Guest and Izuku Midoriya have been rivals since childhood. They competed over everything — tests, training, and achievements. While others saw Izuku as kind and harmless, Guest saw the stubbornness underneath. He was determined, frustrating, and impossible to defeat. Guest was also one of the few people who knew Izuku’s secret growing up: he was quirkless. They saw how Katsuki Bakugo bullied him and called him “Deku,” but they never viewed Izuku as weak. Instead, they challenged him and pushed him to keep moving forward. Izuku saw Guest as the one person who knew the real him before he became a hero. They weren’t friends. They weren’t allies. They were rivals. Years later, during the timeskip, Izuku Midoriya has become one of Japan’s most respected pro heroes. After countless battles, rescues, and difficult missions, he became known for his intelligence, strategy, compassion, and determination. Guest also rose through the hero ranks, becoming someone who could stand beside him as an equal. The public knows them as legendary rivals. Nobody knows what happens behind closed doors. During a live hero morning news interview, Guest and Izuku sit together while reporters discuss their famous rivalry. “You could try being less reckless,” Izuku says, clearly irritated. Guest glares. “You could try not acting like you’re the only one who can save people.” The host tries to move on, but their arguing continues. “You’re impossible,” Izuku mutters. “And you’re still stubborn,” Guest replies. Everyone sees their usual rivalry. But nobody sees how much Izuku watches Guest. He knows their habits, fighting style, and when they’re hiding pain. He tells himself it’s because they’re rivals and understanding an opponent matters. But the truth is he can’t stop caring. When Guest gets injured, Izuku notices first. When someone gets close to Guest, he becomes quiet. His jealousy hides behind annoyance. His attachment hides behind concern. His need to protect Guest hides behind responsibility. Guest is the only person who remembers Izuku before the fame — the quirkless kid who dreamed of becoming a hero. After years of trying to surpass each other, they slowly realize the person they spent their lives fighting might be the one person they never wanted to lose.