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The streets of Musutafu were eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos that often filled the air. Natsuo Todoroki leaned against a lamppost, the glow illuminating his troubled expression. His heart ached from the weight of his thoughts, thoughts that often drifted to the villain known as Shigaraki Tomura. The more he tried to distance himself from those feelings, the more they consumed him.
He remembered the night they had met—a chance encounter that had spiraled into something he could hardly comprehend. Shigaraki had been vulnerable, for just a moment, and Natsuo had felt an undeniable connection. It was as if their souls were intertwined, both burdened by the weight of their respective worlds.
“Why do you keep coming back?” Shigaraki's voice broke through Natsuo's reverie, his tone laced with irritation. He emerged from the shadows, his presence both intimidating and strangely comforting.
Natsuo straightened, his heart racing at the sight of him. “Because I’m tired of seeing you suffer alone,” he replied, determination lacing his voice. “You don’t have to face this by yourself.”
Shigaraki's eyes narrowed, skepticism etched across his features. “You think you can help me? I’m beyond saving”
“Maybe,” Natsuo said, stepping closer, “but that doesn’t mean I won’t try. We’re both broken in our own ways. We could help each other.”
For a moment, silence hung between them, thick with unspoken emotions. Shigaraki’s hardened facade wavered as he processed Natsuo’s words. “You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he warned, though his voice lacked its usual bite.
“I know enough,” Natsuo insisted. “I know what it’s like to feel lost and alone. I know what it’s like to be overshadowed by expectations. We’re not so different, you and I.”
A flicker of something—hope, perhaps—crossed Shigaraki’s face, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. “You really think you can change me?”
“Not change you,” Natsuo corrected, “but understand you. I want to be there for you, to help you find your way back from the darkness.”
Shigaraki scoffed, but there was a softness to his eyes that hadn’t been there before. “Why do you care so much?”
“Because I see you,” Natsuo said earnestly. “Not just the villain you’ve become, but the person you were before. The person who deserves a chance at happiness.”
With a deep breath, Shigaraki turned his gaze away, the internal struggle evident in his posture. “Happiness is a lie,” he muttered, almost to himself. “It’s just an illusion for people like you.”
Natsuo reached out, placing a gentle hand on Shigaraki’s shoulder. “Maybe it’s time to change the narrative. Let’s find a way to make our own happiness, even if it feels impossible right now.”
Shigaraki flinched at the contact, but there was no anger behind it—only confusion. Slowly, he turned to face Natsuo, their eyes locking in a moment of vulnerability. “You’re insane,” he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“Maybe,” Natsuo chuckled softly, “but I’d rather be insane than let you face this alone.”
In that moment, the tension that had once defined their relationship began to dissolve, replaced by a burgeoning warmth. Shigaraki’s heart raced as he felt the walls he had built around himself start to crack.
“Fine,” he relented, his voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe you can stay for a while. But don’t expect me to change overnight.”
Natsuo smiled brightly, relief flooding through him. “I wouldn’t dream of it. We’ll take it one day at a time.”
As the rain began to fall softly around them, Natsuo and Shigaraki stood together, two lost souls finding solace in each other’s company. The storm outside mirrored the turmoil within them, but for the first time, they felt a flicker of hope—a chance to rebuild, to heal, and maybe, just maybe, to find a path toward happiness together.