The hero museum stood tall against the pale spring sky, its gleaming glass facade reflecting the clouds like shifting memories. Statues of legendary heroes lined the front path—All Might striking his signature pose, Endeavor frozen mid-charge, Best Jeanist clutching a strand of reinforced denim like a blade. School groups bustled through the wide double doors, their excited chatter mixing with camera clicks and distant audio guides.
Kael stood near the entrance, hands in his jacket pockets, hood down for once. His snow-white hair—still a new adjustment—caught the light in a way that made him look softer, less like a mystery and more like a real boy.
His dark blue eyes, courtesy of contacts, flicked through the crowd until they landed on the familiar mess of green curls bobbing toward him.
"Kael!" Izuku Midoriya waved from a distance, running up with a bright smile and his ever-present backpack strapped tight.
Kael nodded in greeting. "Hey."
"You came early," Izuku said, catching his breath. "I thought I'd be first."
Kael gave a slight shrug. "Didn't have anything else going on." He glanced toward the doors. "This place gets crowded fast."
Izuku grinned. "Yeah! There's a new exhibit today—'The Rise of Quirk Society.' It traces how heroes started being formally licensed. I've been wanting to see it for weeks."
They stepped into the building together, the cool air conditioning brushing over them as automated doors slid shut behind them. Kael slowed as the spacious interior opened before them—high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling screens looping historical footage, glass cases filled with costume fragments and battle-damaged gear. Holograms of old hero battles projected above their heads.
Izuku eagerly led the way, talking nonstop. "Did you know the first Pro Hero to be officially licensed was a woman called Skyline? She had a flight Quirk, super basic by today's standards, but she's the reason we have standardized altitude laws now!"
Kael chuckled under his breath. "I did not indeed know that. Wow, you sure know a lot, don't you?"
Izuku scratched his head, sheepish. "I read a lot. My mom says my brain's wired for it."
Kael followed him past displays of famous battles, slowly warming to the buzz of the museum. For the first time in a while, he wasn't looking over his shoulder. He didn't feel like he had to. Izuku didn't pry. He didn't talk down. He didn't demand Kael to open up. He just… shared his passion.
"You ever come here with friends before?" Kael asked as they passed a touchscreen showcasing All Might's Top Ten Saves of All Time.
Izuku blinked. "Not really. Kacchan hates stuff like this. Says it's all fluff. I usually come alone." Then he smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "So this is kinda cool."
"What the heck is a Kacchan?" Kaels head cocked back. Izuku looked confused at first then realized he never explained it to Kael.
"Ah, its what I call Katsuki. Just a little nickname. Like how he calls me Deku."
"Ohh, he was saying Deku. Thought he was saying Dick."
Izuku laughed and shook his head. Then out of the blue, he asked, "What about you? Do you have any friends to hang out with? You're probably pretty popular at school, eheh." He scratched the back of his head as if he was embarrassed.
Kael nodded and said, "Well to be honest, I don't have that many friends. In fact, ill go ahead and say I only have one. My childhood friend Yumi. She's staying overseas at the moment though."
"Oo, where, in America? When is she coming back?"
"In about two and a half years, just in time for our U.A. entrance exam."
"Oh.." His mood instantly changed, his head drooping a little. Catching this, Kael placed his hand on Izukus should and said,
"Don't worry man. Remember, U.A has multiple courses and having a Quirk isn't required to enter. If you can't make the Hero course, apply for the support course. Or the general education course. Your options aren't limited."
He looked up, a light in his eyes appearing. "Y-you're right! Yeah! Thank you for reminding me about that! Guess ive been told so much that I can't be a hero that i forgot there were still courses and classes I could participate in that could still help make the world a better place."
A broad smile appeared on his face as he began bowing towards Kael. Embarrassed, Kael stepped back a little and laughed faintly.
"Ah yeah, sure. Speaking of though, I should start going back to school more often. Hearx U.A actually checks that type of stuff."
Izuku stopped bowing and tilted his head. "You.. stopped going to school? Why? It's fine if you dont want to tell me actually! I know it can be personal sometimes.."
Kael shrugged. "It's nothing personal. I just didn't like going. Wasn't worth the trouble. I make the highest scores in the entire school, so you know, I just assumed…"
"Oh, I get it. Yeah, if I was smart like that, school would probably become boring for me too. How did your guardians react to not wanting to go."
"Mm well, I live with my aunt and her two children. She didn't really mind, said that I could take a break for a while since adjusting to my new quirk could be hard. And she was right actually. For the most part atleast."
"So it was because of your awakening. Gotcha. That makes sense, especially how it happened so late for you. Your body has to adjust to your Quirks new power. If I doesn't then… well, you know.."
"Yeah..."
"But yeah, it sucks," Izuku said, frowning. "But anyways Kael, I'm glad we met. Your the first person to ever talk to me so friendly and kindly. You don't ostracize me for being Quirkless. Thank you. For being my friend."
Kael glanced sideways. A soft smile touched his lips. "Yeah. I'm glad I met you too, Izuku Midoriya. And thank you for being my friend as well."
…
They wandered through more exhibits—the dawn of Quirk legislation, hero support gear evolution, a spotlight on lesser-known sidekicks who'd made history in quiet ways. Izuku buzzed with energy, pointing out obscure trivia, while Kael let himself drift through the moments. Here, surrounded by reminders of strength, sacrifice, and change, he didn't feel like Equinox or a weapon in hiding. He just felt like Kael.
Eventually, they entered a quieter hall. Along the far wall, a quote by All Might was etched into a massive plaque:
"It's not the power that makes the hero. It's the heart to protect, the courage to act."
Izuku stopped in front of it, staring for a long moment.
"I always used to think power was everything," he said quietly. "Kacchan's Quirk is amazing. Everyone always told me I couldn't do anything without one. That I'd never be a hero." He looked down at his fists. "But I still wanted to try. Even if it was stupid."
Kael folded his arms, thoughtful. "It's not stupid. Never forget that."
Izuku glanced up.
Kael continued, "Like I was saying earlier Power helps, sure. But it's not what makes someone good. Plenty of people have power. Doesn't mean they know how to use it." His voice lowered. "You learn more when you have to work without it."
Izuku blinked, surprised by the weight of the words. "You really do sound like someone who's… been through a lot."
Kael didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted to the etched words above. "I got my Quirk late. Real late. Doctors told me it was a miracle. Most of my life, I thought I was going to be powerless forever."
Izuku stared, eyes wide.
"So I understand," Kael finished. "What it's like to want it. To wonder what you'd be if you had it."
Izuku was silent for a while. Then he smiled faintly. "You've got a good Quirk atleast, no?"
Kael nodded. "I do. But that didn't really matter. As long as I had my family, something to live and breathe for, I promised to become strong no matter what in order to protect them."
Izuku looked up at the All Might quote again. "That's really deep…"
Kael smirked slightly. "Don't get used to it."
They moved on through the last wing of the museum, sharing quiet thoughts, trading favorite Pro Hero facts. Kael laughed more than he expected. He even let Izuku take a few photos of him in front of old hero gear, pretending to pose like some goofy hero statues. The guards gave them odd looks, but neither of them cared.
By the time they exited into the soft afternoon sun, the clouds had thinned, leaving streaks of blue overhead.
Izuku looked up, still grinning. "Thanks for today, Kael. It was awesome."
Kael adjusted his backpack. "Yeah. I had fun too."
Izuku looked like he wanted to say more—but instead, he just gave a small bow. "I don't have phone, but here's my school email! We can talk that way, and if you want to ever hang out again, please don't be afraid to ask!"
Kael nodded. "You don't either. You're shy so maybe I will have to email you first."
Izuku laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Talk to you later. Get home safe!" Kael nodded and waved him off as they parted ways at the entrance of the museum.
Kael felt something new humming in his chest. Not anxiety. Not wariness. But a quiet, growing sense of connection.
Maybe he didn't need to walk this road alone anymore. Maybe—for the first time in a long time—he was finding people worth walking with.
…