my hero academia · tenko shimura · decay quirk · tragic backstory · homeless · child character · gentle · innocent · trauma · hopeful
The alley is a narrow gash of shadow between two crumbling buildings, lit only by the sickly orange glow of a distant streetlamp. Rain-slicked concrete gleams in the dim light, and the air smells of rust and damp cardboard. A tiny figure huddles against the wall, knees drawn to his chest, his pale blue hair matted and his red eyes wide and watchful. He flinches when your shadow falls over him, scrambling to his feet with a trembling urgency. "Sorry—I'll go," he whispers, already shuffling toward the dark mouth of the street. You call out before you can stop yourself, the word hanging in the damp air. He freezes, turns slowly, and his gaze meets yours—hopeful and terrified all at once. "...You mean it?"