austin, Hunter, Katsu, Lloyd, James, Drake, Martel, Alistair and Moxie smiled at Izuku with a few of them openly emotional. Then, Izuku looked at the empty desks and sighed.

"A story isn't complete without an incredible cast of characters, and the people around you are the most important of all. Your family. The people you'll fight and then hug a second later. The people you can rely on to tease you but then comfort you. The ones that will stay with you forever. A person is lucky to have even one individual like that in their lives. To have a whole classroom of them? Maybe you kids are luckier than you think."

Izuku swallowed and took one more deep breath. "The world has so much pain and wonder. And all of it is coming your way. There's no stopping it. And it's going to seem like it went by so fast. But just remember that the power you all have within you has nothing to do with quirks or muscle. It's how many people you save. And you don't have to save them by running into the burning house. You save people by showing them just how kind and loving humans can be. You show them how valuable they actually are to the world. You show them that they actually have value, and that their story has meaning. And you never know. Maybe that person you say that too...maybe you're the first person that ever told them that they had worth. That they had value. That they deserved to be loved. That they deserved a hero."

With one more pause, the grown up quirkless man known as Izuku Midoriya straightened himself and looked with confidence at the class. "It's a magic that exists in every single one of us. Incredible, isn't it? That's a power more awesome than any quirk. That's a power that crosses universes. That's a power more incredible than any of us could possibly imagine. And, guess what? It's within you."

Izuku looked at you, the person reading this. "It's within all of you."

The class was in a state of emotional catharsis. Lloyd and Anton wiped away a tear. Abel cried with Austin giving him a pat on the back. James reached back and grabbed Moxie's hand while Alistair wept and looked out the window at his new home and family. The rest of the class exchanged loving glances and smiles at one another. For once, everyone in Class 2-A was in peace.

Izuku chuckled and clapped his hands to break the reverie. "So, now that's out of the way, I thought we would jump right into it! We have a long way to catch up to the other classes, so we should probably start with the basics."

He rushed for the chalkboard behind him and grabbed a piece of chalk. He wrote the words "Quirk History" on the top and set down the chalk on his new desk.

"So, a question for you all. I'm sure our lesson on this cleared up any misconceptions," Izuku said. "What was the name of the first person ever born with a quirk?"

All of the students in the room turned towards Moxie with anticipatory glances. Moxie smirked and raked her vision over the eyes of all the faces looking at her.

Like a proud parent, she nodded her head.

Class 1-A of the United States Academy of Heroics and Support raised their hands.

Shoto stared out of the rear balcony of the train with wonder at the picturesque view.

The car rumbled over the golden tracks with the wind brushing past his body. The beautiful landscape flowed out before him with every inch passing them closer to the end of the line. The emerald green grass wafter over the gentle rolling hills with snow-capped mountains in the distance waving to them along with the happy sunflowers. Soft folk music played over the speakers behind him on the observation deck with the shaking cart soothing him. He gripped the silver railing and leaned out to watch the train float past the daisies lining the tracks.

"Wow, I didn't know it'd be so pretty," Blake said as he bounded next to Shoto on the rail. "Y'know, I always thought of heaven as like a giant concert and then there would be a gladiator fight and then afterwards there would be a big buffet and it's all the lobster you can eat."

Robyn ran up next to him and chirped along to his speculation. "I always thought it'd be like a bunch of angels bringing you cheese and crackers with a bottle of wine or something."

Leo approached the rail with hesitation. Robyn saw him and grabbed his arm to pull him up to the edge. He smiled with a slight blush as the train rounded a corner.

"What about you, Leo," Robyn said. "What do you think it's like?"

Leo smiled and gave a small shrug. "Well, it's like Shoto said. "A place where you won't need to want anything, right?"

Shoto ruffled Leo's hair. "Correct."

Blake leaned towards Shoto and peered up at the man. "So, Shoto. You were a Pro-Hero and all. You saved all kinds of lives. We didn't really get to do as much as you. So...do you think we deserve this?"

"Deserve it?"

"Do you think we lived with enough meaning?" Robyn asked. "That our lives meant something?"

"Did we...do enough?" Leo asked.

Shoto looked at the three teenagers and laughed. He threw his arms around them and wedged himself in the center of the line. He gazed out at the breathtaking view and thought back to his entire life. The film strip ran over his eyes in an instant, and he smiled at the incredible memories on the beautiful story he lived.

"Don't worry about things like," Shoto Todoroki said. "What's behind you doesn't matter anymore."

Over the speakers, a familiar song began to play. A quiet, soothing song with acoustic guitars that made Shoto feel all the love that humanity had to offer. "Ventura Highway" was always one of his favorites, even if he knew next to nothing about the band or even what exactly was being said. He simply moved to the rhythm and held the three souls with him all the tighter.

With the train rounding one last corner, the tracks disappeared into an ether of white. Shoto Todoroki, Robyn Guang, Blake Marseilles, and Leo Agravain closed their eyes and let the music flow through them like honey as the world sparkled into pure ivory.

The train evaporated into the abyss along with the passengers; the story of these mortal characters at a close. The story of their eternal souls, however, were destined never to end.

Your Hero Academia: An American Life

Written By: Christoph Andretti

Directed By: Tommy Wiseau (See! It all makes sense now!)

Congratulations! You did it! Who knew after all of that, the next Wielder of One-For-All would be a Catholic Cajun girl with a shotgun? Not me!

I'd like to thank the incredible people who took the time out of their lives to read and review this fic. I may have much more to say, but I think I will say most of it over Discord over the next week or so. Join us there! I may place a link in my bio, though if someone apart of this fic could just REVIEW and maybe leave the link in there, that would work as well!

The journey to this point wasn't easy, and I could go into the themes and ideas of this fic, but I think a lot of it speaks for itself. Mainly, its a story about forgiving yourself and giving yourself permission to be free from your past no matter how painful it was. It's a story about faith and friends and family and love. It's a story about overcoming the worst of yourself to find the best of others. It was a story with a meaning and a point, and that is something so few of these kind of stories have. I'm proud to be one of the few that stands out.

I'm also proud to be one of the few that actually finished it! Over 50,000 words in a month! And 10,302 words in this chapter alone! Not counting this authors note.

While not everybody stuck it through the whole way, I'm just as grateful for anybody that liked or reviewed or submitted as I am the people that still make me laugh in our Discord. You all mean so much to me, and I'm ready to tackle the next big things in my life. Like the characters in this fic, I'm ready to enter the real world and make a real impact there.

By no means does this mean this fic is "over" over. I will still make chapters. I will still update. In fact, there are one or two arcs I still have in mind especially. However, it won't be regular and it certainly won't be a priority. The main story, and the main idea and themes of this story, are over. However, you never know! One day, twenty years from now, maybe I decided to post a new chapter just for laughs!

Thank you for allowing me to have just this small corner of the internet for myself and for the USAHS family. I will have much more to say in the next few days, and I may update even this note with it. However, I thank you for being with me, and I do hope you take the time to review as many chapters as you can. And please, join us on Discord. I plan on having a voice discussion with you all perhaps next week if you are interested. Tell as many people as you can! The more, the merrier.

I will be messaging all involved in this individually. If you never submitted a character, but just liked to see the craziness, my gratitude is eternal. Thank you.

Most importantly, whoever you are reading this...

I hope this meant something to you.

Thanks for playing.

Now, GO OUTSIDE!