This world was cruel. Shinsou hadn't realized having a quirk could harm his life like it did. He didn't realize people could be so cruel, either.

His one dream seemed unattainable but still he kept on living day to day until he was given a chance. A small gate, barely the size of a penny, had opened for him and he took it without hesitation.

He could be a hero.

His efforts were rewarded, all his sweat and tears paid off soon enough. He had always wanted to help people. He had always wanted to become a hero, maybe not as bold and flashy as All Might, but one with the same heart and goals to win. Defeat the villain and save the day. Give someone something to dream about.

He had become a professional hero after graduating from Yuuei and that was all he could've asked for. It felt like the whole world was cheering him on, even his new soulmate.

He had felt inadequate before, the lack of soul mark mocking his existence. "You'll never become a hero if nobody is willing to love you" it seemed to say. It killed part his spirit but he kept moving. The brick wall placed firmly in front of him started to feel like nothing.

Then, as he started to train and enter his last year at Yuuei, he was gifted with the ultimate sign of acceptance: a soul mark. A simple blue flower on the side of his neck indicated to him that he was a hero, that he was complete.

Something so precious and sentimental was kept close to his heart and tucked away underneath his mask. Was it wrong of him to selfishly keep it away from prying eyes? To have it be his alone, even from the eyes of his soulmate? Every time he covered it up to go to work he felt like he was doing the right thing. Something seemed to whisper into his ear that it was the right thing to do, that it was okay. Maybe it was his soulmate, maybe he was just hearing things, but he got his answer.

At some point he felt like if he showed it to someone it would be like stripping himself down and exposing his whole body and mind, hence the high-collared clothing. When had it become so intimate? When had it become so very his?

It was a blaring weakness that even he didn't know what to do with. He didn't want to partake in the tiring task of searching for his soulmate. You had to be hyperaware and never dulling for a moment, something Shinso felt was too much work.

Let them come to him, he thought.

Though it didn't really matter either way. He had already become a hero. There was nothing else he could wish for.

===

Shinsou didn't know how long he was out, but he wasn't unconscious for too long. Sounds buzzing throughout the room he was in along with a throbbing pain throughout his body forced him awake and he slowly became aware of his current situation.

He had just got done defeating a villain with his squad and had taken a hit right at the tail end of the battle. After that is was all a blur but judging by how he was currently lying in a hospital bed he would say everything went well, or at least if they didn't capture the villain everyone in his squad was okay.

He sat up and instantly Ojiro, who he hadn't realized was in the room, got up and came over to his side."Don't get up so fast, Shinsou!" he rushed, lying Shinsou back down and instead using one of the buttons at the end of the bed to push him upwards.

"What happened?" Shinsou questioned."Did we defeat the villain?"

"Yeah, don't worry," Ojiro smiled."They're with the police in handcuffs."

Shinso let out a long sigh he didn't know he was holding."Good."

Ojiro and he had a rocky start, with Shinsou controlling an unwilling Ojiro during the first sports festival, they slowly made amends and Shinso was seen more frequently with his class and all but forced to make friends with him. But he wouldn't deny it, Ojiro's normalcy was refreshing. Away from the craziness of his life, school, and constant struggles a little normal could help.

And Ojiro didn't seem to mind Shinsou's company, though he could tell he was always pissed that Shinsou was a higher rank than him. That was the sad part about being normal, he would probably never become a Pro-Hero and simply remain a sidekick the rest of his life. It was the sad truth about life as a hero.

"Anyways, Shinsou, I would be careful once you leave this place," Ojiro warned, confusing him.

"Why? What happened?" he asked, growing warier by the minute.

Ojiro didn't respond, pulling out his phone and showing whatever was on the screen to him. Shinsou looked at it, eyes slowly widening in horror as he snatched Ojiro's phone away from him, looking at it closer not able to believe what he was seeing.

"Oh god..." he mumbled, scrolling through the various articles, all with one word and one thought jarring through his mind.

His soul mark had been seen.

"All I did was search your name," Ojiro started, taking the phone away from Shinsou's disbelieving fingers."People are already starting to claim to be your soulmate, drawing on fake marks. The media is having a field day." Ojiro took a seat next to Shinsou."I passed a couple news vans just getting in here. They've been demanding to get a word with you but the staff, thankfully, wont let them inside."

Shinsou could only sigh, hand going to rub harshly against his neck.

"I can get you a disguise and get you out of here but they're probably going to be showing up outside the agency and following you around until they get the full story they want."

"This sucks," Shinsou groaned, his hate for large crowds and simply nosy people in general showing.

Ojiro laughed."That's just what being a hero entails."

There was a knock on the door and the pair froze, both looking to the door."Come in," Shinsou said hesitantly.

The door quickly opened and in stepped one of the nurses."Good morning, Shinsou, it's good to see you awake. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Great," she cheered."Well, there is someone here to see you, he said it was urgent."

Shinso's eyes narrowed."If it's the police or some journalist tell them I don't want to see them right now."

"Ah, he said he's a classmate," she said back, hesitating with her next words."Should I still send him back?"

A classmate? As in Yuuei?

"No, it's alright. Send them in."

"Okay." She bowed back, exiting the room.

"Well, I'm going to get going now," Ojiro started, standing up and stretching out all five limbs."I left you some clothes so good luck."

"Yeah, thank you, Ojiro," Shinsou responded.

"No problem."