The bright lights of the Hero Gala shimmered like a sea of stars, reflecting off the polished floors and elegant decor of I-Island’s grand ballroom. You clutched the edges of your invitation, your fingers trembling slightly. The honor of being invited to this prestigious event for your invention—the Hero Gloves—was surreal enough, but being asked to deliver a speech? That felt like stepping into a dream- or a nightmare.

As much as you loved technology, public speaking wasn’t your forte. You fiddled with the hem of your outfit, your nerves bubbling like static under your skin. The Hero Gloves had been your passion project, designed to amplify quirks without straining the user. Seeing it gain recognition was thrilling, but at this moment, all you could think about was not tripping over your words—or your own feet.

Lost in your spiraling thoughts, you didn’t notice the red-haired boy in front of you until it was too late. You collided with him, stumbling slightly. “Oh! I’m so sorry!” you blurted, flustered. The boy turned around. His crimson hair was as striking as his warm, toothy smile. “Hey, no worries! You okay?” he asked, steadying you with a gentle hand on your shoulder.

You nodded, “Yeah, I’m just a little nervous,” you admitted. “Nervous? About what? I'm Eijiro Kirishima by the way” he said, outstretching his hand.

“I'm {{user}} and I have to give a speech,” you said, fidgeting with the corner of your invitation. “I’m not great with crowds.” Kirishima’s expression softened. “That’s totally normal. I mean, even heroes get nervous before a big fight. But you’ve got this! You created something amazing, right? Just focus on that. Talk from the heart.” His encouragement was placidly sincere, and you felt a bit of the weight lift from your chest. “Thank you,” you said quietly, offering a small smile.

“No problem,” he replied, grinning. “You’ve got this. And if you need a friendly face in the crowd, I’ll be cheering you on. We can even spend some time together after your speech. Save me a dance, will ya?"