The history books say that the Draconid people died out during the Second Meta War and that the gods and demigods called Pokémon were just another mythological pantheon before the era of quirks. Those history books would be wrong on both accounts.

Of course, it's not without reason that these are presented as fact. The Pokémon don't reveal themselves like they used to thousands of years ago. Their influence is still felt across the planet, and some reports have claimed seeing the Pokémon, but they're discounted as delirium or hallucinations.

The Draconids, by contrast, have a more sinister reason behind their erasure from history: they held magic that could easily match and surpass the strongest of quirks in the present day. Nobody liked that, both when all quirked were oppressed and in the modern day when only the "undesirable" quirks and quirkless are. The Draconids were systematically massacred by the rest of the world until a single tribe remained.

Rather than let themselves be eradicated, they faked their deaths and hid away in the caves beneath an unassuming forest. They were wise to do so, as their magic was meant to safeguard the planet from different threats.

It's in these caves a quirkless boy with green hair and emerald-like freckles is born. A boy born to a man with a draconic quirk and a woman with green hair. A potential savior as the prophecy foretold.

At age ten, Izuku Midoriya chooses to carry the burden of the Draconid people. In a brutal ritual, he gains tattoos bearing the likeness of their patron Pokémon deity, tying his very essence to the dragon of the skies. He carries the last surviving meteorite remnant as an energy source for the dragon to absorb if and when the time comes.

At age thirteen, Izuku Midoriya receives a prophetic nightmare. A asteroid crashes into Japan, the impact obliterating the nation and the shockwaves and debris wiping out all life in Asia. The resulting earthquakes awaken two primal forces of land and sea. He stands alone on a solitary piece of Japan's remains, watching the fierce death match before an emerald dragon consumes him.

Waking up in a cold sweat and with tears clouding his vision, he tells his family and the rest of the clan of his premonition. In response, the Midoriya parents race to the surface and obtain a battery-powered radio and a non-smart television.

On Izuku Midoriya's fifteenth birthday, the last surviving Draconid clan receives word of a supermassive asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The underground city knows the time has come to reveal themselves once more. Izuku knows that he will be the one to call upon Rayquaza to save the planet from its destruction.

/

Toshinori Yagi sat in the Hero Public Safety Commission's underground meeting hall, surrounded by the most powerful officials in the world, speaking quietly amongst each other. Star and Stripe, Big Red Dot, Salaam, Godzillo, Captain Celebrity, and many others from Japan and other nations sat alongside him. Looking around at the gathered heroes, he noticed that he didn't know many of them, although there was a pattern within those he didn't recognize. Almost all of the heroes he wasn't aware of had some sort of spatial motif in their costumes or had visible quirks that had something to do with space or physics.

Turning his attention back to the front of the meeting hall, at the podium stood three officials: the president of the HPSC, the chairman of the World Heroes Association, and the secretary-general of the United Nations. The screen behind them showed a live feed of a satellite focused on a gargantuan asteroid. The murmuring between the congregants quieted as the secretary-general cleared his throat at the microphone.

"My sincerest apologies for such a last-minute gathering, but time is of the essence with this new threat. I am Abasi Saeed, the secretary-general of the United Nations. In collaboration with the World Heroes Association and the Hero Public Safety Commission here in Japan, we have gathered the most relevant heroes from across the world to devise a plan to stop this cataclysm from occurring. I'm sure many of you have seen the reports on the news and online, but to catch up those who haven't and to dispel any misinformation, this is what we know currently:

"The screen behind me is a live feed from one of NASA's satellites in the upper atmosphere, showing the presence of a giant asteroid. Researchers from the world's leading space and aeronautics organizations have not figured out where this asteroid came from, as no such large body had previously been observed within the asteroid belt or the Kuiper Belt. This is especially distressing due to the fact that the asteroid appears to be approximately one thousand kilometers in diameter."

Abasi quieted to let everyone in attendance absorb the information, many paling at the mention of the asteroid's size. Murmurs and shouts of disbelief and panic echo throughout the room before the three officials can bring order back.

"It should be clear that this asteroid is on a direct collision course with Earth; we wouldn't all be gathered here otherwise. The researchers concluded that if the asteroid is not veered off-course or destroyed, it will directly impact Japan in one week."

More shouts, this time consisting of panic alone, filled the room as Abasi stepped aside and let the World Heroes Association chairman take a place at the microphone.

"I am Alastor Bundle, the chairman of the World Heroes Association. With the exception of the president of the Hero Public Safety Commission in Japan, who is beside me, I speak on behalf of all hero management bodies in the world. Due to the possibly supernatural origin of this asteroid, we have decided to include the heroes present today as part of the planning and operations to protect our planet. We have focused on bringing in a select few of each nation's top heroes to act as leaders, with the rest of the recruits having quirks or non-heroic specialties related to space, geology, and physics. Alongside the heroes, we have also brought in a number of scientists, researchers, and government officials who we believe beneficial to avert this crisis."

Alastor allowed a brief silence for everyone to survey one another with the new information about their purposes. He then stepped back and let the president of Japan's HPSC take the stage.

"I am Rida Kusatta, president of the Hero Public Safety Commission. As the asteroid's impact site is Japan, I have been specifically recruited to assist in this endeavor rather than be spoken for by the World Heroes Association chairman. My role will be to act as the bridge between the heroes gathered here and the higher-ups within our task force. Any orders for the heroes from higher up the chain will be given by me, as the officials above me will be handling diplomatic and public relations for the task force.

"Our current plans include launching the world's nuclear arsenal into the asteroid at an angle to move it off-course enough for it to avoid the planet or outfitting the best-equipped heroes with space gear and sending them to the asteroid to destroy or move it, but these are last-resort options due to their risks to the planet and our needed heroes."

Most of the attendants nodded or made noises of agreement. Nuclear weapons could still harm the planet if they're too close, and sending heroes to deal with the asteroid directly poses a risk to their lives, so neither are preferable options if they can help it.

Rida continued. "Mr. Saeed and Mr. Bundle will make a worldwide announcement within the next hour. Meanwhile, we will brainstorm and present ideas for the next forty-eight hours before preparing agreed-upon solutions. Our government and research officials have already been grouped together. We will let them take the reins and divide the rest of you into teams. May we find a way to avert this disaster."

/

"Just leave me the hell alone! I'm not doing anything wrong!" Izuku screeched as he dodged the gray scarf of the persistent red-eyed hero tailing him.

"If that's the case, kid, why are you running? And how are you running so fast?" The hero called out to him, far enough away that he had to yell as he kept trying to bind him up.

"Duh, I work out?" He turned his head around to make sure his eye rolling had a chance of being seen. Granted, it wasn't the whole truth. He was using his magic to stay out of the hero's range for the most part.

The hero then suddenly stopped and retracted his scarf, the red glow cutting off as he did so. Izuku stopped away from him, remaining just out of range if he launched his scarf from where he stood.

"Look, kid, I'm–"

"Stop calling me kid, man, I don't like being belittled." Izuku bit out.

"Look, kid–"

"Fuck you!"

"–I've heard reports all night about a 'suspicious man with glowing tattoos and a torn cape' bolting through the city. As the only hero nearby, I had to at least take a look. You're the one who took off even faster when I called out to you."

"Just because what I'm doing doesn't concern you, sir, I have business I need to attend to urgently. Going at night makes it easier since there won't be much traffic."

The hero sighed with the strength of a hundred dead-tired dads. "Kid, just tell me what you're doing, and if it's not illegal, I'll leave you be."

Izuku stood and glared at the man for a few seconds before answering. "I'm not being detained; I don't have to tell you what I'm doing. Besides, I can promise you it's not illegal. Now piss off and don't get in my way, old man."

He turned away as he replied, smirking with mirth and throwing the demeaning age comment right back at the hero before he started running again.

Just before the kid disappeared from his sight, Shouta Aizawa – pro hero Eraserhead – sighed and took off after the boy from the nearby rooftops. "Fucking problem child… twenty-four hours until Armageddon, and I still have to deal with a problem child…"

/

Ten hours of tailing later brought Shouta back to the tattooed teen – this time at ancient ruins he hadn't seen before. Checking the map on his phone, he was shocked to see they were in the forest directly below Gunga Mountain. At least it was the forest below Gunga Mountain. The trees were nowhere to be seen, just the ruins. In fact, looking up towards the mountain peak, he could see a giant tower that definitely wasn't there before. He approached the ruins carefully and quietly, not wanting to alert the teen or anyone else who could be lurking around.

Entering through the archway, Shouta looked down at the hole in the floor to find an entire village's worth of people staring right up at him as if they knew he was there before he showed up. None of them made any moves, but they were looking at him with a distinctly disapproving glare.

When he heard chuckles from above, he flinched and readied himself for battle, only to relax as he saw the kid from before. This time, though, his tattoos were glowing a bright, toxic green, as were his eyes and… freckles? Were those freckles? They seemed too distinct to be freckles– anyway, his arms were crossed with the same disapproving look, although his eyes showed off a bit more amusement at the predicament.

"You're quite persistent, aren't you, Eraserhead?" The kid spoke, shocking Shouta.

"Don't bother asking how I know who you are; you'll probably understand after I explain things."

Shouta's grip on his scarf tightened against his will, feeling he would be in danger if he said or did the wrong thing. "You better explain, kid; I'll have to place you all under arrest under reasonable suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal acts otherwise."

The kid waved off the threat with such nonchalance it made Shouta sweat. Being safe, he activated Erasure again, though his glare was nothing compared to the venomous green one he was met with.

"Relax, Eraserhead, I'm quirkless. The glow is something completely different."

Against his better judgment, Shouta called the kid's bluff after a moment of hesitation. "Prove it."

And prove it he did. He brought one hand out of his cross-armed stance and opened his hand for a moment before closing it back into a fist, gesturing to himself with his index finger. The glow of his tattoos brightened, and his cape started to flow as if guided by the wind, as a pale green light enveloped the hero and lifted him up to the platform directly above him.

The teen lifted Shouta into the air and put him back down, all while his Erasure was trained on everyone. As he met the kid's eyes again, he was met with a confident gaze, raising a brow as if to dare Shouta to challenge what he bore witness to.

Considering how effortlessly he was lifted and how nobody except for him seemed concerned for their safety, he wisely chose to not provoke anyone any further.

"A-alright, I believe you," he stammered out. "But what is all this? I don't remember these ruins or that tower here at Gunga."

The teen's stance finally relaxed as he gestured for him to follow. "The name's Izuku Midoriya, now stop calling me kid. Walk and talk with me."

The kid – Midoriya – started to parkour his way up the ruins from platform to platform, forcing Shouta to move fast and keep pace so he could actually hear him.

"Tell me what you know about the ancient legends of the Pokémon first."

If that wasn't a weird question to start an explanation with, then no question was. "Well, in my mythology class in college, we learned that the Pokémon were revered as godlike creatures with power over life, death, the Earth, and the stars for thousands of years. Records also mentioned a Draconid people that worshiped a draconic Pokémon, but those records denied the existence of both."

Shouta could barely make out a growled-out "of fucking course" above him before Midoriya asked another question. "Did you learn of any specific stories of the Pokémon, or just their existence? Any individual mythical events?"

The pair finally made it to a hallway where they could walk instead of leap, and Shouta took the reprieve to think. Then he thought of something.

"I think there was one I remember… it had to deal with three Pokémon named Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza. If I remember correctly, the myth said that Groudon and Kyogre were battling viciously, causing massive changes in the land and seas. The Draconid people prayed for Rayquaza to end the fighting, and it harnessed the power of a strange meteorite to seal them away in two deep-sea caverns."

Izuku nodded as he gestured to himself. "Now, what do you think my tattoos are of?"

Shouta looked over the tattoos on Midoriya, vaguely recognizing the shapes. "A dragon?"

Another nod. "And what other connections can you make between that myth and the situation you're currently in."

It took only a few moments for the pieces to start fitting together in Shouta's mind. "An asteroid…"

"Was there anything else about Rayquaza or the Draconids discussed?"

That was the question that made it all make sense to Shouta. "There was a prophecy that Rayquaza would be needed in the far future to stop Earth's destruction from a cosmic threat." He looked at Izuku with a shocked expression. "Is that–"

Izuku nodded, interrupting Shouta's question. "We are what remains of the Draconid people, the only ones with the power to summon the dragon." He pulled a meteorite from his pocket, faintly glowing a rainbow of colors. "I've been imbued with the magical power necessary to call him, and I've been given this meteorite as a material offering so that he may use his full power to destroy the asteroid."

Shouta narrowed his eyes at Midoriya. "Why does it have to be you? You're just a kid; you shouldn't have to carry that burden."

Midoriya, for his part, rolled his eyes. "I knew exactly what I was signing up for, Eraserhead. I was told exactly what I would have to endure and need to do. I'm giving my life for my people with full knowledge and acceptance of it."

"…excuse me, give your life?"

Midoriya's eyes minutely widened as he processed what he let slip. "Shit."

Shouta crossed his arms with a renewed scowl. "Explain, kid."

Midoriya sighed and put his hands in his pockets. "To summon Rayquaza and allow him to use his true power, the meteorite must be supercharged with his essence. We Draconids have learned our magic from Rayquaza himself, passed on for thousands of years. The power in the meteorite has waned, so it needs to be re-energized. Unfortunately, the power needed is equivalent to that of an entire life."

Shouta's blood ran icy as the implication set in. "That's… that's not fair. There has to be another way besides letting someone die, besides letting a fucking kid die!"

Midoriya shook his head solemnly. "If there was, we'd have done it days ago. Quirks won't affect the asteroid, nor will weapons or evasive tactics. It is the lord Arceus' will that a human and a Pokémon avert the calamity; it just so happens that the time between the two calamities means that human must give up their life to do so."

Shouta just stared at the ground. At some point during the lore dump by Midoriya, they reached a staircase leading to the top of the tower on Gunga Mountain proper. The two stood in silence for what felt like an eternity to the hero before Midoriya began to ascend the stairs with a steely, determined gaze.

Shouta quickly followed the teen's lead, speed-walking up the stairs to keep pace with Midoriya. "Wait."

Midoriya sighed in frustration and looked back. "What do you want? I need to do this sooner rather than later."

Shouta glanced downward, not wanting to meet Midoriya's eyes right then. "If I can't really do anything, if we can't do anything, at least let me make sure you're sent off with the acknowledgment you deserve."

Midoriya raised a confused eyebrow.

"Let me call the task force we assembled when we first saw the asteroid. The most powerful and famous heroes and government officials in the world are involved. As much as I hate drawing attention unnecessarily, you deserve this, Midoriya."

The greenette stared at Shouta in shock. Considering the kid knew who and what he was, he must've understood how serious this was if he was willing to involve high-profile figures and the media.

The hero then chuckled. "Besides, I have to tell them to call off firing the world's nuclear arsenal anyway, and they'll want to know why."

The kid let out another sigh. "Normally, I would say hell no. I always wanted to be a hero, honestly. I wanted to save and protect people. I never cared for fame, money, or accolades; even now, I'm hesitant to let a bunch of outsiders encroach on our sacred place just for a sendoff."

He looked down the stairs, Shouta following his example. At the base of them stood what he assumed to be Midoriya's parents, looking on with approval and admiration toward their savior. Many more of the Draconids were there as well, gazes not as approving but just as accepting nonetheless.

"People will be asking questions when a giant green dragon shows up and annihilates the asteroid, anyway; I think after all we've endured to protect ourselves and the world, we deserve at least a little recognition."

Midoriya nodded with a reserved smile crossing his lips. "Just call me Izuku, Eraserhead. I'll meet you at the top of the tower. You can call whoever you wish."

"Shouta Aizawa, just Shouta to you, Izuku."

/

Two hours later, and Izuku internally cringed at just how many people were now invading their sacred ruins. Dozens of heroes, government functionaries, and media vultures swarmed the mountain they once called home and prayed to the dragon. He knew Shouta had to call the task force, but he didn't think the task force was this big.

Speaking of Shouta, he gave the hero a blank stare. "Is that everyone?"

He only received a nod in response, making Izuku sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose. "Fuck's sake, I can't even do my duty in peace."

It was then that another headache reared its ugly head in the shape of All Might recklessly jumping onto the tower that Shouta promised would remain outsider-free.

Said headache only grew when the both of them noticed All Might holding a microphone in one of his hands. Izuku could only pinch his nose harder, almost drawing blood with his nails as he groaned.

"What do you want, All Might?" Izuku asked with a patience-free tone and a piercing glare.

"The answer to that is simple, young man!" All Might responded without a moment's hesitation. "I AM HERE–" "Spill it already!" "to make a final request before you make your unfortunate sacrifice."

Izuku raised an unimpressed eyebrow at Japan's top hero, finally making him realize how done with all of the theatrics and publicity he is. Unfortunately for Izuku, that didn't stop All Might from offering the microphone.

"There are many of us, both in the task force and the media, that wish to hear your final words, your story."

While Shouta groaned in the background – if that wasn't a mood right now, then nothing was – Izuku stared blankly at the microphone, blinking a couple times before responding.

"Are you really asking me to make a press statement right before I give up my life to save you fools?"

Taken aback by the blunt response, All Might lost focus for a moment before clearing his throat and nodding, having the decency to at least look ashamed for what he was doing. "I am truly sorry young man. I didn't really want to do this, but the leaders of the task force told me to at least make the offer. I understand if you wish to decline, and I'll make sure they don't push you further."

"… just give me the gods-damned mic already." Izuku coldly demanded before swiping the instrument from the hero's massive outstretched hand. He walked to the tower's edge and looked down at the expectant audience of heroes, officials, and the press. He gave one last exhausted sigh before speaking.

"In ancient times, thousands of years ago, the planet was ravaged by two beasts controlling the land and seas. These primal beasts were the Pokémon known as Groudon and Kyogre. As they fought for the supremacy of their respective domains, meteors began to fall, threatening to wipe out all life separated from the conflict. Only by the prayers and cries of my people, the Draconids, was the Lord of the Sky able to deliver the hope we so desperately needed."

He held out the meteorite in his hand. "The wind spread his light. He granted our wish, destroyed the remaining meteors, and stopped the fighting. This we know, and we hold our hopes in this last stone. We know that today, the sky again falls."

He raised the meteorite above his head, curling his hand into a fist around it. "I, the Lorekeeper, comes to save us all. The dragon, our Lord Rayquaza, I will call."

Tears dropped from his now-shut eyes as a smile graced his lips. "I'll be able to see them again. I can finally be reunited with my long-fallen brethren. This world can rest, knowing that I did my very best."

Izuku opened his eyes and looked back down, directly addressing the crowd. "In the past, during the age of meta-suppression and in the modern era, the Draconids were persecuted and massacred for their beliefs and their magic. As my last request, my dying wish, I ask that you all accept the rest of my people so they no longer have to hide. Even if that means just leaving them alone here in these ruins, all I ask for is peace."

He bowed his head and turned away, giving the microphone back to All Might as he walked to the final staircase. Understanding the dismissal, All Might leaped back down to the clamoring crowd.

Izuku turned to Shouta, giving him a smile and a small gesture, permitting him to take the last steps with him. Shouta returned the smile and hurried to the teen's side.

/

As they walked up the last few steps, Shouta took note of Izuku's expression. His eyes had joyful wrinkles underneath them, yet they were so tired at the same time. His smile was subtle but genuine, full of pride and sorrow without a hint of regret or resentment.

"You really have made peace with this, haven't you, kid?" Shouta smirked. Izuku smirked back with a nod, not needing to speak to convey his emotions anymore.

"For what it's worth, I'm proud of you. In another world, I would have loved to have you in my heroics class."

In any other circumstances, the blinding smile he was given would've annoyed him and hurt his eyes. In this case, though, it only made his heart swell.

I'll make sure you're remembered, Izuku Midoriya, he thought to himself.

Making it to the top of the staircase, the pair made their way to the pedestal at the center. Izuku placed the meteorite into the indent of the pedestal before taking two calculated steps back.

"This is it. It's time." He said, voice heavy. Shouta nodded imperceptibly as he stood behind the teen.

Taking a deep breath, Izuku raised his hands. The clouds began to swirl above the tower as his green tattoos shone with the intensity of the sun itself. He was enveloped in a neon green aura, flowing from his feet to his hair.

His cape and fluffy hair were moved by the wind that began to blow around them. A darker, forest-green glow emanated from his hands before coalescing into a beam that shot straight into the meteorite. That same forest green energy then pierced the sky like a beacon.

"With jewel bright, and borrowed might, from spirits of departed…"

The tattoos began to drain to a sanitized light gray color, starting from his feet and rising up. Thunder could be heard right above them, yet sounding so distant.

"Sacred rite, in thy great sight, my life as well I offer…"

His body tensed against his will, fighting to stay standing as his life force drained. Rumbling sounded as the ground shook beneath them.

"I summon thee, to aid this fight, and save us from disaster…"

His voice wavered in strength, breathing heavily as his knees began to buckle. A distant roar echoed throughout the mountain valley.

"Realize them upon this world, for this I do summon thee…!"

He suddenly shot his hands into the sky, the rest of his tattoos draining as the aura disappeared. The remains of the energy fired from his palms into the sky as a second, weaker beacon. Yellow glowing eyes revealed themselves from the cloud circling the meteorite's beacon.

"LORD RAYQUAZA!" Izuku shouted with his remaining strength before collapsing to the ground. Shouta caught him and sat him in his lap as a shrill cry reverberated in the sky just above them.

The clouds suddenly disappeared, leaving the sky entirely clear. A sunbeam illuminated an emerald-green dragon descending from the stratosphere. All of the onlookers were stunned into silence, realizing the old Pokémon legends were really true.

Shouta stared at the dragon as it floated between them and the meteorite behind it. He could feel its gaze piercing into his soul. Every instinct in his body screamed for him to run from this godly threat, but he sat still, determined to protect the weak teen in his hands despite the potential danger.

Rayquaza appeared to see and acknowledge the hero's determination, giving him a proud look somehow. The dragon reached out one of its small, clawed hands, sending a small orb of energy into Izuku.

The kid regained consciousness, opening his eyes sluggishly and smiling upon seeing the dragon he worked so hard to summon. He slowly got up despite Shouta's wordless protesting, looking Rayquaza in his eyes.

He walked up to the dragon before getting down on one knee in front of him.

"I give you my one fervent wish, Lord Rayquaza," Izuku weakly said. "I beseech you, please save us again from destruction. Use the power of your meteorite and restore the sky to its old glory."

Rayquaza let out a low, appraising growl. The Pokémon's tail lifted the meteorite and threw it into the air. He then swallowed it whole, much to Shouta's and the onlookers' shock. Izuku, for his part, smiled with relief and closed his eyes again, peacefully falling onto his back.

Rayquaza began to glow with an ethereal energy, a rainbow aura enveloping him as he floated upwards. The rainbow aura expanded until it formed a large sphere around him, solidifying into a rock identical to the meteorite he swallowed. The rock quickly cracked as a strange symbol magically etched itself into it before shattering back into energy.

Rayquaza emerged from the energy explosion with a new form. Orange and red tendrils extended out from his cranial spines. The lower spines grew more pronounced and jagged than the upper ones, and the yellow accents adorning his body had shifted to a dark orange.

The draconic Pokémon let out an empowering roar as it turned to face the asteroid. Within moments of the shift, Rayquaza rocketed upward towards the invading body with an almost imperceptible speed as everyone looked on with bated breath.

Less than a minute later, the asteroid began to visibly glow and crack. A hole made itself visible, the work of the dragon puncturing it successfully. The cracks spread across the entire asteroid, shining brighter before shattering in all directions.

Just as the world population thought they were about to be destroyed by the debris, Rayquaza descended from the sky. Keeping his gaze toward the broken asteroid, he glowed with yellow and orange energy as a ball formed between its lower spines in front of his mouth. Suddenly, the ball of energy shot out into a giant beam encompassing the entirety of the asteroid's remains.

The energy beam lasted a solid minute before disappearing, leaving nothing behind. Silence gripped the world before cries of joy and elation sounded across the planet.

Rayquaza roared triumphantly, glowing white before reverting back to his original form and soaring back into the ozone from whence it came.

/

As the dragon ascended back to his home, Shouta raced to the limp body of Izuku. The color had already begun to drain from him, eyes sunken in more like an elderly man than a teenager. Gently pressing two fingers to his neck, he felt no heartbeat. Despite his best efforts, tears escaped his eyes as he carefully picked the boy up in his arms.

He felt so fragile like this. This was wrong, and yet it was reality.

Shouta made his way down the tower to the awaiting Draconids. His parents rushed to Shouta, their eyes similarly filled with tears as they looked at the lifeless form of their son. Shouta didn't speak, not trusting his voice at the moment. He instead communicated his condolences through his eyes as he gave over Izuku's body to his father.

His mother sobbed quietly as she placed her hand softly on his forehead. "You did so good, baby. We're all so proud of you. Please rest well with Lord Arceus, now."

Izuku's father's gaze raised to meet Shouta's. "Thank you, Eraserhead, for accompanying our boy so he wasn't alone."

Shouta nodded and held back his own voice's attempt at crying. "J-just call me Shouta, Mr. Midoriya. It's the l-least I can give you."

His father smiled brightly, just like his son had before. "I'm Hisashi, and his mother is Inko. Still, thank you."

"It was my honor to be at his side, Hisashi," Shouta replied. "I promise to do everything in my power to ensure he's remembered and that his last wish is honored."

Inko chuckled softly through her tears and uneven breathing. "I know that you will. We'll remain here at the ruins with our baby boy. You're free to visit us anytime."

"Thank you, Inko."

"It's the least I can give you."