My Hero Academia Symbol of Hope (DC x MHA)

The sun rises once again

Kai groaned as the sharp pain in his side hit him again, and he blinked a few times, trying to make sense of his surroundings. His skin felt warm, almost too warm, and the rhythmic sound of machines filled the room. He slowly opened his eyes and was met with a soft, almost glowing light. The capsule he was in radiated a soothing heat that wrapped around his body, but the pain from his wounds was still evident.

As he shifted slightly, his eyes landed on three familiar figures—Dick, Toshinori, and David—standing near him. The sight of them reassured him, but the sharp pang in his side reminded him that he wasn't fully out of the woods yet. He groaned again, trying to sit up, but the effort only made him wince.

"Hey, take it easy," Dick's voice was calm but filled with concern as he quickly placed a hand on Kai's shoulder, gently urging him to stay still. "You've been through a lot."

Kai turned his head toward the voice, his eyes locking on Dick, who had bandages wrapped around his torso and a cast on his arm. It was obvious that the fight had taken its toll on him too. "How... how are the others?" Kai asked, his voice hoarse as he tried to process everything. "The Titans... are they alright?"

Dick let out a tired sigh, his eyes reflecting the weight of the battle. "We're all alive, Kai. That's what matters. We've got some bruises, broken bones, and a few scrapes, but nothing permanent. Nothing we can't heal from." He paused. "You really gave us a scare there buddy"

Kai's eyes shifted to David, who was standing beside them, his expression serious but grateful. "David?" Kai murmured, barely able to keep his eyes open. "You... you saved me, didn't you?"

David gave a small nod, his voice steady as he spoke. "I did what I could. I used the solar capsule to heal you. It's designed to speed up the healing process by absorbing solar radiation, which your body naturally absorbs. Without it, well... you wouldn't have made it. The injuries you sustained were too severe for traditional methods to handle."

The words hit Kai harder than expected. The idea of being that close to death was still settling in his mind. He had always pushed through, always tried to take on the impossible, but this time, it felt different.

Kai's body was still adjusting to the soothing warmth of the solar capsule, and though his mind was clouded by exhaustion, a flicker of concern sparked in his chest when he heard Toshinori's voice. He turned to his father, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Dad," Kai asked quietly, the words heavy with his usual protective concern, "How's Melissa? And Eri? Have they been alright?"

Toshinori's face softened with a mixture of concern and understanding. "They've been worried sick, Kai. Eri hasn't stopped crying since you collapsed. She's been clinging to Melissa, not wanting to let go of her. And Melissa..." Toshinori paused for a moment, his voice dipping a bit. "She's been trying her best to calm her down, but I can tell it's been hard on both of them. Melissa's strong, but this... it's been tough on her, too."

Kai's heart ached as he listened. He hadn't been able to protect them from the fear and uncertainty that had gripped them when he was near death's door. He had always been the one to keep everyone safe, to be the unshakable one, but now... now it felt like he had been the one who needed saving.

"I wasn't expecting this," Kai muttered, his voice low. "For someone to really push me to my absolute limit. I've fought hard before, but this... this was different. I thought I could keep going forever, but this time..." He trailed off, his thoughts lingering on the battle, on the way Doomsday had relentlessly pushed him past everything he had known about his own strength.

Toshinori placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip warm and reassuring. "No one can go on forever, Kai. Even you. The real strength comes from knowing when to lean on others. And you've got us."