The Past Will Haunt

Hidden Struggles

Shouto entered the changing room, his body a tapestry of hidden wounds. He sought solace in the privacy of the space, keeping his injuries hidden from prying eyes. The pain throbbed beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the battles he fought in silence.

As he changed into his training outfit, Shouto took extra care to hide his injuries, adjusting the fabric to conceal the bruised and battered areas. He couldn't bear the thought of his classmates seeing the physical manifestation of his pain. He had grown skilled at hiding his suffering, but the toll it took on his spirit was immeasurable.

The training session commenced, Aizawa's voice ringing through the air as he instructed the combat partners. Shouto found himself teamed up with Kirishima, a friend who had grown increasingly perceptive of his struggles. Kirishima, concerned for his friend's well-being, couldn't help but notice the subtle signs that Shouto was not okay.

During a brief lull in the training, Kirishima mustered the courage to approach Shouto. "Hey, man, you seem off today. Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.

Shouto, ever guarded, quickly dismissed the concern, putting on a cold front. "I'm fine, Kirishima. Just tired," he replied, his voice curt and distant. The barriers he had erected remained firmly in place, preventing anyone from glimpsing the depths of his pain.

As their turn in the training approached, Aizawa and the rest of the class seemed absorbed in their own tasks, unaware of the concealed struggle within Shouto. The weight of his pain bore down on him, threatening to unravel the facade he had meticulously crafted.

The match began, and Shouto fought with a fierce determination, pushing through the pain that ravaged his body. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed his skills, employing every ounce of his training to conceal the torment that wracked him from within.

As the battle raged on, the applause and cheers of his classmates filled the training room. Among them, Mina's voice rang out, exclaiming, "That's what I expect from mister pretty boy! Whoooo!" The words brought a fleeting sense of validation, but the pain pulsated beneath Shouto's skin, a stark reminder that the fight had only exacerbated his injuries.

Despite the victory, Shouto knew the toll it had taken on his body. He concealed the strain behind a mask of stoicism, refusing to let his classmates see the extent of his suffering. The applause echoed in his ears, a bittersweet melody that mingled with the ache within him.

As the training session came to an end, Shouto held his head high, the pain simmering beneath his resolve. 

Silently, he retreated to the changing room once more, seeking solitude. Alone with his thoughts, the weight of his concealed struggles pressed upon him, threatening to crush him. In the solitude of that space, Shouto faced a moment of vulnerability, the enormity of his pain threatening to engulf him.