Just a few days ago, Dad was inexplicably furious at the dream of his life coming true.

Just a few days ago, Aizawa-sensei came to my home to convince Dad to let me stay on-campus.

Just a few days ago, I visited Selene in the hospital daily, in the hopes that she was all right.

Now, I stand in front of Class 1-A's boarding house, Heights Alliance.

For something that was built in three days, it is impressive. Most of my classmates are excited. They listen to Aizawa-sensei intently. But I can't really bring myself to care all that much. Maybe it's because I haven't heard from her yet. Selene was kept as a patient at the same hospital Mom was being held in. So after talking to Mom, I went to her room. Though, she was under sedatives the entire time. But that didn't deter me from reminiscing and talking to her unresponsive figure. Even now, my thoughts wander.

I had managed to regain consciousness fairly quickly. That rock which hit my head only made me briefly black out. Yaoyorozou had pulled both of us out of the battle arena and behind the wall. Medics and ambulances were flooding the scene, and I hastened to rush Selene on a gurney. One medic asked me if I needed help as well because the front of my clothes were soaked with blood. Her blood. I denied. There were more pressing matters at hand.

Yaoyorozou and I rushed to group with the others at the spot where we all watched the interview. I rushed to turn my waistcoat inside out to hide most of the blood. But I shouldn't have bothered. The public was more occupied with what was being shown on the jumbovision screen: the fight between All for One and All Might. The fact that there was someone who could match All Might's prowess was paralyzing. Each matched the other's punch. Every time contact was made, more buildings collapsed. Endeavor and the other Pro-Heroes arrived at the scene to help the poor citizens caught in the mess. I thought these were all the frightening sights I would have tonight. But I was wrong. The night was not done with its revelations. All Might's true form was revealed. Skeletal. Frail. Weak. The contradiction to his Symbol of Peace persona. And yet, the same people who were questioning the Pro-Heroes earlier were now rooting for him to win. I couldn't even care at their hypocrisy because I was cheering for him just as loudly.

All Might pummeled All for One into the ground. And then he pointed at the camera, giving an undeniable warning to any other villain out there: "You're next."

We reconvened - with Bakugou - changed out of her clown costumes into regular clothes, brought him to the police for his statement, and went our respective ways home. The sun had rose by then. Kind of anticlimactic, but I didn't think I could take one more earth-shattering truth.

Sis, gratefully, didn't question where I had been the entire night. I heard roars and sparks coming from one of the room inside the house, and when I went to check it out, I saw Dad fuming. He broke the doors, burnt the hardwood floor, his gym equipment was in a mess. I simply watched in distaste. He knew the implications just as much as I did: because All Might was incapable of performing his task as a hero anymore, the position of Number One went to Endeavor. I had thought Dad would be glad. Elated. The title he pursued without any regard for his family … with no care for the repercussions … that stole the life of my brother … he got it. So why was he so upset? One part of me seethed: What more do you want now, you greedy excuse for a father? Another part of me reveled vindictively: All that time and effort you spent toward your goal, and yet you are displeased with the fruit. Karma has started to unfold!

I snap out of my reverie when Aizawa-sensei calls out my name. Along with Kirishima's, Midoriya's, Yaoyorozou's, and Iida's. "You five were present on 'that evening' at 'that place,'" he says with displeasure. "You took it upon yourselves to proceed toward the site of Bakugou's rescue." Our classmates gape at us in shock, as if they were deceived. As if they believed that their disagreement had gotten to us, stopped us from going through with our reckless plan. But their words never did. I do not regret what I did. This reaction does not go unnoticed. "From the look of things, all of your classmates understand the weight of your behavior in deciding to go there. A lot of things have been pigeonholed in light of everything that happened, but I'll say this now.

"If it weren't for All Might's sudden retirement - with the exception of Bakugou, Jirou, Hagakure, and Hanada - I would have expelled you all as punishment." I know, deep in my bones, that this threat of expulsion is not one of Sensei's lies. He continues, "For the five perpetrators I mentioned, it goes without saying, but the same punishment applies for the other twelve of you who were aware of their actions and did nothing to stop them. Regardless of the reason, the fact that you all betrayed our trust doesn't change. From now on, if you all would do me the favor of following the established procedures and acting accordingly, I would very much appreciate it. And it would certainly go a long way toward restoring my trust."

He turns around to head inside the building. "That is all! Now, let's head in with smiles on our faces and lots of energy!" Wow, Sensei. Your tone of voice really bursts of vitality. My shoulders sag forward and head fall. Everyone else responds similarly. While I don't regret my actions, I am ashamed that the others who did not wish to get involved are being blamed with us. Yeah. What we did was pretty reckless. Our bruised egos and frustrations clouded our thinking. We could have approached things a bit smarter.

That's when Bakugou pulls Kaminari behind the hedges and makes him do something to cause a million voltage explosion of electricity. Kaminari comes out with his dunce mode activated: thumbs doing that back-and-forth motion, eyes unfocused, and mouth making childish sounds of glee. My classmates erupt with laughter. Bakugou won't admit it, but he did it for them. He even passes a wad of cash to Kirishima, silently thanking him under the pretense of his ego.

All of us head inside the boarding house. The first floor is the common room. Spacious and clean. Plenty of windows to accommodate for daylight. A common dining area and separate bath and laundry facilities are on located further on this floor. My room is on the highest floor, the fifth floor. I leave the group to check it out. It's somewhat smaller than my bedroom at home, but that's fine. The attached half-bathroom, air conditioner, refrigerator, and closet make up for it. A veranda juts out from the wall-length windows, making it all the better. My luggage is already here, ready to be unpacked. The realization that everyone except one student will be moving in today leaves a bitter aftertaste on my tongue. But I swallow it. After I finish arranging my room, I'll go to the hospital again.

If Mom wonders why I have been visiting every day lately, she doesn't ask. I have a feeling she knows, but she's kind enough not to bring it up. We talk the usual stuff, and then I have to go see someone else.

Nightfall arrives. I walk through Selene's ward room, my hopes high. The doctors told me that she had made it through. They even took her off the sedatives and casts, so I hope that we can talk. Instead, she's sound asleep. Bakugou was right. This girl can sleep anywhere, anytime. The corners of my mouth rise up at that.

I sit on the edge of the bed, by her side. I breathe a sigh of relief when her heart and breath monitors read normal values. Then I reach for her hand, cradling it in both of mine. It surprises me that she's wearing gloves even here, but I don't delve into it. Because for once, this as close to her bare palm I get. There's only one barrier separating our skin from touching. Not two. The fact that I can feel that tangible of a difference, even though it should be miniscule … it means a lot.

I stroke circles on the back of her palm with my thumbs. "The class moved into dorms, today," I say to no one and someone. "Our rooms are on the same floor. Yours is in the right wing; mine is in the left. They're all right. A bit cramped, but they have all the amenities. I think you'd like it. The girls decided to have a showoff of who decorated their room best. They were amazed at mine, though. I don't get it. I put in tatami flooring, bamboo walls, even a bamboo screen door for the veranda, so it would remind me of my bedroom back at home. The girls found some other rooms outrageous. Satou made some delicious cake, which swayed them to vote for him.

"And then Asui wanted to talk to us. Specifically, myself, Iida, Kirishima, Midoriya, and Yaoyorozou. You know … because we grouped up to rescue you and Bakugou. She wanted to apologize for likening us to villains. She said that she projected her cowardly feelings and frustrations onto us, and that it was wrong of her to do that. She said that she would like things to go back to how they were used to. Back to normal."

I grip Selene's hand tighter. I smile sadly. "But that can't happen, can it? Not with us, at least. So much has happened since the recommendations exam. Life has been a roller coaster in all of its aspects. Sometimes, it excites me. Sometimes, it scares me. And you …" I rub my thumb again. "You've been the most twisty-turny roller coaster of all.

"I experienced all sorts of things when I was with you. Emotions that I thought I was incapable of. Fears I never thought I would have. And miraculous of all … the depth of my love for you."

I bring her hand close to my face, almost kissing it. I play with her fingers. I trace the valleys of her palm. "There is something I should confess. I love you. A lot. Beyond comprehension. Catastrophically. Desperately. I'm kind of slow when it comes to interpreting my feelings, but once I figure something out, it's undeniable. That's how I can say these words, knowing that they're the truth. And because they were the truth, I became indecisive. I'm ashamed that it took you nearly dying twice for me to finally make a decision. But I've made it now. I won't commit that mistake ever again."

I whisper into her palm, "I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private place you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body. I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know how to convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world." If she were awake, she would know just where that quote came from. And she would blush that adorable blush because every word is true.

I keep whispering, not finished with my wishes. "I don't know how to love, but I'll try my best. I'll treat you much better than how my dad treated my mom. Like the goddess you are. I want to know your secrets. Your trauma. Your aspirations. Your likes. Your dislikes. Your strengths. Your flaws. Your dreams. Your nightmares. I want to wipe your tears and tell you that you're strong. I want to applaud and congratulate you for every accomplishment because God, you're that brilliant! And I want to send to the darkest pits of hell every bastard that dared to hurt you. I want to be the one to adorn your hair with flowers and keep them in my treasure chest when I remove them. I want my hugs to be the last thing you feel before you sleep, and my kisses to be the first thing you wake up to. Strolls in the sunset, picnics at the gazebo, dances in the night, dates at the bookstore." I laugh, "Yeah. I'll take you to all the bookstores and libraries you want. No comments about the horde of books you'll carry in your arms. I'll read stories to you, if you want. I'll let you rave about them all you want, and I'll listen. We'll build a little library of our own. We'll eat cakes and drink milk tea and down ourselves in sweets as we escape to another world.

"But I have to make myself worthy of you. Become deserving of you and your love. My inadequacies never became more stark than when you were kidnapped. Because of them, I couldn't save you. From abduction and from death. I'm still an aspiring Pro-Hero without even the minimal provisional license, experiencing the benefits of nepotism because of my surname. But you've become another reason to prove myself. I want to become a better person because of you. I'm more similar to Dad than I care for, but I will treat you better than he treated Mom. One day, I will become a Pro-Hero to reckon. I'll have a license, a job, a home. I'll have everything to provide for a stable, secure future with you. And on that day, I'll tell you how I feel. No more confessions in the dark."

Visiting hours are coming to an end.

I let go of her hand and rise from the bed.

A blossom of the dark has to fight for the radiance of its moon.

And I'm ready for that.

Before I leave, I trail my thumb down her soft crescent-shaped cheeks.

I love you, my moon.

And I won't give up on you.

Note: I have copied some dialogue from one of the English-translated versions of the manga. The link to the chapter is here: .online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-98/

Citations:

"I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body. I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world." - Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi