My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Rising

by Alton White

Heroes aren't the only ones who are rising. Vigilantes too. And there's Spider-Man in My Hero Academia. Enough said. This is a continuation of My Hero Academia: Symbol of Hope.

4. The Hurt and the Comforted

It was well past midnight when Tsuyu heard the faintest tapping on her window. At first, she thought she was imagining it. The soft rhythm was barely audible over the quiet hum of the dorm. Her room was dark, the only light coming from the moon outside. She had been lying in bed, about to drift off to sleep, when the sound came again. This time, more insistent.

Curious and a bit wary, Tsuyu slid out of bed and tiptoed toward the window. When she pulled back the curtain, her breath caught in her throat. There, clinging to the outside wall, was Spider-Man.

But Tsuyu Asui, like the vigilantes who had become his new friends, knew him as Yu Onomae.

His mask was off, his face illuminated by the dim glow of the moon. His eyes, once sharp and determined, now looked exhausted, and even from where she stood, she could see the pain etched into his expression. He looked like he had barely made it.

Tsuyu quickly opened the window, her heart racing. "Yu?" she whispered, concern flooding her voice. "What happened?"

He didn't answer right away, instead, with some effort, he swung inside, landing unsteady on the floor. As soon as he was in the room, the frog girl could see the full extent of his injuries. His Spider-Man suit was torn and bloodied, gashes and bruises covering his body. His breathing was ragged, and he staggered slightly before catching himself on the desk.

"I... I didn't mean to scare you," he said, his voice hoarse. "But I need your help. I couldn't go back to... the base in Naruhata."

Tsuyu's heart clenched as she took in the sight of him. He looked like he had been through hell. Without wasting a second, she grabbed the first-aid kit from her desk drawer and turned back to him.

"Sit down," she urged, her voice firm but gentle. "Let me take a look at you."

Yu nodded and carefully sat on the edge of her bed, wincing as he moved. With trembling hands, he began to remove the remnants of his suit. As the fabric peeled away from his skin, Tsuyu's breath hitched.

He wasn't wearing anything but his underwear underneath. His torso was riddled with cuts and bruises, but it was nothing compared to his back. His back was a mess of deep, jagged cuts and bruises. Blood seeped from the wounds. The dark, violent marks crisscrossed his skin, and some of the bruises were swollen, ugly shades of purple. It looked like he'd been through hell. Mauled by hellhounds.

The sight of his injuries, so severe, made her stomach twist with worry, but she didn't let it show.

She grabbed a damp cloth and began gently wiping away the blood, her hands steady despite the turmoil inside her. As she cleaned his wounds, she noticed the tension in his body relax slightly, as though the simple act of someone caring for him was enough to ease some of the pain.

"Yu..." she started, her voice soft but laced with concern. "What happened to you?"

He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "Nomu. It was a flying Nomu. I thought I had it under control, but... it was stronger than I expected."

His voice wavered as he spoke, and Tsuyu felt a chill run down her spine. She had seen Nomus. She had seen how powerful they were. They were brutal, engineered monsters designed to kill heroes. The thought of Yu facing one alone, with no backup, terrified her.

But why is he alone? "Where are the others?" She was asking about the Naruhata Vigilantes.

"Back in Naruhata."

"What happened?" Tsuyu wanted to know exactly what had happened.

"We stumbled into a Nomu lab, the four of us. Six Nomus were there. They were nothing compared to the ones produced by the League, but they were formidable. We all have our opponents to beat. Koichi. Kazuho. Even Oguro-sensei."

Yu knew he could trust Tsuyu with their secret identity. So, he didn't hesitate to show her who they were to him. His mentors and friends.

"But my Nomu was the ugliest of them all."

"Ribbit. Ugliest?" She croaked.

"Yeah. It was big and green. With a pair of bat-like wings and a long tongue. I fought it for what felt like hours," he continued, wincing as Tsuyu applied antiseptic to a deep gash on his shoulder. "Our fight started at Naruhata, but it took flight. It gave me a detour at Musutafu. In the end, I barely managed to beat it in the port."

His breathing grew heavier as he spoke, and Tsuyu could see the exhaustion in his eyes. He had pushed himself beyond his limits, as he always did.

"Sorry for coming here, Tsu, but... I don't think I can go back to Naruhata in this condition. I guess I that have to tell them..." Yu rummaged into the damaged pocket of his suit and pulled out a phone. Or what's left of it.

"And... my phone is smashed." He sighed in defeat before dropping the broken phone onto the bed. "Can I... borrow yours? Just for a second."

"Of course." It took Yu more than a second to relay a message to his friends that the last Nomu was defeated. To his relief, the rest of the Nomus were defeated. The vigilantes had a bit of help after Knuckleduster begrudgingly called for backup.

The backup game in the form of the new Spider-Man, who had been patrolling with his uncle, the Prowler.

With that, the Prowler had become more than a mere informant. He became a vigilante.

As Tsuyu finished cleaning Yu's wounds, she reached for the bandages. Her hands moved quickly, wrapping his torso and arms in gauze with careful precision. The room was silent except for the quiet sounds of her tending to him. She didn't ask any more questions after their conversation earlier; she knew he needed rest more than anything else.

After she finished bandaging him, she reached into her dresser and pulled out one of her spare sets of clothes. It was soft and slightly oversized, but she figured it would be more comfortable for him to sleep in than his torn suit.

"Here," she said, handing him the clothes. "It's not much, but it's better than nothing."

Yu looked at her, his eyes filled with gratitude, and accepted the set of clothes. He slipped it on slowly, wincing as he moved, but once it was on, he looked a little more at ease.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tsuyu nodded, her heart still heavy with worry. She knew that as a vigilante, Yu had faced countless dangers, but seeing him like this, so vulnerable and battered, made the reality of his life hit her harder than ever before.

"Yu..." she started again, her voice quieter now, filled with the fear she had been holding back. "You could have died. This Nomu... it could have killed you. You were alone out there."

Yu looked at her, his expression serious but soft. "I know," he said quietly. "My friends were fighting their fight. I had to make the call. I knew the risk when I decided to go after it... and fought it before it could hurt innocent people."

"But why?" Tsuyu asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Why put yourself through this? You don't have to do this alone. You don't have to take these kinds of risks. You could've... called the other vigilantes to help you. You could've called me. Why didn't you?"

The identities of the Naruhata Vigilantes may be a secret, but their Quirks and abilities were not. Koichi, who decided to keep his name of the Crawler, was undoubtedly the most powerful of the first batch of vigilantes, with his Quirk, Slide and Glide, which was proven time and again to be more versatile than it looked.

"It was best if Koichi stayed with Kazuho and Oguro-sensei." The latter, most of all, because he's Quirkless. Yu knew that even Oguro-sensei's years of experience wouldn't do much to protect him against unsurmountable odds, like a group of Nomus. And Kazuho's Quirk, Leap, didn't allow her to do much in terms of offense. Koichi, who had been training and honing his Slide and Glide Quirk, was the most powerful vigilante in the main group. "They needed him more than I did. And the people need us. The people need me."

"You could've called me, Yu. I could've helped you. I have a Provisional Hero License now."

"You do?" Yu had just known that. It's been a while since he caught up on her condition.

"Guess we both didn't tell each other everything. Ribbit." The mood in the room lightened. Just a bit. "But... why did you fight him alone?" Tsuyu put her head onto his back. Even through the shirt, she could feel the heat coming from his healing wounds. Even through all the antiseptics, she could still smell hints of iron from his blood.

There was a long pause, and Yu looked down at his hands, his fingers brushing over the bandages that now covered his injuries. When he spoke again, his voice was calm but resolute.

"Because it's my responsibility, Tsuyu," he said, meeting her gaze. "I became Spider-Man for a reason. I have to protect people, no matter what it costs me. I can't let anyone else get hurt if I can stop it."

Tsuyu felt her throat tighten at his words. She understood the weight of responsibility. She felt it too, as a hero-in-training. But the way Yu carried it... it was heavier than she had ever realized. He wasn't just doing this because it was the right thing to do. He was doing it because he felt like he had no other choice.

"When you can do the things that you can, but you don't... and then the bad things happen... they happen because of you," Yu said softly.

"You're going to get yourself killed at this rate," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

Yu smiled faintly, though there was a sadness behind it. "Maybe. But if I don't try... if I don't do everything I can... then what's the point?"

Tears welled up in Tsuyu's eyes again, but she blinked them away. She didn't want him to see her like this, not when he was the one who needed comfort. But the fear of losing him was too real, too close.

She placed her hand on his arm, her grip firm but gentle. "Next time, just... don't do it alone, Yu. You don't have to be alone in this."

Yu looked at her, something unreadable in his eyes, and for the first time since he had arrived, he let out a deep sigh of relief. "I won't. I won't promise that I wouldn't do this again, Tsu. I'm sorry."

Tsuyu clenched her fist. A part of her wanted to give him a jab and shout at him, but the kinder part of her decided not to. She tried her best to calm down. She opted for pats on his back.

"But I'll be stronger next time. No matter how many times I get hit, I will always get back up," Yu said with determination in his voice. "I promise you that."

Tsuyu nodded, acknowledging his words, though the worry till lingered in her heart. She guided him toward the bed, helping him lie down. His body relaxed the moment he hit the pillow, exhaustion taking over. She watched as his eyes fluttered shut, his breathing evening out as he finally drifted off to sleep.

As he lay there, peaceful for the first time that night, Tsuyu sat beside him, watching him for a few moments longer. The weight of his words, of his responsibility, pressed on her heart, but she knew one thing. She would always be there for him, no matter what.

And in that moment, as Yu slept, Tsuyu felt a quiet resolve build within her. No matter the danger, no matter the risk, she would be by his side.

She would be there for him.

---

After Tsuyu had tended to Yu's wounds and watched him drift into an exhausted sleep, she found herself unable to stay in the room. Her heart was heavy, filled with a mix of emotions she didn't fully understand. The sight of Yu, broken and bloodied, haunted her thoughts. Despite healing his wounds, the fear of how close he had come to death wouldn't leave her.

She quietly slipped out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar so she could still hear if he stirred. Her footsteps were silent as she made her way down the dark hallway and into the common room of the dorm. The lights were off, and the space was bathed in shadows, the only light coming from the moon outside. The usual lively energy of the dorms was absent, leaving only the quiet hum of the night.

Tsuyu walked over to the couch and sat down, her hands resting in her lap as she stared blankly ahead. The weight of everything she'd been holding in for hours finally started to crumble inside her.

Yu had been her friend since they were children. They'd grown up together and shared dreams of becoming heroes together. She had always known the risks that came with being a hero. They all did. Especially after the death of Superman.

But this... seeing someone her age, her friend, so close to death, made the reality hit harder than ever before. Too close to home.

"Yu..."

This was like having a friend fighting in a war. In a way, it was true. They were in a war, only that the war was against villains and other criminals instead of foreign invaders or opposing forces.

Tsuyu was currently training to prepare herself to fight the war, while Yu had enlisted himself early and was willing to answer the call of duty, despite the dangers of going in it, especially without any training or license. She knew that there was no better teacher than experience, but... he was out there, fighting the war, risking death every day, while she stayed in the safety of U.A. High School, studying and training for the war. When the time comes for her to graduate, she would be ready for the war raging outside.

But, just like any war, it was possible for the enemy to gain the upper hand one day. Because of that, it was possible for heroes like her and vigilantes like Yu to be killed in the line of duty.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she didn't bother to wipe them away this time. She was alone in the darkness, and for once, she let herself cry. She tried to keep quiet, but a soft sob escaped her lips as the fear and pain she had been holding back spilled out.

"Yu-chan..."

What hurt her the most was the thought that Yu could die at any moment, out there, and she might never know until it was too late. He could be fighting some villain or monster right now, and the next time she saw him... he might not be alive. She had healed his wounds tonight, but what if there was a next time when she wouldn't be there? What if he had succumbed to his injuries before he reached her? What if he had fought something even worse?

Tsuyu knew that she had the Naruhata Vigilante's number, as Yu had just used her phone to send them a message. She was afraid of the number. What if the next time they contact her, it would be to notify that he... didn't make it?

Tsuyu knew that the world now had their eyes upon the Naruhata Vigilantes after Eri's rescue operation, and would keep an eye on them, including their heroics and the battles they fought. What if she knew Yu's condition from the news?

He was her friend. And despite their time apart, despite all the changes they had gone through, she still cared deeply for him. The idea of losing him, of him disappearing forever, filled her with an unbearable sadness.

As she sat there, crying softly, she heard footsteps approaching. She quickly wiped at her eyes, trying to compose herself, but when she looked up, she saw Tokoyami standing there, his dark figure blending into the shadows of the room. He must have heard her.

"Tsuyu," Tokoyami's voice was low but gentle as he stepped closer. "I heard you from my room. Are you alright?"

Tsuyu hesitated, her usual composed demeanor faltering. She didn't want to burden anyone with her feelings, but she also couldn't lie. Not right now.

She shook her head slightly. "No... I'm not alright, Tokoyami."

He sat down beside her, maintaining a respectful distance but close enough that his presence felt reassuring. His expression was difficult to read in the dim light, but his eyes, usually sharp and focused, softened as they met hers.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked quietly.

For a moment, Tsuyu didn't answer. She wasn't sure if she could explain what she was feeling. But as she stared down at her hands, still trembling slightly from the emotions coursing through her, she realized she needed to say something. To let it out.

"It's Yu," she whispered, her voice cracking. "He came to my room tonight, badly injured. He... he fought a Nomu. Alone. And he almost didn't make it."

Tokoyami's eyes widened slightly, but he remained silent, letting her continue.

"I patched him up, and he's resting now," she said, her voice growing softer. "But... seeing him like that... it made me realize how close he was to dying. He could've died, Tokoyami. And I might not have known until it was too late."

Her tears began to fall again, silent but steady. "He's my friend. We grew up together. And the thought of losing him, after everything... it hurts more than I expected."

Tokoyami listened intently, his expression thoughtful but empathetic. After a moment, he spoke, his voice as steady as ever. "I understand your pain, Tsuyu. The fear of losing someone important, especially someone who shares the same path as us, is a heavy burden."

He paused, his gaze shifting to the window, where the moonlight illuminated the room just enough. "We walk a dangerous path, all of us. Heroes and vigilantes... we face death every day. But it doesn't make it easier when it's someone close to us."

Tsuyu nodded, her shoulders trembling as she tried to hold back the sobs. "I know heroes can die... I've always known. But seeing him like that, in so much pain... it made it real. He's just like us, Tokoyami. He's just sixteen, and yet... he could be gone, just like that."

Tokoyami gently placed a hand on her shoulder, a gesture of quiet support. "It's never easy to accept, but all we can do is be there for each other. To fight, to protect, and to hope that those we care about make it through. Yu is strong, Tsuyu. Just like you. But he needs people who care about him to remind him he's not alone in this fight."

Tsuyu wiped her eyes again, feeling the tension in her chest begin to ease, if only a little. "I just don't want him to keep doing this alone. He feels like it's his responsibility to protect everyone, but... he shouldn't have to do it by himself."

"You're right," Tokoyami said quietly. "He doesn't have to. And neither do you. We're all in this together, and sometimes... that's the only thing that keeps us going."

Tsuyu gave a small nod, appreciating his words more than she could express. After a few moments of silence, Tokoyami stood up, giving her a reassuring look. "If you ever need to talk again, Tsuyu... I'll be here."

"Thank you, Tokoyami," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with gratitude.

With that, he quietly left the room, leaving Tsuyu alone once again. But this time, the overwhelming weight she had felt earlier was lighter. Tokoyami's words and his presence had comforted her in a way she hadn't expected.

She sat in the darkness for a while longer, the tears finally stopping. Her heart still ached, but the fear wasn't as suffocating as before. She knew now that she wasn't alone in her worry. And neither was Yu.

---

After Tokoyami left, Tsuyu remained seated in the common room for a moment longer. The darkness felt like a blanket around her, but her heart had calmed, and the weight of her emotions lessened by his words. She was grateful for his presence, for his quiet understanding, but now, her thoughts were drawn back to Yu.

Her friend was still in her room, resting after the terrible ordeal he'd been through. The thought of him, vulnerable and hurt, stirred something protective in her. She needed to check on him.

Quietly, Tsuyu rose from the couch and made her way back to her dorm room. When she opened the door, she found Yu exactly where she'd left him. Sprawled across her bed, his breathing steady, though shallow from the pain. The moonlight filtering through the window cast a soft glow over him, illuminating his peaceful face. Despite his injuries, despite the battle he had just endured, he was finally at rest.

Seeing him like that brought her a strange sense of comfort. For a moment, she stood in the doorway, just watching him sleep, the fear she'd felt earlier easing a little. He was safe, for now.

Her eyes then shifted to the pile of torn fabric on the floor. It was his Spider-Man suit, bloodied and shredded from his fight with the Nomu. The sight of it stirred something else in her, a desire to help him in a way that went beyond healing his wounds.

Moving quietly so as not to wake him, Tsuyu knelt and picked up the suit. The fabric was heavier than she expected, soaked in sweat and blood. The intricate design caught her attention. Yu had put a lot of thought and care into making this suit. It wasn't just a costume; it was a part of him, a reflection of the hero he was trying to be.

Without thinking twice, she gathered the suit and headed to the sink in her small bathroom. She filled the basin with warm water and began carefully washing out the dirt, blood, and grime from the fabric. The repetitive motion of scrubbing, rinsing, and wringing out the suit felt oddly soothing. As she worked, her mind wandered to all the nights Yu must've spent alone, mending his suit, tending to his wounds. He had been fighting in the shadows for so long, taking on a burden no one should have to bear by themselves.

Well, not by himself. She knew that he still had his friends, the Naruhata Vigilantes, but she knew that he had been alone for some time, as he spiralled into vengeance shortly after the death of his father. She was grateful that he had found new friends in the vigilantes, just like how she found new friends in the students of Class 1-A.

But there were still times when Yu had to do things on his own. That night, when he fought the winged Nomu, was one of them.

When the suit was finally clean, she brought it back to her desk. She pulled out a small sewing kit, something she kept on hand for minor repairs to her clothes. As she threaded the needle, she looked closely at the torn fabric. Yu had done a remarkable job designing it. The blue and red patterns were sleek, functional, and yet stylish. The material was quite durable, too. Designed to allow Yu to do his spider-like movements freely and take the punishment that he could endure.

As she carefully stitched the torn seams, Tsuyu couldn't help but admire his craftsmanship. His web-shooters, which she'd placed on the desk beside the suit, were particularly fascinating. She picked one up, turning it over in her hands, inspecting the small yet complex mechanisms. She knew that had built them himself. She knew he had made some upgrades to it since the last time she saw him. An impressive feat, especially for someone of his age.

Out of curiosity, she slipped one of the web-shooters onto her wrist. It felt light, almost like it wasn't there at all. She turned it over, her finger brushing against one of the triggers.

Before she realized what was happening, a thin line of web shot out, attaching itself to the ceiling with a soft thwip sound. Tsuyu's eyes widened in surprise, her heart skipping a beat as she watched the web dangle from the ceiling above her. For a second, she worried the noise might wake Yu, but when she glanced at him, he was still fast asleep, undisturbed.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she looked up at the web. With a quiet laugh, she used her Frog Quirk to cling to the wall and effortlessly pulled the web free, cleaning up the little mess. She couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself, even if the web-shooter had caught her off guard. She got back down to the ground silently, careful not to wake him up.

Once the suit was fully repaired, Tsuyu folded it neatly and set it on the table beside Yu's bed. She stepped back, admiring her work for a moment. The suit looked almost as good as new, the stitches clean and strong. It wasn't much, but it was her way of helping him in return for everything he had done.

Satisfied, she turned to look at Yu again. He hadn't moved, still sleeping soundly, his breathing even and peaceful. A wave of relief washed over her. After everything he had been through tonight, he deserved this rest.

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Tsuyu found herself walking over to the bed. She stood there for a long moment, watching him sleep, her heart full of a strange warmth she hadn't felt in a while. It was comforting, knowing he was here, in her room, safe.

Without thinking much about it, she sat down on the edge of the bed. The soft mattress dipped under her weight, but Yu didn't stir. She could hear the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the quiet hum of the night outside. Her gaze lingered on his face; the traces of exhaustion still visible even in sleep.

Before she knew it, she lay down beside him, careful not to disturb him. She told herself it was just for a moment, just until she could convince herself that he was alright. But as soon as her head hit the pillow, she felt a wave of fatigue wash over her.

The exhaustion of the night, the emotions, the fear. It all caught up with her at once. Tsuyu closed her eyes, letting out a soft sigh as the warmth of the blankets and the sound of Yu's breathing lulled her into a sense of calm.

It wasn't long before sleep claimed her, too, her worries momentarily forgotten. For the first time in what felt like forever, Tsuyu let herself rest, comforted by the presence of the friend she had missed for so long.

In the quiet darkness of the room, the spider and the frog lay side by side, reunited after so many years, finding solace in each other's company once again.

---

Yu stirred awake, blinking as the morning light crept through the curtains of Tsuyu's dorm room. For a moment, he was disoriented, his body sore and his mind foggy from exhaustion. As his vision cleared, he became acutely aware of the warmth beside him, the soft, rhythmic sound of someone breathing. Slowly, he turned his head and realized he wasn't alone.

Tsuyu was lying next to him, her body relaxed, still deep in sleep. Her hair fell gently across her face, her expression peaceful in a way that made Yu hesitate. Memories of the previous night came rushing back. The battle, the Nomu, and the injuries that had driven him to seek her help. He hadn't meant to burden her, but here he was, lying in her bed, with her right beside him.

His heart raced a little as he tried to process it all. They hadn't slept beside each other in years, not since they were children. But this... this was different. It wasn't the innocent bond of childhood friendship anymore. They were both older now, and everything felt more complicated.

Carefully, Yu slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake her. He stood up, his muscles protesting the movement, and he glanced down at his body. His torso was wrapped in bandages, the wounds from his battle with the Nomu still fresh, but the pain was manageable. He was still wearing the clothes Tsuyu had given him last night. She had taken care of him in ways he hadn't even realized.

Then, his eyes fell on the desk. His suit was cleaned, repaired, and neatly folded. The web-shooters sat beside it, looking as good as new. He felt a wave of gratitude swell in his chest. She had done this for him, even after everything he had put her through last night.

Yu walked over to the desk and picked up his suit, running his fingers over the newly stitched seams. The repairs were precise, almost flawless. He smiled softly to himself, murmuring under his breath, "Thanks, Tsu."

He quickly slipped into his suit, feeling the familiar comfort of the fabric against his skin. Once he was fully dressed, he folded the spare clothes she had lent him, placing them neatly on the chair. He turned back toward the bed, where Tsuyu still slept soundly, and for a brief moment, he hesitated. He wanted to say something, to thank her properly, but he knew she needed her rest.

With a quiet sigh, Yu made his way to the window, intending to leave as silently as he had arrived. But just as he was about to open it, a voice called out from the shadows of the room.

"You're leaving already?"

Yu froze, turning to see Tokoyami standing near the doorway, his sharp eyes watching him intently. Tokoyami had been waiting for him. Yu straightened, not entirely sure how much he had overheard.

"Yeah," Yu replied softly. "I didn't want to wake her."

Tokoyami nodded, glancing at Tsuyu, still sleeping peacefully. There was a brief moment of silence before Tokoyami spoke again, his tone serious. "She was really worried about you, you know. I saw her cry for you last night."

Yu's chest tightened at the revelation. He hadn't seen Tsuyu cry, not once, during all the years they'd known each other. She had always been the strong one, the responsible one. Hearing that she had shed tears over him made something inside him ache.

Tokoyami gestured toward the common room. "Let's talk."

Without another word, Yu followed him out of the room, closing the door gently behind him. They made their way down the quiet halls of U.A.'s dorms, eventually settling in the common room where Tsuyu had sat alone the night before. Tokoyami leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, while Yu stood near the window, his gaze fixed on the skyline outside.

"So," Tokoyami began, "what happened last night? You were in pretty rough shape when you showed up."

Yu sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I was tracking a Nomu. One of the flying types. It was attacking some people near the city outskirts, and I... I couldn't just let it go."

He paused, trying to piece together the events of the night in his mind. "I managed to beat it by drowning it. Lured it into a container, webbed it shut, and pushed it into a river. But it put up a hell of a fight before I could stop it. It was smart for a Nomu. I was injured, badly."

He rubbed the back of his neck, the soreness still lingering. "I was too far from Naruhata to make it back on my own in my condition, but I was close to U.A. High School. And... well, I knew Tsuyu was here. She's the only one I could think of."

Tokoyami nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You chose to come here because you trust her."

Yu met his gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. "Yeah. I do."

Another silence settled between them before Tokoyami spoke again. "She was scared for you. More than I've ever seen her scared. She didn't say much, but... I could tell. It's hard, isn't it? Knowing we can die at any time. Or receive injuries that can change our lives for good."

Yu clenched his fists, staring out at the city beyond the glass. "Yeah. I know. I've seen it happen too many times. Superman... All Might..."

His voice trailed off, the weight of the loss still heavy in his chest. But then he shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside. "But I can't stop. I can't stop because it's my responsibility."

Tokoyami tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Responsibility?"

Yu nodded. "I lost someone important to me a long time ago. My dad. I spent years chasing after vengeance, but last night... saving those people... I realized something. Being a hero isn't about revenge. It's about protecting people. That's my responsibility now."

Tokoyami regarded him for a long moment before speaking. "And what about Tsuyu? She's your friend, but you almost died last night. Have you thought about what that would do to her? And what about the other vigilantes? Your friends?"

Yu's throat tightened. He hadn't wanted to think about it, but now that Tokoyami had said it, the reality was impossible to ignore. He had come close to leaving her behind without even realizing it. Leaving his friends behind.

"I'm not gonna lie to her," Yu finally said, his voice quiet but firm. "This is who I am now. But I'll do everything I can to make sure I come back. Every time."

Tokoyami studied him for a moment longer before nodding, seemingly satisfied with his answer. "Good. Just make sure you mean it."

As they stood there in the quiet of the common room, Yu felt a strange sense of clarity. He had come so far from the boy who had left Tsuyu all those years ago, driven by nothing but anger and loss. Now, he had something more. A purpose, a responsibility, and people who cared about him.

And he wasn't going to let them down.

---

Tsuyu stirred in her sleep, her eyes fluttering open as the morning sun peeked through her curtains. For a moment, she was disoriented, the events of the night before blurring in her mind. She shifted, realizing the bed was warmer than usual, and then it hit her. Yu. Spider-Man. Her childhood friend had come to her wounded and broken.

But as her gaze drifted across the room, her heart sank. The spot beside her was empty.

Quickly, she sat up and looked around. The folded clothes she had lent him were neatly placed on the chair. His suit, now mended, cleaned, and ready, was gone from the desk. And then she saw him, standing near the window, his silhouette framed by the early morning light. He was already in his suit, mask in hand, ready to leave again.

He was going back out there.

Her chest tightened with worry as the reality of the situation hit her once more. She had healed him and patched him up, but the world out there wasn't forgiving. He was injured, yet he was already preparing to face more danger and more battles. Her eyes welled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, determined not to let them fall this time.

She couldn't just let him leave like that. Without thinking, Tsuyu sprang out of bed and crossed the room in a heartbeat. She reached out and grabbed his arm just as he was about to step onto the windowsill. Yu turned to face her, surprised, his eyes wide behind the mask.

"Tsuyu," he began softly, his voice already heavy with apology, knowing what was coming.

But before he could say more, she pulled him into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around his waist as she pressed her face into his chest. She could feel the tension in his body, the fatigue in his muscles, but she held on anyway. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with all the things she wanted to say but couldn't find the words for.

"Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please stay alive out there, Yu."

For a moment, Yu stood frozen, caught off guard by her plea. He had expected her to be upset, to try to talk him out of going back into the fight so soon. But this, this raw emotion, this vulnerability, was something he wasn't prepared for. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, feeling her breath against him as they stood there in silence.

"I will," he finally whispered back, his voice rough with emotion. "I promise, Tsu. I'll do everything I can to stay alive."

They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, the quiet of the room broken only by the soft rustling of fabric and the distant hum of the school coming to life outside. Tsuyu squeezed him tighter, her mind replaying the battle scars she had seen on his body, the exhaustion in his eyes, and the way he had nearly collapsed in front of her last night. She had seen heroes fight and fall, but seeing someone her age, someone she cared about, so close to death, was a different kind of fear.

Behind them, Tokoyami stood silently, watching the exchange with a quiet understanding. He had seen the look in Tsuyu's eyes the night before, the fear that came with loving someone who walked the line between life and death every day. He respected her strength, but even the strongest heroes had their breaking points. And for Tsuyu, it seemed, that point was right in front of her.

Eventually, Yu gently pulled away from the embrace, though his hands lingered on her shoulders. He looked down at her, his eyes soft behind the mask, filled with gratitude and something else, a promise, perhaps. He wanted to say more, to reassure her that everything would be fine, but they both knew better than that.

"Thank you," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper.

Tsuyu swallowed hard, nodding as she met his gaze. "Just come back," she murmured. "Come back alive."

With a final nod, Yu stepped back, pulling his mask over his face once more. He gave her one last look before turning toward the window. He glanced at Tokoyami, who gave him a silent nod of acknowledgment, understanding that this was just the way things had to be.

And with that, Yu leaped from the window, launching a web toward the horizon, swinging into the sky with a graceful arc. Tsuyu stood by the window, watching as he disappeared into the distance, her heart heavy but steady. She knew this wouldn't be the last time she'd worry for him, but for now, she had to trust him.

As the faint sound of his web-swinging faded into the morning air, Tsuyu wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned away from the window and looked toward Tokoyami, who was still standing there, his presence a quiet reassurance.

"He'll be alright," Tokoyami said, his voice calm but firm. "He's stronger than he looks."

Tsuyu nodded, though her worry hadn't fully dissipated. "I know," she replied softly. "But it doesn't make it any easier."

They stood in silence for a moment longer before Tsuyu finally turned back toward her room. The Spider and the Frog. Bound by a friendship that had withstood time, distance, and danger. And no matter how much time passed, that bond would never break.

---

Tokoyami's calm voice cut through the quiet after Yu had disappeared into the distance. "What you did for Yu," he began, "it reminded me of something."

Tsuyu turned to face him, still standing by the window, her heart heavy with lingering worry. "What do you mean?"

He shifted slightly, crossing his arms. "It's something Uraraka said to Deku. When he returned to U.A. High School after a round of training shortly after Superman died... she begged him not to die." His voice softened, the weight of that moment still fresh in his memory. "She was terrified for him, for what could happen to him out there. She didn't want Deku to suffer the same fate."

Tsuyu looked down, her fingers still clutching the windowsill. The memory of Superman's death was still a fresh wound, a reminder of the dangers they all faced as heroes. No one was invincible, not even the greatest among them. The thought of Yu, of her friend, falling in the same way, had shaken her to her core.

"How did you know that?" Tsuyu asked as her gaze stayed down. "Uraraka only told the girls." Tsuyu remembered Uraraka telling the girls about the conversation.

"Deku told us about it shortly after he came back from his flight," Tokoyami answered. "The boys."

"Of course. When she told us about it, we understood her," Tsuyu whispered. "It's hard to see someone you care about risking their life like that."

Tokoyami studied her for a moment, his sharp gaze thoughtful. "After seeing what you did for him, I couldn't help but wonder if you..." he said carefully, "If you feel something more for Yu."

The question hung in the air between them, and Tsuyu's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise, but quickly shook her head. "Yu is just a friend. My friend," she replied, her voice steady. "I care about him, yes, but it's not like that. I worry because... because we've been through a lot together. That's all."

Tokoyami nodded, but there was a faint, knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He wasn't convinced entirely, but he let the subject rest. "I just had to ask."

Tsuyu bit her lip, her mind flashing back to a moment not so long ago, after Jiro's performance ofEverglowin her room. Shortly before that, the other girls of Class 1-A had sat together, where Uraraka told the girls about how she had begged Deku not to... die.

The conversation had been a quiet, intimate moment, one where they had all shared their hearts openly, surrounded by the warmth of friendship among the girls.

And the conversation was the catalyst for Jiro's beautiful performance.

The lyrics had lingered in her mind even after the song ended. "If you love someone, you should let them know." It had prompted each of them to open up in ways they hadn't before.

Uraraka had finally admitted her feelings for Deku, her voice shaking but her resolve strong. Momo had shared her deepening connection with Shoto, a quiet understanding between them growing with every battle they fought side by side. Hagakure had bashfully spoken of her admiration for Ojiro's quiet strength, while Mina had cheerfully confessed her feelings for Kirishima, who had always been there for her with his unbreakable resolve.

Even Jiro had shyly spoken of Kaminari, though her usual confident demeanor had faltered slightly as the words left her lips.

And Tsuyu had sat among them, heart pounding in her chest before she had finally spoken her truth. She then told Tokoyami her feelings for him.

She remembered the way her voice had sounded so small when she confessed her feelings for him, how her heart had fluttered in her chest as she glanced in his direction. It wasn't something she had planned to say, but the moment felt right. They had been through so much together, fought side by side, and somewhere along the way, her feelings for him had grown. The bond they shared was special, deeper than she had ever realized before that night.

And Tokoyami, in his usual composed manner, had acknowledged it quietly, with a faint blush on his cheeks. They didn't need to say much more; the understanding between them had been enough.

Now, standing here with him, Tsuyu's thoughts drifted back to that moment, to the lyrics that had stirred something inside her. She smiled softly, glancing at Tokoyami, who met her gaze with the same calm composure she had always admired.

"I remember that night," she said, her voice gentle. "After Jiro's performance. When we all talked about how we felt."

Tokoyami nodded, his expression softening. "I remember too."

A comfortable silence settled between them, the tension of the night easing away. Tsuyu knew that her feelings for Tokoyami were genuine, and though the fear of losing someone close, whether it was Yu or anyone else, was always present, she found comfort in the bonds she had forged with her friends, and with him.

With one last glance toward the horizon where Yu had disappeared, Tsuyu took a deep breath and turned to Tokoyami, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. Whatever the future held, she knew they would face it together, as friends, as allies, and perhaps... as something more.

For now, that was enough.

---

After leaving U.A. High School, Yu Onomae, now back in his Spider-Man suit, swung across the city skyline, heading straight for Naruhata. His mind was still buzzing with everything that had just happened. Tsuyu's quiet strength, her tears, the way she had held him before he left. He could still feel the weight of her concern, the way her words lingered in the back of his mind. But now, as the familiar streets of Naruhata came into view, his focus shifted back to his other family: his team, the Naruhata vigilantes.

Landing gracefully on the roof of their base, Yu took a deep breath before stepping inside. As he walked in, the familiar sights and sounds of the hideout brought a sense of grounding. Koichi, Pop Step, and Knuckleduster were all gathered in the common area, clearly deep in conversation about something. When they noticed Yu, they immediately looked up, curiosity and concern in their eyes.

"Spider-Man, you're back," Koichi greeted, standing up from where he had been sitting. "Everything alright?"

Yu nodded, but the exhaustion from the night's events showed in his posture. He took off his mask, revealing the weariness on his face, but there was a certain calm in his eyes. "I need to talk to you guys," he said, his voice steady but tired. "A lot happened tonight."

The others exchanged glances, sensing the weight behind his words. Knuckleduster motioned for him to sit down, and Yu gladly accepted, sinking into the chair across from them.

Pop Step, ever the lively one, leaned forward, her eyes full of curiosity. She knew the spider-themed vigilante would give the other vigilantes his daily report on what he had done every night. Of course, as he was at U.A. High School the night before, they didn't receive his report. "Spill, Spider-Boy. What happened? Did something go wrong?"

Yu shook his head. "Not wrong... but things got intense." He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "I went to U.A. High School last night. I was badly wounded after a fight with the flying Nomu. I went there because I knew it was close, and I knew Tsuyu would be there."

Koichi's brow furrowed. "You fought a Nomu? Alone?"

Yu nodded, his gaze dropping slightly. "Yeah. I took it down, but not without a fight. I had to drown it, webbing it down with a weight to keep it under. But... I was hurt in the process. I was far from Naruhata, and I didn't think I'd make it back here in one piece. So I went to U.A. High School, to Tsuyu."

Knuckleduster grunted, crossing his arms. "And she patched you up, huh?"

"Yeah," Yu said quietly. "She patched me up, no questions asked. But..." He hesitated, his mind replaying the moment when Tsuyu had broken down after tending to his wounds. "She was really worried. More than I expected. Seeing me like that... it hit her hard."

Pop Step raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on her lips. "So Frog-Girl's got a soft spot for our Spider-Man, huh?"

Yu frowned slightly. "It's not like that, Kazuho. She's just a good friend. But seeing her like that... I realized how dangerous this life is. She's seen what happens to heroes. Superman's death still weighs on everyone, and she was scared that something like that could happen to me."

Koichi leaned back in his chair; his expression thoughtful. "So, what did you tell her?"

Yu sighed. "I told her the truth. That even though this life is dangerous, it's my responsibility. I can't just stop because I'm scared of getting myself hurt or because people care about me. I have to keep going, keep saving people. It's what I'm meant to do."

Knuckleduster nodded, his gruff voice cutting through the air. "That's the life of a vigilante. It's not about glory or recognition. It's about doing what needs to be done, no matter the cost."

"But, guys, we are recognized." Kazuho's words served as a reminder of the fame they gained after the rescue operation. They were now heroes in all but name.

"Yeah, but... it's a good thing, right?" Koichi spoke up. "Now the people know that we are there for them. We might as well be heroes. Well, apart from the licenses. The people are our responsibility."

Yu glanced at him, feeling the weight of those words settle deep inside him. He had always known the risks, but tonight, it had become all too real. Still, he knew he couldn't walk away from it, even if it meant putting his life on the line.

"Yeah," Yu said softly. "It's not just about me anymore. It's about the people I'm trying to protect, about making sure no one else loses someone the way I lost my dad. It's about responsibility. For the people, I will get back up no matter how hard I was beaten."

Koichi smiled, a quiet respect in his eyes. "Now, you need to build up the strength to back it up."

Yu chuckled softly, though there was a sadness in his voice. "I guess I have to. I don't want to... upset her."

Pop Step nudged him with a playful grin. "You sure you're not gonna get all mushy with your frog friend, though? You've starting to get that whole 'tragic hero' vibe going on."

Yu rolled his eyes, though a small smile crept onto his lips. "She's just a friend, Kazuho."

"Uh-huh," she said, clearly not convinced.

Knuckleduster grunted again, standing up from his chair. "Enough teasing the kid. He's been through hell tonight. Let him rest."

Yu smiled gratefully at Knuckleduster, feeling the support of his team surrounding him. Despite everything, he knew he wasn't alone in this fight. The Naruhata vigilantes had his back, just like he had theirs.

As the night grew later, the group settled back into their routines, but the weight of Yu's words lingered in the air. Responsibility. It was something they all carried, in their way. And now, more than ever, Yu understood what that truly meant.

The road ahead was still dangerous, still uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, Yu felt ready to face it. Because now, he wasn't just fighting for himself. He was fighting for everyone he cared about, for Tsuyu, for his team, for Naruhata.

And that made all the difference.

"Wait, where is Miles?" Yu noticed the absence of the second spider-themed vigilante.

"He returned to I-Island," Kazuho answered. "His uncle told him to continue his study for now. Prowler can handle things here."

"You should've seen how he helped us take down the Nomu." Koichi's face was filled awe, just like the night before. "He was all like... 'Back the hell off!' And then, he gave the Nomu a hell of a punch! POW!" Koichi laughed at the reminder of the sheer awesomeness of that moment. "He sent the Nomu flying!"

"Bioelectricity." As the former Pro Hero, Oguro saw the nature of his powers. "First, a natural cloaking ability. And now, bioelectricity. He's full of surprises."

---

Miles returned to I-Island Academy after a long weekend of vigilante work, exhaustion settling deep in his bones. His backpack felt heavier than usual, weighed down not just by books but by the suit tucked inside. It was the secret life he carried everywhere.

All he wanted was to crash for a bit.

He swiped his keycard, pushed the door open, and stepped inside, only to find Ganke pacing back and forth in the middle of their room.

Miles blinked. "Ganke?"

His best friend nearly jumped out of his skin. "Miles!"

Miles raised an eyebrow. Ganke was so lost in thought that he hadn't even noticed him come in. That was weird. Usually, it was the other way around.

Miles shut the door behind him, setting his backpack down.

"Dude, what's up with you?"

Ganke let out a long, theatrical sigh. "It's... it's Melissa."

Miles' exhaustion vanished. He straightened. "Melissa? You serious?"

Ganke nodded, running a hand through his hair. Miles tried not to grin. He knew that this was gonna be good.

Ever since they met at the academy, Ganke Lee had been drawn to Melissa Shield. She was brilliant, kind, and just as obsessed with tech as he was. The way she talked about her inventions, the fire in her eyes whenever she worked on something new... It was impossible not to admire her.

For Ganke, admiration had turned into something more. Something bigger. And now, here he was, spiraling.

"You're overthinking it, aren't you?" Miles asked, already knowing the answer.

Ganke groaned. "Of course, I am."

Miles smirked, folding his arms. "Dude, I figured this out ages ago."

Ganke threw up his hands. "Then why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I was waiting for you to admit it first."

Ganke shot him a look, but Miles just shrugged.

"You know," Miles continued, "I can't believe this is the same guy who helped me upgrade my Spider-Man Halloween costume in two days. You can code video games like Speed Nonagon from scratch, hack into security systems, and troubleshoot anything, but the second you have to talk about your feelings? Boom. System crash."

Ganke sighed, flopping down onto his bed. "It's not that simple, man."

"Sure, it is," Miles countered. "You like her. You tell her. Best-case scenario, she returns your feelings. Worst-case scenario, she doesn't feel the same. But you won't know unless you..."

"Now's not the right time."

Miles' smirk faded. He studied Ganke's expression, the tension in his shoulders, the hesitation in his voice. This wasn't just nerves.

"...Why?" Miles asked.

Ganke exhaled and met his gaze.

"Didn't you hear?"

---

Melissa Shield buried herself in her work.

In the aftermath of the Day of Doom, the world had lost its greatest hero. On that day, grief rippled through every city, echoed in every screen, in every hushed conversation. Memorials commemorating the Day of Doom in Tokyo were adorned with flowers. Candles burned in windows. The world mourned Superman, even over two months after his death.

But for Melissa, it wasn't just the loss of a symbol. It was personal.

She had known him, not just as the Man of Steel, but as the man behind the cape. She had helped her father catalog the Kryptonian's abilities, studied his biology, analyzed the physics of his flight. But beyond the science, beyond the data, they had become friends. In a heartbeat.

He had inspired her, just as All Might once had. He had been the proof that strength could be kind, that power could be selfless. He had been invincible.

And yet, even he hadn't been enough.

So, she did the only thing she knew how to do. She worked.

Days blurred into nights in the labs of I-Island Academy. She barely ate, barely slept, pouring every ounce of herself into building better support gear, better technology. Stronger. Smarter. Safer. If she worked harder, thought faster, maybe she could stop the next tragedy before it happened. Maybe she could fix the world Superman had left behind.

Maybe she could make up for the fact that even he hadn't been enough.

She told herself it was necessary. That she was doing something. But someone else saw it for what it really was.

Ganke Lee.

He wasn't a hero like All Might nor a vigilante like Spider-Man. He wasn't even a fighter, but he wasn't blind. He saw the way Melissa was running herself into the ground. The dark circles under her eyes, the way she barely spoke, how the fire in her gaze had dimmed.

He refused to just stand by and let it happen. Just like his best friend, who had donned the second mantle of Spider-Man.

So one evening, after watching her push through another twelve-hour session without a single break, he finally spoke up.

"Melissa... you need to take care of yourself too."

She didn't look up. "I'm fine, Ganke."

"No, you're not." His voice was steady, no trace of his usual easygoing tone. "You think I haven't seen this before?"

That made her pause. Her hands, which had been typing furiously, slowed. "And what's wrong with that?" she asked, defensive. "If we don't improve, if we don't work harder, more people could..."

"Superman wouldn't want this."

The words hit like a punch to the gut.

Her breath caught. Grief, exhaustion, and something dangerously close to anger flickered across her face before she buried it down.

Her voice was quieter now, but sharp. "How do you know?"

Ganke hesitated. "...What?"

"What's his name?" she asked, turning to face him fully.

Ganke frowned. "Superman?"

"No," she said, her voice colder now. "His real name."

His brow furrowed. "Kal-El of Krypton?"

Melissa shook her head, her hands curling into fists. She knew the real answer. Clark Kent.

"You don't know him," she said.

Ganke opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

After a long beat, he sighed. "You're right. I didn't know him the way you did."

Melissa scoffed, turning away, but before she could sink back into her work, he continued.

"But I know he wouldn't want this. You know that he wouldn't want this."

That silenced her.

"I get it, Melissa. I really do. But pushing yourself past your limit isn't going to bring him back. And it won't stop the next disaster if you collapse before you even finish your work."

His voice softened. "You need to rest. Eat. Sleep. Just... let yourself be a person, too."

Melissa felt the weight of it then. The exhaustion. The grief. The loneliness.

She hadn't let herself grieve. She hadn't let herself feel anything beyond the desperate need to fix what was already broken.

But looking at Ganke... the guy who always seemed so carefree, so full of life... she saw the truth. He wasn't just saying this for the sake of it.

He actually cared.

And maybe, just maybe... he was right.

---

Ganke and Melissa stood inside I-Island Academy's Hologram Chamber, a state-of-the-art simulation room capable of manifesting entire worlds.

A pair of specialized glasses controlled the illusion tech, and tonight, each of them wore a pair. The room responded to their voices through throat mics, allowing them to shape reality with just a word.

The possibilities were endless. The projectors could create entire cities, alien landscapes, or even bring people back in stunning, lifelike detail.

But tonight wasn't about research. It wasn't about pushing the limits of technology.

Tonight was for music.

Ganke had planned this for a while. He had spent days picking the perfect song, waiting for the right moment. The right way to remind Melissa of something she had forgotten.

That night wasn't about a confession. It was about Melissa.

A grand piano materialized near the far wall, its keys glowing softly. Around them, the chamber transformed into an open field, stretching beneath a vast blue sky. Wisps of white clouds drifted lazily overhead. A simulated breeze rustled through the holographic grass, making it sway like waves in the wind.

Melissa blinked, momentarily stunned.

It felt real.

More real than anything she had allowed herself to feel in weeks.

Ganke sat at the piano, exhaling slowly as his fingers pressed the first note. The melody of Look at the Sky filled the space, cascading gently from the speakers above.

Technically, he wasn't playing it himself. The notes had been extracted and rearranged from the original track, tweaked with Miles' help. He had altered the intro, making it softer, more delicate, more personal.

This was something he had to do himself.

The song swelled, and then, Ganke began to sing.

"Is it fate?
If it's not easy, it must not be.
At that age,
I cherished the flowers beneath my feet."

His voice was steady, but beneath the words, there was something unspoken.
Something meant for her.

Melissa inhaled sharply.

She had been a prodigy once. Years ahead of her time. Accolades, achievements, endless praise... she had thrived in it. Cherished it.

But now... she didn't know anymore.

Failure had never been an option before.

But then came the Day of Doom. Superman was gone. All Might had retired. She had seen the world's strongest heroes fall.

No matter how hard she worked, it would never be enough.

And lately... she had come so close to giving up.

"But something must have changed in me.
I used to feel so light.
Now, I'll try.
I just want time."

The words hit deeper than she expected.

Melissa watched him, the weight of the song sinking into her bones.

She used to love designing support gear. She used to love the challenge, the joy of invention. But now? It felt like a desperate attempt to prevent another catastrophe. Like she was racing against a future she couldn't stop.

Every failure drained her. Every setback felt like proof that she wasn't enough.

The pre-chorus slowed, a moment of quiet realization.

"Wait again.
I will be much better then.
Holding on, I said,
I will be much better then."

Melissa exhaled.

Her father, David Shield, had always told her that intelligence wasn't everything. That who she was, her heart, her health, mattered. He told her to take care of them as well.

She had ignored that. Drowned herself in work.

But this... this moment...

This felt like breathing again. She will be much better. Get much better.

Then came the chorus.

"Look at the sky, I'm still here.
I'll be alive next year.
I can make something good, oh.
Something good."

Ganke turned to her. His eyes were soft. His expression open. He didn't need to say anything. The look was enough.

This wasn't just an invitation to sing. It was a reminder.

She could still create something good. She could still live.

And for the first time in days... Melissa smiled.

Then, she joined him.

Their voices intertwined, harmonizing as the chamber pulsed in time with the beat. The grass shimmered. The flowers swayed. The sky above them came to life, the clouds shifting and evolving, light breaking through in bursts of color.

The second verse began.

"Are you close?
Shouldn't it come to you naturally?
And everyone knows,
You're losing your gift, and it's plain to see."

Melissa swallowed.

The lyrics felt like her own thoughts turned against her.

She had felt like she was losing her gift. Like no matter how much she worked, it was slipping through her fingers. Like she would never be good enough again.

But then...

"But something must have changed in me.
I don't fear it anymore.
Now, I'm sure.
I'm sure."

The words washed over her, and suddenly...

The weight didn't feel so crushing.

Ganke had chosen this song for a reason. He believed in her. And maybe, just maybe... she could start believing again, too.

The music swelled, and without thinking, she moved.

She danced. Not perfectly. Not gracefully. But she let herself feel the song.

"Look at the sky, I'm still here.
I'll be alive next year.
I can make something good, oh.
Something good."

Ganke kept playing, but his grin widened as he watched her let go.

"Wait again.
I will be much better then.
And suddenly,
I've restored your faith in me."

Then, just as the final chorus exploded into life, he leapt from his seat, arms outstretched as he faced the sky above.

"Look at the sky!"

Melissa laughed at Ganke's sudden move. She actually laughed.

But the, her breath caught at the sight of the beautiful sky, as the clouds were now accompanied by flocks of white birds.

As the beats returned, Ganke didn't hesitate to dance. He joined her, spinning to the beat, his movements loose and wild. He wasn't a great dancer. Not even close. But somehow, that made it better.

It was ridiculous. It was fun. It was alive.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Melissa felt light.

They sang together, voices rising, filling the chamber with something warm.

"Look at the sky, I'm still here.
I'll be alive next year.
I can make something good, oh.
Something good."

Melissa wasn't just an engineer. She wasn't just someone drowning in responsibility. She wasn't just trying to fix what had been lost.

She was Melissa Shield.

And Ganke Lee was just Ganke Lee.

Two friends, singing under a sky that reminded them that tomorrow was still waiting.

---

"Okay... okay, I think I need rest after that."

Melissa let out a breathless laugh as she collapsed onto the couch, her body still thrumming with the energy of the last song. Exhilaration melted into exhaustion, her heart pounding, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths.

Ganke chuckled, his fingers lingering on the piano keys. "Alright. One last song."

She turned onto her side, watching him. From the couch, she could see the broad, steady line of his back as he adjusted the settings on the Hologram Chamber. The vibrant liveliness of their previous song settled into quiet anticipation. Overhead, the sky dimmed into twilight, stars flickering into existence like distant memories.

Then, he began to play.

The first notes of Sweet Time rang out. It was soft and wistful, a stark contrast to the soaring energy of Look at the Sky before it.

The music moved with gentle slowness. Delicate, yet profound. Ganke's touch on the keys was different now. Lighter. Almost hesitant.

This song seemed to carry something deeper. Something personal.

Melissa closed her eyes, listening to the song.

A heartbeat-like rhythm emerged beneath the melody. It was steady, warm, pulsing through the air like the quiet thrum of life itself. It wove into the soft piano, breathing in time with the song. Ganke let the rhythm build, not rushing the first verse, just like it did in the original. Instead, he let the heartbeat linger, letting it unfold with quiet intention.

And then, he began to sing.

"The child I was,
Counting the days 'til the summer would come.
But you don't live forever.
Your mother will one day bring you home..."

Melissa's breath slowed. The steady pulse of the beat matched her own heartbeat, mirroring the rhythm inside her chest.

There was something in his voice. Something fragile, yet certain.

And she knew... Ganke felt it too. The weight of the words. The truth of them.

Superman was gone. And one day, like everyone else, Melissa would be too. Her mother, who died at childbirth, would one day bring her home.

"And I feel so stupid,
'Cause I wasn't scared of this before.
But since I met you,
I don't wanna die no more..."

His voice caught. Just for a second.

He hadn't meant to be so obvious. The song wasn't meant to be a confession. But the words spoke for him in a way he couldn't.

They were both Quirkless supporters of both hero and vigilante work, building tools and gadgets their hero and vigilante partners would need.

Ganke, like everyone on I-Island, knew about Melissa's work, but Melissa didn't know about Ganke's. Neither did she know about Miles Morales being the new Spider-Man. But, to Ganke, at that moment, that was a story for another time.

Then, the chorus arrived.

"So take a long time.
'Cause, oh, the world is lucky to be your home, I know.
I need a next life.
'Cause I'm not satisfied to know you just once..."

And then, something unexpected happened.

Another voice joined his.

For the briefest second, Ganke's hands faltered on the keys. He turned, startled, to see Melissa still lying on the couch, gazing up at the ceiling as she sang with him.

But it wasn't just her voice filling the room.

Her projection had stepped forward. A holographic version of herself, dressed in formal wear, microphone in hand, walked toward him and stood beside the piano. She looked... ethereal. Realer than an illusion yet touched by something intangible.

Melissa's voice was put through the speakers. It was as if the hologram was singing instead of the one lying on the couch. The only thing telling him that it was the illusion was that Melissa's mouth was moving.

The hologram's expression was soft. Full of something unspoken.

Through the hologram, Melissa sang with him.

"So take a long time,
Oh, the world is lucky to be your home, I know...
I need a next life.
Not satisfied to know you just once..."

Ganke's breath caught.

Oh.

Oh, she was beautiful.

It drove him to use the holographic illusions to make him wear a neat suit. One that would match her formal wear.

Soon, the two of them were like a couple... no, not yet... a duet performing in a concert.

As the piano notes returned for the transition to the second verse, the projection swayed gently; eyes closed as if it was lost in the music.

Meanwhile, on the couch, the real Melissa placed a hand over her heart. Like the recurring heartbeat, her fingers tapped lightly against her chest with every beat.

Five fingers. Five taps to her chest.

P. Q. R. S. T. The phases of the heart's electrical activity.

A holographic projection of an EKG reading appeared, tracing the rhythm of life itself.

Then, she sang the next verse.

"To live with dying,
Oh, wouldn't you see our world as dark?
But I won't spend time
Resenting the way things are..."

Her voice was steady, but inside, the song wrapped around her like a bittersweet memory.

To live with dying. Everyone will die someday. It is inevitable.

Despite knowing that fact ever since her mother died giving birth to her, she hadn't seen the world as dark before. Until after Superman's death. That was the first time she truly saw the world as dark. Because of one death.

Unlike her mother, she saw the death happening before her. She wasn't physically on Ground Zero in Tokyo during the Day of Doom, but she saw everything. It was a televised event.

Since then, she had spent so much time resenting the way things were.

But maybe... maybe she didn't have to. Not anymore.

She fused her voice with Ganke's again for the second chorus.

"So take a long time.
Oh, the world is lucky to be your home, I know.
I need a next life.
Not satisfied to know you just once..."

Then came the transition to the final chorus. And as it reached the climax...

The heartbeat disappeared. And something else took its place. Something weightless. Ethereal.

Melissa stopped tapping her when the heart stops to rest... it could mean only one thing.

Death.

His death.

The delicate background was beautiful, but beneath it, she heard a saddening echo. A sound she could never forget.

A flatline. A sign of death.

The weightless, ethereal single note carried through the entire final chorus.

"So take a long time.
Oh, the world is lucky to be your home, I know.
I need a next life.
Not satisfied to know you just once..."

Then, the beats came. It was not the heartbeats from before, but it beats, nevertheless. It was something that carried them to the end. The single ethereal note never left as it stretched towards the end.

"So take a long time...
Oh, the world is lucky to be your home, I know...
I need a next life...
Not satisfied to know you just once..."

And then, Ganke sang the final line alone.

"But I won't spend time
Resenting the way things are."

---

Silence settled between them after the song ended.

And then, soft, muffled cries came from the couch.

Ganke turned.

Melissa lay curled up, her face buried in her arms, shoulders trembling. Her holographic projection mirrored her. Tears were streaming down its digital face, as if the performance had been too much for her in the end.

Something in his chest ached.

The last notes had faded, but the words still echoed in her mind.

"So take a long time...
Oh, the world is lucky to be your home, I know...
I need a next life...
Not satisfied to know you just once..."

Her fingers tightened in her sleeve as she processed each line.

She wished he could have taken a long time here. Superman was supposed to be invincible. Untouchable. A constant presence who was always there for every sunrise, for every moment the world needed him.

But he wasn't. Not anymore.

Melissa squeezed her eyes shut. Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks.

The world had been lucky to have him. And from her conversation with Clark, she knew that he's lucky to land here. To find his parents. To find his mentor, lover... and friends. Including her.

But luck runs out.

A quiet sob broke past her lips, her body shaking.

She needed a next life. Because this one had taken him away too soon. And she wasn't satisfied to know such a man just once. Not because of his powers, but because he was... who he was. A good friend.

A warm, steady hand touched her arm. Melissa gasped softly, blinking through her tears.

Ganke had moved beside the couch, his expression hesitant but full of understanding. He didn't say anything at first. He just sat there. He was close, but not too close, to let her breathe.

After her sobs became much quieter, he finally spoke to her.

"Hey," he murmured. "Are you okay?"

Melissa let out a shaky breath, swiping at her face.

"No," she admitted, voice hoarse. "Not really."

Ganke nodded. He didn't try to fix it. He just stayed. And maybe that was enough.

Melissa swallowed hard before she finally told Ganke what she felt. "That song..." Her fingers curled against her chest. "It just... it reminded me of him."

Ganke looked up at the stars, their glow reflecting in his eyes.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I figured."

Her voice was barely above a whisper, raw and aching. "I wish he had more time."

Ganke's grip on her arm tightened slightly, warm and steady.

"The world was lucky to have him," she murmured, fingers clutching his sleeve. "Oh, I know it was."

She shut her eyes as she swallowed hard. Her voice cracked at the last sentence.

"I need another life. I wish... I wish there's another life after this one." Her breath shook. "Because... knowing him just once?" Her eyes squeezed shut, fresh tears falling. "It's not enough."

There was a pause. But then...

"I think he knew," Ganke said softly.

Melissa's breath caught.

"That the world was lucky to have him."

She lifted her gaze, eyes shining with unshed tears.

"And I think..." Ganke hesitated, then met her eyes, steady and certain. "I think he was lucky to have met you, too."

And she didn't know why... but those words made her cry harder.

Ganke stayed beside her. And this time, she didn't cry alone.

---

Melissa wasn't sure how long she stayed like that, curled up on the couch, grief pressing into her like the weight of the night sky above. But eventually, the storm inside her quieted. The tears slowed. Her chest still ached, but it was different now. Less sharp. More like the echo of something long carried.

Ganke was still beside her.

He hadn't spoken much. Hadn't tried to fix it. Hadn't done anything but stay.

And somehow, that was what she needed most.

The Hologram Chamber, sensing the stillness, dimmed the stars overhead. Her projection had vanished, along with the floating EKG. Only the two of them remained in the softened glow of the simulated twilight.

Melissa finally exhaled, slow and steady. "Sorry," she muttered, rubbing at her eyes.

Ganke scoffed. "What are you apologizing for?"

She sniffled. "For, y'know... turning this whole thing into an emotional disaster."

A small smile tugged at his lips. "I mean, if it helps, I already planned for at least one emotional disaster tonight."

Melissa let out a quiet, breathy laugh. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." He leaned back, glancing up at the fading holographic stars. "Didn't expect it to be a grief spiral, though. I was kinda aiming for, like, a casual 'Wow, Ganke, you're an amazing singer' moment."

Melissa huffed out a laugh, wiping her face again. "Alright, fine. Wow, Ganke, you're an amazing singer. Happy now?"

He smirked. "Eh. Feels a little forced."

She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. And for the first time since the song ended, she felt just a little lighter.

A comfortable silence settled between them, the warmth of the moment filling the spaces where grief had been only minutes ago.

Then Melissa shifted, tilting her head to look at him. "So," she said, voice softer now. "That song. Was it, like... a subtle confession or something?"

Ganke froze. His mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.

"I... uh... what?"

Melissa grinned at his panicked expression. "Relax," she teased, voice still thick with emotion. "I'm just messing with you."

Ganke let out a slow, relieved breath, dragging a hand down his face. "Come on, Melissa. You can't just..."

"I can and I did."

But even as she joked, there was something different in her gaze now. Something softer. A quiet understanding.

And for now, that was enough.

Her eyes drifted back to the sky, or at least, the idea of it. "It's weird," she murmured. "For a second there, I thought I was okay. But then that song just..." She exhaled, shaking her head. "It cracked something open in me, y'know?"

Ganke nodded. "Yeah. I know."

Melissa ran a hand through her hair. "I think I've been trying not to feel it. The whole... missing him thing."

Ganke didn't push her to keep talking. He just listened.

"I mean, it's been a while," she continued. "And I thought I was past the worst of it. But then I hear something, or see something, or..." She gestured vaguely at the air, at nothing in particular. "And suddenly, it's like he's right there again. And I remember that he's not."

Ganke watched her carefully. "Grief's weird like that," he said. "It doesn't really... end. It just changes shape."

Melissa swallowed. "Yeah."

After the silence between them, she tried to ask Ganke a question.

She hesitated, but then asked quietly, "Do you really think that?"

Ganke frowned slightly. "Think what?"

She forced the words out. "That he was lucky to have me."

Ganke blinked. And then, without missing a beat... "Yeah," he said. "And I didn't think so. I know so."

Melissa quickly looked away, blinking hard. "Damn it, don't make me cry again."

Ganke chuckled. "I'm just saying. You mattered to him, Mel." His voice was gentle. "That's gotta count for something."

Melissa pressed her lips together, fingers tightening briefly against the fabric of her sleeve.

Yeah. It counted for something.

She let out a slow breath, then nudged his arm lightly. "Thanks."

Ganke gave her a lopsided smile. "Anytime."

Another moment passed, quiet and steady.

Then...

"Okay," Melissa said, sitting up straighter. "This is too much emotional depth for one night. We need a distraction."

Ganke smirked. "Video games?"

"Obviously."

"I should warn you," he said, standing up and stretching. "I made Speed Nonagon. I've been training."

Melissa scoffed. "Pfft. Please. You could train for years, and you still wouldn't beat me. And I should warn you, this is not Speed Nonagon."

"Oh, it is so on."

And just like that, the weight in the room shifted.

Grief was still there, lingering in the spaces between words.

But so was something else. Something lighter.

And for now, that was enough.

---

Miles knew something was up the moment Ganke called.

Not texted. Called.

It wasn't that Ganke never called Miles. He would call Miles occasionally, usually when he had some big idea, tech breakthrough, or whenever Miles needed help in his spider work. But this time, there was something different in his voice. Something quieter.

So, when Miles stopped the night patrol with his uncle a bit earlier and swung by the dorm that night, he wasn't surprised to find his best friend sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor like he was replaying something over and over in his head.

Miles dropped his backpack on the chair and raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Spill."

Ganke let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's about Melissa."

Miles sat on the armrest of the chair. "Is she okay?"

Ganke hesitated. "Yeah. I mean... I think she will be."

Miles frowned. "What happened?"

Ganke leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "We were messing around in the Hologram Chamber. Playing and singing a few songs. It was fun at first. She was dancing, I was on the piano... y'know, vibes."

Miles nodded, waiting.

Ganke exhaled. "Then I played Sweet Time."

Miles blinked. "Oof."

"Yeah."

Miles didn't need Ganke to explain. He knew that song. He knew why it would have hit Melissa hard.

Ganke continued. "At first, she was just listening. Then she started singing too. And bro..." He shook his head, the memory still fresh. "The Holo-tech captured her projection mid-song. She wasn't even thinking about it. And man... she felt that song. Like, really felt it."

Miles stayed quiet, letting him get it out.

"She tried to hold it together, but when the song ended, she just... broke." Ganke swallowed. "Started crying. Hard. And she never does that. Not like that."

Miles' chest tightened. He wasn't sure if he'd ever seen Melissa cry. She carried herself with this mix of quiet strength and sharp wit, always the one holding things together.

But grief?

Grief didn't care how strong you were.

"She misses him, man," Ganke said. "Like, really misses him."

Miles nodded slowly. "Yeah. I figured."

"She said she wished he could've taken a long time. That the world had more time with him." Ganke's voice lowered. "That she had more time with him."

Miles clenched his jaw, looking down.

He got it. Too well.

Ganke sighed. "I didn't know what to say. I mean, what do you even say to that?"

Miles looked up. "You were there. That's what matters."

Ganke met his gaze. "I told her I think he was lucky to have her too."

Something in Miles' chest ached. Because he knew it was true.

Superman had meant something to a lot of people. But to Melissa?

He wasn't just a hero. He wasn't just a symbol.

He was a friend.

And losing a friend like that, one who made the world feel bigger, brighter, safer, wasn't something you ever really got over.

Ganke ran a hand through his hair. "I just thought you should know."

Miles nodded with an unreadable expression. "Yeah. Thanks."

A beat of silence.

Then Ganke smirked slightly. "She did try to roast me afterward, though."

Miles huffed a small laugh. "Sounds about right."

"She asked if the song was, like, a 'subtle confession' or something."

Miles grinned. "And? Was it?"

Ganke immediately scowled. "Bro, I was focusing on her wellbeing."

Miles held up his hands. "I'm just saying, you did sing it with some feeling."

Ganke groaned, flopping back on his bed. "If I wanted to confess to her, I would've said it through words, not a song. This night was Melissa's. Not mine."

Miles raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I think that was your night, alright. Who made the lady cry with his beautiful songs?" He smirked, putting on a dramatic voice for the last part.

Ganke grabbed a pillow and launched it at him. Miles caught it easily, laughing.

But behind the jokes, behind the teasing, the weight of the night still lingered.

Melissa was hurting.

And Miles knew better than anyone that grief like that didn't just fade. It would stay. It would change you. The wave of sorrow could return to you at any time. And, sometimes, when you least expect it.

Miles' mother had a scavenger hunt ready for his 16th birthday shortly after Superman's battle in USJ, during Miles' year-end break from I-Island, during which he came home to New York. It took him a while to find them all, as the clues were scattered across the city. He knew that the hunt would be easier if he had just received the spider bite a little earlier. But in the end, it was worth it.

Miles had received the spider bite shortly after the Day of Doom. He had new powers; powers that he did not understand. And seeing that he was bitten after discovering who his uncle truly was, and that he had been working with Knuckleduster, it made sense for Miles to confide in him. It made it all easier for Miles to convince his uncle to train him.

Miles hadn't told his mother about it. He didn't want her to worry, especially as Miles knew she would leave everything in New York, including her work as a councilwoman, just to see her boy. Most of all, he was afraid she would freak out.

For two months since the bite, while the vigilantes were still busy cleaning up the streets of Naruhata, Miles trained with the Prowler himself in the abandoned tunnel networks of the city. The tunnels were hidden well.

Uncle Aaron had always known that Miles would be great, especially after seeing that Miles had snuck into his place and discovered his ties to the vigilantes, even before he had his powers. It had all but confirmed that Miles Morales would be a great hero in his own right. Or a vigilante, for that matter.

His battle against Overhaul was his first real mission as Spider-Man. Acting as a reinforcement for the vigilantes. Like what Miles had said to the vigilantes earlier, after seeing the vigilantes in action, taking on more work after the Day of Doom, he knew what he must become. Particularly after he saw the first Spider-Man in action.

He is Spider-Man. He could wear the mask. To Miles, the secrecy of the vigilantes' identity was not to show the world that they can be anyone.

But to show that anyone can be them. That anyone can wear the mask.

At least, that was what he thought about it. That was what he saw.

But, back to the scavenger hunt. Back to the wave of sorrow. His father had been dead for two years, and yet, hearing his voice after a while... it caused Miles to tear up.

He wasn't ready for that. He wasn't ready for the wave of grief to return when he heard his father wishing him a happy birthday.

When he called his mother to thank her for the hunt, Miles knew that, sometimes, all you could do after you lost someone...

Was hold on to the people still here.

---

Miles was still lounging on Ganke's floor, absentmindedly tossing the pillow in the air, when Ganke let out a long sigh. The kind that meant something.

Miles glanced up. "What?"

Ganke hesitated, then shook his head. "Nothing. Just thinking."

Miles smirked. "That's dangerous."

Ganke rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

But there was something thoughtful in the way he said it, like his mind was stuck on something bigger than their usual banter.

Miles sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. "Alright, what's up?"

Ganke was quiet for a moment. Then, he finally admitted, "I'm putting it on hold."

Miles frowned. "Putting what on hold?"

Ganke exhaled. "The confession."

Miles blinked, surprised. "Wait... so you were planning to confess?"

Ganke groaned, grabbing another pillow and shoving his face into it. "Bro, focus."

Miles held up his hands, grinning. "Okay, okay. Go on."

Ganke let the pillow drop into his lap. "Look, it's not that I don't want to tell her. But tonight? This whole thing? It made me realize... it's not the right time."

Miles studied him, his smirk fading. "Because of what happened in the Hologram Chamber?"

Ganke nodded. "Yeah. She's carrying a lot, man. I don't want to make it about me when she's still figuring out how to carry him."

Miles leaned back against the bed, thoughtful. "That's... actually pretty mature of you."

Ganke scoffed. "Wow. Thanks."

"I mean it." Miles nudged his shoulder with a foot. "Most people wouldn't think like that. They'd just blurt it out and hope for the best."

Ganke let out a small, tired chuckle. "Yeah, well. I want to do this right. And if that means waiting... I'll wait."

Miles nodded, understanding. "So, what are you gonna do?"

Ganke sighed, leaning back on his hands. "Just... be there for her."

Something about the simplicity of it made Miles' chest tighten.

He'd lost people too. He knew how much it meant when someone stuck around. Not just in the immediate aftermath, but in the long stretch of after. The months where people stopped checking in, when the world moved on, but you hadn't.

Melissa wasn't alone.

And Ganke? He wasn't going anywhere.

Miles nodded. "Yeah. That's a good plan."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then Miles smirked. "So, does this mean I have time to start a betting pool on when you'll actually confess?"

Ganke grabbed the pillow and whacked him in the face.

"GO TO SLEEP, MORALES."

Miles just laughed.

And for now, that was enough.

---

Melissa wasn't sure when she had finally slipped into bed.

At some point, after the weight of the night had settled and the exhaustion of feeling too much caught up with her, she had crawled under the blankets. She had stared at the ceiling for a while, listening to the faint hum of the city outside her window.

Sleep had felt impossible at first.

Even after Ganke had left, after the laughter over video games and Speed Nonagon had faded into the quiet of her room, the ache still lingered. The song still echoed in her head, looping like a memory she wasn't ready to let go of.

She turned onto her side, curling up beneath the covers.

She still felt raw. Still felt the absence of him in a way that made her chest ache.

But... she also felt something else. Something quieter.

Ganke had stayed. She hadn't had to cry alone.

And Miles... she knew Miles would know soon. If he didn't already.

She swallowed. She wasn't used to letting herself be like that around other people besides her family. But tonight, she hadn't had a choice.

And they hadn't left.

Her fingers curled into the blanket, and a breath she didn't realize she was holding slipped out of her.

It still hurt. It probably always would.

But for the first time in a long time, the weight of it didn't feel quite as heavy.

The world was still turning. The city still pulsed with life beyond her window. And she was still here, breathing, moving, living.

Maybe that was enough.

Melissa closed her eyes. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she let sleep take her.

Incoming note:

I love music. I was obsessed with Porter Robinson's Nurture album. So, I figured I would put a couple of songs in. Look at the Sky and Sweet Time.

I am weird. I admit it. I have ideas, but I can't articulate it to words well. But I have this scene in mind. I know how the music would fit.

It's best if you read it while listening to the songs.

P.S.: Sweet Time drove me to write yet another fic. One that had no correlation whatsoever to my previous works. But I had to write it. You'll know why.