The chaos around me was overwhelming. Nine and his crew were tearing through the island with terrifying precision, and every second felt like it might be our last. I tried to keep my focus—rescuing civilians, fighting back, keeping my classmates safe—but the pressure was building, and I could feel my energy draining.

I was running down one of the narrow streets, scanning the area for survivors, when I noticed something out of place. A figure. Someone unfamiliar.

They were kneeling beside a child, cradling the kid in their arms. I didn’t recognize them—weren’t any of the civilians or heroes we were working with. But there was something about the way they moved. The way they looked after the kid, their arms wrapping around them protectively. It was like they had been doing this for years, as if they were born to shield others from harm.

I slowed my pace instinctively, watching. My heart rate kicked up as they turned their head, just for a moment, and our eyes locked. It was only a fraction of a second, but it felt like time stood still. There was a calmness in their gaze, a quiet strength that... struck me.

I had to blink, refocusing. What was this feeling? It wasn’t just the relief that someone else was helping—it was something more.

“Who... who is that?” I muttered to myself, my mind spinning. I wanted to rush over, to ask if they were okay, to make sure they were safe... but I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The kid in their arms was still crying, but the way they spoke to them, the comfort they gave... it was like they'd been through this kind of thing before.

My thoughts started to scatter, my chest tightening. In a world full of danger and uncertainty, seeing someone act so selflessly, so calm under the pressure, was... I don’t know, different. Powerful. It made everything else around me seem even more out of control.

“Stay focused, Deku,” I muttered, shaking my head to snap out of it. But that feeling? It didn’t go away.