-Toshinori's POV-

I looked down at my watch. 730PM. I took a deep breath, straightened my navy blue and red yukata nervously, and tucked the picture of Nana Sensei into my yukata. Running a hand through my messy golden hair, I grabbed my essentials for leaving the apartment as well as the flowers I had gotten for the three lost between Rose and I as well as for Rose herself: 3 white lilies and 1 red carnation.

Call me a sap, but I chose those specific flowers for a reason. White lilies were customary for death and remembrance, and the red carnation represented admiration and pride. Rose had been through so much and had still managed to stand on her own two feet. The ginger haired woman had my complete admiration for that alone, and she was beautiful to boot.

After tonight, maybe in the next week or so, I wanted to ask her out on a date, but for tonight, I would push those thoughts and feelings to the back burner. Not that I was even sure the radiant emerald eyed woman would be interested in going on a date with a scarecrow looking, strength fading pro hero who was one wrong fight away from an early retirement. Anyways, tonight was about allowing Rose a chance to celebrate the lives of her late husband and daughter as well as hopefully heal a bit.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I knocked on Rose's door and felt my breath hitch and my face flush when Rose opened the door. She was dressed in what I could only guess was a traditional Indian dress. I think it's called a saree or something like that. Either way, the dress was navy blue with golden trim. Her long, curly ginger hair was pinned up elegantly to the side with a couple of loose strands framing her face. Her emerald eyes were lined with black, making them shine even more than usual, and her lips and cheeks were tinted a subtle pink. To put it plainly, the woman in front of me was absolutely breathtaking.

"Oh hey, Toshinori. I was just about to come and see if you were ready to go," Rose greeted with a shy, sweet smile, "Y-you look nice in your yukata." I felt my face heat up even more as I returned her shy smile with one of my own.

"Thanks, Rose," I replied switching to English to return the compliment, "You look stunning." At this comment, her face flushed, and I felt myself relax a bit as she walked out of her apartment, locking the door behind her.

"Thank you," she responded in English before giggling and switching back to Japanese and commenting, "Toshinori, look! We match!" I smiled a much more relaxed smile feeling more confident at her positive attitude.

"Almost," I corrected as I took the red carnation I had brought for her and tucked it into her hair, "There. Now, we match." Her eyes widened in surprise before she relaxed and smiled. I held out my arm for Rose, and she hesitantly put her hand into the nook of my arm. We walked in a comfortable silence as we made our way to the Musutafu City Park.

~At the Event (Kaera/Rose's POV)~

"Wow…" was all I could say when we arrived at the event. It was sunset in Musutafu City Park, and the entire area around the pond was decorated with an arrangement of white flowers and lights. There were also several tables set up with square paper lantern boats.

There were at least 100 people around the huge pond already. Toshinori briefly excused himself and came back minutes later with three paper lantern boats.

"Did you bring the photos and letters for Santosh-san and Isha-chan?" Toshinori asked, his voice gently as I nodded, gripping the letters and photos and biting back tears. There were so many things I needed to say and face tonight, and I refused to spend the whole night crying.

"Rose, may I see the photos? I will help you set up the lantern boats," the blonde hero coaxed, as I handed him the photos nervously. The one for Isha was the one he had seen in my wallet of me holding her when she had been sick.

The one I had chosen of Santosh was him on our wedding day, well one of our wedding days. Specifically, it was of him on the day of our traditional American wedding. He was buttoning up his dark gray suit jacket and staring directly into the camera with an intense look in his eyes and one eyebrow raised. It was a photo I had always teased him about saying it made him look like he was trying to pose like some Bollywood hero or something.

Toshinori took both of the photos carefully and attached them to the outside of the lanterns using a bit of tape he had taken from one of the tables. Then, he took two of the white lilies he had been carrying and put them in the center of the lantern with the battery operated tea lights that were being used as a light source to avoid a major fire hazard. He did the same with the third lantern only I noticed he had attached a photo of Nana-san to it. What he did next definitely had a few tears falling from my eyes, and I was very thankful for choosing to use waterproof eyeliner tonight.

Toshinori took my hand and the three lantern boats and guided me to the edge of the pond. The scene at the park looked like a movie scene as the sun had fully set allowing the only light to be from the dozens of paper lantern boats floating across the pond. Several others were at different edges of the pond, bowing their heads and placing their hands together in a sort of a praying motion as they paid their respects to the loved ones they had lost.

When we reached the waters' edge, Toshinori first placed Nana's boat in the water as he and I both bowed in respect to the woman who had given him his quirk and had saved my life. Next, it was my turn to release Isha and Santosh's boats into the water. I decided to release Isha's first. I put the boat into the water and bowed in respect but was shocked when Toshinori came up beside me and bowed in respect as well.

Now I had to release Santosh's boat. This one seemed a little awkward with Toshinori with me since our relationship, whatever it was, at times seemed less than platonic. However, he did not seem at all bothered as I bowed in respect for my late husband, and Toshinori bowed deeply this time, showing even greater respect for a man he did not know. Then, to my utter surprise, Toshinori spoke while bowing.

"Santosh-san, I wanted to thank you for all that you did for Rose. She misses you and your daughter greatly. I'm sure watching over her these past years has been difficult for you. She has suffered tremendously and has done so entirely by herself," Toshinori started, his deep voice thick with emotion but carrying a great deal of respect at the same time, "Tonight, we celebrate your life as well as your daughters, and I can think of no better way to put you both at rest than to assure you that Rose will never be alone again-" I gasped in shock, tears flowing from my eyes "She is a precious and strong-willed woman who seems to never be afraid of facing things by herself; however, she will no longer have to. On my honor as a hero and as the Symbol of Peace, I swear that I will always be here for her in whatever way I can. Please rest in peace, Santosh-san."

With that, Toshinori lifted his head from his bow as our three paper lanterns floated into the sea of others that filled the pond. The beauty of the whole scene almost lost to me as tears blurred my vision. Unable to hold myself back, I ran to Toshinori and threw my arms around him. Almost immediately, his arms wrapped around me as well, holding me close to him as he stroked my head soothingly, being careful not to mess up my hair.

"W-why, Toshinori? Why would you do all of this?" I asked as tears fell down my face. The radiant blonde in front of me gently wiped my tears away with the sleeve of his yukata.

"Because they were precious to you. I remember you telling me you were taken away right after their funeral. It sounded like you were not given support or help much in terms of grieving or celebrating two people who were your everything," he replied, sincerity dripping from every word as his beautiful electric blue eyes filled with care and affection as he gently cupped my cheek, "You've faced so much by yourself, Rose. I want to do everything I can to be by your side and stop you from ever having to face hardships by yourself ever again."

That's when it hit me. This man, Toshinori Yagi, All Might, the Symbol of Peace, the number one hero. He did all of this, all for me.

There had been feelings I had been fighting with myself about for months now, and it was time for me to accept them. He had done all of this for me, so, just this once, I would let my walls down. Taking a deep breath, I reached a hand up behind his neck. I would let someone see me vulnerable. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head upward and moved my head upward. I would give someone a chance to care for me. Taking one more deep breath, I pressed my lips softly against Toshinori's and allowed myself to melt into his embrace. I would allow myself to continue my story. All for him.