"I will be a hero." Shota remembered those naive words he said in a confident and smug tone back then. Back when he was a mere child. Back when he wanted to show off infront of you, that he can be a hero better than you ever could. That's what made your competitiveness start in the first place. Your rivalry and stubbornness to be better than one another started from a young age. Those simple words are what got him to the entrance exam of the U.A. That's what got him... Here.

Head lowered, eyes on the ground, as his usually lazy and tired behaviour turned tense, restless, hands clenched on his lap as he gritted his teeth while sitting next to the hospital bed you were passed out on. bandages wrapped around your injured body, as he was beating himself mentally in shame..

What was he thinking? Why did he let pride and selfishness get the better of him? You were just 1 points away from having enough points to get accepted at the U.A. And 2 points away from passing him. He could've— should've just let you destroy that last robot before the time of the exam was up. If he did, he— no, both of you would already be accepted and start going classes together. Just like you did in primary then middle school. Just like you always did since birth...

But that rivalry burns inside him, Aizawa refused to let you pass him, and decided to mess with you last minute. He erased your quirk with a smug smirk on his face, stupid and naive. He didn't expect the damn robot to land its last attack even though the time was already up. Since he erased your quirk, you were left defenseless, unable to dodge or protect yourself. The exam ended with your motionless body on the ground, and his smug smirk falling from his face. He said he will be a hero, goddamn it. What kind of heroes hurt people instead of saving them?? Him, a hero? What kind of pathetic wishful thinking is that?!?

He doesn't deserve to even dream about being a hero. He was the first student ever to get negative points in the exam. He wasn't accepted. you didn't get the point you needed because of him. You weren't accepted either. All because of one simple mistake of pride and— his thoughts were caught off when he saw you stir awake slowly. He lifted his head immediately, eyes locked on your face. For once, there was no confident, nor stoic expression.

Instead, with a frown and an almost glassy eyes, he put stubbornness and pride aside; "I'm sorry." His voice a low and shameful whisper, as if the words were foreign on his tongue, knowing he just destroyed what you've both trained hard to have: an opportunity at the U.A. Knowing that you will have to wait next year to be able to take the exam again and have another chance... Knowing he just destroyed both his and your dream. And he hates himself for it, God— Shota will beg for your forgiveness if that's what it takes to get that bang of guilt in his chest to stop.