It was a warm spring day, and the air smelled faintly of grass and blooming flowers. The small schoolyard was filled with the sounds of children running and shouting, their laughter echoing through the grounds. A boy named Yu Onomae stood near the edge of the playground, his hands in his pockets, his eyes darting between the kids playing tag and kicking balls. He felt a pang of nervousness in his chest.
Yu had just transferred to this school after he and his father moved to the area, and starting over meant making new friends, something Yu wasn't particularly good at. He rubbed his fingers together as he felt them starting to stick to one another. He knew his fingers would stick, especially when he was nervous. He wasn't ready to show anyone his Quirk just yet. Not here. Not until he figured out where he fit.
As he scanned the playground, his eyes landed on a girl sitting near the sandbox, her back straight, her legs folded neatly beneath her. She wasn't playing with the other kids, but she didn't seem bothered. Her dark green hair framed her round face, and she sat with an air of calm, almost like she belonged there. It was like the chaos around her didn't matter.
Yu hesitated for a moment, then slowly approached her, unsure of why he felt drawn to her in the first place. She just seemed... different.
"Hi," he said awkwardly, stopping a few feet away. "Mind if I sit?"
The girl blinked up at him, her large eyes studying him for a moment before she nodded.
He sat down cross-legged beside her, the feeling of unease slowly slipping away. There was something about her quiet, unbothered demeanor that made him feel less self-conscious. He fiddled with the grass beneath his hands, trying to think of something to say.
"You're new," she said, breaking the silence before he could. She spoke in a nasal voice, which reminded Yu of how a frog would croak.
Yu nodded. "Yeah. We just moved here last week. My dad got a new job."
The girl didn't respond right away; she just blinked again in that slow, deliberate way of hers. "I'm Tsuyu Asui. But you can call me Tsu."
"Yu Onomae," he said, relieved the introductions were out of the way. "It's nice to meet you."
They sat quietly for a few moments, neither of them speaking. Yu glanced at the other kids, who were still running and shouting, but then quickly turned back to Tsuyu, who was staring off into the distance.
"You don't like playing with the other kids?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
Tsuyu shrugged lightly. "Not really. They're too loud. Ribbit."
Yu let out a small laugh at her little tic, and Tsuyu's eyes flicked toward him. "Yeah, I get that," he said. "I'm not really into all the noise either."
For the first time, Tsuyu smiled. It was just a small, almost imperceptible curve of her lips, but Yu caught it. It made him feel like he'd said the right thing.
There was another pause before Tsuyu's gaze settled on his hands. "Do you have a Quirk?" she asked, as straightforward as ever.
Yu froze for a moment. He hadn't expected the question so soon, but Tsuyu didn't seem like the type to beat around the bush. His fingers twitched, the faint stickiness of his hands reminding him of their presence.
"Yeah," he admitted, glancing away. "I have a Spider Quirk. I can do whatever a spider can, but I'm still working on it."
Tsuyu's expression didn't change, but she nodded. "Cool."
That was it. No weird looks, no judgment, no uncomfortable questions. Just a simple acknowledgment. Yu felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"What about you?" he asked, feeling more at ease now. "Do you have a Quirk?"
Tsuyu nodded. "I can do whatever a frog can."
Yu stared at her hand for a second, then blinked in surprise as her fingers transformed into something more... frog-like. He knew her frog-like hands would allow her to grip a variety of different surfaces, just like a frog can. She flexed them effortlessly before they returned to normal. She could've fired her elongated tongue from her mouth or leap into the air with her strong legs, but it would gain too much attention.
"Whoa," Yu said, eyes wide. "That's awesome!"
Tsuyu shrugged again, her calm demeanor never wavering. "It's okay. It just makes me different."
Yu nodded in agreement, understanding what she meant. "Yeah. But I think being different is cool."
Tsuyu glanced at him, her large eyes studying him again. "You're different too."
Yu smiled. "Yeah. Guess we both are."
From that moment on, something clicked between them. They didn't need to fill the silence with endless conversation. They didn't need to explain why they didn't fit in with the other kids. They just got it. Sitting on the edge of the playground, with the noise and chaos around them, Yu and Tsuyu found something rare in instant, quiet understanding.
And that was the start of a friendship between two unlikely friends: a Spider and a Frog. Some of their friends were weirded out by the peculiar friendship between a natural predator and her natural prey. Some even joked that one day, because of their closeness to one another, Tsuyu will seize the opportunity to... eat Yu. Whatever that meant.
But some others couldn't help but amazed. Two youngsters with Mutant-type Quirks of a Spider and a Frog. In another life, they would be sworn enemies. A natural predator and a natural prey, the Frog wouldn't hesitate to jump after the Spider to eat him. But here, they were friends. They thought it was... heartwarming. It also gave Tsuyu a bit more courage to reach out to others. To make new friends.
But then, their world changed. Her world.
It had been a few days since Yu had last seen Tsuyu. Usually, she would join him after school, sitting beside him on the playground or climbing their favorite tree where they would talk or just enjoy the peace. But lately, she hadn't been around. Yu had tried not to worry at first. He knew Tsuyu was the kind of person who didn't feel the need to explain everything. But after three days of silence, he started to wonder if something was wrong.
On the fourth day, Yu decided to go looking for her.
He found her by the school gate, her usual calm expression in place as she quietly slipped out of the building. But this time, there was something different about her. Her steps seemed more hurried, more purposeful, and she was carrying a grocery bag, which was unusual for a kid their age.
"Hey, Tsu!" Yu called out, running to catch up to her.
She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a small nod in acknowledgment, but she didn't slow down.
"You've been disappearing lately," Yu said, a little out of breath as he walked beside her. "Everything okay?"
Tsuyu didn't answer right away. She kept walking, her eyes focused straight ahead. Yu wasn't used to this. Usually, she would answer him with that blunt honesty she was known for. But this time, something was different.
Finally, after a long pause, she spoke. "I've been busy."
Yu blinked. "Busy? With what?"
They reached the end of the school grounds, and Tsuyu turned down a side street that led toward her home. Yu followed, confusion tugging at him.
"I'm taking care of my brother and sister," she said simply, as though it explained everything.
Yu frowned. "What do you mean?"
Tsuyu stopped walking and turned to face him. Her large, serious eyes met his, and for the first time, Yu noticed how tired she looked. It wasn't something obvious. It was just a subtle heaviness in her gaze, a slight droop to her usually straight posture.
"My parents work a lot now," she said. "They're barely home lately. So I have to take care of my siblings. Samidare and Satsuki."
Yu was silent for a moment, absorbing the information. He knew Tsuyu's parents worked a lot, but he'd never really thought about it before. He'd never considered what that would mean for Tsuyu.
"Wait," Yu said slowly, trying to wrap his head around it. "You... you take care of them? Like... all by yourself?"
Tsuyu nodded, her expression calm, though Yu could sense a weight behind her words. "Yeah. I pick them up from school, help them with their homework, make dinner... stuff like that."
Yu stared at her, his mind racing. He couldn't imagine doing all of that. He barely knew how to make his lunch, let alone take care of other people. "But... you're only ten. Isn't that... hard?"
Tsuyu shrugged lightly as if it wasn't a big deal. "It's what I have to do. My parents need to work, and Samidare and Satsuki need someone to look after them. So I do it."
For the first time, Yu saw the responsibility Tsuyu carried on her small shoulders. She didn't complain, didn't whine, or ask for help. She just did what needed to be done. It hit him like a wave, the realization that while he was out playing, climbing and jumping from trees, Tsuyu was at home, taking care of her family.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Yu asked quietly, feeling a strange mix of guilt and admiration. He had always thought of Tsuyu as strong, but this... this was different. She wasn't just strong. She was responsible. More responsible than any ten-year-old should have to be.
Tsuyu looked down at the grocery bag in her hand, her fingers tightening around the handle. "I didn't think I needed to," she said softly. "It's just... my job. You wouldn't understand."
Yu opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself from doing it. She was right. He didn't understand. His parents were always around, always taking care of him. He had never had to worry about anyone else. Responsibility, at least the kind Tsuyu was talking about, was something completely foreign to him.
"I'm sorry," Yu said after a long pause, his voice quiet. "I didn't know."
Tsuyu glanced up at him, her expression softening just a little. "It's okay, Yu. You don't have to apologize. It's just how things are for me."
Yu nodded, but the heaviness in his chest didn't go away. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had been blind to what Tsuyu had been going through. She had been carrying all of this on her own, and he hadn't even noticed.
"Is there... is there anything I can do to help?" he asked, unsure of what he could offer but desperate to do something.
Tsuyu's eyes flickered with surprise for a brief moment, and she tilted her head, considering his question. "You could walk with me," she said finally. "It's nice to have company."
Yu smiled, relieved that she hadn't brushed him off. "Yeah, I can do that."
They walked in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps filling the air. Yu couldn't stop thinking about everything Tsuyu had said, about how she had to be both a sister and a caretaker. He admired her even more now, realizing just how much she was capable of.
As they neared her house, Yu glanced over at her. "You know, Tsu... you're pretty amazing."
Tsuyu blinked, her face showing just a hint of confusion. "Why?"
"Because you're doing all this for your family," Yu said, feeling the truth of the words as he spoke them. "You take care of your brother and sister, and you don't even complain. That's... that's a big deal."
Tsuyu shrugged again, but this time there was a small smile on her lips. "It's just responsibility, Yu."
Yu nodded, though he knew now that it was more than just responsibility. It was something deeper. It was something that made Tsuyu one of the strongest people he knew. And for the first time in his life, Yu began to understand what responsibility meant. It wasn't just doing chores or following rules. It was taking care of the people who depended on you, even when it was hard. Even when you were just ten years old.
"And besides... I get to stick around with them. Ribbit. I like seeing them happy."
As they reached Tsuyu's front door, Yu made a silent promise to himself. He would be there for her, just like she was for her family. He couldn't take her place, but he could be the friend who walked beside her, who shared the weight of her world in whatever small way he could.
"See you tomorrow?" Yu asked as Tsuyu opened the door.
Tsuyu nodded. "Yeah. See you tomorrow."
And with that, she disappeared inside, leaving Yu standing on the doorstep, his mind still spinning with everything he had learned.
Little did he know that the lesson would be important for him later on.
It was a breezy afternoon, the sun just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the playground where Yu and Tsuyu often met. Yu had a grin plastered on his face as he jogged up to her, hands hidden behind his back.
It was a rare occasion in which Tsuyu's parents could stay home, which gave her an opportunity to meet Yu after a while. That was why she had arrived earlier than he did.
"You're late," Tsuyu said, her usual calm, neutral tone in place. She was sitting on their favorite tree stump, watching him with her wide, steady eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Yu replied, bouncing on his heels with excitement. "But I was working on something. Something big."
Tsuyu tilted her head slightly, curious but not showing it too much. "What is it?"
Yu couldn't hold back anymore. He pulled his hands from behind his back and held up a pair of wristbands, each with a small metallic nozzle attached. "Ta-da!"
Tsuyu blinked, her eyes narrowing as she examined the strange device. "What is that?"
"They're web-shooters!" Yu declared, slipping the bands onto his wrists. "I've been working on them for weeks. They let me shoot webs. With these, I no longer have to rely on chains or ropes to swing from."
"Ribbit. Swing?" Tsuyu croaked.
"Yeah, Tsu. In a warehouse where I would train, I saw a spider swinging from a web. I did the same with the hanging chains. It was... fun."
It was something she had missed after her new routine. She had never seen him swing before.
Tsuyu blinked again, this time more intrigued. "Show me."
Yu's grin widened. "You bet!"
Without wasting another second, he aimed his wrist toward the nearest tree branch and fired. As he pressed the button on his palm, a thin, sticky line shot from the nozzle, attaching itself securely to the branch above. With a quick tug and a jump, Yu launched himself off the ground, swinging through the air in a wide arc. His laughter filled the air as he soared from one tree to another, the wind rushing past his face. He felt unstoppable, like a real hero.
"See?" he called down to Tsuyu. "I told you it'd work!"
Tsuyu watched with her usual calm, though Yu could tell from the way her eyes followed him that she was impressed. "Not bad," she said, standing up and stretching her limbs. "But I'm still faster."
Before Yu could respond, Tsuyu crouched low and sprang into the air with her legs. Her Frog-like agility took her high above the trees. She moved effortlessly, leaping from branch to branch with precision, her body as fluid as a frog's. Yu swung after her, laughing as he tried to keep up.
For a while, they raced through the trees, Tsuyu leaping gracefully and Yu swinging with his web-shooters. They were both lost in the thrill of it, pushing each other to go faster, jump higher, and swing farther. It felt like they were in their world, where nothing else mattered except the wind in their hair and the ground far below.
But then, just as Yu was about to launch another swing, his web-shooter sputtered. He pulled the trigger again, but this time, no web shot out. His eyes widened in panic as he looked down, realizing he was running out of web fluid.
"Oh, no..." he managed to say before his grip slipped, and he began to fall.
"Yu!" Tsuyu shouted, her voice cutting through the air.
The ground rushed up to meet him, but before he could hit it, Tsuyu shot out her tongue, wrapping it around his waist and pulling him toward her. With a strong leap, she landed them both safely on the grass, her breath steady despite the effort.
Yu lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky, his heart pounding. He hadn't expected to run out of web fluid so soon, and the thought of falling from such a height had shaken him more than he cared to admit.
"That... that was close," he muttered, trying to catch his breath.
Tsuyu knelt beside him, her face calm as always, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "You need to be careful, Yu. You could've gotten hurt."
Yu nodded, still dazed. "Yeah... I guess I got a little carried away."
They sat in silence for a moment, the excitement of their little adventure giving way to a more serious realization. Tsuyu looked at him, her large eyes steady and thoughtful.
"You know," she began slowly, "we were just swinging around... but it felt like something more, didn't it?"
Yu frowned, sitting up. "Like what?"
"Like we weren't just playing," Tsuyu continued her voice as calm and straightforward as ever. "We were pushing ourselves, doing things normal kids can't do. And when you fell, I didn't think. I just... do it. I saved you. It felt like... like what heroes do."
Yu blinked, her words sinking in. He hadn't thought about it that way before. But now that she said it, it made sense. He had built the web-shooters not just for fun, but because he wanted to use his quirk in a way that mattered. And when Tsuyu had saved him, it hadn't just been instinct. It had been something more.
"We can be heroes," Yu said softly, the realization hitting him all at once. "We can do this, Tsu."
Tsuyu nodded. "Maybe not today, but someday. We have Quirks that we can use to help people. We just need to get stronger, smarter."
Yu's heart raced with a newfound excitement, but this time it wasn't just about swinging through the trees or showing off his inventions. It was the thought that one day, they could make a difference. That one day, they could be more than just kids with Quirks. They could be heroes. Pro Heroes.
He stood up, dusting off his clothes and giving her a determined smile. "You're right. We can be heroes. And I'm gonna keep working on my web-shooters so that next time, I won't run out."
Tsuyu stood as well, giving him a small nod. "And I'll keep training too. We'll both get better."
They shared a look, a quiet understanding passing between them. From that day on, their friendship would be more than just about racing each other through the trees. It would be about pushing themselves, about learning what it meant to be responsible, not just for themselves but for others.
As they walked back toward the school, the sky turning a soft shade of pink with the setting sun, Yu felt a sense of purpose growing inside him. He knew now, without a doubt, that one day, he and Tsuyu would make that dream a reality.
They could be heroes. And they would be.
It was a cloudy afternoon when Yu and Tsuyu met at their usual spot. It was a quiet clearing behind the schoolyard where they often sat together, away from the noise of other kids. The air was heavy, almost as if the sky itself knew something important was about to happen. Tsuyu sat on the grass, her legs folded neatly beneath her, her gaze fixed on the horizon, while Yu stood nearby, shifting nervously from foot to foot.
He had been dreading this moment for days, not knowing how to say it. How could he tell her that everything was about to change? How could he explain that the life they had built together, the quiet bond of friendship that had been their anchor... was about to be torn apart?
Finally, he couldn't stall any longer. He took a deep breath, his hands shaking slightly as he walked over to her.
"Tsu," he began softly, sitting down beside her. "I... I need to tell you something."
Tsuyu turned her large, steady eyes toward him, her expression calm as always, though there was a flicker of curiosity in her gaze. She could sense the weight in his voice. "What is it, Yu?"
He clenched his fists, trying to find the right words, but they stuck in his throat. For a moment, he considered not saying anything at all. Pretending like nothing was wrong. But he knew he couldn't. Tsuyu deserved the truth.
"I'm moving," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tsuyu blinked, her eyes widening just slightly. "Moving?" she repeated, as though the word didn't quite make sense.
Yu nodded, looking down at the ground, unable to meet her gaze. "My dad got a new job. It's far away. We're leaving next week."
For a long moment, neither of them said anything. The silence between them felt heavier than it ever had before. Yu could feel his heart pounding in his chest, waiting for her to say something, anything. He had expected a reaction, maybe even anger or sadness. But Tsuyu just sat there, her face as calm as ever, her eyes unreadable.
"Where are you moving to?" she asked quietly.
"To a city," Yu replied, his voice strained. "A place called Naruhata. It's far from here."
Tsuyu nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to her hands resting in her lap. "That's far," she said, her tone neutral, though Yu could hear the tiniest tremor in her voice.
"I don't want to go," Yu blurted out, the words spilling out before he could stop them. "I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave you."
Tsuyu's eyes lifted to meet his, her calm mask breaking just for a moment. There was something there, something vulnerable and raw, hidden behind her usual composure. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, and she gave a small nod.
"You have to go, Yu," she said softly. "It's not your choice."
"I know, but it's not fair," Yu muttered, his fists tightening in frustration. "We were supposed to do this together. We were going to be heroes."
Tsuyu was quiet for a long time, her gaze distant as though she was thinking it through. When she finally spoke, her voice was steady, though there was a hint of sadness in her tone. "We still can be. Just... apart."
Yu shook his head, his heart aching at the thought. "But it won't be the same. We won't see each other every day, we won't train together, and..."
"You'll make new friends," Tsuyu interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. "You'll keep training, and you'll keep getting stronger. You're good at that."
Yu's eyes met hers, and for the first time since he'd told her the news, he saw something in her expression. It was something that made his chest tighten. Tsuyu wasn't just accepting it. She was hurting too. Even if she wasn't showing it in the way Yu might have, he could feel it in her words, in the quiet way she spoke.
"You're my best friend, Tsu," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "I don't want to leave you behind."
Tsuyu looked at him for a long time, her eyes soft and filled with something Yu couldn't quite place. Then, slowly, she reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "You're not leaving me behind," she said quietly. "You're just moving forward. And so am I."
Yu felt his chest tighten even more. He didn't know what to say, so he just nodded, his throat too tight to speak. They sat there together in silence, the weight of his words hanging between them.
Finally, Tsuyu spoke again, her voice low but steady. "You'll be a hero, Yu. I know you will. And so will I. And maybe one day, we'll see each other again... when we're both wearing our hero costumes."
Yu blinked, trying to hold back the sudden rush of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him. He hadn't expected her to be so strong, to take this news so calmly. But that was Tsuyu, always steady, always focused on what needed to be done.
"I'll keep getting stronger," he promised, his voice barely above a whisper. "For both of us."
Tsuyu gave him a small, reassuring nod. "Me too." After the small nod, she then pushed herself up to her feet in one smooth motion, her frog-like agility making it seem effortless. "Race you to the tree?"
Before Yu could respond with a word, she was already hopping away after noticing his small nod. Her long leaps took her across the field in no time. Yu laughed, scrambling to his feet and shooting a web at the tree in the distance.
His feet left the ground as he swung, the wind rushing through his hair. He felt free, weightless, like nothing else in the world mattered except this moment. Especially as he knew it would be the last time he would do something with her. At least for a while. Hopefully for a while.
As she reached the tree, Tsuyu leaped gracefully from branch to branch, her Quirk allowing her to move with a precision and ease that always amazed Yu. He then fired a web right past her and used it to zip upwards to the highest strong branch. He won the race.
"Cheater," Tsuyu said, though there was no real bite in her voice. She was smiling in her subtle, quiet way, her eyes flicking toward the distant horizon. "You always use your webs."
"Hey, that's part of the game!" Yu shot back, grinning. He was breathing heavily, exhilarated from the climb. "Besides, you're faster than me on the ground. I have to even it out somehow."
They sat on the branch together, their feet dangling in the air. The tree was old and strong, its leaves whispering in the breeze. This was their favorite spot, and it would be the last time Yu would be sitting there with her.
They sat together for a little while longer, the sky above them growing darker as the day slowly turned into evening. Yu knew this was one of their last moments together, but he didn't want to leave just yet. Not until the weight of the day had settled and they could both accept the change that was coming.
Tsuyu glanced at him; her expression unreadable for a moment. "You're leaving soon, right?"
Yu's smile faltered. He'd been dreading this moment. He didn't want to talk about it, not after doing their last race together. He didn't want to think about how his father's job was taking him away from here. Away from Tsu.
"Yeah," he muttered, looking down at his hands. "In a few days. My dad's going to start his new job next week. We're moving soon."
Tsuyu didn't say anything at first. She just sat beside him, her presence calm and steady as always. "We'll still be friends, even if you're far away," she said after a long pause. "You can write to me."
Yu swallowed hard, fighting the tightness in his throat. "I know. I will. I promise."
The words felt hollow, though, because deep down he knew it wouldn't be the same. He wouldn't be able to swing from trees with her, wouldn't be able to race her to the highest branch, or sit beside her in quiet moments like this. The thought of leaving made his chest ache.
Tsuyu reached into her pocket and pulled out a small object, holding it out to him. It was a simple frog-shaped charm, something she must've made herself. "Here," she said, her voice as straightforward as ever. "So you don't forget."
Yu took the charm, his fingers closing around it tightly. He looked at her, his vision blurring slightly. "I won't forget. Not ever."
She nodded, satisfied. "Good."
For the rest of the afternoon, they sat together in the tree, not saying much, just enjoying the time they had left. And when the sun began to set, casting golden light across the sky, Yu made a silent promise to himself. No matter how far he went, no matter how long it took, he would find his way back to Tsuyu one day.
Their friendship wasn't something that could be erased by distance. It was built on shared experiences, quiet moments, and an understanding that ran deeper than words. And no matter what happened, they would always have that.
Even if he had to swing across the world to keep that promise.
As they finally got back onto the ground to leave, Tsuyu looked at him with that calm, steady gaze that Yu had always admired. "It's not goodbye," she said softly. "It's just... see you later."
Yu nodded, though the lump in his throat made it hard to speak. "Yeah," he whispered. "See you later, Tsu."
With that, they parted ways, the reality of the coming days settling over them like a shadow. But even as Yu walked away, his heart heavy with the thought of leaving, he knew one thing for certain: Tsuyu was right. This wasn't goodbye. They were both moving forward and maybe one day, their paths would cross again.
And when they did, they would be heroes. Together.
For six years, Yu and Tsuyu kept up a steady stream of letters and messages, keeping each other updated on their lives. Yu would share stories about his new school in Musutafu and how he was constantly tinkering with his web-shooters, always trying to perfect his technique. Tsuyu, in turn, would talk about her family and the new friends she made, especially Habuko Mongoose, a classmate who quickly became close to her.
Despite the distance, their bond remained strong. Every message they exchanged felt like a lifeline, a reminder of the friendship that had carried them through childhood. Yu would often send Tsuyu updates on his quirk development, telling her how he was getting better at controlling the webs he shot, even using them in creative ways for training. In return, Tsuyu shared stories of her growing responsibilities at home and her determination to become a hero, just as they had dreamed when they were kids.
Habuko became a regular part of their conversations as well. Tsuyu would describe how Habuko, with her snake-like features, initially struggled to fit in due to her unusual appearance. But, in Tsuyu's gentle, straightforward way, she helped Habuko feel accepted, and the two became inseparable. Yu always enjoyed hearing about Tsuyu's adventures with her new friend, glad that she had someone by her side even though he couldn't be there.
But then, when they both turned 16, everything changed.
Tsuyu had just enrolled in U.A. High School, a prestigious institution for aspiring heroes. She was excited, nervous, and full of anticipation for what the future held. In her letters to Yu, she talked about the entrance exam, her hopes of making it into Class 1-A, and how her training was pushing her to new limits. She had even started to think about her hero costume and how her Frog Quirk would be most useful in real hero work.
Yu, as always, was supportive. His last message to her was filled with his usual excitement, cheering her on and promising that he'd visit one day to see her in action. He told her he had some "big plans" too but didn't go into detail. That was the last thing she heard from him.
After that, there was nothing.
At first, Tsuyu didn't think much of it. Yu was probably busy, she told herself. They both were. She had just started at U.A., and it wasn't uncommon for them to go a few weeks between messages.
But weeks turned into months, and still no word from Yu. Tsuyu sent him messages, asking if everything was okay, hoping for a response. But her inbox remained empty.
The silence was unsettling. Yu had never gone this long without contacting her. He had always been a constant in her life, even from a distance. Now, it was like he had disappeared completely, leaving behind only questions.
Tsuyu tried to focus on her training at U.A. High School, but the absence of her best friend weighed heavily on her mind. She couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him. Where had he gone? Why had he stopped reaching out? Had something gone wrong?
The thought nagged at her, a quiet worry she couldn't shake, even as she pushed herself to succeed in her new life as a hero-in-training.
But there was a reason for his disappearance from her life.
At 16, Yu Onomae's world shattered. His father, the man who had guided and supported him, was gunned down in the streets during a simple mugging. The grief hit Yu hard, but what truly twisted inside him was the anger, the overwhelming, burning rage at the senselessness of it all. His father wasn't a hero or a criminal, just an ordinary man trying to live his life, taken away by violence that felt random and cruel.
The police had given Yu a description of the culprit, but it was only a small consolation, a vague profile of a man they hadn't yet caught. Yu wasn't interested in waiting for justice. He wanted to find the man responsible. He wanted to make him pay.
For the first time since his childhood, Yu stopped reaching out to Tsuyu. Every message from her, every memory of their friendship, felt distant, like it belonged to another life, one where things made sense. That life was gone now, replaced by a dark, overwhelming need for vengeance.
The cheerful boy who had once dreamed of being a hero now spent his days tinkering obsessively, working on his web-shooters, modifying them to be stronger, faster, and more efficient. He started sketching out a suit. It was something darker, something that would hide who he was because he no longer felt like himself. He wasn't just Yu anymore. He was becoming something else, something focused on a single goal.
He became Spider-Man. The name was one he'd chosen not because of his childhood dreams, but because he needed a symbol, a way to distance himself from the pain that had once defined him. Plus, to Yu, that was who he was. A spider. He might as well be a spider-themed vigilante. It fits him.
The suit he sewed for himself was mainly blue and crimson, aside from the white spider-shaped insignias on his chest and back. The two spiders' longer upper legs connected both spiders to one another. Their upper legs wrapped around his shoulders, creating white accents on his shoulders in addition to the suit's darker colors. The colors he had picked for his suit had a darker hue, which was a sharp contrast to the bright, hopeful colors of the heroes he'd once admired. The mask, which had two white lenses shaped in a dark, perpetual frown, helped him conceal his identity from the world.
For the main trusty gadget on his suit, he integrated his web-shooters into the suit's wrists. He had also improved the webbing capacity of his web-shooters, as his webs would be the main tool that he would use to find the man who had taken everything from him. After the close call with Tsuyu all those years ago, he knew he would have to improve the storage capacity of his web shooters for his web fluids. So, the web fluids were kept in small cylinders, which he could simply load onto the web-shooters whenever the previous cylinder ran only that, but he also created compartments around the suit's waist that would allow him to carry more of those cylinders. He knew that he couldn't afford to run out of web fluids anytime soon. So, he carried backups. At least six of those cylinders. He knew he must keep moving. Speed and agility were his most powerful weapons.
He also trained to fight, just a little, using his fists and legs. His combat moves were mostly instinctive and self-taught. He had a sixth sense, a spider sense, that would allow him to detect incoming threats. Dodging the threat would leave his enemies open to his counterattack. But physical strength wouldn't be a problem as Yu knew that his strength was proportionate to that of a spider.
After he graduated from school, Yu became a full-fledged vigilante. Every day, he worked part-time jobs to support himself. And every night, Yu became the Spider-Man. He hunted down criminals, focusing on finding his father's killer. His once playful web-swinging now carried a sharp, angry precision. He wasn't swinging for fun or adventure anymore, he was swinging toward a purpose, each arc through the night sky driving him closer to his goal. His desire for vengeance had overwritten his desire to go to a hero school and enroll himself on a hero course after his graduation.
But his methods were reckless. His need for vengeance blinded him, and he often left behind chaos in his wake. He didn't care about the consequences or the collateral damage. All that mattered was the man responsible for his father's death. Yu wasn't doing this to protect others. He wasn't being a hero. He was chasing justice, or, more accurately, revenge.
As the days bled into weeks, Yu became more consumed by his mission. He hadn't yet learned the lessons of responsibility that come with power. All he knew was the emptiness that revenge couldn't fill. He hadn't spoken to Tsuyu in months, cutting off any connection to the life he once had.
The path he was on was dangerous, and deep down, some part of Yu knew it. But he couldn't stop. Not yet. Not until he found the man who took his father away. Not until he made him pay.
He hadn't realized yet that vengeance was a path that could destroy him.
On that fateful night, Yu's focus was singular, he wanted to find the man responsible for his father's death, just like any other night.
But when he heard about a rampage on a bridge, he thought it might be the break he needed, another criminal wreaking havoc that he could track. As Spider-Man, he swung into action, quickly assessing the scene. Cars had been hurled off the bridge, some hanging precariously by their axles, moments from crashing into the river below. At the center of the chaos was a man in a high-tech exoskeleton, effortlessly pushing away and throwing vehicles in his path like toys.
The exoskeleton was huge. It looked like the man in the exoskeleton had a horn on his head, like a rhino. It would have made Yu think that the man responsible for the rampage was a man with a Rhino Mutant-type Quirk... if it weren't for the clear presence of metal in his armor. The man was trying to get to an armored truck heading for the bank. It was pinned down thanks to the gridlock brought upon by his rampage, with the civilians leaving their cars and running away from the bridge. He was trying to get rid of the cars on his path the only way he could: pushing them away or lifting them before tossing them aside.
Yu acted swiftly, shooting webs to catch the falling cars mid-fall, securing them to the bridge. His heart pounded; eyes locked on the exoskeleton-clad villain. It was his first time facing such a threat. Yu was familiar with muggers, robbers, or the usual petty thieves, but not like this.
But Yu knew what to do. If he could get the Rhino's attention, blind him with rage, he could make the big guy fall off the bridge and into the waters below. All he had to do was...
"Please! Help me!"
But just as he prepared to confront the Rhino, a sound broke through the noise, the desperate cry of a mother, her voice trembling with fear.
"My son! He's trapped in the car!"
Yu's eyes darted to one of the hanging cars. Inside, a boy, no older than ten, was struggling to stay calm, his small hands pressed against the glass. The car teetered dangerously from the lone web thread it was hanging from. For a split second, Yu was torn between two choices. Should he focus on stopping the villain or saving the boy? He hesitated.
But then the boy's face, frozen in terror, decided for him.
Without another thought, Yu swung to the hanging car, using his webs to secure it even more tightly to the bridge. He pried open the rear window and saw the boy's eyes widen in fear at the sight of the masked Spider-Man. He started crying out for his mother. He didn't know who the masked man was.
At that moment, Yu remembered something from his past, how his father had always calmed him with his steady presence when he felt lost. He couldn't let this boy feel that same fear. He pulled off his mask, revealing his face, and gave the boy a small, reassuring smile.
"Hey, it's okay," Yu said softly. "I'm like you. I'm here to help. You're going to be fine. What's your name?" Yu didn't know exactly why he asked for his name. He just... felt the need to find something to connect with the frightened kid.
"Hiro." The boy couldn't hide his fear as he stuttered.
"Okay, Hiro. I'm going to get you out of here."
The boy gave him a little nod, acknowledging him. Yu then had an idea.
"You wanna hold this for me?" Yu asked, gesturing to his mask.
To his delight, the boy gave out his first little smile since Yu got there. He tossed his mask to the boy, who began to admire it as he worked on getting the car back onto the bridge.
But the car then caught fire from the leaking gasoline and sparks. The fire had ignited at the front and was beginning to spread around the car. The web snapped from the shake caused by the ignition, forcing Yu to hold on to the car by the rear bumper while supporting himself with his web.
"You okay, kid?" Yu asked amidst the strain the sudden act had put him.
"Yeah." The boy's eyes widened in surprise but softened with trust. He nodded, though his hands were still trembling. The fire was spreading, and time was running out.
Yu quickly looked around. The car was too unstable, and resuming his plan to get the car back up would be too risky. He knew that even with his spider-like strength, the bumper wouldn't be able to hold the car's weight much longer. He needed the boy to be brave. Without hesitating, Yu asked the boy to climb out of the car.
"You're gonna have to climb," Yu spoke to him amidst the strain.
"I... I can't." Hiro replied with fear both audible in his voice and visible on his face.
"Yes, you can. Wear... wear the mask. It'll help you be strong, okay? Just like a hero. Can you do this for me?"
The boy, wide-eyed, nodded again and slipped the mask on, the oversized piece of fabric covering most of his face.
Yu helped Hiro climb up to the window, giving him reassurance with his words all the while.
"Yes, that's it! You're almost there, Hiro! Almost there!"
Flames crackled louder, and Yu's pulse quickened, knowing that Hiro had only seconds left.
At the last second, as the boy finally reached the rear window, the bumper gave in as it snapped, sending the car and the boy in the mask falling. But tragedy was prevented as Yu shot a web right at Hiro at the last second. The burning car then fell down the river with a splash.
"You did it," Yu said as he panted. "You did well, Hiro."
"Thank you." The boy replied beneath the mask he was still wearing.
"No, thank you. You're brave, Hiro." Yu praised the boy.
They made it back onto the bridge. Before he returned the boy to his mother, Yu asked for his mask back. Hiro had also promised to keep his hero's secret a secret.
As the two were reunited, the boy stumbled into his mother's arms, and Yu watched as she pulled him close, tears streaming down her face in relief. It wasn't just the boy she was holding; it was her entire world.
Yu stood there, heart heavy, watching the raw emotion on the mother's face. Her tearful gratitude for her child's life struck him deeper than anything he had felt in months. For the first time, the weight of what he had been doing, the reckless pursuit of vengeance, and the way he had neglected the idea of saving others, hit him all at once.
That boy could have died. So many others could have died. And yet, Yu realized, saving lives was supposed to be what he wanted to do. It was what he had once dreamed of as a kid, back when becoming heroes meant more than just avenging wrongs. That moment, watching the mother clutch her son, marked a turning point for him.
He knew he couldn't feel his father hugging him tight anymore, but... making sure that a mother could still hug her son...
Behind the mask, Yu was tearing up.
"Who are you?" The mother's question caused him to focus on her. He took a deep breath to gather his composure, trying to control his voice to speak without an audible sob.
Then, he told her his Hero name. "I'm Spider-Man." It was the first time he called himself by the name he had picked.
"Thank you, Spider-Man." To his surprise, it wasn't the mother who said that. It was the boy. Hiro gave Spider-Man a wave as he said those words.
"Yes. Thank you so much." His mother thanked him. Giving him a little bow.
Behind the mask, Yu's tears turned into tears of joy as he gave them a nod, before shooting a web to swing away from the scene.
Yu understood, maybe for the first time, what true responsibility meant. It wasn't just about justice or revenge. It was about protecting those who couldn't protect themselves. It was about saving lives. And in that realization, Yu let go of the burning anger that had been driving him. He wasn't just Spider-Man for his father anymore. He was Spider-Man for everyone.
Then he thought back to Tsuyu. Her incredible sense of responsibility, taking care of her siblings, who depended on her.
The people on the bridge, the mother and her son... they depended on him. Him. No one else. No other hero. Why? Because the Pro Heroes weren't there.
But he was there.
What if he wasn't? He didn't want to imagine what would happen to the kid in the car. They needed him as much as he needed the legal Pro Heroes. He couldn't just stand by on the sidelines and watch, not when the people depended on him. He knew it would be hard, but it wouldn't deter him from doing his responsibility.
As Yu clenched his fist, he knew what he must become. A vigilante. Spider-Man.
Unlike Pro Heroes, he would focus on smaller acts. Stopping petty crimes, foiling car chases, and saving people in the event of an accident. Whether it's a car crash or a falling crane. He knew he could handle it. Still, he knew that when the... other guys came his way, he would face them all head on, no matter how big they were. And he knew how big the other guys could get. He had seen it in the Rhino. There could be more of them. It was inevitable. But he knew he would face them all.
If anyone, whether it's the people or the Pro Heroes, told him that he had no right to act when people needed him just because he had no hero license, he would face all of them head-on and tell them that he had something bigger than the right to act. He had the responsibility. Because he was there. If he had a chance, an opportunity, to do good things for other people, and even prevent bad things from happening... he had the moral obligation to do those things. That was what's at stake. It's not about his choice. It's about his responsibility.
He couldn't just stand by on the sidelines. Not anymore. Not if he knew that he could potentially stop it, seeing that he could do the things that he could.
After leaving the bridge, his swings became... calmer. To him, it felt more fun and adventurous. Ever since he first wore the suit, he had never noticed just how fun it was to swing across the city, to admire the city lights shining around him. He had always swung while focusing on his rage, which made him blind to everything that was happening around him.
There, as he swung between the buildings of Naruhata, he realized... the city was beautiful. The city felt livelier at night. All the lights, all the cars, all the lives...
They need protecting. They deserve protecting.
After a few swings, he perched on a crane on top of a building, looking down at the city below him. That was when he saw a high-speed car chase on the street below between a group of armed thugs and the police. Yu then got himself ready to return to work, ready to slingshot through the crane to swing to the scene, all while whispering and smiling to himself.
"Here comes the Spider-Man."
After a tug, he flew in the air. His eyes locked onto the getaway vehicle.
He then knew that this is something he would have to tell Tsuyu. After all, it had been a while since he last spoke to her.
But that could wait until next morning. Plus, he decided to keep the exact details of his... "work" a secret.
The Spider-Man made the front page in Naruhata's newspapers the next day, both for his heroic act of saving the boy trapped in the car and foiling the high-speed chase later on. The speeding thugs were webbed up and the car was brought to a screeching halt on the road.
A towering, heavily muscled man was reading a copy as he walked down the street. He planned to show it to his friends. They were also his housemates and his... associates at work. They were good people. They have worked together for... a few months now. They were good.
He entered his house, got to the living room, and used the newspaper to give the table a few taps to gain his housemates' attention. There were two of them. A young male perching from a small sofa and a female lying on the longer couch, barely awake. The young male was still in his All Might pyjamas while the girl was still wearing what she was wearing the night before; her pink hair was still bound in their pigtails.
"Hey, Koichi!" The young man turned from his perching spot at the sound of his voice and leapt to the floor. The noise from the impact woke the girl up.
"What is it?" She asked as she rubbed her eyes, still groggy from her sleep. "What time is it?"
"It's nine in the morning, Kazuho." He then turned to Koichi, who seemed much more perceptive than Kazuho in her current state. "Look at this."
Koichi took the paper from his hand and saw the headlines, which showed that a new vigilante had arrived in the crimefighting scene of Naruhata. "Spider-Man?"
"Yeah. A new vigilante in town. And the name fits, you know? Says here that he swings from webs." The man pointed with his finger. "Some were stuck to windows. The window cleaners had a hard time cleaning them."
The girl with pigtails came over to have a look at the picture of the new vigilante after she's finally energized. "I like the suit. He's dedicated; I'll give him that. It must've been difficult to make." She then took the opportunity to do a playful jab at Koichi's taste in fashion. "You should learn from him, Crawler. You look like an All Might wannabe compared to this guy."
"Oh, come on! You know how much I like my All Might hoodies!" Koichi exclaimed, defeated. "They are comfy. Easy to find." Koichi pointed at the intricacies of the suit. It must've been hard to make. "I bet this guy had no backups to wear whenever his suit's damaged."
"Clearly." Kazuho agreed. The suit was something that only a Pro Hero would wear. But the newspaper said that this "Spider-Man" was a vigilante.
"So, what do you think?" The most senior of the three asked his younger friends.
"I think you should meet him, Koichi?" Kazuho looked at him, waiting for an answer.
"Maybe. Wait..." Koichi's eyes were fixed on the headline on page two as he turned the pages. It showed the rest of the story on that bridge. A man in a rhino exoskeleton had robbed an armored car heading towards the bank.
"Aleksei." Everyone in the house knew that name.
"Okay, I'll start looking for him." It was a cue for the man named Iwao Oguro to use his... connections to find the street thug named Aleksei Sytsevitch. "Get ready for the day, you two." He pointed to the two of them and issued his orders with a stern voice. "Koichi, get changed. Kazuho, have a wash. Now."
"Yes, Master." The two of them responded in unison.
To both of them, Iwao Oguro was their Master. Their "Shisho". He was both the man of the house and the leader of their small group of vigilantes aptly named "The Naruhata Vigilantes."
And they had plans to invite Spider-Man to their team.
But for now, Koichi Haimawari, also known as "The Crawler", had to change into his... work clothes in his room. After wearing protective gear made for a motorcycle rider, he scoured his wardrobe of All Might hoodies and picked the least smelly of them. The others were either dirty or not dried well. He put on a black mask to cover his mouth and gloves over his hands. His boots were ready on the shoe shelf, ready to be worn whenever he was ready to get out of the house. He finished the look with a pair of tinted shades to cover his eyes.
The Crawler is ready for the day.
P.S.: If you think Yu Onomae is an OC I created from this crossover, you are completely wrong. If you haven't already, please, please read the Spider-Man manga he came from. It is awesome. I put Yu's character here and gave him a Spider Quirk. I just thought it would fit him. I kept the suit from the manga. In case you don't know, the manga is Spider-Man: Fake Red by Yusuke Osawa.
As a side note, I omitted most of the events of Vigilantes. So, the timeline took place in MHA, and still in the continuity of MHA: Symbol of Hope, but the Naruhata vigilantes were still one in this story. And they are still based in Naruhata.