The sting of unshed tears blurred the familiar path to Diamond's house. Momo… the image of her lips locked with another guy flashed behind my eyelids, each repetition twisting the knife deeper. I thought I had finally found something real, something solid after waking up in this world as Izuku's older brother, Anos. I was Superman, for God's sake, the Man of Steel, and now I was reduced to this – a heartbroken mess.
The issue wasn't me…or so I thought. I scrubbed at my face, trying in vain to erase the watery tracks that betrayed my anguish. This wasn't how Superman was supposed to feel.
Kenji Kaminari [1]opened the door, his face etched with exhaustion. He looked like he'd been wrestling a tidal wave of paperwork all night. The fluorescent light of the hallway glinted off the yellow lightning bolt streak in his black hair. I quickly wiped away the remaining tears, but his sharp eyes missed nothing. He grabbed my hand, pulling me inside.
"Anos, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
The dam broke. I collapsed onto the nearest chair, sobs wracking my body. "Momo... she cheated on me..." The words tasted like ash in my mouth, a bitter testament to my shattered hopes.
Kenji's eyes darkened, and Diana, appearing from the kitchen, offered a sad smile and a cup of steaming tea. "Oh, Anos honey, what happened?" she whispered, her blue eyes filled with empathy.
Kenji wrapped his arm around Diana, trying to soothe his rising anger. I appreciated the gesture, the silent support they offered, but nothing could truly quell the burning ache in my chest.
"Diamond should be awake if you want to see her," Diana suggested gently, offering a small, reassuring smile.
I nodded, grateful for the familiar comfort of Diamond's presence. I left Kenji and Diana in the living room and headed towards Diamond's room, steeling myself for the explanation I was about to give.
A quick knock, and Diamond swung the door open, her dark eyes widening in shock when she saw my tear-streaked face. She pulled me inside without a word, closing the door firmly behind us.
I felt so… worthless. So utterly depleted. To think, I thought I had found happiness again, only for it to be ripped away.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice soft and laced with concern.
"She cheated on me..." I mumbled, the words barely audible.
Diamond's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, a protective fury surfacing before quickly dissolving into a look of understanding. "I'm so sorry, Anos," she said, her hand finding mine. "If it makes you feel any better… me and Ryan broke up a few weeks ago. We both decided we were better as friends anyway. It got… weird, you know?" She offered a weak smile.
I looked up, surprised. "Sorry…" I mumbled again, feeling a prickle of guilt for being so consumed by my own problems.
"Don't be," she said, squeezing my hand. "It's fine, really. It wasn't working, and we both knew it."
We talked for hours, the weight of my heartbreak slowly easing under the warmth of Diamond's companionship. We watched mindless movies, her presence a steady anchor in the storm raging within me. She told jokes, made silly faces, anything to distract me from the agonizing truth.
After a while, Denki peeked his head in, his face etched with concern. He must have overheard the news. "Anos, bro, I am so, so sorry! Momo was so wrong for that!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine sympathy.
"It's fine…" I started, forcing a weak smile. "Diamond helped me forget some…"
Denki's expression shifted, a mix of guilt and something else, something hidden. "What's wrong?" Diamond asked, sensing his hesitation.
He mumbled, "I know the guy…"
The air in the room thickened, the gentle camaraderie abruptly replaced by a heavy silence. "What...?" I whispered, my voice barely a breath.
"He is in my class. He just transferred… International student. From Greece. All the girls threw themselves at him the first day he arrived...it happened days after you left for that mission a few months ago."
My world shattered anew, each word a fresh blow. Months ago? While I was risking my life, trying to protect people?
"I am so sorry…" Denki bowed his head, shame radiating from him.
"Don't be," I managed to say, although the words felt hollow. "Thanks for telling me…"
After Denki left, Diamond pulled me into a hug, her arms a familiar and comforting presence. We ended up falling asleep on her floor, the exhaustion of the day finally claiming us.
[1] Had to bring him back after a longgg time lol