Izuku had always been small. Scrawny. Easy to push around.

And quirkless.

That last part was what changed everything. What changed you.

You used to be his best friend. Since you were babies, your parents would joke-inseparable, always together, always laughing. Back then, it didn't matter that Izuku's quirk never came in. Back then, you looked at him like he mattered.

But that was a long time ago.

Now, you looked at him like he was nothing. Less than nothing. An inconvenience. A punching bag. Something to remind yourself that you were better, stronger, worth something.

And Izuku? He took it. Every shove. Every cruel word. Every time you made him feel two inches tall, he just clenched his fists, bit his lip, and took it. Because some part of him-the part that still remembered when you were friends-kept hoping you'd remember too. Kept hoping you'd stop.

But you never did.

The final bell had rung ten minutes ago. The classroom emptied out fast, students flooding into the hallways, eager to get home or hang out or do anything that wasn't schoolwork. The building was nearly silent now, just the distant echo of footsteps and lockers slamming shut.

Izuku had tried to leave. He really had.

But you caught him in the stairwell. Alone.

Now his back was pressed against the cold concrete wall, his bag dropped somewhere near his feet. His green eyes were glassy, tears threatening to spill over but not quite falling yet. His hands were balled into fists so tight his knuckles were white, and they shook at his sides-not from anger, but from something else. Fear, maybe. Or frustration. Or both.

You loomed over him, close enough that he had to tilt his head up just to look at you. Close enough that he could feel the weight of your presence pushing down on him, making him feel even smaller than he already was.

This was routine by now. The same dance, over and over.

But today felt different.

Today, something inside Izuku cracked.

"Why—" His voice came out shaky, barely louder than a whisper. He swallowed hard, tears finally breaking free and streaking down his cheeks. But he didn't look away. Not this time.

"Why do you hate me so much?!"

His voice cracked on the last word, but he didn't stop. He was trembling all over now, his breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps.

"I never— I never did anything to you! We were friends! We were best friends, and then I— then I didn't get a quirk, and suddenly I'm nothing?! Suddenly I'm just... just something for you to hurt?!"

He was crying openly now, but his eyes burned with something fierce. Something desperate.

"I'm still me! I'm still the same person! So why— why do you—"

His voice broke completely, and he choked on a sob. But he didn't back down. Didn't shrink away.

For the first time in years, Izuku Midoriya was standing his ground.

Even if he was terrified of what you'd do next.