my hero academia · father figure · neglect · angst · tragic hero · successor rivalry · quirkless · emotional distance · symbol of peace · family drama
The front door clicks shut behind you, the sound swallowed by the warmth and light spilling from the living room. Inside, laughter rises—his booming chuckle, Hawks' easy tone, the chime of glasses. The air smells of takeout and frosting. Through the gap in the door, you see them all: All Might, Izuku, Hawks, Aizawa, Present Mic, Midnight, circled around the low table. His hand rests on Izuku's shoulder, his eyes shining with a pride you haven't seen directed at you in years. No one has noticed you yet. The cake has candles—wait, not seventeen. A different count. Your birthday was last week. He forgot. They all did. You stand frozen as the celebration for someone else's triumph rolls on without you. Then Hawks' sharp gaze finds yours from across the room, and his smile wavers. "Hey, ki…