A Glimmer of Hope

"Tsk." His spiky hair draws a shadow over his eyes, hiding his gaze. "You aren't worth it anyway. Let's go to the arcade, guys!" And he walks away. After a few seconds of puzzlement, Tsubasa and Inaba follow him, like they always do. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. 45) It didn't work. Not like I wanted it to. But it did-something. "Something," I breathe out, legs wobbly, and I realize I'm drenched in sweat. "I can work with something." Izuku has to catch me when I fall. His arms wrap around me, holding me upright as my knees buckle. "Hey, are you okay?" he asks, concern etched on his face. I nod, still trying to process what just happened. I thought I had him, just for a second. I thought I saw a glimmer of understanding, of connection. But it's gone now, hidden behind his usual bravado. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Izuku's eyes scan my face, searching for answers. "What happened?" he asks, his voice low and gentle. I shake my head, not sure how to explain. I don't want to talk about it. Not now. Izuku's grip on me tightens. "You were really worked up," he says, a hint of awe in his voice. "I've never seen you like that before." I glance away, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. I don't know what to say. I just know that I reached out, and for a second, I thought I connected. As I regain my balance, I watch Bakugou and his friends disappear into the crowd, the sounds of the arcade growing fainter with each passing second. I know I won't give up on him. Not yet. I have to try again, to find that glimmer of hope and fan it into a flame. Izuku's eyes follow mine, his expression thoughtful. "You okay now?" he asks, his voice soft. I nod, taking another deep breath. I have to be okay. For now, I have to be okay. With a newfound sense of determination, I push myself up, straightening my shoulders. I glance at Izuku, and he gives me a small smile. "Let's go get some food," he suggests, and I nod, following him as we walk away from the spot where Bakugou and I had our confrontation. As we walk, I can feel Izuku's eyes on me, watching me. I know he's curious, but I also know he'll wait for me to open up. For now, I just need some time to process everything that happened. I take another deep breath, feeling a sense of resolve wash over me. I'll try again with Bakugou. I'll find a way to reach him, to make him see that there's more to being a hero than just being strong. And with Izuku by my side, I feel like I can take on anything.