Shoto's POV:

The day had been going perfectly so far, and I was doing my best to make sure it stayed that way. Izuku was all smiles, and seeing him like this made my heart feel light. After everything he'd been through with the kids.... I knew that there was more to it than just missing kids but I never bothered to asked. It was not my position to ask. He would tell me about everything eventually after all.Besides after everything we'd both been through in school, he deserved this day of fun, and I was determined to give it to him.

We'd just left the cotton candy stall, Izuku happily munching on the pink fluff as we wandered through the park, the sounds of laughter and music filling the air. But as we strolled from one attraction to another, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

The hairs on the back of my neck had been standing up for a while now, a subtle sense of unease prickling at the edges of my awareness. I'd been trained to trust my instincts, and they were screaming at me that we weren't alone. But I didn't want to ruin the day for Izuku, not when he was finally starting to relax.

So I kept my mouth shut, forcing myself to smile and enjoy the moment, even as my eyes scanned the crowd for anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't easy to keep my guard up while also trying to act normal, but for Izuku's sake, I'd do it.

He was in the middle of telling me about a funny story he'd heard from someone in his class when he suddenly paused, looking around with a slight frown on his face.

Izuku: Hey, Sho... do you ever get that feeling like you're being watched?

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I had to resist the urge to glance around too quickly. I could feel the tension in my shoulders increase, but I forced myself to stay calm. The last thing I wanted was to freak him out.

Me: It's just a busy park, Izu. Lots of people around, that's all. Nothing to worry about.

Izuku looked at me, his eyes searching mine as if he was trying to decide whether to believe me or not.... I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile, even though my mind was racing.

Please, just let him buy it. 

I don't want to ruin this for him.

Finally, he nodded, the frown easing from his face as he took another bite of his cotton candy. 

Izuku: Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just being paranoid.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and reached out to take his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

Me: You've been through a lot lately. It's normal to feel a little on edge. But I promise, everything's fine.

Everything's fine as long as I'm here to make sure of it.

He smiled at me, and I felt that familiar warmth bloom in my chest again. I loved this boy so much, more than I ever thought I could love anyone. Just being near him made me feel like I could take on anything the world threw at us.

But at the same time, that love came with a fierce protectiveness. I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him, especially not today. This was supposed to be a perfect day, and I wasn't going to let anything ruin it.

As we continued walking, I made a mental note to stay even more vigilant. I might have brushed off Izuku's concerns, but that didn't mean I was going to let my guard down. Whoever—or whatever—was out there, I'd deal with it quietly, without him ever knowing.

He's been through enough. 

Today is about us, about making happy memories together, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.

Izuku was back to his usual self, excitedly pointing out different rides he wanted to try, and I made sure to keep the conversation going, asking him questions and laughing at his jokes. He was my world, and I'd do anything to protect him, even if it meant pretending nothing was wrong.

But as we headed towards the next ride, the feeling of being watched lingered in the back of my mind more than before, as if there was this invisible threat coming closer and closer. Red flags started to appear in my mind and I was starting to feel more than uneasy. Still I tried to stay calm and optimistic. 

He deserved this day and all my love.

No matter what, I'll keep him safe. 

He's mine, my future, and nothing's going to take him away from me.