Under the Starlit Rooftop

Introduction

The night always seemed a little darker when you thought about your past—your childhood. You weren't the kind of person who'd let your past define you, but some shadows lingered no matter how bright the future might look.

Your quirk wasn't one of those flashy, easy-to-love powers. It had the kind of edge that made people stop and stare, both in awe and in fear. "Radiance," they called it. The ability to manipulate and amplify the light around you to both blinding and healing extremes, creating radiant beams that could either heal a wound or leave scorch marks in their wake. It was as beautiful as it was dangerous, and people had told you that since you were a child. A star and a storm, all in one.

In the world of heroes, you had to learn quickly that people didn't see quirks—they saw labels. Some quirks screamed "hero" while others... well, people didn't know what to think. Yours fell in that ambiguous category, something bright yet terrifying. Teachers were always praising your power, but behind the admiration was always a layer of unease. Like you were too bright for them to look at directly.

You had tried to handle it all with a steady, confident smile. But that wasn't always enough, especially when you knew deep down that people feared you almost as much as they respected you. And so, you learned to balance two masks: one of a bright, reassuring presence and the other, a careful distance, never letting anyone get too close.

Physically, you looked the part of someone unforgettable. You had always been striking, with eyes that seemed to shimmer with an inner glow, as if you held a piece of your own light within. Your skin had a healthy, warm tone, almost luminous, catching the sun in a way that made you seem unreal. People often said you were like a living star, but that had only served to separate you further from them—admired but untouchable.

And then there was your hair, cascading past your shoulders, with a natural highlight of silver that seemed to gleam when you used your quirk. It framed a face that was both soft and intense, a face that would look at you with a knowing, almost piercing gaze, making people feel like you could see right through them.

But your strength, the quirk that made people take a second look, came with its own struggles. You were powerful, sure, but every time you used Radiance, you risked taking in too much energy, risking burnout. Sometimes, even in a training match, your hands would start to shake after prolonged use, the light flickering as though it might go out. But no one saw that side—not even your closest friends.

When you were finally scouted for U.A. High, it had been both an honor and a curse. You knew your quirk made you valuable, that it could be a force for good. But you also knew it came with a price. You had a purpose now, a reason to channel all that power, but the weight of that purpose pressed on your shoulders every day.

And that's when he came into the picture. You'd met Bakugo Katsuki during one of your first days at U.A. He wasn't the type to be swayed by a pretty face or an impressive quirk. If anything, he looked at you like he saw through every last layer you'd carefully built. He wasn't afraid of your power; in fact, he seemed almost drawn to it, to the challenge it presented.

He wasn't like anyone else you'd met—brash, bold, and unyielding. You couldn't help but wonder if he saw something in you that reminded him of himself. But for now, you kept your distance, burying yourself in the familiar, comforting walls you'd built.

Introduction - End