You groaned as you shifted, trying to find a comfortable spot on the bed. The weight of exhaustion settled over you, and your body screamed in protest after the intense battle with All For One and nearly being torn apart by Shigaraki's quirk. The dull throb in your neck from his grip was a constant reminder of how close you came to being crushed under his power. You had expected the usual searing pain, but what you didn't expect was the surreal sense of being completely drained, like your very essence had been siphoned away.

The room was too quiet for your liking. The soft beeping of machines and the occasional rustling from the hall only highlighted the stillness around you. You had never been one for silence, but in that moment, you realized how it had settled over the room like a heavy blanket, pressing on your chest.

Aizawa's steady breathing beside you, his head resting against the closet door, told you he was completely out cold. The man had barely left your side since you were brought here, which you appreciated—though it did make you feel a little bad for him. Knowing how protective he was, you were sure he hadn't slept for more than a few hours at a time since you were admitted.

Then there was All Might, who, in his shrunken form, was sitting across the room talking to Recovery Girl. His usual cheerful energy was muted now, but there was still a warmth to his smile whenever he looked your way. You hadn't missed the way he'd opened up to you more since you saved him from Shigaraki's attack. The towering Symbol of Peace, now diminished and human-sized, seemed to have developed an almost fatherly affection for you. It was... strange, but comforting, in a way.

You blinked groggily at the two of them. You didn't mean to, but your green eyes fluttered open just a little too much and caught them in the act. When you tried to turn, pain lanced through your neck, and you winced, eyes squinting shut.

"Ugh," you muttered under your breath, feeling like a fragile little thing for the first time in ages. You wanted to laugh at yourself, but it was more of a scoff. This wasn't how things were supposed to be.

Both of them whipped around at the sound of your voice. All Might's eyes widened with relief as if you were the last person he expected to be alive after that encounter. His brows furrowed in concern, but the tension in his posture melted away when he saw you attempting to move.

"Young Onyx!" he exclaimed, his voice high-pitched and full of surprise. You blinked up at him, your lips curling into a small smile despite the aches that pulsed through your body. It was always amusing how All Might's voice would spike in volume and pitch when he was concerned—though you could never really take him seriously when he sounded like that.

Aizawa stirred in his sleep, and you could hear the soft shuffle of his body moving before he slowly cracked his eyes open. He blinked at you, a little groggy, but his gaze softened when he saw you were awake.

"You're awake?" His voice was hoarse, and he rubbed his eyes as if waking from a deep slumber. Despite how ragged he looked, the relief was clear in his posture. Aizawa was never one to show much emotion, but you could read it in the way he avoided meeting your eyes, as if afraid you might break again under his gaze.

"Yeah, yeah... apparently," you said with a wince, trying to sit up but only managing to prop yourself up on your elbows.

Recovery Girl, who had been observing quietly from the corner, stepped forward then, shaking her head with a sigh. "I told you, young lady, take it easy. You're not invincible, no matter how many times you save the day."

You gave her a wry grin, though you could feel the exhaustion already creeping back in. "Could've fooled me," you quipped, but the effort was more of a soft, raspy mumble than anything clever. Your body just wasn't cooperating.

"Keep up with the jokes, young Onyx," All Might said with a smile, though his tone was tinged with concern. "You'll get better faster that way, right?"

You sighed, your eyes falling back on Aizawa, who was now fully awake and watching you carefully. "What's the damage, sensei?" you asked, your voice still rough from the battle.

Aizawa's eyes softened, but he didn't say anything for a moment. His gaze flickered to All Might, who gave a small nod of approval before speaking up.

"Well, you've been through a lot," All Might said gently, scratching the back of his neck. "You're lucky to be alive, honestly. All For One and Shigaraki did a number on you. The fight drained more out of you than we initially thought." He looked like he was about to say more, but he caught himself, rubbing his mouth nervously. "But you pulled through, and that's what matters."

Aizawa finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual, but still firm. "You're going to need rest, Onyx. You're not going anywhere until you've healed. And don't even think about trying to escape early. I'll make sure of it."

You rolled your eyes dramatically, but the smile tugging at your lips didn't quite hide the warmth you felt at their concern. "I'm not that reckless. Not anymore, anyway," you muttered, though you both knew it wasn't entirely true. Your track record with reckless decisions was... less than stellar.

"Good," Aizawa muttered back, already looking tired again, but at least this time it wasn't the exhaustion from worry. It was the kind of tiredness that came from being content for a brief moment. And you could tell he was content—though you wouldn't ever hear him admit it.

"Well, I'm glad you're back, Onyx," All Might added, smiling a little brighter now. "You really scared us for a moment there. Don't do that again, alright?"

You chuckled weakly, though it sounded more like a soft cough. "No promises."

You couldn't help but smile at the sight of all the flowers and colorful little trinkets piled on the table beside you. "Are they from my classmates?" you asked, your voice carrying a mix of surprise and affection as you looked at the cheerful assortment.

All Might nodded, a soft chuckle escaping him. "Yeah, those kids have been in and out of here so much that both Recovery Girl and I nearly had to shoo them away. They really care about you, Onyx." He took a step closer and cupped your face in his large, warm hand. The gesture felt strangely comforting—fatherly, almost.

"And so do I," he added softly, his voice steady but filled with sincerity. "Don't throw yourself into danger again, alright?"

You huffed, not entirely convinced, but the truth was you were feeling a little overwhelmed by the outpouring of care. "You're my teacher, All Might." You squeezed his hand gently, feeling a strange warmth seep through your veins. "I'll do anything to keep the ones I love safe."

Your gaze then shifted to Aizawa, who was sitting nearby, his usual unreadable expression giving way to a rare softness. His eyes met yours, and though he didn't say anything, the brief look shared between you two spoke volumes. Recovery Girl, who had been observing from the corner of the room, smiled knowingly, clearly pleased by the wholesome moment.

It was almost like a perfect little bubble of peace... until the door to the infirmary exploded open with a bang, and Bakugo stormed in, leading the charge with an array of his classmates in tow. Izuku, Kirishima, Kaminari, and several others crowded behind him, all wearing concerned expressions despite their efforts to mask them with exaggerated bravado.

Recovery Girl let out an exaggerated sigh, throwing her hands up in defeat. "That's it, I give up. Just come in and swarm my patient, why don't you?" she barked, looking ready to wave the white flag. Then, she bustled away, muttering under her breath about the chaos she'd just invited upon herself.

Bakugo, never one for subtlety, pushed through the group of students with his usual fiery presence, though this time it was clear his concern was more than just a cover for his usual attitude. His red eyes softened a fraction, a mix of worry and something else—a hint of relief, perhaps.

"You lizard bastard, how are you?" he grumbled, the words rough but his tone betraying a hint of warmth. It was clear he'd been through the wringer worrying about you, especially after you collapsed while trying to stop Shigaraki. You could practically see the weight of that anxiety in his fiery gaze.

His words were blunt, as always, but you knew better than to let his rough exterior fool you. Bakugo cared, and he had been scared. You couldn't help but appreciate how far he'd come in showing it, even if he'd never say it outright.

"I'm fine," you said, raising an eyebrow as you gave him a smirk. "Though I gotta admit, the flowers are nice, but if you really want to help, you could stop barging in on me every time I wake up."

Bakugo scowled, and for a moment, you thought he might snap back, but he just huffed. "Tch. Whatever. Just don't do that again." He crossed his arms over his chest, a faint blush creeping up his neck as he averted his gaze.

Izuku stepped forward, grinning widely despite the worry still etched in his eyes. "You really scared us, Onyx! I mean, we all knew you'd pull through, but still..." He trailed off, looking a little sheepish, but the sincerity in his voice was impossible to miss. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Kirishima clapped you on the shoulder with his usual infectious enthusiasm, his grin as big as ever. "Yeah, no kidding! You're like our fire-breathing protector, Onyx! We all owe you one. Big time!" His voice was filled with gratitude, and it was clear that despite his outward tough-guy demeanor, he really valued your role in the class.

Kaminari, ever the joker, poked his head through the crowd and offered a goofy smile. "Hey, as long as you're alive and kicking, I'll try not to get zapped by any more of your scales. You've got one hell of a recovery time," he said with a wink, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

You couldn't help but chuckle, despite still feeling the lingering soreness from the fight. "You better stay out of trouble, or I'll make sure your hair doesn't stand back up next time you mess with the power lines," you teased, making sure to meet his eyes with a grin. His nervous laugh echoed through the room.

All Might, who had been watching this whole exchange with a fond smile, finally cleared his throat. "Alright, alright, let's give the girl some space to rest. You've all had your moment of hero worship." His voice was teasing, but it had the air of someone who understood the importance of everyone letting you heal.

Bakugo shot him a glare but didn't argue. "Fine," he muttered. "But if I find out you're slacking off again, I'll—"

"You'll what, Bakugo?" you cut in with a sly smile. "You can't even catch me in my dragon form."

He growled, but a half-smile tugged at his lips. "Just get better, okay?"

As the room quieted down, and your classmates reluctantly shuffled toward the door, you felt an odd sense of peace settle over you. Despite everything, you were surrounded by people who cared, people who would stand by you no matter how many villains you had to face.

The future was still uncertain, but one thing was clear: you weren't alone in this fight. And that made all the difference.