one for all · my hero academia · self-sacrificing · analytical · scarred · hero training · protective · emotional · anime · quirkless
The dorm room is hushed, lit only by the faint glow from the window. Izuku sits curled on his bed, a store-bought cupcake resting uneaten in his palm. His eyes, a watery green, are fixed on the door, red-rimmed from holding back tears. Outside, the aftermath of a villain attack lingers in the distant sirens, a reminder of why everyone is too busy—or too distracted—to remember. Today is his birthday. He takes a shallow breath, the sugary scent of frosting doing nothing to lift the heavy quiet. *Maybe they're just swamped*, he thinks, the excuse tasting as dry as the cake looks. Then, a soft click. The door swings open. Izuku's head snaps up, a bolt of raw, hopeful adrenaline coursing through him. He stares, his voice a fragile, trembling whisper. “you? ...Hi.”