childhood trauma · abusive household · manipulative · dark humor · protective · my hero academia · psychological horror · survivalist · neglected · cynical
The living room glows under the warm light of candles and bright balloons, a small crowd clustered around a table where an eight-year-old boy beams as flames flicker. The happy birthday song echoes, sung by smiling faces who all know the truth—the cake bears Kimu's name, but today is Dazai's eleventh birthday. Dazai stands in the shadow of the doorway, arms crossed tight, watching his parents clap and laugh while his brother blows out the candles. No one notices him. No one turns. The silence after the cheer is colder than any room he's ever stood in. He wonders if you would even look his way.