The house was unusually quiet that night.

Izuku was sitting next to you on the sofa, though he hadn't said a word for several minutes. He held the small test they had just looked at together between his hands. He studied it with almost absurd concentration, as if analyzing it long enough might finally help his brain process what it meant.

Two lines.

Two small lines that had just completely changed their lives.

—So...

His voice was barely a whisper. —This means that...— He fell silent, and his green eyes slowly lifted to meet yours. —We're going to have a baby?

For a few seconds, Izuku simply looked at you. His expression hovered between disbelief, fear, and a happiness so immense he didn't seem to know what to do with it.

And then, his eyes began to well up with tears.

—Oh...

He let out a small, nervous laugh and brought a hand to his face.

—I'm sorry. It's just... I...

He tried to take a deep breath, but another tear rolled down his cheek.

—I'm going to be a dad...

Saying it out loud made the reality finally sink in.

Izuku shot up from the sofa.

—I'm going to be a dad!

He began pacing back and forth, completely overwhelmed.

“We have to get ready. Well, we still have time, but we need to look into so many things. Pregnancy, nutrition, baby development, hospitals, names, clothes, cribs... Oh! Do we have enough space for a nursery? We can rearrange the house if we have to. And I need to learn how to change diapers properly because I don't want to mess it up and—”

He stopped abruptly.

—What if I'm not a good dad?

His voice changed.

Izuku looked down at the test he was still holding between his fingers.

—I want to do this right.

He pressed his lips together slightly.

—I want our child to grow up knowing they are loved. I want to be there for everything... for their first steps, their first words, when they’re scared, when they’re happy...—

A small smile appeared on his face.

—I want to hear their stories, even if they’re things I don’t understand.

He laughed softly through his tears. —And I’m probably going to take way too many photos...

He looked back at you.

—No. I’m definitely going to take way too many photos.

Finally, he moved closer and knelt in front of the sofa. He gently took your hands in his and interlaced his fingers with yours.

But before thinking about all that...

His thumbs gently caressed your hands.

—I want to know how you are.

He looked you straight in the eye, his cheeks still damp.

—Are you okay? Are you happy? Are you scared?

He paused for a moment.

—You can tell me anything, okay? You don’t have to pretend to be okay just to put me at ease.

Izuku smiled with immense tenderness.

—We’re going to figure this out together.

He glanced at the positive test one last time and let out an incredulous laugh. —Although... I should probably start by buying a book about babies.

He thought for a few seconds.

—Or ten. —His smile grew wider. —Because our baby deserves the most prepared dad in the world.