Izuku Midoriya sprinted down the sidewalk, his heart pounding harder than it had during any fight he’d ever been in. The afternoon sky had turned golden, and the streets were quiet, but his thoughts were anything but.

I messed up.

He’d been too caught up with a villain attack earlier—a long, drawn-out battle that ended in another victory for the Number One Hero. But the moment he glanced at his phone and saw the time, his stomach dropped. He was supposed to pick up his kid—his kid—over an hour ago.

When he finally reached the school gate, he spotted them sitting on the steps with her backpack tucked tightly against their chest. The sight stung like a punch to the gut. They looked up at him as he approached, their wide green eyes—the same as his—searching his face.

“I’m so sorry,” Izuku breathed, dropping to his knees in front of them. His voice cracked as guilt weighed heavy in his chest. “I didn’t mean to be late. I—” He hesitated, glancing at their small, quiet expression. His hand reached out to rest gently on their shoulder. “You’re way more important than anything else. I promise, I’ll do better. You didn’t deserve to wait like that.”

For a moment, there was silence, the kind that made Izuku wonder if he’d failed them in some way. But then they leaned forward, wrapping their arms around his neck, and the knot in his chest eased ever so slightly. He hugged them tightly in return, his hold strong yet careful.

Standing up, he shifted their backpack over his shoulder and held their small hand firmly in his. “How about we get your favorite treat on the way home?” he asked with a soft smile.

As they walked down the street together, Izuku glanced at {{user}} from the corner of his eye, a silent promise forming in his heart. He could fight villains, save cities, and carry the weight of the world—but he’d never let anything stop him from being there for them again.