New World (My Hero Academy)

Awake

(Third person Pov)

As Layla regained consciousness, she found herself lying in a clean, unfamiliar room. Her head throbbed faintly, and she gingerly touched the bandage on her forehead, feeling a dull ache. Confusion swirled in her mind as she tried to piece together what had happened.

The door creaked open, and in walked a small, elderly woman with gray hair and a gentle smile. Layla tensed instinctively, but the woman held up a hand in a placating gesture.

"Don't worry, dear," the woman said softly. "You're safe here."

Layla studied her cautiously, unsure of where she was or how she had ended up here. "Where am I?" she managed to ask, her voice hoarse.

"You're at U.A. High School," the woman replied kindly. "My name is Recovery Girl. You had quite a scare out there."

Layla's mind raced. U.A. High School? That name sounded vaguely familiar, like something she had heard about in passing. But she couldn't connect the dots. She remembered the arena, the strange fighters, and then... darkness.

"What happened to me?" Layla asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Recovery Girl sighed softly, her expression sympathetic. "We found you unconscious in the training grounds. No one knows how you got there."

Layla's heart skipped a beat. No one knew? It was as perplexing to them as it was to her. She couldn't explain it herself—how she had suddenly been transported from her troubled home life to this bizarre new world of heroes and powers.

"I..." Layla started, feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of her situation. "I don't understand."

Recovery Girl nodded understandingly. "It's okay, dear. You're safe now. We'll figure this out together."

Layla's emotions threatened to spill over. She had escaped one nightmare only to find herself in another, albeit a less hostile one. She couldn't fathom what lay ahead, but a small part of her felt a glimmer of hope—that perhaps here, in this place of heroes, she could find answers and, more importantly, a sense of belonging she had longed for her entire life.

"Thank you," Layla murmured, her voice tinged with gratitude and uncertainty.

Recovery Girl smiled warmly. "You're welcome, dear. Now, rest. We'll talk more when you're ready."

As Layla settled back into the pillows, surrounded by the unfamiliar yet strangely comforting environment, she closed her eyes. Thoughts and questions swirled in her mind, but amidst it all, a small seed of hope took root—a hope that maybe, just maybe, this unexpected journey could lead her to a place where she could finally find peace.

Layla drifted into a troubled yet hopeful sleep, her dreams were haunted by fragments of memories—of her father's comforting presence under the old tree, of her mother's harsh words and the pain they inflicted. Mixed with these memories were flashes of the strange arena, the powerful fighters, and the overwhelming sense of being lost in a world she didn't understand.

But amidst the chaos of her dreams, there was a sense of peace. For the first time in a long while, Layla felt a glimmer of hope flickering in the darkness. She wasn't alone anymore. Here, in this strange yet welcoming place, there were people who cared, people who wanted to help her.

In her dreamscape, she saw glimpses of faces—Recovery Girl's kind smile, All Might's reassuring presence, and the curious expressions of the students she had briefly glimpsed. They were strangers, yet they had shown her more kindness than she had ever known.

As the night deepened, Layla's dreams gradually softened, the edges blurring into a comforting haze. She felt a warmth spreading through her, a tentative feeling of safety she hadn't felt in years.

In that moment, lying in the quiet of the unfamiliar room, Layla allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she had found a place where she could start anew. And with that fragile hope cradling her thoughts, she drifted deeper into sleep, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her on this unexpected journey.