Chapter 1: OFA is here to stay
Izuku opened his eyes to find himself on the ground. The clouds were clearing up; the sun was shining. He had won the battle to end all wars. Shigaraki and All For One were no more. People surrounded him and started to bring him to the hospital.
Izuku was getting a scan around his body from Recovery Girl and other people who knew about his quirk. Recovery Girl was surprised.
"I can't believe it…." Recovery Girl.
"Can't believe what?" Izuku asked.
"Midoriya, you say you transferred One For All to Shigaraki to stop him from going berzerk," Recovery Girl stated, "But these scans are showing that some parts decided to stay with you."
"Wait, what?" Izuku asked.
"That's right," Recovery Girl said, "The stockpile quirk decided to stay with you."
"This is…. Too good to be true," Izuku said.
"Well, it's true, and we have Eri to thank for that," Recovery girl stated.
"Wait… Eri did this?" Izuku asked.
"That's right," Recovery Girl said, "She wanted to rewind you before you got injured. Turns out she did more than that,"
The door opened, and all of Class 1A, including Katsuki, rushed to him.
"Midori, you're okay!!" Mina said.
"Of course I'm okay, guys," Izuku said. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I dunno, you went toe to toe with the most dangerous villain since Nine from Nabu Island!"
"And Flect Turn!" Jiro added.
"Guys, I'm okay, really, I'm fine," Izuku told them. And it turns out I'm not quirkless…"
"Wait," Katsuki said, "You still have One For All?"
"Well, sort of," Izuku said, "Eri rewound me before I had all those other quirks, so I still have the stockpiling quirk within me. I can still go 100%, use Air Force, and everything else from before Joint Training."
"Well, good, because there's no chance in hell I'm continuing my hero dream without my rival," Katsuki stated.
Aizawa walked in with Eri. Izuku saw her and immediately smiled. He got up from the bed and hugged the 7-year-old unicorn.
"Thank you, Eri. Because of you, I can still be a hero."
"You're welcome, Deku. It wouldn't feel right not having you be a hero." Eri responded as she returned the hug.
Everyone awwed at the adorable sight of Eri hugging her hero. A few days had passed since that fateful battle. There was a big celebration for all of Class 1A. Ochako got a message from someone. Himiko Toga was in extensive care at the hospital. She survived despite giving Ochako some of her blood thanks to some healers. She snuck away from the celebration, and Izuku noticed. He followed her to a hill.
"Uraraka?" he asked.
"Oh, didn't notice you were here, Deku.." Ochako said as she noticed him.
"Uraraka, what's wrong?" Izuku asked.
"It's nothing," Ochako told him, clearly lying.
"Uraraka," Izuku said, "I can tell when you're lying."
Ochako sighed. She realized she could no longer hide what happened. She spent the next few minutes explaining to Izuku what happened between her and Himiko during Izuku's fight against Shigaraki.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over everything, Ochako sat quietly, the weight of recent events heavy on her heart. She felt deep sadness, convinced that what happened to Himiko was somehow her fault. The pain of the battle lingered in her thoughts.
Izuku, sensing her turmoil, gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice steady and reassuring.
"You did everything you could, Uraraka. You're not to blame for what happened." His words wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, easing her burden.
Looking into his earnest green eyes, Ochako felt a warmth spreading through her. "But… Himiko…" she started, her voice faltering.
Izuku shook his head slightly, his determination shining through.
"She's strong, just like you. And you—you're my hero. You inspire me to keep fighting, no matter the odds. I'd still hate the name Deku if it weren't for you. You made me see that name for what it truly is. The name of a hero. The Deku who gives it his all."
A flutter of happiness bloomed in her chest, dissipating the shadows of sadness that had encircled her. Overwhelmed by the moment, she embraced him tightly, feeling safe and cherished. In that embrace, all her fears seemed to fade away.
"Thanks, Deku….. That means a lot to me," Ochako said with a smile.
"You're welcome, Urara-"
"Ochako," Ochako said, " Call me Ochako."
After a few heartfelt moments, they pulled back gently, sunlight bathing them in a warm glow. Caught in the exhilarating rush of emotions and the relief of shared understanding, Ochako took a deep breath.
"Izuku, I… I need to tell you something. Rather….. I need to show it with actions."
Before he asked what Ochako meant, she leaned closer, her heart racing. In the fading light, with everything seemingly right in the world for a brief moment, their lips met in a soft kiss. It was a kiss filled with promise and hope, a declaration of feelings long hidden but now finally free.
Breaking the kiss, she looked into his eyes, a hint of vulnerability on her face. "You know," she began, her voice soft and a little shy, "sometimes I'm not good with words." There was a pause as Izuku watched her, his heart racing, anticipation swirling around them.
Ochako continued, "But I hope my actions were clear enough for you to understand how I feel." Izuku blinked, caught off guard by the confession, but as the weight of her words sank in, a smile spread across his face. The realization washed over him like a gentle tide—her affection was unmistakable, more potent than any spoken declaration.
With newfound courage, he replied earnestly,
"Ochako, your actions were obvious. I've felt the same way about you for years and wanted to be with you now and forever." His voice quivered with sincerity, and he took a step closer. Their hearts beat in sync, a beautiful melody of shared feelings.
Overcome by happiness, they leaned in again, the world around them fading away. As they embraced, it was as if time had frozen, locking in that perfect moment of connection. Once more, their lips met, this kiss deeper and filled with the promise of everything ahead. In that moment, with the warmth of their feelings surrounding them, they knew they had crossed a threshold into something truly special—a clear, strong, and everlasting love.
Izuku and Ochako were wrapped in a moment that felt like it belonged to a fairy tale. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue around them as they shared a quiet conversation laced with laughter. Every smile and shared glance brought them closer, igniting a connection that neither had dared to voice until now. Just as the world around them faded into blissful silence, the peaceful air was suddenly punctured by the exuberant voice of their classmate, Mina.
Mina burst onto the scene, her eyes wide with excitement as she saw Izuku and Ochako together.
"I knew it! I knew you two had feelings for each other!" she exclaimed her tone a mix of disbelief and delight.
The rest of Class 1A soon followed, their curious faces peeking around corners and behind nearby trees. Energy surged through the air as they each gasped, exchanged knowing looks, and quickly converged on the surprising scene. However, as Mina caught herself, her expression softened.
"Honestly, Ochako, it's about time, but I'm happy for you two!" she added, her voice brimming with warmth.
The unexpected intrusion stirred a flurry of emotions in Ochako, who felt embarrassment creeping over her. Yet, she couldn't help but smile brightly, her heart swelling joyfully.
"Ochako, are you okay?" Tsu asked.
"I'm fine now, really," she reassured her friends, glancing at Izuku fondly. "Thanks to Izuku, I feel more confident than ever." There was something magical about how her words rang out, and the weight of her vulnerability lifted as they embraced the moment's happiness.
Class 1A surrounded the two with enthusiastic chatter, their collective excitement wrapping around Izuku and Ochako like a comforting blanket. Clearly, the atmosphere had shifted into one of uncontained celebration, and laughter bubbled among them like a sparkling stream. Each classmate voiced their congratulations with genuine affection—a medley of heartfelt compliments mixed with playful teasing that deepened the bond within their tight-knit group.
As the excitement settled, the group decided to head back to the dorms to continue the celebration. With their hearts light and spirits high, they walked together, echoing with laughter and joyful banter. Izuku and Ochako striding side by side, their hands nearly brushing together. In that precious moment, surrounded by friends who cared, they both felt an exhilarating sense of hope and adventure that promised bright days. The journey of the heart had just begun, and they were ready to embrace every twist and turn with their friends by their side.
As they pulled away, Ochako smiled through the lingering sadness; her heart now lightened. It felt good to share this moment with him, especially now that they knew Himiko had survived. Together, they would navigate whatever lay ahead, stronger as heroes and even more united as friends.