𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧' |𝐭.𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐢

34- Truth and Betrayal

Eight years ago.

A training facility late at night.

The sky outside is dark and heavy with summer heat. Inside, fluorescent lights hum overhead. You're alone, panting, bruised, blood still dried at your temple after getting rag dolled during a sparring match. You're going through drills again and again, even though everyone else has gone home. The ache in your limbs is a familiar kind of companion. Then you hear the wingbeats. Soft. Measured.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but watching you keep failing the same move over and over is kind of depressing."

You turn sharply. Observing the winged hero leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, that easy, cocky smile painted on like always. Perfect posture. Perfect hair. Perfect everything. It makes your blood rise.

"Didn't ask for an audience, bird boy." You said flat out.

Keigo shrugged, stepping into the room, "Didn't ask for a lecture from Endeavor either, but life's full of disappointments."

You clenched your jaw. There it is again—Endeavor. The reason Keigo's looking at you like that. The reason he hates you. Because out of nowhere, the number two hero at the time picked you—some no-name rookie—to sponsor. Not him. Not the rising star with the polished image. You.

"If you've got something to say, just spit it out." You muttered.

Keigo's voice clipped. "Fine. You don't belong here. And everyone knows it."

You laughed, bitter and sharp.

"I know I don't but what about you? With that fake-ass smile and corporate charm? At least I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not to get a seat at the table."

That landed. His jaw twitched. The smile faltered, just for a second. Enough for you to see the crack in it.

"You think you're better than me because Endeavor took pity on you?" He said coldly.

"He didn't take pity. He saw someone who doesn't flinch when things get ugly. You wouldn't last five seconds without your PR team cleaning up after you."

Silence. It hanged in the air like a blade. You're both breathing hard, but for different reasons. And then—unexpectedly—Keigo's expression shifted. The mask slipped. Just a little.

"You don't know anything about me."

You stared at him. There was something behind his eyes. Something tired. Not angry—just worn. Like the weight of pretending is starting to press cracks into his ribs. And you realize... he's right. You don't know him. But maybe he doesn't either.

"No. I don't. But you don't know me either. So stop acting like you do."

"You're an orphan who doesn't understand their own quirk and is needs to always have Aizawa talking to Endeavor for you. You never speak up, I'm surprised you even mustered enough words today to me." Hawks scoffed, "You don't even come to any functions, you're always in your room alone, makes sense why you don't have any friends."

"This is also why I hate training, eating or doing anything with you, I've been watching you train for the past hour and you always think too much. You wait, you overanalyze, and then the moment's gone. You want to get stronger? Then stop hiding in your own damn head."

You stiffened. His tone cut more than his words. He's not wrong, but it's how he says it. Like he's tired of saying it. Like he's already given up on the idea of you changing.