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They were once strangers to each other, strangers from completely different worlds, one hated for their power and the other for the lack of it.
A loud cry of a green haired kid could be heard through the playground.
They were not destined to meet but fate had other plans, and fate was going to be nothing but a cruel mistress to these two.
A young girl with yellow hair and piercing eyes that looked like that of a cat took notice of him.
"Why are you crying?"
The kid could only sniffle as he tried looking up towards the smiling girl, her shadow towering over him.
That's how they first met.
"Wake up young one! Wake up young on-" quickly shutting off the AllMight themed alarm clock, the greenette slowly got out of bed, making sure not to wake up the person next to him.
He could hear them making small groans, the sound of the alarm clearly disturbing them, almost snapping them awake, but he continued on as soon as he saw them calm down back to sleep.
He looked at himself in the mirror for a moment, noticing a red area in his neck with a few bite marks strewn around
"she'll always be this rough, huh?"
He went to kiss his partner on the forehead before he left for a morning workout.
He didn't need to push his body to its limits anymore, his body had finally been accustomed to his quirk.
No more broken bones, no more muscle tears, and no more going out of control due to emotions.
How many years has it been since that damned war happened? Too many to remember.
The fight with Tenko was hectic, at all times, total concentration against an unwavering foe, where the smallest gap could lead to the destruction of his friends.
The loss of his mentor to stop All For One from taking over of Tenko, just like his old sidekick before him, a death that kept tugging at his mind for as long as he could remember.
Ever since his death, time sorta lost its purpose to Izuku days have gone by, months, years, yet they all felt the same.
Empty.
His mind was stuck at the war, it ended but he never truly left it, All Might was a big part of his life, as a beacon of hope and his number 1 reason for success, it's now all gone.
And he couldn't get it out of his system, that is until someone came back to his life that made time move for him again.
For how many crimes they committed, for how many evil deeds and lives they ruined, Izuku couldn't leave them behind, he did once and he could only blame the results on himself.
He knew he was a kid, a kid that couldn't do much, but still, the guilt was there, and so with every power and authority he could muster at the time, he argued and pleaded, and what did he get? 10 years in an asylum, but to him it felt just like yesterday.
Immediately after they got out, Izuku couldn't help but feel his life change for the better, after the war he was shut off to his friends and classmates, he acted like a completely different person.
No one was able to get to him, Ochako Uraraka, his closest friend, a girl who after the war confessed to him, was harshly rejected, and yet she didn't give up, trying to drag him out if his shell everyday, it didn't really work, but had she not he would've been in a worse place mentally, so he will always be thankful to her for that.
And so his morning jog continued, even if it was 5 in the morning the neighbourhood was filled with heroes that got out to work at this time and just other strangers passing by, and everytime they crossed paths with Izuku, they would stop to thank him, appreciate him for the job he did.
'Man, so this is how All Might felt as the number 1? Maybe I'm just too introverted unlike the extroverted him to get used to it so fast' for the first time in a while, he could look back at that name in happiness instead of sadness.
Finishing his morning workout, getting back home and taking a shower.
'Man, if a morning workout isn't the best' after getting refreshed he heads to the bedroom, the sleepy head needs to be awoken.
Poke poke.
'Soft like a baby'
This was his tactic, poke their cheeks until they wake up, it definitely wasn't effective but hopefully with enough time this will make them wake up immediately, and even if it didn't he just found it cute and can't get enough of it.
After several pokes and a few groans in response, they finally opened their eyes, tired understandably, but after their vision cleared up and they could see who woke them up clearly.
Their face shot up with excitement and cheerfulness.
"Izu!" Quickly tackling him in a hug.
"You sure are lively first thing in the morning."
The only response was a few giggles and they nestled their head in the crock of his neck, its pleasant, this feeling was, he could stay like this for hours if he had the time.
"While I would love nothing more than to stay like this, we have other plans, remember? Let's get you ready for the day"
Quickly followed by
"Mhm!"
Letting go of the now awake Toga Himiko, he went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, as he was in the middle of cooking he was tackled into a hug.
a small chuckle escaped his lips.
A muffled voice came from his back.
"I wanna eaaaaaaat"
"I'm almost done, get comfortable on the table and I'll be there soon"
He felt the weight on his back vanish and the sound of a seat being moved behind him.
He quickly got done with the dish and set it up on the table.
The hungry girl quickly springing to action and devouring the whole plate.
"Wow, slow down, you might choke on your food like this"
Quickly she shot him a look.
"This is the best thing I've eaten in years, I can't hold myself back."
And she went back straight to eating.
He couldn't help but laugh, the way she acts is cute in a weird way, but it makes sense why she would act this way.
"Well, when you finish go take a shower, we still have more things to do today."
Izuku was waiting in the living room, he put on the news since there was nothing better to do while waiting.
Bakugo seemed to be excited today first thing in the morning, he already made it to the news for apprehending two villains.
He also saw some other news about the rest of his old classmates on the internet, all of them were hard at work to keep everyone safe.
He kept mindlessly staring at the tv until he heard footsteps coming towards him.
Himiko got done with her shower but she was wearing the same clothes she was wearing in her sleep.
"Izu, why didn't you get me any clothes, now I'm stuck with only these baggy ones."
"Those aren't baggy, those are mine, also it's kinda hard to buy clothes for someone I didn't know the measurements of."
"But you do now~"
This almost made him choke on air but he quickly put his hand to his mouth, coughed and continued.
"And even if I was the number 1 hero it's still weird to go and ask about the measurements of someone that is locked up."
It wasn't a fun thing to say or hear for both of them, but Himiko understood what he meant and didn't show any signs of being bothered by it.
"So today, we're going to not only shop for clothes but everything else you need"
she started pouting.
"Do I really need to come with you, you can just take my measurements yourse-"
He quickly put his palm over her face to stop her from insinuating what she was about to say.
"Well since you're so full of energy, why don't we go now."
He removed his hand and she immediately clicked her tongue.
"Beeeeee, such a buzzkill."
He just continued laughing and they both went out, her antics are really endearing.
The walk to the mall was a bit awkward, not because the two aren't used to each other, but because of the stares they kept receiving the whole way.
Everyone knew who Himiko was and even if she was next to the number 1 hero people weren't going toforget who she was.
But no one was foolish enough to act out of line, it was just suffocating for the two.
Himiko even eventually started clinging to Izuku's arm which he didn't mind, he just hoped it would've happened for a different reason to what it was at the moment.
But at last they made it to the mall, they quickly headed to any clothing shop they could find and started rummaging through the place for anything she could wear.
Homewear, pyjamas, all of it, it was quite tiring for Himiko because Izuku kept telling her to try all of them on, so it was exhausting but at least he kept completing her for it, so it was worth it.
The haul at the end was quite big, they ended up bringing in a mountain of clothes to the cashier, Izuku paid for everything up front and they left, the baggage was quite big, even if Izuku can carry all of it, he opted to give the shop an address they can send it to by today evening.
As they were walking out he felt a tugging on his shirt, he turned back to see Himiko was blushing on her face.
"When I get the money, I'll pay you back for this"
But she was quickly shut down.
"My money is your money, and I have so much of it I don't even use, spending just this much on someone precious to me is no big deal."
She went silent and the blush on her face grew even bigger.
Next stop, the lingerie shop, which Izuku fought hard to not get in but she dragged him inside either way.
He kept feeling the stares of customers passing by and it made him want to end himself from embarrassment while Himiko was having fun teasing him and picking up what she needed.
It ended in another pile that Izuku had to send home, because he absolutely was not going to walk with all of these in hand.
"This is so fun Izu! We should go back there again someday!"
"Never again."
Well, now that they had the essentials for her, what was left was simple.
Have fun.
Izuku was gonna take her to a lot of places, so she can make up for the time she couldn't experience outside.
But before any of that.
A rumbling can be heard from both of their bellies.
They both blushed.
"Wow, it's already this late? I guess we got a bit too excited there."
Himiko kept silent.
"Let's go eat!"
She nodded her head and followed.
"Say ahhhh~"
This felt embarrassing in a good way unlike the mall earlier.
He took the bite from the spoon presented to him.
"Good izu~!"
The blush on his face only grew bigger.
"So where will we go after this, 'cause I'm stuffed."
He sat there to think for a moment.
"Do you want to eat dinner at home today or eat outside?"
She brought her finger to her chin and kept swaying her head as if she was deep in thought.
'Cute.'
"Let's go home for now, I know you're trying to make it up for me, but we have all the time on our hand now, don't we?"
She shot him an infectious smile.
He couldn't help but return it in kind as he said.
"Yeah, we do."
The walk home was less awkward than the morning, they took a road with less people through Izuku's old neighbourhood.
It made the way longer, but it didn't bother the two of them, if they were together they didn't mind how much time it took.
Izuku and Himiko couldn't help but reminisce and smile as they were going through here, everything they went through from childhood until now, yet in the end they still found happiness through all of the hardship.
As they went on they eventually got to an old playground, the same one they met in.
They both couldn't help but stop to check it out, none of the two said a word to each other they just instinctively both walked over there.
They thought it would be empty by now because it was getting late, but to their surprise there were a few kids that were still there, unfortunately the kids were playing.
"Get over here you worthless shump!"
3 kids were huddled up over a singular child and using their quirks to beat him.
"Your quirk is weak and so are you!"
They were just hurling insults at him while beating him.
But Izuku wasn't going to let it slide, he needed to step i-
"Hey you three, lay off him!"
When they looked up, their eyes came to see the number 7 hero in japan.
Immediately all three of them left away running leaving the beaten crying kid behind.
She got down to help the kid, she dusted him off and calm him down, wiping the tears away from his face, after a few moments of talking she finally got him to smile.
After she got up she looked around and noticed the two adults watching her.
"Himiko-chan!" To which she immediately tackled the Himiko in a hug.
"Uraraka-chan!"
Both girls were happy to meet each other, after all if it was not for Uraraka, Himiko wouldn't have been here today.
Izuku couldn't help but smile, the thoughts in his head drowning every other sound coming to his ear, he wasn't focusing on what the two were talking about.
Both of these two helped him so much, one supported him while growing up, made him believe in himself to be a hero again and be the person he is today.
The other was the first friend he made in UA and one that pulled him to the light when he was at his darkest moments in life, he was really thankful to both of them.
As the memories kept playing in his head he hadn't noticed that Uraraka and Himiko separated.
Ochako went back to taking care of the kid while Himiko was waiting for him so they could leave.
"Thanks for stepping in instead of me Uraraka, I'm still off duty."
She chuckled back.
"Number 1 lazing off i see."
They both laughed and had a small banter.
But it was getting late and both had to go on their own way for now.
As Izuku was heading towards Himiko who was waiting for him and waved her hand at him a voice came from his back.
"Are you going to leave us mister?"
He looked back to see the kid looking at him.
"Miss Uravity will take care of you, she's an amazing hero kid, trust me."
"Are you going to leave us Izuku?"
This confused him, why would Uraraka say that.
But his train of thought was cut off when Himiko shouted at him from behind.
"Izu! Let's hurry back home!"
He didn't have time to think about it for too long.
"I'll leave you two to it, I have to go now."
As he turned his back to them and continued to walk towards Himiko he heard again.
"Are you going to leave us?"
This time it was both of them.
They both were staring dead into his eyes and not moving.
He heard Himiko talk to him again, so he turned back towards her and noticed she was.
She was disappearing, from bottom to top.
This made him dash towards her.
He's not going to get separated from her again after all these times.
"Are you going to leave us!"
This time, it was the voice of many more people, not just two.
When he looked back it was just Uraraka and the kid, Kacchan, Shoto, Iida, everyone else in the class and so many more, pro heroes, civilians he met, all of them were staring at him.
He looked at his arms, he was in his old tattered hero custom he wore in the war.
Suddenly he could only see red from his right eye, as he brought his hand up to touch it and brought it back down, he noticed a red liquid on his hand, it was blood, his own blood.
He looked back, Toga was still waving for him but she was almost gone.
He looked back at the people behind him, the crowd now grew so large it has people he doesn't even recognize in it.
Clenching his fists, he takes one look back at Himiko, she was completely gone now, so was every building in her direction and everywhere for that matter.
Everything was just a white void where everyone was standing in the air.
Izuku stared back at the crowd and started walking back towards them, he knew what he had to do.
He opened his eyes and he was in a hospital. All of his friends were there waiting for him, as soon as they noticed him opening his eyes, they all busted into cheers.
All tackling into a group hug, but in the middle of it all, there stood Izuku emotionless for he knows the person closest to his heart.
Is gone.
So he shed his final tears.
He joins everyone in the hug and starts laughing, he can only laugh the pain and sorrow away for now because that's what they would have wanted him to do.
