Disclaimer: I do not own Boku No Hero Academia.

CHAPTER XXV – EPILOGUE – A FAREWELL

Stain's blade cut the skin of his left cheek.

"What do you want?", Tomura grit through his teeth, trying to fill his voice with as much menace as he could gather, ignoring for a second the wet eyes that betrayed his feelings.

Stain only smirked: "Is this how you greet old friends?"

Tomura collected the saliva in his mouth, ready to spit it into the hero killer's face when Spinner suddenly spoke up: "We have a present for you, Shigaraki."

Furrowing his brows, he looked over to the lizard-man, who was pulling something out of the inner pocket of his jacket. Right next to Tomura's head landed a hand, one he recognized immediately.

"It is yours, right?", Stain asked and suddenly, stepped down from Shigaraki's body and let the youth get to his feet. As Tomura picked up the hand, he saw that the limb that he used to cover his face was now damaged all over, and out of nothing wave of disgust washed over him.

"Where did you get this?", he asked, ignoring the nauseous feeling, not looking at either the hero killer or Spinner. Why had they come here? Just to bring him this?

Spinner shrugged: "Tartarus. Below the rubble. The more important question is what you will do from now on."

Tomura gazed up at him, unsure about what he meant and Spinner sighed.

"Mr. Compress and Toga are gone. Neither the police nor we have gotten any trace on them. Dabi is under arrest."

Yeah, right. "You're telling me Toga managed to escape while Dabi got himself arrested?"

Spinner shrugged again. "His.. He's the son of Endeavor. Did you know that?"

"No, I didn't." Of course. Now it all makes sense!

"What will you do now, Shigaraki Tomura?", Stain interrupted his thoughts and Tomura looked up to him.

"What are you talking about? There's nothing left to do. I live with All Might now.", he answered truthfully, his voice quiet.

All Might. His heart began to ache at the thought that All Might was out there, probably looking for him because he had decided to be stupid again.

"I hate the fake heroes of this society, this hasn't changed. In fact, All Might is one of the only one to ever convince me that heroes are capable of actually doing their job.", he monologued and then let his tongue wander over the blade where Tomura's blood stuck. Every muscle in the young man's body froze, making it impossible for him to move due to the hero killer's quirk.

Continuing to be naive and stupid, Tomura.

"As you're aware, I hate little villains that can't do nothing but destroy as well. You've never had any ambitions. I don't like you. So why should I let you live?", the way he worded that sentence told Tomura that Stain had absolutely no qualms killing him if he was going to give him the wrong answer. But Tomura was too tired to tell anything but the truth at this moment. If this was going to end up badly for him, so be it.

"You're right. I didn't have any ambitions and I still don't! All I wanted was to get back at the world which has caused me so much pain.", he told the man but despised himself for not being able to hide the sadness that came with it. Spinner seemed to take up on it and his eyes became softer.

"But now I have realized that it's not the world that's at fault here. It wasn't my father and it wasn't All for One, not always. It was me. I lost my way, but.. All Might has promised to show me life from a different angle and I want to show him that I can change."

He took a deep breath: "Maybe that is the only ambition I have for now."

Tomura looked up at the orange sun that was rising over the edge, colouring the sea before him in an incredible light.

He was leaning over the railing and looking at the ferries of the wharf, welcoming passengers aboard and he briefly asked himself, what those people were up to going on a boat so early in the morning. A yawn left his mouth and he wanted nothing more than to fall into his bed, back at All Might's home, but was too ashamed to return there just now.

Stain and Spinner had let him go. Warning him that they would watch him from afar, they had told him that they would gain nothing from killing him there.

"I'm glad you've found a home, Shigaraki. Unfortunately, my journey isn't over just because the League is gone now.", his former companion had said to him and disappeared in the darkness of the night.

"You're in big trouble, young man.", a familiar voice spoke up behind him. At least, he wouldn't have to return home by foot. Sighing, Tomura turned away from the railing and faced All Might, who looked just as tired as he was.

"I know. How did you find me?", Tomura answered and looked at the ground.

"I got some tricks up my sleeve."

All Might walked up to the railing and stared at the rising sun: "Well.. I guess trouble can wait until we're back at home. Let's enjoy the sunrise for now."

Tomura turned to face the view again and gathered all his courage: "All Might, I.. do you think that grandmother's.. that her last sunrise looked as beautiful as this one?"

Where the heck did this come from?

All Might's eyes widened, but then he smiled and nodded: "I'm sure it did."

They remained silent for a few minutes, before Tomura chose to speak up again.

"I can't do this without you. Will you help me?"

"Always."

Tenko threw the hand of his father with all his strength, watching it as it flew far off the coast and plunged into the waters.

Father. All for One. Shigaraki Tomura.

Farwell.

End note: Well, this is it. The last chapter is up and with it ends this burden. Thank you all for reading!

Answer to CrowFeather: God, I am so happy to read that. Thank you for reading this!

Answer to Shigaraki Tomura: Well, not really lol because I am a shit fxckn writer.

Any reviews left after the 27th December 2020 will probably not be answered. I will answer all comments on AO3 though. With this year coming to an end, this fic and chapter of my life is closed. Thank you all for your support and stay healthy and safe 3