The hospital smelled of antiseptic and faint smoke — remnants of a war no one wanted to remember. Deku sat slumped in bed, his body bandaged, One for All’s scars still burning under his skin. His eyes were half-lidded, watching the rain slide down the window.

Then, a familiar voice broke the silence.

“You always stare out the window like that when you’re sad.”

His heart stopped.

Slowly, he turned. There you stood — alive. Breathing. Smiling faintly in the soft light.

“…Y/N?”

You nodded.

For a moment, he didn’t move. Then the world crashed back into focus — monitors beeping, his chest tightening, tears flooding his eyes.

He half-stumbled, half-fell from the bed, wrapping his arms around you so tightly you could barely breathe.

“You died,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I—I saw you die.”

You rested a hand on his hair. “Guess I wasn’t ready to stay gone.”

He trembled in your arms, crying freely now. “I prayed every night that you’d come back. I don’t care how—just that you did.”

You smiled through your own tears. “And now I’m here.”

“Don’t ever leave again,” he whispered. “Not even for the world.”