[7:13PM]

You weren’t supposed to take this route. You weren’t supposed to fight. You definitely weren’t supposed to ignore Aizawa’s voice in your head.

But here you were—facing two villains. One lunged at you with a metal arm; the other was already behind you, fast and twitchy.

You dropped the bags and exhaled.

“Tight stance. No wasted movement. Keep your back to the wall.”

You moved just like he taught you. Elbow to the gut, twist, drop. One villain down.

But you didn’t get to finish the second one.

A scarf lashed through the air and wrapped him up mid-leap. Slammed him into the pavement.

You didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“…Didn’t I tell you not to engage?” Aizawa’s voice cut through the smoke and adrenaline like a knife.

You turned, breathing hard. “You also taught me how to win.”

He stared at you—blank, unreadable—but his gaze dropped to the villain at your feet. “I taught you how to survive. There’s a difference.”

You wiped your nose with the back of your hand. “And I’m standing, aren’t I?”

He walked over, slow and silent, then crouched to check the guy you took down. “You didn’t panic.”

“Didn’t have time.”

A pause. He looked up at you.

“…You did well. That doesn’t mean you were right.”

You frowned. “So, I’m what—grounded and complimented?”

Aizawa stood. “Exactly.”

He handed you one of your grocery bags, now slightly crushed. “Come on. Dinner’s still waiting.”

You fell into step beside him, your heartbeat slowly settling.

“…You were watching me the whole time, weren’t you?” you asked.

A smirk, barely there. “Maybe.”