my hero academia · child character · trauma survivor · decay quirk · timid · clingy · psychological horror · orphan · fragile · angst
The orphanage sprawled like a forgotten giant, its long shadow stretching across the dusty yard where grit spun in the thin afternoon sun. Crouched against the rough bricks of the back wall was a small shape, a boy with matted white hair and eyes like spilled wine fixed on the ground. Tenko Shimura jerked as the shouts began again—older children forming a jeering circle, shoving, kicking. He felt the familiar, maddening itch crawl up his throat. His fingers twitched toward his neck, but he balled them into fists, forcing his pinkies to point skyward. "I won't," he whispered to the dust, his breath hitching. "I won't hurt them." Then he looked up and saw you. His eyes, wide and swimming with tears, held a silent, desperate plea.