Chapter Text
The U.A. dorms had their usual chaotic energy that night, but Tenya Iida barely noticed. From downstairs came the distant bursts of laughter and argument between Mina and Kaminari over a video game, the clatter of dishes as Shoji tried to maintain order, and the occasional muttered complaint from Bakugo about someone touching “his stuff.” Even Jiro’s soft music wafted upstairs, grounding the chaos with a sense of rhythm.
Tenya paused in the hallway, his hands tightly gripping the strap of his bag. Tonight was different. He felt raw, vulnerable, almost exposed in a way he hadn’t since… well, since the worst moments of his spiral. The thought of being alone in his room, curled up with the weight of guilt and fear pressing down, made him hesitate.
A familiar voice broke through his spiraling thoughts.
“Hey, Tenya,” Hanta Sero called from behind, his usual teasing tone softer than usual. “You okay?”
Tenya stiffened. “I am… fine,” he replied, though the words came out flat, too clipped, too rehearsed.
Sero approached with a calm confidence, hands casually in his pockets. “Yeah? You sound about as ‘fine’ as a robot that’s trying to cry.”
Tenya’s chest tightened. How could Sero always know? It was impossible to hide things from him, impossible to keep even small cracks secret. And yet, here he was, steady, patient.
“I… I am simply… tired,” Tenya murmured, adjusting the strap of his bag. “Merely fatigued from training.”
Sero didn’t buy it. “C’mon, Tenya. You don’t have to lie to me. I can tell when you’re carrying too much.”
A small sigh escaped Tenya. The guard he kept up for everyone else—the teacher, his classmates, even his own family—slipped a little. “I… I do not want to burden anyone,” he admitted, voice wavering.
“You’re not a burden,” Sero said firmly. “You’ve got me. You’ve got me, Tenya. And that’s enough.”
The Common Room
Despite the heavy weight pressing at Tenya’s chest, Sero convinced him to come downstairs. As they entered the common room, the usual chaos hit. Kaminari was sprawled across the floor, face smeared with chocolate from the brownies Sato had baked, and Mina was loudly instructing him on “the proper way to hold a controller.”
“Finally!” Kaminari shouted as he saw Tenya. “We need a ref for our epic showdown! You in, Iida?”
Tenya blinked, unprepared for the energy around him. Sero stayed close, an anchor beside him. “I am… observing,” Tenya corrected politely, letting the chaos wash over him like a storm he was only partially weathering.
Kirishima nudged Sero. “You’ve got a good grip on him tonight, huh? He’s… different.”
“Yeah,” Sero said, eyes on Tenya. “Better than different. He’s… more open. More himself.”
Meanwhile, Bakugo snatched a plate from Kaminari, grumbling about “idiots who can’t even cook,” and Shoji passed out drinks like a quiet, steady river, grounding the room. Jiro shot a sideways glance at Tenya, her eyebrow raised but her expression neutral. “He’s smiling. That’s new.”
Even Tenya noticed the subtle warmth creeping into him. Just having Sero nearby made the noise and chaos feel less overwhelming, more manageable.
Rooftop Moments
Later, Tenya found himself standing on the rooftop, staring out at the city lights. He wasn’t supposed to be there alone—not with his thoughts this heavy—but Sero arrived as if on instinct, leaning against the railing with a casual, effortless grace.
“You’re avoiding the room again,” Sero said softly.
Tenya’s voice was quiet. “I… needed air. Needed… perspective.”
Sero stepped closer. “Perspective, huh? Well, Tenya, here’s some: You’re not alone. You’ve got me.”
The words hit Tenya harder than he expected. His hands trembled slightly, and he instinctively reached out, brushing against Sero’s arm. The touch wasn’t grand or dramatic, just a simple connection—but it made his chest ache with relief and recognition.
“I… I’m not sure how to be…” Tenya’s voice faltered. “I don’t know how to… let someone in.”
Sero smiled softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from Tenya’s forehead. “You start by trusting me. You start by letting me see you, all of you.”
Tenya swallowed, his hands shaking as he reached out fully, gripping Sero’s hand. “I… I trust you,” he whispered.
Sero’s grip tightened gently. “Then don’t be afraid, Tenya. Not with me.”
And then it happened. Tentatively, hesitantly, Tenya leaned forward. Sero met him halfway, and their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. Not loud, not showy. Just quiet, intimate, a promise that neither of them needed to say aloud: You’re not alone. I’ve got you.
The city lights shimmered behind them, the wind tousling their hair. It was a small moment in a world full of chaos, but for Tenya, it felt infinite.
After the Kiss
They pulled apart slightly, foreheads resting together, breathing uneven but steady. Tenya’s hands remained intertwined with Sero’s, finding comfort in the warmth of contact.
“I… I can face tomorrow,” Tenya whispered, a small smile finally breaking through.
Sero grinned softly. “Then we face it together, Tenya.”
Just then, the sound of footsteps on the rooftop alerted them. Mina and Kirishima appeared, having apparently wandered up for a late-night snack raid. “Whoa, lovebirds?” Mina teased, grinning. “Didn’t know this was a thing now!”
Tenya stiffened, face heating red as Sero chuckled beside him. “It’s… nothing,” Tenya murmured.
Kirishima nudged him. “Hey, don’t hide it. If it makes you happy, we’re happy for you.”
Even amidst teasing, Tenya felt a sense of belonging he hadn’t realized he’d been craving. The small gestures of his classmates—Bakugo’s grumbled approval, Shoji’s quiet smile, Kaminari’s enthusiastic thumbs-up—created a buffer around him, a soft layer of protection and normalcy.
Sero leaned down and whispered, “Ready to head back?”
Tenya nodded, still holding Sero’s hand. “Yes. Together.”
As they walked back toward the dorm, Tenya realized something important: he wasn’t just surviving anymore. He was learning to live, to trust, to let others in—including himself. And with Sero by his side, he felt stronger than he had in weeks, ready to face the chaos of Class 1-A, the dorm, and the future.
For the first time, Tenya Iida felt… hope.