OUR NO.1 LOVE

CHAPTER 9: (AM I....USELESS?)

Chapter 9:

Bakugo and Todoroki have just left for their patrol, leaving Izuku home alone.

The house is quiet as Izuku moves to clean up his bedroom, trying to keep busy. He reaches the back of his closet and, while sorting through some old boxes, comes across something he hadn’t seen in a long time his old phone.

Izuku: (softly to himself) "Oh... I forgot I had this."

Curious, he turns it on and the screen lights up. The phone is slower than he remembers, but soon enough, he’s looking through old photos.

He scrolls through memories, his time at U.A., countless photos with his friends from Class 1-A and Class 1-B, candid shots with the pro heroes he admired, and group pictures with the Big Three.

The first photo shows Izuku in his hero costume, grinning proudly alongside Uraraka, Iida, and Todoroki after a particularly tough training session.

In another, Bakugo is giving his usual scowl while standing beside Izuku at the U.A. dorms, though there’s a hint of softness in his eyes, showing the bond they shared beneath the surface.

There’s even one where Aizawa is seen sleeping in the background during a briefing, with Kirishima and Kaminari making funny faces behind him.

Izuku: (whispering to himself, his voice breaking) "We were all so happy back then..."

His thumb hovers over a picture of the Big Three: Mirio, Nejire, and Tamaki, each giving him a thumbs-up during a time when he was still growing as a hero. His vision blurs as tears form in his eyes.

Izuku: (murmuring) "I was one of them... I used to be..."

As he continues scrolling, the weight of the past hits him harder with each photo. The memories of his time as a hero, the battles he fought, the victories and losses—everything he can no longer be a part of as a quirkless teacher.

The negative comments from visitors, villains, and even his own inner doubts resurface in his mind.

Izuku: (choked whisper) "Am I... really that useless now?"

His hand shakes as he holds the phone. He feels a knot tightening in his chest, the deep-seated fear and sadness overwhelming him.

All the battles, all the sacrifices, and now... he's left with only memories of who he used to be.

Izuku: (tears falling down his cheeks) "I-I can't do this anymore..."

He sets the phone down, sinking to the floor, hugging his knees to his chest as the emotions overwhelm him. His tears fall silently, the quiet house amplifying his sense of isolation.

He feels trapped—trapped between his memories as a hero and his current reality.

Izuku: (crying quietly) "Why can't I just be strong enough...? Why can't I help like I used to?"

As the tears continue to fall, Izuku remains on the floor, struggling to hold himself together, lost in the sadness of what he’s lost and the burden of his quirkless reality.
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Meanwhile....

At the agency, Bakugo and Todoroki have finished their patrol for the day. Their thoughts remain on Izuku, knowing how hard everything has been for him. They exchange a glance, both determined to do something special for him. Then, an idea strikes them.