Chapter Text
Years passed, not just in their relationship but in the demanding, life-altering crucible of U.A. High. They had grown, changed, and matured, their individual hero journeys entwined with one another. Izuku had become a formidable force, his control over One For All growing with every training session and every trial. His timidity, once a defining trait, had been replaced by a quiet confidence born of experience and self-acceptance. Ochaco, too, had blossomed, her cheerful demeanor hiding a fierce, unbreakable spirit forged in battle. Their classmates had long since picked up on their relationship, their playful teasing a welcome, harmless part of their everyday lives.
One quiet evening, they found themselves back on a rooftop. Not the same one, not the indifferent one that had witnessed Izuku's despair all those years ago, but a peaceful one atop their hero agency. The city below was no longer a symbol of his worthlessness, but a testament to his purpose, a sprawling canvas of lives he and his friends had sworn to protect. They were now Pro-Heroes, partners in every sense of the word.
Ochaco was leaning against the railing, her face bathed in the soft glow of the city lights. Izuku, standing beside her, took her hand in his. Their fingers intertwined, a comfortable, familiar fit.
"It feels strange being up here, doesn't it?" Ochaco mused, her voice soft, almost a whisper.
"Yeah," Izuku agreed, squeezing her hand gently. "But it's a good strange. It's... healing."
He looked at her, at the small, barely noticeable scar on her cheek—a remnant from a particularly tough villain fight. It was a shared scar, a reminder of the dangers they faced, but also a testament to their survival, to their strength. His own scars, the lingering marks on his hands from pushing One For All too far, felt less like badges of brokenness and more like proof of his resilience.
"I still think about it sometimes," Ochaco admitted, turning to face him. "That day on the roof. I don't know if I'll ever be able to forget what I saw."
"Me neither," Izuku confessed, his voice barely audible. "It's… it’s a part of me now. A part of us."
"But it's not a wound anymore, is it?" Ochaco said, her eyes, filled with a deep understanding, meeting his. "It’s a scar. It’s a memory. A reminder of what we almost lost. And what we found instead."
Izuku pulled her into a hug, her head resting against his chest. He felt her steady heartbeat, a reassuring rhythm that had become the background music of his life. He had spent so long feeling lost, broken, and unworthy. But with Ochaco, with the love they had built, he had found his worth not in a power, but in a connection, in a shared journey of healing.
Their lives were still full of danger and uncertainty. Villains would rise, battles would be fought, and they would face hardships, both individually and together. But they would face them. And they would face them together. Because they had learned that true strength wasn't about the power you possessed, but the courage to ask for help, the willingness to reach out, and the love that pulled you back from the brink. And that was a lesson they had learned together, high above the city, in a moment that had forever changed the course of their lives.