𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 085

CHAPTER 85: Anchored Together

After the last match, a mixture of relief and exhaustion hung thick in the air as both Class A and Class B gathered on the battered training grounds. The battles had pushed everyone beyond their limits, but in that exhaustion was a quiet pride — the kind that only came from facing overwhelming challenges and coming out stronger.

You stood beside Izuku, catching your breath, your body heavy but your spirit lifted. You turned slightly toward him, your eyes meeting his. There was no need for elaborate words — just that simple, understanding glance shared between two people who had fought side by side.

A faint, tired smile curved your lips. "We made it," you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper, yet somehow carrying all the weight of what you both had endured.

Izuku let out a shaky breath, his green eyes warm as he looked at you, gratitude and admiration plain on his face. "Thanks for stepping in, Y/N," he murmured, brushing his fingers through his messy hair. "I don’t think I could’ve gotten through it without you. I didn’t realize… just how hard it would be to keep everything under control.”

You nodded, the memory of the chaotic surge of power fresh in your mind — the way his energy had spiraled dangerously, slipping from his grasp. "It’s okay, Izuku," you said gently. "You’re still learning. We all are. That’s why we’re here — to grow, adapt... and help each other when it gets overwhelming."

As your words settled between you, Hitoshi approached, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His voice was steady, but there was something almost rare — a note of approval — when he said, "Good teamwork out there. You two held it together when it mattered."

You offered him a nod, appreciating the acknowledgment. Around you, the atmosphere was shifting — the earlier tension melting into a mixture of laughter, shared stories of close calls, and teasing among classmates. Even the teachers, watching from the sidelines, exchanged quiet words, their expressions softening with pride.

After the final round of feedback and a few stern but encouraging remarks from Aizawa, he dismissed everyone to rest and recover. The students began to scatter, some helping each other toward the dorms, while others lingered, reluctant to let the day’s energy slip away.

Aizawa’s sharp gaze briefly rested on you and Izuku, a silent reminder to be careful.

With a curt nod, he turned away, you were about to follow, feeling the pull of much-needed rest—when you noticed Izuku wasn’t moving.

When you looked at him, his face was caught in a shadow of troubled thought, his gaze distant.

You didn’t need to ask. You just waited, giving him space.

Finally, he spoke, his voice almost too quiet for the crowd around you to catch. "Can we... talk? Somewhere quiet?"

You nodded immediately, without question.

---

The sun was dipping low when you slipped into the training room — your secret little haven, a space that felt untouched by the pressures of the world outside. The room was dim, the last rays of evening light slanting through the windows, casting long, soft shadows across the floor.

Izuku stood in the center, shifting his weight anxiously, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. You closed the door quietly behind you, the gentle click sounding impossibly loud in the silence that followed.

He didn’t speak right away. You approached him slowly, giving him time, letting him know you weren’t going anywhere.

Finally, after a long, shaky breath, he turned toward you, his eyes searching yours. “Y/N… today, during the fight, when I lost control — it wasn’t just the usual power surging out of me. It was something else. Something new. It felt like—” he faltered, his voice cracking slightly, “—like there was another quirk inside me. Like another presence.”