The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the light streaming through the window. It wasn't as soft as the moonlight from the night before; it was brighter, sharper, signaling the start of a new day.

I blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness, and shifted slightly in bed. My body protested immediately, a sharp ache shooting through my ribs, my arms, and even my legs. Every muscle felt like it had been worked to its absolute limit—and then some.

Still, I was alive. And that was enough to make me smile.

Turning my head slightly, I looked out the window. The hospital grounds were peaceful, with a few birds flitting from branch to branch. It was strange, really. Everything felt so normal out there, but inside, my body reminded me of the chaos I'd endured.

I rested my head back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling and waiting. It didn't take long before a soft knock came at the door. The nurse stepped in, her expression professional but kind.

"Good morning, Midoriya-kun," she greeted, walking over to my bedside. "How are you feeling?"

I offered a small smile. "Sore... but I'm okay."

She nodded, pulling a clipboard from the end of the bed. "That's to be expected. Let me check your vitals, and then I'll call the doctor to come see you. Recovery Girl's treatment helped a lot, but you went through quite the ordeal."

I winced slightly as she began her checks, her hands moving efficiently as she recorded my heart rate, blood pressure, and other stats.

"Your body's been through the wringer," she murmured, almost to herself. "But you're stable. That's good."

She finished up, gave me a reassuring pat on the arm, and left the room to fetch the doctor. I stared out the window again, watching the sunlight dance on the leaves.

A few minutes later, the door opened again, and this time, it wasn't just the nurse. A middle-aged man in a white coat stepped in, holding a tablet and giving me a warm smile.

"Midoriya Izuku," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Good morning. I'm Dr. Okada. How are you feeling?"

"Still sore," I admitted, trying to sit up a bit straighter. "But... I think I'm okay."

He chuckled lightly, walking over to the bed and pulling up a chair. "Well, let me be the judge of that." He began reviewing the tablet in his hand, scanning what I assumed were my medical records.

"You gave us quite the scare, young man," he said after a moment. "Do you remember much of what happened?"

I nodded slowly. "Bits and pieces... I remember the fight, and... I remember not wanting to stop."

Dr. Okada exchanged a look with the nurse, who had returned to the room. He sighed and placed the tablet down.

"Midoriya-kun, your injuries were severe. Honestly, it's remarkable you were able to keep moving, let alone fight as you did."

I frowned slightly. "How bad was it?"

He leaned forward, his tone growing more serious. "You suffered multiple fractures—your ribs, your left arm, and your right ankle, specifically. Severe bruising to your chest and back. A dislocated shoulder, internal bleeding, and significant muscle strain throughout your body. By all accounts, you shouldn't have been able to stand, much less breathe without difficulty. Your lungs were under immense pressure."

I swallowed hard, my hand unconsciously gripping the blanket. "But... I managed."

"Yes, and that's what's so astonishing," Dr. Okada said, his voice tinged with both admiration and concern. "Recovery Girl's treatment helped repair much of the immediate damage, but even she was surprised you held on as long as you did. She mentioned that your sheer willpower must have played a significant role."

The nurse nodded in agreement. "You pushed yourself far beyond what anyone should, Midoriya-kun. It's both incredible and... well, worrying."

I looked down at my hands, still wrapped in light bandages. "I didn't have a choice," I said quietly. "If I hadn't kept going, more people could've been hurt. Aizawa-sensei... my classmates... they needed me."

Dr. Okada's expression softened. "And that's commendable, truly. But you must understand, pushing your body to that extent comes with risks. You're young, but you're not invincible. There's only so much your body can take."

I nodded, though a part of me couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. I had survived. I had fought. And I had won.

The doctor continued, his tone gentler now. "For the next few weeks, you'll need to focus on recovery. No intense physical activity, no training. Your body needs time to heal properly."

I bit my lip but nodded again. "I understand."

"Good," he said, standing up. "We'll monitor you for a few more days to make sure there are no complications. After that, you'll be discharged, but you'll need to follow up with Recovery Girl for further check-ups."

As he turned to leave, he paused and glanced back at me. "And Midoriya-kun... you're an exceptional young man. Don't ever lose that determination, but learn to temper it with caution. Heroes need to know their limits, too."

I gave him a small smile. "I'll try."

With that, the doctor left the room, leaving me alone once more. I leaned back against the pillows, staring out the window again. My injuries were worse than I had realized, but they didn't change how I felt about what had happened.

I had done what I needed to do.

And I would do it again if it meant protecting the people I cared about.