A Promise of Possibility

That evening, I waited until Inko had gone to bed before making my way to Izuku's room. The dim light of the moon cast a gentle glow over his small frame as he sat on the bed, staring blankly at the wall. I approached him quietly, not wanting to startle him, and sat down beside him. For a while, we just sat there in silence, the only sound being the creaks and groans of the old house. I could sense the weight of his emotions bearing down on him, and I knew he needed someone to talk to. I put a gentle hand on his shoulder, and he didn't resist as I pulled him into a hug. Izuku's body began to shake, and I could feel the tears soaking into my shoulder. He cried silently at first, but as the moments passed, his sobs grew louder and more intense. I held him tight, letting him release all the pent-up emotions he'd been carrying. As he finally began to calm down, Izuku looked up at me through teary lashes and puffy eyes. His gaze was red-rimmed and vulnerable, and for a moment, I thought he might ask me something silly or inconsequential. But instead, he looked at me with a deep-seated longing and asked, "Can I- Can I be a hero too?" Time seemed to freeze as I processed his question. I stopped breathing for a second, my mind racing with all the what-ifs. What if I said yes and he got hurt? What if I said no and he lost his determination? But as I looked into his eyes, I knew I couldn't bring myself to say no. "Yes," I whispered, my voice barely audible. Izuku's expression changed in an instant. His eyes, which had been brimming with tears, suddenly went wide with surprise. He stopped crying altogether, his face frozen in a mixture of shock and wonder. He stared at me, drowning in my gaze, as if trying to process the weight of my words. I smiled softly and leaned in, my voice taking on a gentle tone. "Didn't I tell you already, Midoriya-san?" I whispered. "I know you will be a hero. The greatest." Izuku's lower lip trembled, and then he started crying again, harder than before. But these tears felt different. They felt like a release, like a weight had been lifted from his chest and a hole had been mended before it could truly open. I held him tighter, feeling a sense of resolve wash over me. As I hugged him, I knew that I'd made a promise, not just to Izuku, but to myself. I would be there for him, every step of the way, and I would do everything in my power to help him achieve his dream. The question was, what would this journey bring, and how would it change us both? Only time would tell.