"ICHIGO!" Izuku screamed in horror, eyes wide in shock. He stared helplessly at the slumped form of his friend, sword blade embedded in the back of her skull. Her pale green eyes were open and unseeing, as she laid on the cold concrete on her side. "Ichigo…" Izuku repeated, eyes tearing up.

Todoroki was even more shocked. Kurosaki had just died… for him? He looked at her fallen form for a moment, before clenching his jaw, turning around as the flames of his left side burned even hotter than before. Ice crackled under his feet, creating a wall separating himself and the Hero Killer from Izuku and the others. No one else would die here tonight, not if he could help it.

Tenya's eyes were fixed on Ichigo as well. He was stuck in a state of disbelief. She was dead? His mind replayed everything he could remember of her. Ichigo fainting when he charged her, but accepting his apology with ease the next day. Ichigo hiding behind him after Mineta made a perverse comment. Ichigo battling Shiozaki, managing to walk off being impaled by vines through the stomach.

Ichigo rushed over to him, staring up at him with wide, concerned green eyes. "T-Tenya, I wanted t-to ask you about y-yesterday-!" she started.

He grit his teeth, eyes starting to water. Ichigo had tried to speak with him then, and he had cut her off. He had immaturely tried to take revenge on his own, and this was the result. She had tried to help him, and instead he had dragged her into what should've been his own battle. He stared at the shining, jagged blade sticking out of the back of her head. She looked a lot smaller now, even more childlike than before. Tenya hadn't fully realized how tiny she was, until she was lying dead on the cold concrete. She had died because of him and his inability to act like a hero.

Suddenly, the icy wall Todoroki had created shattered. A fragment of ice cut Tenya's cheek as The Hero Killer came flying through, soaring over the gust of flames a snarling Todoroki was chasing him with. The murderer was falling towards him, blades gleaming, only to be slammed out of the air by a streak of green. Izuku, teeth bared, landed beside Todoroki. He was only visible for a moment, before he vanished in another blur of color, appearing in front of the Hero Killer for only a second, hands grasping the murderer's shoulders and sending him flying.

The Hero Killer slammed into the ground, and Todoroki instantly froze him up to his neck. The ice continued to thicken, growing exponentially to ensure the murderer wouldn't escape. Cocooned against the dirty ground, the Hero Killer glared at them all. He struggled, but there wasn't any room to move.

Izuku grimaced, lifting his arms. "I overdid -" his voice cut off, as he stared with wide eyes at his steaming skin. The fabric of his sleeves had been shredded by the power he'd channeled to throw the Hero Killer, but his arms were completely repaired. Izuku turned towards Ichigo, bright green eyes sparkling with tears of hope. "She's alive!" He shouted, running towards her.

Todoroki's eyes widened. "She's alive?" He repeated, incredulous. Kurosaki hadn't died for him? She had somehow survived having a sword pierced through her brain?

Izuku grabbed Ichigo's shoulders, slowly rolling her face down on the concrete. With shaking hands, he gripped the blade embedded in her skull, and yanked it upwards. There was a moment of tense silence, where everyone in the alley stared at the gaping wound in the back of Ichigo's head. Then, steam started to rise into the air. Slowly at first, but quickly picking up speed as the stab wound slowly closed and healed shut. Izuku fell to his knees, hugging Ichigo's body tightly as he sobbed into her back. Todoroki looked away from the scene, shoulders slumping in relief.

Tenya, face down on the concrete, bit his tongue, shoulders shaking as he cried silently. How could he have ever thought he was a hero?

My eyes fluttered open slowly. My head throbbed, and I shut my eyes again, resisting the urge to swear. I had a monster headache, and the sounds of people shouting around me weren't helping. Curling in on myself, I covered my ears. I couldn't think like this, I couldn't even remember what had landed me in this position.

"Ichigo?" A quiet voice whispered in my ear. I groaned in response, wondering if I should slap Izuku for talking to me right now, or just roll over and die to escape my suffering. "Ichigo," he repeated.

I bit my lip. "My head hurts," I mumbled, feeling my brain shake with every word.

"Oh," Izuku said. His voice sounded odd, like he had been crying. I tried to open my eyes and look up at him, to see what was wrong, but then my head pulsed again, and I just curled inwards some more.

"... Why…?" I asked weakly, unable to convey my full question: why are you crying?

Izuku chuckled, and I frowned. He was crying and laughing at the same time? What was going on? Hands gently grasped my shoulders, and then my head was off the hard ground, cushioned by something much softer and warmer. "Just go to sleep, Ichigo," Izuku said, somehow managing to sound amused. "I'll explain everything when you wake up."

I briefly noted the steam tickling my skin, unable to remember why I was using my quirk, before I mumbled, "You better…" Forcefully relaxing my body, I willingly sank into unconsciousness.

I woke up to an unfamiliar white painted ceiling. Blinking the blurriness out of my eyes, I tried to sit up and see where I was. Hands hit my shoulders, trying to force me back down, and I reacted instantly. Grabbing the wrist and bicep of one of my attackers arms, I twisted my legs up and around, bracing their elbow on my knee and preparing to break their arm -

"Ichigo!" I froze, instantly recognizing Izuku's voice. I released my hold on his arm, lowering myself back to the bed slowly, crossing my legs in front of me.

I stared down at my feet meekly. "Sorry…" I apologized quietly. I noticed a faint sting in my arm, and glanced down at my wrist. There was a bloody cut surrounded by medical tape, and when I looked over to the side, I saw an IV drip with a freely dangling needle. I winced, realizing I must've ripped the needle from my arm when I attacked Izuku.

"It's fine," Izuku said, shaking his head. He looked at me in concern. "What do you remember?" He asked.

I frowned. "I escaped the evacuation area, met you, we went to find Tenya, and then - Oh…" My eyes widened. "Okay, I'm alive…" I said breathlessly, stunned. I had actually survived getting stabbed through the head. I wasn't sure if that was awesome or horrifying.

"You didn't know if you'd live?" A new voice interjected. My head spun around, and I stared in surprise at Todoroki. He was wearing civilian clothes, a green hoodie and jeans, sitting in an uncomfortable looking chair near my bed. I looked around, suddenly realizing where I was.

I looked to Izuku. "What hospital am I in?" I wondered, deciding to redirect Todoroki's question.

"Hosu General Hospital," Izuku answered. "Todoroki and I have been waiting for you to wake up, along with the Pro Hero that the Hero Killer attacked, Native. He should be back any minute, actually, he went to get food," Izuku glanced over to the door thoughtfully.

Todoroki leaned forward. "You didn't know if you'd survive when you blocked that sword?" He pressed, eyes focused on me. He clearly wasn't willing to drop the topic and move on.

I chuckled weakly. "W-well, if you c-could call that a block," I said, avoiding the question. When Todoroki continued to stare at me, I sighed. "No. And before you can ask why… I don't really know. I moved before I could think." Izuku's eyes widened at my words, seeming quietly stunned.

Todoroki nodded. "Fair enough," he agreed. "I don't think I would have survived last night without your help, so… thank you, Kurosaki," he said, looking very solemn and stiff.

I couldn't help the giggle that escaped me. "You know, I did kind of die for you, so you can call me Ichigo," I said, for once not rushing the words out.

Todoroki's eyes widened, and he sat there awkwardly for a moment before nodding slowly. "Okay then, Ichigo," he agreed. When he didn't say anything about calling him by his own first name, I coughed awkwardly, looking over to Izuku, the only normal person in the room.

"So… what happened after I fell unconscious?" I asked, hoping to kill the tension in the air.

Izuku sighed, sitting down, and I saw that he'd dragged his chair right up next to my bedside. "Well, shortly after you were… injured, Todoroki and I managed to capture the Hero Killer in ice. And then, Endeavor had directed some of the Pros over to our location, so they called the police and ambulances. You were the only one who actually needed medical attention, so you were brought here," Izuku shifted, twiddling his thumbs in his lap. "Uh, Todoroki and I came here a little bit later, and we've been waiting for you to wake up."

"You had a seizure, right before they got you on the ambulance," Todoroki added, eyes severe. "The doctors haven't been able to figure out why. Your brain had been reconstructed perfectly." I gulped, ducking my head. My quirk must've deactivated while I was unconscious then, and my body's reaction to the pain could be mistaken for a seizure.

I shrugged. "As long as it won't happen again," I said airily. Then, I realized something. "Hey… where's Tenya?" Izuku didn't answer me, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor. I looked to Todoroki, but he refused to meet my eyes as well. "Guys…" I started, prepared to begin interrogating them.

The hospital door snapped open before I could. I glanced over, and my eyes widened. Without his costume, the Pro Hero Native appeared surprisingly normal. The man scanned the room, and then saw me sitting on the bed, fully awake. His eyes widened. "Kurosaki! You're awake!" He shouted in shock. Then, he paused awkwardly. "Ah, sorry. You probably don't know who I am. I'm the hero who you guys ended up saving…" he explained.

I nodded evenly, deciding not to point out that Izuku had already told me this. "It's nice to meet you, Mister Native," I said. "My name's Ichigo Kurosaki… but I assume you already know that," I blushed, realizing that introducing myself hadn't been necessary.

"It's fine," Native said, smiling. "You weren't awake when I found out anyways," there was a long moment of silence, and then Native coughed. "Well, I have three breakfast trays. I can go down and get another…"

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it. I'm not hungry," I said. Izuku stared at me like I was insane, but I just smiled at him wearily. I honestly didn't feel like eating right then.

Native stepped fully into the room, and I noticed the wheeled cart he was dragging behind him. Shutting the door, he offered Izuku and Todoroki their plates. I tried to hide how nauseous I felt at the sight of food, and averted my eyes to the ceiling. Native sat down in the last empty chair, next to Todoroki, and ate his food in silence.

When their plates had been cleared, Native cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Since Kurosaki's awake now, this seems like a good time to explain everything. I'm sure you all know about the Misuse of Quirks Act," I gulped instantly remembering that specific set of legislature. People weren't supposed to use their quirks against others without licenses, or they faced serious repercussions. I didn't want to face those "serious repercussions" any time soon. "Ordinarily, this would apply, but I actually filed my report saying I gave you all express permission to interfere in the situation, so you're all protected under Clause Fifteen of the Hero Laws," seeing Izuku and Todoroki's bewildered expressions, Native chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Without all the legal jargon, that means you all won't get in trouble for helping me because I said that I told you to," he simplified. Both boys nodded in understanding.

I smiled appreciatively. "Thank you," I said gratefully. Then, I bit my lip. "Uh, has there been any press coverage of the situation?" I asked nervously.

"Not yet, although the police will be making a statement soon, announcing the Hero Killer's arrest and the capture of all the monsters," Native answered. "You'll probably be asked to attend the press conference."

I winced. "Great… there goes my chances of changing my hero name," I muttered, wondering how my incoming burst of fame would affect my future career. Izuku glanced up at me, startled, and I held my hands up in surrender. "I didn't think I'd actually get stuck with 'Hime-Hime' for the rest of my life!" I defended.

Izuku stared at me incredulously. "Midnight warned us that these titles would probably stick with us," he pointed out. "What would you have changed your name to anyways?"

"I don't know," I pouted. "Something cool, like 'The Immortal Hero, Hakuen'," I suggested sullenly.

"... Then why didn't you call yourself that," Todoroki said bluntly.

I glanced over at him with wide eyes. "Because Bakago's expression was priceless!" I protested. Native burst out laughing at our childish banter, and soon after Izuku joined in. I giggled along, noticing Todoroki smiling as well. I hadn't ever seen him actually smile before.

My stomach suddenly grumbled. Everyone went quiet. My cheeks heated up, and I ducked my head in embarrassment. "I really wasn't hungry, I swear," I said sheepishly.

That night, after Izuku, Todoroki, and Native had left, I sat in my hospital bed silently. The staff had said that they'd release me tomorrow morning, assuming there were no complications. Staring at the darkened wall of my hospital room, I listened to the familiar sounds of the active city streets below.

The door of my room clicked open, and I glanced over to see Mister Aizawa. It wasn't visiting hours, but I wasn't surprised that Mister Aizawa didn't care. I smiled tiredly. "Hey," I said.

Mister Aizawa slid the door shut, gliding into Izuku's old chair next to my bed. He stared at me for a moment. "I told you that you weren't ready," he said.

I shook my head, unrepentant. "Are y-you really going to tell me there was a better option?" I asked challengingly.

Mister Aizawa was silent for a long pause. "... plus twenty," he responded finally. I sighed, leaning back into my pillows and closing my eyes. That was probably the closest I'd get to him agreeing with my reckless behavior ever.