A little further, just a little further.

All Might is fighting behind me. I can't let myself slow him down any more than I already am.

Run until he can't see you.

Just think about moving your feet from side to side.

.

.

.

.

.

──── I think I am far enough now.

.

.

.

When Ritsuka got behind a large piece of rubble, her legs stopped moving at once, since she had been overworking them. Her body is screaming that it had reached its limit. Her arms were sore and red, and they ached.

Ritsuka sat down on the ground.

She thought she had run a long way, but All Might and All For One were only a visible distance away.

But she couldn't move any further.

Ritsuka decided to wait there for the help of pro heroes. She sat down in a tucking position and put her head between her knees for support.

It was just a moment ago, when she started running away from All Might and All For One.

A single voice sounded in Ritsuka's head.

It wasn't Artoria.

『The next time you want to talk, come visit me yourself. You just have to tell Shigaraki everything.』

I turned my head.

The voice was unmistakably All For One. All Might did not show any reaction. If so, the message must have been intended only for Ritsuka. I can't tell where All For One is looking, and I can't even see what's his expression underneath that mask.

I wanted to run and ask him the truth, but I felt like I couldn't stop once I started to run, so I just left it at that.

But now that I had nothing better to do, "All For One" words kept running through my head.

There is a fierce battle going on behind me. It didn't matter, Ritsuka didn't move an inch.

I heard footsteps.

Help was probably on the way, but Ritsuka is too lazy to even look up, so she ignored it.

The footsteps came closer and closer, and stopped right in front of Ritsuka. The owner of the footsteps is standing in front of Ritsuka without saying a word.

Doubtful, Ritsuka opened her eyes.

She could see the person's feet between her own tucked seated legs. The sneakers, stained with dirt, did not look like those of a pro hero, and Ritsuka raised her head.

Even if it is a villain, she would not have been so surprised.

The person in front of Ritsuka is Shinso.

It is hard to tell anything from his expression, but the way he was breathing on his shoulders and sweating, he must have been looking around for Ritsuka.

The silence continued as neither of them could find anything to say.

The impact of All Might and the others fighting seemed to bring Shinso back to himself.

"...Can you stand?"

He asked in a quiet voice.

I nodded, put my hands on the rubble and lifted myself up. But my legs were not strong enough and I fell flat on my back.

Ritsuka sighed, scratching her head at the abhorrence of her body's refusal to listen to her.

She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Ritsuka lifted her knees again with all her strength. Her legs were trembling, but this time she stood firm.

Ritsuka is not aware that the expression on Shinso's face had become slightly distorted when he saw this.

I started to walk, and silently followed behind Shinso.

After walking for a while, I found myself in the city with Shinso.

Even though it is already midnight, the main street is filled with people. Ritsuka noticed that all the people were looking up. When she looked up as well, she saw a large screen showing the moment All Might defeated All For One.

A battered All Might is holding his left fist high in the sky. People were cheering at the sight of him.

When I looked ahead, I saw that Shinso is staring at the big screen as well. The night was already beginning to dawn.

I walked a little further and saw Midoriya and the others. Bakugo is with them. For some reason, Midoriya is crying profusely.

The first person to notice Ritsuka and Shinso is Kirishima.

"Shinso! Where have you... Fujimaru!?"

At the sound of Kirishima's voice, Yaoyorozu looked at Ritsuka in surprise. Yaoyorozu, Ida and Todoroki rushed over to her.

"Ah! You're safe, aren't you, Fujimaru-san!

I'm so glad...!"

"Fujimaru-kun, your face is so pale...! I'm sure the police will be here soon to protect you."

"You...your arms looks really bad. Are you okay?"

So Midoriya and the others weren't the only ones who had come. From the ramp of ice that appeared, I had expected Todoroki to be there, but I hadn't expected that Yaoyorozu would be here as well. She must have been really worried. Ritsuka's heart ached when she saw how relieved Yaoyorozu was from the bottom of her heart. At the summer training camp, she had been so unfriendly and rude, but now she is in front of her, and she is really worried about her. Moreover.

(I even refused their helping hand back there)

Midoriya noticed Ritsuka a beat too late. He wiped away his tears and came running. He stopped in front of Ritsuka and bowed his head vigorously.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault...! That rescue mission is my idea. It's my fault that I couldn't save Fujimaru-san. It's my fault alone...!"

"St-stop it! You don't have to bow to me...!"

Ritsuka is flustered by Midoriya's apology especially since his head is about to hit the ground. I'm the one who should be apologizing. You don't have to worry about me.

Ritsuka doesn't know what to say, she is in a daze.

"It's not that you couldn't jump, it's that you didn't want to."

A voice came from behind. Ritsuka turned her head and Midoriya looked up involuntarily. Yaoyorozu and the others followed suit and looked in the direction.

The one who is in the center of everyone's gaze is Shinso.

Shinso's gaze is focused only on Ritsuka.

"You, by your own will that time..."

Shinso hesitated a little, then said.

"You refused help... of your own volition. Didn't you?"

"Ah..."

A faint exhale escaped from Ritsuka's mouth.

I could clearly see the expression on Shinso's face, I just thought he hadn't known what I was thinking back then.

"Fujimaru, why you?"

And the anger of having his outstretched hand rebuffed exploded.

"Why didn't you come?"

It is a deep, deep sadness.

This is exactly the moment I am most worried of, I have to speak. Ritsuka's head were spinning with excuses that covered the real reason.

In the end, the words she finally managed to form were of no comfort to him.

"I'm sorry."

Shinso grab Ritsuka's collar like a bullet.

"Shinso Hitoshi-san!?"

"O-oi"

Yaoyorozu and Kirishima said, they were caught off guard.

Regardless of this, Shinso shouted.

"What the hell were you thinking! Why didn't you run! You think you're some kind of hero...!

What the hell was that thing you were doing!"

My head doesn't work well.

I don't know why the man in front of me is so angry. Then something came up in a vague corner of my mind.

(Feels like this kind of thing has happened before)

I remember someone grabbing my collar and getting angry at me.

"I know you're hiding something and you're always trying to cover it up! You think I don't notice that...!

And yet... you're... to me..."

Shinso's eyes wavered.

"Because, you said we are friend..."

His voice was so faint and small that it seemed to disappear.

It was a voice that probably only reached Ritsuka's ears.

I have to say something.

That's right. He is my precious friend.

I don't want to hurt my friend.

Ritsuka is worried and troubled, and finally she said.

"But Shinso-kun, This has nothing to do with you."

Shinso then pull up his right hand into swinging position.

Ritsuka reflexively closed her eyes. Midoriya shouted something.

"...?"

The shock I had expected did not come. When I opened my eyes, I saw that Shinso's hand was still in the swinging position and had not moved. His left hand, still gripping Ritsuka's collar, seemed to be trembling.

The people on the street were looking at Ritsuka and the others to see what is going on.

He lowered his hand.

Shinso pull his hand roughly away from Ritsuka and walked away quickly. And I immediately lose sight of him in the crowd.

"Shinso-san! Where are you going!"

Ida hurriedly chased after him.

As if to replace them, the police that Ida had called before, had arrived.

Midoriya, Todoroki, and Yaoyorozu were staring at Ritsuka in confusion. Bakugo also stares at Ritsuka as if thinking about something.

Ritsuka just gazes blankly in the direction which Shinso had gone off to...

＊＊＊

◼ Izuku Midoriya

After Shinso Hitoshi went, Bakugo and the others were taken into custody by the police. Strictly speaking, Ritsuka was transported to the hospital first, Bakugo quietly follows the police.

Ida, who had been chasing after Shinso, returned soon after. Apparently, Shinso told him that "I'll go home first".

It's already dawn, everything seemed like a lie that only less than half a day had passed since the test of courage.

In the end, there was nothing more we could do, and we spent more than half a day on our way home.

"Well then."

"Thank you, everyone."

"the three of you are going straight home right?"

"Yeah, really, thank you."

"See you guys back at school."

There are so many things on my mind about Ka-chan, Shinso-kun, and Fujimaru-san.

What will happen next?

And All Might...

Deku thought about these things as he lay in bed after arriving home.

Just a few days later

Deku is standing alone in front of a hospital room. The room, which was originally meant for six people, seemed to be almost empty, and there is only one name written on the six panels next to the door.

Ritsuka Fujimaru

I checked the name and gently opened the door.

"Excuse me..."

The nurse said it is the last bed. She said that just yesterday the visitor's ban had been lifted.

As I walked to the back of the room, Ritsuka is sitting up and looking out the window of the hospital room. Her arms and head were bandaged, and a thin IV tube were connected to her arm.

The wind that blew in through the window made the curtains of the room and her hair flutter.

As I was wondering what I should say to her, Ritsuka turned around as if she had just noticed me, and her eyes caught mine.

I can't tell what she's thinking from her expression.

"Oh, well, I came to visit you. Are you okay?"

"That's ..., thank you. My condition isn't perfect yet."

I felt uncomfortable with the way she spoke.

To be more specific, she is becoming more distant. It is only natural I thought. I hadn't been able to save Fujimaru-san, so it is no wonder she didn't like me.

However, I felt something strange about it.

And as soon as I realized that, the uncomfortable feelings begins take shape, I am so overwhelmed by the tension that a strange sweat ran down my back.

Inhaling and exhaling several times, I boldly let it out.

"Fujimaru-san...you're not. Who are you?"

The girl in front of me looks doubtful at my words, but I could see a hint of agitation in her expression, and my doubt turned to conviction. I looked straight into the eyes of the girl in front of me and said.

"When Fujimaru-san uses her quirk, her eyes always change color. But Fujimaru's eyes are a bright orange, not blue..."

Fujimaru-san doesn't seem to remember, but I do. On the first day of school, there is a student who happened to ask me where the classroom was. During the sports festival, I saw Fujimaru-san and immediately recognized her as the student from that time.

When I first met her, I was so nervous that I couldn't even talk to her, but the color of her hair and eyes, which looked like they had been cut out of a sunset, still left an impression on me.

And now, the girl in front of me has eyes as blue as the clear sky. They are the same color as when she was facing All For One.

"Fujimaru-san's quirk is... not just armaments, but a person as well..."

There is no doubt that Fujimaru-san is related to Oryou-san. She was worried about Fujimaru's safety, and when Fujimaru was kidnapped, Oryou-san disappeared too.

And when Oryou-san appeared, Fujimaru-san's eyes were black and she is holding a sword as her weapon. Her tone of voice is a bit more broken. And more importantly, Oryou-san has a body. "someone" in front of me now looks like Fujimaru-san herself, but is actually a different person.

Is he or she a "quirk" inside Fujimaru-san, or is he or she a "quirk" in the form of Fujimaru-san? Or is it a completely different person pretending to be her?

This someone who isn't Fujimaru-san and isn't familiar with me opened her mouth.

"───Master is asleep, so I'm taking over for her now. Once Master is in a deeper sleep, I will be leaving as well."

Taking over, she said. Not knowing the meaning of the words, Deku just said what he wondered.

"L-leave...? Where to...?

"Where I should be."

"So, Fujimaru-san is not here?

"The person in front of you is definitely Ritsuka Fujimaru. But the "me" you are talking to is not Ritsuka Fujimaru...Is there anything else you want to ask?"

I don't understand. But not wanting to miss the opportunity to try to answer his question, Deku turned his head frantically.

"Master."

Did she mean Fujimaru-san, after all?

If that was the case, then there was no doubt that the "Master" Oryou-san was referring to was also referring to Fujimaru-san.

But...

"You're not Oryou-san, are you?"

My mouth went dry with nervousness.

My tone was unconsciously curt.

The person in Fujimaru's form had an overwhelming presence that was different from Oryou's.

She felt like a king from somewhere.

"Oryou-san... I am not really close to her, but yes, I know of her."

"Oryou-san is... are you Fujimaru-san's "quirk"?

Who are you...?"

"That's my question as well. What are you to Master?"

At the question, Izuku couldn't help but get choked up.

He did not mean to sound like he is pressuring for answer. he is just expressing a genuine question. However, her eyes were serious.

even though she might be a different person inside. It is not that it is difficult for me to answer such a question from the person who looked like Fujimaru-san,

But when I think about it, I was at a loss for words.

Of course, it is hard to call us friends in our current relationship, and we weren't even classmates.

I'm sure Fujimaru-san doesn't remember talking to me on the first day of school.

It wasn't just because I was plain and didn't interact much with her (although I'm sure that was part of it).

Someone who looks like Fujimaru-san but is not Fujimaru-san is staring at Izuku, who is mumbling. Her eyes were straight, and he knew that in front of her, there was no room for deception or make-up.

『I know you're hiding something and you're always trying to cover it up!』

The words that Shinso said to her at that time still linger in my ears. What did he mean by that?

Deku opened his mouth after much deliberation.

"I don't know what Fujimaru-san is going through, but if Fujimaru-san is suffering because of it, I want to help...

I want to be her friend."

I said it again and nodded my head. I felt that the words "I want to be your friend" fit my heart perfectly.

Fujimaru-san is kind. She tries to keep her distance from us, but she doesn't hold back when it comes to offering a helping hand. But she doesn't want to ask for help herself.

It's kind of unfair and sad.

When I finished all of this, Fujimaru-san (fake) looked puzzled.

After a while, I realized that I hadn't answered her question very well, so I hurriedly added something.

"S-so, I'm not really Fujimaru-san's friend yet, but I'd like to be one, it's not like I just want to got close to her so I could know what is going on."

"...fu,fufu"

It seems like she thought it's funny that I was so flustered.

Fujimaru-san laughed while holding her mouth with one hand.

I am surprised to see the expression on her face, which I don't often see, even if it's not actually her.

"I see... I can see why Master is a little concerned about you."

"Eh?"

"No, it's nothing. You are one of the people who came to help Ritsuka and her friend.

Might I ask your name?"

"Izuku Midoriya."

"Let's keep this in mind... Master no longer considers it a good idea to ask for help in this life. We are allies of Master, but we cannot really help her."

"...Are you the one who was fighting All For Ones?"

"All for One... Ah, that's his name, isn't it? No, it was indeed my power that I was lending at that time, but it was Ritsuka herself who fought.

...Recently, Master has become more and more reckless. She no longer takes care of herself."

A shadow falls over Fujimaru-san's face. I guess she's worried. I don't understand half of what she's saying. The only thing I do know is that.

"...So, you're Fujimaru's quirk after all..."

"That's right. The truth is, I don't really understand it either, but you're right, it's through this medium of "quirk" that we help Master.

"We..."

I had expected this, but it wasn't just her and Oryou-san. If Fujimaru's quirk "projection" is not limited to creating armaments, but also summons people, how much power does it have?

Why is Oryou-san an entity and this person inside Fujimaru-san? Can they come and go? Is she really a different person? There is a possibility that she actually has multiple personality, But I saw Oryou-san with my own eyes. What was that technique that stopped even All For One from attacking? How many of "we" are there?

A series of questions popped up in my mind and then disappeared.

I looked at Fujimaru-san and saw that she is leaning her head back a little sleepily. Her eyes were flickering blue and orange.

"I'm sorry. Ritsuka's consciousness seems to be getting... deeper."

"Ah..."

There is no end to the questions I want to ask. The answer is right in front of me. As if seeing through my thoughts, "someone" in Fujimaru-san's body said.

"if Master hasn't told you, then I can't tell you.

However, in response to your sincerity... hopefully one day, you may be able to hear the whole story from the Master herself.

...What you say to me here will not remain in Ritsuka's memory. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether or not to tell her."

A strong wind blew in through the window.

The curtains fluttered wide, obscuring Fujimaru's figure.

Only her dignified voice could be heard.

"I can't reveal my true name but my class is Saber. Therefore, please call me Saber.

Goodbye, Izuku Midoriya. We may not meet again, but please take care of Ritsuka."

I couldn't hear those words until the end.

When the wind stopped and the curtains returned to their original position, Fujimaru-san is lying on the bed as if nothing had happened. I just stood there for a while in a daze.

＊＊＊

On the way back from the hospital, Midoriya kept repeating in his head what Saber had said.

『I'm taking over for her now.』

『I am not really close to her, but yes, I know of her.』

『We are allies of Master, but we cannot really help her.』

『it's through this medium of "quirk" that we help Master.』

(Do they exist inside Fujimaru-san as a separate individual like Tokoyami-kun's shadow? Or is she borrowing the quirks of someone else in this world?)

I've been thinking about it a lot, but I can't figure it out. Eventually, Midoriya stopped thinking.

(How many "quirks" exist in this world in the first place... Fujimaru-san's "quirks" may not be anything unusual after all.)

I've always enjoyed observing various heroes and their quirks, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my eye on Ritsuka. I'm not going to say that I don't care about Ritsuka Fujimaru herself, because that would be a lie as well.

I learned a few things from this summer training camp and from watching her fight with Shinso in front of me.

Ritsuka is not just a misanthrope, she clearly separates those who she can forgive and those who she cannot. I don't even know the criteria for this, but it is clear that her attitude was different between the Hero Department and the Regular Course.

However, there is something that she really sees in a place far away and unrelated to that division.

It's a wall that can't be overcome.

On the other hand, if you don't touch that wall, you can be a "good friend" with her.

Maybe the hero Department is close to the wall. So Ritsuka is wary and pushes us away. And maybe Shinso is starting to get too close to the wall.

That's why he is rejected.

Ritsuka herself probably didn't mean to do that. Maybe she is trying to keep him away from something dangerous. But that form of kindness is very cruel to him.

That's probably it.

The more I think about it, the less I understand.

Do I cherish this memory?

Or am I neglecting it?

I couldn't move my body.

It is pitch black and I couldn't see a thing.

Not knowing what is happening to me, I just kept breathing in and out.

I felt like I had been doing this for days, and it hadn't even been an hour yet.

The feeling of the moist darkness on my body is unpleasant. I couldn't shake it off, and the only action I am allowed to take is breathing.

Thanks to the pain of the wound on my arm from the Noble Phantasm I shot, I am able to maintain my sanity. I became aware of my own body.

I don't mind the dark and quiet places. In fact, I like it. But there's something about this darkness that makes me not want to be here.

I don't even know if my eyes are closed or open, and my voice is just air, disappearing into the darkness.

(No... I don't want to stay here forever)

Those things will come.

Just as I thought of this, I heard a voice, as if he had been waiting for the right moment.

"Now this is nice. You deserve this, after all the innocent people you've killed."

(...aaAh)

"I was wrong to protect a person like you. You should've died there."

(It's hard hearing you with that tone of voice...)

I hear another voice.

"Why did onee-chan befriend me if you were going to kill me anyway? It's your ego, isn't it?"

(I know it's all a hallucination.)

"If it weren't for you, I'd have grown up like you, wouldn't I?"

(So don't make me hear these kids words, my foolishness.)

I hear another voice, even younger than the previous one.

"Whenever you killed a Tree of Emptiness, you always thought, 'I did it! didn't you?"

(I thought I am repairing my world. The moment I defeated it I always feel relieved and felt a sense of accomplishment...)

"See... you're a liar, onee-chan."

I know. I know everything.

Because this is all what I am thinking. I've made them say things they shouldn't have said, and by being blamed, I feel like I've been forgiven.

There's no way I can be forgiven.

I hear the first voice again.

"You'll remember this for the rest of your life, maybe forever. You will never be allowed to die and run away."

I want them to stop.

I don't care if it's in hell or anywhere else.

I just want to see them.

Somebody.

『Master, this is your dream. You must wake up.』

The wound on my arm hurts even more.

As the pain pulls me closer, I see the light.

I'll be awake soon.

Extra.

*Shinso is a good boy, He deeply regrets his actions that day.

*One of the reasons why Gudas is so distressed is because King of the Cavern, who had been clearing the stagnation in the dream world, is not there.

*The wound on her arm is not meant to hurt her.

*The author doesn't know where this story is going or how it will continue.