The common room was quiet, heavy with the weight of the conversation that had just taken place. Midoriya sat on the edge of a couch, his eyes downcast, while All Might stood nearby, his expression a mix of sorrow and resolve. Aizawa, Shinso, and Todoroki watched from the periphery, their concern evident.
The tension in the room was palpable. Midoriya's apology still hung in the air, a stark reminder of the emotional chasm between him and those who had lost their friend and hero. All Might's reassuring words, though heartfelt, did little to ease the overwhelming sense of displacement that Midoriya felt.
Midoriya's gaze shifted to the other students of Class 2-A, who had been silent witnesses to the emotional exchange. They looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and sympathy, their eyes reflecting the shared grief that permeated the room.
Shinso, who had been a quiet observer, finally spoke up. "Maybe we should all take a break. It's been a long day for everyone."
The suggestion was met with murmurs of agreement. Midoriya nodded, grateful for the chance to retreat from the intense scrutiny.
He excused himself and headed towards the dormitory hall, his mind still reeling from the day's events. The familiar comfort of his room felt like a sanctuary from the emotional turmoil. As he lay down on his bed, he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts tangled in the aftermath of his confrontation with All Might.
There was a knock on the door, and Midoriya looked up to see Shinso standing in the doorway.
"Can I come in?" Shinso asked, his voice gentle.
Midoriya nodded. "Yeah, of course."
Shinso entered and took a seat on the edge of the bed. "How are you holding up?"
Midoriya sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's hard. I feel like I'm carrying the weight of someone else's sacrifice. I don't know how to be what they need me to be."
Shinso's gaze was steady. "You don't have to be that person. You're not an imposter just because you're different from the Izuku they lost. You're still you, and that's enough."
Midoriya swallowed, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "But what if that's not enough? What if they need the hero who sacrificed everything?"
Shinso shook his head. "They need you—someone who can still be there for them and for yourself. It's not about replacing someone who's gone; it's about finding your own place in this world."
Midoriya nodded, feeling a small flicker of comfort from Shinso's words. "Thanks, Shinso. I needed to hear that."
Shinso offered a faint smile. "Anytime. You're not alone in this, even if it feels like it sometimes."
They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet of the room providing a much-needed respite from the chaos of the day. Midoriya felt a sense of calm wash over him, a small but significant step towards reconciling with his new reality.
As the night deepened, Midoriya eventually drifted off to sleep, feeling a little less alone in a world that was still finding its way around the edges of his heart. He knew there would be challenges ahead, but with friends like Shinso by his side, he felt a renewed sense of hope.
YOU ARE READING
Cross the Divide
Fanfiction!!REWRITTEN!! Check out my profile for the updated version! Since losing Deku in the war, Class 1-A, now 2-A, has lost their spark. The trauma and grief weigh heavily, but they push on, honoring him by striving to become heroes. In another universe...
