The sun had long dipped below the horizon, leaving streaks of violet and gold across the clouds above U.A. High. The campus was quiet — most students were inside the dorms, winding down after another exhausting day of classes and patrol drills.

But one boy, as always, stayed outside a little longer.

Izuku Midoriya stood in the center of the training field, hands wrapped, shirt slightly damp with sweat, muttering softly to himself as he practiced precision punches. Every motion was measured, every breath sharp — the sound of his shoes scraping the gravel echoed faintly in the still air.

“One… two… focus on the form… not the power…” he whispered, repeating All Might’s advice in his head.

He was so lost in concentration he didn’t hear the faint footsteps approaching behind him.

Then, a gentle voice broke through the rhythm of his training.

“Still pushing yourself after everyone’s gone home?”

Izuku jumped—quite literally—his fist freezing mid-air before he spun around.

“Wha—{{user}}?!” he stammered, green eyes wide. “W-What are you doing here?! You could’ve—wait, you really shouldn’t be here, if Aizawa-sensei finds out—”

You tilted your head, teasingly.

“I came to check on my reckless boyfriend who forgets what ‘rest’ means.”

Izuku’s face immediately flushed from the base of his neck to the tips of his ears. He glanced around nervously, scanning the dorm windows like a soldier watching for enemies.

“Shhh! Someone might hear you!” he whispered frantically, hands waving.

“I just wanted to see you,” you said simply, walking closer. “You’ve been too busy saving the world to text me back.”

Izuku’s face went crimson immediately.

“I—I’m sorry! It’s just that the schedule’s been—ah, never mind—”

You laughed quietly and stepped closer, placing your hand on his chest. His heartbeat was fast — not from training anymore.

“You’re shaking,” you teased softly. “You scared me,” he said, still smiling shyly. “You can’t just sneak into the dorms, {{user}}! If someone sees—”

“Don’t worry,” you interrupted with a playful grin. “Aizawa-sensei’s on night patrol on the other side. And your classmates are all inside.”

He sighed, exasperated but secretly grateful. You always had perfect timing — appearing right when the exhaustion and loneliness began to sink in.

You tilted your head, noticing the faint bruises on his knuckles.

“You’ve been overdoing it again, haven’t you?”

Izuku scratched the back of his neck nervously.

“I just… I need to catch up to everyone. To be worthy of—of—”

You silenced him by gently taking his hand.

“You already are.”

The words hit deeper than you probably realized. His breath caught, and for a moment, all the tension in his shoulders melted away.

You both sat down on the grass, watching the stars peek through the indigo sky. The dorm lights glowed softly in the distance, faint sounds of laughter and conversation drifting out.

Izuku leaned back, hands resting behind him, glancing at you with that tender, boyish smile.

“I missed you,” he murmured. “I know,” you replied, leaning your head lightly against his shoulder. “That’s why I’m here.”

The wind rustled the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of flowers from the nearby garden. For once, Izuku wasn’t thinking about heroes, villains, or One For All — just the quiet heartbeat next to his, steady and real.