Chapter 53

Hello so this will be a small backstory of touya and anos history, I feel like they should be explained a lot. since the previous chapters!

The world tasted like ash. Even at five, I knew what ash tasted like. It was the aftertaste of Dad's quirk, the lingering smell after practice, the phantom memory of a warmth that threatened to devour. But the ash I tasted then, at twelve, was different. It was bitter, heavy, and coated everything, inside and out.

Touya.

We were inseparable. A beacon of white hair against a fiery red, a gentle calmness that somehow fueled the ambition burning in Touya's heart. We spent our days dodging Endeavor's relentless training regime, sneaking off to the arcade for late-night gaming sessions, and rambling on and on about what we wanted to be in the future. I'd always been drawn to Touya and his desire to reach the top. And I always knew Touya was drawn to me as well.

I still laugh about the day we first met, I was bored and decided to take a peek in the backyard when i saw a small, frail little boy with red hair struggling to control his quirk. I walked over and asked him if he needed any help, but he got angry and said he didn't need my help. I didn't listen and instead showed him how to control the small flames on his hands, from that moment on we became best friends.

"You'll be the Number One Hero, Touya," I'd said countless times, my hand resting on his shoulder. "I know you will." And he would smile, a flash of defiance and determination in his eyes. "And you'll be right there with me, Anos. We'll be the greatest team the world has ever seen!"

He wanted to be like All Might to prove his father wrong, and I wanted to be like All Might to make my Parents proud.

We pushed each other. He'd push me to train harder, to use my strength to its full potential. I'd push him to find balance, to remember that being a hero was about more than just power. We were a team, a perfectly balanced equation of fire and ice.

That day at Saketo Peak… it replays in my head like a broken record. Touya, practically vibrating with excitement, had begged me to come watch him train, to see how much he'd improved his flames. He was desperate for Endeavor to come too, but his father, as always, was "busy." I remember Touya's face falling when I told him Endeavor wouldn't make it.

I should have known. I should have seen the desperation in his eyes, the plea for validation.

His flames were incredible. I saw the raw power behind them, the potential he possessed. "They're amazing, Touya!" I exclaimed, genuinely awestruck. "You're getting so much better!"

But it wasn't enough. The validation I gave him wasn't the validation he craved.

Touya's face crumpled. He wasn't happy, he was miserable.

"It's not enough, Anos," he whispered, his voice cracking. "It's never enough for him." The flames around him flickered erratically, reflecting his inner turmoil.

He looked so sad, like a kicked puppy on a rainy day begging for a home.

"I'll be right back," I told him. "I'm going to get your favorite melon bread."

I left to the convenience store a few blocks away, desperate for something to distract him, to lift his spirits. Melon bread was his weakness. I ran as fast as I could, grabbing a bag of his favorite snacks and racing back to Saketo Peak, my heart pounding with anticipation.

But the path back wasn't filled with excitement, it was filled with dread. The air grew hotter, the scent of pine needles replaced with the acrid sting of smoke. As I rounded the final bend, the sight that greeted me stole the breath from my lungs.

Saketo Peak was ablaze.

Flames licked at the sky, consuming the trees, turning everything into a swirling inferno. Panic clawed at my throat.

"Touya!" I screamed, my voice lost in the roar of the fire. I plunged into the inferno, ignoring the searing heat that burned my skin. I couldn't see, I could barely breathe, but I stumbled forward, calling his name again and again.

"Touya! Where are you?!"

Every step was agony, the flames relentless, unforgiving. But I couldn't stop. I had to find him. I owe him that much!

Then, strong arms pulled me back, away from the inferno. I fought against them, kicking and screaming. "Let me go! I have to find him! Touya's in there!"

It was Dad. His face was grim, etched with worry. "Anos, you can't! It's too dangerous! The pros are here, they'll handle it!"

I didn't care about the pros. I didn't care about the danger. All I cared about was Touya.

I fought with everything I had, but Dad was too strong. He held me tight, carrying me away from the blaze, away from my best friend.

I passed out, the smoke and heat finally overwhelming me.

I woke up in a sterile white room, the smell of antiseptic stinging my nostrils. My body ached, my skin throbbed, but none of that mattered.

"Touya?" I croaked, my voice hoarse.

Dad was there, his face etched with grief. He didn't say anything, just shook his head slowly, his eyes filled with unspeakable sadness.

The world tilted on its axis. The ash taste in my mouth intensified, choking me. Touya was gone.

Dead.

The word echoed in my mind, a relentless, brutal mantra. He was gone, and I hadn't been able to save him.

That day, a part of me died with Touya. The easy laughter, the boundless optimism, the unwavering faith in the future – it all turned to ash. I became cold, distant, shutting myself off from the world.

I excelled in everything, academically and physically. I mastered my quirk, pushing myself to become the strongest I could be. But it was all empty, hollow. Every achievement felt like another reminder of what I had lost. I had a perfect score in everything. I aced all my exams, and I even made it to the entrance exam! But it was all gone...my best friend was gone...

I pushed people away, afraid to let anyone get close, afraid of losing them too. Diamond was an exception. She was fiery and stubborn, a constant challenge, and somehow, she managed to chip away at the ice around my heart. And then there was Momo to she was sweet and caring she was always there for me when i needed her making sure I was okay, she showed me what it feels like to be loved.

People like Midoriya, Inko and Hizashi too.

I dedicated myself to becoming a hero, to making a difference in the world. Not for the glory, not for the fame, but for Touya. I wanted to honor his memory, to fulfill the dreams we had shared.

But no matter how hard I try, the ash never truly fades. It lingers, a constant reminder of the boy with the fiery hair and the burning ambition, the boy who was supposed to stand beside me, the boy who was, and always would be, my best friend.

I will always miss you...Touya...