Growing together

The start of something new

The wind was sharp, cutting through the cold evening air as I stood on the rooftop, staring out over the city. The lights below flickered like stars, and even from this high up, I could hear the faint hum of the bustling streets. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the railing, feeling the cool metal bite into my skin.

Deku was out there somewhere, probably running himself into the ground again. That idiot had been pushing himself harder than ever since we all came back to UA. Even after everything, he still didn't know when to stop. It was like watching a car with no brakes careening down a hill-there was no telling how bad the crash would be, but it was coming.

I grunted, shoving my hands into my pockets. Ever since the fight with Shigaraki, things had been...different. Not just with Deku, but with me too. It was like something had shifted. I wasn't ready to admit it was respect, not fully, but maybe I was seeing him differently. He'd proven himself, again and again, even when I kept telling myself he was the same useless nerd who'd been following me around since we were kids.

But, damn it, he wasn't.

A memory flashed in my mind-the moment I'd reached out to him, catching him mid-fall, the both of us bruised and broken but alive. It wasn't like me to care, not like that. But when it came to him, it was hard to explain. It wasn't just about rivalry anymore.

I'd grown up with him always at my back, and for so long, I thought I wanted to crush him under my heel. But maybe... maybe that wasn't true anymore.

The sound of footsteps brought me back to the present, and I didn't need to look to know who it was. His steps were always light, hesitant, like he was walking on eggshells around me. It was one of the few things that hadn't changed.

"What do you want, Deku?" I grumbled, turning just enough to catch his outline in the shadows.

He paused, like he always did when I snapped at him. I could practically feel him gathering his thoughts, probably trying to find the right words to say. Always overthinking everything.

"I-I noticed you didn't come to training today," he finally said, his voice quiet, but there was a strength to it now that hadn't been there before. "I just...wanted to check in."

I snorted. "Check in? What are you, my babysitter?"

"N-No, I just-" He stepped closer, his face catching the light. "I wanted to make sure you're okay. That's all."

I narrowed my eyes at him, not really angry but irritated by his persistence. It was one of those things that hadn't changed either-how he always seemed to worry about everyone but himself. Even after he'd damn near run himself into the ground trying to do everything alone, he was still that guy.

"I'm fine," I said, a little more gruffly than I intended. "Don't waste your time worrying about me."

He shifted on his feet, clearly unsure whether to leave or keep pushing. Normally, I'd have barked at him to go, but tonight... I don't know. I wasn't in the mood to fight.

We stood there in awkward silence for a minute before Deku finally spoke again, his voice softer. "You're not...angry at me anymore, are you?"

The question hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a second, I wasn't sure what to say. Angry? Hell, I'd spent most of my life being angry at him. It was like second nature. But now?

I turned fully, leaning my back against the railing as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Angry at you? What for?"

"For...everything." He looked down, scratching the back of his neck in that nervous way he did when he was unsure. "For getting One For All. For being strong. For...being me."