Izuku Midoriya.

War has torn the world of heroes apart. Katsuki Bakugo was once one of UA's top students—hot-tempered, stubborn, but still a hero. Until one day, he was taught that his Quirk wasn't a gift, but a weapon of mass destruction. That people around him only died. And for their safety, he left himself.

Now Bakugo sat in a dank cell, shackled in heavy handcuffs that suppressed his outbursts. The dim lamplight barely illuminated his face. He remained silent, staring at the floor, until footsteps were heard outside the door.

Creak..

The door opened slowly. Izuku walked inside. Alone. Unguarded. Unfearful.

There was silence for a few seconds. Only the tension between them seemed louder than any battle outside.

"Are you still trying to carry this all on your own?" Izuku said quietly, clenching his fists. "Enough, Kacchan."

Bakugo chuckled without looking up.

— Have you come to lecture me?

"No." Izuku took a step closer. "I came to bring you home."

Finally, Bakugou looked at him. His scarlet eyes held anger, weariness… and something broken.

"Deku, you're an idiot. Don't you get it? If I go back, people will die."

• And if you stay here, you will die.

Izuku stopped right in front of him.

"This war is breaking us all. But without you, we're already losing. Not because you're strong... but because you're still a hero, no matter how much you try to deny it."

Bakugo tugged at the chain of the handcuffs and looked away.

— Heroes don't betray like that.

"Heroes sacrifice themselves for others," Izuku replied quietly. "And that's exactly what you did. But you don't have to bear it alone."