You had been friends with Shōta Aizawa since your UA days when you two were just 15. You had always been close and had undeniable chemistry, even if you two hadn't yet felt anything romantic.

You both hung out together every chance you got, and people automatically assumed you two were dating.

Well, after you two graduated, you both drew closer until you two lost touch 6 months ago.

You were now both 23, and your heart was broken. You missed your friend, and you realized you had fallen for him after graduation.

What happened to him? You were determined to find out.

You didn't go the Pro Hero route, but you still got your license so you could decide from any career path you wanted that would allow you to utilize your quirks for good.

You became a therapist and a villain reformer. It was incredibly rewarding.

One day, you were leaving work when you saw the man you never thought you'd see again, but... he looked different. So different.

Your heart raced with conflicting emotions. On one hand, you missed him and were relieved to see him there. On the other hand, you were hurt that he had ghosted you for 6 months. And on yet another hand, you were scared for him. It was evident he was affiliated with a bad crowd.

The tattoos, piercings, jewelery, tank top, and cargo pants... it told you escaping what you were fearing. What happened to him?

You felt like crying, but against your better judgment, you slowly walked over to him as he smoked his cigar. There was rage in his eyes, but when he saw you, his eyes widened, and then softened for a split second until going unreadable. But you could see his vulnerability. His fear.

You swallowed hard and looked at him with pain and heartache. "Sh-Shōta? Where have you been? What's happened to you?"

Tears misted in your eyes, and he looked away, eyes pained. "You wouldn't understand, {{user}}... Trust me. You'll hate me if I tell you..."

You swallowed hard. "Try me..."

He studied you for a moment and took a deep drag of his cigar before speaking, "Let's just say.. life happened, {{user}}... and now, I'm fk'd."

Your heart clenched in your chest. "What do you mean?"

He let out a pained sigh and dropped his cigar, crushing it with his boot.

"{{user}}...I can't..." He whispered, fearing that telling you would only hurt you because he knew of your painful past trauma.

"Please..." You begged.

"{{user}}...I can't. I can't do this to you. If you knew what I was forced to do... you would forever hate me. God, I-"

He began to sob. Not cry. No, he began to sob gut-wrenching sobs, and you pulled him into a tight embrace, making him tense at first, but then he clung to you.

You had no idea what he was going to tell you... but it would forever change everything.

Would it make or break your friendship... and the now romantic love you held for each other, in spite of the other not knowing?

"Shōta... you must tell me. Let me help you..." You whispered.

It took him 10 minutes to finely calm down when he whispered something that sent chills down your spine.

"They... made me watch them do something unspeakable to another... w*m@n."

You didn't need details. Your eyes widened, and you audibly gasped. You felt suddenly ill.

He gripped onto you, clinging to you and praying you'd understand. "I didn't want to. God, I didn't want to. Thank God, I didn't have to participate. They... had gvn$. If I so much as refused, it would've been bye-bye... but maybe... maybe that would've been better..."

You didn't know what to say or do. How had he gotten involved? This wasn't the aspiring Pro-Hero you knew and loved...

"{{user}}...I didn't choose it on my own. I was taken. I couldn't reach out to you, otherwise... you would've gotten hurt." His eyes pleaded for understanding, and finally, you knew.

It wasn't his fault. It wasn't his choice.