The hallway was almost empty when it happened again.

You’d only stopped by the staff office to drop off some paperwork, minding your own business — but two teachers at the end of the corridor were speaking in hushed tones. You weren’t meant to hear it… but you did.

“You know, the resemblance is frightening.”

“Same eyes. Same expression. It’s like they copied the scientist’s face onto them.”

They didn’t use your name. They didn’t have to.

The words hit harder than any quirk.

The scientist.

Creator.

Abuser.

Your hands clenched at your sides — nails pressing crescent moons into your skin. That familiar ache rose up in your chest, pulsing like an old wound being torn open again.

You turned before they could notice you listening and started walking. Fast.

Out of the office. Down the stairs. Through the empty training yard. Trying to outrun the echo in your head.

You look just like them. You were made by something evil. Maybe that means you’ll become it.

You didn’t realize someone was following.

“{{user}}—!”

Tenya Iida’s voice carried clearly in the quiet courtyard. You froze halfway across the pavement.

He jogged up to you, breath lightly uneven from the pace. “I’ve been calling your name. Are you alright? You rushed out of the building so suddenly…”

His words trailed off when you didn’t answer — when he caught sight of your expression.

His brows drew together — not with disapproval, but concern. Deep and immediate.

“Did someone say something to you?”

His voice was soft — uncharacteristically so. And that softness cracked something in you even more than the voices in the hallway did.

Because he didn’t see the scientist’s face when he looked at you.

He just saw you.