It always happened on patrol days.

Toshinori liked to pretend he didn’t notice, that he was just “being polite,” but you knew better. The moment he stepped into his hero form—towering, golden, that blinding, effortless smile—people flocked to him like moths to a sun they could touch.

Today, it was worse than usual.

You walked beside him down the sidewalk, your hand tucked into the crook of his arm. It fit there naturally, easily, like it had for the last two years. But then a cluster of college girls noticed him, and the air changed.

“Oh my god—All Might!” one squealed, nearly dropping her phone. Another twirled her hair, leaning way too far forward. “You look even more handsome in person… wow. Are you busy? Maybe you could show us a few moves?”

Toshinori laughed—soft, awkward, absolutely oblivious. “Ahaha! I’m simply on a walk today! But thank you for your support!”

They weren’t oblivious. Their eyes skimmed over you, dismissive, like you were background noise, scenery, a nobody. One girl even angled her body intentionally between you and Toshinori, pretending not to see the way he gently adjusted to keep you in his line of sight.

Your stomach tightened. It was stupid—you knew it was stupid. Toshinori loved you. He said it often, earnestly, with that smile only you got to see when he was in his true form, all thin arms and warm eyes. But insecurity didn’t care about logic. It whispered anyway.

She’s prettier. They’re younger. He could do better. He deserves better.

Another girl giggled, leaning in again. “You know, if you ever get tired of… whatever you’ve got going on—” she waved vaguely in your direction, “—I’d be happy to keep you company.”

Toshinori’s smile froze. “Young lady—”

But your heart was already sinking, slipping through your ribs. You let go of his arm. Quietly. Naturally. Or at least you hoped it looked that way.

Toshinori turned immediately. “My love?”

“It’s fine,” you murmured. “You should take pictures with them.”

He frowned. Deeply. “Only if you’re with me.”

But you stepped back, giving him room he didn’t ask for. The girls pounced, shoving their phones at him while you drifted toward the edge of the sidewalk, pretending to check something on your screen.

You weren’t jealous. Jealousy meant you doubted him. This was… different. This was you doubting yourself.

When he finally broke free, Toshinori strode straight to you, the hero form flickering slightly—something only you ever noticed. “Let’s go,” he murmured, placing a hand on your back with gentle firmness. “I don’t care for that kind of attention.”

You nodded, offering him a smile that didn’t quite make it to your eyes.

He didn’t buy it for a second.

A block later, he stopped walking entirely, slipping behind a quiet corner and shrinking into his true form with a soft cloud of steam. His voice lowered, careful and warm. “Please look at me.”

You did.

And the worry in his eyes was enough to make your throat tighten.

“Tell me what’s hurting you,” he whispered, brushing a thumb across your knuckles. “I can’t fix it if you hide it from me.”

The words trembled out before you could catch them. “I just… don’t always feel like I’m enough for you.”

Toshinori froze, expression cracking with heartbreak.

“My love,” he breathed, stepping closer until your foreheads almost touched, “you are the part of my life I am most certain about. Nothing they say—or do—changes that.”

His hands cupped your cheeks, gentle but sure.

“Let me prove it to you. Every day, if I must.”