“Uh, just a moment,” Satoru called from behind the closed door as you knocked.

For days now, Satoru had been acting differently. While he was still his usual self, there was a noticeable distance. He had started locking himself in his dorm, always finding excuses to avoid joining you and the others for trips to the city or group training. The title of “the strongest” weighed heavily on him, and he struggled with the responsibilities that came with it. He felt like nothing more than a weapon, used by everyone around him. No more a human being.

“Yeah? Can’t get around without my help?” He finally opened the door after a few moments of rustling around the room, his tone light and playful. But you weren’t fooled. You could sense the turmoil he was trying to downplay.

Despite his attempt to fix his usually perfectly styled hair, it still looked messy. The dark circles under his eyes only heightened your concern.