fandom little space oneshots

overworking - mha

little: deku

cg: iida

Midoriya Izuku pushed himself harder than ever. With the upcoming exams, the pressure to improve was immense, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be stronger, faster, and better. So, he trained relentlessly, every day, with no breaks in between.

It was during one of these intense training sessions that Iida Tenya noticed something off. They were supposed to be sparring, but Deku seemed slower than usual. His movements were sluggish, and his normally sharp focus was absent. Iida frowned, his analytical mind immediately picking up on the signs of exhaustion.

"Midoriya, are you alright?" Iida asked, pausing the match as he adjusted his glasses.

"I'm fine," Deku replied, forcing a smile as he wiped sweat from his brow. "Just... need to push through."

But Iida wasn't convinced. As they continued, he saw Deku's form falter further. The boy's breathing was labored, and his steps were unsteady. It was clear he was reaching his limit, but Deku wouldn't stop—he couldn't.

Finally, Deku swung wide, his fist missing its mark by a mile. His vision blurred, and before he knew it, he was on his knees, clutching his head. The overwhelming weight of expectations, the fear of not being enough, and the relentless pressure he placed on himself crashed down like a tidal wave.

"I can't... I can't do it," Deku mumbled, his voice breaking. "I'm not strong enough..."

Iida quickly moved to his friend's side, his heart pounding with concern. "Midoriya, you're overworking yourself! You need to rest!"

But Deku didn't respond. Instead, he felt a strange sensation wash over him—a sense of being small, vulnerable, and in need of comfort. His thoughts became muddled, and he found himself curling up on the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks. The world seemed so big and scary all of a sudden, and he didn't know how to handle it.

"Midoriya?" Iida's voice was gentle now, his hand resting on Deku's shoulder. He noticed the change immediately—the way Deku's expression had softened, the way he was clutching at his shirt like a child seeking comfort.

Deku whimpered softly, looking up at Iida with wide, tear-filled eyes. He felt scared and overwhelmed, and all he wanted was for someone to make it better. He didn't want to be strong anymore; he just wanted to be taken care of.

Understanding dawned on Iida. He had read about age regression, a response to extreme stress where someone reverts to a childlike state for comfort. Deku must have been pushing himself too hard for too long, and now he was breaking down in a way Iida hadn't expected.

"It's okay, Midoriya," Iida said softly, kneeling beside him. "You're safe. I'm here. You don't have to worry about anything right now."

Deku sniffled, wiping his nose on the sleeve of his training uniform. He didn't have the words to express what he was feeling, but Iida's calm presence was helping. He felt the older boy's arms wrap around him in a protective embrace, and he clung to Iida like a lifeline.

"You don't have to be strong all the time," Iida continued, his voice soothing. "It's okay to rest, to let someone else take care of you."

Deku nodded weakly, burying his face in Iida's chest. He felt so small and tired, but for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to let go. The tension in his body slowly ebbed away as Iida rocked him gently, whispering reassurances.

"We'll take it one step at a time," Iida promised. "I'll be here with you, no matter what. You're not alone, Midoriya."

And in that moment, wrapped in Iida's warmth and care, Deku believed him.