Deku smiled as his mom hugged him tightly, almost squeezing the breath out of him. "Oh my god, Izuku! I'm so sorry, honey! What happened? Did they hurt you? How do you feel?" Inko held his face in her hands, and suddenly Deku was seven years old again, smiling up at his mom with a scratched face from a bike crash.

"N-no mom, I'm fine, really!" Deku stammered, laughing as she checked his pulse and kissed his forehead and cheeks over and over.

"Okay, okay," she nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "Oh god, you're so grown up....Where has my little baby gone?"

Deku felt his eyes water. He hugged his mother and patted her lightly on the back as she cried into his shoulder. "Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?" he thought, chuckling slightly, remembering with pain all the times he'd been bullied for being quirkless and happiness at all the times his mother was there to comfort him. This was the reunion he'd imagined, the loving embrace he had longed for and the undying sympathy and empathy his mom always seemed to have. "S-stop mom....He's right here, he's just a little broken."

Inko sniffled and straightened her posture. Izuku needed her to be strong and courageous, not treat him like a child. She rubbed the tears out of her eyes and tried to put on a brave face. "Yeah......yeah, I know."

Deku smiled up at her, his eyes bright and optimistic despite the traumatic events and disturbing dreams. "It's fine, mom. Really, I'm okay."

"How are your classmates?" Inko asked, concern filling her eyes. "Are they alright?"

"Oh...." Deku trailed off. How were his classmates? Bakugo, confused and angry at the world. Uraraka, sad and angry at him. Todoroki? Calm and level headed as usual. The rest of class 1-A? Mad at one explosive hothead. "They're alright. Could be better, but I know they'll make it...just like they always do."

Inko smiled at her son, her warm look just oozing affection. The tears in her eyes only made them sparkle like emeralds.

"Ms. Midoriya?" a red headed nurse stood patiently at the door. "Izuku needs to rest now."

Inko nodded politely at the woman. "Okay." Izuku's mother gazed at her son one last time, memorizing his round face, optimistic eyes, and wild green hair. She wanted every single detail in her mind in case....well, just in case this really was goodbye. Inko swallowed her sobs and held his face in her hands once more. "I love you so, so much. Don't you forget it."

"I know mom," Deku hugged his mother. "I love you too."

They gazed into one another's eyes until the nurse cleared her throat.

"Oh, okay sorry." Inko smiled and patted her son on the head. She walked to the door and stopped. She turned around and grinned at him one last time. "Goodbye, Izuku."