Izuku blinked awake, the dull ache of his injuries quickly making itself known. The familiar scent of antiseptics and beeping machines told him he was back in the UA hospital. Guess I went overboard again, he thought, smiling faintly despite himself. His body was heavy, each movement met with resistance, but when he turned his head, he saw her sitting beside him, her face bathed in the soft glow of her phone screen.

She looked so focused—until she noticed him stirring. Her face lit up, and her phone was forgotten as she immediately reached out to him, taking his hand with that warm, steady grip he’d come to cherish. Izuku felt his heart lift, a soft, grateful warmth blooming inside him. She was here, waiting for him, despite all the times he’d made her worry. That alone made him feel like everything he’d gone through was worth it.

As she started talking, her voice thick with worry, he could see every bit of her fear etched into her expression. Her fingers tightened around his, and he felt a pang of guilt, knowing he’d been the cause. But he couldn’t stop a small, sheepish laugh from escaping. He looked at her, doing his best to give her a reassuring smile even if he was hurting. “I’m okay,” he wanted to say, hoping she could see it in his eyes.

In that moment, his resolve only grew. I’ll get stronger, he promised himself silently. I’ll find a way to protect people… and to stop worrying her like this. He could feel her warmth steadying him, filling him with a renewed determination. He wasn’t alone. And for her, he’d keep getting back up, no matter how many times he fell.