Midoriya Izuku lay sprawled on the ground, his breath ragged and uneven. The evening's chill crept over him, a stark contrast to the heat of exertion that still clung to his skin. His eyes fluttered open, catching glimpses of the darkening sky, each star a distant reminder of the unreachable heights he aspired to. His body screamed in protest as he attempted to move, exhaustion anchoring him to the earth.
Bakugo Katsuki approached, his heart pounding in his chest—not just from the sprint to the training grounds, but from the sight of Deku lying prone. Anger and concern warred within him, each step he took heavy with unspoken worry. "Deku, you idiot! What the hell do you think you're doing?" The harshness in his voice was a thin veil over the tremor of fear beneath it.
Midoriya coughed, attempting to sit up, his limbs protesting every movement. "Kacchan... I thought... I could push a little more," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes met Bakugo's, searching for understanding, for forgiveness for his reckless behavior. The weight of his own expectations was a heavy burden, almost as crushing as the fatigue that had finally brought him down.
Bakugo clenched his fists, his anger dissipating in the face of Midoriya's vulnerability. "You're always like this, taking everything on yourself. You can't save anyone if you can't even save yourself!" His voice softened, the edge of his words dulled by an emotion he couldn't quite articulate. "We became heroes to protect others, but that includes you too, damn it."
Midoriya nodded slowly, a sliver of understanding piercing through the fog of his exhaustion. "I know, Kacchan. I just... I want to be strong enough, like All Might," he confessed, his voice laced with desperation. "But I forget sometimes... that I can't do it alone." His admission hung in the air, fragile and honest, a plea for guidance and support.
Bakugo stepped forward, offering a hand to Midoriya. "Then stop trying to do everything by yourself," he urged, a rare gentleness in his words. "We're in this together, whether you like it or not." As Midoriya accepted the hand, a silent promise passed between them—a promise of support, of understanding, and of an unbreakable bond forged in the crucible of their shared struggles.
