"Aftermath of Fear"

Deku's voice trembled with concern as he whispered, "Vesper, are you okay? Did he hurt you???" His eyes scanned my face, searching for any signs of injury. I could feel his heart still racing against mine, and I knew he was just as shaken as I was. As Deku's gaze fell on my neck, his eyes widened in anger. He saw the mark of Shigaraki's fingers, and his face twisted in a fierce expression. His grip on me tightened, and I could feel his rage simmering just below the surface. But he took a deep breath, composing himself as he asked again, "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I nodded, trying to reassure him that I was fine. But before Deku could respond, Bakugo scoffed, "Stupid shadow bitch, you could have gotten hurt." He looked away, trying to act tough, but I could see the concern lurking behind his eyes. Ochaco and Mina rushed over, hugging me tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay, Vesper!" they chimed in unison. Kirishima and Kaminari joined in, wrapping their arms around me in a tight group hug. I felt a surge of gratitude towards my friends, who were all so worried about my well-being. Just as we were all getting lost in the moment, a suave voice cut through the commotion. "Hey, you okay? Your name's Vesper, correct?" I turned to see Hawks, the Number 3 hero, standing before me with a warm smile. I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed from the events that had transpired. Hawks' eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Be careful next time, okay? I'm sure you'll get stronger, so never lose hope." His words were like a balm to my frazzled nerves, and I couldn't help but blush a bit at his kind concern. Hawks noticed my blush and chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't worry, I'm not trying to flirt or anything," he said with a laugh. "I just want to make sure you're doing okay." As Hawks walked away, Deku's arms around me tightened. "I'm not letting you out of my sight again," he whispered, his voice low and determined. I smiled, feeling grateful for my friends and the heroes who were looking out for me. But Shigaraki's ominous warning still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that tomorrow would bring a new wave of challenges.