Near Tatooine Station, the sun hung heavy over the desert, casting a warm, amber glow on the bustling streets. Katsuki's friends gathered near a corner, their conversations littered with snickers and laughter. They'd seen how Katsuki had pushed Izuku to the edge earlier that day, telling him to take a leap off the school roof—something he thought would teach the Quirkless kid a lesson. But now, with a lingering tension in the air, some of them were starting to feel a bit uneasy.

"You really went too far this time, Bakugou," one of them commented, glancing nervously toward the station. "Telling him to jump off the roof? That's... that's a little much, even for you."

"Yeah," another friend added, rubbing the back of his neck, "I mean, he's just a nerd. We don't want him hurting himself or anything."

Katsuki shot them a scornful glare, his hands tucked into his pockets, exhaling sharply. "It's Deku's fault. The damn nerd needs to learn how the world works. If he can't handle a little heat, he won't survive being a hero anyway."

His words were laced with bitterness, the weight of his frustration and insecurities hidden beneath his fiery attitude. He wasn't about to let anyone question him, not after all the times Izuku had been a thorn in his side.

Before anyone else could chime in, there was a sudden shift in the air. A loud crash echoed through the streets, and Katsuki's head snapped around, his attention instantly sharp. A viscous, black sludge poured from the alleyway, bubbling and writhing like a monstrous creature. The Sludge Villain, a notorious villain known for its corrosive and dangerous abilities, emerged, its grotesque form shifting and morphing as it ooze toward the unsuspecting crowd.

Katsuki's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the villain immediately. He had seen it before—the very same one that had attacked Izuku earlier. It was like some cruel twist of fate, the villain reappearing just as he was standing here, now.

"Damn it," Katsuki muttered, his usual bravado faltering for the briefest of moments. He didn't have time to think, as the Sludge Villain lunged forward, its eyes locking onto him with a malicious intent.

Without hesitation, Katsuki leaped into action, unleashing his explosions at the villain's form, the blasts tearing through the air as they collided with the viscous creature. His quirk crackled and exploded with violent force, but the Sludge Villain, its body adaptable and resilient, slithered its way around the impact, seemingly unaffected by the explosion.

Katsuki gritted his teeth, frustration and anger rising within him. He was used to being in control, always able to obliterate any threat with his power. But this? This villain was different.

It lashed out again, its tendrils reaching for Katsuki's body, and this time, he could feel the oppressive weight of the creature's slime trying to suffocate him. It was almost too much to handle. For the first time, Katsuki felt his heart race with a sense of real danger.

SCENEBREAK

As Juane and Izuku descended the stairwell of the building, their footsteps quick and measured, the sudden crack of an explosion echoed in the air. Both of them froze, eyes wide in alarm.

"Oh no," Izuku muttered, his voice tinged with dread. The explosion was followed by a cacophony of destruction, signaling a battle unfolding just outside.

Without a second thought, the pair rushed toward the source of the noise, pushing their way through the bustling crowd as they neared the scene. They arrived just in time to witness a chaotic struggle as several heroes, including Death Arms, attempted to fight the Sludge Villain.

The villain was an uncontrollable mass of writhing slime, its putrid tendrils snaking around the body of Katsuki, who was being dragged into the suffocating goo. Katsuki's arms were thrashing, his explosive quirk firing at anything it could, but the Sludge Villain was relentless, its ooze blocking his attacks and wrapping tighter around him.

Izuku's eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight. His heart hammered in his chest. "That's... the same villain! The one All Might saved me from..."

Izuku could see the pain in All Might's expression as he watched the scene unfold. His mentor was standing off to the side, fists clenched, guilt etched across his face. All Might scolded himself under his breath, the frustration in his words clear. "I wasted too much time. I can't help now..."

Izuku felt a deep pang of guilt twist in his stomach, remembering All Might's words earlier. The weight of the responsibility he had felt then now felt even heavier. "This is my fault," he thought, as his mind raced with the realization that the villain's return was linked to his own failure to act sooner. He had let his fear and uncertainty hold him back when he could have done more.

His gaze shifted to Katsuki, struggling in the villain's grasp. The thought of him—of anyone—being hurt because of his own inability to act was unbearable. Izuku clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.

"No more hesitation," he whispered to himself, determination shining through his eyes. He rushed forward, abandoning all caution, driven by the thought that he could still do something to help.

Behind him, Juane hesitated for a moment, watching Izuku's sudden resolve. Her heart ached with the uncertainty of it all, but then she saw All Might staring at her from a distance, his gaze steady and expectant. It was as if he could sense her power—the potential she hadn't fully embraced yet.

A sudden clarity hit her. The need to act, to help, was just as strong for her as it was for Izuku. She couldn't stand idly by while someone was in danger. She took a deep breath, gathering her focus, and let her energy surge within her.

With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed her power, her energy coiling like a whip of raw, potent force. The power crackled through the air, and in one swift motion, the whip of radiant, crackling energy lashed toward the Sludge Villain, striking it directly in the eye. The villain screeched in agony, its form recoiling as the blast of energy sent it staggering backward, momentarily distracted.

Juane's heart raced, but she kept her focus sharp, knowing this was her chance. Izuku, now realizing the villain's grip on Katsuki had loosened, charged forward with newfound courage, using his own strength and focus to drag Katsuki out of the slime's grasp.

The villain howled in fury, thrashing violently as it attempted to recover from the attack. "Arrgh! You—bitch!" it howled, its voice a guttural, angry screech. The Sludge Villain's eyes burned with hatred as it turned its attention toward Juane, but it was too late. Izuku had already pulled Katsuki away, and Death Arms and the other heroes were closing in.

Juane stood her ground, her body pulsing with the aftereffects of the attack. Her chest heaved, but there was a deep satisfaction in her as she watched the villain falter.

All Might, seeing what had just unfolded, nodded toward Juane with a faint but approving smile, acknowledging her courage. Juane, still catching her breath, returned his gaze with quiet determination. This wasn't just about saving people—it was about stepping into her role, as a hero, just like Izuku.

In that moment, Izuku turned to look at her, the weight of their shared goal clear in his eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with both relief and gratitude.

She nodded, a small, tired smile crossing her face. "We're in this together."

And so, the battle was won—not just through the actions of one hero, but by the power of those who chose to stand up, even when the odds seemed impossible.

The battle had been momentarily quiet, but it didn't last. The Sludge Villain, despite the blow it had taken from Juane's energy whip, began to recover rapidly. Its slick, viscous body twisted and contorted, reforming itself as it prepared for another assault. With a terrifying hiss, it lunged forward, its slimy limbs slithering through the air toward Juane.

Instinctively, Juane braced herself, but before the villain could strike, a powerful figure intervened. All Might, his massive presence filling the space, rushed forward with a burst of force. His arm shot out, blocking the villain's strike and pushing it back with a strength that could only be matched by the greatest of heroes.

"Stay back!" All Might commanded, his voice booming. The villain howled in frustration as it recoiled from the sudden intervention.

Izuku, watching from the side, noticed the flash of guilt in All Might's eyes. As the hero stood protectively in front of Juane, his voice lowered in an almost inaudible confession. "I was wrong... I scolded you, kid. I told you that risking your life to save others wasn't something you should do. But... it's the heart of a true hero, isn't it? I scolded you for something I hadn't done myself... trying to protect the people I care about."

All Might's words struck Izuku like a lightning bolt. He had always dreamed of being a hero, but hearing the pro hero himself admit such a thing, made Izuku realize something deep within him: a true hero didn't wait for the perfect moment, the right Quirk, or even the approval of others. A hero acted when people needed them the most.

With renewed determination, All Might's muscles tensed, his focus sharpened. He looked directly at the Sludge Villain with unwavering resolve.

"Detroit Smash!" he roared, the force of his punch unleashing a shockwave of raw power. The punch landed with devastating impact, sending the Sludge Villain flying back in a violent explosion of slime and debris. The villain's body splintered and broke apart, its threat finally vanquished.

At the same time, All Might grabbed Katsuki, pulling him from the villain's grasp and tossing him to safety. The explosion of strength sent shockwaves through the air, and the entire street seemed to shake with the power of All Might's punch.

Juane, her heart still pounding from the intensity of the moment, dropped to her knees, breathless from the effort of her earlier attack. But she didn't have time to process it all. Izuku rushed over to her, his face full of concern.

"Juane, are you alright?" he asked urgently, kneeling beside her. His wide, worried eyes searched her face for any sign of injury or distress.

Juane looked up at him, her chest still heaving from the rush of adrenaline. Her mind felt foggy, but the warmth of Izuku's concern cut through the haze. She managed a small smile, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine, Izuku. Just a little... winded."

But Izuku wasn't convinced. He reached out, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "You were amazing, Juane. You helped save him, and you helped me... I don't know what I would've done without you."

Her heart fluttered slightly at his words, but she pushed it aside. She knew what she had to do. "We're in this together, Izuku. Always."

Izuku nodded, still staring at her with admiration, but his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Hey, you two!" Katsuki's rough tone snapped their attention away. He stood a few feet away, glaring at both of them, but there was no venom in his eyes. He had seen something, perhaps, in the way they'd fought, and the realization made him pause. "You two are crazy, you know that?" he grumbled, though the hint of respect was clear in his voice.

Before either of them could respond, All Might, his heroic form still towering above them, approached, giving them both an encouraging smile. "Good job, all of you. You did well today."

Izuku smiled, feeling the weight of the day's events settle in his chest. There was so much to learn, so much to prove. But one thing was for sure: he was on the right path.

As the heroes began to clean up the mess, Izuku's heart swelled with hope. With Juane by his side, and the lessons he had learned from All Might, he was beginning to understand what it meant to be a true hero. A hero wasn't just someone with a Quirk; it was someone who risked everything for others, someone willing to fight for the future.

And for Izuku Midoriya, that was just the beginning.