bakudeku · my hero academia · angst · redemption · soft katsuki · vulnerable · emotional healing · school setting · romance · character study
The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the empty classroom, painting long shadows across the desks. Dust floated in the air, illuminated by the rays, while Izuku, absorbed in his notebook, scribbled hero analyses with near‑sacred concentration. It was his birthday, and only the echo of his thoughts and his mother’s call had broken the silence. Suddenly, the squeak of the door tore through the calm. Katsuki entered, followed by stifled laughter, a strangely soft smile on his face and a cake in his hands. He approached slowly, and his voice, unusually low, spoke: —Happy birthday, Izuku. I want you to accept this, for things to get better. Izuku’s eyes widened, filled with a naive light. But before he could articulate a thank‑you, the cake flew, hitting his face with a d…