The lights of the U.A. School Festival twinkled like stars come down to Earth—lanterns swaying in the breeze, stalls still buzzing with laughter and music lingering in the air like the last note of a happy dream. The concert had ended, but its warmth hadn’t. It clung to the air, to the smiles, to the echoes of joy left behind on the festival grounds.

Among the crowd, in a quieter corner where the noise had softened into a hum, stood a little girl with silver hair and wide, cautious eyes.

Eri.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the excitement, her hands still clutching the candy apple Mirio had gotten her earlier, though most of the sticky treat was now a red smear on her gloves. Her gaze lifted to the stage one last time, the confetti still caught in her hair, and then…

She smiled.

A small, wobbly thing—like sunshine peeking through storm clouds. But it was real. Not polite. Not nervous. Real.

Mirio was the first to kneel down beside her, eyes wide and full of pride. “See?” he whispered, voice gentle but bright. “Told you it’d be fun.”

Eri gave a small, shy nod, and her smile grew just a bit more certain.

A few feet away, Izuku stood frozen for a moment. His breath caught in his throat, eyes shimmering with quiet tears he didn’t try to hide. That one smile from her was more powerful than any victory he’d ever known—it was the proof that she was healing.