"S-stay strong…for m-me…"

He opened his eyes, gazing up towards the ceiling for a few moments so his vision could adjust to the pre-dawn light. A soft buzzing briefly invaded the silence of his room. With a sigh, Izuku turned onto his side, reaching for his phone and disconnecting the charge cable.

Three (3) Messages

A scarred and crooked thumb passed over the screen after a few moments of hesitation.

Kaminari Denki: hey man. i know tomorrow is gonna be a rough day for ya. jirou and i will be there to support you. you don't have to go through this alone ya know…

Swipe

Iida Tenya: Midoriya. My deepest condolences. I wish I could attend tomorrow, but unfortunately I am overseas. I pray you can forgive my negligence as a friend. I hope others will make it so you won't be alone.

Seven heartbeats.

Me: Thank you, Iida. I understand and wish you well.

Swipe

A sharp breath broke the silence.

Todoroki Momo: You don't have to bear this alone, you know. If and when you ever need to talk, I'll be here.

He felt a single tear track over the bridge of his nose, yet he ignored it. It would just be the first of many this day.

He could see the lights coming from around the corner, the police cruisers in classic barricade formation. It was a sight he'd grown accustomed to: a classic hideout raid.

But then he got a look at the surrounded building.

It was one he knew well. One he'd seen Ochako studying over and over at the agency.

His feet carried him towards the barricade, eyes fixated on the structure.

'She's in there…' His eyes scanned the windows for any sign of movement.

One shattered.

His world shattered.

The shower curtain was pulled aside, slowly releasing a cloud of vapor into the rest of the small bathroom. He allowed his body to take over, numb hands drying him off with a towel, heavy feet leading him back into the bedroom.

He'd had the presence of mind to lay his suit out the night before. A simple silver-grey shirt lay next to it, with a narrow black neck tie already in place under the collar.

The deafening silence reasserted himself as he began to dress.

One for All flooded his body at 50% as he lept. The pounding of his heart in his ears drowned out all other sounds. Sirens, screams, a wall collapsing: he heard none of it. He saw none of it.

All he could see was her.

Falling.

Broken.

He caught her as gently as possible as his momentum carried them further into the alleyway.

"D-deku….?"

One (1) Missed Call: Naomasa

Izuku set his phone beside his plate, glancing at the clock on the wall.

9:47

Fingers danced over the phone screen.

Me: Sorry I didn't answer. You can let yourself in when you get here.

A sigh passed through his lips as he stood and picked up his plate, carrying the remains of his breakfast to the trash can. The sound of running water filled the apartment kitchen, splashing over the utensils and his hands.

He barely felt it.

There was a brief knocking at the door before it slowly swung open.

"I… I'm not s-scared...you know…" her voice was shaky. Weak. Weaker than her grip on his hand.

His tears fell heavy, mixing with the growing crimson pool he knelt in. It was all he could do to breathe.

A faint, knowing smile formed on her lips as he ran his thumb across the thin, silver band she wore.

"O-Ochako… Stay with me…" 'I need you…'

She reached for his face, but her strength failed her and her arm fell to his chest.

"Please...I-Izuku…" Her voice caused ice to lance through his soul. "S-stay strong…for m-me…"

"Are you sure you're ready?" Naomasa asked, eyes full of concern and sympathy.

A nod. "I have to be," Izuku felt himself say. 'For her…'

The detective nodded in understanding, holding the hero's gaze a moment longer before turning and climbing out of the vehicle. Izuku followed suit, pausing briefly as his eyes passed over his left hand.

"Saying y-yes...was the best ch-choice I've ever made…"

Naomasa noticed the hesitation, but said nothing. He'd known today would be a difficult one.

After a few seconds, Izuku rejoined the detective and followed him into the funeral home. The older man cleared his throat, attempting to dispel the heaviness of the moment.

"We still have about 30 minutes for anyone else arrives," Naomasa states after they cross the threshold. "Ura-Ochako is already in the viewing room. If you want some time alone before…"

Izuku's heart was in his throat, but he nodded and followed the detective down the small hallway.

"C-can you believe…it's been th-three years since then?"

They stopped in front of a plain door, a small brass sign with the word "Midoriya" being the only thing to differentiate it from the other doors in the hall. Tears were already forming in his eyes as the detective opened the door and motioned for Izuku to enter. The hero heard the man say something, but nothing registered.

The rest of the world faded away.

All that existed was him and, only a few paces away, the open casket.

Her casket.

"The b-best three years…of m-my life…."

His knees gave out just moments after he reached her.

The world was a blur to the green-haired hero. Only other pro's had been invited to the funeral, which included all his former classmates. Most came to pay their respects with a few exceptions of those who were unable to attend.

Sero and Ojiro were the first to arrive. They were the other heros involved with the raid, and as such felt the most guilt. He knew there was a brief conversation. But at this point, he was running on autopilot.

Kirishima, Mina, Kaminari and Jirou all came together, due to their living proximity. Again he went through the motions, accepting condolences and returning hugs.

His trance was disrupted for a moment as a certain blonde hero passed through the doorway. Bakugou's eyes scanned the room briefly before locking with Izuku's. He walked towards the now-widower without a word, taking a moment to look towards the casket, and the woman lying within.

Izuku flinched as he felt a hand grip his shoulder, looking up to meet Kacchan's gaze.

"You're strong, Deku," the blonde's voice was soft, all hints of his usual aggression gone. "You'll make it through this." With another glance to the side, Bakugou turned and made his exit.

Izuku let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, fighting back tears. Steadying himself, he turned to face his wife. 'I'll make it through this… For you…"

The funeral itself had been brief. Izuku had asked for that. It didn't take much more time for the rest of the friends and heroes to offer words of comfort and take their leave. From where he stood by the grave, he watched as the last car pulled away, leaving him alone.

Or so he thought.

Over the gentle spring breeze and soft birdsong, he heard footsteps. His eyes didn't leave the lowered vault, figuring it was just someone who had come to visit the grave of a loved one.

It wasn't until he heard the rustling of cloth and felt a hand light on his shoulder that he pulled his eyes away.

Emerald eyes met orbs of onyx, both sets swimming with tears.

An eternity passes in that gaze.

"Izuku…"

"You're strong, Deku."

"S-stay strong…for m-me…"

The one word was enough.

Tears streamed freely from his eyes as he threw his arms around the raven-haired hero, burying his face into her shoulder. He could feel himself coming undone as sobs ripped through him.

'I failed her…'

Momo had seen this coming. Perceptive as always, she'd been watching Izuku during the entirety of the funeral. She'd seen the pain in his eyes, the barely held composure, the façade specially crafted to give the appearance of strength. It was a look she knew well.

It was a look she'd been wearing for over a year.

"You're not alone…" her voice melded with the breeze. "You're not alone…"

"H-how do you do it, Momo?" Izuku wiped a stray tear from the corner of his eye. "H-how do you stay s-so strong?"

A sad smile formed as she looked down at her hands, absently twisting her ring. "You know, I ask myself the same thing." He looked at her curiously, but said nothing, so she continued. "I cried myself to sleep every night for nearly a month…" She blinked away tears. "I still do some nights."

Their eyes met again, and he could see it. Momo was as broken as he felt.

"He's been asleep for over a year now…" her voice broke and she looked away again. Izuku instinctively reached out, resting his hand on her shoulder. She took a shaky breath, a pair of tears breaking free from her eyes. "I sometimes doubt that he'll ever-"

"Momo..." Izuku wrapped his arm around the woman's shoulders and pulled her into his side. She didn't resist. "He'll wake up… He's strong. He'll make it through."

A weak laugh escaped from the woman's lips. She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "And here I was supposed to be comforting you… You did just bury your wife, after all."

As much as he hurt, he couldn't help but smile.

"Y-you always are there…always saving people...saving me…"

A long moment of silence followed, the two heroes holding each other.

Eventually, Momo lifted her head from his shoulder. Her onyx eyes met his again, but this time there was a small spark of hope.

"Izuku… we may both be broken…but I think that we just might make it…"

Izuku let his tears fall again, tired of fighting them now. "I think you're right, Momo. Neither one of us is alone in this…" He pulled his friend into another embrace, one she returned readily. "We'll stay strong for them… and be broken together."