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Chapter Text

“Alright, keep marching straight ahead! The Bakugou Adventure Team is nearing its destination!” 

Leading the charge is none other than Katsuki, the most fearless and headstrong kid in the neighborhood. He's never shy about saying whatever what's on his mind, and that, coupled with his natural take-charge attitude, makes countless other kids gravitate towards him. 

One of those kids, of course, is you.  

It hasn't been long since you’ve moved into the neighborhood, but Katsuki has such a strong presence that you found out about him and his crew almost immediately. They get up to all sorts of fun stuff, and being new to this part of the city, you have to admit that it feels nice to have made friends so quickly.  

At first, Katsuki was a bit resistant to you joining his circle. He insisted that there was a strict no girl policy, but it didn't take very long for him to give in. Since then, you’ve gotten into the habit of hanging out with him and the rest of his friends pretty much constantly. 

Right now, you are all trudging through the forest, on a very important quest to retrieve a powerful weapon.  

“It’s close,” Katsuki says, grinning ear-to-ear. “I can feel that the sword is hidden somewhere nearby. But we have to be careful! There are probably enemies waiting to ambush us. I hope you’re all ready to put up a fight.”  

Katsuki’s closest friend, and also his most devoted follower, is a freckled boy named Izuku, who nods vigorously in agreement.

“W-We’re ready!” Izuku insists, voice trembling a bit. “We’ve got Kacchan on our side, after all. There’s no way we can lose. You think so too... right, [Name]?”  

Now it's your turn to respond with a vigorous nod.  

“If anyone dares to mess with us, we’ll kick all their butts!” you proudly exclaim, punching your little fist in the air.  

“That’s right,” Katsuki beams back. “Don’t do anything crazy, though. You’re not as strong as I am, so if it comes down to it, I’ll protect you.”  

You can't help but blush. “Alright. Thank you, Katsuki.”  

Onwards you march, clearing more and more of the forest. Most four-year-olds probably wouldn’t feel so comfortable in such a place, but Katsuki has made it clear that nothing scares him. Even mysterious areas hidden by countless trees and bushes hardly even faze him.  

True to his word, Katsuki eventually lets out a gasp. “There it is!” he cries out, pointing towards the ground ahead. “The sword is right there!” 

Since you are only children, your imaginations play a big role in making this quest seem a lot more grandiose than it actually is. In truth, the “sword” is really just a massive stick, but being out here without any parental supervision has already gotten to your heads and makes you all feel as though you are brave, valiant adventurers. Thus, you have no qualms whatsoever about pretending that the stick is the most impressive sword you’ve ever laid eyes on.  

“Enemies!” you exclaim, referring of course to the little birds that are pecking at the ground, right next to where the stick is. “They’re trying to keep us from getting our hands on the sword!”  

Katsuki balls up his fists. “Well, they can try all they want, but they won’t stop us. Bakugou Adventure Team, it’s time! Fall into the attack formation we planned out before! Come on, let’s get them!”  

There are five of you in total, and upon Katsuki’s signal, you all sprint straight at the birds while making battle cries, causing them to scatter. It only takes a few seconds to clear the area, and once Katsuki has ascertained that they're all gone, he picks up the stick and lifts it above his head with a victorious grin.

“Heh,” he chuckles. “That was easy as pie. They never stood a chance. Good job, team. Well, I obviously fought off the most enemies, but still.”  

“Katsuki, you’re so cool,” you gush. “Thanks to you, we’re the strongest adventure team ever!”  

His smirk seems impossible to contain. “Duh! You guys won’t ever need to worry about anything so long as I’m around. If anyone ever tries to mess with you, just let me know, and I’ll set ‘em straight.”  

“Kacchan really is awesome,” Izuku can't help but marvel. His green eyes are glossy and wide, full of admiration. Well, pretty much everyone looks up to Katsuki, so you definitely understand where he's coming from.  

Feeling emboldened by your victory against those vicious enemies, you walk over to Katsuki, then promptly kiss him on the cheek.  

“Thank you for protecting all of us,” you say shyly.  

What follows is that Katsuki’s cheeks break out into the most violent shade of crimson you’ve ever seen. It even gives his deep red eyes a run for their money.

He jolts back almost immediately, letting out a strangled little yelp. 

“W-What was that for?!” he stammers.

“For protecting us,” you say again, suddenly feeling quite embarrassed. “Um... I’m sorry. I just really wanted to thank you for being such an awesome leader. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Are you mad now...?”  

Katsuki gulps. “I-I’m not mad. You just surprised me, jeez.”  

Two of the other neighborhood kids are already oohing and awing, going on about how Katsuki had cooties now. Of course, he's quick to shut them up, but that doesn't make his blush disappear any faster. Izuku is the quietest of the bunch, mostly because he appears to be incredibly embarrassed based on what he just witnessed. He's even covering his eyes with his hands, peering out from between his fingers.  

Your face feels quite hot after what you’ve just done, but as it just so happens, your embarrassment doesn't last. 

Because something else catches your attention. 

[Welcome, player! Congratulations on unlocking your system. You have obtained your first ability, Charm. This ability allows you to charm the most recent person you’ve kissed.] 

[Use Charm on Bakugou Katsuki?] 

You furrow your brows. “Hey, guys,” you say. “What’s this weird stuff that just popped up all of a sudden?”  

You are met with nothing but looks of confusion. 

“Um... what are you talking about?” Izuku frowns. “I don’t see anything.”  

“Right there,” you insist, pointing to the screen in front of you. “There’s this screen with all kinds of writing on it.”  

Everyone shakes their heads, which makes you feel incredibly self-conscious about the whole thing. Are you really just imagining it? Katsuki likes to tease you at times, but Izuku isn't the type to play pranks on others, so if even he is saying he can't see the screen, then they're probably telling the truth.  

“I don’t know what’s going on,” you mumble, casting your head downwards. “I swear I can actually see it... I’m not crazy.” 

Katsuki stares at you for a few moments longer, eventually letting out a chuckle. “Oh! I get it. The screen you’re seeing must be some sort of alert for our new quest. So, go ahead, [Name]. Tell us what our next quest is.”  

He thinks I’m still playing around. 

While it's incredibly frustrating that no one believes you, there is still another thing you can try.  

[Use Charm on Bakugou Katsuki?] 

>>[YES] 

Nothing really happens once you make your selection, and you're starting to think that maybe you really are going crazy. 

But within a few moments, Katsuki suddenly collapses to the ground.  

“Ugh,” he groans, clutching his head. “What’s going on...? I feel dizzy all of a sudden...”  

Panicked, you drop to your knees beside him. “Katsuki!” you cry out worriedly. “Are you okay? Does something hurt?”  

His gaze is glassy and unfocused, and his cheeks are only getting redder by the second. It looks like he’s just started burning up with a violent fever. When you wrap your arm around his back to try and help him rise to his feet, he flinches, as if your touch is electric.

“I-I’m fine,” he says, but he doesn't sound all that convincing. Then again, Katsuki is the type to never want help from anyone. He's always determined to shoulder everything on his own, because of how strong he is.  

Under normal circumstances, he probably would’ve gotten quite annoyed that you were offering to help him, but he doesn't seem entirely like himself right now. 

Guilt sets in when you realized you are probably to blame for it.  

Is it because I used that charm ability on him? Is that why he’s not feeling well all of a sudden?  

You can't fully explain it, because you still don't even understand what that weird screen you’ve seen is supposed to be, but you doubt it's mere coincidence.  

Katsuki eventually shakes you off and collects his bearings, although he still looks rather unstable on his feet. You hope that whatever this is, it'll pass soon. 

Izuku leans closer to you and whispers in your ear. “Is Kacchan going to be alright? He’s not looking too good...”  

You part your lips to respond, but don't quite have the chance to form the words in time.  

Katsuki has already shoved Izuku onto the ground.  

“Get away from her,” he grits out, and something about the look in his crimson eyes deeply unsettles you.

Small tears rise to Izuku’s eyes, and he just barely manages to wipe them away before they spill over. “I-I’m sorry,” he splutters, even though he can't seem to understand what he did wrong.

Katsuki’s lips split into a grimace. He looks incredibly angry. He’s always had quite a bit of a temper, but you can't recall him ever being this upset. Completely out of nowhere, too. It doesn't make any sense.  

“Don’t get so close to [Name],” Katsuki hisses. He takes a few steps forward, clenching his fist as if he's ready to outright punch the freckled boy, but he doesn't make it very far before swaying unsteadily and falling over a second time.  

This time, he's out cold.  

“Oh my god! Katsuki just fainted!”  

Panic ensues. You are only a bunch of preschoolers, and none of you know what you're supposed to do in a situation like this. You all desperately try to shake Katsuki awake, even lightly slap his face a few times to try and jolt him back to his senses, but nothing works.

You end up having to carry him back to his parents, who promptly tuck him into bed and promise that they'll keep an eye on his condition. 

Izuku sniffles, unable to mask his concern. “I-I’ve never seen something like that happen to Kacchan before. I really hope he’s going to be okay.”  

You don't say anything. You can't. After all, you have a sneaking suspicion that the only reason this happened is because of the choice you made.  

It's strange, though. Even though you can't exactly understand how you caused Katsuki to faint, you assume that ability of yours had something to do with it. But then why did he get angry at Izuku all of a sudden? That part just doesn't make any sense.

You don't know it yet, but your Quirk has just manifested for the first time, and while most kids are thrilled to obtain their powers, yours will end up causing more harm than good.

Chapter Text

After what just happened, it feels like you have to tell your parents about it.  

“Mom, dad,” you say. “I think I just got my Quirk.”  

They react by smiling brightly. “Oh, that’s lovely, sweetie. What kind of Quirk is it?”  

Now comes the hard part. Since even you barely know how your powers work, explaining it to them will be a nearly impossible feat.  

You furrow your brows. “Um... it’s kind of weird. Out of nowhere, I started seeing this screen with different stuff written all over it. Nobody else can see it, though, so that’s why I think it might be my Quirk.”  

Out of fear of getting in trouble, you decide not to tell them about the fact that Katsuki passed out after you used your ability on him. You already feel pretty guilty about it. For the time being, you just want to figure out how your Quirk actually works.

“A screen that’s invisible to everyone but you?”  

Your parents exchange confused glances. It makes sense that they don't quite understand, because under normal circumstances, Quirks are mostly hereditary. Children most often develop powers that are similar to those of their parents, or some combination of the two. But neither of your parents has a power like yours, which is why you were so perplexed when it first popped up.  

“Interesting,” your mother hums. “And you’re sure it’s your Quirk? It’s not just some game you like to play with your friends? It’s important to know the difference between real life and pretend, honey.”  

You nod vigorously. “I’m not making it up. I promise.”  

“[Name]’s a good girl,” your father insists. “If she says she isn’t lying, then we should believe her. Quirks are mutations, at the end of the day. It might be unlikely, but it’s still possible for her to have powers different from ours. All that matters is that she finally has something to call her own. I remember being awfully excited when my Quirk first manifested. It’s a big milestone, after all.”  

“Well, I suppose that’s true. Okay, then. In that case, we should celebrate,” your mother beams. “Our little girl finally has a Quirk! What would you like to do to commemorate the occasion, hm? Do you want us to order you some yummy food or take you shopping to buy something you like?”  

Your parents love to spoil you, and since you are only a little kid, you certainly can't help but capitalize on the opportunity. 

The day your Quirk manifests, your family treats you to a delicious meal and even buys you a little gift. You end up having so much fun that you briefly forget all about your initial goal, which is to try and decipher the specifics of your Quirk. You even forget about poor Katsuki, who is bedridden after suddenly fainting.  

It isn't until later that same night that it all comes back to you, thanks to a sudden notification. 

[NEW MISSION: Successfully Charm someone.] 

You’ve just gotten into bed and are staring up at your bedroom ceiling when you see the message pop up. It showed up completely unprompted, just like last time. This has to be your Quirk. Nothing else would make any sense. Well, unless you're somehow trapped in an incredibly long dream, but that seems like a stretch. 

“Charm someone,” you mumble. You have to admit that you're a little nervous. The last time you used your ability on a person, they passed out. Will the same thing happen again? Also, why is it calling this a mission? It almost seems to imply that there's some sort of reward to be had once you complete it.  

There's really no way of knowing—other than actually trying it out, of course.  

When morning rolls around, you head straight for Katsuki’s house and knock on his front door.  

Mitsuki is the one to greet you. “Oh, hi there,” she smiles. “You’re one of Katsuki’s little friends, aren’t you? Thank you for bringing him home the other day when he wasn’t feeling well.”  

“I’m [Name],” you say, trying not to look too guilty, since you're the whole reason Katsuki fainted in the first place. “Is Katsuki feeling better today?”  

“He’s perfectly fine. I’m sure he was just tired and needed some rest. He’s eating breakfast right now, but did you want to come inside and talk to him for a bit?”

After you respond with an affirmative nod, Mitsuki ushers you into the house. It's your first time actually being here. It still hasn't been very long since you’ve moved into the neighborhood, and even though you often play with Katsuki and the rest of his friends, you have yet to visit any of their homes. 

You find Katsuki sitting at the dining table, spooning some cereal into his mouth. You're pretty much always thrilled to see him. He is one of your role models, and you can only hope that you'll one day be as confident and fearless as he is.  

So, naturally, you break out into a grin the second you spot him. 

“Katsuki!” you cry out, practically rushing over to him. “Good morning!”  

As much as you wish you could say that Katsuki responds with the same enthusiasm, that isn't at all the case.  

Instead, he visibly recoils, cheeks darkening to a deep shade of red.  

“Why are you here?” he huffs, sounding a bit annoyed. “I already told you that I was fine yesterday. You didn’t need to make such a fuss over nothing. And you even took me back to my parents? I would’ve been back to normal if you gave me a few minutes. I was just taking a little nap, that’s all.”  

Your shoulders slump. “Oh. I’m sorry. I know you’re really strong, Katsuki, but you fainted so suddenly. I was so worried I almost started crying...”

He doesn't snap at you a second time. Instead, he spoons another helping of milk and cereal into his mouth, still blushing all the way up to his ears. He appears to be avoiding eye contact, and you suspect that it has something to do with the fact that you kissed him yesterday.  

He doesn't seem to blame you for the fact that he passed out, though. No one really thinks you're responsible for that incident. They still don't even know that your Quirk has manifested.  

A part of you wants to tell him, but that would be the same thing as admitting you made him fall ill the other day. So, for the time being, you decide to keep your mouth shut. You want answers first. 

Katsuki’s glances at you out of the corner of his eye. “What do you keep staring at me for? Weirdo. You’re being kind of annoying, so here. Have this candy bar. I was saving it for later, but you can have it instead.”

“Wow, really?” you gush. “Thank you so much! You’re the best, Katsuki.”  

He can't help but crack a grin. “Yeah, yeah. Tell me something I don’t know.”  

You hang out with Katsuki for a while longer after he finishes up his breakfast. He gives you the grand tour of his room—which is decked out in a bunch of All Might merch and looks super impressive—and then you eventually take your leave.  

Before you do, though, you want to make sure of one last thing.  

“Are you sure you're feeling alright?” you insist. “It was really scary seeing you collapse like that. I just don’t want you to be hurt. I’d be really sad if that was the case.”  

Katsuki rolls his eyes. “You’re nagging me the same way my mom does. I already told you I’m fine. I can handle that much, no sweat. Didn’t I already tell you I’m going to become the Number One hero one day?”  

“Well... alright. As long as you’re okay.”  

You have a mission to charm someone, but you have no intention of using it on Katsuki again. If you end up making him faint a second time, it would seriously weigh on your conscience.  

So, you decide to approach your other closest friend, Izuku.  

Izuku is different than Katsuki. He's a bit of a crybaby, but that's only because he's such a sweet, honest kid. He tends to be more emotional than most, which just goes to show how much he cares about things. He especially cares about other people and making sure that they always have smiles on their faces. He hates to watch someone get hurt, and when Katsuki fainted, he was easily the most frantic out of everyone. 

Given his considerate nature, you feel like it would be okay to entrust him with the truth.  

“So... your Quirk manifested yesterday?” he blinks. “And after you kissed Kacchan and used your powers on him, he fainted?”

You press your lips into a thin line, feeling quite guilty with the admission. “Yeah. Please don’t tell anyone else yet, Izuku. You’re the only one who knows, because I trust you to keep it a secret. My Quirk seems pretty confusing so far, so I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do with it.”  

“I-I promise to keep it a secret!” he reassures, nodding his head so fast that his curly green locks bob in place.  

“Thank you, Izuku.” You pause, not quite sure how to breach the next topic. “Um... there was actually something else I wanted to tell you about.”  

His brows arch. “Sure. What is it?”  

“My Quirk... it gave me a mission. It said I have to charm someone again. I’m not sure what’ll happen when I actually do it, but I want to give it a try and see how it goes. I’m hoping it might help me figure things out.”  

“Oh, okay.”  

Clearly, Izuku doesn't seem to understand where you're going with this, but once the realization finally sets in, a strangled little gasp catches in the back of his throat.  

“W-Wait!” he squeaks, flailing his hands in a panic. “D-Do you mean that you want to use your Quirk... on me?”  

You smile shyly. “I was hoping to, yes. I have to kiss someone before I can charm them, though. Would that be okay? A kiss on the cheek, like what I did to Katsuki yesterday?”  

At only four years of age, even just a cheek kiss is a big deal. Someone like Katsuki is normally unfazed by most things, but even he got incredibly flustered when you kissed him. You can only imagine how Izuku—the shyest kid in the neighborhood—might react.  

He’ll probably refuse. If he does, I should just leave it. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable.  

To no one’s surprise, Izuku is already burning red from embarrassment. He’s taken several steps back, most likely out of pure instinct, and is now clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles are white as paper.  

“You want to k-kiss me,” Izuku stammers nervously.  

“Only if you let me,” you promise. “I don’t want to make you upset. It’s just that it’s the only way to use my charm ability, so... yeah. But then again, I’m worried that you might end up fainting too. Ugh. I don’t really know what to do...”  

Embarrassment aside, you can understand why Izuku might be afraid to let you use your Quirk on him, especially after what he just witnessed yesterday. He has every right to refuse, purely from a self-preservation standpoint.  

But he doesn't.

“O-Okay,” Izuku swallows. “I’m happy you got your Quirk, [Name]. And... I want to help. Y-You can kiss me if you need to. Even if I pass out, it’s okay. As long as I can help you.”  

He proceeds to squeeze his eyes shut, no doubt too flustered to bear watching everything unfold. You officially have his go-ahead, and even though you don't want to end up making him feel unwell, you aren't sure how else you're supposed to get used to your Quirk.  

Please don’t make Izuku faint. Please let him be okay.  

Drawing in a sharp breath, you slowly approach him. Despite the fact that his eyes are closed, he can still hear you moving closer, and he starts shaking like a leaf in the wind. You figure it's best to just go for it as quickly as possible and spare him the nervous anticipation. 

Blushing quite a bit yourself, you peck Izuku on the cheek, then hastily pull away.  

“I-It’s done,” you say. “Izuku, you can open your eyes now.”  

He does just that, although it takes him a while to actually work up the nerve. Eyes the color of emeralds slowly drift open, and he even lets out a nervous little hiccup, clearly mortified beyond belief.

“A-A girl—hic—a girl actually k-kissed me,” Izuku stutters.  

[Use Charm on Midoriya Izuku?] 

There it is again. You now have the option of using your ability, just like before. You can't deny that you're a little worried. A power that makes people fall over unconscious is quite daunting, but you hope that things won't always turn out that way.

“Hold my hand,” you offer. “Just in case you fall over. I’ll catch you so that you don’t get hurt.”  

Nodding shyly, Izuku wraps his little hand around yours, then you finally make your selection. 

>>[YES] 

It doesn't take very long for your Quirk to take effect. Much like Katsuki, he starts looking weak and unsteady. You hold his hand tightly, even loop your arm around his back to make sure he doesn't suddenly faceplant onto the ground. His breathing is getting shallower by the second, and if you thought the blush on his cheeks before was outrageous, it can't even compare to the one he has now.

“I feel... weird,” Izuku mumbles. Too weak to even remember his earlier embarrassment, he clings to your body as if he's holding on for dear life. “[Name], what’s... what’s happening? I feel... warm and fuzzy. So warm...”  

You fear that he's getting close to passing out. So far, it seems to be following the exact same pattern as before. Darn it. Is this really a mistake? Is coming to terms with your Quirk really worth doing this to the people you care about?  

Before you can ponder the moral implications of your actions, Izuku suddenly cups your cheek with his hand, then presses his lips against yours.  

Um?!  

It's a quick, chaste kiss, but a kiss nonetheless. A real kiss, not just one on the cheek. You feel like your entire face is on fire, and it's safe to say that you’ve been momentarily stunned from embarrassment.  

And by Izuku, no less. A kid who would’ve never had the guts to do that under normal circumstances.  

“Hehe,” he giggles, appearing somewhat delirious. “I kissed [Name]… on the lips. Wow. Was I your first kiss? I sure... hope so.”  

He goes limp in your arms right after that.  

[Congratulations on completing your mission! As a reward, your strength has increased slightly. New missions will be added periodically. Complete them to obtain more rewards.] 

Your body is briefly enveloped by a strange, pulsing light, and you swear that something inside you just changed. It's such a subtle change that it's probably almost negligible, but you know you aren't imagining it.  

Also, Izuku has definitely fainted. You are now responsible for having made two of your friends pass out.  

You shoulder the weight of his body as best you can, then let out a heavy sigh. “I need to get him back home as soon as possible."

Your Quirk is kind of like a game. Based on what you know about it so far, at least. If you keep on completing the missions the system gives you, then you will be rewarded by having your strength increase. It's like gaining experience points and leveling up. That's the best analogy you can think of. 

You don't like making people faint, though. After charming both Katsuki and Izuku, it's clear that the effects of your powers are perhaps too strong. You really hope there's a way to control it better. Maybe you're simply too inexperienced?  

“Hey, system,” you call out. “I’m still kind of confused about this whole thing. Can you please explain it better? I don’t want to make my friends keep fainting.”

You don't receive a response, so you figure it isn't an entity you can actually communicate with. It doesn't appear sentient, at the very least. It's most likely just there to give you missions and track your progress.  

Well, that sucks. 

You still want answers. Then again, nobody ever said that mastering a Quirk would be easy, and you’ve only just gotten yours. You suppose you'll just have to be patient.  

Out of the little friend group consisting of you, Katsuki, and Izuku, you are the first to have your Quirk manifest. 

After that, it's Katsuki.  

Since he has such a strong personality, it isn't at all a surprise that his Quirk would turn out to be strong too. He has the ability to create literal explosions from the palms of his hands. It's honestly incredible, and everyone in the neighborhood—as well as the other kids in the local preschool you attend—can't help but be in awe.  

Once Katsuki’s Quirk manifests, his personality starts to change, and not for the better.  

Eager to show off his strength, he starts getting in fights with all sorts of people. Most of them are other kids his age, but he even picks a few fights with those that are several years older than him. And he never, never loses.  

“Wow, Katsuki!” you gush. “You’re so amazing! I can’t believe you beat those guys up even though they were so much bigger than you!”  

Since you're young and stupid, you don't realize that in praising Katsuki for his acts of violence, you are actually part of the problem.

Katsuki sniffles, wiping away his tears before they fall. He got quite a beating during the fight, but in spite of that, he still held out until he won. “Obviously,” he huffs. “I’m not going to let anyone talk smack about me. It doesn’t matter how much bigger or older they are.”  

You haven't received any more missions since the day you charmed Izuku, but by now everyone knows that you at least have some sort of Quirk. Katsuki was skeptical at first, but even the doctor was able to confirm that your Quirk factor—which is what allows your powers to function—is located in your brain. So long as your brain keeps working, you have the means to interact with the system and use your abilities.  

The same can't be said about Izuku, though.  

He keeps waiting for his Quirk to appear. He waits and waits, and yet it still shows no sign of manifesting. All Quirks are supposed to manifest by the age of four, with no exceptions. You do everything you can to reassure Izuku that it's going to be okay, but no one seems to understand why he hasn't gotten his Quirk yet.  

Somewhere along the way, Izuku is labeled as Quirkless, and with his newfound cruelty, Katsuki makes sure to torment Izuku at nearly every turn. 

“From now on, we’re going to call Izuku Deku,” Katsuki chuckles. “Deku means someone who’s a good-for-nothing loser. It’s perfect for him, since he’s a Quirkless weakling.”  

You frown. “That’s not nice, Katsuki. Take that back. There’s still some time left. Izuku will get his Quirk soon, you’ll see.”  

“You need to stop defending him, [Name].” Katsuki sighs out in annoyance. “Can’t you see just how lame he is? It actually makes a lot of sense that he doesn’t have a Quirk. I always thought that he was weak. This is just how the world works. Right, guys? Don’t you also think Deku’s a loser?”  

The two other neighborhood kids that often follow Katsuki around, and who have since become his underlings, hastily nod in agreement.  

“Deku’s a great name for him.”  

“It’s what he gets for being Quirkless.”  

Poor Izuku is already in tears, and you can't help but ball up your little fists in frustration.  

You like Katsuki. You really do. But lately he’s started acting like a real asshole, and you're honestly getting sick of it.  

“His name is Izuku,” you insist. “Don’t give him a rude nickname to try and make fun of him. Doing that is what’s actually lame.”

“[N-Name],” Izuku whimpers, wiping away at his misty eyes. “Thank you...”  

Even though you are friends with both Izuku and Katsuki, you know well enough to understand when something is just plain wrong. Katsuki is bullying Izuku, and it needs to stop.  

In picking sides, though, you actually end up making Katsuki even angrier.  

“You’re such a goody-two-shoes,” he spits, then uses an explosion to swat Izuku right across the face. His explosions aren't incredibly strong—not yet, at least, since he's still just a child. But they deal enough damage to hurt plenty, and Izuku’s little whimpers soon turn into full-blown sobs. 

Alright. You’ve officially had enough.  

“Come here,” you grit out. You grab Katsuki by the arm and pull him in, then roughly kiss him on the cheek. His immediate instinct is to freak out, of course, but he's mainly embarrassed, not angry.  

[Use Charm on Bakugou Katsuki?] 

>>[YES] 

It doesn't take him long to quiet down after that. While you don't like making people faint and overall feel unwell, desperate times call for desperate measures. It's better than letting him keep harassing and beating up Izuku, in any case. You are choosing to incapacitate one of your friends in order to protect the other one.  

“Not this shit again,” Katsuki mumbles in a daze. He seems to fend off the effects of your Quirk a lot better this time. Perhaps you're starting to get used to controlling its output? But regardless, he still ends up collapsing eventually. You’ve effectively put him to sleep. Hopefully a nap will help him clear his head a bit.  

“Aw, man!” one of the other guys whines. “[Name] just used her Quirk on him. That’s cheating! You can’t just go around doing that!"  

“Nuh-uh,” you deny. “Katsuki used his Quirk to hit Izuku first. He started it. Carry him back home, please. He needs to be put into bed.” 

They make sure to grumble the whole time, but still bring Katsuki back to his parents.  

Now, it's just you and Izuku.  

“Are you okay?” you ask, worry lacing your expression. “I’m sure it probably really hurts to get hit by one of his explosions. I promise it’ll be alright, Izuku. I’m here for you.”  

Izuku nods weakly. “I’m fine. Thank you for helping me. If only I wasn’t so weak... then I could help myself.”  

“You’re not weak at all. And your Quirk will show up soon! I have a good feeling about this.”  

It's pure unfounded confidence, but you're only an idealistic child, after all.  

Strangely enough, though, despite the fact that you’ve just saved him from getting beaten up, Izuku isn't all that happy. He knows you have to kiss someone first before being able to charm them, but he still can't stop replaying what he’s just seen. The way your lips pressed right against Katsuki’s cheek... it's impossible to get it out of his head.  

Izuku is too young to make sense of his emotions, but he is experiencing ugly jealousy for the very first time in his life.  

It’s okay, he thinks. I got to kiss [Name] on the lips before. Even Kacchan hasn’t done that. And she... stood up for me. Because I’m important to her.  

In that moment, even the pain of being Quirkless isn't quite as intense as the fear of losing your affection to someone else.  

Chapter Text

News spreads around the neighborhood, and before you realize it, you’ve built up quite a reputation for yourself.  

“That’s [Name]! If you’re not careful, she’ll kiss you and make you faint with her Quirk!” 

“You’ll end up getting cooties too!”  

Obviously, you understand where they're coming from, but it isn't like you want to make anyone pass out. You're still doing your best to come to terms with your powers, and the fact that most people are now hellbent on avoiding you doesn't really feel that great.  

You wait and wait, hoping to receive more missions so that you can progress and get a better hang on your Quirk, but a new message never comes. It's either entirely random, or there is perhaps some way of triggering new missions that you haven't yet discovered.

For the time being, there isn't really much you can do, so you decide to focus on playing with your friends and let fate run its course.  

But even that doesn't really go as planned.  

“Are you going to use your Quirk on me again?” Katsuki grits out. “What you did the other day was total bullshit. You snuck up on me, so it wasn’t fair! It’s not like you won or anything. I’m way stronger than you are.”  

“I know,” you acknowledge. “I doubt I’ll ever be as strong as you, Katsuki. I just wanted to make you stop. You were saying some really mean things to Izuku, and... I didn’t like it.”  

Katsuki balls his hands into fists. “Do you think you’re Deku’s guardian angel or something? Just forget about him already. He’s a loser. The longer you stick up for him, the more you’re just embarrassing yourself.”  

“Izuku.” 

“What?” 

“His name is Izuku,” you correct with a frown. “Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You never used to make fun of him before. I liked it when all of us played together and got along. Can’t we keep doing that?”  

The vicious glare Katsuki gives you is pretty much an answer in itself.  

“He’s Quirkless and lame,” he insists. “And it’s kind of annoying that you’re always taking his side. Do you like him better than me or something? There’s no way you actually think he’s better than I am. Right?”  

You're awfully young, and so the nuances of his words are completely lost on you. To you, it just seems like Katsuki is annoyed that you are actively opposing him and siding with Izuku, but his tone actually conveys so much more than that.  

Jealousy, paranoia, and even slight desperation... all of it goes over your head.  

Which is why you simply smile at him. “I don’t think either one of you is better. I like you both a lot. You’re my best friends. That’s why I don’t want you guys to fight anymore.”  

Clearly, that isn't the answer Katsuki was hoping for.  

“Whatever,” he scowls. “You’re really getting on my nerves now. Ugh. I should’ve known better than to let a girl join our group.”  

Even though you know you have to stand your ground and protest against Izuku’s bullying, it definitely doesn't feel good to be at odds with Katsuki. He's acting a lot differently than what you're used to, but despite that, you still care about him and idolize him. You really hope this is just a phase and that it will pass soon.  

You shamefully bow your head. “I’m sorry, Katsuki. I don’t want you to be angry. Just please try to be nicer to Izuku from now on... okay?”  

“Shut it. You’re so annoying.” He turns to leave, but before he actually walks away, he pauses to give you a sideways glare. “Did you... ugh. Never mind.”  

“Did I what?” you blink. 

He blushes, suddenly unwilling to look you in the eye. “Your Quirk,” he mumbles. “You have to kiss people before you can use your powers on them, right? So... did you ever use it on Deku? And don’t bullshit me. I want the truth.”  

Katsuki is urging you to be honest, and you don't really see a point in lying anyways, so you just nod.  

“I did,” you affirm. “I was curious to try and use it again, and I wanted to figure out how it worked. Izuku let me practice on him. I was hoping it wouldn’t make him faint, but unfortunately, it still did.”  

Once again, Katsuki looks none too pleased with your answer.  

“Ew,” he grimaces, outright mashing his teeth at you. “I can’t believe you seriously kissed that Quirkless nerd. You’re gross, [Name]. I don’t want to see you for a while.”  

Your brows shoot up in a panic. “Huh? Katsuki, wait—!”  

He doesn't wait, and from that day onward, the dynamic between the two of you changes for the worse.

[NEW MISSION: Use Charm on someone you haven’t already used it on.] 

Sure took long enough.

After what feels like literal eons, you’ve finally gotten a new mission. It's similar to what you’ve already done: use your charm ability on someone, except you apparently have to try it out on someone completely new. Which is kind of a problem, because you’ve already exhausted all your options when it comes to your friend group.

The idea of kissing a total stranger, even as a five-year-old, doesn't really appeal to you. There's also the matter of making that person faint, which is another thing you aren't all that thrilled about.  

Thankfully, the system seems to have more information for you this time.  

[Certain targets, including young children, may be especially vulnerable to your Charm ability. In order to keep your target from being overwhelmed, you will need to fine-tune your power output. Fainting can be avoided if you focus hard and use less power. After a target is successfully charmed, they will be momentarily put under your influence, and you can control them into doing or saying certain things.]  

Huh. So, that's the purpose of your ability. It isn't just to make people faint left and right. Clearly, you haven't been using it properly so far, but that's to be expected, since you still have a lot to learn.  

“Um, can I ask a question?” you try, but unsurprisingly, receive no response. Communication really doesn't seem possible. It kind of sucks, especially since there's so much you still don't understand.  

Whatever. At least you know that one day, you can actually charm someone without making them pass out. You aren't sure when exactly you’ll be able to pull it off, but you're choosing to remain optimistic.  

Some more time passes, and Katsuki is unfortunately still acting like a total ass. If he's in a good mood, he sometimes lets you hang around him and his underlings, but if you ever dare to try and bring Izuku so that they can rekindle their friendship, it quickly turns into a rather nasty altercation, and you are almost always forced to break it up. 

It isn't really something you take much note of, but lately, Izuku has been sticking to your side like glue. You're pretty much the only friend he has left, so it makes sense that he would want to be with you.  

Unfortunately, neither you nor he seems to realize that he is starting to become almost entirely dependent on you. It isn't just that Izuku enjoys being around you—he is gradually growing clingier by the day, and he can't seem to shake the fear that at some point, you’ll kick him aside, just like Katsuki has done.  

“[Name],” he whimpers, squeezing your little hand tightly in his. “Y-You still want to be friends, right? You don’t hate me just because I’m Quirkless, do you?”

Every time he asks that question, you never fail to respond with a bright grin. 

“Silly Izuku,” you muse. “We’re best friends for life. I’m not going anywhere. Katsuki’s acting like a real butthead lately, but he’ll change his mind. Things will get better soon. Just wait and see.”  

Izuku doesn't smile back. Instead, he squeezes your hand even tighter. He's afraid to let go. Afraid that he might lose you for good.

“Do you promise?” he mumbles. His voice is faint; barely a whisper.  

“I promise, Izuku. We’ll always be friends.”  

“And you’ll never leave me behind?”  

“Of course not. That’s part of what being friends means, right? That we’ll always look out for each other.”  

Izuku is going through a rough patch in his life. Even though your Quirk is tricky to figure out and is by no means all sunshine and rainbows, at least you have a Quirk. You can only imagine just how heartbroken Izuku must be. He’s wanted to have an amazing power more desperately than anyone else you know, so that he can become a hero and protect countless people.  

He needs you, and you are going to do everything you can to support him. 

“I have to go home now,” you say. “It’s late, and my parents want me to be back in time for dinner.”  

When you try to pull your hand away from his, Izuku lets out a panicked gasp and flings his arms around you.  

“N-Not yet!” he insists. “You can stay a bit longer... can’t you?”  

“I’m sorry, Izuku.” You gently pat his pack to try and calm him down. “I promised my parents I wouldn’t stay out so late today. We can play more tomorrow, though. And we’ll see each other at daycare too.” 

You try to pull away a second time, but Izuku still refuses to let you leave.  

“No,” he repeats. His voice trembles slightly, but it's a lot firmer than before. A wobbly smile rises to his lips. “Oh, I know. You can just have dinner at my place instead! Tell your parents that you’re coming over. My mom always cooks really yummy food.”

“Izuku,” you frown. It isn't like him to be so stubborn. You know he doesn't like it when you have to say goodbye, but it's not like you'll be apart for very long. “I really have to go now,” you insist. “We’ll play together again tomorrow, okay?”  

This time, you are able to lightly push him back, but you don't make it very far.  

“I said no!” Izuku screams. “I don’t want you to leave!”  

You're too shocked to muster up a response. It's the first time you’ve ever heard Izuku yell at anyone, let alone you.  

To be honest... it's kind of scary.  

“O-Oh my god.” After a few moments of heavy silence, the realization of what he just did finally sinks in. Izuku’s palms cover his mouth in a hurry, and you can already see tears forming in his big eyes. “I-I’m so sorry. [Name], I didn’t mean to yell. I really didn’t mean to. Please, please don’t hate me...” 

It doesn't take long for him to start sobbing, so of course your first instinct is to hug him and try to get him to calm down. He sobs loudly and unrestrained, burying his face in the crook of your neck while he braces his body against yours.  

Poor Izuku. He’s dealing with so much. I should be more considerate of him... 

“It’s going to be okay,” you reassure. After a few moments, you pull back to grin. “Alright, you win. I guess having dinner at your place does sound pretty fun. I promised my parents I would eat with them tonight, but I’m sure they’ll understand.”  

The second you utter the words, Izuku stops crying.  

“R-Really?” he splutters. “So... you’re not leaving me?”  

“Nope! We can hang out for a while longer.”  

Izuku hastily wipes his tears away, then lets out a happy giggle. “Yay! Thank you so much, [Name]. Everything’s always so much better when you’re around. D-Do you think you could maybe sleep over tonight? We did it once before... and it was a lot of fun.”  

“I’ll call my parents while I’m at your place and try to convince them,” you nod.  

“You don’t need to call them. Just tell my mom you already got their permission.”  

“But won’t my parents get worried if I don’t tell them in advance?”  

“It’ll be okay,” Izuku beams. He is by no means a rule-breaker, and in the back of his mind, he supposes he does know it's best to get your parents’ permission for stuff like this, but in the moment, all of that is secondary.  

He just wants to be with you for as long as possible. 

So, you stay. You stay for dinner at his house, without alerting your parents even though you were supposed to be home a long time ago. You even try to stay for a sleepover, like Izuku suggested, but at some point, Inko receives a very frantic phone call, and you are forced to leave.  

Izuku doesn't let it show while he waves you off, but he isn't happy about it in the slightest.  

“Sweetie, you can’t just invite your friends over for the night without checking if they’ve gotten permission first,” Inko frowns, crouching down to pat his head. “I know you like [Name], but her parents were worried sick, so make sure she’s spoken to her family first, alright?”  

“[Name] is the only one who still likes me,” Izuku sniffles. “I want to be with her all the time. She’s so much nicer than everyone else. I really wanted her to spend the night... why are her parents being so unfair?”  

“They’re not being unfair, Izuku. They just worry for her, that’s all. I’m sure you two can have a sleepover some other time, so long as her parents are given enough of a heads-up.”  

Izuku furrows his brows, tiny little hands clenching into fists. “I hate [Name]’s parents,” he grits out.  

“Izuku!” Inko gasps. “You don’t mean that!”

“I hate them, hate them, super-duper hate them!”  

He runs to his room and slams the door shut, then promptly buries himself under his blankets, hugging one of his All Might plushies against his chest. Everything is just so awful. He doesn't have a Quirk, so becoming a hero will be infinitely more difficult than he ever imagined. After receiving the diagnosis from the doctor, his own mother sobbed while hugging him, apologizing over and over again, as if telling him that she should give up on his dream.  

But you still believe in him. You don't make fun of him the way everyone else does, and you're always encouraging him to try his best and become a hero no matter what.  

Also... it's embarrassing to admit, but lately, he finds himself wishing that you would use your Quirk on him again. He just can't get that warm fluttery feeling out of his mind, especially knowing that he got to kiss you.  

That night, he dreams of a world where he does have a Quirk. One where you are by his side every minute of the day.

“Okay, sweetheart. We just need to go buy a few more things, so please wait right here for us, okay?”

You are in the middle of a shopping trip with your parents. It's fun to tag along with them from time to time, especially since they usually let you pick out a few goodies for yourself. While they go to look for the last few items on their list, you are tasked with the responsibility of watching over the shopping cart.  

You're a good kid, so you have every intention of listening to your parents and staying put.  

At least, until you see him.  

He catches your attention almost immediately. With his striking dual-colored hair, he stands out like a sore thumb. That still isn't the most noticeable thing about him, though. 

It's the fact that he has a bandage covering the entirety of his left eye.  

The boy looks to be around your age, so probably no older than five or so. He's trudging down the aisle with a vacant expression, and your chest throbs while watching him. The bandage across his eye is no doubt concealing quite a big injury. You really hope it isn't as painful as it looks.

Out of sheer concern, you can't help but call out to him. 

“Um,” you frown. “Are you... okay?”  

The boy glances in your direction, still with that same hollow expression. He doesn't say anything back, and you're starting to regret speaking to him, especially when it looks like he wants to be left alone.  

But then he starts crying.

“No,” he whimpers, crumpling to his knees and burying his face in his hands. “I-I’m not okay. I hate this. I just hate it... why did this have to happen? It isn’t fair. I’m so sick and tired of everything. I can’t stand it anymore...”  

It seems that his previously stoic demeanor was no more than a facade, and he can't stop his tears from pouring down his cheeks. You don't know anything about this boy, but whatever is going on in his life, it's clear that he needs help.

Before you can even think it through, you're already hugging him. 

“I’m sorry that you’re suffering,” you frown. You honestly don't know what else to say, and you doubt you can possibly begin to imagine what he's going through. All you can do is hold him in your arms and show him that despite being a stranger, you still care.

He seems taken aback by the suddenness of your touch, but is far too distraught to try and push you away. Countless tears fall from his eyes, and the bandage across the left side of his face is starting to grow damp from all the crying.  

“I hate him,” the boy just keeps on sobbing. “I hate my dad! He always ruins everything!”  

You nibble on your bottom lip. He's in so much pain, and it hurts to know that you can't do anything to help. 

Unless... 

What if I charm him?  

The system said that it's possible to control people’s actions while they're under your control, so maybe you can use your powers to try and calm him down. You definitely don't want to make him faint, but you're hoping to ease his pain, if only a little.

Besides, you have a new mission to complete anyways. You plan on doing things right this time and using your Quirk to help someone out.  

Feeling a bit hesitant, you quickly kiss the boy on the cheek. He stops crying for a few moments, just from the confusion of it all. His right eye, which is a warm gray hue, stares back at you in utter bewilderment, and his cheeks are even starting to get a bit red.  

[Use Charm on Todoroki Shouto?] 

>>[YES] 

This time, you focus as hard as you possibly can to manage the output of your ability. You want to help this boy—whose name is Shouto, apparently. You want to help him feel better and forget his worries, at least for a little while.  

“It’s okay,” you say, using your hands to cup his damp cheeks. You smile warmly. “I know it hurts, but you’re going to be alright. Just keep breathing. Try to relax. I’m here for you. I promise things will get better.”  

Your Quirk takes effect, and you can feel him softening under your touch. His breathing becomes less labored, and it looks like his tears have finally stopped falling.  

“I’m going to be... okay,” Shouto mumbles hazily.  

“Yes. Just be strong. Can you do that for me?”  

It takes a few moments, but Shouto eventually nods. You can tell that he isn't anywhere near as tightly-wound as he was a few moments prior. Your reassuring words, coupled with the effects of your Quirk, seem to be somewhat therapeutic.

“I can do it,” Shouto insists, small arms reaching around to hug you back. 

You smile, relieved that for once, your Quirk hasn't made someone faint. Not only that, but you’ve been able to stop him from having a panic attack. If used correctly, it looks like your powers are able to influence not just a person’s actions, but their emotions as well.

Of course, at the time, you don't realize that this line of thinking also applies to negative emotions.  

You pat Shouto’s head for a while longer, unwilling to pull away from the hug, lest he start crying again. “Are you here all alone?” you can't help but ask.  

Shouto nods slowly. “I ran away from home. I really didn’t want to be there anymore. My dad is awful... but I’m sure he’ll find me soon enough. I guess I’m not doing a very good job of hiding, but I didn’t know where else to go.”  

“Does your dad hurt you?” you ask, even though you're honestly afraid to hear the answer.  

“I guess... sometimes. But it’s mostly just during training. I can handle it, though. I don’t care about that. But he hurts my mom. He’s always being mean to my mom and making her cry,” Shouto grits out, trembling furiously. “And now, she’s been sent away. I won’t get to see her anymore.”

You don't know what you can possibly say in response. You're still only a kid, and definitely not equipped to tackle heavy subjects like domestic abuse. It sounds awful, though. Your parents are lovely and kind. The thought of having to share a home with someone like Shouto’s father is absolutely terrifying. 

The most you can do is hug him even tighter.  

“You’re amazing,” you mumble. “It must be so scary, but you’re still staying strong. I’m really sorry. I wish I could do more to help.” 

Shouto doesn't say anything. He feels fuzzy and warm, still under the influence of your powers. Even though he despises his father and everything he’s put the family through, in this moment, he feels like he could take on the whole world. You've just brought out a bravery in him that he didn’t even know he had.

“[Name]? Oh! What’s this? Did you make a new friend?”  

The moment doesn't last much longer, because your parents eventually return with the stuff they went to grab. 

Blushing, you break away from the hug, not noticing the disappointed little gasp Shouto lets out.  

“He looked sad, so I was just trying to cheer him up,” you say. 

Your mother smiles. “That’s very nice of you, darling. Hello there, little boy. Are your parents around? You didn’t get lost, did you?”

At the mention of parents, Shouto flinches a bit, and his earlier sadness seems to return. “I’m fine,” he says stiffly, and before you can even protest, he’s already run away.  

Your shoulders slump. Well, that's a bummer. You didn't even get to introduce yourself to him. 

“Alright, we’ve got everything we need now,” your father says, placing the items inside the shopping cart. “All ready to go?”  

Honestly, you don't want to go. You're worried about Shouto. You just hope that your words will encourage him going forward, and if things ever get extra tough, he'll reach out to someone else and get the help he needs.   

[Congratulations on completing your mission! As a reward, your speed has increased slightly.] 

Just like last time, your body starts glowing a bit. If your parents notice, though, they certainly don't make any mention of it. Perhaps just like the system, this is a phenomenon that only you can observe.  

You soon leave the store, and no matter how hard you try to look around and spot Shouto again, you don't see any sign of him.

To you, it's just another good deed. Helping out a person in need seems like the natural thing to do. After all, just like Izuku and Katsuki, you've also been inspired to one day become a hero. That's why, as much as you worry about Shouto’s condition, you don't dwell too much on this simple act of kindness. 

Little do you know that Shouto will never forget what you’ve done for him.

Chapter Text

You hate having to pick sides.  

Over the years, the relationship between Katsuki and Izuku has gradually become more strained. The three of you are childhood friends, so of course, you hoped that things would get better after a while. That Katsuki would grow out of his callous phase and rekindle his friendship with the freckled boy who’d always looked up to him. 

Sadly, that didn’t happen.  

Instead, the animosity between them only deepened. Now, as middle schoolers, you are at the point where Izuku can hardly get two words out before cowering in front of Katsuki out of fear. You aren't children anymore. This can't simply be written off as ‘kids being kids’. It's bullying, and you are the one who sees firsthand the effect it has on poor Izuku.  

Although you've all naturally matured over the past ten years or so, Izuku is still heavily dependent on you, and unfortunately, you don't realize just how serious of an issue this is. You feel like its only natural for your best friend to care for you and rely on you. It feels natural to defend him, and it also feels natural to make compromises every now and then in the interest of keeping him happy.

Izuku doesn't even realize it himself, but he is manipulating you into doing whatever he wants. If he's ever upset about something and needs you to stay by his side, he'll drop not-so subtle hints about how he's feeling.  

“Aw,” he sighs on one occasion, head drooping disappointedly. “Are you sure you can’t come over today?”  

You offer him a weak smile. “Sorry, Izuku. I still haven’t finished the project that’s due tomorrow. My group members are expecting me to turn my part in soon, so I’ll have to work through the night to finish on time.”  

“Alright. I understand. I just really wanted us to hang out tonight. But I guess it can’t be helped... I’ll just be alone, since you’re my only friend.”  

You feel incredibly guilty, but there's really no way around it. School is essential, after all. You can't very well just drop all your assignments and other responsibilities as you see fit. Your parents still expect you to put in a good effort and take your education seriously.  

Needless to say, sometime later that same night, Izuku calls you while choking back tears. 

“[N-Name],” he whimpers. “Kacchan and his friends prank-called me again. He said some really awful things... and I-I know I shouldn’t let it get to me, but I just can’t calm down. Please, is there no way for you to come over tonight? I just don’t want to be alone right now...” 

How can you call yourself his friend if you abandon him after hearing that choked-up, gut-wrenching voice of his?

So, you rush straight over to his house, even though you haven't yet finished up your portion of the project. You spend the better part of the night calming him down and watching funny videos together in the hopes of cheering him up. By the time you finally make it back home, it's almost the crack of dawn, and you are absolutely and utterly fucked.  

“What the hell, [Name]?” one of your group members for the project grimaces. “You totally screwed us over. The rest of us all worked our butts off and pulled an all-nighter to finish in time. Why couldn’t you just carry your weight?”  

You give them a weary look of remorse, having run out of time. Your chunk of the project isn't entirely complete, and your group members don't hesitate to run straight up to the teacher and whine about how you didn't take the project seriously. Naturally, he penalizes you for your lack of effort, and you end up needing to do a make-up assignment to earn back some of the marks you’d lost.

Izuku is visibly torn up about it. “I’m so sorry,” he gasps. “This is all my fault. All because I couldn’t suck it up and deal with my problems on my own. Please don’t hate me, [Name]. I promise I won’t bother you next time. Just please don’t hate me.”  

“It’s not your fault,” you reassure, wrapping your arms around him. “I didn’t manage my time properly, and there were other people in my group that were counting on me. If I’d been more organized from the start, this wouldn’t have happened. Don’t apologize, Izuku. You know I’ll always be there for you whenever you need me.”  

You're a good person—or at the very least, trying to be—and so you don't realize that every time you keep giving into Izuku’s whims, you are perpetuating the toxic relationship that has already begun to form.  

Self-sacrifice is the essence of a hero, and while it can be argued that you're just acting out the role you decided on, with certain people, it's still important to set boundaries.  

Especially when there are some truly dark emotions at play.  

Your Quirk is much more powerful than you even realize. It not only charms people and makes them momentarily blinded by their affection for you, but there are lasting effects, even outside your Quirk’s usage. People that already feel rather strongly about you—such as Izuku—find that their emotions have been amplified a hundredfold. It brings out jealousy, possessiveness, and other concerning traits in people, ones that normally wouldn’t have existed.  

Your Quirk is a ticking time bomb, and you are none the wiser to it.  

The only thing you do know is that it's a hell of a hassle to get used to. In the many years since it first manifested, you’ve been presented with various missions, completely at random. It's frustrating because the system seems to dictate when or how you get to hone your strength. You don't have much free reign over it, which you suppose is one of its main drawbacks. Virtually all Quirks have some weakness; some factor that either makes them difficult to wield, or briefly hinder their user.  

Still, you are diligent in your efforts. You make sure to complete every mission, so long as it's actually possible. Some of them involve charming people, but others are different challenges altogether. There were a few missions that went unfinished, of course. On one instance, you were required to run the length of a marathon, and it was a time-based mission, meaning that it needed to be completed within the same day it was issued. You had attempted it, but unfortunately, couldn’t manage to see it through till the end.

You have gotten stronger, though. There's progress, little by little, and you're relieved that your Quirk also allows you to improve your physical parameters. It's a bit frustrating to make sense of, and even now you still haven't totally figured it out, but it's still better than nothing. If applied correctly, you'll be able to save a lot of people with this Quirk.  

Right? 

“Alright, kids,” your teacher announces. “I was going to distribute these papers for you fill out your desired career paths, but then I realized... you’re all aiming to become heroes, aren’t you?”  

It's a day like any other, and you're currently in class. Of course, you don't yet know that this day is actually incredibly special. It will become a pivotal moment in not only Izuku’s life, but yours as well.  

“Come on, sensei,” Katsuki chuckles arrogantly. “Don’t lump me in with the rest of these shitty extras. They can’t ever hope to get on my level. They’ve all got weak-ass Quirks, through and through.”  

So far, it really is just an ordinary day. By now, you are no stranger to Katsuki’s open displays of egocentrism. Your classmates all know that he's incredibly full of himself, but you know it even better than them, especially after having grown up in the same neighborhood. You know him on a personal level. You're more than aware of what he is truly capable of, and more often than not, it results in Izuku crying. 

Even so, a part of you still yearns for those days in the past, when everything was happy and carefree. There's no doubt that he's a bully, but you want to believe that deep down, he's still the same boy who welcomed you to the neighborhood with an infectious grin and an admirable personality. 

That's why, no matter how far he falls from grace, you still can't bring yourself to resent him. 

You watch attentively as Katsuki proceeds to go on and on about how much better he is  than everyone else, and how he will one day surpass All Might and make history. Perhaps if anyone else was saying such things, it would sound like total nonsense, but Katsuki is strong. With his Quirk and ambition, you have no doubt that he'll keep pushing for the very top.  

For the time being, he's aiming for U.A, the most prestigious hero school in Japan—in the whole world, even, because it's All Might’s alma mater.  

It's the same school that Izuku has always dreamed of attending, and Katsuki loathes hearing about it.  

“Piece of shit Deku,” Katsuki growls, sparking an explosion that knocks Izuku all the way back from his desk. “Are you fucking braindead, or what? You’re a Quirkless loser! In what world can you possibly imagine putting yourself in the same arena as me? Well? Explain it to me, asshole!”  

Your gaze flickers tiredly towards the floor. Yeah. It really is like any other day. Time and time again, Izuku is ridiculed. Not only by Katsuki, but the rest of your classmates as well. Katsuki is a bully, no doubt about it, but the others are no better. Pretty much everyone you’ve ever met looks down on those who are Quirkless, and it makes you angrier than you can even put into words.

Everyone laughs and sneers at Izuku while he's backed against a wall, with tears brimming in his eyes. You can't possibly stand watching any longer, so you stand up and open your arms up to him. For just a moment, it looks like he's hesitating. As if he doesn't want to seek out the comfort of your embrace and prefers to shoulder everything on his own. 

But in the end, he gives in, just like always.  

You hug him tightly, casting a glare towards the rest of the class. “You’re all a bunch of losers. What’s so fun about ganging up on someone? If he wants to apply to U.A, it’s none of your business. Please just cut it out.”  

“Great, [Name] to the rescue,” one of them sighs.  

“She’s always fussing over him. It’s like she’s his mom or something.”  

“Nah, she’s not his mom. She’s his girlfriend, duh. They’re always making googly-eyes at each other. I swear they would both die if they were ever separated.”  

It looks like you've also become the target of their ridicule, but that's nothing new either. For the most part, you avoid using your Quirk on your classmates. It's a lot easier to practice with a close friend, like Izuku, and they're all quite wary of you anyways. They know that you have to kiss someone to use your powers, so they've long dubbed you as some kind of pervert. If you wanted to, you probably could charm them and make them act less awful, but controlling people for your own benefit feels really slimy. Apart from missions, you decide that your Quirk should be reserved for villains that needed to be put in their place, or dangerous situations, like whenever Katsuki gets violent with Izuku.  

“S-Stop that,” Izuku works up the nerve to cut back, but he's still clinging to you, unwilling to let go. “Don’t make fun of [Name]… she hasn’t done anything wrong.” 

You roll your eyes. “Ignore them, Izuku. They’re just butthurt because they don’t know what it’s like to have real friends.”  

The whole time you hold Izuku in your arms, Katsuki has gone awfully quiet. He isn't creating explosions anymore. He just stands there, crimson eyes perfectly fixated on you. His mind is reeling with furious, unspeakable thoughts.  

Whenever Katsuki is so angry that he goes silent, it's never a good sign.  

The situation escalates to the point that once classes are over for the day, Katsuki makes a show of walking over to Izuku’s desk and blowing up one of his hero analysis notebooks.  

“You’ve really been pissing me off these days,” he spits, and much to Izuku’s horror, proceeds to toss the notebook out the window. 

“Katsuki!” you fume. “What the hell are you doing?! Go out there and bring it back!”  

“Shut up. You’ve been pissing me off too.” He steps closer to you and grabs you by the collar of your uniform. The fabric squeezes painfully around your neck, cutting off some of your circulation. “You and Deku both make me sick,” he grimaces. “Always walking around holding hands and shit. Are the two of you already married, or what? You’re so pathetic. When I first met you, I never thought you’d turn out to be this pathetic, [Name].” 

You furrow your brows and push him back. “Stop it,” you warn.   

“Or what?” he challenges. “What, you’ll kiss me? Go ahead and try it. Don’t think I’ll fall for your brainwashing any longer. I’m strong enough to resist your shitty Quirk. Come on, then. Try it. I dare you.” 

It seems like he's challenging you, and you don't know what'll happen once you actually call his bluff. Perhaps you'll be able to act quickly enough to actually charm him, or maybe he’ll beat you up for even trying. You just assume that whatever the case, he's going to make you pay.  

But in reality, Katsuki just wants to feel your lips against his skin. He's mortified by his thoughts, and he'll never admit to them—not even if he's held at gunpoint—but he truly and undeniably wants you to kiss him.  

The fact of the matter is that he doesn't hate you. He’s never hated you. What he really hates is the way you treat Izuku so much better than him. It doesn't make any sense, and there are moments where it actually pisses him off more than Izuku himself.  

He's better than Izuku, or rather, Deku, in every sense of the word. So then, why? Why do you coddle Izuku and embrace him at almost every waking moment? Why is it that it's been so long since he's seen you direct a smile his way, yet you show it to Izuku more times than he can even count?  

Katsuki has long harbored a crush on you. He is a jealous person by nature, and the influence of your Quirk certainly doesn't help. In fact, it can no longer simply be called a crush.  

It's already an infatuation.

“Give it a rest,” you eventually sigh, deciding not to give in to his provocations. “I’m not going to use my Quirk on you, Katsuki. Just stop it. Please go get Izuku’s notebook back. It’s the least you can do after ruining it.”  

Katsuki is incredibly angry. He's so angry, in fact, that he yearns to just yank you by the hair and slam his lips against yours. Better yet, he wants to make Izuku watch. It's the number one thing he fantasizes about. The day that shitty nerd is forced to watch you be torn away from his grasp is the day that Katsuki wins once and for all.  

But because he hasn't yet lost all reason, he doesn't force a kiss on you.  

Instead, he turns around and punches Izuku in the face.  

You wail out at the top of your lungs, and to be honest, it's practically music to Katsuki’s ears. He laughs cruelly as Izuku desperately tries to stifle his sobs, hands flying up to clutch at his throbbing nose, which has already started to bleed.  

“Why?” is all you could think to say. You stare at Katsuki in utter disbelief. “I really thought... you were better than this. I wanted to believe you were. But it’s like you’ve turned into a fucking monster.”  

Katsuki grits his teeth. A monster, huh? So, that’s what you think of him. Fine. If being a monster is what it takes to punish Izuku for constantly stealing you away, then he's more than happy to be a monster.  

“That was a warning,” Katsuki glowers. “Don’t even think of going to U.A, shitty nerd. I’ll seriously kill you. Actually, why don’t you go ahead and jump off the roof while you’re at it? If you’re lucky, there might be a Quirk waiting for you in the afterlife. Ha.”

Katsuki buries his hands in his pockets and trudges out of the room, and even the two underlings that always follow him around look slightly horrified by what just unfolded.  

You are left alone with Izuku, and the most you can do is frantically dab at his bloody nose with a napkin. 

“Izuku,” you whimper. “I’m sorry. I should have acted quicker. M-Maybe if I’d actually used my Quirk, he wouldn’t have hurt you like that. This only happened because of me. I’m so sorry...”  

Izuku has every reason to be upset. One of his treasured notebooks is now in tatters, he's just been told to kill himself, and worse yet, his face is aching uncontrollably. Tears slide down his freckled cheeks, and you can hear how shaky his breathing sounds. 

But despite all of that, the situation isn't entirely bleak. 

Because you are with him. 

His big green eyes, even while blurred by tears, are wide as they gaze upon you. He admires how your chin trembles ever-so-slightly, and that little crease in your brow that conveys how worried you are. He especially likes the the way that your chest jumps up and down as you desperately try to keep it together for him. 

You are so important to him. His best friend in the whole wide world. The only person who’s always stood by his side. And just earlier, you chose him over Katsuki. For so long, Katsuki has always had everything Izuku dreamed of. A powerful Quirk, amazing confidence, and the ability to push through any obstacle that stands in his path.  

But Katsuki doesn't have you, and in that sense, Izuku has him beat.  

That's why, even with the blood dripping from his nose and the sharp pain in his heart, Izuku is still able to smile.  

“I’m okay,” he says, tentatively grabbing one of your hands in his. Your fingers are so soft. He loves the way they fit so naturally against his own.  

Everything hurts, but... with you here, it hurts a lot less.

“As long as you’re with me, I’ll be alright,” Izuku beams.  

In a way, it's somewhat of a threat. Because if you ever leave him, that is the moment everything will fall apart.

Chapter Text

If someone had asked you a few hours ago how you would be spending your day, you could never have predicted it would be like this.

There's a man in front of you, so incredibly gaunt that you might’ve mistaken him for a skeleton. His cheeks are completely sunken in, practically hollow, and nearly every time he speaks, blood spews out of his mouth. 

This man is the greatest hero in the world, All Might. 

Honestly, you're still struggling to make sense of it. Today has been one big series of misadventures. Starting with Katsuki’s merciless bullying of Izuku at school, then being attacked by some slime villain that attempted to take Izuku’s body hostage, to finally being rescued by All Might—only to discover that there's far more to him than meets the eye.  

Izuku is especially horrified, since he’s idolized All Might for as long as you can remember.  

“But... how?” he gapes. “Are you really All Might? No... it can’t be real. I just don’t understand how this could possibly be true...”  

You can't really believe it either, at least not until All Might lets out a weary sigh and lifts up his shirt, revealing a gruesome wound that has you wondering how he's even still alive right now. Apparently, he got that injury from a villain several years ago, and the aftereffects are so severe that it has permanently weakened him. You're used to seeing the All Might that everyone else knows—that blindingly-bright, impressively muscular man who never stops smiling, no matter what. But the All Might standing in front of you right now couldn't be any more different. He isn't smiling, nor does he give off the impression of someone you can entrust with your life.  

He isn't superhuman. He is flawed and weak, just like the average person.  

“I can’t work as a hero for more than three hours per day,” All Might explains grimly. “That’s my limit. I was trying so hard to get away from you kids... but I guess the secret’s out now. This is my true form. My body just isn’t what it used to be. I’ve kept this hidden from the public, because I can only imagine how frightened people would be if they found out about my current state. No matter what, the Symbol of Peace cannot succumb to the forces of evil.”  

Izuku splutters hopelessly. “But... but... whenever you save people, you’re always smiling and laughing. You always look so sure of yourself, and—”  

“The reason I laugh isn’t because I’m not scared. I do it to distract myself from the constant fear and pressure weighing me down. Pro heroes must always put their lives on the line. It’s an incredibly dangerous job, and I doubt you’d ever find a hero who doesn’t get scared.” All Might pauses, then flashes Izuku a sympathetic look. “Earlier, you asked me if someone who is Quirkless can still become a hero. Knowing what I know about the hero profession, and all the dangers that come with it... I just can’t in good conscience bring myself to tell you that it’s possible.”  

The second All Might utters those words, all the color drains from Izuku’s cheeks. You can see that he’s broken out into a cold sweat, and he's struggling to breathe evenly, veering dangerously close to a state of hyperventilation. 

“I... see,” is all he manages to respond, staring blankly at the ground.  

All Might tries to force a smile, but it isn't very reassuring. “If you care about saving people, you can always go into police work. The police don’t often receive the acknowledgment they deserve, but it is nonetheless an admirable profession. I can’t possibly condemn someone that has a dream. It’s a good thing to push yourself and try to reach your goals. But at the same time... you have to see reality for what it is, kid.”  

Just like that, he leaves, and you can tell that Izuku’s entire world has just shattered.  

Instinctively, you wrap your arms around him and squeeze tight. “Don’t listen to him,” you try to encourage. “Just because there aren’t any Quirkless heroes yet doesn’t mean there can’t be. It’s okay, Izuku. You can still try. Nothing is set in stone.”  

Under ordinary circumstances, this might've worked. Granted, it isn't as if you can just snap your fingers and make everything okay all of a sudden, but you normally succeed in pacifying Izuku whenever he's going through a particularly rough patch. After hugging him and consoling him for a while, he usually calms down.  

Unfortunately, this situation is far from ordinary, and thus, your attempts fall flat.  

“Thanks, [Name].” Izuku’s eyes are already bloodshot and brimming with tears. He is thanking you, but you aren't even sure what for, considering how utterly broken he looks. “I’ll... be alright. All Might isn’t wrong. I need to see reality for what it is. I’ve been such an idiot, all this time.”  

After staring into his vacant, tear-filled gaze, you feel like crying. But you don't , because that's the last thing Izuku needs right now. What use would you be if he ends up having to console you instead? For his sake, you have to stay positive.  

Or at the very least, look it.  

For a brief moment, you even consider using your Quirk to try and cheer him up. To put him under your control and make his mind dissociate, so that he won't have to feel the full intensity of his emotions right now. But doing that feels wrong, somehow. Especially if you don't have his explicit permission. In this moment, the most you can possibly do is keep on hugging him and make it abundantly clear just how much you believe in him, until he finally believes in himself.  

Still. It just isn't fair. What has Izuku done to deserve any of this? Is it really not enough that people like Katsuki keep tormenting him? Why is he now forced to watch his biggest role model turn his back on him?  

You are only fourteen years old, but you're realizing just how incredibly shitty life can be for some people.  

“I’m okay,” Izuku insists, although his expression is practically blank by now. “I’m really okay, [Name]. You don’t need to worry.”  

You smile weakly. “I know you are. Because you will become a hero. Today’s just been rough. Tomorrow will be better. I promise.”  

You refuse to let go of his hand while you walk. Part of you is worried that once you do, you might lose him forever. You fear that he might finally succumb to all the pressure and give up on his dream. Give up on everything.  

As it just so happens, though, life presents you with an opportunity. You hear loud chatter and spot a crowd of people gathered together. It doesn't take long for you to realize that all those people are probably watching heroes go head-to-head with a villain, and so, you pull Izuku in their direction, hoping that it will reignite the flame inside him that is on the verge of being snuffed.  

“Look, Izuku,” you beam. “I wonder who’s fighting today? Let’s watch the heroes kick some villain butt!”  

He's dragging his feet and looks visibly unenthusiastic, but old habits are hard to quit. Even as dejected as he is right now, he still can't stop himself from following you. It makes you hopeful that despite everything All Might said to him, he's still determined to do what he always dreamed of. 

It was your intention to lift his spirits, but in the process of pulling him along, you end up doing the exact opposite.  

There he is again—the slime villain that attacked the two of you earlier. But it just doesn't make any sense. You know for a fact that All Might captured him. Does that mean that he must have escaped at some point?  

“It’s my fault,” Izuku gasps, hurrying to clamp his palms over his mouth. “Oh god,” he breathes shakily, voice muffled. “All Might must have dropped him or something! If only I hadn’t been so selfish and just stayed out of his business!”  

You don't know what to say. Of course, you don't believe Izuku is to blame, but you are too petrified to say a damn word.  

Because the slime villain’s latest victim isn't just anyone—it's someone you know very, very well. 

Katsuki!  

He's struggling with all his might, desperately fighting to stay conscious and resist succumbing to the villain. Katsuki is strong. He has always been strong. Even so, that doesn't make him indestructible. And right now, as he struggles  to get enough air to even breathe, you can tell that he's terrified beyond words.  

You want to help. You really, really do, but your previous experience with the slime villain already proved that you're helpless to do a damn thing.  

More than anything, you're afraid of what might happen to you if you even try.  

Izuku, however, is different. Which is why, while you stand there, frozen stiff from fear, Izuku has already started running.  

You cry out to him, try to tell him that it's too dangerous, but he isn't listening. Despite being Quirkless, you know that Izuku is already more of a hero than most people could ever hope to be. That's why he doesn't hesitate for a moment to try and save someone, even when all the odds are stacked against him.

His bravery and selfless nature are what manage to finally spur you onwards, but when you try to run after him, one of the heroes on site pulls you back. 

“Don’t!” he insists. “What that kid just did was incredibly reckless! You’re not going anywhere! You could get seriously hurt!”  

The hero holds you in place, and you thrash and try to break free, even though you aren't a match for his strength. All the while, Izuku is doing everything he can possibly think of to try and free Katsuki from the slime villain. He throws his backpack at him, frantically pulls and claws at the slime to try and give Katsuki enough room to breathe—just anything.  

He must be scared. So scared that he probably can't even think straight, but even so, he doesn't give up.  

As a result, he manages to move the heart of a man who was convinced he’d already reached his limit for the day.  

All Might appears out of nowhere, back in the broad, muscular state you're used to seeing him in. Blood is spewing out of his mouth, so you can tell that he's pushing himself beyond measure, but that's because he and Izuku are one and the same. When faced with someone who is in dire need of help, they both have a tendency to act first, and think later.  

With All Might on the scene, the slime villain doesn't last much longer. You look on with tears in your eyes, shoulders sagging from relief when Izuku and Katsuki are finally both rescued. The villain’s amorphous body has splattered all over the place from the pressure of All Might’s punch, and it's safe to say that he’s been immobilized for good.  

It's over. This hellish day has finally come to an end.  

“Oh, Izuku,” you whimper, rushing straight over and wrapping him in a hug. “You nearly gave me a heart attack! I was so scared of what might happen to you...”  

He chuckles weakly, blushing while he leans into your touch. “I-I’m okay. I know what I did was reckless, but... seeing Kacchan like that, I couldn’t possibly ignore him. His eyes looked they were pleading for help.”  

“No, you did the right thing,” you insist. “You bought Katsuki enough time for All Might to act. You might’ve even been the one that inspired him to do so. I wish I could’ve run to help right away, like you did... but I was too scared. I’ve clearly still got a long way to go.”  

“That’s giving me too much credit. I really couldn’t accomplish anything on my own...”  

You expect that Izuku will be praised for his bravery, but instead, he is met with nothing but reprimands from some of the other heroes who reacted to the crisis. They berate him for charging headfirst into danger, without any concern for his own well-being. You try to point out that if not for Izuku, Katsuki might have already been done in by the time All Might showed up, but they aren't having it.  

On the other hand, from what you can tell, Katsuki is being showered with praise. His explosion Quirk is incredibly powerful, and that, paired with his resilience and tough nature, has clearly made a strong impression on the pros. They're all amazed that he held out for so long against the slime villain, when most people would hardly have lasted a few minutes.  

Katsuki is amazing, no doubt about it, but there's no mistaking how afraid he looked back there. No matter how headstrong and fearless he tries to act, at heart, he's still only a fourteen-year-old boy. 

For that reason, you figure that what he needs most of all right now is not to be praised incessantly, but for someone to show him some genuine concern.  

You hug Izuku one last time, stand up, then begin walking in Katsuki’s direction. 

Unfortunately, you don't make it very far.  

“Stay back,” Katsuki grits out, the veins in his forehead threatening to burst. “I know what’s going on in that stupid head of yours. I can tell based on that goddamn pitying expression you have. Stay back before I get really fucking mad.”  

You want to show him that you care. Even if he is horrible to Izuku at times, especially earlier today, he's still your long-time friend. You doubt you'll ever lose the soft spot you have for him. Is it really too much to ask that he lets his guard down and accepts your consideration, for crying out loud?  

“Katsuki—”  

“No,” he spits. “Shut the fuck and march back to shitty Deku’s side. He’s the one you’re so obssesed with anyways.”  

You shamefully look down at your feet. It seems like it's pointless to even try. No matter what you do , no matter what Izuku does, Katsuki keeps interpreting it as an insult. Izuku just tried to save his life, and yet Katsuki is still glaring at him as though he’s somehow been wronged.  

None of it makes any sense, and it hurts  to feel like things will never go back to the way they used to be.  

Heeding Katsuki’s words, you trudge back over to Izuku. It's time to leave. It's been a long, incredibly tiring day, for you too, but Izuku especially. He needs to get some rest and put all of this behind him. 

Right before you leave the scene, Katsuki makes sure to glare viciously in your direction one last time.  

“I never asked you to help me, piece of trash Deku,” he grits out. “I didn’t need your help. Got it? In fact, I saved myself. You didn’t do a goddamn thing! So, don’t expect me to owe you or some shit. You seriously piss me the hell off. Stay out of my life from now on and mind your fucking business.”  

Neither you nor Izuku say anything in response. A rational-minded person would have said ‘thanks’, or even, ‘I really appreciated what you tried to do.’ But Katsuki is just too stuck in his ways. He's determined to always make things out to be negative. He refuses to ever acknowledge that even he needs help sometimes.  

Katsuki’s lack of gratitude just makes Izuku’s sacrifice that much more noble, because you know for a fact he didn't expect anything in return.  

“You really are amazing, Izuku.” You smile gently, reaching down to grab his hand again. “I mean, the fact that you tried to save Katsuki without even thinking twice about it, even after he hurt you earlier today and said all those horrible things. That’s exactly why I know you’ll become a hero. Most people wouldn’t have been able to save someone who’d bullied them for so many years.”  

Izuku stares down at your hand and admires the way your fingers are interlocked with his. Unless you're imagining it, he looks like he's feeling a bit better now. At the very least, his expression isn't hollow and lifeless anymore. Perhaps he's just relieved that Katsuki is safe, or maybe he feels a small sense of pride over his heroic feat earlier. You have no way of knowing for sure.  

The two of you walk in silence, and neither of you seems willing to let go of the other’s hand. Izuku still can't forget All Might’s words from earlier, and even though he tried to help his former friend, he knows that still isn't enough for him to become a hero. He realizes now that without a Quirk, it's nothing but a baseless dream.  

Still, he's comforted by the fact that you think he's amazing. Maybe he can strive to become a police officer, like All Might suggested. He can still save people that way, and as long as you are by his side, then... 

Perhaps that alone is enough.  

Of course, you are none the wiser as to what thoughts are going through Izuku’s head. You don't know just how much he's fixating on you and placing you on a pedestal, unintentionally relying on you as his sole source of motivation and happiness. It's never a good thing for any one person to depend wholly on another, and if not for All Might’s sudden appearance, Izuku might have fallen further into his obsessive thoughts.  

“All Might?!” Izuku cries out. “But... what are you doing here? I could’ve sworn you were surrounded by reporters back there...”  

“I gave them the slip,” All Might chuckles. “I’m still the Number One hero, you know. More importantly, I had some things I wanted to say. Or rather, some corrections regarding what I said earlier.”  

You cock a brow, and Izuku can't help but do the same. Well, he’s come all this way for a reason, so you suppose you have no choice but to hear him out. You just hope he won't say more depressing stuff that would completely crush Izuku’s soul.  

However, much to your surprise, All Might doubles back and basically retracts his previous words. He admits to being inspired by Izuku’s courage and willingness to help save his friend, despite being Quirkless. Unlike before, All Might has nothing but praise for him. He apologizes for having dismissed him so quickly and recognizes that Quirk or not, Izuku has the heart of a hero.  

“You can become a hero.”  

They're the same words you've repeated to Izuku for the past ten years, but hearing them from a hero like All Might is understandably more impactful. Izuku is so moved that he can't help but crumple to his knees, and even though he was already crying, this time, they are happy tears.

You wrap your arms around him. Overwhelmed by emotion, it doesn't take long for you to start crying too.

[Katsuki] 

(8:53 PM)  

Meet me outside my house.  

Right now.  

You would be lying if you said you expected to hear from him again today. After all, you didn't exactly leave things off on a good note. But you are a forgiving person by nature, and again, you can't find it in you to completely resent Katsuki, even after all the scummy things he’s already done.

Perhaps you shouldn’t keep giving him more chances, but you do it anyways.  

[Name] 

Okay 

Are you alright? 

Did something else happen?  

[Katsuki] 

Just shut up and meet me outside.  

It's very much like him not explain anything and stick to his stubbornness. Honestly, though, in light of recent news, you're in a really good mood. You thought for sure that today would suck all the way until the end, but it had actually been rather incredible. 

All Might has chosen Izuku as his successor, and he is going to pass his Quirk onto him.  

Your eyes nearly bulged out of your head when you heard him utter those words. You thought he was making things up just to screw with the both of you. But no, apparently All Might’s Quirk—One for All—is the type of Quirk that can be passed down from one person to the next. Izuku is going to have to train his butt off to get stronger, but if he succeeds, then he'll have a Quirk waiting for him. 

He isn't going to be Quirkless anymore, and the thought makes you so happy that you can hardly stop grinning.  

“What’s with that stupid look on your face?” Katsuki snaps. He's obviously peeved by how chipper you are, but unfortunately, you can't tell him why. All Might has sworn both you and Izuku to secrecy. One for All is purely confidential, and you aren't allowed to tell anyone, not even your own parents.  

Still, you physically can't wipe your smile off your face. Things are finally looking up for Izuku, and it's impossible to contain your excitement.  

“I watched a funny show earlier,” you brush off. “I can’t stop thinking about it. Anyways, what’s up? Why’d you call me out here?”  

For some reason, Katsuki glances away, unwilling to look you in the eye.  

“Deku didn’t save me,” he finally mutters. “I wanted to make sure you didn’t get any stupid ideas.”  

“Huh? Are you still on about that?”  

You blink repeatedly. He really is ridiculous. When is he going to realize that he's way too fixated on Izuku? It isn't healthy. Izuku is perfectly content to just do his own thing and be nice to everyone. Katsuki's the one who keeps going out of his way to harass him for no reason. Back when he was younger, he always used to say that Izuku was obsessed with him, but it's so clearly the other way around.  

Still, you're in a really good mood right now, and you refuse to let Katsuki put a damper on it.  

“Okay, Katsuki.” You nod patiently and smile. “Izuku didn’t save you, it’s true. All Might was the one who saved you. Izuku was worried about you, because you know that’s just how he is. He worries about everyone. But I know he isn’t the one who defeated the slime villain or anything, so can we please just put this past us?”  

Katsuki clenches his fists. “And I’m saying that he had no reason to worry about me, because I was just fucking fine! All he ever does is look down on me. It’s like he thinks I’m this weak-ass bitch, and he’s so much better than I am.”  

“No,” you frown. “Like I said, he worries about everyone, not just you. You’re not the exception, Katsuki. Some people tend to worry more than others. That’s just the kind of person he is. Just because you’re strong doesn’t mean people can’t worry about you. I don’t get why you think it’s such a bad thing. It shows that they care. It means that they value you. It doesn’t mean they think you’re below them.”  

“I don’t need anyone to worry about me—least of all a Quirkless weakling like him,” he spits.  

You really don't know what else to say. You're always running in circles with this guy. He's just too tied up in his flawed way of thinking. He believes that any sort of concern directed his way is automatically some form of mockery. You wish you could help him think more clearly, but you just don't know how. 

“I care about you, Katsuki. I care about you, and that means I worry too. Even though I know you’re so much stronger than I am. Don’t you see that it’s not about being strong or weak? I care about you because you’re important to me. It’s just that simple.”  

For just a moment, Katsuki’s eyes widen, and he looks like he's finally starting to understand.  

He raises your hopes, only to immediately dash them. 

“I’m important to you,” he swallows. He's thankful for the dark of night, otherwise you would’ve noticed that he's blushing right now. “You mean that, right?”  

“Of course I do,” you nod. “I’ve known you for so long. You’re still my friend.”  

Katsuki just stares at you, and there's something weirdly ominous about the way he does it, without so much as blinking once.  

“If I’m so important to you, then tell Deku you never want to see him again.”  

“What?”  

You can't help the gasp that leaves your lips. Seriously, what in the world is he on about now? There's no way you're ever going to do something like that. He's acting crazy.  

“You know that’s never going to happen,” you grimace. “Just stop it, Katsuki. If that’s your idea of a joke, it really isn’t funny.”  

Katsuki’s eyes are completely wide. “Who said I was joking? You’re the one who started running your mouth about how important I am to you and all that shit. So, I’m calling your bluff. If I was actually important to you, then you would cut that shitty nerd out of your life, because you know just how much he gets under my skin. Unless you’re saying he’s more important to you than I am.”  

Before you can even muster up a response, Katsuki has already stepped closer to you. He grabs you by the hand, except unlike whenever you hold Izuku’s hand, this sensation is far from pleasant. Actually, it even borders on painful, because of how hard he keeps squeezing your fingers.  

It hurts, and quite frankly, he's freaking you out.  

“There’s no way you think that fucking loser is better than me... right?” Katsuki insists. He refuses to let go of your hand, despite the fact that you keep trying to shake him off. Everything about him right now, from the tone of his voice to that unsettling look in his eyes, just reeks of desperation. He only ever seems to get this desperate whenever Izuku is involved.  

That's what you believe, however, the reality is slightly different. 

You and Izuku together—that is what makes Katsuki’s blood boil like no other.  

“Katsuki, I don’t think either of you is better or worse,” you try to explain. By now, you’ve given up on trying to push him away or make him let go of your hand. You just hope that you can get him to calm down. “Please, can you just stop this? I really want all three of us to be friends again. I hate how things turned out.”  

Perhaps one day, in the distant future, the situation would improve. But if you asked Katsuki right now, he would rather die than ever make amends with that shitty freckled nerd. He hates Izuku with every fiber of his being, and not only because he's Quirkless.  

Because he's stolen you from him.  

“You don’t give a fuck about me,” Katsuki chuckles dryly. “I doubt you ever did. Deku was the one you always made googly eyes at. Stop pretending like you want anything to do with me. That kind of fake shit makes me sick to my goddamn stomach.”

You try to protest, but he's already walking away. He steps inside his house and slams the door shut, not even bothering to glance back in your direction.  

Katsuki is gone, and you are left outside in the cold, completely alone. You raise your head and look up at the sky. It's so endlessly vast and dark. Not a single star is in sight. You know that they're out there, somewhere, hidden behind a black veil, but since you can't actually see them, it does little to comfort you.  

Whatever happiness you felt earlier was clearly destined to be short-lived. The day has ended on an awful note after all.

Chapter Text

You huff, the warmth of your breath condensing into a small cloud. It's especially cold today, but thankfully, all of this running around is keeping your body temperature up. Still, you can't help but long to be back inside your house, relaxing under a kotatsu while sipping on tea.  

If not for the mission you are currently trying to conquer, you would never have been caught dead braving the cold of winter like this.  

[NEW MISSION: Run 20 kilometers within 8 hours.]  

This is one of those missions that has a time limit on it, which means that if you don't complete it fast enough, you can't obtain any rewards. Given the time constraint on this one, you have no choice but to complete the mission all in one go, and even though you're nearing your 16th kilometer, it certainly isn't getting any easier.  

I’m so... tired. Goddammit... 

You know it can't be helped. This is how your Quirk works, and all you can really do is try to make the most of it.  

Your 20-kilometer run has led you far away from your normal route, but it's probably about time to start circling back to the nearest train station. Even though you are tired beyond belief, practically dead on your feet, seeing a different part of the city for a change isn't all bad. Winters in Musutafu are freezing cold, no doubt about it, but there's something about seeing all the buildings and trees covered in fluffy white snow that's just so pretty. Not just pretty, but peaceful. You like to imagine various families inside their homes, smiling happily as they gaze out their windows and admire the tranquil beauty this season has to offer.  

“Fucking snow. Fucking ice.”

Apparently, not everyone seems to like it as much as you do. Having to catch your breath for a few moments, you slow to a halt and unwittingly lock eyes with a young man who keeps grimacing as he kicks bits of snow and ice out of his path. You don't mean to stare, but you just can't help it. With an appearance like his, it's hard not to. 

His hair is ebony black, darker than the night itself, which makes his pale blue eyes stand out that much more by comparison. That's not the part that caught your attention, though. Rather, it's the multitude of metallic stitches strewn across his face and other parts of his body, and the fact that a vast expanse of his skin has been scarred to a deep purple shade.  

He seems to hate the snow, the cold, and just about every other part of winter. You can't entirely blame him for it. Although it looks pretty, it can certainly be a bit of a pain to deal with. Everything runs slower in winter. Traffic, for one, and people often become more sluggish at school and at their jobs too. It's an inconvenience, put simply.  

Still. Something about this guy’s expression, which is completely and utterly hateful, makes it seem like he has a personal grudge against the weather.

Well, not that it's really any of your business. You draw in a sharp breath, giving yourself a few last moments before getting back into your run. 

You have every intention of leaving, but suddenly, you can't.  

Because there's blood dripping down the man’s face.  

“Goddammit,” he mutters, wiping the blood away. “Stupid staples are coming undone again. That old man did such a shitty job...”  

He says it so nonchalantly, even though you can only imagine just how painful it must be. What did he do to land his body in such a state? How did he get all those scars? It's the sort of scarring you can only obtain through a gruesome accident, like being engulfed by flames.  

You aren't sure why exactly—perhaps it's your instinct as a budding hero—but you just can't walk away. You can't leave him alone. His voice is so placid and devoid of emotion, and yet, his eyes are sadder than you can put into words.  

“Are... are you alright?”  

You approach him hesitantly, clutching your sides because of the cold. The bleeding is getting worse by the second. It isn't the sort of injury he can just leave unattended. He needs to get medical care, urgently.  

He must not realize you're even talking to him, because it takes a while for him to turn his head in your direction. 

“You’re bleeding,” you swallow, then rifle through your pockets, only to let out a sigh. “Darn. I was hoping I might have a napkin. Should I call an ambulance? I’m worried that it might get worse if you don’t—”  

“What the hell are you doing?”  

His eyes are wide and disbelieving. You understand that most people aren't all that keen on being approached by strangers, but surely, he must understand your concern. He's in a terrible state. It would’ve been crazy to walk past him and pretend like you never saw anything.  

“You’re hurt,” you say simply, convinced that's explanation enough. “It looks like it must be super painful, so I’m worried. Is there anyone I can call for you to come and help? I really think you should get it looked at as soon as possible.”  

Butting into someone’s business is a hero’s job, as All Might said. If their wellbeing is on the line, then it's your responsibility to do so, even if your help isn't necessarily wanted.  

Still, there's a difference between not wanting help and loathing the very idea of it.  

Which is exactly how this guy seems to feel.  

“Aw, how cute,” he chuckles dryly. The tone of his voice is teasing, insulting, even, and based on the dull look in his eyes, you can tell that he's far from amused. “What, are you trying to become a hero or something? Look at you pretending to care. Just like everyone always does. There’s nothing but fakes in this world. Our entire society is built on lies.”  

You have no clue what he's ranting about, but it's clear that this isn't going well. Even though you're still concerned, you're also starting to have second thoughts about this whole thing. He's clearly lucid enough to speak coherently, so he can probably sort out his issues on his own. The fact that you tried to help is good enough, or at least, that's what you're choosing to tell yourself.  

Right. It's time to bow your head and leave.  

You turn away, but don't end up making it far. There's a hand holding onto you by the wrist, and for some reason, it's starting to burn. 

You scream, but it's too late. He pulls you in, a rueful smile blooming across his lips. From this close up, you realize that his eyes aren't just pale, they're almost ghost-like. Looking into them does more than just unsettle you. It fucking terrifies you. 

He lights up a blue flame in the palm of his hand, and much to your horror, brings it up against your face, nearly close enough to burn your skin off.  

“P-Please stop,” you tremble, locked in place and unable to move. If you struggle too much, he'll surely use his flame Quirk to burn you. There's nowhere for you to go.  

You are so, so scared.  

“Should’ve minded your own business,” he sneers. Droplets of blood are still rolling down his cheeks. Some of them soak into the gaps of his scar tissue; others still fall all the way down and drip off his chin.  

You don't understand why this is happening. All you did was express a bit of concern. Where is the harm in showing someone that you care? Why is he making it seem like such a bad thing?  

Do you... really deserve this?  

You already know that your questions will go unanswered, but it doesn't stop you from feeling like this is all terribly unfair. When you try to scream out again, hoping that someone might hear you, he uses his flames to lightly burn the length of your arm. It hurts unlike anything you’ve ever felt before, and you swear you nearly black out for a moment.

It's winter, and it's bone-chillingly cold. The streets are practically vacant. Nobody likes to go out in this weather.  

Which means that no one will come and save you.

You feel as though your life is flashing right in front of your eyes, and in that moment, you realize you don't have the luxury of waiting around for help. You need to help yourself. If you're really going to become a hero—if you're going to live to see another day—then you have to act now.   

He must not have expected you to lean in closer to him, rather than keep trying to pull away and shake him off. For that very reason, he also doesn't expect you to bring your lips to his and kiss him. The shock alone is enough to render him momentarily dumbstruck. 

His skin is scarred beyond repair, and it feels even rougher when compared to the smoothness of your own. You've kissed people before, but all of this feels completely foreign to you. It doesn't feel the way a real kiss should. It brings tears to your eyes, makes you want to curse the world for putting you in this horrible situation.  

You hate it, but you have no choice. It's your only course of action. 

[Use Charm on Dabi?] 

>>[YES] 

“Stop it,” you beg, or rather, demand. “Let... let me go. Stop hurting me. Let me go right now.”  

In the back of your mind, you're terrified that your Quirk might fail. Perhaps it isn't effective on everyone. Perhaps now is the moment where you discover what your limitations are.  

But you're desperate, and you wholeheartedly want to live. As an act of mercy, the universe answers your prayers, and Dabi finally lets go.  

You run as fast as you possibly can, not daring to look back. Tears stain your cheeks, and you wail out over and over again. It feels difficult to breathe. Every breath you take gets stuck in your chest, and soon enough, you're lightheaded because there's not enough air reaching your brain.  

Even so, you run. You run to the point that you nearly lose consciousness. You run until it feels like your organs are being crushed under the weight of your diaphragm. You aren't even sure where you're going, but you just run.  

Eventually, you stop, but only because your legs finally give way. You collapse on the side of the road, frantically gasping for breath. Your tears have since crystallized from the cold.  

You nearly died back there. For the first time, you realize just how dangerous the path you’ve chosen for yourself is. As a hero, you will likely have to face off against all sorts of villains, just like Dabi—if not worse.  

You nearly died, but your Quirk saved you. If nothing else, you can at least take solace in the fact that your powers have the potential to do good.  

You sniffle one last time, slapping your cheeks to try and get a hold of yourself. There's no point in crying. It was terrifying, no doubt about it, but it's all in the past now. You need to face forward and use this incident to become stronger.

You are safe. Thanks to your Quirk, you are going to be okay. 

And yet, you aren't.  

From this moment on, Dabi won't be able to get you out of his mind.

It takes a while for you to muster up the courage to tell people about what happened. To some extent, you blame yourself, even though you had nothing but good intentions at the time. You tell yourself that if only you were more cautious, hadn’t been so quick to butt into someone else’s business, perhaps the whole thing could have been avoided.  

You are a hero at heart, but you aren't strong enough yet, and for that, you'd paid the price.  

“A villain?!” your parents exclaim. “Oh, goodness! Are you alright, sweetheart? Is there anything we can do to help?”  

“I’m okay. It was scary, but... I’m fine.”  

You smile brightly, the way you always do, so as to reassure the people around you that they have nothing to worry about. You're used to putting on a brave face. After being Izuku’s friend for so long, it's become natural to hide your pain so that it doesn't affect the people dear to you. Besides, this much is nothing. You can deal with it. Sure, it was a close encounter—too close, as a matter of fact—but the important thing is that you're okay now. There's no reason to dwell on it.

You keep trying to convince yourself of that fact, but eventually, your flimsy facade crumbles. 

“[Name], I heard,” Izuku gasps. His eyes are wide, and they tremble as he takes in your expression. “The villain. You must have been so scared. I-Is everything okay? Did he... hurt you?”  

It was your intention to keep a straight face. Perhaps even smile in reassurance, the way you did when your parents had asked the same question.  

But for some reason, you're unable to. Even though you're used to putting Izuku’s needs above your own—always worrying about him and doing your best never to let him see that every now and then, you struggle too—this time, you just can't keep it together.  

So, you cry.  

You cry for two reasons. One, it was fucking terrifying. Even now, you can vividly recall Dabi’s sinister blue flames, burning so close to your face that the heat is like some sort of phantom, still clinging to the surface of your skin. You cry from the fear of nearly having had your life cut short. You cry because it was all so utterly overwhelming, and mere seconds turned out to be the difference between life and death. 

And two, you cry because of how weak you are. Your powers are next to useless unless you kiss someone first. Even then, there's no guarantee that they'll completely fall under your control. The way you are right now, you have no choice but to resort to a kiss, and it's only just dawning on you that you will have to kiss all sorts of people—people you don't like. Criminals and murderers, and everyone else in between.  

A kiss is supposed to be an intimate act, reserved for the people you care for or cherish more than the rest. But for you, it's simply a means to an end, which both disgusts you and makes you incredibly, hopelessly sad.  

That's why you're crying right now. And poor Izuku, completely caught off guard by your tears, can only panic and splutter incoherently.

“I-It’s going to be okay!” he tries to insist. He approaches you unsurely, cheeks already reddening. You're too busy sobbing, so you don't take note of how hesitant he is to wrap his arms around you. Normally, you're the one to initiate a hug, because he's simply too shy to work up the nerve.  

But Izuku can tell that you're in pain. When faced with the gut-wrenching sight of your crying face, he's momentarily able to put his embarrassment aside. 

The second he embraces you, he immediately wishes he did it sooner. Having you in his arms like this, relishing in how soft your body feels against his own... 

By all accounts, it makes him feel guilty.

Here you are, crying your eyes out, and yet he is distracted by his selfish, perverse thoughts.  

“You’re alright, [Name],” Izuku reassures you. “I’m here with you, so... everything’s going to be just fine. I’ll protect you, no matter what it takes.” 

Every few seconds, he pats your head, and you're slowly starting to get a hold of yourself again. You eventually manage to fully open your eyes, having to wipe away your tears so that you can see him more clearly. 

“I-I’m sorry,” you sniffle. “I feel like a baby. I keep trying to tell myself that it wasn’t that bad. I’m sure Katsuki must have been just as scared when he was held hostage by the slime villain... but I bet he didn’t bawl his eyes out like this.”  

Izuku’s clenches his jaw. “There’s no need to bring up Kacchan.” 

“I get it, but—” 

“Kacchan isn’t here. Let’s not talk about him.” He pauses, then assumes a much whinier, needier tone. “I don’t want to talk about him right now. I want us to focus on you. Please?”  

“Okay. You’re right.” You hug him back more tightly than before, resting your head against his shoulder. The image of Dabi, with that cruel, all-too-wide smirk of his, keeps playing in your mind. If you close your eyes, he's there. If you keep them open, he's still there. No matter what you do, the memory is simply too fresh in your mind.  

Still. Knowing that Izuku is here with you, that he is the one holding you in his arms right now... you have to admit that it helps.

Until it doesn't.  

“What was the villain like?” you hear Izuku mumble. “I-I mean, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I understand it might be easier to just try and forget. But if you wanted to get things off your chest, I’m here to listen.”  

Forgetting isn't going to happen anytime soon, and honestly, you don't want to become the sort of person that just runs from their problems. Perhaps Izuku is right. Perhaps by talking about it, by facing what happened head-on, it will be easier to regain some semblance of control. 

And so, you tell him, not realizing just how big of a mistake that is.  

“I had to use my Quirk on him in order to get away,” you swallow. “He was going to burn me. He was so close, and I... I didn’t know what else to do. I’m lucky it worked. It was a gamble, but in the moment, I really had nothing else to lose.”  

Izuku blinks. He doesn't quite seem to understand.  

“Used your Quirk...? You mean... you kissed him?”  

“I had to. There was no other way.”  

“But he’s... a villain,” Izuku says simply. You're certain it isn't his intention, but the way that he's staring at you right now, and that low, suspiciously ominous voice of his... 

It feels like he's blaming you.   

Your cheeks begin to heat up from a mixture of indignance and shame. “I didn’t want to kiss him,” you insist. “I hated it. Of course I want nothing to do with a villain. But he was going to kill me, Izuku. I had to at least try something. And... it worked. If I hadn’t used my Quirk, I might not be standing in front of you right now.”  

Izuku tries to smile, but he does a terrible job of convincing both you and himself.  

“I just meant that it must have been awful, having to do something like that,” he says, in a hurry to correct his earlier words.  

“Yeah. That much is true.”

You close your eyes again and allow yourself to sink into Izuku’s arms. You have a strong feeling that Dabi will be plaguing your nightmares for a while. It'll be difficult to overcome, but you're thankful just to be alive. Things can always be worse. You need to be content with what you have. 

Izuku doesn't say anything else. You appreciate the silence, and it feels nice just to rest in his embrace for a while. But the reason Izuku suddenly stopped speaking isn't because it was out of consideration for you.  

It's as if he’s forgotten how to form any words. His mind is racing. His heart is pounding at a dizzying pace, with no sign of slowing down.

Once again, he feels horribly and utterly sick. 

She kissed someone else. I know she did it to protect herself. She did it to get out of that dangerous situation. But... she still kissed someone.  Again . 

Izuku knows it won't come true, but for just a split second, he wishes that your Quirk might disappear. 

Chapter Text

Since obtaining One for All, Izuku has been training day in and day out.  

You admire his dedication. You always have. It’s the very thing that makes him, well, him. There are plenty of ambitious people in this world, and you know that for a fact, but in terms of sheer perseverance and hard work, none of them will ever come close to Izuku.  

Within the past few months, Izuku has undergone a discernible change. The most obvious one is his appearance. Physically speaking, his muscles have become toned and firm, and even the way his clothes hang off his body is slightly different. You can still remember the day you accidentally walked in on him while he was changing and caught a glimpse of how chiseled his abdomen was. He was only in his underwear at the time, so needless to say, he screamed.  

Izuku’s progress makes you hopeful for the future. To see him push forward like this, despite how grueling All Might’s training must be... it makes you prouder than you can even put into words. You’ve been with him ever since you were a kid, so you know just how long he’s waited for a moment like this.  

It’s taken a while, but finally, his goal of becoming a hero is in reach.  

Naturally, you haven’t been slacking off all this time either. You’ve been training in your own way. As often as your Quirk will allow, in any case. You regret to admit that you’re still not terribly strong physically speaking, but that doesn’t mean that your Quirk is necessarily weak. It’s situational, you suppose. Given the right opportunity, you know it can make a big impact. It’s just a matter of creating those opportunities in the first place.  

U.A’s entrance exam is rapidly approaching, and you can only hope that it’s the sort of trial that will allow your powers to shine.  

But there’s no point in worrying needlessly. Right now, you’d much rather focus on the present, which happens to consist of sitting on a beach and admiring Izuku’s impressive feats of strength.  

“Keep going,” All Might hums, and he’s sitting on top of a refrigerator, of all things, easily adding several hundred pounds to its weight. Izuku grits his teeth while dragging the fridge through the sand, but he doesn’t complain, not even once.  

You wish you could help out, but All Might told you that this is Izuku’s task, and Izuku’s task alone. He needs to prove that he’s ready to inherit All Might’s Quirk, and while it makes you feel a bit guilty to just watch, you don’t doubt that Izuku will pull through in the end.  

He is your beloved, irreplaceable best friend. You will always look up to him and take pride in his accomplishments. Nothing will ever change that.  

After cleaning up for a while longer, Izuku eventually lets out a sigh and wipes a hand across his sweaty brow. He must be tired. More so than he can even express. But regardless of the exhaustion seeping into his poor, overworked muscles, he still manages to look over at you with a broad smile.  

When he smiles at you like this, you’re convinced he must be an angel.  

“That should be enough for today,” All Might nods, sounding pleased with his progress. “Go on. I’m sure you’d like to spend some time with your friend.”

Izuku smiles once more, bows his head and thanks All Might for his patience, then bounds over to you—almost as if his fatigue has completely melted away.  

“[Name]!” he beams, plopping down onto the sand beside you. “Thanks for waiting. Sorry. I hope it wasn’t too boring just sitting around and watching.”  

You shake your head. “Not at all. It was really impressive. I seriously can’t get over the fact that you can lift heavy stuff like that now. You’ve gotten so strong!”  

“N-Not really,” he stammers, then shyly glances down at his feet. “I’ve still got a long way to go. But I’m glad that you think I’ve been making progress. It’s been rough, and All Might even had to adjust his training regimen a few times, but if I keep going like this, then U.A won’t just be a dream anymore, right?”

“It’s more than a dream, Izuku. Soon enough, it’s going to become reality.”  

You return his smile, then reach over to ruffle his curly hair. Your words aren’t just intended as cheap flattery. You wholeheartedly believe in what you're saying, just like you’ve always believed in him. All these years... not once have you ever doubted him.  

And Izuku knows this. He knows this, and he’s so, so thankful for it.  

More than you’ll ever understand.  

“Here,” you say, holding out a bottle of juice. “I got this from a vending machine a little while ago. I hope it’s still nice and cold. If not, I can buy another one.”  

Izuku grabs the bottle without wasting a beat. “You bought this... for me?”  

“Mhm. You must be thirsty, right?”  

“Th-Thank you. Thank you, [Name]. Thank you so much...”  

You can’t help but giggle. He’s making such a big deal, over a bottle of juice, of all things. It’s such a small favor, it’s hardly even worth mentioning.  

What you fail to realize is that you could have given him a rock—or a pebble, even. It wouldn’t have made any difference. Anything, so long as it’s coming from you, is precious and worthy of praise.  

Izuku holds firmly to this belief, and he doubts it’ll ever change. That’s why, even though he drinks all of the juice, he saves the bottle and later tucks it away in his closet for safekeeping.  

Perfect.  

That’s what you are. So kind and patient, having put up with him all these years. Will he ever find another person that even comes close to you? No. The answer is clear, so there’s no point in even asking.  

Humans are born imperfect. They are all flawed, one way or another. Izuku tends to assume the best of people, and he strives to protect their smiles, but he knows that despite all of that, no one is perfect. Not even his hero, All Might.  

You are, and always will be, the exception.  

Izuku can hardly contain his smile as he gazes upon you. It’s been such a long day. He’s more exhausted than he can even put into words, and yet, just sitting next to you like this is enough to keep him going. It energizes him, makes him pulse with excitement. He wonders why that is. Because you’re his best friend? Because you’re so nice and easy to talk to?  

Midoriya Izuku is in love, but he doesn’t realize it yet.

But when he does—and it’s a question of when, not if—will you be able to look at him the same way? Will your relationship remain intact, or will it fall to pieces, having been damaged beyond repair?  

For the time being, both of you are blind to the chaos that is slowly building, so you just lean your head against Izuku’s shoulder and enjoy the sunset.

You should make the most of this while it lasts.

“Thanks for agreeing to come along, honey. This family has a son that should be around your age, and he’s apparently going to be applying for U.A too. It should give you something to talk about.”  

You smile and nod. It seems like your parents have made recently made friends with another couple, and they’re excited to get together for dinner with them. Seeing as the couple have a teenager themselves, your parents probably felt like it would be a good opportunity for you to make a new friend, and since you’re by no means antisocial, you agreed to join them.  

Besides, you think it’ll be fun. Especially if it turns out that you’ll both end up at U.A together. Maybe you’ll even be in the same class.  

“Thanks so much for having us,” your mother beams, then proceeds to wave you forward with a smile. “Ah, this is our daughter, [Name].”  

As a polite gesture, you bow your head. “It’s nice to meet you,” you greet. “I’m [Name]. Thank you for inviting us over and being friends with my parents.”  

“Well, isn’t she adorable?” they chuckle. “For a teenager, she’s surprisingly well-mannered. We really wish we could say the same for our son. Go on, Neito. It’s your turn to introduce yourself.”  

The boy’s name is Monoma Neito, and perhaps you’re reading into things too much, but he initially strikes you as a bit pretentious.  

“Hello,” he says simply, then sticks his nose up into the air, as if he just smelled something rotten.  

Well, then.  

You try not to take offense to it. After all, it’s possible he might just be shy, or introverted.  

“Hello,” you reply with a smile. “I hear you want to get into U.A. I do too, but I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit nervous about the entrance exam.”  

Monoma doesn’t reply. He just lifts a brow and peers at you through his grayish-blue eyes.  

Thankfully, it doesn’t take long for the parents to start chatting up a storm, which gives you and Monoma the chance to get to know each other a bit better. He leads you to his room, perhaps a bit begrudgingly, and you take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new environment.  

“So,” he says, “what’s your Quirk?”  

It’s a remarkably common question in today’s day and age, but unfortunately, it’s one you still have yet to get used to. After all, it’s not exactly easy to disclose that you need to kiss someone every time you want to use it.  

You smile shyly. “Um... I can kind of control people. Just briefly, I mean. But only if certain conditions are met.”  

“And what are those conditions?”  

“M-Maybe we’ll save that for another time,” you wave off, awkwardly clearing your throat. “But anyways. I told you mine, so what’s yours?”  

 Monoma purses his lips. “Hm. I’m not sure I need to tell you.”  

“What?” you immediately gape. “No fair! I literally just told you mine!”  

“I asked, but no one said you had to answer,” he merely shrugs. Goodness, what a cocky little bastard. You can already tell he’ll cause a lot of people headaches in the future.  

For a few moments, you’re silent, but then you flash him a cunning smile.  

“If I wanted to, I could just use my Quirk on you, and then you’d have to tell me.”  

Of course, you’re just bluffing. You don’t like using your powers for your own selfish motives. That’s not why Quirks came into being, after all. They’re meant to help people and contribute towards society. You are by no means a saint, but as someone who is striving to become a hero, you still follow a certain moral code.  

Not that Monoma knows that.  

He hastily backs away. “That would be awfully rude of you,” he mutters. “When you’re in my home, no less.”  

You decide to tease him for a while longer, so you move closer to him, inch by inch, and it’s funny how red his face is getting. Whether out of embarrassment or frustration, you can’t be sure.  

Eventually, you let out a chuckle.  

“I’m kidding,” you muse. “I wouldn’t do that to you. But with a power like mine, people can be quick to assume the worst. Anyways, I promise that no matter how often we see each other, I’ll never deceive you or try to take you by surprise. I’ll only ever use my Quirk on you if you let me.”  

Monoma keeps his guard up for a few more moments, but he eventually realizes that you must be telling the truth. It seems like he’s going to drop the issue altogether.  

Or at least, that’s what you think.  

“Ha! Caught you off-guard!” Monoma laughs, then quickly touches you on the shoulder. You’re not sure what he’s trying to do, or why he looks so full of himself all of a sudden, so you can only frown.  

It doesn’t take long for him to frown too. 

“...huh?” he mumbles, staring down at his hands in disbelief. “I swear I just copied it. Crap. Is this a dud Quirk?”  

You blink repeatedly. “Copied it? Copied what?”  

“Tell me the conditions required for your Quirk to take effect,” he says.  

Instead of telling him what he wants, you just cross your arms at him. “I already said I wouldn’t do that. Not yet, at least.”  

“Shit...”  

He doesn’t explain right away, but after a few more moments of irritated huffing, he eventually lets out a sigh. 

“My Quirk lets me copy other Quirks,” he reluctantly admits. “So long as I touch them first. I thought I’d take you by surprise and turn your powers around on you... but I guess it didn’t work. This happens sometimes. Not all Quirks are able to be copied, unfortunately.”  

He can’t see the screen?  

You’re not sure how your Quirk would appear to others, but in order to control someone, he would have to kiss them first, and he obviously doesn’t know that. But maybe he’s right, and your Quirk just can’t be copied by anyone. You already knew that it’s rather unique, and this instance seems to further solidify it. 

“I guess this means I win,” you grin smugly.  

Monoma scowls. “Hardly. You just got lucky, that’s all.”  

“Sure, sure. Whatever you say.”  

He reacts by rolling his eyes at you, but you’re unfazed and just keep grinning at him.  

“Still,” you hum. “A Quirk that lets you copy other Quirks. That’s really strong! That means you can use so many different abilities!”  

“Strong? Well, I guess.” He seems a bit happy with your praise; he even lifts his chin up, as if he’s boasting. “It’s certainly a lot more versatile than yours. You mentioned that you feel nervous about the U.A entrance exam, but I can’t say the same.”  

“Really?” 

“Of course,” Monoma huffs. “Why would I let myself be discouraged right at the very first obstacle?”  

Well, he’s right that there’s no point in driving yourself insane by worrying, but it’s not like your nerves will just disappear overnight. You also can’t even tell if he genuinely feels that way, or if he’s just putting on a brave front.  

But you suppose it doesn’t matter. None of it matters, so long as you both end up at U.A one way or another.  

You tilt your head to the side and smile. “It’s good to be confident. Your Quirk is strong, so I can understand why you’d have faith in your abilities. By the way, how long can you copy someone’s Quirk for? Does it just get overwritten when you copy someone else’s?”  

“There’s a time limit. But as long as I touch the person again, I can easily activate it once more, so it’s not too difficult to manage.”  

Wow. There are so many amazing powers out there. I always thought Katsuki’s was super strong, but I’m sure that if I get to U.A, I’ll meet countless other people that are strong like him.  

You’re happy that Monoma has such a cool ability, and you feel confident about his prospects of passing the entrance exam. You can only hope that with your Quirk, you’ll be able to do the same.  

No. You should do more than just hope. No matter what it takes, you’ll turn your dream into a reality, just like Izuku did. 

“I guess that’s probably enough talking about Quirks for one day,” you shrug. “But at least we’ve established that my Quirk beats yours.”  

Monoma gets awfully red in the face, and you laugh, realizing that he doesn’t very much like the idea of losing.  

“Fine, then! Let’s play Uno! Prepare for a humiliating defeat!"

It was a fun day.  

Monoma is clearly the competitive type, and true to his word, you eventually did end up losing to him in Uno. But only after you’d won five rounds in a row. You actually started feeling a bit bad for him after a while, and you even considered letting him win out of pity, but thankfully, he managed to pull through on his own. 

Anyways, you ended up having a good time, and you’d like to think that you’ve made a friend, if the new contact in your phone is any indication.  

Later that night, you lie on your bed, watching videos on your laptop that occasionally prompt a chuckle or two. It’s late, and truth be told, you’re half falling asleep by this point, but you keep on staring lethargically at your screen, waiting for fatigue to finally wash over you.  

Before it can, though, your phone starts buzzing.  

You pause the video, then grab your phone and take a quick glance at the caller ID. It’s Izuku, so naturally, you pick up.  

“Hey, Izuku,” you hum, and you wonder if your smile carries over into your voice. “What’s up? How did training go today?”  

“Hi, [Name],” he replies happily. “It was good. I just, um... I-I just wanted to talk for a bit. Sorry for calling so late in the night. I hope I didn’t wake you up.” 

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t sleeping. What did you want to talk about?”  

“Nothing in particular, I guess.” He pauses, and you can hear him swallow nervously. “I just... wanted to hear your voice for a bit.”  

You can’t help but giggle, because you feel the exact same way. It’s impossible not to be in a good mood whenever you’re talking to him. 

“Aw,” you muse. “Did you miss me?”  

Perhaps you shouldn’t tease him too much, because already, you imagine him being red as a beet.  

“A-Anyways!” he splutters. “What... what did you get up to today? My day was just the same training as always, so there’s nothing really worth mentioning.”  

Obviously, you can't possibly know how he’ll react to your next words, so you utter them freely and confidently.  

“My parents made friends with another family, and I had dinner at their place earlier,” you say. “I met someone my age there. His name is Monoma, and he’s planning on going to U.A, just like us. I already knew as much, but a lot of people are super passionate about becoming heroes. There’s bound to be tons of competition, but it still doesn’t change what we need to do.”  

For some reason, Izuku isn’t saying anything, so you continue.  

“Monoma’s Quirk lets him copy other Quirks. Isn’t that cool? Ah, but he tried to copy mine, and it didn’t work, so I guess he’s got his own limitations to worry about. He’s kind of a sore loser, but it’s pretty funny to see how strongly he reacts to things. I beat him at Uno over and over again. I was actually kind of starting to feel guilty about it, haha.”  

Strange. It’s still silent. Perhaps you’ve been rambling on for too long and he hasn’t had a chance to interject.  

“Izuku?” you frown. “Everything okay?”  

The call ends abruptly, and you’re left staring down at your phone in disbelief.  

A few moments later, you receive a message.  

[Izuku] 

Sorry!  

I think I lost service for a second 

But it’s late and I need to go to bed, so we can just talk another time 

Goodnight!  

[Name] 

Oh, it’s all good 

I’ll talk to you tomorrow 

Goodnight, Izuku! 

(seen)  

You don’t usually assume the worst of people. It’s partly due to your cheery disposition, and partly because as an aspiring hero, you like to see others for their good qualities rather than the bad.  

Izuku in particular is free of any suspicion. He’s been your best friend for years, and you’ve stuck together through thick and thin. Why would you assume that he hung up on you on purpose? He’s never once hung up on you, and it’s inexplicable to think that he would start now.  

You are more than content to believe that it was a simple technical difficulty, so you set your phone aside and start getting ready for bed.  

Meanwhile, in another house in that very same neighborhood, a freckled boy sits by his desk, staring vacantly at the wall ahead. Izuku doesn’t know how to explain what he just did. Everything was going just fine, up until... up until you mentioned someone else.  

Izuku’s shoulders begin to shake, and slowly but surely, tears fill his eyes.  

It’s normal for you to make friends. You’re pretty and kind, smart and lovely, so of course other people would be drawn to you.

It’s the rational conclusion. It’s what makes perfect sense.  

So then, why does he hate the thought of it so much?  

Chapter Text

Your relationship with Katsuki is, for lack of a better word, strained.  

These past few months have been strange. Ever since the slime villain incident, Katsuki has been keeping to himself a lot more. He doesn’t really go out of his way to harass Izuku. At the very least, not as much. He prefers to try and ignore Izuku’s existence entirely, to pretend like the freckled boy isn’t even there, and while it makes you incredibly sad, you suppose it might be the best solution for the time being.  

It’s better than having Izuku be constantly bullied.  

That’s what you try to tell yourself. This isn’t a permanent solution, not by any means. You’re still holding out hope that one day, they will reconcile. That you’ll be able to put all this awful stuff in the past.  

But the animosity is still too fresh, too ripe. Both Katsuki and Izuku need time to work through their problems, and maybe when they’re a bit older and more mature, things will be better.  

Still. Katsuki is your childhood friend, and you care about him more than you can express, in spite of everything he’s put Izuku through. 

Opportunities to meet with him are hard to come by, and for that reason, you’re not likely to turn them down.  

[Katsuki] 

Arcade. 

In an hour.  

You coming?  

You stare down at the screen of your phone, furrowing your brows together. It’s very much like Katsuki to invite you out without giving you any prior notice. The two of you haven’t talked in quite a while, save for the occasional greetings inside the classroom (which are rather one-sided, since he ignores you most of the time).  

He’s inviting you out like nothing ever happened. As if him and Izuku aren’t on bad terms, and you haven’t borne witness to their terrible dynamic over the years.  

You feel guilty, especially since you know Izuku would be upset to find out that you accepted, but you just can’t help it.  

For all his faults, Katsuki is your friend too.  

[Name] 

Alright  

I can make it there in about an hour 

Thank you for inviting me! 

[Katsuki] 

Ya whatever  

He responds dismissively, as if he could care less whether or not you show up. But if that were the case, then he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to ask you in the first place, right?  

You choose to believe that, to some degree, Katsuki still cares about you and wants you to be part of his life.  

And you’re right in thinking that. In fact, you don’t know just how right you are, and how much Katsuki obsesses over the thought of you.  

If it were up to him, you would be by his side every minute of the day.  

So, you go. You get ready as quickly as you can, and you can’t deny that your heart is racing as you rush over to the arcade. It’s been so long. You can’t even remember the last time you and Katsuki hung out like this. It’s wishful thinking on your part, but you can’t help but hope that at least for a day, things will go back to normal. Not really normal, but an illusion that appears to be normal.  

You’ll take anything at this point.  

When you finally get to the arcade, Katsuki is loitering around the entrance, with his hands shoved in his pockets. Your chest swells at the sight of him. A part of you feared that he might actually stand you up. That this was just some sick prank meant to get back at you since you constantly take Izuku’s side.  

But no, he’s really here. He’s here, and for the short amount of time you have together, you’d like to make the most of it.  

“Katsuki,” you beam. “Hey. Did you get here a while ago?”  

“You’re late,” he immediately snaps, but although his brows are furrowed, his gaze softens the longer he stares at you. “Whatever. Let’s head inside. I hope you’re ready to get your ass kicked.”  

He’s of course referring to the arcade games you’ll be playing together, but internally, you wince, remembering how often he’s said similar words to Izuku—threats of violence that turned out to be more than just threats.  

No. Don’t think of that right now. Let’s just try to have a good time.  

You follow Katsuki inside the arcade, and after paying for some tokens, you roam around in search of the first game you’ll be playing.

“This one,” Katsuki gestures, and a smirk soon spreads across his lips. “I remember you being god-awful at racing games.”  

Heat rises to your cheeks, and you cross your arms, giving him a defiant look. “Not true,” you insist. “I’m good at all the games.”  

“Yeah, right. I bet I could beat you with my eyes closed.”  

“Okay, then,” you muse. “You have to keep your eyes closed the whole time we play.”  

“That’s not—ugh.” Katsuki rolls his eyes at you. “Obviously, I didn’t mean it literally. I know what you’re trying to do, smartass. It’s not gonna work.”  

Oh, well. He can't fault you for trying.  

“I can win,” you huff, sitting down in front of the machine. It’s less of a declaration and more so intended to hype yourself up.  

Katsuki takes his spot beside you, and you really are thankful that he called you out today, because for just a moment, you’re able to see him smile.  

Not a smirk, not a malicious grin, just an honest-to-goodness smile. Proof that in this moment, he’s feeling something other than anger, or condescension, or even jealousy.  

He looks happy, and that makes you happy.  

Of course, Katsuki’s smile disappears almost immediately, and it makes you wonder if you imagined the whole thing. He turns his attention towards the machine, inserts a few tokens, then grips down tightly on the steering wheel.  

“One ass-kicking coming right up,” he chuckles softly.  

You don’t bother correcting him, especially since you know he’s right. You probably are about to lose. But that’s okay.  

For even just a moment of normalcy, you’ll gladly let him laugh at your expense.  

It’s a good thing you’re not a sore loser, because as promised, Katsuki absolutely destroys you. It’s not even funny how bad he makes you look, and you suppose that’s a testament to how skilled he is at virtually everything he does. Honestly, you can’t help but feel that it’s a bit unfair. He could afford to share some of his talent with everyone else.  

“It was a close race,” you say, lying as easily as you breathe.  

Katsuki’s jaw drops open. “The fuck? I was literally doing laps around you, waiting for you to finish. You need to get your eyes checked.”  

“My eyes are perfectly fine. You can ask my doctor, if you want.”  

“Shut the fuck up,” he sighs. “God, you’re a pain in the ass. Come on, time for the next one. I’m not gonna be satisfied until I’ve beat you at every goddamn game this arcade has to offer.”  

He stands up, then grabs you by the arm, pulling you along. You stare down at the point where his fingers meet your skin. It’s been a long time since the two of you were this close. For the past few years, the distance between you has steadily been growing, but while he’s pulling you forward like this, you can’t help but be reminded of your childhood days. Back then, he always used to smile brightly and lead you through the forest.  

Back then, he and Izuku used to be friends.  

Fuck. Letting go of the past is a lot easier said than done.  

“This one next,” Katsuki points. He’s chosen a classic arcade fighting game. You used to play these a lot, and you figure you’ve got a much better chance at winning this one compared to the racing games. You don’t know what it is, but those steering wheels are just so goddamn hard to control. You hope it isn’t a telltale sign of what kind of driver you’ll be.  

You take your seat in front of the machine, waiting for him to do the same, but before you can, someone shoves you out of the way.

“Move,” a dry, raspy voice mutters. “I was here first.”  

He most definitely was not here first. You beat him to it by sitting down, and you raise a brow, a bit irked at how he forced his way in.  

“My friend and I were going to use this machine,” you say, pointing to Katsuki. It makes you happy that Katsuki doesn’t bother to correct you. Either he feels like it’s not worth the effort, or he genuinely does still consider you to be his friend.  

You’re choosing to believe that it’s the latter.  

The guy who just shoved you gives you a scathing, irritated look. His eyes are redder than blood, and although he’s got a hood on, you’re still able to make out his expression for the most part. Parts of his skin are visibly dry, and he seems to have a few scars as well. His hair, which is a light blue—veering towards silver—tumbles around his face in wild, unkempt locks.  

You don’t know it yet, but this man’s name is Shigaraki Tomura, and in the not-so-distant future, he will make your life a living hell. 

“Piss off,” Shigaraki spits. “I was here first, and I call dibs on the machine.”  

You reel back, offended. You’re used to being met with anger. After all, Katsuki is literally right beside you. But for some reason, the way this guy is glaring at you... it gives you a feeling that’s too uncomfortable to put into words. 

It feels like he’s not just irritated with you. He wholly and unequivocally despises you. 

There’s no explanation for it. You’ve barely spoken two words to him. But the longer he glares at you, the more you feel it, all the way in the depths of your soul.  

Perhaps it’s better to forfeit this machine and look for another one.  

“What the actual fuck is your problem?”  

Ah.  

You’d almost forgotten who you were with. Even though you’re ready to walk away and keep the situation from worsening, Katsuki clearly isn’t content to do the same.  

Instead, he slams his fist down on the machine and steps in front of you, making sure to glare back at Shigaraki with a hundred times more intensity.  

“This machine is ours,” he grits out. “[Name] sat down first. What are you, a fucking idiot? Go somewhere else before I knock your goddamn teeth out.”  

“Katsuki,” you try, tugging on the sleeve of his shirt. “Um... it’s okay. I don’t mind trying a different game first. We can always come back to this one later.”  

Neither of you can possibly comprehend how much danger you’re in, just by standing face to face with this guy. You also can’t possibly know the thoughts that are going through the other man’s mind, and as he narrows his eyes even further, his fingers instinctively inch towards you.  

In that moment, Shigaraki wonders: should he just go ahead and kill the both of you? You’re quite literally asking for it. The cocky blonde guy especially is grating at his nerves. Look at him, so full of himself, so confident that no one would ever dare to oppose him.

It’s pretentious bastards like these that need to be put in their place.  

But for all his impatience, for all his immaturity, Shigaraki isn’t a fool. He could probably kill quite a few people in this arcade, but sooner or later, a hero would be called, and then he would get caught. His sensei had told him time and time again to be careful. To not do anything needlessly risky and draw attention to himself.  

“Patience, Tomura. If you just listen to me... eventually, the world will be yours. Everything I do—all of it is for your sake.”  

Shigaraki itches to kill. But since killing is viewed as immoral, as bad, he can’t kill anywhere near as often as he would like.  

Instead, his desire to kill manifests as a strange tic, and rather than giving in to his urges, he scratches the skin on his neck until it goes raw. 

“You’re the one who’s a fucking idiot,” Shigaraki scoffs. “At least the girl is a bit more self-aware. Hero society has really given people a false sense of security, huh? That’s why you don’t even think twice before picking a fight with others.”  

Katsuki leans forward, completely unfazed. “Hurry up and fuck off, you goddamn creep. And quit giving [Name] all that side-eye. I’ll seriously beat the shit out of you.”  

Shigaraki can tell that Katsuki is protective of you. Perhaps you don’t realize it yourself, but from his perspective, it’s clear as day. The blonde has basically reverted back to his animal instincts, gotten all territorial and shit.  

I’d like to kill them, but now’s not the right time. Too many people.  

It takes a few moments, but Shigaraki eventually rises to his feet. Katsuki shuffles closer to you in response, even wraps an arm around your waist, as if he’s showing off. This idiot must think he’s won. Shigaraki finds it remarkably funny, when really, he could have killed the both of you in five seconds flat. 

But it’s fine. He’ll let Katsuki enjoy his presumed victory. Neither of you is fated to die today, but if you ever encounter him in the future, odds are that you won’t make it out alive.  

“Fix your attitude,” Shigaraki sneers. “Otherwise, you’ll seriously end up regretting it one day.”  

He walks off without another word, and you can tell that Katsuki is on the verge of chasing after him, but some part of you—call it gut feeling, or whatever—knows that it’s a bad idea.  

You pull Katsuki back and shake your head. “Leave him. There’s no point in wasting your time on someone like that. The machine is free now, so let’s play. Alright?”  

“Fucking hell,” Katsuki scowls. “So many goddamn assholes. I’m sick and tired of them.”  

Honestly, if you hadn’t grabbed him when you did, Katsuki would have probably dragged Shigaraki outside and tried to start a fight. If it came down to that, then even with all the self-restraint Shigaraki was trying to muster up, it would have undeniably ended in Katsuki’s death.  

“Don’t let him get to you,” you say, patting Katsuki on the back. “Some people just love to start shit for no reason.”  

It’s rather ironic, because Katsuki is guilty of the same thing, especially whenever Izuku is involved.  

But you figure it’s best not to mention that.  

“Fine,” Katsuki mutters, then sits down in front of the machine. “Come here. It’s time for you to get back on your losing streak.”

“I’ve only lost one game so far,” you protest. “That’s hardly a losing streak.”  

“Not yet, but it’s about to be. Just watch,” he says, throwing in a grin for added measure.  

Instead of snapping back with a playful insult of your own, you just smile at him.  

For a little while, it feels like things are the way they used to be.

“Here,” Katsuki says, and you blink as he shoves an oversized teddy bear into your arms. He’s just finished trading in the tickets he won from the arcade games, but it’s safe to say that you weren’t expecting him to use them like this.  

“Are you sure?” you ask, giving him a hesitant look. “You don’t need to do this. You can trade your tickets in for another prize. You’re the one that won, after all. I didn’t score that well. You should get something for yourself.”  

Katsuki rolls his eyes. “The hell are you nagging me for? I don’t want any of the crappy prizes they’re offering anyways. Girls like stuffed animals and shit, right? Just take it. Stop overthinking.”  

“Well, if you say so...”  

You feel warm and fuzzy as you press the teddy bear close to your chest. Katsuki probably doesn’t mean anything special by it. He had tickets to redeem, so he used them. It’s as simple as that.  

But that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be happy, right?  

“Thank you, Katsuki.” You grin widely, already thinking of a nice spot in your room that will be reserved for your new fluffy friend. “I wonder what I should name it.”  

“Something cool,” Katsuki says. “Like Skull-Crusher.”  

“Uh, I think I’ll pass on that one.”  

You’re about to leave the arcade, and even though you’re fond of your new gift, you can’t help but feel disappointed that the day is coming to an end. It was really nice while it lasted. Katsuki seems like his old self again. So long as you try not to think about Izuku too hard, it actually feels like you’re back to being normal friends.  

“Can we stop somewhere and grab some food?” you ask, hoping to extend this moment for as long as possible.  

Katsuki shrugs. “Sure. Fast food okay? There’s a place nearby.”  

“Yep!”  

Admittedly, you look a bit out of place walking into the store while holding your big-ass teddy bear, but you brush off the funny looks people give you. You’re too happy right now to care. Everything is going well. A day like this was long overdue, and you refuse to let anyone put a damper on your spirits.  

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for either of you to finish your food, and soon enough, you’re walking home together.  

“Um... thank you for inviting me out today.”  

Your voice is soft, hesitant. It’s strange hearing how awkward you sound, when you and Katsuki have known each other for nearly your entire lives. It just goes to show how easily relationships can be broken. 

“Don’t thank me,” Katsuki mutters. “I hate when you thank me for no reason.”  

“But I’m happy. I had a lot of fun today. Why is it wrong to thank you?”  

“It’s just weird. Shut up. I don’t know.”  

He avoids looking you in the eye. You don’t know what it is with him, why he struggles to ask for help, or why he seems to hate the idea of other people acknowledging that he did a good thing. Katsuki’s mind is a foreign, complex thing, and you doubt you’ll ever fully understand, but you’d like to at least try.  

“I had fun,” you say again, then smile and bury your face into the teddy bear’s soft, plush-like exterior. “Today was good. Even if I lost at all the games. Even if you kicked my ass a whole bunch of times. It was just fun. That’s why I’m thanking you. If you hadn’t invited me, I wouldn’t have had such a nice day.”  

Katsuki stares at you in silence, but after a few seconds, his face suddenly goes indescribably red. This happens sometimes. There are moments when you can tell how embarrassed he is, not that he’d ever admit to it.  

“Shut up,” he mutters, but the way he says it is soft, almost affectionate. “Acting like it’s such a big deal... you’re a weirdo. I guess some things never change.”  

You smile warmly. “Yeah. Some things never do.”  

It goes rather quiet after that, but you don’t mind. You’re perfectly content just walking next to him like this. You’ve been out for the better portion of the day, so the sun is starting to set, and the sky is tinged with breathtaking shades of orange and red. The teddy bear in your arms feels nice to hold onto, and Katsuki’s footsteps echo your own, which brings you a great deal of comfort.

In this moment, everything is perfect.  

You find yourself humming, incapable of suppressing your smile. At first, Katsuki stubbornly insists on avoiding your gaze, but he progressively steals more and more glances your way, until he finally can’t bear to look away. 

You’re so pretty. You’ve got the cutest smile he’s ever seen, and his heart thumps wildly when he realizes that you’re smiling right now because of him.  

If only it could always be like this. If only there wasn’t an insufferable piece of shit that keeps on stealing you away.  

Why Deku? Why not... why not  me?

That’s what he wants to say. He wants to understand why you’ve chosen to stray from his side all these years. By all accounts, it doesn’t make any sense. What does shitty Deku have that he doesn’t? He’s Quirkless, spineless, and everyone who’s ever laid eyes on him instinctively realizes how much of a loser he is.  

In spite of all that, you still stay with him. Why?  

There are so many things he wants to ask you. Honestly, he’s not even sure where to begin. He just knows that the longer you continue pick Izuku over him, the more he hates himself.  

But out of the fear that he might ruin the moment, Katsuki swallows his words. He chooses to remain silent for a change and gaze fondly upon your peaceful, smiling expression. For now, it’s okay. It hurts, but he’s not a coward. He can handle whatever the universe throws at him, no matter how painful it may be. 

Perhaps one day, when the world finally makes sense, you’ll leave Izuku once and for all.  

Chapter Text

It’s the day of the practical entrance exam, and for the first time, you are standing in front of U.A’s main building.  

Needless to say, you’re nervous. And after all, why wouldn’t you be? Everything has been leading up to this very moment, and if you fail here, it will certainly feel like more than just a minor setback. U.A has earned its prestige for a reason. It’s the best hero school in the country—possibly even the whole world—so for obvious reasons, you want this to work out.  

But despite how the muscles in your stomach clench into a painful knot, you still realize that you don’t have the worst of it.  

“W-We’re finally here,” Izuku gasps out. He’s shaking, of course, looking as though the faintest breeze might blow him over.  

Izuku’s situation is different from yours. He has been chosen as All Might’s successor, and thus, has a much heavier responsibility to uphold. Having spent these past ten months painfully building up his body so that he can become a proper vessel, All Might has finally passed One for All on to him—just earlier this morning, for that matter. You were there when you watched Izuku struggle to swallow the hero’s hair without puking.  

You’re nervous, sure, but he must be a million times more nervous. There’s a lot at stake, and you can’t even begin to put yourself in his shoes. 

Still, he is Midoriya Izuku. Your beloved friend. Your shining light in the darkness.  

If anyone can pull this off, it’s him.  

“It’s definitely a bit intimidating, but we can do this,” you reassure, gently patting him on the back. You realize your words won’t do much, in the grand scheme of things, but it’s true that you believe in him, and you want to make sure he knows that.

Izuku pauses to take a hurried, shaky breath, but eventually, he graces you with an angelic smile.  

“O-Okay,” he says, evidently still nervous, but perhaps a bit more optimistic than a few seconds ago.  

Unfortunately, the moment doesn’t last very long.  

“Get the fuck out of my way,” someone snarls.  

It’s Katsuki, of course, and upon seeing you and Izuku standing together, he shoves both of you aside. You can’t deny that it hurts. More so emotionally than physically. You’re suddenly reminded of the fun day you spent at the arcade, but with the way he glares at you, it almost feels like it must have just been a dream.  

The teddy bear in your room—which you did end up naming Skull-Crusher, funnily enough—is the only evidence you have that it really, truly happened. Since then, Katsuki has reverted back to his usual ways, and you’ve hardly even spoke to each other.

Izuku shrinks away out of fear, the way he usually does whenever Katsuki is involved. For just a moment, he considers saying hi and wishing his former friend good luck, but the words don’t actually make it past his lips.  

Quite frankly, Izuku doesn’t want Katsuki to pass the exam. He wants Katsuki to stay as far away as possible—both from him and from you.  

But he knows that Katsuki is strong, and thus, the odds of him failing are slim to none.  

Still. It’s nice to dream.  

Katsuki storms right past the two of you, not even bothering to glance back over his shoulder. You know that calling out to him won’t do any good in this situation. It’s better just to let him pass by and avoid stirring up a confrontation.  

It makes you sad, though, because you want to talk to Katsuki, and knowing that you can’t is a feeling too bitter to put into words.  

“[Name]?” Izuku lightly taps you on the shoulder, and he’s staring at you with a puzzled expression. “Everything okay? You looked really sad for a moment. Is it... because of Kacchan?”  

You muster up a smile. “No, I’m good. Don’t worry. I think I just needed a moment to really take in everything that’s happening. It’s hard to believe we’re actually here right now. Let’s start heading inside for the orientation.”  

Izuku gives you a curt nod, but the whole time he trails behind you, his green eyes are somber, clouded over by something dark. He can feel his heart clenching uncomfortably, and it’s enough to make him want to cry.  

One way or another, he manages to bite back his tears.  

Liar, he thinks. You always look that way whenever Kacchan is around. 

Izuku can tell that you don’t feel hatred towards Katsuki. Sure, you get angry at him every now and then, especially when he’s harassing people, but Izuku has yet to see you look at him in a way that conveys disgust and rejection.  

You don’t hate Katsuki. You probably don’t even dislike him. Instead... it seems like you miss being by his side.  

The thought makes Izuku sick.

God, this is uncomfortable. 

As it turns out, examinees are assigned seats based on which middle schools they attend, and that’s how you and Izuku find yourselves sitting next to Katsuki in the auditorium. You strategically placed yourself right in between the two of them, in the hopes of preventing a nasty altercation, but it does little to stop Katsuki from glaring at the freckled boy every few seconds.  

Thankfully, Izuku is too engrossed in Present Mic’s presentation to take note of Katsuki’s animosity. He’s entered fanboy mode, and he can hardly stop gushing and blabbering on about all sorts of different facts—most of which you’ve already heard before.

“If you don’t shut that asshole up, I’ll do it with my fist,” Katsuki warns.  

You grimace, but instead of chastising him for making such threats, you lightly shake Izuku by the shoulders and press a finger to your lips.

“Shh,” you whisper. “Izuku, try to be a bit quieter. Other people are trying to listen to. You can tell me all this stuff later in private, okay?”  

“Huh? O-Oh.” Izuku blushes, then frantically nods his head. “S-Sorry. I got a little carried away. I’ll be quiet now,” he says, voice fading to a whisper at the end.  

He then presses a finger to his lips, just like you did earlier, and the sight is so cute that you can’t help but giggle.  

Although Katsuki is disgusted beyond words, he still can’t bring himself to look away. 

The format of the entrance exam is promptly explained, and despite the fact that it seems relatively easy to understand, you’re becoming less confident with every passing second.  

Fighting... robots?  

That’s how the exam is set up. The more robots you defeat, the more points you gain. Naturally, having a lot of points will increase your odds of passing the exam. You had no knowledge coming into this of what U.A’s practical entrance exams were like, but you’d been hoping that it would involve pitting your abilities against some of the other applicants. Fighting them head-on or something.  

Your Quirk only works on people, not inanimate objects. How the hell are you supposed to win against a bunch of robots?  

It’s too early to give up. You know that. The exam hasn’t even started yet, for crying out loud.  

But as much as you try to psyche yourself up and reason that you still have a chance, already, it feels like you’ve failed.  

“It sucks that we’re going to be at different exam sites,” Izuku sighs. The orientation is over, and everyone is about to leave and head to their respective areas. You, Izuku, and Katsuki have all been split up. Since you’re from the same middle school, they probably don’t want students who know each other to cooperate in any way.  

You doubt it would have made much of a difference, though.  

“Good luck, Izuku.” Despite how nervous and dejected you are, you still smile and do your best to encourage him. He has All Might’s will to carry on. It’s not the end of the world if you fail, even though you would very much like to keep attending the same school as him.  

Right. It’s going to be okay. No matter what happens, you may as well do your best. You can think about the worst-case scenario later.  

For the time being, you refuse to go down without a fight.  

You bid Izuku goodbye after that. You even try waving Katsuki off, but as expected, he completely ignores you. It’s fine. No point in worrying about that right now. You take a deep breath, head to the changerooms to put on your athletic wear, then line up with the rest of the students once you get to your exam site.  

Part of you hopes that Monoma might be here, somewhere amongst the crowd, but there are far too many people for you to spot him. You know that he’ll be fine, though. His Quirk is powerful, and with all these students to choose from, he’s bound to copy a few abilities that will help him take down the robots.  

Monoma will pass, Katsuki will pass, and Izuku will pass too.  

You really hope you won't be the exception. 

There’s no countdown to start. You’re completely caught off-guard, much like everyone else, when Present Mic suddenly yells that the exam is officially underway. Of course, you charge ahead as fast as possible, but you’d be lying if you said you had a game plan. Your Quirk will be next to useless throughout this entire thing. What exactly are you supposed to do?  

There’s a robot there. It’s worth only one point, which means it shouldn’t be too strong, right?  

Desperate to seize the opportunity, you rush towards it and deliver the most powerful kick you’re capable of. Ever since your Quirk first manifested, you’ve been training and completing the missions assigned to you. The reward for completing those missions is that your physical capabilities—like your strength or speed—increase bit by bit. That’s how your Quirk has allowed you to expand your parameters. 

You’ve gotten stronger. That much is the undeniable truth. But as your foot connects with the robot’s metallic plating, and you can feel your bones rattle from the impact, you realize that just because you’re stronger than the average person doesn’t mean you’re strong enough to be a hero.  

The robot stalls momentarily, and you’re just barely able to jump out of the way before it swings at you. If you hadn’t been fast enough on the uptake, you would’ve probably been sent flying just then. And this is only the weakest robot. You can’t even defeat the weakest one of the bunch?  

You’re frustrated, perhaps even a touch humiliated, and it’s at that very moment that a familiar screen appears in front of your eyes.  

[NEW MISSION: Use Charm on someone. This mission must be completed within the next five minutes. If the mission is successfully completed, your strength will temporarily increase by a considerable amount.]  

By the time you blink, the screen has changed into a five-minute timer. One that is already counting down.  

You don’t waste time by trying to question what prompted this sudden mission. Perhaps the system recognized that you were in a tough spot, so it decided to present you with an opportunity? Either way, it’s clear that your Quirk is helping you right now. It’s giving you a chance to turn this situation around.  

Just like that, your objective has changed. You are no longer trying to fight the robots head-on. Instead, you spin around, eyes frantically scanning your surroundings in search of someone you can charm. It’s easier said than done, since all of the examinees are moving too quickly for you to catch them off-guard. Everyone is making the most of the time given and trying to rake up as many points as possible.  

None of them are willing to let their guards down. By the time they’ve finished defeating one of the robots, they’re already onto the next, and the odds of you sneaking up on someone and being able to kiss them are absurdly low.  

You grit your teeth. Is it really hopeless? Your Quirk gave you an opportunity to prove yourself, and you’re about to waste it, like the weakling you are.  

Drowning in self-deprecating thoughts, you feel just about ready to give up. But the part of you that is still desperate to make this work—to become a hero—manages to spot someone right in the nick of time.  

The boy has just taken down several robots in one fell swoop, but instead of rushing ahead and finding more targets, he’s moving awfully slow. His eyes are wide and unfocused, and his mouth is hanging open like a fish. At the risk of sounding too judgmental, it kind of looks like his brain just short-circuited or something.  

Whatever is going on, he’s an easy target. This is probably the best chance you’re going to get.  

Face already burning, you run straight towards him, dreading what you’ll have to do. You wish your powers didn’t work like this. You wish you didn’t have to resort to such means just to use your Quirk, but reality is cruel. Having grown up alongside Izuku and watched him suffer just for being Quirkless, you’re abundantly aware of that fact.  

Before the boy can react in time, you wrap your arms around him and quickly press your lips against his cheek. He’ll probably be surprised. Perhaps even disgusted. Again, you wish it didn’t have to be like this, but this is simply the hand you've been dealt.  

[Use Charm on Kaminari Denki?] 

>>[YES] 

“I’m sorry,” you breathe out, pulling away as quickly as possible. The boy, Kaminari, still has a blank expression on his face. He already looked pretty out of it to begin with, and you’re hoping that the suddenness of your kiss hasn’t aggravated his condition too much.  

Did it... work?  

Kaminari doesn’t say anything, or make any attempts to move away. You can’t tell if it’s because he’s been charmed, or if he’s still stuck in that weird brain-fried state from earlier.  

Soon enough, you receive your answer.  

[Congratulations on completing your mission! As a reward, your strength has increased temporarily.] 

Light engulfs your body, and this time, there’s no denying that the change is more noticeable than all the previous instances. You feel stronger. You’re not sure how to explain it, but it’s as if your body is bursting with energy all of a sudden.  

As for whether or not you're strong enough to defeat those robots, that remains to be seen.  

“I’m really sorry,” you say again, patting Kaminari on the shoulder to try and snap him back to his senses. “Please don’t hold this against me. I just... didn’t know what else to do. I’m still too weak. Sorry.” 

You run off without looking back. There’s no time to waste. You already spent quite a while searching for a target to use your Quirk on. For the remaining few minutes of the exam, you need to score some points.  

Of course, you have no way of knowing this, but Kaminari’s brain did short-circuit, because he used his Quirk too much and went over his voltage limit. When you approached him, he was pretty much already out of commission.  

Usually, your charm ability has a similar effect. It subdues your target and allows you to either incapacitate them, or issue a command that they must follow. Back when you were younger and didn’t know how to control it that well, people kept on getting overwhelmed and fainting.  

But funnily enough, your Quirk has the opposite effect on Kaminari. Perhaps, because his brain had already turned to mush, the two feelings counteracted, and within a few moments of the kiss, he is suddenly clear-headed again.  

Still, it takes Kaminari a little while longer to process what just happened. The most he’s able to do is slowly lift up his hand and press it against the spot on his cheek, where your lips made contact with his skin.  

Eventually, he blinks.  

“K-Kiss?” he mumbles in disbelief. “I just got... kissed?”  

It’s a good thing Kaminari already scored enough points to pass, because for the rest of the exam, all he can think about is you.

You can’t recall exactly how many points you scored, since you were the most stressed out you’ve ever been, but you’d like to think you did alright. Thanks to your Quirk, your power rose exponentially during the last few minutes of the exam. It’s the first time you’ve experienced such sheer strength right at your fingertips, and you have to admit, it’s a rather intoxicating feeling.

Right now, though, all you feel is exhaustion.  

It’s clear that strength comes at no small cost. Whatever temporary stats-boost you got is gone, and your whole body is aching, heavier than you can even believe. With every step you take, it feels like your bones are creaking, but since you don’t have any actual injuries, you doubt the on-site nurse, Recovery Girl, can do anything to help.  

But it’s fine. You’ll take the discomfort. Becoming a hero isn’t an easy feat, and you're prepared for a lot worse than some sore muscles. More importantly, the exam is finally over, and with that, it feels like a weight has been lifted off your chest.  

You leave the exam site and head back towards the main gate, and perhaps it’s because you’re such good friends, but you’re able to spot Izuku right away.  

A grin stretches across your lips. You bound towards him, momentarily forgetting your exhaustion. You can’t wait to ask how he did. It must have been child’s play for him. He’s got All Might’s Quirk now, after all. 

“Izuku—”  

You stop yourself, on account of the heavy, downcast expression he has. Something feels off. Why does he look so upset? He finally has a Quirk. He’s worked so hard to obtain it, and surely, it must be the strongest power in the world, since it’s used by none other than the strongest hero.  

Izuku turns towards you. His eyes are dim. They lack their usual luster and shine, their passion and determination.  

He looks absolutely broken.  

“Hi, [Name].”  

The way he says your name makes your heart clench. It’s obvious that he’s upset. More so than he can even express. And since you’re not a total idiot, you’re able to put two and two together.  

But... why? I thought he’d be able to do just fine. He finally has a powerful Quirk, and he’s the type to never give up, no matter what.  

Maybe he’s being too harsh on himself. He might be discouraged just because it looked like others scored more points than he did. But there’s no way to know exactly what the cut-off for passing is, so if he just believes— 

“I didn’t get any points,” Izuku says.  

Your lips immediately clamp shut. To say that you’re shocked would still be an understatement. You don’t even know how you’re supposed to respond to that. No points? Even with the Quirk that All Might entrusted him with? How is that possible?  

“I’m such a loser,” Izuku chuckles dryly. “All Might believed in me... but I’ve already let him down. I didn’t realize One for All would be so harsh on my body. When I tried using it, I broke pretty much all my limbs. Worst of all, the robot that I fought was worth zero points. It was one of those obstacles that Present Mic told us to avoid.”  

You don’t ask why he would willingly fight something that wouldn’t even score him any points on the exam. Since it’s Izuku, there can only be one explanation.  

He must have done it in order to save someone.  

“Was the person... alright?” you finally muster up the courage to ask. It takes Izuku a few moments to understand what you’re referring to, but soon enough, he nods his head.  

“Yeah. She was fine. I’m glad she didn’t get hurt. But... it still doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to fail this exam.”  

He lowers his gaze to the ground and clenches his fists. God, you want to hug him so badly, but right now, he looks as if he might shatter under the faintest touch. 

Izuku has a Quirk now. He’s All Might’s successor, and that won’t change. U.A is the school of his dreams, but even if it doesn’t work out, that doesn’t mean he can’t still be a hero, right?  

Logically speaking, you know it’s not the end of the world, but as far as Izuku is concerned, it may as well be.  

“Kacchan will get in,” Izuku mutters quietly. When you don’t respond, he just stares at you, eyes impossibly wide. “He’ll get in... and I won’t.”  

“Don’t say that,” you frown. “We haven’t gotten the results yet, and there’s still the written exam left to go. I’m sure you can make up some of the marks there.”  

It’s true that it’s still too early to give up hope, but you imagine that if you were in Izuku’s position—if your Quirk had failed and you hadn’t been able to score a single point—then you would probably be every bit as discouraged.  

Izuku smiles sadly. “After all this time... I really thought I had a chance. But I guess Kacchan was right. I’ll always be a Quirkless weakling. Deep down, that’s just who I am.”  

“That’s not true—”  

“Hey, [Name]? If I don’t get into U.A, what happens then? What am I supposed to do next?”  

Your expression crumples. He’s in so much pain. You thought that after meeting All Might and training to obtain One for All, his hardships would finally come to an end. You don’t understand why it has to be this way. Is it too much to ask that the world treats him fairly for a change?  

You grab his hand and squeeze it tight, because in this moment, it’s the most you can do. “It hasn’t been decided yet, Izuku. And in the absolute worst-case scenario, there are still other hero schools. Heroes come from all kinds of different places, not just U.A.”  

You are trying your best to be supportive, and to remind him that there are other options. There’s not just one right way to become a hero. He has a Quirk now. His situation is vastly different than it was before.  

However, Izuku is too busy drowning in misery. He can’t think rationally, because his emotions have superseded all reason. Everything suddenly seems so black-and-white. As if there’s only one door for him to take, and that door has just been slammed shut in his face.  

He won’t get into U.A, the alma mater of his greatest role model. By that definition, he’s already failed.  

So, then... what if you do get in? You’ll get in, but he won’t be there by your side.  

He won’t be by your side, but Katsuki will.  

“If I don’t get into U.A... will you go to a different hero school with me?”  

By the time the words have left his lips, Izuku already wishes he’d never said them. Seriously, what in the world is wrong with him? You have dreams too. How can he ask you to willingly set them aside just because he’s the one who screwed things up?  

Izuku is afraid you’ll get angry with him. It’s never happened before, but if there was ever a time, then surely, it’s right now.  

But you don’t get angry. Because just like Izuku has always known, you really are perfect.  

“Okay,” you say, then a warm smile rises to your lips. “U.A is definitely nice, but I’ll go wherever you go, Izuku. We can be heroes no matter what it takes.”  

Hearing you say those words, coupled with that kind, beautiful expression of yours... it does something to his heart. In fact, he’s convinced you must have just put a spell on him.  

You will go wherever he goes. It’s a promise, right?  

Chapter Text

“Finally, that’s over with.”  

You let out a sigh and stretch your arms out above your head. Just like that, you’ve officially finished with the written portion of U.A’s entrance exam, and even though you’re a pretty decent student for the most part, you have to admit that some of those questions had you second-guessing yourself a bit.

Right now, all you feel is relief. Granted, you still don’t know how well you did on the practical exam, but you can only hope that your efforts paid off in the end. Considering you had to kiss some poor guy without warning, it would really, really suck if you didn’t pass.  

Unfortunately, your mind is nowhere near as clear as you’d like it to be. Because, even as you walk out of the exam hall, you aren’t only worried about yourself. In fact, you’re far more preoccupied with your freckled best friend, who has been permanently downcast ever since the day of the practical exam.  

“Izuku,” you greet, smiling gently. “Hey. Good work in there. Some of those questions were pretty hard, huh? But you’re super smart, so I’m sure you did great.”  

He tries to return your smile, but his lips fall flat. “I don’t know. I mean... I calculated, and I feel like I was able to get a passing grade... but does any of that even matter when I scored zero points on the practical exam? This was probably a giant waste of time. I’m honestly not even sure why I bothered showing up.” 

It’s understandable that he would feel this way. After how the practical exam went for him, it goes without saying that he’d be discouraged.  

Still. Nothing is a guarantee, and even if the odds don’t appear to be in his favor, you’re still holding out hope that one way or another, someone will recognize his hard work and determination. He’s the very embodiment of what a hero should be. If U.A doesn’t let him in, they’re bound to regret it.  

“We still have a while to go until we get our results,” you offer encouragingly. “I know it’s hard, and I’m pretty nervous as well, but let's just wait until we actually get an answer, okay? Until then, we’re free, so maybe we should do some fun things to distract ourselves for the next few days.” 

Izuku swallows, then manages to nod in response. “Okay,” he mumbles. “You’re right, [Name]. This is really freaking me out... but at the very least, I should avoid thinking about it. It’s not like me worrying will change anything. Yeah. For the next few days... I’ll try my best to forget.”

Based on the way his chin keeps trembling, you can tell that’ll be a lot easier said than done. You’re not really sure what you can do to help, and quite frankly, you feel next to useless in this situation. You just hope that your company might grant him some respite, however brief it may be.  

“Let’s head home and play some video games. Or we could do a movie marathon,” you suggest.  

This time, Izuku composes himself enough to flash you a genuine, appreciative smile. You’re just about to grab his hand in yours and start walking, when suddenly, you’re met with a familiar voice.  

“[Name]! God, how rude,” Monoma huffs, crossing his arms as he steps in front of you and cuts you off. “Were you seriously about to leave without even saying hi to me?”  

“Oh,” you blink. “Hey, Monoma. Sorry, I didn’t notice you until you started calling out to me. I’m guessing you just finished your written exam too. How’d it go?”  

“It was child’s play for someone like me,” he says, waving his hand dismissively. His brow twitches as he utters the words though, so honestly, you’re not too sure you believe him.  

You crack a smile nonetheless. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. I can only hope I did as good as you. Oh, this is Izuku, by the way. We’ve been best friends ever since we were kids. Monoma, meet Izuku. Izuku, meet Monoma. I mentioned him before, remember?”

“Right,” Izuku replies, and for a few moments, he stops blinking entirely. “Yeah, I think... I kind of remember something like that. It’s nice to meet you, Monoma. I’m Midoriya Izuku.”  

He smiles politely, but for some reason, it feels... off. You’re not sure why, exactly. Perhaps it’s because he’s still really bummed out about the whole entrance exam situation. Or maybe you’re just reading into things too much. 

“Childhood friends, huh?” Monoma stares at Izuku, and after a few moments, he leans closer to him. “Since you’ve known [Name] for a while, that means you know how her Quirk works too, right? Come on, tell me the details. She’s being lame and keeping it hidden. She won’t explain no matter how many times I ask.”  

That’s because I’d rather not confess that I have to kiss people in order for my Quirk to work... 

Izuku stiffens up. “[N-Name] hasn’t told you what kind of Quirk she has?”  

“She’s intentionally kept the details vague,” Monoma sighs. “Something to do with being able to control others to some extent? But she hasn’t ever explained how she’s able to pull that off. I bet it’s because she’s waiting for the chance to catch me off guard and take advantage of my innocence.”  

You roll your eyes at him. “Why do you have to make it sound so dirty?”  

“It only sounds dirty to you because you’re having dirty thoughts,” he counters, making sure to stick his tongue at you and everything. 

God, he can be such a little shit sometimes.  

While you and Monoma are engaged in a bit of playful banter, Izuku folds his hands together and lets out a shaky breath.  

“You don’t know how [Name]’s Quirk works,” he clarifies once more. “Which means... she’s never used it on you.”  

“Well, of course not,” you say. “Izuku, you know I don’t like going around and using my powers on people for no reason. I only did stuff like that back when I was a kid because I was trying to get the hang of everything.”  

Izuku nods quickly, and for some reason, there’s a small, wobbly smile blooming across his lips.  

He doesn’t voice his thoughts, but in this moment, he is just so, so relieved.  

You haven’t used your Quirk on Monoma. That means that you haven’t kissed him either. You call Monoma your friend, but clearly, the two of you aren’t close enough that you would choose to disclose the details of your powers. 

Monoma doesn’t know what kind of Quirk you have, but he does. He knows because you trust him wholeheartedly, and he was the first person you went to when you wanted to figure out how to use your powers. You didn’t ask Katsuki for help, or any of the other neighborhood kids, for that matter.  

You went to him, and only him.  

That means he’s special to you, right?  

“Izuku?” you frown, leaning closer. “What’s up? You’re smiling a lot all of a sudden. Did you remember something funny?”  

“Huh? O-Oh.” Izuku blushes and tries to regain his composure. “I-It’s nothing. Sorry. I was just thinking that I actually am glad the exam’s finally over with. Like you said, maybe I can take my mind off things now. It would help to forget about all this stress for a while.”

You smile, relieved that he’s starting to feel a bit better. “Yeah. Let’s just try to relax for the next few days. You’ve worked super hard, so you definitely deserve it.” You turn towards Monoma and wave him off. “Okay, well, we’re going to head home now. It was nice seeing you, Monoma. Make sure to text me as soon as you get your results, okay?”  

“I know you two live in the same neighborhood, but I can still walk to the station with you guys,” Monoma shrugs. He pauses for a moment, then jabs out a finger accusingly. “Unless you’re trying to get rid of me? How cruel, [Name]! I always knew you were a heartless woman!” 

“Damn, you saw right through me,” you muse.  

“The nerve! You should be honored that I’m even gracing you with my presence right now!”  

You laugh off his remarks, but naturally, you have no qualms about him coming along. The more the merrier, after all.  

It’s too bad Izuku doesn’t feel the same way.  

He doesn’t let it show, of course. As always, he broods silently, twiddling his thumbs in an attempt to fend off his discomfort. At the very least, he can still take solace in the fact that he’s kissed you, and Monoma hasn’t.  

It’s going to be okay. You’re such a kind, lovely person that it’s only natural you would draw countless people in. Even if you make other friends... he’ll always be your number one.  

For the sake of his sanity, that’s what he chooses to believe.  

And so, you babble on, blissfully unaware as to what is brewing beneath the surface. You do your best to include both Izuku and Monoma in the conversation, so that neither of them feels left out. It would be nice if they became friends. You’re not too sure about what Monoma’s social circle looks like, but Izuku definitely deserves to have more people in his life.  

While you talk, Monoma and Izuku lock eyes every so often, but nearly every time, it ends the same way—with Izuku averting his gaze and pinching his lips together.  

He seems pretty shy.  

Monoma doesn’t know much about Izuku, other than the fact that the two of you have been close friends for many years. The curly-haired boy comes across as rather reserved, but even though Monoma might seem like an asshole to some, he isn’t the type to ridicule others for something they have no control over. He doesn’t mind that Izuku isn’t particularly talkative, or that he can hardly maintain eye contact with him.  

But for some reason, and he isn’t sure why... 

He gets the feeling that Izuku doesn’t like him very much.

There’s a man lying on the ground right in front of you. He is soaking in a pool of his own blood, mutilated beyond repair, and you don’t know what else to do besides back against the nearest wall, shaking from head to toe. 

And to think that all of this could have been avoided if you’d simply stayed home.  

To understand how you even landed yourself in this mess, it’s important to go back in time several hours.  

It’s a nice day. Despite the chilly weather you’ve been having lately, today the sun is finally blazing overhead, a telltale sign that spring is steadily approaching. You can finally throw on a light coat for a change, and as you step outside, you take a full breath of fresh, clean air.  

Sometime later this week, you will receive a letter from U.A. Even though you did your best to reassure Izuku that everything’s going to be okay and that he should keep his mind off things, you find it difficult to take your own advice on account of how nervous you are. So, in a hopeful attempt to stay distracted, you’ve decided to go shopping and treat yourself to something nice.  

The last few days have been spent by Izuku’s side. You played games together, watched a bunch of movies, and you even listened patiently while he gushed about all the latest hero exploits he heard about in the news. But as much as you adore spending time with him, it’s still important for you to take a breather every now and then. That’s why you wanted to have a day all to yourself. A bit of self-care, you could call it.  

You’re far from being a shopping junkie, and it admittedly gets a little tedious to spend hours upon hours inside different stores, but every so often, something like this is nice. Plus, if you stay home, you’re worried that you’ll keep obsessively checking the mail to see if U.A sent your results or not. A little outing like this is exactly what you need.  

You take your time browsing, and you pick up some bubble tea and a snack along the way. You make a conscious effort not to check your phone or the time, since the whole point of going out today is to lose yourself in the moment and avoid thinking about anything else.  

And for a while, it works.  

You’re pretty happy with your haul. You managed to find a few cute outfits, along with various miscellanea that you’d been meaning to cross off your shopping list. When you finally check the time, you realize that it’s still quite early, so you decide to stop by a restaurant and finish off the day with a nice meal.  

With a carefree smile, you turn around a corner, stomach already rumbling in anticipation.  

A man comes crashing into you and knocks the shopping bags out of your hands.  

Naturally, your immediate reaction is to be startled, but stuff like this happens every now and then. People’s lives are busy, and this man is clearly in a hurry, so you’re not going to get upset with him just because he accidentally bumped into you.  

However, once you take a few seconds to properly assess the situation, you realize that he probably didn’t crash into you because he’s fallen behind schedule or something like that.

Put simply, it looks like he’s running for his goddamn life.  

“Shit,” he curses, and it’s only then that you take note of all the injuries littering his body. His bottom lip has been split open, one of his eyes is nearly swollen shut, and he’s got a nice ring of bruises forming on the sides of his face.  

Before you can even ask him if he’s alright, someone clears their throat.  

“Now, now.” The person speaking has a low, husky voice, and you’re not sure why, but it makes a shiver rip down your spine. “We were in the middle of a conversation, weren’t we? It's not very polite to get other people involved in your business. Come back here so we can finish what we started.”  

Two other men step forward. One of them has dark brown hair and piercing golden eyes. He’s the one with the deep voice who just spoke, and you also notice that he’s wearing gloves and a mask. Beside him is a man with silver hair that forms distinct arrow-like shapes. He isn’t wearing a mask, which allows you to see his cold expression in its entirety.  

The hostility radiating from them is clear as day. That, coupled with the fact that the man who ran into you is visibly injured, tells you that you have the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

You need to leave. You’re going to leave.  

But suddenly, you can’t.  

There’s a knife pressed against your throat.  

“Back off,” the injured man hisses. He holds you in place so that you have nowhere to go, and you choke back a gasp, horror seeping into your expression. “I’m warning you, Chisaki. Let me go, or this girl gets it. Your boss would be really pissed if you let a civilian get hurt, wouldn’t he? So, let’s just pretend like this never happened.”  

In this moment, you are reminded of your unfortunate encounter with Dabi all over again.  

You can’t believe that your life is already being threatened anew. Seriously, have you done something wrong? Is there a reason why the universe keeps punishing you like this?  

All you wanted was to have a fun day out and take your mind off things. You briefly consider screaming, but you’re worried that once you do, the man will panic and slit your throat open. Earlier, you took a little shortcut behind some buildings to head over to the restaurant, so you’re not near the main road. Still, a few people are bound to pass by here eventually, right?  

Of course, by that point, it may already be too late.  

Despite how fucking terrified you are, you know that it won’t do you any good to freak out. Besides, unlike last time, when you were completely alone and left to fend for yourself against Dabi, right now, there are two other people present. Witnesses. Potential saviors. Surely, they won’t just stand by and watch as an innocent girl gets killed.  

Right?

“You’re behaving like a child,” the masked man, Chisaki, sighs. He seems to be the one in charge, so most likely, how he responds will determine your fate. You make a point of staring at him, tears brimming in your eyes. You’re too afraid to move an inch, lest the blade slices through your skin.  

“I’m serious,” the man holding you hostage mutters. “I’ll really fucking kill her unless you promise we’re square, and you never come after me again.”

“You think that after picking a fight and disrespecting our group, you have the right to make demands? I’m in awe at your stupidity.”  

The blade digs into your skin more forcefully, and frightened, desperate whimpers spill from your lips.  

This is bad. This is so, so bad. You can’t tell if Chisaki is calling the man’s bluff, or if he really could care less whether or not you die right here and now. The mask concealing his expression certainly doesn’t help, but the jaded, uncaring look in his eyes is already telling enough.

“I’ll do it,” the man insists, and in that instant, you know you have no choice. A brief moment’s hesitation is all you need to be able to kiss him. If you manage to catch him off-guard and kiss him, then you can use your Quirk to— 

“Go ahead.”  

...huh? 

“Why should it matter to me if a stranger dies?” Chisaki frowns. “She’s not important. I don’t even know her name. I’m surprised you haven’t realized this already, but I never let emotions get in the way of business. Not that I’m a very emotional person to begin with. So, go right ahead and slit her throat. Since you’ve gone to the trouble, it would be rude not to watch. Right, Kurono?”  

The other man—presumably Kurono—nods in agreement.  

“Kill her or don’t,” Kurono says coldly. “Either way, we’re not letting you go.”  

Your life is flashing before your eyes. These people really don’t give a shit about watching you bleed to death. You were a fool to ever hope that they might have a shred of empathy. It should have been obvious from the moment they stepped forward.  

There's no other choice. Desperate to live, you twist your neck and try to kiss the man’s cheek, but right then and there, he makes up his mind.  

“Ah, fuck it! If I’m gonna get in shit for this, the least I can do is take you assholes down with me!”  

And then there’s just pain. Horrible, excruciating pain. It’s the sort of pain you thought you would go your whole life without ever knowing, and yet, it’s in the midst of consuming your very being. You can feel it assaulting all of your senses. The sharpness of the blade cutting your skin open, the coppery taste of blood that fills your mouth, the nauseating stench that clings to you, and worse yet... the sound of your garbled, frantic screaming.  

Hands instinctively rush to your neck in a fruitless attempt to slow the bleeding. You grip your throat and choke in between every sob, overwhelmed by not just pain, but inescapable fear.  

You are dying. What was supposed to be a lighthearted shopping trip will now end with you losing your life.  

I’m sorry... Izuku. I won’t be able... to watch you become an amazing hero... 

Gasping for breath from all the blood flooding into your throat, you collapse to your knees. The blood loss is already getting to you. Your body is growing weak and numb, and there’s a chill in the air that wasn’t there before. The sky is getting darker by the second. Or perhaps it’s just your vision that’s getting dark. Everything is fading so quickly that you hardly even have time to process it.

“F-Fuck,” the man pales. “This... this is all your fault, Chisaki! You crazy son-of-a-bitch! Cleaning up this mess is your problem now!”  

You’re too busy bleeding out to notice, but he tries to make a run for it, capitalizing on your life as if it isn’t even worth grieving.  

In response, all Chisaki says is, “Kurono. Get him.”  

Kurono’s hair extends, and the arrow-shaped ends manage to strike the man as he’s trying to flee. All of a sudden, he finds his movements drastically slowed, and what was supposed to be a run is now little more than a sluggish crawl.  

“I wasn’t planning on revealing my Quirk, but you gave us the slip earlier, so I guess I had no choice,” Kurono says. “Still. You really should do a little bit of research before you decide to pick a fight with someone. Acting out like this is just embarrassing.”  

The man groans, doing his best to crawl away, but it’s clear that there’s no contest. His fate was already sealed a long time ago.  

Chisaki stands over him and begins removing one of his gloves. “You’ve never seen me use my Quirk either, have you? Well, thankfully, you’re in luck. Your little stunt has given you the opportunity to experience it all for yourself.”  

“What are you—”  

He doesn’t have the chance to finish his sentence. His body erupts into pieces, and blood splatters onto the ground. There’s a ton of it. Even more than when your throat got sliced open earlier. 

The man is dead, and at the rate things are going, you’re probably about to join him in the afterlife.  

Except when you blink, suddenly, you’re brand-new again.  

You palm at your throat in disbelief. There’s no trace of the gaping wound you suffered just a few moments ago. Not only that, but there’s no blood either. So much of it soaked into the front of your shirt, but now it’s spic and span. You can’t help but wonder if you just imagined the whole thing, and if you’re in the process of waking up from a bad dream.  

The relief of knowing that you’re alive comes first. You were too busy dying to focus on anything else.  

But then, your eyes land on the body, and to no one’s surprise—you scream.  

Chisaki wastes no time before clamping a gloved hand over your mouth. “Quiet,” he hisses. For some reason, there are now discernible hives on his skin. “I’m going to bring him back in just a second. I fixed you up, so you should be fine. But if you scream again and draw any unwanted attention over here, you’re going to wish you were dead.”  

All you can do is nod furiously, and he releases you with a distinct shudder, as if he’s just touched something unclean. You are mere inches away from the man’s dead body, and instinctively, you back up against the nearest wall, shaking like a leaf in the wind.  

You watch as Chisaki uses his ungloved hand to briefly make contact with the body, and in the next moment, the man is suddenly whole again.  

Holy shit.  

You’re positive that he was just dead. No one can survive that much damage and live to tell the tale. He’s still unconscious, and you’re not sure when he’ll wake up, but you can see his chest rising and falling, so there’s no mistaking it. He’s alive.  

Chisaki killed him, then brought him back to life.  

You should be relieved. Just a few moments ago, you were certain that your life was over. If you had been held hostage by anyone else, and Chisaki wasn’t there to use his Quirk, then you wouldn’t even be capable of having these thoughts right now.

But even though no one actually died—not permanently, at least—it still doesn’t make this experience any less gruesome or traumatic.  

“Be a good girl and run along now,” Chisaki waves off dismissively. “And I think this goes without saying, but don’t tell anyone about what you saw here today. No one will believe you anyways. Without any actual casualties, there’s no evidence to back up your claims. I say you save yourself the trouble and avoid getting on my bad side.”  

You don’t need to be told twice. In fact, you stumble over the shopping bags you dropped earlier in a frantic attempt to get away as quickly as possible. Heaving a gasp to quickly collect yourself, you grab them in your hands, then run off without stopping to look back. 

You’ve already had two close encounters with death, and you really, really aren’t in the mood for a third.  

“Was it okay to let her leave?” Kurono asks. “She’s still an eyewitness. I’m worried she might manage to persuade some people into believing her story. Plus, she heard your name.”  

“If I’ve learned one thing from being in the yakuza, it’s that the police can’t act without concrete evidence,” Chisaki shrugs. “They’ve had some suspicions about the Shie Hassaikai in the past, but we’re always able to stay under the radar. That’s why I made sure she didn’t die. An actual death could be used against me, but as things stand, I’m blameless. There’s no way to prove that I did anything.” 

“If you say so. You always know best.”  

“Yes. I’m more concerned about how we should handle this idiot,” Chisaki scowls, gesturing to the unconscious man on the ground. “He’s turning out to be a real pain in my ass. Still, he’s probably convinced he just fainted from shock. He didn’t actually get to find out how my Quirk works. When he comes to, we’ll have to stick to using our fists.”  

Kurono nods in agreement, then hoists the unconscious man up and throws him over his shoulders. Meanwhile, Chisaki makes sure to disassemble and reassemble the bloodstained parts of the alleyway, restoring it back to the way it was before. All signs that a crime ever occurred here have now been erased, just like that.  

Chisaki finally puts his glove back on and lets out a sigh of relief. “What a long day. I can’t wait to get home and take a bath.”  

“I’ll make sure to draw you one as soon as get back.”  

“Good.” The two of them start walking away, but Chisaki slows his steps for a few moments. “Actually, about that girl...”  

Kurono arches a brow. “Yes?”  

“Hm. No, never mind. It’s not a priority. And odds are that our paths won’t even cross. But if you ever happen to see her again... I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to do a little bit of digging. Just to make sure there are no loose ends.”  

“Got it. I’ll make sure that no matter what, she doesn’t run her mouth.”  

Chisaki adjusts his tie, and within moments, he’s already forgotten about you. His goals are far too lofty to be hindered by an unlucky meeting with a teenage girl. Realistically speaking, the two of you will probably never lay eyes on each other ever again. And even if you do try to stir up a fuss, he’ll take care of it, just as he’s always done.  

Yeah. Chisaki has no reason to worry. It’s already a thing of the past.  

Unfortunately for you, this is only the first of many encounters.

Chapter Text

It happened again. What started off as a perfectly normal day, a good day, ended with you nearly losing your life in the process.

It goes without saying, but you feel like absolute shit right now. The fear and trauma is one thing. No matter how hard you try, you can’t erase the memory of that man being reduced to a bloody pile of guts on the ground. Neither can you forget the sensation of a knife being pressed against your throat, and worse yet—the indescribable pain that followed when it split your skin open. 

Every so often, your hand reaches up to brush against your throat, and even though the injury has been completely healed, you still shudder and bite back a whimper.  

You’re alive. That frightening man—Chisaki—possesses the ability to both kill someone, and also revive them as he pleases. He made quick work of the gash on your throat and erased any trace that you had ever been hurt. And perhaps you should be thankful for the simple fact that you’re still breathing right now, but there’s something else, apart from the trauma, that gnaws at you unforgivingly.  

Your Quirk. The more you find yourself in these kinds of situations, the less confident you feel about becoming a hero. It isn’t an offensive power. Unlike Katsuki, who could easily have fought those assholes off, or even Izuku, who can use One for All at the cost of breaking a few bones, you have virtually no means to defend yourself.  

The only thing you can do is kiss someone, and hope that they fall under your control. It’s such a ridiculously difficult feat to pull off. How can you just kiss someone in the middle of a fight, or while you’re being held at knifepoint?  

It just barely worked with Dabi, but back in that alley, you failed. You couldn’t meet the conditions for your Quirk to activate, and before you could even blink, you were already bleeding out, well on your way to the afterlife. Chisaki saved you. Not out of the goodness of his heart, you suspect, but all the same, the fact remains that you couldn’t protect yourself.  

You are weak. Deep down, you’ve always known this, but every time you’re faced with the reality of your situation, part of you shatters a bit more.  

So, you trudge home, shopping bags in hand, with a vacant, listless expression. You’re barely functional right now, so you must have found your way back to the neighborhood by sheer muscle memory alone.  

Your mind is in utter disarray, but unfortunately, the universe won’t allow you even a moment’s respite. 

“Hey. [Name]. The fuck’s wrong with you?”  

Katsuki calls out to you. Naturally, having grown up in the same neighborhood, you run into each other from time to time.  

But why did it have to be now? When your sanity feels like it’s on the verge of snapping?  

God. Nothing ever goes your way.  

Eyes glassy, you lift your head up to cast a glance at him. “Hi, Katsuki,” is all you manage to mumble. “Hope your day is going well. I’m kind of in a hurry, so...”  

You try to get past him as quickly as possible, and you probably should have expected this since he’s the most stubborn person you’ve ever met, but he steps in front of you and fixes you in a glare.  

“What’s your problem?” he snaps. “You think you can just ignore me whenever the hell you want? I asked you a question, asshole. Something’s wrong with your face, and I want to know why. Spit it out.”  

“I can’t help the way my face looks,” you say tiredly. “And I’m not really in the mood to be called ugly right now.”  

“I wasn’t calling you ugly, for fuck’s sake. I’m talking about the expression you’re making. You look like your parents just died or some shit.” He pauses, and for just a moment, he actually looks a bit concerned. “Your parents didn’t die... right?”  

No. But I almost did.  

“Of course not,” you instead reply. “I was just out shopping for a bit. I’m fine, Katsuki. Don’t worry.”  

“I never said I was worried,” he huffs, but if that was really true, then you’re not sure why he bothered asking in the first place.  

Either way, you are too physically and emotionally drained to be having this conversation right now. Besides, it’s not like you can even tell him what happened. Chisaki told you to keep your mouth shut, and having seen what he’s capable of, you’re compelled to keep it that way. He’s a terrifying man, and you really don’t want to find out what happens if you end up on his bad side. 

“Anyways, I have to go. We’ll talk later,” you say, and once again, you force your way past him.  

This time, Katsuki thankfully lets you pass through. However, he’s far from convinced. The two of you have known each other ever since you were kids, and even though he talks a big game and acts like he doesn’t care about other people, when it comes to you, he’s paid a lot more attention than he’ll ever admit.  

He knows what face you make when you’re happy. He knows what face you make when you’re nervous, or sad. He also—much to his regret—knows what face you make when you’re angry, since most of the time, it’s been directed his way.  

Last, but certainly not least, he knows what face you make when you’re scared.  

Apart from Izuku, there’s no one that Katsuki fixates on more than you. So, when he gets the feeling that something is off, most of the time, his gut instinct is right. There’s no way that something didn’t happen, not with the hollow, borderline traumatized expression he’s just seen.  

Something bad happened, and you would rather keep it to yourself than tell him the truth.  

In that moment, Katsuki has a harrowing thought. You refuse to confide in him. He knows all too well that your relationship is strained, and to some extent, he also knows that he’s to blame for it. Of course, that doesn’t mean he has any intention of apologizing or making up for his wrongdoings, but he still possesses some form of self-awareness.  

But the truly frightening thought is this:  

You don’t trust him enough to tell him what’s on your mind, but if Izuku was here, you would probably have leapt into his arms at the first opportunity. In fact, you’ll probably call Izuku later and fill him in on all the details. You’ll tell him everything that weighs on you, because when it comes to your relationship with that curly-haired bastard, it’s all smiles and rainbows.  

You will choose Izuku over him, just as you’ve done so many times before.  

Katsuki grits his teeth, enraged beyond belief, and deeply heartbroken.

The past few days have been difficult.  

Pretending like you’re okay is even harder than you anticipated. Nobody knows that you were nearly killed—again—and although you haven’t spoken a word about it mainly because of Chisaki’s threats, you also don’t feel like putting your friends and family through that kind of distress. They were already worried enough about you after the Dabi incident. For their sake, it’s much better just to suffer in silence.

Ironically, though, thanks to this traumatic event, you haven’t even had time to worry about your letter from U.A, and eventually, it arrives.  

“Open it, open it!” your mother insists, practically vibrating from excitement. “It’s finally here! You must be so excited!”  

You offer her a weak smile in response. In all honesty, you aren’t excited. Doubt and self-loathing continue to overwhelm you. How can you be confident about becoming a hero when you feel so helpless all the damn time?  

It’s hard, and you almost feel like giving up, but then you remember that you did win against Dabi. You used your Quirk and escaped, all on your own. It wasn’t pretty, and that kiss still haunts you, but if you’re able to pull something like that off, then maybe, just maybe, you might actually have some potential.  

For the time being, you have nothing to lose by at least opening the letter.  

Your parents crowd around you, doing their best to remain calm, as you tear the envelope open with shaky fingers, then pull out the neatly folded letter inside.  

It only takes a few seconds to skim through the important parts, and when you’re done, your eyes have gone wide.  

“I... got in,” you mumble softly. “I’m not really sure how, but... I did it. I’m going to be a U.A student.”  

“Oh my goodness! That’s amazing! You’re incredible, [Name]!”  

Your parents pull you into a group hug, and they’re praising you like no tomorrow as they pepper your forehead with kisses. They’ve always been exceptionally supportive, and you figured that they would have been there for you regardless of the outcome, but it’s nice to know that you’ve made them so happy.  

Naturally, you still have your doubts. You aren’t strong enough. Not yet, at least. But that’s the whole point of attending a hero school, right? So that you can train and make up for your shortcomings? Not everyone starts off absurdly gifted and powerful. Granted, there are some, like Katsuki. But others, like Izuku, have to work to even have a chance at standing in the ring alongside everyone else. 

You are no different. If you want to do this with your life—if you really, truly want to do this, then there’s no time to waste wallowing in self-pity and lamenting your weakness. You just have to buckle down and put in the work. 

Like Izuku did. He worked hard and believed all his life, and now, he finally has a Quirk to call his own. 

The realization makes you let out a gasp. “Right, Izuku! If I got my acceptance letter, then he’s probably heard back from U.A too!”  

You give your parents one last hug, thanking them for being here and supporting you, then you run off to your room and snatch your phone, ready to call Izuku’s number.  

It’s funny, and you suppose that Izuku must have had the exact same thought, because your phone begins to ring before you can even hit dial.  

“Izuku?” you answer. “Hey! I was actually just about to call you—”  

“Come outside!”  

“Huh?”  

“I’m outside your house already. Please come!”  

He doesn’t say anything else, and promptly hangs up the call. At first, you frown, but you figure that whatever he has to say, he wants to say it in person, and you’re willing to bet that it’s about U.A. 

Whether it’s good news or not, you have no way of knowing, but you remain hopeful nevertheless.  

You make quick work of slipping on your shoes, take one last breath to prepare yourself—for either celebration or consolation—then rush out the door.  

As it turns out, today, the universe has decided to be kind to you, because Izuku is grinning so hard that it looks like his cheeks are about to pop. 

You already know what he’s about to say, and it brings a smile to your lips, but you refrain from cutting in and give him the chance to break the news himself.  

“I... I got accepted!” he cries out. “U.A actually let me in!”  

“That’s amazing, Izuku.” You match his grin with one of your own, and already, you’ve opened up your arms to meet him in a hug. “I knew you could do it. See? I told you there was still a chance. The teachers must have thought you were incredibly brave to go up against that giant robot and save someone in the process.”  

He nods, cheeks flushed, as he leans into your embrace. “A-Apparently, there’s something called rescue points that they deliberately didn’t tell us about in advance, to see if we would go out of our way to help others. I didn’t get any actual points for taking down robots, but since I saved someone, it was enough for me to pass.”  

“That makes sense. It’s a hero school, after all. This is exactly the kind of stuff they’re looking for.”  

You squeeze Izuku tighter, and it’s almost as if you can feel his heart beating in tandem with your own.  

Honestly, it’s hard to believe that this is actually happening. You’ve been by his side for nearly your entire life. You’ve seen firsthand just how much he’s suffered because he didn’t have a Quirk, but look at him now. He’s gotten into the best hero school in the country—perhaps even the whole world. Everyone always told him he didn’t have a chance, and yet, the greatest hero of all time acknowledged his potential and gave him the encouragement he needed to thrive.  

Izuku is amazing. You’ve always known it, but in this moment, you can honestly say you’re prouder of him than ever before.  

“O-Oh my god,” Izuku gasps, and he pulls away the very next second. “I’m so sorry! I was so caught up in my own excitement that I didn’t even ask if you’d gotten your letter yet! That was so insensitive of me!” 

“It wasn’t insensitive,” you chuckle. “Don’t worry, Izuku. Even though I’m trying to become a hero too, nobody wants this as badly as you do. I’m glad you were able to enjoy the moment and focus on yourself for a little while. You always worry so much about others. It’s okay to put yourself first every now and then.”  

He swallows. “But... did you... I mean...”  

“Yeah. I got in,” you grin. “It looks like we’ll be going to U.A together.”  

Izuku’s green eyes blow wide open, and before his shyness can get in the way, he pulls you back into his arms.  

Of course, you don’t even think of pushing him away. It’s rare for him to initiate, given how easily flustered he gets, but it just goes to show how happy he is, and you can’t help but giggle in delight. Honestly, this is exactly what you needed after the hellish past couple of days you’ve had. You want to forget about assholes like Chisaki and Dabi, and focus on all the good things in your life, like Izuku, and the fact that U.A awaits.  

“Maybe if we’re lucky, we’ll get to be classmates again too,” you hum, running your fingers through Izuku’s soft, curly hair.  

He doesn’t say anything back. He’s too overwhelmed by emotion, and instead, just nods furiously, unwilling to break away from the hug.  

Izuku has waited his entire life for this moment. Not only does he have a Quirk now, but the school of his dreams has even opened up its doors to him. For so long, it all felt hopeless. It felt like he was clinging to a hollow dream, and everyone was more than happy to remind him of it.   

Everyone except you.  

You’ve been there for him since the very beginning. Not once has your support come across as disingenuous or forced, and whenever he accomplishes something, you are kind enough to celebrate his achievements as if they’re your own.  

Izuku would never have gotten this far without you. No, he might very well have given up long ago. He wouldn’t have had the strength to put up with Katsuki all these years, he wouldn’t have had the nerve to keep researching heroes, and he even feels like without you, All Might probably wouldn’t have chosen him as his successor either. He doesn’t know how to explain that last part, but he’s convinced that it must be true.  

Izuku owes everything to you. All of his success, his happiness... just everything.  

That’s why he’s so relieved right now. He didn’t get into U.A alone. You’re going to be there with him, right by his side, the way it’s always been.  

The way it’s supposed to be.  

Izuku’s two biggest dreams are finally coming true. He’s going to become a hero, and the girl he loves will be bound to him forever.

Chapter Text

At long last, the wait is over. Starting today, you are finally a U.A student.  

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t a bit nervous, but most of what you feel is pure, unbridled excitement. So much has happened lately. You deserve to have something to look forward to, and you’ve decided that you’re done doubting yourself. All you can do is put in an honest effort and believe. This is your dream, after all. Izuku never gave up, and it paid off in the end. He’s proof that virtually anything is possible.  

You’ve woken up bright and early, eager to change into your brand-new uniform. It’s been tailored to fit you perfectly, and as you stare back at your reflection in the mirror, you can’t help but feel a growing sense of pride.  

It’s actually happening. I’m one step closer to becoming a hero.  

You smooth down your skirt for the last time, pat your cheeks to pump yourself up even more, then finally, you wave your parents goodbye and step outside.  

Izuku is already there waiting for you.  

“[Name]!” he beams. “Good morning! Are you excited to head to U.A? Because I can hardly wait!”  

You smile back at him. “Super excited. Honestly, I barely got any sleep last night. I was way too restless to turn off all my thoughts.”  

“Same here,” he sighs. “But I’ve still got a lot of energy, all things considered. I’m just looking forward to this so much, and it’s finally happening, so it can’t be a dream, right?”  

“No way is this a dream.” You reach out and poke one of his freckled cheeks, then smile again. “You did it, Izuku. You never gave up, and now you’re exactly where you want to be. I don’t think you understand how much of an inspiration you are to me.”  

Izuku blushes, and you hear a little gasp catch in his throat. “D-Do you really mean that?”  

“Of course. Whenever I feel down or start doubting myself, you’re the first person that comes to mind, and it helps motivate me to keep trying.”  

He doesn’t seem to know how to respond to that, so instead, he lowers his gaze to the ground and smiles shyly, face getting redder by the second.  

“Anyways, let’s get going,” you grin. “Wouldn’t want to be late for our first day.”   

For obvious reasons, you’re in a good mood. And Izuku is in a good mood too. Not just because his dreams are finally coming true, but also because of what you’ve just said.  

I inspire her.  

Izuku stares at you while you walk, all wide-eyed and breathless. You said that whenever things are rough, he is the one that motivates you to keep pushing forward. He is the one who lifts you up. Knowing you feel that way fills him with a joy that can’t even be described. 

He’ll never forget what you just told him.

“At this rate, we really might end up being late,” you sigh. 

It’s the first day of school, and even though you and Izuku are brimming with excitement, some of that excitement has slowly died down on account of how long you’ve been searching for your designated classroom.  

“U.A is just way too big,” Izuku frowns, biting down on his lip. “But it’s okay. We’ll find the class eventually.”  

You let out another sigh, then nod in agreement. Thankfully, you’ve still got some time to spare before classes begin. And more importantly, you and Izuku have been assigned to the same class—1-A. It’s more than enough reason to be grateful.  

“Oh!” Izuku suddenly cries out. “I found it! Right there, Class 1-A. Wow. I’m honestly not sure how we missed it when the door is that huge...”  

“Finally,” you breathe, and now that you’re actually standing right outside the classroom, the nerves are really setting in. Still, you do your best not to let it show, especially since Izuku is already plenty nervous for the both of you.  

“Okay,” he swallows. “We’re finally here. But... do you think Kacchan will end up in the same class as us? I know it might sound like I’m being a coward, but I’d definitely prefer if he ended up in the other one, Class 1-B...”  

You aren’t sure which class Katsuki ended up in, because he ignored your text message when you tried to ask. All you know is that he apparently placed first on the entrance exam, which is very much like him. But apart from when he spotted you walking home after your run-in with Chisaki, he hasn’t spoken a single word to you since. There was even an instance where you, him, and Izuku were all gathered together in your middle school principal’s office, being congratulated for getting into U.A, but he didn’t say anything the whole time. He was deathly quiet, which seems remarkably out-of-character for someone like him.  

Still, you try not to take it personally. He’s an asshole to pretty much everyone, and no matter how he behaves, you keep thinking back to that day when you went to the arcade together. It gives you hope that your relationship still has a chance.  

But even though you’d like the opportunity to see Katsuki more and try to salvage what’s left of things, for Izuku’s sake, you hope that he’ll be in the other class, along with Monoma.  

“It’ll be fine,” you reassure. “Even if Katsuki’s in the same class as us, things are different now. You have a Quirk, and you got into U.A. It’s time for him to grow up and leave you alone.”  

Izuku nods hastily. It’s clear that he’s still nervous, but after taking a deep, steady breath, he finally works up the nerve to open the door.  

It’s really happening. Your high school life at U.A is about to begin. This is so exciting, and it’s going to be incredible, and— 

“Don’t put your feet on the desk! Don’t you think that’s disrespectful to your upperclassmen and the other students that share this space with us?”  

“No, as a matter of a fact, I don’t. What middle school are you from anyways, goddamn two-bit extra?”  

Ah. 

You exhale tiredly, and beside you, Izuku buries his face in his palms and lets out a silent scream.  

Of course things would turn out this way. It was only a fifty-fifty chance, after all. Not to mention that luck isn’t usually on Izuku’s side.  

“Just once,” Izuku mutters from behind his hands. “Just once, I was hoping that Kacchan wouldn’t in the same class as me.”  

You smile sympathetically. Poor guy. It seems like he and Katsuki are forever fated to be stuck together, no matter how badly they each want to be rid of the other. Still, you’re feeling optimistic this time around. U.A is a fresh start. This is a school for heroes, and the standard will undeniably be higher than it was back in middle school. You seriously doubt that any of the teachers will let Katsuki get away with his usual antics.  

You pat Izuku’s back a few times. “Don’t worry about it. Like I said, things are different now, and I’m pretty sure Katsuki knows it too, even if he’d rather not admit it.”  

He lets out a shaky sigh and nods his head, but before he can say anything else, someone comes marching right up to him—namely, the same bespectacled student that was just arguing with Katsuki a second ago.  

“Hello, I’m Iida Tenya from Soumei,” he introduces, a bit rigidly, you might add.  

Izuku blinks. “Huh? O-Oh. Yeah, I overheard. It’s nice to meet you, Iida. I’m Midoriya Izuku.”  

“Midoriya,” Iida says, slowly shaking his head in disbelief. “You... were able to discern the true nature of the exam, weren’t you? Even though we were at the same exam site, I was completely blind to it! It pains me to admit, but you were the better man.”  

“Um...”  

Izuku chuckles awkwardly, then glances at you with a big, hopeful look that seems to say, “Help me!” 

As always, meeting new people doesn’t come too easily to him, but Iida seems nice, from what you can tell. He’s clearly a bit uptight and a stickler for the rules, but you suppose that just shows he seriously he takes things. You get the sense that he’s honest to a fault. He and Izuku will probably get along.  

“Ah!” another voice suddenly cuts in. “It’s you! Curly-haired kid!”  

Wow. It’s only the first day of school, but Izuku’s pretty popular, huh? You’re not used to seeing so many people engage him in conversation, and it makes a smile rise to your lips, because it seems like here, things really are different—in the best possible way.  

“You made it, just like Present Mic said!” the girl beams. She’s got short brown hair and a cheerful smile, and it’s obvious from Izuku’s flustered expression and wobbly lip that he’s not quite sure how to handle her enthusiasm. “Seriously, the way you punched that massive robot was out of this world! You pulverized it!”  

Hm? Another person from his exam site? So then, she must be... 

“I would’ve been really bummed out if you didn’t make it, after saving me,” she frowns. “But I’m glad everything worked out in the end! U.A clearly knows what they’re doing!”  

Right. So, it is the same girl that Izuku saved. That’s how he amassed enough rescue points to pass the practical exam. And she seems really nice too. Perhaps, in a way, it’s good that everything unfolded the way it did. Izuku might have just made two new friends in the process.  

You smile, feeling happy on Izuku’s behalf and ready to introduce yourself to both of them, but before you get the chance, something—or rather, someone—catches your eye.  

With such a distinct appearance, it’s impossible to forget, even if several years have passed since the two of you met.  

There he is. The distraught little boy you encountered in the grocery store that day. Except he’s not really a little boy anymore, but that goes without saying. Apart from the fact that he’s grown into a teenage frame, however, he looks almost exactly like how you remember him.  

Distinct hair that splits right down the middle into two different colors—white and red. You’ve never met anyone else with that kind of hair, so surely, it must be him. His eyes are also two different colors, you realize. One of them is a pale blue, leaning towards turquoise, and the other is a warm gray. It’s a condition called heterochromia, if you’re not mistaken. 

But the real giveaway is the big, discernible scar on the left side of his face.  

When you met him that day, his left eye was covered up by a bandage. He was clearly injured, and now, you can see just how severe that injury must have been. It makes the pit of your stomach clench uncomfortably, and you only wish that you had a healing Quirk instead, so that you could have prevented such a scar from forming in the first place.  

But there’s no use in regretting the impossible. The fact that you’ve reunited after all these years is already amazing enough.  

So then, you may as well seize the moment, right?  

Distracted by both Iida and the nice brown-haired girl, Izuku doesn’t notice you walk off right away, and by that point, you’ve made it to the other side of the classroom, where you hover beside the boy’s desk with an impatient smile pulling at your lips.

His name is Todoroki Shouto. You remember seeing it in the system’s interface before you charmed him with your Quirk. Still, for the sake of maintaining appearances and not weirding him out, you’ll pretend like you don’t know, since he never actually introduced himself to you.  

“Hi,” you greet happily. “Um. This might sound weird, but... by any chance, do you remember who I am?”  

Shouto turns his head to the side and looks up at you. He remains sitting, and his expression is so stoic that it’s hard to decipher what must be going through his mind. You can only hope that the gears are turning, and that slowly but surely, the memories are coming back to him.  

But instead, he just blinks.  

“No,” he replies, frowning a bit. “Sorry. Who are you supposed to be?”  

You chuckle softly. Well, it’s fine. It did happen a long time ago, after all. You tend to have a better memory than most, especially when it comes to instances you’ve used your Quirk on others. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter if he remembers who you are. What matters is that fate has brought the two of you together again, and you can’t help but feel like it’s for a reason.  

You think back to that day again, and how utterly devastated Shouto was. He wailed and wailed into your arms, having already endured more pain than any young child ever should. From what you recall, he had a strenuous relationship with his family, and it sounded like his father was abusive. You can’t even begin to imagine how difficult all of that must have been, but even if he doesn’t remember that you tried to help him then, there’s nothing stopping you from being here for him now.  

“We only met once,” you say. “Don’t worry about it. We were pretty young back then, so it’s okay if you forgot. But I recognized you, so I thought I’d come over and introduce myself. I’m [Name]. What about you?”  

He pauses for a few moments, perhaps a bit hesitant.  

“Todoroki Shouto,” he finally replies, and that confirms it—he really is the same person.  

“Well, it’s really nice to meet you.” You smile warmly at him. “It’s cool that you want to become a hero too. If you don’t mind me asking, which middle school did you go to?”  

He’s not exactly the most talkative person around, that much you’re quickly realizing. Perhaps you’re coming on a bit too strong. You’re admittedly a bit excited, because really, what are the odds of something like this happening?  

Shouto indulges you and answers from time to time, and thankfully, you’re chatty enough to carry most of the conversation on your own. But all the while, he narrows his eyes and stares at you long and hard, trying to remember.  

Finally, realization hits.  

It’s you. You’re the girl he met when he ran off that day, trying to get away from his father. He grimaces, remembering the way he cried like a baby, to the point that he had to find comfort in your arms. 

It makes him feel pathetic, in all honesty. Not only does it bring back bad memories about what happened to his mother, but it’s been a very long time since he expressed such vulnerability in front of someone, and he curses how weak he used to be.  

At the same time, though... he’s not entirely mad.  

Shouto remembers you now, and it makes him feel strange. He remembers something weird happening to his body when you kissed him on the cheek. It felt all fluttery and warm, and for just a few moments, he was able to forget his pain, even as unbearable as it was.  

For a long time after that incident, he wondered if he would ever see you again. But as the days turned to weeks, then months, then years, he eventually gave up. It was obvious that the happiness and relief he’d felt in your arms was destined to be a one-time thing.  

And yet, here you are, standing right in front of him.  

Shouto is good at hiding his emotions. Or rather, he’s good at suppressing his emotions, so that no one can see the anger and sadness he buries deep down inside.  

But for the first time in a long while, Shouto is hiding something other than pain, hatred, or self-loathing. 

He can feel his heart racing uncontrollably, and it takes all of his strength to keep his embarrassment from showing.  

You smile, oblivious to the feelings that have just resurfaced, as well as the lasting effects of your Quirk. You’re just happy to have reunited with someone from your past. And now that you’re classmates, you’ll do whatever you can to help ease his burden. As an aspiring hero, protecting someone’s happiness is exactly what you hope to accomplish.  

“So,” you carry on chipperly, “how did the entrance exam go for you? Because if I’m being honest, I was really feeling the pressure. Today’s just the first day though, so I’m hoping it’ll be pretty chill. Do you think we’ll go around the room and do fun icebreakers and stuff?”  

“I’m not sure,” Shouto says. He keeps staring at you, focused on keeping his expression as undecipherable as possible. You grew up to be really pretty, and once he acknowledges that fact, it becomes even harder to fend off his blush.  

It’s a reunion you could never have imagined, and you ride the waves of excitement, babbling on without pause.  

Regretfully, not everyone is pleased with this turn of events.  

“Midoriya?” Iida frowns. “What’s wrong? You’ve been staring off into space for a while now.”  

It’s true. Ever since he noticed you walk away, Izuku hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you. He just doesn’t understand what’s happening. Who is that guy? Why are you already acting so familiar with him? How is it that you have yet another friend, one that he doesn’t even know about?  

Izuku’s jaw clenches. No. He has to calm down. It’s okay. He’s finally at U.A. This is good news. You’re probably just trying to get to know your classmates. Yeah. It’s as simple as that. Nothing to be concerned about.  

Everything’s going to be alright.  

It’s perfectly fine.  

This is... no big deal. No big deal at all.  

...yeah, right.  

Izuku can’t bear to keep watching, so he swallows hard, then turns away.  

Little does he know that Katsuki—his childhood bully, polar opposite, and the person he’s resented for most of his life—reacts by doing the exact same thing.  

When it comes to you, they aren’t so different after all.  

Chapter Text

You’re officially a U.A. student. The road leading up to this point hasn’t been easy, not for you, and most certainly not for Izuku either, but at long last, you’re finally here. Without a doubt, your first day will be memorable and inspiring. 

So, when some scruffy-looking guy turns up out of nowhere in a sleeping bag, for obvious reasons, you’re a little taken aback. 

“If you’re looking for friends, you’d be better off doing it elsewhere. This is the Hero Department.” 

He proceeds to aggressively slurp up on his juice box, then he awkwardly rises to his feet (yes, he was lying on the ground up now) and finally steps out of his sleeping bag, revealing a black jumpsuit. 

“It took you a few seconds to quiet down,” the man remarks. “Life is short, and you may be kids, but it seems like you’re lacking common sense. I’m your homeroom teacher, by the way. Aizawa Shouta. Pleasure meeting you.” 

Homeroom teacher? This guy? 

You try your best to withhold judgment. If he’s a teacher here, then he must be a pro hero too, not that you recognize him. He’s definitely already left quite an impact. Most teachers don’t roll into class—quite literally—in a sleeping bag, after all. 

Rather than taking the time to better acquaint himself with his new class, or even go over some general rules and policies that are usually covered on the first day, Aizawa instead holds up some kind of athletic garb for everyone to see. 

“Wear these,” he instructs. “Immediately. Then meet up on the P.E. grounds.” 

He doesn’t elaborate any further. You and Izuku briefly exchange confused looks before heading off to the changerooms, then regrouping outside. 

As it turns out, your homeroom teacher isn’t one for taking things slow, because he promptly decides to drop this bomb on you: 

“Starting right now, we’re going to be having a Quirk Apprehension Test.” 

Everyone stares at him in disbelief. What is he talking about, completely out of the blue? Actually, it’s kind of weird how quickly everything is moving along. You thought that a prestigious school like U.A. would be more formal and adhere to due process… but so far, this is completely unlike any first day of school you’ve ever had. There wasn’t even an official entrance ceremony. 

“But… is it really alright?” the nice brunette, Uraraka, asks worriedly. “Isn’t there other stuff we need to sort out on the first day?” 

“Of course it’s alright,” Aizawa brushes off. “I’m your teacher, aren’t I? Besides, if you want to become heroes, we don’t have time for all that other nonsense. It’s my responsibility to help train all of you, and the sooner we get to work, the better.” 

He goes on to start listing various activities that were included during your middle school physical exams. Pretty standard stuff that you’ve gone through a bunch of times by now. The key difference though, is that this time, you’ll be allowed to use your Quirks.

Which is a damn shame, since your Quirk may as well be useless for this sort of thing. 

“Bakugou,” Aizawa gestures. “Do you remember how far you could pitch a softball in middle school? What’s your personal record?” 

“67 meters,” Katsuki responds. 

“Alright. I want you to try using your Quirk this time. This may be a demonstration, but that being said, don’t hold back.” 

Naturally, he doesn’t. 

The softball goes soaring into the sky, propelled upwards by a forceful explosion—paired with some pretty in-character screaming. When the ball finally lands, though, Aizawa’s measuring device beeps, and Katsuki’s personal record suddenly goes from 67 meters, all the way to 705.2. 

It’s impressive, but not at all surprising, especially since Katsuki is so powerful. That’s what Quirks are meant to do, at the end of the day. Enhance a person’s physical functions beyond the norm, hence the term superhuman.

If only your Quirk was as simple as throwing out explosions left and right. Not to say that Katsuki isn’t talented, and you already know that he works hard, but… still. Your Quirk can’t possibly be called reliable, or easy to use, or even that strong. Which is why you don’t anticipate your middle school records changing much at all. 

You suppose it’s not that big of a deal. Sure, your classmates will likely end up with far more impressive scores than you, but it’s only the first day, and you’ll have plenty of room to grow. What you need is proper instruction, so that you can figure out a way to make good use of your Quirk and adapt to dangerous situations. That’s what the pros are here for, right? To help guide you all towards becoming proper heroes?

…well, apparently not. 

At first glance, Aizawa struck you as being pretty stoic and laid-back, but once your classmates all start cheering and remarking on how ‘fun’ this test seems, his expression changes for the worse. 

“New rule,” he glares. “Since it looks like none of you plan on taking this seriously, the student who places last in total points will be judged as hopeless and instantly expelled.” 

What? 

You blink, certain you misheard him. There’s no way he’s serious. An expulsion, on the very first day of school, when U.A.’s acceptance rates are already so abysmally low? It’s impossible. It wouldn’t make any sense. Which means that he has to be bluffing. He’s just trying to give you all a fright and whip you into shape. 

The longer you stare into Aizawa’s dull, seemingly lifeless eyes, however, the less likely your theory becomes. 

So, then… wow. This is really happening. It’s only the first day of school, and you might already be expelled. 

Fucking perfect. 

The trials begin, starting with the 50-meter dash, and you line up to take your place, feelings of self-doubt festering more with every second. It doesn’t help that Iida clears the trial stupidly fast. Yet again, you’re reminded of the difference in strength, skill, and overall versatility between you and your classmates.

While you nibble on your lower lip, anxious beyond belief, one of your classmates approaches you. 

“Hey! You’re the girl from the entrance exam, right? Do you… remember me?” 

You turn, eyes widening.

Oh, lord. It’s him. The boy that you watched take down several robots right in front of your eyes. The boy with the lightning streak in his blond hair. The boy that you kissed without warning. Kaminari Denki.

Your cheeks redden. Back then, you were just carrying out the system’s mission to try and enhance your strength and pass the exam. You were already mortified enough in the moment, but you told yourself that you simply had no choice. But even after you found out that you’d gotten into U.A., you didn’t once stop to consider that he might end up being your classmate.

No matter how many times you use your Quirk, you can never quite get used to the embarrassment that follows.

“Um, hi,” you greet, smiling awkwardly. You note that his smile seems rather awkward as well, which, fair enough—you did spring a kiss on him all of a sudden. “Congratulations on passing the exam. I know it’s kind of late for this, but… I’m really sorry about surprising you like that. I’m sure it must have been pretty weird. My Quirk is kind of difficult to use, and I didn’t really know what else to do at the time…”

“Oh.” Kaminari blinks repeatedly, trying to make sense of your words. “So… your Quirk requires you to kiss people?” 

“Yeah, pretty much. Again, I’m really sorry. I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable or anything. I just really wanted to pass.” 

“Wow. I’ve… never heard of a power like that before.” 

Neither have I, which is why it sucks. How in the world am I supposed to turn this into a reliable ability? 

You resist the urge to sigh heavily, and instead, you smile again. Your self-deprecating thoughts can wait for now. It’s always nice to run into a familiar face, and besides, it’s still not set in stone that you’ll be the one to place last. 

“Well, either way, I’m glad we were both able to pass. I’m [Name], by the way. It’s nice to officially meet you.”

He pauses for a moment, most likely still trying to wrap his head around the whole ‘kiss’ thing, but eventually, he returns your smile with a wide, wholesome grin.

“I’m Kaminari Denki! To be honest, I was pretty shocked when you kissed me back then… but it makes sense if it was because of how your Quirk works. Don’t worry, I’m not mad about it at all! I’ll take a kiss from a pretty girl like you any day!” 

You chuckle sheepishly. At least he doesn’t seem to be holding it against you. Part of you always feels immeasurably guilty whenever you have to use your Quirk on someone. Not counting villains like Dabi, of course. 

“Well, good luck,” Kaminari encourages brightly. He even flashes you a thumbs-up. “Aizawa’s pretty hardcore, saying he’s going to expel someone on the first day, but we’ve got this! I’m sure we’ll both be fine.” 

“...right.” 

You appreciate his optimism, and even though you still have plenty of doubts, you resolve not to wallow in pity and jeopardize your chances even more. You’re going to try and take a page out of Kaminari’s book and be more positive.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long.

With every trial, your panic spikes. You’ve never been especially powerful. Your Quirk provides you with opportunities every now and then to become stronger, but your physical capabilities still aren’t anything to write home about. You’re stronger and faster than the average person, sure, but in a world of superhumans, that doesn’t mean much. 

Everywhere you look, other students are obtaining outstanding scores. Perhaps not for all of the trials, but most of them have at least one area where they excel, and all the while, you’re stuck at the very bottom, painfully mediocre. 

Izuku has One for All. Granted, he breaks his bones when he uses it, but you figure he’s saving his Quirk to use on one of the trials and boost his overall score. It’s unlikely that he’ll place below you, not that you would even want him to. This has been his dream for as long as you can remember. No one wants this as badly as he does. 

But… you want to become a hero too. Is it really hopeless after all?

You swallow hard. The softball pitch is up next, and you already know you won’t fare any better. And even though you know it’s probably not true, it feels like your classmates are quietly judging you, wondering how in the world you even got into the Hero Department.

You feel pitiful. You probably look pitiful, too. And perhaps the universe recognizes it—or at the very least, your Quirk does—because you’re suddenly given a second chance. 

[NEW MISSION: Use  Charm  on Bakugou Katsuki. This mission must be completed in the next five minutes. If the mission is successfully completed, your strength will temporarily increase by a considerable amount.] 

It’s the same prompt you saw back during the entrance exam. You remember the system chimed in right around when you were starting to run out of time, and you were at risk of failing. You can’t say for sure, but it seems like you’re more likely to be given a mission when the odds are stacked against you. 

But why does it have to be Katsuki, of all people? At least Izuku would have willingly cooperated with you, despite his embarrassment. Even Kaminari seemed like he was open to having you use your Quirk on him again, and you barely just met him. 

You grit your teeth. Soon enough, it’ll be your turn to do the softball pitch. You can’t afford to waste any more time. 

You glance around, picking Katsuki apart from the crowd of students. He’s standing with his arms crossed, looking every bit as irritable as always. You doubt he’ll let you kiss him if you ask, so you have no choice but to catch him by surprise, and thus, you quietly creep up behind him. 

Only to find yourself immediately pushed back. 

“The hell do you want?” Katsuki glares. It’s not like you expected him to go along with this, but jeez. He looks like he’s out for blood. 

“Nothing,” you lie, straining a smile. “I just wanted to stand next to you while I watch everyone do the softball pitch.” 

“Go stand somewhere else. Go stand with your boyfriend and make googly eyes at him like you always do.”

His tone is harsh, not that you’re at all surprised. It also figures he would find a way to throw Izuku into a completely unrelated conversation. Petty to the extreme. 

You shrug. “Fine. I’ll leave.” 

But you don’t leave. You simply pretend to leave, and once Katsuki turns back, you try to lunge at him and catch him off guard. 

This time, he shoves you to the ground. 

“What the actual hell is your problem, huh?” He looks down at you, crimson eyes somehow becoming even more vicious. “I told you to stand somewhere else, so hurry up and fuck off already.”

From further away on the field, Aizawa lifts a brow. 

“What’s going on back there? The test isn’t over yet. Now’s not the time to fool around.”

You grimace. Getting into a fight in the middle of class is certainly not the right move, especially since Aizawa has proven he’s not above expelling his students on the first day. The last thing you need is to get in trouble, when your chances of passing this test are already abysmally low. 

And yet, you can see the system’s screen, right in front of your eyes, clear as day. 

The clock is ticking.

“I-I need a favor,” you shamefully acknowledge, slowly rising to your feet. There’s no way you’d ever be able to out-muscle Katsuki and kiss him by force, even if Aizawa wasn’t watching you like a hawk. “My Quirk gave me a mission… and I need your help to complete it. I need to do this and boost my strength, otherwise I’ll place dead last on all the trials.”

Katsuki just stares at you, and safe to say, the silence is unsettling.

Then, he scoffs. 

“Oh. Oh. So, that’s what this is about. You didn’t want to stand next to me or whatever bullshit you were spewing. You were trying to kiss me, weren’t you? Goddamn creep. You were trying to catch me off guard and humiliate me again.” 

“I don’t have a choice,” you insist. “I need to charm you specifically, and if I manage to complete my mission, then—” 

“Does it look like I give a fuck?” 

You falter. It’s not like you aren’t used to him yelling at you, or calling you names, or even just generally being an asshole. 

But deep down, you’d always hoped that he would be there for you if you ever needed him. That he would still care about you and wish you the best, the way that you do for him. 

However, when you look in his eyes, you find no trace of that same rambunctious yet admirable boy you were once proud to call your friend. 

All you see is hatred. 

“I warned you,” Katsuki mutters. “I warned you and Deku both to stay the hell away. I warned you not to apply to this school. And what? You think I owe you or some shit? You think I need to come to your rescue whenever something goes wrong? Get real. If either of you ends up getting expelled today, it’s because you’re both weaklings who have no business being here.” 

He’s right. His words sting, but he is right. 

Katsuki isn’t responsible for your shortcomings, and he certainly has no obligation to do you any favors.

If you fail today, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. 

[MISSION FAILED. You have been unsuccessful in completing the assigned mission within the time limit. No rewards will be given.] 

Katsuki makes sure to sneer at you one last time before walking away. Your eyes trail after him for a few moments before falling to the ground, and against all odds, you manage not to burst into tears.

“[Name],” Aizawa says. “You’re next.” 

You drag your feet as you walk up to the pitch. Izuku tries to mumble a few words of encouragement as you pass by, but it’s all for naught. You pick up the softball, weighed down by disappointment, and just as you predicted, your record hasn’t changed much since middle school. 

It’s over. You’ll surely get expelled now. This is Izuku’s best chance at using One for All to obtain an impressive score, and you know he won’t waste it. You truly do wish him the best. It’s just a shame you likely won’t be here to watch him blossom into an incredible hero.

Izuku gets ready to throw the softball next, and even though Katsuki would normally be fully focused on him, he can’t help but steal a glance your way. 

You look devastated. Heartbroken, even. The test isn’t even over yet, but it seems as though you’ve already lost hope. You seem to believe that your expulsion is all but guaranteed. 

Katsuki grits his teeth. 

Much to contrary belief, it doesn’t bring him pleasure to see you looking so upset. As a matter of fact, it makes his stomach churn, especially since he knows that yet again, he’s the reason for your unhappiness. It seems like he only ever manages to make you feel like shit, and you would think that after all this time, he would have adopted a different approach. 

But his ego will never allow him to apologize, or to try and right his wrongs. Which is why, no matter how much it makes his heart ache, no matter how many times he kicks you while you’re down and promptly regrets it, he’ll never change. 

And besides, it’s only fair. You reap what you sow. 

If you’d chosen him instead of Izuku, all those years ago, none of this would have happened.

Chapter Text

Just as you expected, Izuku was saving his Quirk to use during the softball pitch. 

You can’t help but stare in awe as he propels the ball upwards, just as forcefully as Katsuki did during his earlier demonstration. As a matter of fact, it happens to land even further than Katsuki’s—if only by a hair. The score he obtains is perfectly befitting a hero, and he managed to do it without totally wrecking his body this time around. He was able to concentrate all the force into a singular point, sacrificing a single finger rather than an entire limb.

Izuku’s amazing.

You’ve always known this, of course, and while you’re immeasurably happy for him, at the same time, you can’t help but be weighed down by your own lackluster results. Izuku is smart, driven, courageous, and adaptable. He clearly deserves to be here. 

But can the same really be said for you? 

“I… I can still move!” Izuku declares, biting back tears as he endures the pain of his broken finger. Aizawa seemed to be testing him just a second ago. He momentarily canceled his Quirk, because he seemed to think that Izuku’s powers are highly self-destructive, and thus, unreliable, but based on the grin spreading across his lips, he’s clearly been proven wrong. 

Aizawa’s expression tells you that he recognizes Izuku’s potential, and you have no doubt that over time, countless other people will feel the same. 

Realistically, though, you’ll probably be expelled before you can see it happen.

You grit your teeth and try to shelve those thoughts for the time being. You should congratulate Izuku for doing such a good job. It takes a lot of strength to regularly endure the pain of breaking his own bones, on top of how hard he’s already worked. 

Just as you step up to smile and give him an encouraging pat on the back, someone within the group lets out a strangled gasp.

Naturally, that someone is Katsuki. 

Of course. You should’ve known he’d react this way. His mouth is hanging ajar, and his eyes are wider than ever, sheer disbelief coloring his expression. With all the stress of the expulsion rule Aizawa dropped on you, it totally slipped your mind that at some point today, Katsuki would finally discover that Izuku has a Quirk. 

For obvious reasons, the news doesn’t go over well. 

“What the hell is this supposed to be, shitty Deku?!” 

Katsuki lunges straight for Izuku without even stopping to consider the consequences. He sparks off explosions in the palms of his hands, not bothering to be subtle about his violent intentions. Poor Izuku jumps at the sight, still clutching his broken finger, and whether it’s from the shock or the pain, he can’t seem to react in time. 

You’re just about to run out and try to intervene, rather foolishly, but Aizawa beats you to the punch. 

It turns out all those cloths wrapped around his neck aren’t just for show. They’re made of steel wire alloy, woven with carbon nanofibers. He apparently uses it to capture villains while on the job, and he’s just used to it to capture Katsuki—while canceling his Quirk, no less. 

You heave a sigh of relief. At least no one got hurt. Well, not counting the injury Izuku inflicted upon himself. 

“Stop making me use my Quirk so much,” Aizawa mutters gruffly, wrapping his cloth-like scarf back around his neck. “I’ve got dry eye, dammit. Anyways, we’re wasting time. I’m not sure what all this petty yelling and fighting is about, but the test isn’t over. Get ready for the next trial.” 

Izuku nods and hastily bows his head, and while everyone prepares to move on, you approach him worriedly. 

“Will you be alright to continue with your finger like that?” you ask. “I bet it’s even more painful than it looks. Also, that whole thing with Katsuki just now… are you okay?” 

Izuku chuckles weakly. “U-Um, it should be fine. It does hurt a bit, but I’ll be able to make it through. As for Kacchan, well… I already figured he’d be really mad when he found out about my Quirk. It’s really no surprise. Thankfully Aizawa was able to stop him in time. I kind of froze up when I saw him running at me like that…” 

“I don’t blame you. I really thought he might finally get his act together now that we’re at U.A. I can’t believe he’s still acting so childish and picking fights.” 

You sigh and shake your head. It seems like no matter how desperately you try to hold out hope that Katsuki will fix his ways, he’s determined to prove you wrong. The interaction you had with him earlier proves as much. All these years, you’ve done your best not to outright resent him for how he’s treated Izuku. You tried to cling to the fond memories you had of him from back when you were all kids. Even when he disappointed you with his actions, or shocked you with his blatant hostility, you still cared for him. You still reserved a space inside your heart for him. 

It’s clear now that he doesn’t feel the same way. He doesn’t hold that same affection for you. In fact, you would go as far to say that he outright despises you. 

So, maybe it’s time to give up on him. Maybe it’s time to stop caring altogether, just like he stopped caring for you. 

You keep close to Izuku’s side as you head over to the next trial, occasionally patting his back and trying to coax him through the pain. 

Meanwhile, Katsuki stands motionless, crimson eyes burning with a hatred so fierce it can’t even be put in words. 

That fucker, Deku, has a Quirk. All this time, he acted like he was Quirkless. He led Katsuki along by the nose and made a goddamn fool out of him. He pretended like he was helpless, when really, he was concealing a massive power this whole time.

And then… there’s you. 

When Izuku used his Quirk earlier, you didn’t look the slightest bit surprised. You didn’t look taken aback at all. Which can only mean that you must’ve known. Quirks manifest no later than the age of four. There are no exceptions. So, you’ve known since then? And you’ve just been going along with this farce and humiliating him for the better portion of his goddamn life? 

Katsuki doesn’t even blink. His heart is beating so uncontrollably, so violently, that it feels like it’s about to burst out of his chest. He feels like crumpling onto the floor. He feels like throwing up. He feels angrier than he could ever hope to express—but worse than the anger, than the nausea, is something else. 

It’s the fucking betrayal.

So, not only did you abandon him and pick Izuku all those years ago, but you also helped bury that fucker’s secret. You deceived him. You treated him like a fucking joke. 

Katsuki furiously bites down on his lip, hard enough that he draws blood. 

Just how cruel can you be? 

I got all worked up for nothing. 

“Yeah, that whole expulsion thing was a lie,” Aizawa states nonchalantly. 

“What?!” 

“It was a logical ruse to draw out your best performances,” he says, a grin splitting across his lips. 

“Seriously, what?!” 

Most of the class is in an uproar, and understandably so, but some of your classmates surprisingly aren’t that taken aback. 

“Come on, everyone, it was obvious from the start it was just a ruse,” a girl with long black hair pinned into a ponytail sighs. 

She claims it was ‘obvious’, but in that case, Aizawa must be an amazing actor, because he looked ready to drop one of his students in the blink of an eye. 

Not that you’re complaining. The relief hits you all too suddenly, causing you to stagger in place and let out a shaky breath.

Thank goodness. 

It really is a fortunate twist of fate. Because suppose Aizawa was serious about expelling the student who placed last… based on the scoreboard, your life at U.A. would already be over by now. 

Izuku placed above you by one spot. He was able to at least use his Quirk for one of the trials and obtain a respectable score. The same can’t be said for you, however. As far as a class filled with budding heroes goes, everything you did today was horribly and painfully average. 

You stare down at the palms of your hands. It sucks to be weak. You’ve been weak for basically your entire life, and even though it hurts to admit such a thing, you realize that there’s no other way around it. 

Now that you’re here, you have no choice but to change.

You have no choice but to become stronger. 

“Midoriya,” Aizawa says. “Go see Recovery Girl to get that broken finger of yours patched up. You’ll need all your strength and energy for tomorrow. And that’s pretty much it for today. You must all be tired. Once you’re done changing, head back to the classroom to look over your curriculum sheets, and then you’re free to go home.”

You turn towards Izuku and smile. “I’ll wait for you to be done. Just stop by the classroom once you’re finished with your treatment so we can walk home together.” 

“Okay!” 

He grins widely, every bit as bright as a ray of sunshine. It’s no wonder he’s so happy right now. Both of you just dodged a massive bullet. Well, mostly you, but still. At least neither of you are going anywhere. You’ll be able to stay by each other’s side.   

For Izuku, this means more than you’ll ever know. 

You start heading back to the classroom together, and it looks like most of the adrenaline has worn off at this point, because Izuku can’t seem to stop wincing from the hurt of his broken finger.

All of a sudden, someone blocks your way. 

“[Name],” Aizawa beckons. “Stay back for a moment. I need to have a word with you.” 

You instinctively gulp. This has to be about the fact that you placed last. Even if he’s not actually going to expel anyone, you’re willing to bet he’s got more than a few stern words reserved for you. 

“I-I’ll meet you in the classroom later, like we agreed on,” Izuku says. He offers an awkward, but encouraging smile, then walks off, still clutching his poor finger. 

Now, then. You’re about to get bitched at, aren’t you? 

“I noticed you seemed to have a rather glum expression for the whole duration of the test,” Aizawa remarks. 

You shift uncomfortably. “Um. Yes. I was… just really scared. That I was going to end up getting expelled.” 

“What I said to the class was meant to motivate you to try your hardest, not crush your spirits and make you give up.” 

“I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to give up. It’s just that my Quirk isn’t good for this kind of stuff, so I felt pretty discouraged. I’m sorry, sensei. I promise I’ll try harder from now on.” 

Aizawa just stares at you. He stares at your pitiful, quivering frame. At your tightly clenched fists and the deeply insecure look in your eyes. He may not be the most expressive of the bunch, but for all his presumed nonchalance, he’s still a teacher. 

And he can tell that you’re in desperate need of support. 

“I read your file,” he continues. “I understand that your Quirk is control-based. It relies on other people for it to work, just like my Quirk does. U.A.’s entrance exam isn’t necessarily fair. Having to fight robots limits students with different abilities that aren’t purely physical. Certain students don’t have the chance to prove themselves, even if their Quirks could very well be useful in the field of heroics. I’d say the same goes for you. If used correctly, it sounds like you could incapacitate villains and the like. It’s a strong ability, but it wasn’t suited for the structure of the entrance exam. Nevertheless, you passed. When I watched the footage, it seemed like you momentarily gained a burst of power. How did that happen?” 

“Oh. My Quirk is… a little more convoluted than just simply controlling others. It’s kind of like a system. Like in a video game. Do you sort of get what I mean?” 

Aizawa blinks. “No. Maybe I’m too old to understand this.”

“It’s like… some kind of guide. It gives me tasks to complete, and that’s how I get stronger. But I have no control over it. It seems to be mostly random. During the entrance exam, I managed to complete one of those tasks within the given time limit, and I was rewarded with a temporary strength boost. That’s the only reason I was able to take down a few robots and score enough points to pass.” 

“So, you have opportunities to get stronger,” he clarifies. “If you’re able to complete these so-called ‘tasks’. Am I getting that right?” 

“Yeah. Pretty much. I need to fulfill a certain condition if I want to be able to control someone. There was no point in me controlling someone during this test because it wouldn’t have improved my score anyways. That’s why I didn’t feel too confident.” 

“And the condition you’re referring to is…?” 

Oh, boy. Having to spell this kind of thing out to your teacher is a whole new level of embarrassing. 

“I-I have to kiss someone,” you stammer, already blushing ear-to-ear. “And the person I most recently kissed… I’m able to control. Briefly.” 

Aizawa blinks again. He’s clearly trying to keep a straight face, but for all his stoicism, even he can’t seem to hide his shock. 

He awkwardly clears his throat. “Right. I see. That does sound like it would be difficult to make use of. Difficult, but certainly not impossible. And you say that your Quirk occasionally provides you with opportunities to become stronger if you successfully complete those tasks, but that’s just the thing. You can’t wait around for your Quirk to start working for you. It’s true that you need to consciously work on managing it and improving upon it, but you need to work around your Quirk instead of completely depending on it. If I’m on a solo mission, my Quirk in itself won’t do much. It’ll cancel the villain’s Quirk, but it still won’t help me apprehend them. Which is why I supplemented my Quirk by honing my hand-to-hand combat abilities, and finding a weapon that suited my style. Your Quirk can be a powerful tool if used properly, but at the end of the day, Quirks are still just an extension of yourself. You need to come up with a strategy that makes the best use of your potential.” 

What he’s saying makes sense. It’s true that you’ve perhaps been relying too much on your Quirk itself, rather than taking charge of your fate. It’s a troublesome ability, much more troublesome than you ever wanted, but these are simply the cards you’ve been dealt. You can’t just keep moping around forever. Izuku took charge of his destiny and worked his ass off to inherit One for All. It’s time for you to do the same. 

“I understand, sensei. You’re right. Thank you for telling me all this. I think I really needed to hear it.” 

You bow your head, and perhaps you’re imagining it, but when you meet Aizawa’s gaze again, there seems to be a subtle smile pulling at his lips. 

He gently waves you off. “Run along, then. Catch up with your classmates. I’m sure you must be tired after a long day. Remember what I said, and do your best to implement these changes going forward. Don’t despair. A hero must always find a way to rise above adversity. If this is really what you want to do with your life, you can’t give up so quickly.” 

“Yes, thank you again! I really appreciate it!”

Feeling much better than you did just a second ago, you run back towards the building with a spring in your step. It turns out that Aizawa’s actually a pretty nice guy. He might seem a little strict and rough around the edges, but he went out of his way to encourage you. Maybe you actually lucked out by having him as your homeroom teacher. 

Aizawa watches you leave. He’s hardly the sentimental type, but to see that his words helped motivate you so much admittedly feels pretty nice. For some reason, there’s a tightness in chest, and while not entirely uncomfortable, it’s enough to make him scratch his head. 

Weird. You’re just another one of his students, but for a moment there… he felt a strange pull to you. He felt like he needed to step in and say something. 

Hm. Maybe he’s finally getting the hang of this teacher gig. 

SYSTEM UPDATE:

[New ability in progress. Conditions not currently met. Ability will be unlocked once remaining conditions are fulfilled.] 

“What’s this now?” 

You furrow your brows upon changing out of your P.E. uniform and returning to the classroom. Your Quirk is acting up again. It says that you’ve got another ability that you might be able to unlock, but it’s not telling you how to go about doing it. 

Whatever. Well, okay, not whatever, but you don’t really have the energy to think about it right now. And like Aizawa said, instead of relying entirely on your Quirk, you need to come up with other ways to strengthen yourself, like honing a fighting style and perhaps acquiring a weapon to help you along the way. 

You mull this over as you pick up the curriculum sheet and skim through it. Some of the students are already packing up to go home. You’re not sure how long Recovery Girl’s treatment will take, but you don’t plan on leaving without Izuku. 

One by one, students file out of the classroom. Iida and Uraraka decide to hang back and wait for Izuku as well. They gather around your desk and start rambling about the hectic day you all just had. 

Suddenly, you’re shoved to the side.

It’s Katsuki, of course. No one else would so rudely bump into another person, without even bothering to apologize. Actually, you’re more than willing to bet it was on purpose, based on that hateful look in his eyes. 

Iida crosses his arms and huffs. “Bakugou! Aren’t you going to say sorry for bumping into [Name]? I swear, you don’t have any respect when it comes to your classmates—” 

“Shut up. I could care less about you, so just shut your fucking mouth.” 

Iida bristles, and beside him, Uraraka does the same. Neither of them seems to know how to respond. They’re not used to dealing with Katsuki, after all. They’re not used to seeing such a blatant display of hostility. 

Katsuki steps closer to you, and instinctively, you step back. All these years, you’ve never quite been afraid of him. He’s never actually hurt you, after all. He’s been harsh to you, but it still doesn’t come close to how he treated Izuku. He never devolved into senseless violence and gave you a reason to fear for your safety.

Lately, though, you’re not so sure anymore. 

Which is why you squeeze your eyes shut, preparing for him to lunge at you the same way he lunged at Izuku earlier. But mercifully, that doesn’t happen. You don’t feel any pain. 

Instead, you hear his words—dripping with hatred. 

“You knew,” Katsuki says, eyes wide, manic, and dangerous. “All this time. You pretended like you didn’t, but it was just to make a goddamn fool out of me. I bet you had fun. I bet you and that shitty nerd had the time of your lives. So many years of feeding me bullshit… and the whole time, you knew.” 

He grits his teeth before shoving you out of the way once more, and much to your relief, he finally leaves. 

Uraraka casts you a worried look. “What was that all about? Why is he so angry? Are you okay, [Name]? You look really shaken up. Do you even get what he was talking about? What was he referring to?” 

You don’t respond. You can’t seem to get a grip on your heartbeat. It’s racing out of control, and you swear the room just started spinning all of a sudden. 

In that moment, you finally felt it, for the very first time. You felt the one emotion that you’d convinced yourself Katsuki would never make you experience. 

Fear.

Chapter Text

Katsuki hates me. 

You bite down on your lip, doing your best to keep from crying. Even now, your heart is still racing uncontrollably. You never thought you would actually be scared of Katsuki. Of the boy that you’ve known ever since you were a little kid. Part of you can’t help but feel like you’re overreacting, like you’re just being overly sensitive. Katsuki says all sorts of hurtful things, as if it’s routine. You’re no stranger to the threats that come out of his mouth, but words are just that. Words . And for the longest time, you really thought that deep down, he didn’t actually mean what he said. 

However, now, it seems all but certain. Katsuki knows that you’ve been keeping Izuku’s Quirk a secret. In his eyes, something like that is an unforgivable crime. Even more so because he’s still struggling to make sense of the fact that Izuku is no longer the weak, powerless loser he always saw him as. The way he looked at you just now was so cold, so malicious , that it makes you doubt if those happy, childhood memories were ever even real. 

“[Name],” Uraraka gently nudges, still visibly concerned. “Are you going to be okay?” 

…no.

That’s what you’d like to tell her, but it’d be selfish to drag her into your personal problems, not to mention that she wouldn’t understand anyway. You have to keep the truth behind Izuku’s Quirk a secret. All Might made both of you swear on it. Besides, even if you explained it to someone, it probably wouldn’t make you feel any better. Not when your relationship with Katsuki seems to be damaged beyond repair. 

“I’m fine.” Fortunately, you manage to hold back your tears, and you even smile for good measure. “Katsuki’s always like that. Him and Izuku really don’t get along, and because I’m so close with Izuku, he gets mad at me all the time too. I’m used to it, so… it’s really fine.” 

Neither Uraraka nor Iida look awfully convinced, but out of respect for you, they don’t try to pry any further. 

The three of you walk out of the building together, and although you tell them they’re free to go ahead, they insist on waiting to make sure Izuku is okay. He went to get treated by Recovery Girl for his broken finger, but he should be just about done by now. 

“Ah,” you perk up. “There he is.”

Izuku walks over, and despite how exhausted he clearly is, he smiles the moment your eyes meet his. If there’s one silver lining in all of this, it’s that nobody ended up being expelled, at least. Also, all things considered, Izuku looks happy. He was able to use his Quirk in such a way that Aizawa acknowledged him. If that’s not a step in the right direction, you’re not sure what is.

“Is your finger all healed?” Iida asks. 

“Huh? O-Oh. Yeah,” Izuku nods, shrinking away out of reflex. “Recovery Girl said I’ll be fine. I’m just feeling a bit tired.” 

“[Name] said you two always walk home together, so we figured we’d all head to the station as a group, if you don’t mind,” Uraraka smiles. She pauses for a moment, looking a touch confused. “By the way, which is it?” 

“Huh?” 

“Your first name. Is it Deku, or Izuku? Because Bakugou calls you Deku, but I keep hearing [Name] refer to you as Izuku, so…” 

Unsurprisingly, Izuku flinches. He’s been conditioned to have a negative reaction to that nickname. Well, not that you can blame him. If someone randomly assigned you a new name and used it to demean you for the better portion of your life, you would probably hate it, too. 

“Ah, um, Deku is just what Kacchan calls me to make fun of me,” Izuku mumbles, gaze drifting towards the ground. 

“So, it’s an insult,” Iida mutters, crossing his arms in obvious distaste. “Good grief. What’s wrong with Bakugou? Just earlier, he was incredibly hostile to [Name] as well. Has he really always been like that?” 

“...he did what to [Name]?”

Izuku immediately lifts his head up, and there’s no trace of the awkwardness or embarrassment from just moments ago. He stares at Iida, gaze firm and unwavering, and although you don’t notice it, one of his hands is clenched into a fist.

“It was no big deal,” you reassure. You don’t want to worry him for no reason. All Katsuki did was get angry at you, but that’s hardly anything new. Even if it scared you more than you’d like to admit. “He was just mad, like always. He was upset because he thinks I’ve been hiding things from him.” 

Izuku clearly realizes you’re referring to One For All, so he nods in understanding, but even as he slowly unclenches his fist, the discomfort stays with him. 

But he puts on a smile, so that he can hide it from you. 

“As long as you’re okay,” Izuku says. 

Uraraka blinks. “I’m not really sure what’s going on, but it sounds like things are really complicated. It sucks that Bakugou acts that way. But, you know, I actually think Deku sounds pretty cool! It gives the impression of never giving up!”

She grins, enthusiastically pumping her fist in the air, and you have to admit, she has a point. You never thought there was anything wrong with the nickname Deku, per se. It’s just that Katsuki made a point of constantly shaming Izuku with it. You consciously avoided using it because you figured it would only upset him more. 

Maybe it’s time to stop thinking of it that way, though. U.A is supposed to be a fresh start. Already, things are changing. Izuku has a Quirk now. He got into his dream school, and he was chosen by none other than All Might. Maybe… it’s time to finally leave the past behind. And this doesn’t just apply to Izuku, but you as well. 

“Um… I-I’d appreciate it if you didn’t use that nickname at all,” Izuku mumbles, decisively rejecting what Uraraka just said, as well as your own thought process.  

“Oh.” She looks a bit surprised, but her smile doesn’t fade. “Don’t worry, I understand if you’re not comfortable with it! So, your real name is Izuku, right? In that case, I’ll just—” 

“That’s what [Name] calls me.” 

“Oh,” Uraraka says again. This time, she actually does stop smiling. “R-Right. You two are close friends, after all. Sorry! That was rude of me, asking to call you by your first name all of a sudden. I’ll just stick with Midoriya from now on!” 

Izuku smiles appreciatively, and the four of you start heading to the train station. As always, you don’t bother reading into Izuku’s behavior. In your eyes, he’s no different than usual. Having people refer to him a certain way all comes down to personal preference, and the fact of the matter is that you’re the only real friend he’s ever had. You’re sure he’ll become more comfortable opening up to others over time. 

After all, it’s not like his world only revolves around you. 

Maybe it’s because of how stressful your first day of school was, or maybe it’s because you’ve always had an active imagination, or maybe —and sadly, this is most likely the real reason—the truth is that you’re already much more traumatized than you realize. 

Whatever the case, that night, your dreams are more vivid than ever before. 

It starts off with a familiar scene. Snow is falling from the sky, covering the ground in a blanket of white. You’re dragging your feet along in an attempt to finish your 20-kilometer run, limbs feeling as if they’re heavier than lead, when suddenly, you stop. 

Dabi is standing right in front of you. 

By the time you scream, it’s too late. Blue flames engulf your body whole. Unlike in the real world, you don’t manage to use your Quirk in time to save yourself. It’s only a dream. A nightmare. Unfortunately, in your present state, you’re not conscious of this fact. You truly believe that you’re dying. That you’re being burned alive. 

Please… someone, please. Please just make it stop …!

Miraculously, your prayers are answered. When you blink, you find that you’re completely unharmed. Your skin no longer feels as if it’s being melted off. There aren’t any burn marks, either, and it seems as though Dabi has also disappeared. 

You press a hand to your chest and take a weak, shuddering breath. Thank goodness. You’re safe now.

Except you’re not . 

The scene changes again. This time, you’re in an alley, and there’s a knife pressed to your throat. You already know all too well what comes next. Sobbing, you grit your teeth and prepare yourself for the sensation of having your throat slit open. 

But that doesn’t happen either. Instead, Chisaki appears behind the man that’s holding you hostage, reaching an ungloved hand towards him, and by the time your assailant realizes what’s going on, it’s already too late. 

You watch, terror-stricken, as the man’s body erupts. It barely even takes a second. A single one of Chisaki’s fingers grazes him, and just like that, he’s nothing more than a puddle on the ground. You blink repeatedly, somewhat in a daze. There’s a slick sensation against your cheeks, and a distinct, metallic scent filling the air. 

“I-It’s—It’s all over me,” you gasp, realizing that you’re now covered head to toe in the man’s blood. “Get it off! Get it off !”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Chisaki growls. He slams you against the wall and holds you there, anger flashing through his golden eyes. Unfortunately, this just scares you even more, and your sobs grow louder, more agonized and desperate. 

Until finally, Chisaki runs out of patience. 

“Such a headache. All you had to do was be quiet. Didn’t I warn you before? But you didn’t listen. That’s why… you have no one to blame but yourself.” 

What follows is a strange, sickening sensation that honestly makes you wish your throat had been slit instead.The pain is instantaneous, like a wave that just crashed into you head-on. It somehow feels as if you’re being ripped apart from all angles, broken down into an infinite number of pieces. You feel everything , down to an atomic level. You can feel your existence being completely and utterly eradicated. 

And the worst part of it is that you know that if Chisaki really wanted to, he could bring you back. 

But he won’t. 

Over and over again, you die. The nightmare replays on a near endless loop, and each time, the outcome is no different than before. You don’t understand why this is happening to you. You don’t understand what you’ve done so wrong to deserve this. 

You don’t understand why you’re so fucking weak . 

At some point, you awaken, gasping for breath and choking on your own tears. It takes a while to even make sense of everything. You swear you still feel the pain. Either that or you’re being purposefully taunted right now. You’re being granted false hope, a brief respite before someone will inevitably kill you all over again. 

“...honey, are you alright?” 

It’s your mother’s voice. She must have heard you hyperventilating, and she steps into your room with a worried expression. Seeing her helps you regain your sanity a bit. It really was just a nightmare. The most frightening kind of nightmare of all.

One that could easily become reality. 

“I’m fine,” you sniffle, and as nice as it would be to just stay home and wallow in self-pity all day, you don’t have the luxury to do that. Not if you want to break out of this cycle of hopelessness. Not if you want to become a hero. 

I need to stop whining. Lots of people have it harder than me. And heroes risk their lives on the job, every single day. This is nothing. 

You forcefully push the nightmare—or rather, the trauma —to the back of your mind. As always, Izuku greets you at your front door, and together, you walk to school. Admittedly, seeing him helps. Now that the Quirk Apprehension Test is done and there’s no longer any threat of expulsion, all that remains is excitement. His enthusiasm is so contagious that you can’t help but smile. You really are happy for him. This is everything he’s ever dreamed of. 

Contrary to yesterday, you’re surprised to find that everything is so normal . In the morning, U.A has regular academic classes, like you’d find in any other high school. Rather than being bored, as some of your other classmates appear to be, you’re actually grateful for this mundane familiarity. It gives you the chance to calm down. To prepare yourself for whatever this afternoon has in store. 

“Let’s eat together!” Uraraka beams. It’s lunchtime now, and even though it’s barely the second day of school, it looks like her and Iida have already integrated themselves as part of your little friend group. Not that you’re complaining, of course. 

The cafeteria is huge, as expected of U.A. They’ve also got way more lunch options than you could’ve ever imagined, courtesy of the Cooking Hero who works here as a staff member, Lunch Rush. 

“What do you think we’ll be doing for hero studies?” Uraraka asks, shoving a generous helping of rice into her mouth. 

“I don’t know, but I can hardly wait!” Izuku exclaims. “All Might’s going to be the one teaching us. I’m so excited!” 

You chuckle softly. He’s already closer to All Might than anyone else could possibly fathom, but ultimately, he’s still a fanboy at heart. Some things just never change. 

Just as you’re about to take a bite of your own meal—which looks amazing , might you add—someone calls out to you. 

“[Name].”

The voice is familiar, and you quickly turn, only to find Monoma standing behind you. He’s not doing much besides holding a food tray, but for some reason, he’s wearing a cocky smirk. It might just be his face, though. He has a pretty arrogant-looking face to begin with. 

“Oh. Hey, Monoma,” you greet. Come to think of it, you already knew he ended up in the other Hero Department class, 1-B, but yesterday was so hectic that you didn’t get the chance to ask him about it. 

“Are these your classmates?” Monoma asks, gesturing towards the table. His eyes lock with Izuku’s for a split second, and the latter’s smile noticeably drops.

“Yep. Well, you’ve already met Izuku, but this is Uraraka, and this is Iida,” you introduce. 

“Hello!” Uraraka beams. 

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Iida nods. 

“So, you’re all in Class 1-A. I heard a rumor that you guys did some kind of weird test yesterday. And that someone was almost expelled,” Monoma frowns. “Is that true?” 

“Our teacher tricked us,” you sigh. “It was honestly pretty scary. But no, nobody got expelled. Apparently, he just wanted to push us to our limits and see how well we could do. We were evaluated solely based on our Quirks. It was like those physical tests we used to do in middle school, but this time, using Quirks was allowed. Which was… kind of challenging for me.” 

“Ah, right. Because your powers rely on other people, like mine.” Monoma scrunches up his nose, looking somewhat offended. “Well, not that you’ll ever tell me how it actually works. You just love keeping secrets.” 

“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,” you say, letting out a humorless chuckle—which doesn’t go unnoticed. 

Monoma frowns. He wonders if he’s reading into things too much, but sometimes, it really seems like you don’t like your own Quirk. Just based on the way you talk about it, with such tedium and visible reluctance. It’s strange. Being able to control others is a powerful ability for a hero. What’s there not to be proud of? 

“Well, if I was there, I definitely would’ve scored higher than anyone else,” Monoma proudly states. 

Honestly, he’s probably right about that. Being able to copy others’ Quirks would have been perfect for the Apprehension Test. He could’ve alternated between the most suitable abilities for each trial. His Quirk is similar to yours in the sense that he needs someone else present in order for it to work, but the difference between your Quirks’ practicalities may as well be night and day.

As shameful as it is, you’re jealous of him. Jealous of pretty much everyone, really. Jealous of those who aren’t stuck with a Quirk as awful as yours. 

You force a smile. “That’s nice, Monoma.” 

“Hey, am I imagining it, or did that sound kind of patronizing?” 

“You’re imagining it.” 

“Well, whatever,” he snorts. “Anyway, come say hi to my classmates. I want to introduce you to some of them. We’re sitting at that table over there.” 

He points off into the distance. You spot a few students, like a boy whose entire body appears to be encased in silver—or is metal? There’s also a girl with orange hair pulled into a high side ponytail, and a dark-haired boy wearing a headband. 

“Oh, sure,” you say. “I wouldn’t mind meeting them.” 

You slowly stand up, but almost immediately, a hand latches onto your wrist. 

Izuku is staring at you, green eyes disturbingly wide. “[Name]? You’re… leaving?” 

“Just for a bit. I’m leaving my food here. I’ll go say hi to everyone and be right back,” you reassure. 

You try to walk away, but his grip remains firm. Is he worried that you’ll spend your lunchtime with the Class 1-B students instead? Of course you wouldn’t do that. You’re only going to be gone for a few minutes, at most. 

…isn’t he overreacting a bit? 

“Izuku,” you laugh, finally managing to pull away from him, with a forceful tug. “I’ll seriously be right back. Don’t worry. I would never ditch you. Do you want to come with me and say hi to them too?” 

“No… it’s fine.” 

You’re relieved to see him smiling again. Clearly, you must have been worried for nothing. He’s used to always having you around. It’s only ever been the two of you eating together at lunch, practically every single day for the past several years. He just needs to get used to a little change, that’s all.

You follow Monoma over to the table where his classmates are seated, and even though you don’t look back over your shoulder as you walk, Monoma sure does. And in doing so, he inadvertently meets Izuku’s gaze.

As always, it’s unsettling.

A Battle Trial. It turns out that’s what you’ll be doing this afternoon. All Might had you all change into your hero costumes and meet up outside, where he promptly announced that you’ll be going head-to-head against your classmates. 

I might have a chance. 

Unlike with the Apprehension Test, maybe you’ll actually prove yourself this time. Your Quirk is best suited to incapacitating others, or at the very least, briefly hindering their movements. Not that you want to use your powers in front of all these people watching, but you always knew you wouldn’t be able to hide them forever. It was only a matter of time before everyone found out. For now, you need to push your shame aside and try to win . 

“In the interest of fairness, your teammates and opponents will be randomly chosen,” All Might announces. “Now! Let’s draw lots to see who ends up with who!” 

Luck has never really favored you. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. Your luck is absolutely abysmal , to the point that you wonder if it might be a curse. Which is why you don’t have high hopes. You suspect you’ll probably be partnered up with a total stranger. It’s certainly not like you’ll be fortunate enough to end up on the same team as Izuku. 

…right? 

“Whoa!” Izuku exclaims, grinning ear-to-ear. “I can’t believe we get to be together!” 

You grin back at him. Look at that. Something actually went your way for once. It’ll be much easier to strategize with someone you know, not to mention that you have full faith in Izuku’s strength and resourcefulness. You trust him. If there’s anyone who can help you achieve victory, without a doubt, it’s him . 

Unfortunately, as is so often the case, you’re not allowed to be optimistic for very long. 

Moments later, you discover who your opponent is. 

Katsuki is glaring at the both of you with such intensity, such hatred, that you unknowingly take a step backwards. Izuku looks every bit as shaken up, if not more . Being matched up against him is the worst possible outcome. Whatever confidence you had just moments ago has completely dissipated, into nothingness.

The outcome of this trial won’t make a difference. No matter what happens, there’s just no way to make both of them happy. There’s never been a way. 

You are fighting a losing battle. 

Chapter Text

As you and Izuku prepare to enter the building and commence the Battle Trial, your hearts are heavy, and spirits are low. 

Neither of you really says anything. You both stand there nervously, and you know that whatever words of encouragement you try to offer will just sound hollow and disingenuous. All your life, you’ve done your best to support Izuku and stand up for him, but these past few days have made you see Katsuki in a different light. You feel more and more uncomfortable around him as time goes by. His resentment for you has planted a seed of doubt in your chest. And now, more than ever, you’re left wondering whether you will forever be at odds with him, for the rest of your life.

It’s a bitter thought, and certainly not what you should be focusing on right before the Battle Trial, but you can’t help it. 

You just don’t understand where it all went wrong. 

“...are you scared?” 

Izuku’s voice snaps you out of your trance, and you turn to find him staring at you, lips pressed into a thin line. 

“You look scared,” he remarks. “Of Kacchan. You… never used to look so scared of him before. Is it because of what he said to you yesterday?” 

“I guess so,” you admit. “Actually—no, it’s more than that. It’s a lot of things, really. I can just tell that he hates me more and more each day. It’s hard to believe the three of us ever used to be friends. When I think back on it, I just get so sad, and I lose all the strength in my body. Katsuki seems so much more intimidating than I remember him being. And I feel horrible for even complaining, because you always had the worst of it. I’m sorry.” 

Izuku isn’t sure what you’re apologizing for. It’s not like any of this is your fault. It’s only ever been Katsuki’s fault. He’s the one who changed one day. He’s the one who up and decided he wanted to destroy their friendship. And… he’s the one who keeps yearning for you, in spite of how cruel he is. 

You don’t even realize how mistaken you are. Izuku knows it all too well. He knows Katsuki doesn’t hate you. Katsuki could never hate you. Katsuki hates him, and as much as he’d like to pretend to be the bigger man, as much as he’d like to pretend that he’s incapable of feeling any spite…

He hates Katsuki just as much. If not more. 

“It’s going to be okay.” 

The words catch you off guard, and you blink, surprised to see Izuku smiling at you. He normally would’ve been awash with anxiety right about now, but this is the perfect opportunity. This is a chance for him to prove to you what an amazing hero he is. To prove that no matter what, no matter how dire the situation feels, you’ll always be able to rely on him. 

And only him. 

“I’ll protect you,” Izuku reassures. He smiles shyly, cheeks tinged pink, as he reaches out to squeeze your hand. “I’ve always let Kacchan push me around, and I can’t say that I’m not scared at all, but… this time, I’ll make sure it’s different. This time, I want to win.” 

It’s a guilty feeling. You should be the one cheering him up, not the other way around. He’s the one who’s been relentlessly bullied by Katsuki all these years. But that’s exactly what makes him such a perfect fit to be a hero. His selflessness. The way he always puts others first. 

“Okay,” you smile, squeezing his hand back. “You’re right. Let’s do this.” 

Of course, you fail to realize what Izuku’s words truly mean. When he says he wants to win, he doesn’t just mean in this trial. He’s referring to a long, hard-fought, forever ongoing battle between him and Katsuki. 

A battle where you are the prize. 

You enter the building. You’ve been given a map with the general layout of what’s inside, although you obviously don’t know where the opposing team is hiding the weapon. Katsuki’s teammate is Iida, but knowing him, he sure as hell won’t be cooperating. It’s more than likely that Iida will be stuck defending the weapon while Katsuki runs rampant on his own. 

Speaking of—

A deafening explosion rings out. Even though you were expecting Katsuki to pop up out of nowhere, he’s still so unbelievably fast. To be honest, it all happens so quickly that you barely even have time to blink. By the time it all sinks in, you’re lying on the ground, with Izuku fallen on top of you. He must’ve instinctively jumped and pushed you out of the way, to keep you from getting caught up in Katsuki’s attack. 

“Are you alright?” Izuku asks. 

“I-I’m fine,” you nod. “Thank you.” 

He offers you a hand to help you to your feet, and at the same time, the smoke from Katsuki’s explosion dissipates. You see his eyes first, that piercing crimson gaze, and slowly but surely, the rest of his expression comes into view. 

It’s so hateful that, for a moment, you forget your fear entirely. 

You just feel unbelievably sad.

“Don’t fucking dodge me, Deku,” Katsuki spits. “Piece of trash. You’re just gonna run, huh? That’s what you always do. Because you’re too much of a coward to face me head-on.”

“I knew he’d attack me right off the bat,” Izuku mumbles, and he stands fully upright, brows knit together. Just now, Katsuki was clearly aiming for him, but you could’ve easily gotten hurt in the process. The fact that Katsuki didn’t even care enough to avoid you is disgusting. Izuku would never have done something like that, no matter how upset he was. And that’s why, even though he’s been Quirkless all his life, and even though Katsuki is objectively stronger, at the end of the day, Katsuki doesn’t deserve you. 

But Izuku is convinced that he does. 

“I’m going to beat the shit out of you,” Katsuki warns, and he charges forward again, with his right arm pulled back. 

You wince, preparing yourself for the sound of Izuku being struck and hit with an explosion from point-blank range, but surprisingly, it never comes. 

Instead, Izuku gets in close, grabs Katsuki by his arm before he can send his punch flying, and in one fluid motion, throws him over his shoulder and onto the ground. 

Your eyes go wide. Did that… really happen? Just now, Izuku not only predicted Katsuki’s moves, but he outmaneuvered him and landed a blow of his own. And it looks like you’re not the only one who’s shocked, because Katsuki is slowly peeling himself off the ground, jaw hanging open in disbelief. 

“Kacchan, you always lead with a big right swing,” Izuku says, voice trembling, ever-so-slightly. “I can’t count how many times I’ve seen you do it. I’ve analyzed and taken notes on all the heroes I thought were amazing… including you. The same notes that you blew up and tossed away.” 

Katsuki mashes his teeth together, no doubt seeing red, but Izuku isn’t done yet. 

The next time he speaks, his voice is no longer trembling. 

“I’m not weak or useless anymore,” he mutters. “And… I’m not going to lose to you. When it comes to anything.” 

Katsuki isn’t a fool. He makes the connection right away. When Izuku says he’s not going to lose, he’s referring to you. He’s essentially declaring war and taunting him by saying that he’ll never hand you over. 

If Katsuki wasn’t angry before, he sure as hell is now. 

“You goddamn asshole!” 

Katsuki strikes again, but this time, Izuku pulls out the capture tape from his pocket and uses it to intercept the attack. Once again, Katsuki is left at a loss for words, and Izuku turns towards you, urgently. 

“[Name], run! You go and try to find the weapon while I hold him here!” 

…right. 

Fuck. He’s got a point. Physically speaking, you stand no chance against Katsuki. Izuku has trained hard enough to hold his own, but you’re nowhere near on their level. If you stand around here twiddling your thumbs, you may as well be useless.

With a hasty nod and a heavy feeling in your chest, you run off. Katsuki doesn’t try to follow you. He’s far too focused on trying to beat the ever-loving shit out of Izuku. He does, however, spare you a glance out of the corner of his eye, and as always, he wonders. 

He wonders what’s so fucking amazing about Deku that you’re always on his side. 

“I’m going to kill you,” Katsuki rasps, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists. He’s made these kinds of threats before, of course. Too many times to even count. But this time, it feels a bit different. It feels like he might actually mean it. 

Fortunately, you don’t have to see what comes next, because you’re already gone, making your way through the building as quickly as you can. Iida is undoubtedly defending the weapon right now. There’s a good chance your Quirk will work on him. After all, it even worked on the likes of Dabi. But that’s not the problem. The problem is getting close enough to him to actually pull it off. 

“...shit.” 

It doesn’t take too long to find Iida, and that’s mostly because you heard him practicing his villain laugh from afar. As dorky and endearing as it is, you aren’t about to let your guard down. You also can’t help but scowl at the fact that he’s still got his helmet on. His hero costume conceals every part of his body, which puts you at even more of a disadvantage. 

If I manage to knock his helmet off somehow, then I can kiss him and make him surrender with my Quirk. But… I don’t know how I’ll even get that far. 

There’s no way to sneak around him. Iida has positioned himself right in front of the weapon, and he’s facing forward towards where his opponents might come from. Not to mention that you can’t possibly beat him in a contest of speed. The mere thought is laughable. 

For you to have any chance of capturing the weapon, you’ll need some kind of distraction. But what? 

Whether it’s simple coincidence or the universe actually rooting for you for a change, the moment you have that thought, the entire building begins to rumble. It feels almost as intense as an earthquake, but it’s not. The massive explosion you just heard tells you everything you need to know. 

“Bakugou?!” Iida cries out, slipping a finger under his helmet, onto his earpiece. “Hey, Bakugou! What was that? What in the world are you doing right now? You do realize this is just a training exercise, don’t you? Learn the meaning of restraint!” 

This is it. This is your chance. You’re worried about Izuku, of course, but you can’t afford to hesitate while he’s out there risking it all. Iida finally has his head turned away as he attempts to yell at Bakugou through his earpiece, and you charge towards the weapon, going faster than you’ve ever gone before. 

Unfortunately, nowhere near fast enough. 

Katsuki obviously never responded to Iida, so he clicks his tongue and turns back around, and even though you can’t see his face underneath his helmet, you imagine he looks somewhat taken aback that you’ve appeared out of thin air. 

You flail, stretching your hand out as far as it can go, in a desperate attempt to touch the weapon. Iida might have been caught off guard, however, he reacts with ample time to spare, and you watch as he picks up the weapon and sprints over to the other end of the room, all in one fell swoop. 

“Nice try!” Iida says, letting out another ‘villainous’ laugh. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to catch me like that! And while I may not know how your powers work, it’s clear that you need to get close to someone in order to use them. I will remain vigilant and hold off until time runs out, all while defending the weapon! Truly, I am a villain worthy of praise! Muahahaha!” 

You grit your teeth.

Fuck. It was pointless after all. This is a terrible match up for me. I can’t do anything against someone I can’t even get close to. Meanwhile, Izuku is still going head-to-head with Katsuki. I’m holding him back. I’m just so… useless. 

Tears prick your eyes, but you bite down on your lip, hard, before they can spill over. Crying won’t accomplish anything. It’s fine. You understand what you need to do now. Going after Iida won’t work. At least, not by yourself. You’ll need Izuku’s help to take Iida down, but in order to do that, Katsuki needs to be dealt with first. 

“You’re running away?” Iida remarks, watching as you disappear behind the pillars and run back downstairs. “Foolish hero! So quick to admit defeat! I see you’ve already realized you stand no chance against me, muahahaha!” 

He doesn’t chase after you. Of course not. He’s going to stay right there, defending the weapon until the very last second, in order to win. That’s fine, though. In fact, it’s better this way, rather than having to deal with two opponents at once. What you need to do now is find out where Izuku is—and fortunately, Katsuki’s Quirk doesn’t make that too difficult.

There they are. Izuku’s body is covered in bruises, scratches, and burn marks from the explosions, whereas Katsuki, by comparison, is almost completely unharmed. A good section of the building has been completely destroyed. That must be what you heard earlier. Did he really target Izuku with something so powerful? What would’ve happened… if it hit him head-on? 

No. There’s no time to think about that right now. You got here at the perfect time. Katsuki has temporarily stopped attacking to instead scream at Izuku. Something to do with how he’s apparently always looking down on him. 

“And another thing,” Katsuki snarls. “It’s all your fucking fault. It’s all because of you! Because of you, I can’t—because of you, she wants nothing to do with—” 

He freezes. So does Izuku. Clearly, neither of them were expecting you to appear, but by the time Katsuki turns around, it’s already too late. 

You’ve got your arms wrapped around him, and your lips pressed against his cheek. 

“Please stop moving,” you say, ignoring the intense, mortifying feeling that’s steadily creeping up your spine. You know that all of your classmates are watching this happen. You know that, but still. It doesn’t change what you have to do. 

“What the hell…?” 

Katsuki stares at you in disbelief. He doesn’t lose consciousness, though. It’s not as easy to place him under your control as it was back when you were kids. You can see his movements becoming a bit more sluggish, and he grits teeth in an attempt to resist the effects of your Quirk. He even manages to shove you back, taking a weak, shuddering breath as he sways unsteadily on his feet. 

“Your bullshit tricks… won’t work on me,” he mutters. He raises his palm, and it looks like he’s about to spark off another explosion.

You should’ve known better than to expect everything would go your way. He’s not a kid anymore. Perhaps he’s built up a resistance against your abilities. Or perhaps there’s never a guarantee that they’ll even work. 

In that moment, even though you really, really don’t want to, you remember the day you ran into Dabi. You remember how he kept you locked in his grip, taunting you with a pale blue flame right in front of your face. You remember the nightmare you awoke from, just earlier this morning, and how disturbingly vivid it was. In your nightmare, you died to him, over and over again. But in real life, you survived. How did you survive again? 

Oh… right. 

Before Katsuki can fully regain his lucidity, you lunge at him again—except this time, you don’t kiss him on the cheek. 

Instead, your lips connect with his own. 

“...[Name]?” 

Izuku watches in horror. He stands there, helpless, feeling as though the world is crashing down around him. He just watches. He watches as the girl he’s loved, practically his whole life, kisses the person who’s tormented him his whole life. 

It’s not just sickening. It’s cruel. Inhumane, even. He doesn’t understand why this has to happen. He doesn’t understand why the world is so unfair. It deprived him of a Quirk for so long, and it gave you a Quirk that makes him lose his goddamn mind. 

Izuku clamps a hand over his own mouth, barely stifling a gag. By now, Katsuki has stopped moving. He doesn’t fully lose consciousness, but he goes slack in your arms, and eventually, he collapses onto his knees, defeated. 

You inhale. “Now. Help us defeat Iida. Help us take down your teammate so that we can win.” 

Katsuki doesn’t even budge. He just stays there, staring ahead with a vacant look in his eyes. He’s completely out of it. Is he not reacting to a new command because you already told him to stop moving before? You have yet to discover all the different mechanisms of your Quirk. It may very well be that you can’t issue too many commands at once. Or maybe the commands aren’t allowed to contradict each other. 

At least… it actually worked. That’s the best you could’ve hoped for. Katsuki was arguably the biggest threat, and now, he’s out of commission. You’re not sure for how long, but it gives you an opportunity, at the very least. You were able to do something. You weren’t useless this time.

“Izuku,” you say, pointing towards the stairs. “Let’s go. I know where Iida is hiding the weapon. We need to retrieve it before time runs out.” 

You beckon him along, and he slowly steps forward, expression blank. You’re already trudging up the stairs. He was able to avoid using One For All until now, too. He might be able to use it to back Iida into a corner and make him abandon the weapon, at least for a moment. And that would give you enough time to retrieve it. 

You used your Quirk on Katsuki in order to immobilize him. What you just did undoubtedly increased the odds of both of you winning, and yet, he’s far from happy. In fact, he might have even preferred to lose. The bitter taste in his mouth, the painful lump stuck in his throat, and the way it hurts to breathe… nothing else would have made him feel this way. Nothing. 

As Izuku walks past Katsuki’s limp, unmoving body, his green eyes are filled with a hatred he honestly didn’t know he was capable of. That being said, even heroes must have people they despise. Even they must have people they wish would disappear off the face of the planet, for good.

Right? 

Chapter Text

“This way,” you instruct. “We have to be quiet, though. Our best chance of getting the weapon is if we sneak up on Iida.” 

“...okay.” 

Izuku follows behind you with a blank expression. Katsuki still hasn’t tried to chase after you, so your Quirk will probably have him immobilized for a little while longer. It’s a good thing. It means you both have one less opponent to deal with—and Katsuki was arguably the most difficult opponent of all. 

Izuku should be happy about this turn of events. It’s everything he’s ever wanted. He’s always wanted to win against Katsuki, and not only that, to prove that he has what it takes to become a hero. He should be experiencing positive, uplifting emotions. But he’s not. 

Right now, the only thing he can think about is how he was forced to watch you kiss someone else. 

“Stop here,” you say, pulling him back by the hand. You crouch down and hug the wall. “He’s just around the corner. I’m nowhere near fast enough to catch him on my own, but since there’s two of us now, we might be able to block his path, so that he can’t just keep running around with the weapon. There has to be a limit to how long he can use his Quirk for, right? I think his engine overheats if he uses his powers for too long. I’m just worried we might run out of time by then… but it’s worth a shot, right?” 

Izuku nods lethargically, and you can’t help but frown. He looks weirdly dejected all of a sudden. Is it because you interrupted his fight with Katsuki? Is he upset because he didn’t get to challenge him alone? You feel bad about getting in his way, but you’re trying to win, and you weren’t sure what else to do. If only you were stronger, you might have been able to deal with Iida on your own… but it’s too late to regret things now. All you can do is face forward. 

“Let’s spread ourselves out in opposite directions,” you suggest. “The more he runs around, we’ll start to slowly close in on him. I know it’s easier said than done, but I think we can pull it off. We just need to time everything right and not get too impatient. So? What do you think?”

“Okay. Let’s do it.” 

He still doesn’t sound anywhere near as enthusiastic as you would’ve hoped, but maybe it’s the nerves. You’re nervous too. Winning this Battle Trial would be your first real chance to prove yourself. To prove that even with a Quirk as awful as yours, you can become a hero. 

Well, then. It’s now or never, you suppose. 

You and Izuku both dash out into the open, encircling Iida from opposite sides. You can’t tell what expression he’s making because of the helmet he has on, but his shoulders jump slightly, in visible surprise. He instinctively wraps his arms around the weapon and picks it up, ready to dash to the other side of the room. However, he suddenly goes completely still. 

On account of the fact that Izuku just shattered one of the walls open. 

Dust, debris, and shards of glass go flying everywhere. Izuku’s arm is broken, of course. You sway unsteadily on your feet, tempted to collapse and hug the ground, because of how forcefully the building is shaking. Even Iida seems to have lost his balance. You thought that you were going to try to slowly wear him down and eventually back him into a corner? Wasn’t that the plan? Izuku never said he was going to use One For All. Also, is it just you, or does he look strangely… upset right now? 

A normal person might’ve been crippled by the pain of a broken arm, but not Izuku. Not only is he getting more and more used to injuring himself, the adrenaline surging through his veins—fueled by the sheer, unbridled anger—makes it so that he fires off his Quirk once again. He channels One For All into his legs and goes flying at an unsuspecting Iida, who is too shocked by the building’s destruction to react in time. 

Izuku’s body collides against the fake nuclear weapon, and moments later, you hear All Might’s booming voice through your ear piece. 

“Hero team… WINS!” 

So, it’s done. It’s really over. To be honest, it still doesn’t feel like you accomplished much, but you were able to put Katsuki out of commission, if nothing else. Your victory still came at the expense of Izuku’s body, though. He broke both of his legs, and one of his arms. Just like he did the day of the entrance exam. This kind of thing isn’t sustainable. That’s why you tried to suggest a different plan, one that didn’t involve so much self-inflicted pain, but perhaps he realized it was a fool’s gamble. Perhaps this was the only path he saw that actually led towards victory.

You suppose it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s not like you can change the past. Instead of dwelling on it, you rush over towards Izuku, who’s barely clinging to consciousness because of how much pain he’s in. You feel a bit dizzy from the violent tremor earlier, but the building’s still intact. Somehow. 

“Izuku,” you breathe, dropping to your knees beside him. His eyes are glassy, nearly vacant. The pain must be utterly unbearable, and once again, you feel guilty. He only had to resort to such measures because of how much of a weakling you are. As you squeeze onto his uninjured hand, you mumble, “I’m sorry. I should’ve come up with a better plan. I’m sorry you felt like you had no other options but to do this. I’m not good… at figuring out how to be useful.” 

You’re blaming yourself. Izuku has seen you blame yourself more times than he can even count. Most of the time, it has to do with Katsuki. You’ve always blamed yourself for Katsuki’s behavior, saying that you’re his friend, and that you should’ve stopped him from turning out the way he did. Izuku has never understood how that makes any sense. Katsuki’s flaws are his own. His choices are his own. All the shitty, inexcusable things he’s done… he’s the one to blame, not you. 

Izuku would usually have corrected you right about now. He would’ve tried to encourage you and raise your spirits, just like you always do for him. But then he remembers what you did earlier. He remembers the horrible encounter he was forced to watch. The torture you put him through. 

So, he doesn’t correct you. 

Instead, he uses this as an opportunity. 

“I-It really hurts,” Izuku whimpers, looking up at you with wide, trembling eyes. “[Name], it hurts… so bad. Please, can you make it stop somehow? With your… Quirk. Can you hypnotize me and make the pain go away…?” 

You blink. “W-What?” 

“Your Quirk. Can’t you give me a command to make me feel better, or something? You can do that… right?”

You suppose, if you were able to comfort Shouto while he was crying and make his sadness fade the very first day you met him, then maybe you could temporarily ease someone’s pain. There’s no guarantee it’ll work, but it might. That being said…

“But there are cameras,” you mumble uncomfortably. “Earlier, I used my Quirk on Katsuki because we were in the middle of a fight, but the battle is already over. If I use my powers on you right now, people will think we’re k-kissing for real.” 

Izuku’s lip trembles, and he looks strangely upset all of a sudden. “Is kissing someone like me so embarrassing that you don’t want to be seen doing it?” 

“What? No, of course not!” you insist. “That’s not it at all. I just—” 

“So, can you please do it? I just… want the pain to stop. Please, [Name]. Please just help me…” 

Shit. People are definitely still watching through the cameras. But I can just explain later, right? It should be fine. It’s not a big deal. 

With a Quirk like yours, those are the same words you’ll be forced to repeat, over and over and over again. Even when you don’t believe them. 

“It’s not a big deal.” 

Cheeks burning from embarrassment, you lean closer to Izuku and try to drape some of your hair down so that it at least hides your mortified expression. You gently cup his face with your hand and prepare to press your lips against his freckled cheeks, but before you can, Izuku pulls you by the wrist. 

“I don’t think… the cheek will work,” he mumbles. He blinks slowly, emerald eyes practically melting into yours. “I-I’m in a lot of pain, so… I think you need to do it on the lips. Like… how you did it to Kacchan.” 

“...oh.” 

How can he be so sure about that? But then again, it’s true that your Quirk didn’t have maximum potency when you tried using it against Katsuki the first time. Its effectiveness increased when your lips actually made contact with his. Or something. You still don’t know with certainty what does or doesn’t work. You just know that you hate this fucking Quirk. 

You hate it so, so much.

But you certainly don’t hate Izuku, your dearest friend, so you swallow your shame and slowly press your lips against his. 

[Use  Charm  on Midoriya Izuku?]

>>[YES]

The kiss is brief, but nevertheless, Izuku swears this must be one of the happiest moments of his life. His only gripe is that he wishes it could last longer. He wishes he could kiss you forever and ever. He wishes he didn’t have to make up excuses in order to embrace you the way he’s always wanted to. 

“Just relax, Izuku,” you say, using your voice to command him. “Feel the pain disappear. It doesn’t hurt anymore. It doesn’t hurt anymore at all… right?” 

“Right,” he mumbles back in a daze. You don’t realize that even without the effects of your Quirk, he would’ve been every bit as breathless. A single kiss from you, and he feels like he’s floating on a cloud. 

It doesn’t take much longer for his eyelids to fall shut. He succumbs to the damage his body has sustained and loses consciousness. Two of U.A’s robots suddenly appear and lift his body onto a stretcher, then begin to carry him towards the infirmary. 

Thus marks the end of your Battle Trial, you suppose. You stand up, dust yourself off, then start trudging through the building. You pass by Katsuki on your way down to the lower floor. He’s still on his knees, completely motionless, in the exact same position you left him. You slowly approach, studying his expression for any changes. When he doesn’t so much as glance your way, you reach a hand out and try to grab him by the arm. 

He immediately slaps your hand away. 

…I guess my Quirk must’ve already worn off on him. 

“Katsuki,” you say, awkwardly shifting in place. “Come on. The Battle Trial is over. We need to go back.”

Katsuki still doesn’t look at you. Even though it’s clear he’s regained his ability to move, he just stays there, on his knees, staring blankly into the distance. 

“I lost… to Deku,” he mutters in disbelief. 

You don’t know how you’re supposed to respond to that, but even staying silent feels like a sin, somehow. Now that he’s snapped out of the trance you put him in, he looks completely and utterly broken. He’s devastated, to the depths of his core. Even the fact that you kissed him is hardly a consolation, because he just knows. 

He knows that from this moment onward, the war between him and Izuku will get infinitely worse.

Watching everyone else's battles unfold is a painful experience in itself.

You feel unimaginably ashamed the whole time. Fortunately, everyone is so focused on watching the other trials unfold that nobody bothers asking you questions, but you could tell that people were staring at you in particular during All Might’s debrief. It must be the first time they’ve ever seen a power like yours. You’re not entirely sure what must be going on through their heads, but given your past experience, you doubt it’s anything good. All your life, people have avoided you because of your Quirk. They called you a sicko, a pervert, and a freak who controls others. 

What all those people probably don’t even realize is that you hate your own Quirk just as much as they do. If not more. 

So, you watch. Everyone really is incredible. Most of their powers are so powerful and versatile, completely unlike yours. Shouto especially stands out far above the rest. He essentially won his Battle Trial all by himself. He froze the entire building, immobilizing his opponents in one fell swoop. You could already kind of tell, based on what you saw during the Quirk Apprehension Test, but he really is strong. You almost start to feel envious of him, but then you remember that he was sobbing because of his father that day. His Quirk may be infinitely better than yours, but you should be fortunate to have good parents, if nothing else. 

Eventually, All Might concludes the Battle Trial. 

“Good work today, young ones! This certainly won’t be your first simulated battle, but it’s a good starting point, to know what you need to work on from here on out. Take the chance to reflect on how it went, but most importantly, give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done!” 

You muster up a weak, dispirited smile as All Might walks by. It’d be nice if you could, but despite winning your Battle Trial, all you’re left with is a cold, empty feeling. You wish you could’ve done more to help. Not only that, but you feel guilty about winning at Katsuki’s expense. You already expected as much, though. No matter what happened, either one of Izuku or Katsuki was bound to be upset. There’s no outcome that would’ve made both of them happy. There probably never will be. 

God, what a depressing thought. 

You start heading back towards the main building, intentionally avoiding eye contact with everyone. It doesn’t help to act so self-conscious… but you really can’t help it. You’re so embarrassed. You wonder if you’ll ever be able to wash away the shame that comes with your Quirk. 

“...congratulations.” 

The words catch you off guard and make your shoulders jump, and when you turn your head, you find Shouto walking beside you. 

“Congratulations,” he says again. “For winning your battle. Against Bakugou.” 

“Oh… thanks.” 

You clench your fists, already getting red in the face. He was probably just trying to be nice and make simple conversation, but nevertheless, you feel uncomfortable. It almost doesn’t sound genuine somehow. You can never quite tell if that’s just your insecurity talking, or if people really are always mocking you. 

Shouto stares at you without blinking. “Can I ask you a question?” 

Great. I already know where this is going…

“Sure,” you reply weakly, and he steps closer to you, lowering his voice slightly. 

“Do you have to kiss someone for your Quirk to take effect?” 

There it is. It’d be weirder if he didn’t ask, after what he just saw. You’re sure the whole class will probably ask you the same question at some point, assuming they haven’t already connected the dots. 

Instead of responding verbally, you merely nod, tempted to avert your gaze altogether. Shouto doesn’t look all that taken aback, though. He just goes silent for a little while, lips semi-parted as if he’s trying to come up with the right words.

“I remember now,” he finally says. 

“What do you remember?” 

“You and I met before. When we were kids. It was inside a store. I wasn’t feeling well, and… you comforted me. You must’ve used your Quirk to try and help me feel better.” 

The truth of the matter is that he recognized you from the very start, but he was hesitant to admit it. However, having seen how discouraged you look, he felt inclined to say something. There’s a chance he might be reading into things too much, but your Quirk seems to make you uncomfortable. It’s almost as if you have a contempt for it. Similar to the contempt he has for his left side. 

You blink, visibly surprised, but then you’re smiling. Actually smiling, this time. It’s not forced or begrudging. 

Shouto is quickly realizing that he likes seeing you smile. 

“I’m glad you remembered,” you say. “I was really happy to run into you again, but I know we met a long time ago, so it makes sense that you would’ve forgotten. And, um… sorry about that. Using my Quirk on you, I mean. I know I didn’t really have your permission or anything. You just looked really sad that day. I wanted to help.” 

“It’s alright.” 

“Are you sure?” 

“Yeah. I didn’t mind. It actually helped me feel a little better for a while. I was having a horrible day,” he mutters, a shadow crossing his brow. He stops himself before his expression can darken any further, though. “Anyway, you have no reason to apologize. You used your Quirk to control Bakugou during the Battle Trial, but I guess you can affect people’s emotions, too, not just their actions. That’s interesting.” 

Interesting is… certainly one way to put it. But you suppose he’s right. You were even able to help dull Izuku’s pain a bit, when you used it on him earlier. Perhaps there’s much more your Quirk can do. Perhaps it’s capable of things you never even imagined. 

And it is. It really, really is.

But you’ll have to learn that the hard way. 

You change out of your costume, then head back to the classroom to collect your belongings. Getting there first was intentional on your part. You wanted to avoid interacting with the other students, as much as possible. You don’t wait around, in case people show up and start asking all sorts of questions about your Quirk. Instead, you make a beeline for the infirmary to go check on Izuku. 

“Going to see Deku, huh?” 

It’s Katsuki. He’s leaning against the wall, just next to the infirmary’s door. He probably figured you’d come here straight away. He was seriously waiting to ambush you? What’s his problem, anyway? You’re tired. He must be tired, too. Just for once, can he not stir up a confrontation? 

“Yes,” you reply in a blunt, clipped tone. You try to step around him and reach for the door, but he grabs you by the wrist and pulls you back. 

“Don’t you dare,” Katsuki glowers, with eyes redder than blood. “I didn’t say you could leave.” 

“What do you want from me?” you ask, exasperatedly. You grimace as you try to pull away from him, but predictably, his grip is ironclad. You’ll never win against him in a contest of strength. Resigned, you drop your hand and sigh. “Fine. Say what you want to say, Katsuki. I’ll listen. Just don’t yell at me for once. I don’t have the energy right now.”

Katsuki scrunches up his nose, and he somehow has the nerve to look offended by your dismissive attitude. As if he hasn’t professed his utter dislike for you time and time again. He’s always going on about how much you piss him off. He may never have outright stated that he hates you, but the way he acts may as well be an admission in itself. 

It’s strange, though. He looks oddly vulnerable right now. He’s still glaring at you, of course, but ever since the Battle Trial ended, it’s as if a part of him just shattered. He stares at you in complete silence, and for a few moments, with the way his bottom lip seems to tremble, you almost wonder if maybe… maybe he’ll try to apologize for how he’s acted towards you lately? Or at the very least, his version of an apology. Maybe he’ll try to move past it somehow— 

“It’s your fault.” 

Your eyes widen. Just like that, the vulnerability in Katsuki’s expression has all but disappeared. Now, he’s glaring at you with a hatred like never before. He even tightens his grip on your wrist, to the point that you feel his nails digging uncomfortably into your skin.

“Katsuki—” 

“It’s your fault I lost against Deku. Because of your stupid, disgusting Quirk. It’s all your fault. You drive me insane. Did you know that? You drive me fucking insane.” 

Before you can even attempt to defend yourself, Katsuki slams you against the wall. He’s still gripping onto your wrist, and he even grabs hold of your other hand, interlacing your fingers as he presses you back, flattening his body against yours. You don’t understand what’s happening. You’re so scared that you’re almost tempted to scream. 

And then he kisses you. 

The kiss is violent and unforgiving. It hurts. He outright smashes his lips against yours, and you choke back a gasp, feeling sick to your stomach. 

Why is this happening? Why is he going out of his way to torment you? What did you ever do to deserve this? 

You finally manage to push him back, or perhaps it’s just that he decides to break away from the kiss on his own terms. Either way, the second he’s no longer pinning you to the wall, you grit your teeth and slap him across the face, as hard as you can manage. 

“What the fuck is your problem?!” 

Tears roll down your cheeks. You don’t understand. You don’t understand when he became so unbelievably cruel. What happened to the boy you used to be proud to call your friend? He’s really gone. There’s just… absolutely no trace of him left. 

“What are you crying for?” Katsuki chuckles coldly. “Stop acting like this even matters. You kiss everyone. It obviously doesn’t mean anything to you. I just wanted to pay you back for what you did to me during the Battle Trial. It still doesn’t change the fact that I lost because of you, but at least now we’re even. Don’t ever try to fucking control me again.” 

He walks away without another word. You watch him leave, eyes frozen wide in shock.The tears can’t seem to stop falling. No matter how furiously you wipe them away, they always come back with a vengeance. You don’t even understand why you care so much. Katsuki is right. It’s just a kiss. It’s the very essence of your Quirk. You need to get used to it, sooner or later. There’s no point in crying. There’s no point in getting so worked up. 

It’s not a big deal, it’s not a big deal, it’s not a big deal…

As always, you try to delude yourself into thinking that you’re okay. 

And as always, it doesn’t work. 

“...[Name]?” 

You spin around in a hurry. Izuku just stepped out of the infirmary. One of his arms is in a sling, and he’s walking unsteadily after his broken legs have barely just healed, but the moment he realizes you’re crying, he rushes over to you. 

“W-What happened?! Are you alright?? Why are you—” 

He stops. His eyes have just landed on Katsuki, who’s still walking away, towards the opposite end of the hallway. It doesn’t take long for him to put two and two together. Already, the answer is clear. 

“Kacchan did something to you,” Izuku says, voice dropping several octaves. 

“I-It’s fine,” you hastily insist. You sniffle and force a smile. “He just yelled at me, like always. I’m just being too sensitive. I need to get used to… the fact that he hates me now. I’m alright. Just give me… just give me a few seconds, and I’ll calm down.”

Izuku doesn’t say anything. He simply stares at Katsuki’s ominous, retreating frame. You’re crying because of him. Once again, you’re crying because of Bakugou Katsuki. 

You’re wasting your tears on someone like him. 

Chapter Text

It takes a little while for your tears to dry up. Izuku stays with you the whole time, allowing you to lean your head against his shoulder. You weren’t expecting Katsuki to do something like that. He’s done all kinds of awful things, like spewing hurtful venom, threatening violence— and acting upon it. But not once has he kissed you by force. Not once has he gone to such lengths to rattle and humiliate you. But the worst part of it all? 

You now know how other people feel whenever you use your Quirk on them. 

For the longest time, you did your best not to think about it. Granted, a lot of the time, you ask people for permission before kissing them. Like whenever you have a mission to complete, or back when you were struggling to figure out your powers as a kid. But you don’t always ask for permission. You can’t always ask for permission. If you’d done that during the Battle Trial, Katsuki would undoubtedly have told you to go fuck yourself, and the fight would’ve ended in your loss. The same goes for the entrance exam, when you used your Quirk on Kaminari. You didn’t have time to sit around and explain everything. You just apologized and did what you had to do. Or at least, that was how you justified it. 

But now, you finally understand. You understand just how awful it is to be kissed without consent. Once you’re a pro hero, you’ll be forced to use this ability against villains the vast majority of the time, but even so, you can’t shake this nauseating sense of immorality. No matter what your intentions may be, even if you use your power to subdue criminals and protect those in need, the fact remains that you’re forcing yourself on others. 

How are people supposed to look at you and see a hero , of all things? 

“...I’m fine now, Izuku,” you finally say. At long last, you’ve stopped crying. But regretfully, the hollow feeling remains. “Let’s just go home. I’m really tired. You got hurt badly, so you need some rest too.” 

“Alright.” 

Izuku nods slowly and offers a reassuring smile. If nothing else, at least you have him by your side. You should be grateful for that alone. Not everyone is fortunate to have such a kind, supportive friend. 

Of course, you can only say that because you don’t know what really goes through his mind. 

With all the crying outside the infirmary you just did, the rest of your classmates have already left by now. You’re relieved to not have to bump into any of them as you and Izuku walk through the halls. It’s not like you’ll be able to avoid the questions forever, though. You have to prepare yourself for the inevitable scrutiny tomorrow. As well as the scrutiny that will probably follow you around for the rest of your life. 

“[Name], do you want to come over for a bit tonight?” Izuku asks with a hopeful expression. “I mean… I know we’re both tired, but I don’t know. I thought maybe it’d be nice to unwind by spending some together… b-but obviously only if you want to. You do want to, right…?” 

He’s pressuring you again. The manipulation is subtle, and since Izuku has such little self-esteem, it could easily be mistaken as him just acting nervous and being worried that you don’t want to hang out with him. Over the years, he’s manipulated you more than a handful of times, and you’ve been none the wiser. Even earlier today, he manipulated you into kissing him. 

You get a strange feeling just then, but before you can read into it any further, someone calls out your name. 

“Hey, [Name],” Monoma grins. He bounds up to you and lightly slaps you on the back. “What’s up with you? You’re looking down in the dumps. Class 1-A must’ve done the Battle Trial as well, right? So? Are you all bummed out because you lost? For the record, I cleared my trial with flying colors.” 

“Hi, Monoma.” You strain a weak smile, hoping he can’t see through it. “No, I won my Battle Trial as well. I mean—Izuku and I did. Together. We were paired up.” 

“You and Midoriya?” 

Monoma looks over at Izuku, who’s smiling brightly, as if the simple act of being your partner is something to take pride in. To be honest, it is pretty lucky, considering the teachers drew lots to decide the teams. The odds of you two ending up together were pretty low. 

“Ah, cool,” Monoma nods. He leans closer and taps you on the shoulder. “By the way, you still haven’t told me what your Quirk is. It doesn’t have to be such a huge secret, does it?” 

It does. 

“You’ll find out eventually,” you chuckle in response, but unsurprisingly, there’s little to no joy in your voice. 

Although Monoma doesn’t usually shy away from teasing others, he realizes quickly enough that your spirits are low. Like, really low. Part of him wants to ask what happened, but he hesitates on account of two reasons. 

One, he doesn’t want to dredge up an uncomfortable topic and risk upsetting you further. And two …

He’d rather not ask in front of Izuku. He can’t explain why, though. It’s just a feeling he has. It’s that same eerie, unsettling feeling he always seems to get, whenever his gaze locks with those deceptively kind-looking eyes. 

“Are you walking with us, Monoma?” Izuku asks. 

“Yeah,” Monoma nods. “I figure I may as well, since we’re already heading to the train station together. Why?” 

“No reason. I was just curious.” 

Izuku smiles again, but it’s different from the way he smiled earlier, when you were recounting being paired up together. His smile feels empty , for lack of a better word. And immediately after smiling, Izuku moves a bit closer to you, as if he’s getting ready to pull you away at a moment’s notice.

Monoma scrunches up his nose. 

Something about Midoriya Izuku is just so fucking creepy. 

“Would it be okay if I slept over tonight?” 

Shortly after arriving at Izuku’s house, that’s the question you directed towards Inko. She blinked at first, a bit surprised, but it didn’t take long for her to smile and agree. She’s always made sure that you feel welcome here. In fact, this house may very well be an extension of yours. Inko certainly isn’t ignorant to all the bullying Izuku has endured. It saddens her greatly that his relationship with Katsuki, which was once so beautiful and pure, has fallen apart and become what it is now. Which is why she’s infinitely more grateful for you, having stuck by Izuku’s side all this time, through thick or thin. 

Inko knows that Izuku adores you. Unfortunately, she’ll never realize just how deep his affections run. 

“You’re really sleeping over?” Izuku asks, eyes wide and gleaming with excitement. 

“Well, your mom said it’s okay, so unless you don’t want me to—” 

“No, no! Of course I do! You can sleep over whenever you like! You can stay here forever!” 

“ Forever is definitely a bit of an exaggeration,” you laugh, and Izuku chuckles softly alongside you, but truthfully, it feels rather forced. 

If you ask him, even forever might not be long enough. 

The three of you eat dinner together, and as expected, it’s amazing. You doubt you’ll ever get tired of Inko’s cooking. Your mom’s cooking isn’t half-bad, but Inko is in a class of her own. When you were younger, she would sometimes make extra lunch portions for you to sneak into your bag when you went to school. She probably would’ve kept doing it until now, if not for the fact that you insisted you didn’t want to trouble her. 

It’s not that you don’t get along with your family. You have really nice, supportive parents. On top of your friendship with Izuku, your parents are the ones you’re the most thankful for. But there are certain moments when you just can’t seem to stand being alone. You still remember the nightmare you violently awoke from, just earlier this morning. That, coupled with how Katsuki violently kissed you earlier… it’s just too much. You don’t want to think about it anymore. You need someone to stay with you, to make the bad thoughts disappear. 

And so, you will cling to Izuku—without even realizing that relying on him, and only him, is exactly what he wants. 

“What do you want to do before we get ready for bed?” Izuku asks. He pauses for a moment, and a bit shyly, he can’t help but add, “D-Do you want to watch this new superhero movie that came out a little while ago?” 

You crack a grin. “You’ll have to be more specific than that. There’s like a million hero-themed movies that come out every year.” 

“Oh, you know the one! It’s loosely based on All Might’s first year as a professional hero! They’ve even sprinkled in a few of his interviews from back then!” 

He really never gets tired of anything related to All Might, huh? 

You think it’s cute, to be honest. Izuku’s passion has always been endearing, not to mention inspiring. He, along with Katsuki, are what helped shape your own desire to become a hero. Most kids say they want to become heroes when they grow up, of course. Heroes are just so cool and impactful. They have the ability to move people’s hearts with their bravery. Still, you can’t help but wonder. If you hadn’t grown up alongside Izuku and Katsuki, the two most passionate people you’ve ever known… would you still want to be a hero? Even with a Quirk like yours?

You really do wonder. 

Izuku puts on the movie, so you settle down comfortably in his bed, with a big pillow resting behind both of your backs. It’s not a bad movie. The actor they casted as All Might’s younger self does a pretty good job of imitating all his mannerisms. He makes a convincing case. And Izuku was right about the fact that the movie has a lot of interviews of the real All Might. 

“How many times have you watched this, Izuku?” you find yourself asking. 

“N-None,” he stammers. “I was saving it. Because I wanted to watch it for the first time with you!” 

“Really…?” 

You furrow your brows and flash him a disbelieving look. It only lasts about a few seconds, but really, that’s all it takes for Izuku to crack. 

“I’m sorry, I lied!” he shamefully exclaims, burying his face in his hands. “I’ve seen it seventeen times by now! Which makes this one the eighteenth!” 

“Pfft—!” 

You’re trying your hardest not to laugh, but you can’t help it. He sounds so unbelievably guilty and embarrassed, like he just got caught committing a crime. 

“It’s fine, Izuku,” you chuckle, wiping away the small tears that have formed in your eyes. He pouts slightly, which is almost too adorable, and you lean in closer to squeeze his hand. “I’m not upset or anything. Besides, I kind of figured there’s probably not a single All Might-based movie you haven’t watched yet. But maybe we can make plans to go see the next one in theaters when it comes out. That way we can both watch it together for the very first time.” 

A blush spreads across his cheeks, but he certainly doesn’t pass up an opportunity to hold your hand. “Th-That sounds great,” he says, and despite his shyness, he manages to grin from ear-to-ear. “We should definitely go together! I’ll make sure I do some research to find out when the next premiere is, and I’ll buy tickets in advance! It’s a date—I mean, it’ll be fun! I always have fun… as long as I’m with you .” 

You grin back at him and slowly pull your hand away, without realizing how disappointed Izuku looks all of a sudden. He’s still happy, though. And although he adores All Might and is easily his number one fan, for the rest of the movie, Izuku is distracted by how badly he wishes he could hold your hand again. When you’re not looking his way, he sneaks glances at you, marveling at how someone can possibly be so pretty. 

You really are perfect. His perfect, irreplaceable friend. The love of his life. 

He promises himself that one day, he’ll finally work up the nerve to tell you. 

The movie eventually comes to an end. It’s gotten pretty late now, and you probably shouldn’t have stayed up so long after the tumultuous day you just had, but at least Izuku’s here with you. The memory of what Katsuki did to you comes and goes, but at least, when it starts to get really bad, you can look over at Izuku and find comfort in his smile. 

“I-I’ll go get ready in the bathroom, so you can stay here and change,” Izuku says, and although he does his best not to imagine anything dirty, his cheeks are already glowing bright red. 

“Thanks,” you smile. “I won’t be long.” 

You take off the uniform you wore today and set it aside. Since you were too tired to bother doing laundry, you asked your mother to drop off your spare so that you have it ready for tomorrow morning. She also brought you some pajamas. Modest ones, of course, because you’re not shameless enough to walk around half-naked, whether Izuku is your best friend or not. Most people probably wouldn’t be having a co-ed sleepover like this at your age anyway. Izuku laid out a futon on the ground for him to sleep on, and he offered you his bed for tonight. Back when you were kids, you used to share the bed together. You would stay up practically all night long, buried under the blankets with a flashlight, while you rifled through the contents of Izuku’s hero notebooks. 

Those were probably the happiest days of your life. Back when Izuku and Katsuki still got along. Back when everything was so much simpler, and your Quirk had yet to appear. Back when the world made sense . 

You smile wistfully. Even though you keep telling yourself not to dwell on the past, it’s easier said than done. You would give anything to go back in time and prevent it all from falling apart. But you don’t have a powerful Quirk that transcends time and space. You have a Quirk you despise to the very depths of your being. 

Shit. Izuku’s only been gone for a few minutes, but already, your insecurity and self-loathing is creeping on you. 

Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. “Um, [Name]? I’m done with the bathroom now, so just let me know when it’s okay for me to come in… alright?” 

“You can come in,” you say, and you hurry to wipe your eyes before Izuku realizes that you were close to crying. Then you trade places and head to the bathroom while he uses the room to get changed. You do your best not to stare back at your reflection as you brush your teeth. Otherwise, you’ll fixate too much on your lips. You’ll remember everything a hundred times more vividly. 

You head back to Izuku’s bedroom once you’re all done getting ready, making sure to shut the door behind you. He’s already sitting on his futon, and it looks like he’s jotting something down in one of his notebooks. When he hears you step into the room, however, he snaps the notebook shut and tucks it under his pillow.

“A-All done?” he asks, sporting a wobbly, almost nervous -looking smile. 

“Yeah,” you nod. “Let’s go to sleep. I’m really tired. And are you sure you don’t want the bed? Because I’ll be just fine on the futon.” 

He furiously shakes his head. “No, you’re the guest. I want you to be as comfortable as possible. Did you need me to get you anything else?” 

“I’m good, but thanks for asking. Can I turn off the lights now?” 

“S-Sure.” 

You do just that, and the room abruptly falls into darkness. You can barely see anything anymore, but fortunately, you’ve been in Izuku’s room so many times by now that you’ve committed the whole layout to memory. You carefully stay close to the wall as you navigate around, with one of your arms extended. Eventually, your hand presses up against the bed-frame, so you lower yourself onto the mattress and let your head hit the pillow. 

God, you’re tired. You’re so, so tired. Not even physically. Just mentally. And emotionally. You’re tired in a way that no amount of sleep could ever hope to fix. 

“Goodnight, [Name],” Izuku says. 

“Goodnight, Izuku.” 

And then there’s silence. You don’t like the silence. It sounds contradictory, but the silence is loud . It’s loud because you’re left alone with your thoughts, with nothing to distract you anymore. You keep yearning for sleep to claim you, so that you won’t have to think anymore, but it evades you. You just keep remembering everything . Like how you nearly died the day that man sliced your throat open. And how Katsuki apparently hates you so much now that he would choose to violate you, just to make a point. 

After just a few minutes, you already can’t take it anymore. 

“I-Izuku,” you call out. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, but… can you just lie next to me for a few minutes? I can’t seem to… calm down.” 

There’s no response. It’s impossible that he’s already fallen asleep, so you’re worried you might have made him uncomfortable with your request. You pull the blanket up higher, until it’s covering most of your face, and you bite down on your lip in an attempt to keep from spiraling. 

Then, you feel movement beside you, and the bed even sways a bit.

“I’m here now,” Izuku reassures. He probably didn’t even mean for it to come out sounding that way, but it reminds you a bit of All Might’s catchphrase, and you can’t help but smile.

“Thank you, Izuku.” You pause for a moment, and once again, you can’t stop from adding, “I’m sorry.” 

“What are you sorry for? I don’t mind.” 

“I’m sorry for always whining, and crying, and being so quick to get discouraged.” 

“Don’t say that. Besides… I whine and cry easily ten times more than you do. Actually, probably even more, now that I think about it…” 

You chuckle a few times. He really does have a soothing presence, perfect for a hero. It’s no wonder All Might chose him as his successor. You have no doubt that he’ll become one of the best heroes of all time, if not the best. It’s okay if you can’t say the same for yourself. You’ll be happy just to be even a fraction as amazing as he is. 

Izuku shifts beside you. “Hey, [Name]?” 

“Yes?” 

“Did Kacchan really just scream at you? I know how he is. I know he says awful things all the time… but I don’t know. You seemed really sad. You know you can tell me if something else happened, right? You can tell me everything.” 

“I know. But it was really nothing, don’t worry,” you insist. “I’m just extra emotional lately, because I never realized how much Katsuki hated me until now. It just hurts, I guess. For a long time, I kept hoping we could all be friends again someday. It sounds so stupid and naive, doesn’t it?” 

Izuku goes silent. You’ve been facing away from him up until now, towards the wall, because you didn’t want him to know if you suddenly started crying again. But the silence is too unnerving, so you muster up the courage and roll over. Fortunately, it’s still really hard to see. The darkness conceals your expression. And also his. 

“You don’t need Kacchan,” Izuku eventually mumbles. 

“What?” 

“Kacchan. You don’t need him, and neither do I. All those years he kept bullying me, you never let him get away with it. You always stood up for me, and I really, really appreciate it. But I finally have a Quirk now. And… we even won our battle against him today. So, you don’t need to worry about him anymore. Just stay away from him. Stay with me instead.” 

He’s saying I should completely cast Katsuki out of my life? 

You suppose you understand where he’s coming from. To be honest, he’s right. You’ve been clinging to the past too strongly, to the image of what Katsuki used to be like. It was all an illusion, though. Things have changed. They’ve changed now, and you doubt they’ll ever be the same again. You’ll never start to feel better unless you leave Katsuki behind and give up on him for good. Maybe if you move on, your heart will finally know peace. 

“You’re right,” you say, and although you can’t see it, Izuku’s entire expression lights up at those words. “I shouldn’t worry about Katsuki anymore. I’m sorry for ever holding out hope that he might get better, after all the horrible things he’s already done to you.” 

“It’s okay,” Izuku reassures. “I’m not upset.” 

“Really?” 

You feel the mattress sway again, as he adjusts his position, and within seconds, his hand finds yours. “Of course not. I just don’t want Kacchan to keep hurting you. I hate seeing you cry. If it was me… I mean… I would never make you cry. You know that, don’t you?” 

“Yeah. You’ve never made me cry, Izuku.” You chuckle softly and squeeze onto his hand, letting his warmth envelop you. “You’ve never made me cry, and I know you never will.” 

At the time, that’s what you honestly believed. 

“ Never ,” Izuku promises, and with him next to you, holding your hand, eventually, you fall asleep.

Chapter Text

Notebook #14 — Details about [Name] / Entry #259

It seems like [Name] has a lot on her mind recently. She was really upset yesterday. Kacchan made her cry again. He’s always doing that. I’ll never understand what’s wrong with him. He bullied me for years because I was Quirkless, but that at least made sense. Everyone always used to treat me like a loser because of it. He had some kind of reason for acting so horribly, as messed up as it all was. 

Why [Name], though? What did she ever do to him? She’s always so nice, and no matter what he does, she ends up forgiving him in the end. To be honest, it kind of upsets me. I wish she wouldn’t forgive him. She would always apologize to me and say she feels guilty about hoping that we could all be friends again someday. She keeps clinging to the past, even though that’ll never happen. But I guess I’m not really in a position to judge. I wanted to become a hero for so many years, even while I was Quirkless. Still. It really does upset me. That’s why what she said last night made me so happy. 

She said she’s done worrying about Kacchan. She’s not going to keep holding out hope for him anymore. From now on, she wants nothing to do with him. 

I’m so happy. So, so happy. 

I only wish she’d gotten rid of him years ago. 

Anyways! The best part of all is that [Name] slept over last night. She wasn’t feeling well, and she chose to ask me for help. Out of everyone she knows, she turned to me . I’m glad I was able to make her feel better. We even slept in the same bed. Well… I was a little too nervous to get any actual sleep, but staying up all night was worth it, just to be next to her. She never once let go of my hand, even in her sleep. It still feels warm somehow. I can’t hold her hand as I write, but I remember what her touch feels like, down to every last detail. Her skin is so soft, and her hand is smaller than mine. Her fingers are so cute, too. Every part of her is cute. Even the expression she makes when she sleeps. 

I love her. One day, I’ll confess my feelings, and we can finally be together. I know we’re only teenagers, but I’ve already made up my mind. I know I won’t ever love anyone as much as I love her. We’ll get married someday and start a family together. And we’ll be happy. Really, really happy.

Forever. 

Your eyelids flutter open. A brightly-lit room greets you, along with the sight of Izuku’s gentle smile. He just pulled the curtains open, by the looks of it. You squint a bit, waiting for your eyes to adjust to the light, and he walks over to your bedside. 

“Good morning,” Izuku beams. “How are you feeling? Were you able to get some sleep?” 

“Yeah,” you nod, rubbing your eyes as you sit upright. “Pretty well, actually. A lot better than the night before, at least. Thank you, Izuku. For letting me stay here, even though it was such short notice. I really appreciate it.” 

Izuku just stares at you for a little while. He’s still smiling, of course, but you don’t realize that his smile seems to be slowly changing, day after day. It’s not quite as innocent as it used to be. There’s something more to it now. Something… that you have yet to notice. 

Perhaps, by the time you do notice, it might already be too late. 

“There’s no reason to thank me,” Izuku beams. For now, his smile looks brighter than the sun itself, and you can’t help but take comfort in it. Even if a false sense of comfort it may very well be. “We’re best friends. You can always ask me for help, no matter what it is. You’ll always come to me first, right, [Name]? Before turning to anyone else?” 

“Of course,” you chuckle softly. “Like you said, you’re my best friend. Sometimes, I honestly feel like you’re the only person I can let my guard down around. I mean, other than my parents, but… yeah. Thanks again. I really mean it.” 

Izuku’s smile broadens, and he has to bite down on his lower lip to keep his excitement from being too obvious. What you just said is practically music to his ears. He should always be the first person you come to for help. The first and only person. 

“W-We should start getting ready now,” Izuku stammers, somehow feeling both shy and giddy at the same time. He gestures for you to go ahead and use the bathroom first, and the moment you step out of the room, he pulls out the notebook he was hiding under his pillow and tucks into the very back of his bookshelf. 

When you arrive at school later that same morning, there’s a massive group of reporters crowding around the entrance, trying to interview pretty much anyone they can get their hands on. They even approach you at some point, and perhaps it’s your soft features, or your non-threatening and permissive expression, but they seem to lay it on extra thick while interrogating you. Fortunately, it’s mostly just questions about All Might, and what it’s like having him as a teacher. The questions aren’t personal. They’re certainly not the kind of questions you’ve been dreading ever since the Battle Trial ended yesterday. 

But of course, you can only delay the inevitable for so long. 

“So, [Name], um… do you have to kiss people in order for your Quirk to take effect?” 

And there it is. You managed to avoid it yesterday because you made sure to run out of the classroom at the end of the day, before anyone else could spot you, but it goes without saying that this was bound to happen sooner or later. You’ve barely just stepped inside the class, and already, several students are crowded around you. The girl who just asked the question, Ashido Mina, is staring at you in some sort of awe, and beside her, another one of your classmates, Hagakure Toru, excitedly jumps up and down. You obviously can’t see what kind of face she’s making because her Quirk renders her invisible, and you’re not sure whether it’s better this way, or worse. 

“Yes,” you answer, swallowing hard and urging yourself to not to appear too dejected. “Um, I know what it must seem like. I can’t really offer up any excuses. My Quirk allows me to briefly control the last person I’ve kissed. I can give them a command that they have to follow. It doesn’t always work perfectly, and sometimes, a kiss on the cheek isn’t good enough, so… I-I end up having to kiss them on the lips instead. Like what I did with Katsuki the other day…” 

“You kissed Midoriya too,” Mina eagerly piles on, and for some reason, she looks absolutely thrilled . Here you are, stuck with a power you loathe with all your being, and yet she’s treating it like it’s fun or something. Granted, teenage girls definitely have a lot of romance on the mind, but still. It isn’t fun. Doesn’t she realize you don’t always get to choose who you use it against? There are times when you quite literally don’t have any other options. Like when Dabi nearly killed you. When your lips made contact with those of a villain. 

The thought alone is enough to make you nearly gag. 

“Because he was in a lot of pain,” you mumble, but it’s hardly much of an argument. The fact of the matter is that you did kiss him. You kissed Izuku, and you still don’t even realize that you were manipulated into doing it. “I guess my Quirk has a hypnotic effect…? I used my Quirk on him to try and help numb the pain a bit.” 

“And it worked,” Izuku says. He glares at Mina for half a second, immensely peeved that she inadvertently brought up your kiss with Katsuki. Then he turns back towards you, and he’s smiling again, cheeks flushed. “Th-Thank you for that, [Name]. It really did help. The moment you used your Quirk on me, all of the pain completely disappeared.” 

“Oh, so your Quirk can help people feel different things too, not just do them?” 

“It seems like it,” you nod. God, this conversation is dragging on. Several other students are gathering around you now as well. Uraraka looks curious too, although she hasn’t asked any questions herself, Jirou is acting like she’s not listening in, when she actually is , and even the strait-laced Yaoyorozu is blushing all the way down to her neck as she can’t help but overhear. The worst part is that some of the boys are now awkwardly avoiding eye contact with you, as if they’re worried about what you might do to them. Worried that they might be the next ones to fall victim to your Quirk. 

Well, not all of the boys. Kaminari, for one, looks like he can hardly wait to interject. 

“The truth is, [Name] already used her Quirk on me once before,” he states—rather proudly, at that. “During the entrance exam. It’s kind of hard to describe, but it made me feel all light and fluttery! And that’s also the first time a girl ever kissed me, so… yeah! It was awesome! I definitely wouldn’t complain if she wanted to do it again!” 

He laughs heartily, much to your immense embarrassment. His face is awfully red as he recounts the incident, so you’re not sure if he’s actually pretty flustered and is just trying to play it off like it’s no big deal, but either way, there’s a knot in your stomach now. A firm, painful knot that refuses to budge. 

Izuku’s expression clouds over just then, because this is the first time he’s heard that you’ve kissed Kaminari too , but before he can say anything, a loud, remorseless voice decides to make itself known. 

“Fucking disgusting,” Katsuki sneers, shoving right past you as he enters the classroom. “What are all of you gushing over her for? Either you’re all brain-dead, or you’re a bunch of two-faced liars . Her Quirk is sick. A sick, twisted Quirk made for a perverted piece of trash like her. Right, [Name]? You have a lot of fun going around kissing random extras and making them follow your orders, don’t you?” 

“Kacchan!” Izuku immediately cries out. “That’s not even—” 

“It’s not what ? Don’t try and act like it isn’t true. She’s a freak, and you know it.” Katsuki makes sure to stop and stare at you, and every time his eyes narrow, in a way that conveys so much contempt, so much scorn , you feel yourself die a little more inside. “You’ll never be a hero, [Name]. Honestly, the fact that you’re even here right now is a joke. Other people might not be willing to say it, but I bet that’s how they feel too. Everyone here is disgusted by you. Make sure you don’t forget that.” 

Ah. It’s happening again. 

You feel that same familiar, nauseating sensation. The one that starts from the pit of your stomach and builds up towards your throat, while somehow feeling like a shock to the spine, all at once. 

You tried to prepare yourself for this. After all, you knew exactly what to expect. You knew that your classmates were bound to be curious, after seeing your Quirk in action. As much as you were dreading this encounter, you thought you’d be able to handle it. But you made a gross oversight. You failed to take one very crucial fact into account. 

Bakugou Katsuki’s cruelty knows no bounds. 

You run out of the classroom without a second thought. You can just vaguely hear some people yelling—they might be reprimanding Katsuki for all the horrible things he said to you, but it doesn’t make a difference. He’s right, anyway. Even if nobody apart from him dares to voice it outright, the uncomfortable looks some of the boys were giving you earlier says it all. You are a freak. Time and time again, you’re reminded of how vile your Quirk is, and not only that, but Katsuki picked the words he knew would hurt you most of all. 

“You’ll never be a hero.” 

It hurts. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. You’re not sure how Izuku managed to endure all these years, with those same horrible words thrown right in his face, time and time again. You’re ashamed. Not only because of your Quirk, but because you’re weaker than everyone else, you’re more pathetic than everyone else, and no matter how hard you try or how many people you might end up saving, there’s a chance they’ll never see past your miserable, sinful exterior. 

Class is about to start any minute now. You know this, and yet you’re sobbing for what feels like the millionth time this week, too ashamed to show your face. Not only are you going to be known as the girl with the disgusting kissing Quirk, but you’ll also be known as the wimp who cries at the drop of a hat. 

It’s so sad. So disgraceful. Even after you resolved to cast Katsuki out of your life and completely ignore him from now on, here you are, letting him destroy you all over again. Giving him all the power he could possibly crave. 

You just…

Sometimes, you just hate yourself so fucking much. 

“—watch out!” 

Between the mental breakdown you’re on the cusp of, coupled with the tears flowing down your cheeks, you aren’t able to react in time. You hurriedly lift your head, only to collide right into another student who’s carrying a stack of books. Needless to say, they end up falling to the ground, and although it might seem like an overreaction, when you stare down at the many books now littering the hallway, all you can think is that you managed to fuck up, once again. Just like you always do. 

“I’m… sorry,” you recite, almost monotonously, as you struggle to wipe the tears from your eyes. It’s no good, though. Although you’re no longer sniffling or sobbing aloud, your cheeks are still damp, and your vision remains blurry. 

“No, it was my fault for not looking ahead. I stacked up the books too high, so I couldn’t see properly. Ugh, I’m such an idiot. I can’t do anything right. Wait, um… are you crying ?” 

You blink, allowing another wave of tears to roll down your cheeks. The boy you just bumped into is fairly tall and somewhat pale, with messy dark indigo hair, and ears that are slightly pointed at the tips. You notice that his lips are wobbling a bit, forming a squiggly line that makes him look much more nervous than you initially realized. Come to think of it, his voice wavered a bit just now. He seems… kind of anxious. Or maybe he’s just shy, like Izuku. 

Above all else, though, he looks worried about you. 

“Don’t worry,” you say, but with the many tears staining your face, you doubt you make a convincing case. Too embarrassed to look him in the eye, you drop to your knees and start picking up the books. “I’m sorry. This is… nothing. I’m just a crybaby. It happens all the time, so…” 

You trail off near the end. At least the shock of running into someone helped you snap out of it a bit. You can feel your eyes watering less and less. The feeling of shame has easily intensified, however. You just can’t seem to escape from it, no matter what you do. 

“Just because it happens a lot… doesn’t mean it’s not a big deal.” 

You lock eyes with the boy yet again. He’s crouching down now as he helps pick up the rest of the books. Well, you suppose you only lock eyes with him for a very brief moment. He glances away in a hurry, still with that same anxious expression from before. To be honest, he seems like he lacks confidence, just like you. Except he’s still doing his best to comfort you, in spite of everything. 

“I’m sorry,” you say again. 

“N-No, it was my fault,” he nervously insists. 

“But I’m the one who wasn’t looking where I was going.” 

“I wasn’t really looking either. I should’ve been more careful from the start. And you’re clearly upset, so it’s only natural that you wouldn’t be able to pay much attention to your surroundings right now. Sorry.” He keels over slightly and winces. Even with all the books he’s holding, it looks like he’s trying to clutch at his stomach. “Ugh, it hurts… I’m so bad at this. I’m nothing like Mirio. I have no idea how I’m supposed to cheer someone up…” 

You’re not sure who Mirio is supposed to be, but you appreciate the sentiment. Admittedly, his nervousness is helping your own negativity slowly ebb away. You’re glad that you ran into someone like him while you were feeling vulnerable, and not another asshole like Katsuki. Although you honestly doubt anyone could ever rival Katsuki’s assholery. Especially at a hero school. 

“You’re not bad at it,” you reassure, chuckling softly as you finally wipe away the last of your tears. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better. It’s definitely working. I was in a really awful mood just a few moments ago… but I’m starting to regain my spirits a bit.” 

You neatly stack up all the books, then rise to your feet, and after a brief delay, the boy does the same. “I-I’ve got it,” he says. “I can carry them from here. Thank you.” 

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind walking with you for a little while.” 

“Won’t you be late? My teacher asked me to bring these over, so it’ll be okay if I show up a few minutes into class, but I’m not sure the same applies for you. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble because of me. Ugh. Just imagining it makes me feel sick...” 

“I can help,” you insist. “I think I could use a bit more time to calm down anyway. Which way are you headed?” 

“Oh, well… that way. Towards the third-year wing.” 

“You’re a third-year? So, you’re my upperclassman. I’m only a first year,” you say, and follow dutifully by his side as you walk together. “I guess it makes sense, though. That must be why you seem so patient and mature.” 

“I don’t think I’m either of those things,” he denies, with a vehement shake of his head. “Seriously, don’t get your hopes up. I’ll only end up disappointing you. Just ask Mirio. He knows how hopeless I am. Then again, Mirio’s too nice to admit to it, so… on second thought, don’t ask him. You’ll just have to take my word for it.” 

You do your best to refrain from giggling. Something about him is honestly really cute and endearing. Maybe it’s because he kind of reminds you of Izuku a bit. Except even Izuku isn’t usually this self-deprecating. Either way, his timid nature seems to soothe you. After what Katsuki said to you earlier, being around someone with a milder temperament definitely helps. 

“Thank you again for letting me stay with you for a bit,” you smile. “I’m [Name]. You’re my senpai, so… what should I call you?” 

“J-Just my name is fine,” he stammers. He averts his gaze yet again, holding the books a little closer to his chest. “Tamaki. Amajiki Tamaki.” 

Tamaki. 

It’s a nice name. You like the sound of it. The two of you also seem to have a lot in common. You both lack confidence, and are quick to berate yourselves. You may not often voice your insecurities, but they’re always there, lurking inside of you. Sometimes, it’s nice to find a kindred spirit. It helps you feel less alone. You’re grateful to have met him.

For now, at least. 

Chapter Text

“Um… this is my classroom,” Tamaki mumbles, still struggling to maintain direct eye contact with you. “Thank you for helping me carry everything. I can take it from here, so you should get back to class. I really hope you don’t end up being late because of me…” 

The door you’re standing in front of right now reads 3-A, so he’s in the third-year version of your current class. There are only two classes assigned for each grade level in the Hero Department—A and B, respectively. It’s a minor detail, insignificant, really, and yet, it comforts you for some reason. Everything about Tamaki is comforting, if you’re being honest. You wish he was in the same year and same class as you. But you already have Izuku, so you suppose you can’t complain. Izuku is the best friend you could ever ask for. 

That’s what you foolishly believe. 

“Don’t worry about it,” you reassure. “I should be thanking you for letting me walk with you and calm down a little more. It really helped. I think I’m finally ready to go back to class now. I’d be lying if I said I’m looking forward to it… but it’s not the kind of thing I can avoid forever.” 

Tamaki frowns a bit. “Were you crying because of the people in your class? I mean—uh, sorry. I know you probably don’t want to answer that. I’m sorry. Please pretend I never asked.” 

“It’s okay. And you’re not wrong.” You pause for a moment to take a deep breath, reminding yourself not to cry because of Katsuki again. “There’s a guy in my class. I’ve known him since we were kids, and we used to be really good friends, but he changed. Over time, he became a really horrible person. He would always act awful towards my best friend, but lately he’s been cruel to me as well. I know it sounds horrible to say, but I’m not used to it. I was still under the impression that both of them would make up one day, and we could all finally be friends again. But it was a stupid thing to hope for. I know that now.” 

“That’s…” 

Tamaki appears at a loss for words. You can’t blame him, considering you basically just trauma-dumped. You really didn’t mean to, but when he asked what happened, you just couldn’t stop yourself. It must be because he makes you feel at ease. He makes you feel as if you can tell him anything, free of judgment. 

You force a smile. “Anyway, it’s fine now. Thanks to you, I feel much better. I’m obviously not the only person in the world that has to deal with this kind of stuff. A lot of people get harassed, and bullied, or even worse. I need to toughen up. I’m going to try my best not to be such a wimp from now on.” 

“You’re not a wimp,” Tamaki insists, but you continue smiling, despite the fact that it’s visibly strained. He’s also starting to realize that you and him are remarkably similar, with your self-deprecating nature and tendency to despair. The only difference is that you try to hide your pain, so that it won’t bother anyone else. You lack confidence, just like he does, except you would rather suffer alone than inconvenience anyone. 

Something about that just makes him feel so… sad . 

“Well, if you say so,” you chuckle softly, even though it’s obvious you’re not convinced. You then carefully hand him the remaining stack of books, and Tamaki takes them in his arms—right as a boy’s face appears through the door. As in, literally through the door. His face just phased through it, like he’s some kind of ghost, and you’re in such visceral shock that it doesn’t even occur to you to scream. 

“I thought I heard your voice, Tamaki,” the boy, who must be one of his classmates, hums. “Were you running errands for the teacher again? You should ask me for help next time! You know I’ll always—oh. Who’s this?” 

“Mirio, stop it,” Tamaki frantically insists. “I keep telling you that you can’t just appear like that. You’ll give someone a heart attack one day.” 

“Haha! My bad, my bad.” 

The boy’s face disappears, and a split second later, he slides the classroom door open, allowing you to see him in full. He’s tall, even taller than Tamaki, with a very muscular build, and probably the happiest-looking face you’ve ever seen. He hasn’t stopped smiling for a single second, this whole time. And unlike the forced smile you just plastered on a few moments ago, his smile is genuine. When he smiles at you, you feel nothing but kindness and warmth. Not even a trace of insincerity. 

Just by looking at him, you can tell. It’s the smile of a true, bonafide hero . 

“Did you make a friend, Tamaki?” the boy asks, somehow looking even happier than before. “It’s so nice to meet you, Tamaki’s new friend! I’m Togata Mirio. Can I shake your hand? You don’t mind if I shake your hand, right?” 

Ah. So, he’s Mirio. 

It makes sense now. Truly, the difference between Tamaki and Mirio is like night and day. You understand why Tamaki sounded so dejected when he compared himself to his friend. Some people are simply blinding, even without meaning to be. When they step into a room, they’re bound to be the center of attention, and always in a good way. Not in the way that you so often find yourself picked apart from the rest. 

“Um, I’m [Name],” you say, and Mirio grins widely as he shakes your hand, with such vigor and passion that your entire arm gets pulled along for the ride. 

“It’s really nice of you to give Tamaki a hand. Which class are you in? I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen you around 3-B, since I already went over and introduced myself to everyone there on the very first day of school.” 

Yeah, that sure sounds like something he’d do. You watch as Tamaki quietly sighs, shaking his head beside you. It’s pretty adorable, to be honest. You think they make a nice pair. Sometimes, opposites really do attract. You’re glad that Tamaki has such a positive, upbeat friend. Mirio probably encourages him all the time, just like Izuku does with you, whenever you’re feeling down. 

“That’s because I’m a first-year,” you say. “Class 1-A. I ran into senpai—I mean, Tamaki earlier, and he helped cheer me up. I needed to clear my head for a bit. He was nice enough to let me walk with him.” 

Mirio blinks several times. “Wow. Tamaki actually helped cheer someone else up?? That’s amazing! Way to go, Tamaki! See? Isn’t it just like I always tell you? You’re such a great guy! All you need to do is have a bit more confidence!” 

It doesn’t take long for Mirio’s loud, unrestrained laughter to echo throughout the hallway, and you notice a few students from inside the classroom turn their heads as well. Only for a few moments, though. They go right back to whatever they were doing before, which tells you that they’re definitely used to this sort of thing. 

“Mirio, stop it,” Tamaki groans, flattening his face against the top of the book stack, so that he can hide how red his cheeks are. “Just… let’s go inside. Class is about to start soon, and I don’t want [Name] to be super late because of us.” 

“Ah, you’re right! Sorry about that,” Mirio chuckles. “I didn’t mean to get carried away. But it was really nice to meet you! As upperclassmen, it’s our job to help our juniors out, so if there’s ever anything you need, don’t hesitate to stop by!” 

“Thank you,” you smile, and this time, it doesn’t feel forced. A lot has happened recently, but this is a hero school, after all. There are bound to be plenty of amazing people here. You feel a lot better now. And even though you know you shouldn’t be too quick to rely on others, Mirio’s words are reassuring. They make you feel like you’ll at least have someplace to go, whenever it feels like the whole world is against you. 

“See you, [Name],” Tamaki says. He’s still hiding his face behind the books somewhat, but you notice that he’s making a deliberate effort to lock eyes with you now. “I hope… you feel better soon. I hope everything works out.” 

I really hope so too. 

You wave goodbye to Tamaki and Mirio. You didn’t get to spend much time with them, but sometimes, first impressions really are reliable. You briefly wonder how different your life would have been if instead of befriending Katsuki and Izuku as a child, you’d met these two. You wonder if you might have been happier. Even just a little bit. 

…god. That’s such a horrible, twisted thought to have. Katsuki is one thing, but Izuku is your best friend in the entire world . No matter how discouraged you feel, you can’t think like that. You just can’t. 

More importantly, if you knew how Izuku would react to those kinds of thoughts…

You wouldn’t dare entertain them, ever again. 

Mustering up all your courage, you head back to Class 1-A and slide the door open, stepping inside the room without giving yourself any time to hesitate. Everyone turns towards you, of course. Class has already begun, and everyone’s already in their seats. That’s not the only reason they’re looking at you, though. Katsuki did a damn good job of humiliating you earlier. 

Aizawa stares at you in silence. You were worried that he would chew you out for being late, even though you technically did get to class on time, but he wasn’t there yet to see it. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen. He just motions for you to sit down and doesn’t say anything else. 

Then, he clears his throat. “As I mentioned, I’ll be handing out your evaluations for the Battle Trial later on, so let’s get on with homeroom for now. I’m sorry to have to spring this on all of you… but we need to pick a class president.” 

A surprisingly mundane, predictable high school activity. Well, you don’t really care either way. Everyone else is already eagerly putting their hands up and nominating themselves for the position. You can’t imagine doing something like that. You don’t like telling people what to do. It reminds you too much of your Quirk, and you doubt anyone would ever want someone like you as a leader anyway. 

Izuku seems like he wants to do it, though, and when Iida proposes voting to settle the decision, it goes without saying that you’d vote for your best friend. Although it turns out that he didn’t really need your help. Izuku got four votes, including yours, which means that two other people besides himself voted for him. Probably Uraraka and Iida—which is ironic, because Iida seems like he wanted to be class president more than anyone. 

“Alright, it’s decided then,” Aizawa says. “Midoriya will be our class president, and since everyone else only got one vote… are there any suggestions for the vice-president?” 

Huh? 

You squint at the blackboard. Now that you look more closely, there’s a vote next to your name, which doesn’t make sense, because you gave your vote to Izuku. Does that mean that someone actually voted for you? But who? And why ? 

“I nominate Yaoyorozu,” someone suggests. 

“Oh, yeah, same! I feel like she’d be a good fit. I nominate Yaoyorozu too.” 

Aizawa nods. “In that case, Midoriya is the president, and Yaoyorozu is the vice-president. Everyone’s okay with this, right? And no, Bakugou—if you’re just going to scream again, then you're better off putting your hand down right now.” 

Katsuki grits his teeth. For him, this is the worst possible outcome. He can’t believe so many people voted for Deku , out of everyone. One of those votes was definitely yours, and knowing that pisses him off even more. And yet, there’s still a vote next to your name somehow. Which means that someone voted for you. Someone other than Izuku. 

“Who is it?” Katsuki snaps. The moment the lunch bell rang, he stormed over to your desk, and you now find yourself staring up at him in visible horror. 

You turn away from him, shoving your books into your desk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“I’m asking who you got to vote for you. Is it that creep that sounded so excited to be kissed by you during the entrance exam? I bet it was,” he sneers. “You just love it when people are all over you. You’re obsessed with it. You really thrive off all the attention you get because of your Quirk, don’t you?” 

You still don’t look up at him. You finish putting the rest of your things away, then you stand up, clenching your fists and refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing you get upset. You’ve cried because of him far too many times already. You said you were done. You made up your mind to stop caring about him, and from now on, you’re going to commit to it. 

The door is right there. You can just leave him behind, for good. And you’re going to do it. This time, you’re really going to do it. It’s turning out to be surprisingly easy, too. You didn’t expect it to be so easy. You didn’t expect it to feel so liberating, so empowering . Bakugou Katsuki is nothing more than poison, and at long last, you’re finally doing what’s good for you—

“Who the fuck said you could walk away from me?” 

A strong hand wraps around your neck from behind. Not hard enough that you choke or anything, but the pressure jolts you back to reality, and before you can even process what’s happening, Katsuki spins you around and forces you to face him. He holds you firmly, by the back of your neck, crimson eyes piercing into your own. 

“Answer my question,” Katsuki warns. “You’re really getting on my last nerve.” 

You stare at him in disbelief. What does he even want from you? How the hell are you supposed to know who gave you their vote?? You’re just as confused about this as he is! 

“ I voted for her,” a deep, stoic voice suddenly interjects, and Katsuki blinks, because someone has just pulled you away from him. 

You turn your head slightly to see Shouto standing next to you. His expression is as muted as ever, except… maybe not. Not entirely. His eyes are more narrowed than usual, and there’s a crease in his brow. 

To be honest, he looks kind of annoyed. 

“Huh?” Katsuki merely says. There’s a slight delay in his reaction, because the whole thing caught him so off guard, but sure enough, he’s looking angrier by the second. “Oh. So, that’s how it is. She must’ve used her Quirk on you too. I guess she’s already turned you into one of her servants. You’re a sick bastard who actually enjoys being manipulated.” 

“She didn’t manipulate me into doing anything,” Shouto glares. 

“Why else would you vote for her? Just cut the bullshit. Everyone knows what kind of person she is. But since you’re a sicko too, you must be perfect for each other. A match made in heaven.” 

“Bakugou, cut it out,” another one of your classmates, Kirishima, cuts in. Just like Shouto, he doesn’t look too happy about this either. You didn’t stop to see how he reacted to Katsuki’s words from before, but he’s clearly upset right now. “Enough with that. I don’t know what your problem is, but acting this way isn’t manly. [Name] even left earlier, because of all the horrible things you were saying to her.”

“Yeah, enough , Bakugou,” Kaminari snaps. “You’re seriously an asshole. How did U.A ever let someone like you into the Hero Department?” 

“Your behavior is unacceptable,” Iida frowns while adjusting his glasses. “If you don’t address your conduct immediately, I might have to put in a formal complaint. Depending on how the teachers handle the situation, it may result in disciplinary action. Or even expulsion.” 

Katsuki blinks again. Wait… what’s happening? Everyone is ganging up on him for some reason. It wasn’t like this in middle school. Back in middle school, he was the most popular, feared, and respected student of all. He could get away with anything he wanted, and he did . He got away with too many things to even count. Of course, he avoided doing anything that would end up on his permanent record, and it’s not like he partook in any criminal activity, but still. He fucking owned that school. You could ask anyone, and they would agree.  

Something has changed. As a matter of fact, it changed a long time ago, from the moment he discovered that Izuku got admitted to U.A. That’s when everything went to shit. That’s when the world officially stopped making any damn sense. 

“You even waited until Aizawa left the classroom,” Kaminari mutters, making no attempt to hide his disgust. “If anyone’s a sicko here, it’s you . Aren’t you basically just a bully? Since when do bullies want to become heroes?” 

Katsuki doesn’t respond to him. He doesn’t care. He couldn’t care less what all these goddamn extras have to say. The only people he’s ever cared about are you and Izuku—but for vastly different reasons. Both of you drive him insane, to the point that it’s downright unimaginable. And as much as he despises Izuku with his entire being, you’re still the greatest offender of all. 

It really hurts. He loves you so much that it consumes him, practically every moment of every day. He loves you so much that it makes him lash out and do all these horrible, twisted things to you. He wishes he wasn’t like this. He wishes he knew a better way. But he’s so fucking angry . He’s constantly so angry, bitter, and jealous. Even now, it makes him sick. Out of everyone in the classroom that’s berating him, the person he hates most of all is the fucker that’s standing right next to you. The asshole that’s holding onto your arm and acting like the two of you are so close. 

“The reason I voted for her,” Shouto says, pulling you towards him even more, “is because I can tell [Name] is a good person. She’s kind, and she always worries about other people, even if she’s not feeling well herself. We were electing a class president, and I thought she would be a good person to have in charge, because she’s so considerate. Nobody manipulated me into anything. I suggest you stop running your mouth for no reason. You’re just embarrassing yourself.”

You can’t say for sure whether Shouto voted for you because of nostalgic feelings, from your very first meeting together, or if it was perhaps a bit of pity, because of how Katsuki humiliated you earlier, or maybe he really did just think you were a good fit for the role. You honestly don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. You’re grateful that he stood up for you, and that the others did, too. Tamaki and Mirio are also really nice… so, perhaps you were too quick to assume the worst. Perhaps your classmates aren’t judging you after all. Katsuki knows you lack self-esteem, so it was easy for him to plant a bad seed in your mind and let it sprout. He knows exactly how to break you into pieces. He knows exactly what to say that’ll hurt you the most. Time and time again, he hurts you. All he ever does is hurt you. 

Everyone has their limits, and you’ve officially reached yours. 

“Please don’t talk to me anymore,” you say, and Katsuki flinches when he realizes you’re looking straight at him. “Just… leave me alone from now on.” 

Anger flares through his crimson eyes. “What the hell did you just say to me? I’m already in a shit mood, so you’d better shut up before I—” 

“I hate you, Katsuki. I want you out of my life. Don’t ever talk to me again.” 

You turn back towards the doorway, and you finally manage to walk out of the room without another word. Izuku was awfully quiet throughout that whole altercation, but he chases after you almost immediately. Shouto also follows you, and since everyone who just watched that unfold wants nothing to do with Katsuki anymore, they all leave the room in a hurry as well. 

Until only Katsuki is left, all by himself, still struggling to wrap his head around what he just heard. 

“Hate? She… hates me?” 

Katsuki doesn’t even realize he’s saying the words aloud. He’s in disbelief as he utters them. It’s a word that doesn’t make any sense. The word hate . He’s familiar with the word, of course, but it almost sounded foreign coming from your lips. Never before has he heard you use that word. It’s the kind of word that someone as nice and permissive as you would only ever use if you meant it. If you truly, unequivocally, felt that hatred in your soul. 

So, you hate him. After all this time, it’s finally come to this. You said you wanted him out of your life, too. You’re really done with him. As much as Katsuki doesn’t want to believe it, he knows it’s true. He’s the one that pushed you this far. He has only himself to blame. 

Just… what the actual fuck is wrong with him? 

Katsuki hangs his head, utterly defeated. For some reason, the classroom is progressively getting blurrier. The images in his eyes are gradually fogging up, and he doesn’t quite understand why at first. But then he feels something damp collect upon his cheeks, and he slowly brings one of his hands towards his face. 

Moments later, he lets out a cold, humorless chuckle. He’s crying. Just like how you were crying because of him earlier. He supposes this is some kind of retribution. It’s ironic, but fitting. And he already knows it won’t be the last time you move him to tears. 

You hate him, and you want him out of your life. Unfortunately for you, though, Katsuki feels the exact opposite. 

He loves you. And he’s never going to leave.

Chapter Text

You feel… good . 

Like really, really good. Far better than you could’ve ever imagined. You never realized that breaking away from Katsuki could possibly feel so freeing. It’s as if a heavy weight has finally been lifted off your shoulders. You’re done clinging to the past. You’re done allowing yourself to feel horrible and then justifying it with nostalgia, as if you ever owed Katsuki anything. As if it was ever your fault that he decided to become a horrible person. 

That’s not the only reason you’re so happy right now, though. To be honest, you weren’t expecting your classmates to stand up for you. It didn’t concern any of them. This issue was between you and Katsuki, but even so, they still rose to your defense. They realized how disgusting his behavior was and openly rejected it. 

The alienation that you feared, because of your Quirk, didn’t happen. Instead, you actually find yourself being accepted for a change. Even if they were simply pointing out right from wrong, it doesn’t matter. There was no judgment towards you from anyone who told Katsuki off earlier. You have a place here, in this school, in this program, and in this class. 

You can still become a hero. 

“Thank you, Shouto,” you say, glancing towards the boy next to you with a smile. “I really appreciate everything you said back there. It meant a lot to me.” 

“It was the truth,” he merely shrugs. 

“But still. Every time Katsuki tries to humiliate me in public, I always just assume that he’s right, and that everyone will end up buying into his words. Well, that’s how I used to think, at least. Because of my Quirk, I’ve never been very confident. I think I’d like to change that, though. I’m going to try believing in myself a bit more.” 

Shouto nods, and although he doesn’t outwardly smile like you do, he can’t feel but feel a twinge of pride knowing that he helped cheer you up. He honestly doesn’t have a damn clue what’s wrong with Katsuki. You’re so kind, and you’re clearly an incredibly forgiving person, if you’ve put up with that blond asshole up until now. If he was in Katsuki’s place and had grown up alongside you… he would never, ever make you cry. 

It’s actually rather ironic that he’s having those thoughts, because your other childhood friend, who also swore he’d never make you cry, is following closely beside you as well. 

You’re not the only one who feels good right now. As the three of you walk to the cafeteria together, Izuku can hardly contain his excitement. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, it finally happened. Even though you talked about it just last night, to be honest, he wasn’t sure how quickly you’d be able to act upon it. He couldn’t help but doubt if you would actually commit to it after all. You give other people far too many chances, even when they don’t deserve it. Part of him was afraid that you might end up going back on your word—but, no. It actually happened. 

As of this moment, Bakugou Katsuki no longer has a place in your life. 

It seems like Shouto is eating lunch with you today. Iida and Uraraka end up getting to the cafeteria slightly later, since you left the classroom before them, but they join you, like always. And they’re not the only ones. Before you can even take a bite out of your food, four more of your classmates suddenly appear. 

“Is it alright if we sit here?” Kirishima asks. He was the first person to stand up for you after Shouto intervened, and Kaminari is with him too, along with… Sero, you’re pretty sure his name is? As well as the girl who was gushing over what kind of Quirk you have, Mina. 

“Fine by me,” you say, and you turn towards the rest of your group. “What do you guys think?” 

“Sure!” Uraraka beams. 

“I suppose it would give us the chance to get to know each other,” Iida nods earnestly. “It’s important that we foster a sense of connection as a classroom, as early on as possible.” 

“It makes no difference to me,” Shouto shrugs, and he’s the first to dig into his meal. It looks like he got cold soba. His expression may be stoic, but there’s a slight glimmer in his eyes as he slurps up his noodles. Seems like he really likes it. 

There’s only one person who has yet to weigh in, and although you’re positive he would never object to having lunch with his classmates—and hopefully soon-to-be friends—you still stop to glance over at Izuku, awaiting his response. 

“Izuku?” you nudge.

“Huh? Oh,” he blinks, quickly plastering on a smile. “Yeah, of course! Everyone’s more than welcome to sit here. We have just enough room left. It works out perfectly.” 

The other four students happily take a seat, and you can’t help but smile. You’re so glad that Izuku is finally becoming better acquainted with others. You know that he can’t possibly forget all the harassment and bullying Katsuki put him through, but he deserves to be surrounded by people who appreciate him. Once they all spend a bit of time with him, they’ll quickly realize how much of a sweetheart he is. Here, at U.A., you and Izuku finally have a chance at a fresh start. It’s going to be so much better from now on. Both of you will be infinitely happier.

After the miserable cards you were already dealt in this life, surely the universe wouldn’t be cruel enough to also dangle false hope in front of you, right? 

“So, [Name],” Kirishima starts, and you notice him frown slightly as he turns towards you. “I’m really sorry about what happened back there. I hope I’m not making you uncomfortable by bringing it up again, but that Bakugou guy… man. What’s his problem anyway? It sounds like you, him, and Midoriya have known each other since you were young, so why does he act like that?” 

“Because he’s an asshole, why else?” Kaminari grumbles. He shoves a generous helping of rice into his mouth, then swallows it down with an irritated expression. “He was lucky enough to be close friends with a girl as pretty and nice as [Name], but he didn’t even treat her with any respect. Talk about being ungrateful.”

Kaminari lets out a heavy, exasperated sigh, and he’s too preoccupied with taking another bite of his food to notice Izuku staring right at him, without so much as daring to blink. 

Although Izuku is glad that the class shut Katsuki down before he could torment you any further, he still hasn’t forgotten the comment Kaminari made earlier this morning. About how you apparently kissed him during the entrance exam. He’ll never be able to forget something like that, no matter how hard he tries. 

But for now, it will simply have to be water under the bridge. He’s far too happy about the fact that you cast Katsuki out of your life. When he stood there, in the classroom, and heard you tell Katsuki that you hated him…

It was practically music to his ears.

“Kacchan’s always been like that,” Izuku interjects, somehow managing to hide how giddy he is right now. “That’s… just the kind of person he is. He doesn’t want to be a hero because he plans on saving others. He just wants to win against villains, and surpass other heroes, and become number one. It’s the only thing that’s ever mattered to him.” 

Sero scrunches up his nose. “So, what, it’s just about bragging rights? That’s terrible. U.A should never have accepted someone like him.” 

“But he placed first on the entrance exam,” Kirishima reluctantly acknowledges. “Even U.A can’t pass up on talent like that. The teachers probably don’t even realize what kind of person he is. They might think he’s just bad at managing his temper or something. That’s what I thought at first, until I realized how deliberate and targeted his attacks against Midoriya and [Name] were. If he ever does something like that again, we definitely need to tell Aizawa about it. It’s just not okay.” 

You blink, somewhat incredulous as to what you’re hearing. You’re just so used to all of your classmates either turning a blind eye to Katsuki’s despicable behavior, or worse yet, encouraging it. It also didn’t help that none of your teachers bothered to properly reprimand Katsuki and set acceptable boundaries. They all allowed Izuku to be bullied, and they probably heard some of the rumors people were spreading about you—calling you a flirt, a tease, and a shameless creep—but they didn’t bother to address any of those issues, either.

It really is strange, because for the longest time, it felt like it was you and Izuku against the whole world. He was rejected for being Quirkless, and meanwhile, you were rejected for having the wrong kind of Quirk. You were both opposites in that way, so it was beautifully ironic that two people like you would end up bound together. You met Izuku before your Quirk even manifested, but perhaps it was fate, right from the very beginning. Honestly, you’re not really sure. 

All you know is that from now on, you won’t have to rely only on Izuku. He won’t be the only person you can turn to whenever you’re feeling down. You’ll have others to support you, and that should at least lessen his burden somewhat, because every time you break down crying, you know it takes a toll on him, too. 

Everything about your relationship with Izuku is ironic, even in ways you don’t realize yet. While you’re intent on forging new connections with others so that you won’t have to lean on him as much, Izuku hopes for the exact opposite. He wishes you would lean on him more . 

Just lean on him, and only him. He’ll lean on you too, of course. Whenever he needs help, he knows he can count on you to stay by his side. It’s worked until now, hasn’t it? What use is there in fixing what’s not broken? It’ll be even better now that Katsuki’s out of your mind. Now, when you look his way, there won’t be anything clouding your vision and impairing your judgment. So, again—just lean on him. Like you’ve always done, and you’ll continue to do. 

Forever.

And ever.

…and ever . 

Izuku’s chopsticks snap into pieces. A few people turn towards him, and he chuckles sheepishly, cheeks already tinged red. 

“S-Sorry,” he mumbles. How embarrassing. He got so excited, so lost in his thoughts, that he didn’t even realize how much he’d tightened his grip. 

“Ah, use mine,” Kirishima says, sliding a new pair of chopsticks over to him. “I usually make sure to get a spare. Back when I was younger and I struggled to control my Quirk, I would end up breaking my chopsticks a bunch, so I guess grabbing a spare has become a habit or something.” 

Kaminari rolls his eyes. “Wow, are you guys seeing this? He’s definitely trying to brag right now. Just look at him, acting like he doesn’t even know his own strength. I think he wants to impress you, [Name]. But don’t fall for it! This guy’s probably even dumber than I am.” 

“Hey, I may not be the best at studying, but I’m still not that bad,” Kirishima frowns. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” 

You do your best to stifle a giggle, although it still ends up spilling out. Eating with a big group like this is actually a lot of fun. Everyone’s energy and enthusiasm is contagious. You even end up learning more about your classmates, like how Iida’s older brother is apparently the popular, well-liked hero, Ingenium. His eyes are filled with pride as he talks about how much he looks up to his brother. It’s no wonder he wanted to be class president. He must be aspiring to become a great leader someday, just like his brother. The fact that he cast his own vote away, despite wanting the position more than anyone else, is proof of how righteous and morally upstanding he is. 

It’s clear now that U.A is filled with great people. You actually feel a bit guilty about assuming the worst before. You shouldn’t have allowed your past experiences to cloud your judgment. From now on, you’re going to try having more faith in not only yourself, but the people around you. 

“This is fun, right, Izuku?” you say, turning towards him with a smile. “It’s nice that we get to hang out with everyone like this. We got placed in a great class.” 

“Ah, right,” he nods, hastily mirroring your smile with one of his own. He pauses for a moment though, and when he speaks up again, his voice is noticeably more hesitant. “But I didn’t really mind it. Even when it was just the two of us eating lunch together. It didn’t bother you, did it? That whole time… were you actually hoping that others would join us? Was being with me not enough?” 

You frown, completely caught off guard by his question, but before you can even say anything, a loud, blaring noise suddenly fills the room. It sounds like some kind of alarm, and it’s so intense that it’s already giving you a headache.

“Security Level 3 has been breached. All students, promptly evacuate. I repeat—Security Level 3 has been breached. Please evacuate immediately.” 

Iida turns towards one of the nearby students and frowns. “What’s Security Level 3?” 

“It means someone’s infiltrated school grounds!” the student cries out, already running away. “It’s been three years since this happened! Come on! You guys need to hurry and evacuate too!” 

Your brows skyrocket. An intruder? On U.A’s campus? The same school that prides itself on its notorious barricade and state-of-the-art security system? That sounds… pretty serious, doesn’t it? 

Clearly, you’re not the only one who feels this way. Within less than a minute, the entire cafeteria descends into chaos. Students are desperately crowding to try and get to the nearest exit, but because there are so many people, there’s nowhere near enough room for anyone to actually get through. There’s screaming, and shoving, and absolutely no structure whatsoever. Anyone with half a mind can tell that panicking is counter-productive, but it’s too late. Everyone is too overwhelmed, and scared , to act rationally. 

“[Name]!” Izuku cries out. You’ve already lost the rest of your group, but now, the two of you are at risk of being separated as well. He tries to grab onto your arm, however, you’re already too far apart. There are too many people blocking your path, and you simply don’t have the strength to push through them. 

Then, an elbow hits your face, and as you momentarily freeze from the pain, you end up being pushed onto the ground. 

It hurts. Your lip is throbbing, and although a few people have realized you’ve fallen and are doing their best to avoid you, others continue running past, and someone’s leg hits you in the shoulder, then another person almost trips over you, and you barely even have enough space to rise to your feet without being pushed over again. You frantically shield your head with your arms, vision momentarily obscured, only to feel a hand grab onto your own. 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER?!” 

The outcry is loud enough that several students in the vicinity stop in their tracks. You’re pulled to your feet all too suddenly, and of course, you recognized the voice just now. It was Izuku’s. Except… it’s probably the first time in your life you’ve ever heard him sound that angry before. 

“[Name],” he gasps, gently brushing the hair out of your face. “Are you alright? Your lip is bleeding. Does it hurt really bad? Did you get in the head when you fell over?” 

“I-I’m okay,” you reassure, and it turns out that he’s right. When you press a few fingers against your lips, they sting like crazy, and red fluid collects upon your fingertips. It’s not a lot of blood, thankfully. You don’t really care about your lips right now. You were mostly just scared of being trampled. That moment just now unlocked a fear you didn’t even realize you had. 

“Hold onto me,” Izuku insists. He wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you as close as he possibly can. You nod and latch onto his arm with both of your hands, just for good measure, and although you’re still surrounded by people in every possible direction, you feel a bit steadier now. 

As you slowly advance through the crowd, however, Izuku makes sure to glance over his shoulder, towards the group of people who were closest to you when you fell—or rather, were pushed —over. 

He doesn’t scream again, and he doesn’t try to say anything else either, but the look in his eyes is downright murderous. 

Izuku ends up relinquishing his position as class president to Iida. 

“I just think he would be a better fit for the job,” Izuku admits. “Everyone was panicking during the evacuation. Because of that, [Name] even ended up getting hurt… and I wasn’t able to stop it in time. But Iida managed to get everyone under control right after that, so I think he’s better at this kind of thing than I am. To be honest, I never thought people would actually vote for me, so I’m kind of in over my head anyway…” 

“He’s got a point,” Kirishima nods. “Iida did a great job back there in the cafeteria. I wouldn’t have minded Midoriya as class prez either, but if he’s saying he’d rather pass it onto Iida, I’m definitely on board.” 

Several other students end up agreeing, and thus, the decision is made. Iida is officially class president. He’s doing his best to hide how excited he is, but you can see a smile creeping through nevertheless. 

In the end, it wasn’t even an actual emergency. The intruders turned out to be the reporters from earlier this morning. Aizawa reassures everyone that the situation is under control and it won’t happen again, and eventually, the school day comes to a reeling halt. 

Today, you’re walking home with an even bigger group. The same group that you ate lunch with. Shouto’s still here, too. At first, he seemed like the type who likes to keep to himself, but he’s been sticking to your side quite closely. Maybe it’s because of all the things Katsuki said. Maybe this is his way of looking out for you, so that you don’t have to deal with that sort of harassment ever again. 

As much as you appreciate it, you don’t want anyone to feel like they have to look after you. All of you are here to become a hero, after all. You need to become the kind of person that saves other people, instead of always needing to be saved. 

“We should go do karaoke or something!” Mina cheerfully suggests. 

“Man, I don’t know,” Sero sighs. “That lunch period was kind of crazy. I’m tired. I’d rather just go home and call it a day.” 

“It’s pretty last-minute, and I already have a three-hour workout planned for when I get home,” Kirishima casually says. 

“Three hours?” Kaminari gapes. “You’re kidding, right? I bet you’re just bragging again because [Name] is here.” 

“I mean, I can share my workout plan with you if you want. We can even do it together! There’s nothing manlier than pushing your body to its limits, right, Kaminari?” 

Kaminari promptly turns away from him. “Uh, now that I think about it, I already have plans later tonight. Sorry. My evening is blocked off for everyone except [Name]. She’s the only one I’d be willing to rearrange my schedule for.” 

Sero rolls his eyes, Mina laughs, Kirishima makes a disappointed face (it looks like he really wanted a workout buddy), and you can’t help but smile, even though there’s a bit of discomfort when your lips lift at the corners. 

“I guess no karaoke today,” you chuckle. “We should try hanging out another time, like over the weekend or something. This is only the first week of school, so it makes sense that everyone’s tired.” 

“Why didn’t you ask Recovery Girl to treat you?” Shouto frowns, gesturing to your slightly swollen lips. 

“Oh… I don’t know. It’s a really small injury, and I didn’t think it was a good idea to bug her over something so minor.” 

“She’s the school nurse. It’s her job to look after all the students. And since it’s not a grave injury, that’s all the more reason why it wouldn’t be any trouble for her. You shouldn’t be so hesitant to always ask for help.” 

Todoroki Shouto clearly sees right through you. He’s stoic, and seemingly disinterested, but it turns out that he’s much more observant than you first thought. Or perhaps your weaknesses are just that glaringly obvious to other people. 

“I guess I’m not the best at asking for help,” you admit. 

“You should work on that,” Shouto says, and although his tone isn’t particularly gentle, you appreciate the intent behind it. “There’s probably a lot more people willing to help you than you even realize.” 

“Yeah, like me!” Kaminari eagerly cries out. “You can ask me for anything, [Name]! Just say the word, and I’ll do it!” 

“Kaminari, do you know the meaning of shame , by any chance?” Sero muses. 

“I do know it. It’s just that I choose to ignore it most of the time, that’s all.” 

You smile again. Everyone walks together for a while, until more and more people gradually split up to head home. As always, you’re left with Izuku until the very end. You both get off at your stop and start walking towards your neighborhood, and since you were so focused on chatting with all your new friends, you don’t even realize that someone took note of you all the way back at the train station, and has been following you ever since. 

The man trails after you as far as he safely can, without being noticed. He stops just before you venture further into a residential area, makes a mental note of the location, then pulls out his phone and dials a number. 

“...what is it?” the person on the other line answers. 

“I ran into her again,” the man, Kurono, says. “While I was waiting to meet with the supplier at the train station. It’s the same girl from before. The one who ended up seeing far too much for her own good. She’s a U.A student, apparently. I followed her for a while, just to get a general idea of where she lives. I made sure not to be spotted, either. Just thought you’d be interested in knowing.” 

There’s a heavy pause, with neither of them saying anything, but eventually, the same deep, husky voice can be heard yet again. 

“A U.A student, huh?” Chisaki mutters. “So, she’s trying to become a hero. And she saw me use my Quirk against someone. She saw what I did to that man. It wouldn’t have been an issue if she were just an ordinary civilian. This is turning out to be unnecessarily complicated… goddammit.” 

“What would you like me to do next?” Kurono asks. 

“Just keep an eye on her for now. We shouldn’t act too rashly. It’s not like she even has a professional license yet.” 

“Understood, Kai.” 

Chisaki ends the call and scowls irritably. He messed up. He made a grave, foolish oversight. He still isn’t sure what possessed him that day. It isn’t like him to slip up. You would’ve died anyway, because that man sliced your throat open. He should’ve just left you there, to bleed to death. It would’ve been one less problem to deal with. But no, he just had to take pity on you. It was a moment of weakness, he’ll admit. He likes to think that he’s gotten quite good at locking up his emotions and casting his humanity aside, but it seems there’s still plenty of room for improvement. 

Well, no matter. This is just a minor speed bump. A slight hitch in his plan. He’ll deal with it accordingly, as always. 

The next time Chisaki sees you again, he will make sure that you draw your last breath. 

Chapter Text

When you arrive at school the next morning, you no longer feel anxious, ashamed, or hesitant. You realize now that there’s no point in allowing yourself to be so discouraged. Everyone was bound to find out about your Quirk eventually, and while it may very well be an unconventional power, what matters is how you use it. Even someone like you has the chance to do good in this world. This is only the beginning. You’re nowhere near ready to give up. 

“Good morning, [Name], Midoriya!” 

Kaminari is there to greet you with a wide, infectious grin. You’ve barely stepped into the classroom, along with Izuku, but it looks like he was waiting for you to show up. Kirishima makes sure to say hi, too. So does Iida, and Uraraka, and although Shouto is already sitting at his table near the very back, you notice him turn his head towards you and nod ever-so-slightly.

It’s nice having friends. To be honest, you would actually describe yourself as fairly extroverted. You never struggled to make friends back when you were younger. You had a sunny personality, and people often described you as talkative to a fault. 

That was, of course, up until your Quirk manifested. 

Everything changed after that. As the years went by, you became more and more insecure. People learned to keep their distance from you. Countless rumors started to spread, and pretty much everyone who discovered what kind of powers you had did their best to avoid you at all costs.

That’s why Izuku was your only friend. Well, apart from Katsuki, but that friendship is officially done and dusted. It’s a thing of the past now, and you suppose he wasn’t a real friend to begin with. A real friend would never say and do such disgusting, awful things. A real friend would never turn his back on the people who loved and supported him. So, it really was just an illusion all along. You even used to have a crush on him back then. You used to think he was so cool, so brave, so awesome. 

It’s okay, though. You may have lost Katsuki, but from now on, you’re going to let other people into your life. People you know that you can trust and rely on. People that will never let you down. 

…or so you foolishly think. 

“You look really pretty today,” Kaminari beams. “I mean, you look pretty every day, but still!” 

The compliments seem to roll right off his tongue, but oddly enough, he doesn’t strike you as shallow. A bit flirty, sure, and yet his words sound completely genuine. It kind of embarrassed you when he told the whole class that you kissed him during the entrance exam, but at least he never judged you for it. He’s probably the only person to have reacted to your Quirk so positively before. You’re grateful for it. If he can look at you with so much warmth in his eyes, then surely others—especially the people you plan on saving—will be able to do the same thing. 

“Thanks,” you say, blushing a bit. “That’s really nice of you, Kaminari. I appreciate it.” 

“I’m not sure if I’d call it nice,” Sero snorts. He leans in closer to whisper in your ear. “You do know he’s hitting on you, right?” 

“Um… I think he’s mostly just trying to be friendly. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions.” 

“Trust me, I think it’s pretty obvious that he’s—” 

“Ugh, just butt out of it, Sero!” Kaminari fumes, and you chuckle softly as you watch the two of them bicker back and forth. 

Meanwhile, Izuku stands next to you, utterly motionless, and he doesn’t dare take his eyes off Kaminari for even a split second. It seems like he was right to be concerned, from the moment Kaminari excitedly brought up the fact that you kissed him. Just look at him, look at how he becomes more obnoxious and overbearing with every interaction. It’s barely a few days into the school year, and he’s already all over you. He’s not even bothering to be subtle about it. 

Without a doubt, Kaminari Denki is going to be a problem. 

Izuku doesn’t say anything, though. Instead, he presses his lips together, in a rather pitiful attempt to pretend like he’s smiling. You look happy. Happier than you’ve looked in a long time. Maybe it’s because you finally got rid of Katsuki. That could very well be it. On the surface, it might seem like you’re excited to make new friends, but perhaps you’re just so relieved that you finally got rid of the number one person who was weighing you down. 

Although Izuku realizes it’s probably wishful thinking on his part, he really, really hopes that’s why you’re smiling brighter than ever before. 

“Get the fuck out of my way, Deku.” 

Izuku turns around. Actually, he’s not the only one who turns. Almost everyone follows the source of the unpleasant voice, until countless eyes land on Katsuki, who is standing by the doorway with an unsettlingly cold expression. 

He’s not angry. Well, he is angry, but he’s not yelling like he usually does and directing his anger outwards. The way he just spoke right now was uncharacteristically calm. His voice was controlled, level, and nowhere near as loud as it normally is. This can either mean one of two things: that Katsuki is in a more neutral state right now, or that he’s allowing his anger to simmer deep below the surface, only for it to inevitably explode later on.

Izuku knows damn well which of those is the right answer. 

“Ugh, Bakugou,” Kaminari makes a point to scoff. He even moves closer to you, wrapping an arm around your shoulder protectively—which makes Izuku’s eyes go disturbingly wide. “If you’re going to be an asshole again today, you’re better off just staying home. Seriously. Leave [Name] alone.” 

“I’m alright, Kaminari,” you try to insist, but he doesn’t let go of you, and Kirishima even steps forward, just as an added measure. 

Katsuki simply stares at you. His brows crease, just for a moment, but there’s not much of a reaction otherwise. You can’t tell whether or not he’s getting ready to spew more hateful venom, but you promised yourself you were done giving a shit about him and letting him discourage you. You couldn’t care less about how much he hates you now, or what he thinks about your Quirk. You will become a hero. He doesn’t get to dictate how your life goes. 

“You’re not even going to say anything?” Katsuki finally asks. He still manages to keep his voice steady somehow, but his crimson eyes are sharp, uncomfortably so. Under normal circumstances, this would be enough to make you flinch, or feel guilty about ignoring him, or regret not having forgiven him earlier. 

But no, you’re done with that. It’s because Katsuki knows that you’re weak that he’s been able to exploit your kindness all this time. He knows that you’ll always take him back, no matter what he does. As shameful as it is to admit, your passiveness has enabled his cruelty. If only you’d confronted him properly sooner, then maybe… maybe he wouldn’t have turned out like this. 

Either way, it’s too late now. Regretting the past is pointless, and you’re done with that as well. 

Which is why you turn away from Katsuki, without uttering a single word, and head over to your desk. 

Having realized there’s not going to be an altercation, everyone else disperses as well. Class is about to start soon anyway. Aizawa was nice enough not to say anything when you showed up late yesterday morning, but you don’t want him to think you’re an unruly student. You take your seat, hands folded on top of each other, and stare straight ahead towards the front of the class, making sure not to spare Katsuki so much as a glance. 

Katsuki still doesn’t say anything. There’s a firm lump in his throat, and it won’t go away, no matter how much he swallows. It hurts. It hurts so much more than he’d like to admit, but the whole class is here right now, and he refuses to show any sign of weakness. He refuses to let anyone know how desperately he craves your love. Instead, he starts walking over to his own desk, but in the process of doing so, he happens to catch a glimpse of Izuku’s expression. 

The bastard… is smiling. 

“In order for boarding to proceed smoothly, please file into two lines according to your student numbers!”

Later that same day, you’re apparently taking a trip somewhere on U.A’s campus for your Foundational Hero Studies class. It’s not too far away, but since the campus is so big, it’s faster to get there by bus than to walk. Iida is already at full throttle as he instructs everyone how they should board the bus. He’s even blowing a whistle every so often. It’s kind of cute, to be honest. 

A few days ago, you had the Battle Trial, which was meant to pit students against each other and test their combat sense, ability to work as a team, and overall resourcefulness. You initially thought that Quirks alone would dictate who won their respective trials, but if that were the case, there’s no way you would’ve beat someone as powerful as Katsuki. There was a bit of luck that factored into it as well, admittedly. You caught him by surprise, while he was cornering Izuku, and your Quirk didn’t even affect him fully at first. Still, you won. You and Izuku did, together. That alone is proof that even someone like you can become a hero. 

Today, however, you’re focusing on something different. Aizawa announced that rescues would be at the forefront of this lesson—as in, saving people. While it’s true that fighting villains is a huge part of a hero’s job description, officially, heroes are supposed to protect others. The mark of a good hero isn’t how many villains they’ve defeated, but how many people they’ve protected and how much hope they’re able to inspire. That’s exactly the kind of hero you want to be. The kind of hero that makes everyone feel safe. 

“So, it ended up being this kind of bus anyway,” Iida sighs, head drooping in disappointment. 

You suppose there wasn’t much of a point in filing into lines beforehand, but again, it’s cute how much he’s into his role as class president. It’s good to be enthusiastic. It shows how much he cares. 

“Don’t worry about it, Iida,” you reassure. “It’s always better to be organized. I’m sure it’ll pay off next time.” 

“Yeah, chin up, class prez!” Kirishima grins. “This isn’t a big deal. Everyone remembers how cool you were during lunchtime yesterday, when the alarms went off. Nobody’s doubting that you’re a perfect fit for the job.” 

“I still think he kind of looked like that emergency exit sign guy, though,” Kaminari laughs. “But in a cool way! If I was the one who was up there, I probably would’ve looked lame.” 

“Super lame,” Jirou muses. 

“Hey! Nobody asked you to pile on!” 

It doesn’t take long for chatter to fill the bus. There are several conversations going around at the same time, and you can’t help but smile at how pleasant the atmosphere is. You turn towards Izuku, who just nudged you and looks like he wants to ask something, but before he can, another one of your classmates interjects. 

“Midoriya,” the girl with the frog-like Quirk, Asui Tsuyu, decides to chime in. “Your Quirk… reminds me of All Might’s.” 

Your stomach drops. Oh, god. What did she just say? It came completely out of nowhere, too. How could she possibly know that? The existence of One For All is supposed to be a secret. Surely she hasn’t already pieced it together… has she? 

No, there’s no way. She probably just brought up All Might because he and Izuku both have super strength. It’s a simple observation. Nothing more, nothing less.

You quickly glance over at Izuku. Sure enough, he looks like he’s panicking, so you hurry to interject before he can accidentally slip up and say something he shouldn’t. 

“I get what you mean, because both of them have Quirks that enhance their strength, but I’ve never heard of All Might getting hurt whenever he uses his powers,” you say. 

“Yeah, that’s true,” Kirishima chimes in. “Both of their Quirks are super powerful, without a doubt, but that’s where the likeness ends.” 

Tsuyu nods in agreement, and thankfully, it doesn’t seem like she actually suspects anything. Her words just now seriously almost gave you a heart attack. That kind of shock must have shaved years off your life. 

“I gotta admit though, I’m pretty jealous of a straightforward enhancer-type Quirk like Midoriya’s though,” Kirishima continues. “There’s a lot you can do with something like that, and super flashily, too. My hardening Quirk isn’t bad for fights, but it sucks that it doesn’t really stand out much.” 

Izuku clears his throat. “I think it’s—” 

“Really? It seems cool to me,” you say. “And it can be used for both offense and defense. It’s really versatile. I’m sure it would stand out to a lot of people. Oh, sorry,” you suddenly realize, turning towards the boy sitting beside you. “I didn’t mean to cut you off, Izuku. Were you about to say something?” 

“...no. It was nothing, don’t worry about it.” 

Izuku smiles reassuringly, but the second you turn away from him again, his smile dissolves into nothingness. He was about to compliment Kirishima’s Quirk. He was about to say pretty much the same thing you just did. And yet, it bothers him. 

Whether it’s Iida, or Kaminari, or Kirishima, or whoever else… he wishes you wouldn’t be so quick to shower everyone with praise. 

He liked it better when it was just him. 

When he was the only person you ever shared your sweetness with. 

“Thanks, [Name],” Kirishima smiles. “I’m glad you think so. But I still feel like there are other people who stand out way more. Like Todoroki, for example. His powers are both strong and flashy. And I guess… that applies to Bakugou, too.” 

“Man, can you not bring up Bakugou?” Kaminari sighs loudly. 

“Well, you know what I mean. You can’t deny that his Quirk stands out a lot.” 

“But he’s got the personality of a steamed turd. Actually—no. I’m being generous there. Saying that is disrespectful to all the turds in the world, because at least turds have a purpose. They eliminate toxins from the human body. Bakugou is basically just a waste of space. And air. And—”

“Hey, hey, stop it,” Kirishima frowns. “Just calm down. There’s no point in getting into this, and you shouldn’t try to provoke him either. Give it a rest, okay? We should focus on more important things, instead of trying to tear each other down.” 

“Have you forgotten how much of an asshole he was to [Name]?” 

“Of course not. Still, it’s better not to pick a fight. Bakugou isn’t even saying anything. Fixating on these kinds of things does the opposite of help. Hopefully he’s learned his lesson and we can all move past this. Alright?” 

Kaminari scowls. You appreciate Kirishima being the voice of reason. Katsuki is a shitty person, without question, but you don’t want to dwell on it anymore either. Like Kirishima said, you’d like to move past it and focus on other things.

“I’ll be okay, Kaminari,” you say. “Kirishima’s right. Please just leave him alone. I don’t want to bother the whole class with my personal problems. I’d rather just focus on becoming a hero.” 

“Well… alright, then.” 

He still doesn’t look entirely convinced, and he’s probably itching to attack Katsuki with another verbal onslaught, but he manages to hold back this time. You’re surprised that Katsuki didn’t snap back at all, though. Once again, you resist the urge to glance in his direction, but he really is eerily quiet. 

Well, all the better. Maybe Kirishima was right on the money. Maybe Katsuki finally has learned his lesson. 

…haha. Ha. 

It’s hilarious that you actually think that. 

Eventually, you arrive at your destination. It’s a building that bears a suspicious resemblance to a certain Japanese theme park, and it’s even named USJ… but that’s beside the point. It doesn’t take away from how impressive the whole thing is. With the Space Hero, Thirteen, responsible for the creation of this training site, it has pretty much everything anyone could ask for. There’s a flood wreck zone, a landslide zone, an area reserved for fires, and countless more. Essentially, the purpose is to simulate all kinds of accidents and natural disasters. This is something that most heroes are bound to encounter at some point or another, and truly, it’s the perfect training exercise for rescue maneuvers. 

Thirteen clears her throat. “Before we begin, I’d just like to go over one thing, or two, or three, or four… but anyway, the most important thing of all is this. I’m sure you’re already aware, but my Quirk is called Black Hole. No matter what material gets sucked into its vortex, it turns to dust.” 

“It’s the perfect Quirk for removing wreckage and saving disaster victims!” Izuku beams. 

“Yes… that’s true,” Thirteen nods gravely. “It is, however, also a power that could easily be used to kill people. In that way, it’s no different from the Quirks of everyone here. Please don’t forget that each of you possesses a Quirk that can go awry. One wrong step is all it takes to be able to hurt others accidentally, or even kill them. During Aizawa’s Quirk Apprehension Test, I’m sure you gained some insight about your power’s true potential. And during All Might’s Battle Trial, I’m sure you came to realize the danger of brandishing your Quirks against each other. I want the takeaway of this lesson to be how you can use your Quirks for the benefit of human life. Your Quirks do not exist to hurt others. Please leave this lesson having fully understood that your Quirks are to be used safely and responsibly—to help others.” 

You agree with everything Thirteen’s saying, of course. Those who wield their Quirks for the purpose of evil are villains, but even among heroes, Quirks can easily cause harm if misused or improperly managed. Although you’ve never struggled to control your Quirk because it always requires conscious activation, even you could charm someone and command them into doing something truly awful. It’ll never happen, obviously, but the same logic applies to you as well. You need to be careful and always choose your words wisely. You need to make sure not to take anything too far. 

What you don’t realize, however, is that your Quirk is already beyond your control. It has a cumulative effect. Every time you use it on someone, it disrupts their thought processes more and more. It isn’t just a one-and-done. The effect doesn’t permanently disappear the moment you cancel your powers. 

Your Quirk is a curse that will follow you for the rest of your life, and by the time you realize what it’s actually capable of…

It will already be too late. 

“That is all!” Thirteen then bows. “You have my gratitude for listening so patiently and attentively!” 

Everyone applauds her for her genuine, heartfelt speech, and you feel more ready than ever to tackle this new challenge. Realistically, you’re not sure how much help your Quirk will be in a disaster-type situation, but you’re eager to learn. From now on, you will take every opportunity to improve and better yourself—

“What’s that?” Kaminari suddenly blinks, and you realize he’s pointing at something, down by the fountain. It’s a strange, swirling black mass that seems to expand outwards, from its center. In a way, it almost reminds you of Thirteen’s Black Hole, except… it’s obviously not. Because Thirteen is right here, standing next to you. 

“HUDDLE TOGETHER AND DON’T MOVE! THOSE ARE VILLAINS!” 

Villains? Here? Inside U.A’s campus?

It all sounds so difficult to believe, but right before Aizawa yelled, a swarm of people came flooding out of the weird black gate, which has since more than quadrupled in size. There are too many of them to even count. Aizawa even put on his goggles, to block his eyes, which makes it all but certain that he plans on fighting. He may have deceived everyone with the Quirk Apprehension Test, but he’s still a hero, and a teacher. He wouldn’t joke around if it concerned the safety of his students. That much is painfully obvious. 

So… villains are actually here. You’re being attacked by a whole group of them. You were so excited for today, too. Everything was going so well. But it seems as though every time you allow yourself to feel even the slightest bit happy, it’s bound to come crashing down sooner or later. It’s not like it’s even the first time you’ve ever encountered villains. The memories all come rushing up the surface now, despite your best efforts to bury them. 

You remember Dabi, who nearly burned you to death. Then you remember that man who sliced your throat open. You remember the way you bled out onto the cold, dirty ground. You remember the way your tears mixed with your own blood, as your body grew colder by the second. You remember being sure that you’d die that time, only for you to awaken completely unharmed and gaze right into Chisaki’s piercing golden eyes. You remember that, despite having been spared from death, you were still so, so afraid. 

And now, this. It’s tiring, to be honest. You don’t even have the strength to quite feel afraid. You just wonder if you might be cursed somehow. You wonder if there’s something wrong with you after all. You wonder if that’s why the universe gave you this Quirk. Almost as if it’s some kind of punishment. 

But life can always get worse. And in your case, it will get worse. 

The leader of all these villains, Shigaraki Tomura, remembers things, too. He remembers when he went out to an arcade, in an attempt to not feel like absolute shit for a change—only for his day to be ruined by a scumbag asshole who picked a fight. He remembers it all too well, which is why he picks Katsuki apart from the crowd almost immediately. And then he sees you. You, the girl who was with him that day. You, the girl who Katsuki was so violently protective of. 

So, you’re both U.A students. Classmates, even. But since you went out together that day, just the two of you, it’s obvious that you’re more than just that. 

How adorable. Two stupid little brats, not only playing hero, but playing boyfriend and girlfriend, too. Are you a couple, or is it simply a one-sided crush on Katsuki’s part? Shigaraki honestly doesn’t have a clue, but either way, it makes no difference. 

He’ll make sure that you and Katsuki suffer together. 

Chapter Text

Everyone is terrified. You can see it in their eyes, in the way that most of them are trembling as they glance fearfully towards the ever-growing group of villains in the center of the room. Even now, countless of them keep pouring in. It’s not just a handful. It’s practically a horde, and if there’s anything you know about villains by now, it’s that they aren’t the type to hold back. 

Aizawa has already put his goggles on and is charging straight towards them. He instructed Thirteen to look after the students and help all of you evacuate in the meantime, but that means he’s going to have to fight them all alone . 

You want to believe that he’s going to be okay. Up until recently, you hardly knew anything about Eraserhead, but then Izuku told you. He’s actually supposed to be incredibly skilled at close combat. He can erase his enemies’ Quirks and outmaneuver them, using those special alloy cloths—his capture weapon—that he always has with him. Besides, he doesn’t actually need to defeat all of them. He just needs to buy the rest of you some time. Enough time to escape. 

Except, for some reason…

You’re not so sure that’s going to happen. 

“I’m afraid I can’t allow that,” a sudden, unfamiliar voice speaks out. In the blink of an eye, your path is blocked. One of the villains is standing in your way, preventing you from moving forward. His body is entirely black, but intangible and wispy, like some sort of mist. You’re starting to realize that he was the weird vortex-like gate you saw earlier, where all the villains came pouring out of. It would explain how he basically just teleported in front of you, seemingly out of nowhere.

“Greetings,” he speaks up. “We are the League of Villains. We were under the impression that All Might was supposed to have been here… was there a change in plans, perhaps? Ah, well. Either way, once he discovers what’s happening, he’ll no doubt come running. But first and foremost—” 

He doesn’t get the chance to finish. In near perfect synchronization, Katsuki and Kirishima lunge towards him and each land a strike of their own. The sound of Katsuki’s explosions is as deafening as always. Normally, getting hit by his Quirk from point-blank range is guaranteed to hurt like hell, but the villain hardly even flinches. He doesn’t even stagger backwards. His dark face remains completely unreadable, and instead, his yellow eyes narrow even further. 

“Right,” the villain—Kurogiri—mutters quietly. “You’re one of the students Shigaraki Tomura specifically asked me to retrieve. You, and… you.” 

By the time you realize it, it’s already too late. Kurogiri’s head turned ever-so-slightly just then. 

Towards you. 

Darkness engulfs you from every direction. You flail out, but it’s pointless. The black mist traps you, like a cage, and no matter how hard you struggle, it refuses to disperse. You don’t feel any pain. At the very least, it’s not hurting you, but something tells you that won’t be the case for long. 

“...looks like we finally meet again.” 

All of the blood in your body runs cold. A few seconds ago, you were surrounded by the rest of your classmates, however, the scene has abruptly changed. You’re not at the top of the staircase anymore. Rather, you find yourself just a short distance from the fountain in the center. The very same fountain that the group of villains is crowding around. 

Also, there’s a man in front of you. The one with the pale bluish-gray hair. The one with countless artificial—or worse yet, embalmed —hands strewn across his face and body. Even without verbal confirmation, you can just tell. There’s a reason why he was at the forefront earlier. There’s a reason he’s the one who uttered the very first words, well before Kurogiri spoke. 

Every group, every organization, naturally has some kind of leader. Someone responsible for holding everyone together and calling the shots. And based on the way your entire body is shaking uncontrollably, there’s simply no room for doubt. He’s the one in charge here. 

Which means that he’s probably the strongest out of all of them. 

You’re in utter shock; petrified, even. Once again, you find yourself on the precipice of death, but if there’s one thing you’ve learned from the previous instances, it’s that you can’t freeze up when it matters the most. It doesn’t matter how terrified you are. You need to get away from here. Your gut is telling you that you simply stand no chance against him. Even if you tried to bridge the gap in order to kiss him and put him under your control, you wouldn’t be able to react fast enough. He’d kill you in the blink of an eye. He’d do it just as easily as breathing. 

You need to fucking run . 

Without even stopping to catch your breath, you turn on your heel and muster up all the strength in your body. You’re already sprinting away from him. Thank god. He was probably just about to grab you, but you managed to take stock of the situation just in time. Most of the villains are focused on dealing with Aizawa, and they haven’t even taken notice of you. All you have to do is keep running, and soon, you’ll regroup with Thirteen and the others—

“Nomu. Don’t let her get away.” 

It turns out that you were wrong. Maybe the man with all the creepy hands isn’t the strongest one. You were too fixated on him, because he was right in front of you, to even realize there was a literal monster by his side. A huge, hulking mass of muscle with a grotesque face and exposed brain. You honestly can’t even begin to describe what it is. It looks like the result of some sick, twisted experiment—and it intercepted you with the sort of speed that could rival All Might himself. 

There’s nothing you can do. This time, you really are frozen in place. You can’t possibly hope to do a damn thing against this creature. Would your Quirk even have any effect whatsoever? It doesn’t look human, which means that unlike what happened with Dabi, there’s no opportunity to escape. You can’t even dare to dream. 

…I’m dead. This time, I’m really dead. 

The Nomu grabs onto you, and you squeeze your eyes shut, preparing for a horrible, excruciating death. Except, weirdly enough, that doesn’t happen. 

It simply picks you up, almost gingerly, and brings you right back to the other villain’s side. The same villain you were just looking at from up close. The one whose name you’re almost positive you heard earlier. Shigaraki Tomura. 

“That was rude,” Shigaraki says, and you can see his beady crimson eyes peeking out behind the hand on his face, glaring at you oppressively. “I barely even had the chance to say anything. Don’t tell me you have no idea what I’m talking about? I guess, from your perspective, I was just some random loser who didn’t matter to you at all… but I’m the type to hold a grudge, you see. When people piss me off, I never forget.” 

Before you can even begin to construct a response, he reaches out and wraps his hand around your neck. The gesture isn’t quite as harsh as you expected it to be. He’s not choking you or anything. He’s not even applying that much force. All he does is maintain a firm grip on you, and you realize, as more tears fill your gaze, that he’s purposely keeping his pinky finger outstretched. He’s holding onto you with only four of his fingers, not all five. 

“Don’t worry,” Shigaraki hisses next to your ear. “I’ll help jog your memory. It’ll all come back to you soon. Isn’t that right, you condescending little bastard?” 

The last part of his sentence isn’t addressed to you, but rather, the other student who just appeared out of nowhere. Like you, he was transported here, presumably by the warp gate villain’s Quirk. You watch as the black mist clears, revealing none other than your former childhood friend. The boy you once cared about with your whole heart.

Katsuki.

Like you, he’s confused at first. He adapts quickly, though. He realizes he’s not in the same place as before, and he hastily glances around, attempting to process as much information as possible. Aizawa finally realizes it too. He just fought off the last of the villains in the group that previously had him surrounded. Both of them see you from across the battlefield. They see the fear and despair in your wide, trembling eyes. 

“Nomu,” Shigaraki then says calmly. “Get rid of Eraserhead first.” 

It can’t even be called a fight. The way that creature moves is enough to make you sick to your stomach, nevermind the destruction it leaves in its wake. You thought at least Aizawa would stand a chance against it. You thought that if there was anyone who might be able to counter that thing, it had to be the man who can erase Quirks at will. That was what you foolishly believed. 

…but no. You were dead wrong. The end result is so much farther than what you could’ve possibly imagined. Aizawa doesn’t even have time to react. The Nomu is too fast, and even if Aizawa were to cancel its Quirk in time, its base physical strength likely still wouldn’t have been contained. The way it throws Aizawa around makes him look like a glorified ragdoll. In less than a few seconds, Aizawa’s skull has been brutally smashed against the ground. There’s blood leaking down his face, dripping into his eyes, and without even giving Aizawa a single moment to recover, the Nomu ruthlessly crushes his arm. 

Aizawa can’t move anymore. It was over so fast that part of you wonders if you just imagined the whole thing. Maybe you’re trapped in some kind of nightmare right now. You’ve been having nightmares recently, haven’t you? Yeah. It would make so much more sense. Surely this can’t be reality. Surely… surely not. 

A few tears roll down your cheeks. It seems like you’re not even good at deluding yourself. In the end, there’s no difference between your nightmares and all the things that have been actually happening to you. 

Whether in real life or inside the depths of your own subconsciousness, nothing changes. 

Either way, you always suffer. 

“[NAME]!” 

Katsuki is the one who just screamed your name. Enraged beyond belief, he sparks off explosions and propels himself towards you. To be honest, you’re somewhat surprised. You didn’t expect him to get that upset or frantic on your behalf. You suppose, even with how much you now resent each other, he still doesn’t want your life to end. It’s a comforting thought, at least. At least you’ll die knowing he still cared about you, even if only a little bit. Your friendship really did mean something after all. 

He’s getting closer and closer, and he’s just about to strike Shigaraki, but you don’t dare to get your hopes up. Nothing ever goes your way. And after being held hostage by a villain for the third time, you doubt you’ll survive this instance. 

“Don’t come any closer,” Shigaraki warns. Right before Katsuki fully closes the distance, Shigaraki pulls an object out of his pocket and lifts it up. “If you don’t believe me, just watch .” 

Katsuki isn’t the type to hold himself back. You’ve always known that about him, and normally, he would’ve blatantly ignored Shigaraki’s words and charged ahead. But this is different. Not because he’s up against villains, or because the threat of death hangs heavy in the air, but because you’re here. 

The one thing Katsuki can never do, no matter what, is gamble with your life. 

Shigaraki closes all five of his fingers around the object he just held up, and almost immediately, it crumbles and turns to dust. You watch, breath quivering, as the dust slips through the cracks of his fingers and disintegrates to the point that you can’t even see it anymore. There’s absolutely nothing left. And you know that by the time he’s done, there’ll be nothing left of you either. 

Katsuki comes to a shuddering halt. He practically drops to the ground, with uncharacteristic clumsiness and lack of coordination. All the while, Shigaraki’s grip on your throat tightens, and you start whimpering, overcome with more fear than you’ve ever experienced. You know there’s no way out this time. It’s not like before. This time, it really, truly is over . 

“My Quirk will make her entire body crumble the second all five of my fingers come in contact with her skin,” Shigaraki chuckles darkly. “So, it’s up to you if you want to attack me or not. Maybe you’ll get lucky and actually land a hit. Of course, by that point, it’ll already be too late. She’ll die. She’ll die, and you’ll be to blame for it.” 

Aizawa isn’t moving anymore. The Nomu slams his head against the ground a few more times, just for good measure, but there’s no response at all. As if to confirm he’s no longer a threat, the Nomu even lifts him up, shakes him around a bit, then violently throws him to the ground one last time. Still no movement. You can’t even tell if he’s still breathing at this point. 

Ah. 

The realization hits like a truck. It’s so intense, so overwhelming, that you can’t stop yourself from breaking out into a full-blown sob. You can’t deny it, in spite of how desperately you want to. 

Everyone here is going to die. 

“I’ll give you another demonstration,” Shigaraki says, and with how close his face is to your ear, you can feel that disgusting hand pressing against you. You’re practically sure of it now. It isn’t artificial. It’s a real severed, embalmed hand. 

Shigaraki suddenly grabs hold of you with his other hand. He pulls part of your costume down, allowing the fabric to slip off your shoulder, then grips down on the fabric with all five of his fingers. As expected, it begins crumbling into nothingness, and you wail out—only for him to fully rip the fabric away at the very last second. 

Katsuki can’t even take a single step forward. He’s so terrified, it feels like his heart is lodged in his throat, and he’s choking on it. He can only watch. All of his strength, all of his talent, and the only thing he can do is watch as the girl he loves is tortured and humiliated. 

“My Quirk will continue spreading from the point of impact,” Shigaraki calmly explains. You’re still shaking, sobbing, but he clearly couldn’t care less. If anything, he takes pleasure in it. He enjoys watching you suffer. He relishes the thought of breaking you down, destroying you, bit by bit. “I had to rip off that part of her clothing, otherwise it would’ve spread to the rest of her body. Don’t worry. I didn't plan on having her end up naked or anything. Even I wouldn’t go that far.” 

Katsuki clenches his fists, and although you can’t see from this distance, there are tears forming in his eyes as well. “Get the fuck away from her.” 

“Why would I do that?” Shigaraki sneers. “She’s my hostage, idiot. Her survival fully depends on how you act. Whether or not you listen or decide to piss me the hell off. To be honest, I don’t give a shit what happens to her. But I think this is way more fun than just killing both of you outright. This way, she at least has a chance of living, right? All you need to do is swallow your pride for once. Bastards like you are the fucking worst. I can’t stand people who look down on others and think they can get away with it. You think you’re entitled to act however the hell you want, with no consequences. I’m not sure if you think that way because heroes have instilled you with a false sense of security, or if you really are just a massive piece of shit… but either way, it doesn’t matter.” 

Shigaraki slowly removes the embalmed hand resting upon his face. You still don’t dare to move, out of the fear that he’ll activate his Quirk again, but he shifts forward a bit, even closer, so that you can just barely make out his appearance from the corner of your eye. His face really does look familiar. You’re basically hyperventilating, but without a doubt, you have seen him before. Somewhere. When you were with Katsuki. At the… arcade? 

Holy fuck. He’s going to kill you over something as trivial as that ? 

If you weren’t crying, you might have laughed, from the sheer absurdity of it all. To think that he’d already made up his mind to enact his revenge, all the way back then, just because Katsuki got aggressive and picked a fight with him. It’s so stupid. It’s just so stupid, and so fucking unfair. But then again, most deaths aren’t justified. Innocent people die all the time, for reasons beyond their control. 

“I guess you don’t remember me,” Shigaraki scoffs, facing Katsuki. “Just like I thought. Other people really are too self-absorbed for their own good. It’s okay, though. I came here because I was after All Might, but it looks like I have some time to kill. I get to blow off a little bit of steam while I wait. And I’ll warn you one last time— don’t move. The second you move, I’m killing her. Got it?” 

“Let her go,” Katsuki asks, or rather, pleads . “Just… just let her go. I don’t give a fuck what you do to me. Let her go first. Don’t hurt her. Don’t do it, just—” 

“If you move, she dies,” Shigaraki repeats once more, then he smiles cruelly before uttering a single word, which is more than enough to make your heart drop. “ Nomu .” 

The creature appears almost instantly. With Aizawa completely out of commission, it has no more reason to stay put. It can move freely again, and it stops right in front of Katsuki, staring him down with that disturbing, seemingly permanent smile on its face. 

No. 

There’s absolutely no reason why Katsuki should fight that thing. He can easily avoid it, using his explosions to propel himself into the air and rapidly clear distance. Aizawa was out of options, because the Nomu was simply too fast for him to keep up with, but Katsuki can at the very least get himself to safety. In fact, he could have already left by now. If he wanted to, he could rejoin Thirteen and the others in the blink of an eye. 

But he won’t, will he? He won’t take a single step forward, or even raise his arms to defend himself. He won’t do any of that. 

All because of you . 

Katsuki looks over at you, with a mixture of regret, guilt, and fear. He’s not afraid for himself, though. That’s not the expression of someone who’s terrified for his own wellbeing. It’s an expression laden with pain, as if he blames himself for what’s happening to you. 

Bakugou Katsuki is obsessed with victory. Since the moment you met him, that’s what’s constantly been on his mind. And yet, right now, you see none of that. There’s nothing that implies he wants to defeat the Nomu and prove how powerful he actually is. He doesn’t see this as a challenge, the way he normally would. He doesn’t even have any fight left in his eyes. 

Right now, for the very first time ever, Katsuki is prioritizing saving someone over winning. 

Perhaps at the cost of his own life. 

The last thing you see, letting out a scream so violent that your vision turns white, is Katsuki standing motionless as the Nomu’s fist descends upon him. 

Chapter Text

You can’t seem to remember how to breathe. 

Shigaraki holds you closely against him, hand still locked around your throat, ready to decay you at any given moment. You can’t escape. It’ll only take a split second for his Quirk to activate. Perhaps, if Aizawa was still conscious and able to fight, you would have been somewhat comforted by his erasure ability, but there’s no chance of that happening now. He might not even be alive anymore. The Nomu threw him so brutally that you wouldn’t be surprised if it killed him. 

Aizawa might be dead, the other students that got scattered by Kurogiri’s warp gates might also be dead, and at the rate things are going…

It’s only a matter of time until Katsuki dies too. 

The scene is beyond brutal. It’s so horrific and nauseating that you can’t even put it into words. Shigaraki ordered Katsuki not to move. He told him that any movement would result in your life coming to a swift end. The Nomu might be absurdly strong, but with Katsuki’s explosions, you’re positive that he could have outmaneuvered it. He could have evaded most—if not all—of its attacks. Bakugou Katsuki may be an asshole, but as much as it pains you to admit, he’s a prodigy. Especially when it comes to fighting. He’s so talented, so resilient, that his battle sense is second to none. 

None of that matters, though. None of it matters if Katsuki isn’t trying to evade. He’s just standing there, allowing himself to be beaten into a bloody pulp. All because of you. It’s your fault that this is happening. 

As much as you fear death, truth be told, it would probably be better for everyone if you took your last breath.

But that’s the thing about fear. Even though you know you should admit defeat and let Shigaraki kill you, so that at least Katsuki can start fighting back, you still can’t bring yourself to follow through with it. You’re too scared. You’ve always known that being a hero is an incredibly dangerous job, but this ? It’s just too much. Too much has already happened to you, and you’re starting to wonder if you’re just a magnet for danger. If your very existence is sinful, somehow. 

The thought almost sounds too cruel to believe, but really, how else could you explain any of this? It keeps happening. Over and over again, history repeats itself, except it seems to get worse every time. There’s a limit to how much things can escalate. At a certain point, there’s no way to go any further. 

…fuck. This really is the end, huh? 

You choke back another sob as the Nomu pummels Katsuki into the ground again. Katsuki is bleeding all over by now. He’s in almost as bad shape as Aizawa was, before he got tossed aside. There’s blood leaking down his face, from his lips and his nose, and his limbs are trembling all over, as if they’re so damaged that he barely has control of them anymore. Anyone else would’ve been ready to call it quits by now. They would probably have abandoned you, leaving you to die at Shigaraki’s hands, and honestly, you wouldn’t have blamed them. It’s only natural. When faced with such overwhelming pain, along with the threat of death, few are strong enough to willingly endure for someone else’s sake. That self-sacrifice is the very essence of a hero, but ironically, not all heroes actually uphold this standard. 

Katsuki, however, can . 

Sometimes you think he’s a horrible person. He says and does cruel things, with the intent of tearing others down. If not for his fighting prowess and desire to be number one, most would never assume he’s trying to become a hero. It seems completely and utterly contradictory. He comes across as far too selfish to ever play the part. 

So, then, why ? Why didn’t he abandon you right away? Your relationship is nothing short of terrible. He’s shamed you so many times that you’ve lost count by now—including publicly. He always tells you that you make him sick. He tells you how disgusted he is by you, your Quirk, and the fact that you continue to stick by Izuku’s side. He makes it seem like he despises you, all the way down to the depths of your core. 

You don’t understand why he’s going this far. It’s enough already. He doesn’t have anything to prove to you. He doesn’t need to forfeit his life just to make a statement. Just for once, you want him to walk away from a fight. To admit defeat and put his wellbeing first for a change. 

“Katsuki, j-just leave,” you sob. “It’s fine. I don’t want you… to do this. I-It’s my fault for being so weak in the first place. Don’t do this. It’s okay, so please don’t do this. Just please stop…” 

There’s no response. You’re not sure if Katsuki even has the strength left to muster any words. He’s still conscious, by sheer force of will. The Nomu’s blows sound so gut-wrenchingly heavy that you squeeze your eyes shut every time a strike lands, but still, Katsuki hasn’t passed out. 

You see it then. Just barely, through all the thick, dark red blood obscuring his expression. You see Katsuki staring at you, eyes nearly swollen shut from all the damage. His face is such a bloody mess that you’re not sure how you can even tell that he’s looking at you right now, but somehow, you just know . 

Finally, he speaks. 

“I’ll save you,” Katsuki mumbles hoarsely. “I’ll save you, so… don’t cry. I don’t need you to cry over me. It’ll be fine. I’m going to win .” 

Your vision momentarily turns white. His words elicit such shock, such disbelief, that for a split second, your soul seems to dissociate from your body. 

But then, all too suddenly, you return to reality. 

The Nomu slams Katsuki to the ground and breaks all of his limbs. 

He does his best to muffle his pain, but the cry he lets out is positively bone-chilling. His arms and legs are completely shattered now. Even if he were to create explosions, he wouldn’t be able to redirect himself or land to safety. For the first time, as far as back as you’ve known him, he’s absolutely powerless. He’s trapped, with nowhere to go. He’s not even going to die a heroic death, which is what he would’ve wanted. In his final moments, he was essentially held hostage and tortured. Forced to become a disgusting monster’s plaything. 

Oh. Okay. It’s… enough now. I’ve had enough. 

A few more tears roll down your cheeks, and then you go completely still. 

“Wow. He likes you even more than I thought he did,” Shigaraki cackles, turning his head towards you. “He’s seriously willing to be thrown around like a ragdoll—” 

A foolish move on his part. He shouldn’t have gotten so close to you. He shouldn’t have let his guard down and acted so carelessly. It’s obvious that he had absolutely no clue what kind of Quirk you have. He didn’t even stop to consider it. He saw you as weak, and nothing more. He must’ve thought you would be too scared of dying to even think of retaliating. 

Just a few moments ago, though, you made up your mind. When Shigaraki turned his head, you turned your head as well. You reacted instantaneously, fast enough so that the first thing he saw was your blank, soulless face staring back into his. If he wasn’t so caught up with ridiculing Katsuki, he probably would’ve gotten the jump on you. But it’s too late now. 

Your lips are pressed against his. 

He did you a favor by removing his mask earlier. That sickening, embalmed hand, which was shielding him from your Quirk. It was acting as a barrier between you, but now, he’s every bit as vulnerable as you are. And you’re not sure if it’s the effect of your Quirk, or pure bewilderment on his part, but he seems to be frozen in place. His fifth finger has yet to connect with your skin. 

This kiss is easily the worst you’ve ever had. His lips are slightly dry, and they feel wholly unpleasant to the touch. You hate having to do this. You hate that this is the way it always has to be. Not only are you kissing a villain, but you’re kissing the villain that was just torturing Katsuki a minute ago. You're kissing a cruel, sadistic bastard of a man—who’s every bit as much of a monster as the Nomu itself. 

It doesn’t matter how I feel. 

Your eyes well up with more tears. It’s true. Fuck shame at this point. You’re still alive, by some stroke of luck. He’s either already charmed by you, or he’s too shocked to process what just happened, but you couldn’t care less about the details. You were fully prepared to die just now, if it meant having a chance at saving Katsuki’s life. But maybe… maybe there’s a way for both of you to survive. 

Shigaraki stares back at you, wide-eyed, as you glare at him with pure, unrestrained hatred. “Let Katsuki go. Tell that Nomu thing to stop hurting him. I’ve seen that it only listens to your orders, so tell it to stop. Do it. NOW!” 

So far, if nothing else, your Quirk hasn’t failed you. As much as you hate this godforsaken thing, it’s the whole reason you survived your encounter with Dabi, and it’s the only reason Shigaraki hasn’t killed you yet. It isn’t all-powerful, but if used properly, it can be strong. 

Strong enough to render even the most heinous villains completely powerless. 

“Nomu,” Shigaraki says, swaying unsteadily on his feet. His vision looks hazy, unclear, and it allows you to tear his hand off your neck, effectively freeing you. “Nomu, that guy… let go of him. Stop attacking. Right now.” 

It listens. You figured it would, because it hasn’t been shown to make any decisions of its own thus far. Shigaraki’s Quirk is terrifying enough, but the Nomu is arguably the most dangerous enemy here. If you can restrict its movements by keeping Shigaraki under your control, then maybe there won’t have to be any casualties. Maybe there’s a way to escape this, after all. 

That being said, it’d be stupid to take any chances, and as things stand, you’re nowhere near being safe. 

So, you kiss Shigaraki again. You’re not sure whether it makes a difference or not, but the last time you tried issuing multiple commands, back during the Battle Trial, it didn’t work. Katsuki collapsed onto his knees and didn’t react to anything you said beyond that. Your Quirk might require one kiss per command, which would explain why Katsuki didn’t obey every single thing you said. 

“Now,” you instruct, doing your best to maintain a firm, clear voice. “Now you’re going to leave. Order all of the villains you’ve gathered here to stop attacking. You’re going to leave this place, and immediately afterwards, you’ll turn yourselves into the police.” 

“...” 

No response. Shigaraki isn’t saying anything, and you can’t tell whether that’s a good sign or not. His eyes still look somewhat glassy, which is reassuring. Maybe the command was too complicated? Maybe getting them to turn themselves in is a hopeless pursuit. In that case, you’ll try again, and this time, you’ll only focus on one thing at a time—

“What did the fuck did you just do?” 

You pull back in a hurry. Fuck. That’s bad. That’s really, really bad. Shigaraki is pressing a palm against his head, grimacing as if he’s just developed a migraine. A second ago, he looked like he was stuck in a trace, but all of a sudden, he’s lucid again. He’s slowly regaining control of himself. 

What happened? The last time you kissed Katsuki, he was so dazed he couldn’t even move afterwards. He was completely and utterly incapacitated. Maybe it has to do with the specifics of the command you gave him, or maybe it’s more than that… but you can’t figure out exactly what. 

Thinking can come later. You just barely managed to get the Nomu to stop attacking Katsuki. Before Shigaraki can fully return to his senses, you muster all your strength and run over to Katsuki’s limp, bloody body. 

Oh, god.

You swallow, biting back a whimper. He looks even worse from close up. He finally passed out, too. The pain of having his limbs brutally shattered was too much for even him to stay conscious through. There’s blood leaking through the shirt of his costume as well. The Nomu must have hit him hard enough to break his ribs. If by chance his ribs punctured a lung, then he’s already in near-lethal condition. He needs emergency treatment—and fast . 

“Katsuki, please don’t give up,” you sob, crouching down so that you grab hold of his torso and slowly drag him towards the staircase. All the while, the Nomu merely stands there, motionless, awaiting another order from Shigaraki. 

Speaking of…

“What the fuck did you do?” Shigaraki asks again. He looks like he’s officially back to normal, and in place of his prior confusion, all that remains is sheer, unrepressed rage . 

You don’t respond. Tears keep pouring from your eyes, and you cry out, pitifully, desperately hoping that someone might help.There’s a group of students still trapped at the top of the staircase, but Kurogiri is blocking their path. Nobody can get to you from this distance. You’re still in just as much danger as you were before. 

“You kissed me, you dirty little bitch,” Shigaraki seethes. He takes a deep, uneven breath, then places the embalmed hand back on his face. Somehow, he’s even scarier when his expression is hidden. It’s even worse not knowing what swarm of emotions he must be feeling right now. 

You’re so terrified that your heart feels like it’s about to explode. Even after all that, even after you somehow managed to catch Shigaraki off guard, the end result is still going to be the same. Your efforts weren’t enough. All you did was delay the inevitable. You should’ve bitten the bullet earlier on. If only you’d swallowed your fear in time, then maybe Katsuki wouldn’t have gotten hurt so badly. He would still be conscious right now, able to fight. 

Why, just why… 

Why can’t you ever do anything properly? 

You keep trying to drag Katsuki’s body along, but he’s completely unconscious, so your arms feel like they’re being weighed down by lead. Shigaraki has already uttered the fateful, decisive word. You heard him say Nomu again. There’s no getting away. Even if you weren’t carrying Katsuki’s body, the Nomu is at least ten times faster than you. 

That’s why, instead of trying to run, you grit your teeth and hold Katsuki close, trembling uncontrollably. Your final moments will be shared with the boy you once adored. With the boy you—and Izuku—always looked up to. It’s true that your relationship went off the rails, but at least you’re not going to die alone. And even though you failed miserably, at least you tried to do the right thing. You fought for him, despite how weak you are. 

It’s okay. You’ll accept this. Besides… it’s not like you have much of a choice. 

The Nomu reels its arm back and prepares to strike. You squeeze your eyes shut and hug Katsuki with all your strength, bracing yourself for what’s about to come. Katsuki made it look so easy, enduring all those blows, but you know the same can’t be said for yourself. You’re going to wail out until your final breath. You’re going to choke on your own tears and beg to be spared, even though nothing will come of it. 

Please, at least give me a new life. A second chance. I promise I’ll be stronger next time. A new life, with a different Quirk, so that I can actually help people. Please. 

…ha. What a silly, unrealistic wish. Of course it would never come true. It sounds like something straight out of a fantasy novel. Death is death. There’s no changing it. It simply is . 

But for some people, people that live awful, agonizing lives, death is in fact a mercy. 

You will inevitably discover that yourself. 

“GET AWAY FROM [NAME]!” 

There’s a sudden, ear-shattering outcry. Right before the Nomu’s fist connects with your body, a loud impact can be heard. It’s as if a massive wall, or some kind of divider, prevented the Nomu’s attack from landing. You don’t feel any of the pain you were expecting. And that voice just now, although frantic and so loud that you could hardly make out the words, sounded awfully familiar. 

When you open your eyes, Izuku is standing in front of you, with his fist pressing into the Nomu’s stomach. Based on how forceful the attack was, he must have used One For All just now, but surprisingly, his arm isn’t broken. He managed to keep his limbs intact this time. 

Unfortunately, the Nomu is completely uninjured. 

“What was that just now?” Shigaraki scoffs. “Super strength? That reminded me a little bit of All Might, if I’m being honest. I mean, it was a pretty decent punch. On anyone else, it might’ve worked. Too bad your opponent is Nomu. Also, get the hell out of the way. I’m really pissed off right now. That girl thought it’d be funny to mock me by kissing me out of nowhere. I need to have a word with her. Before Nomu smashes her skull into pieces.” 

Izuku hastily steps back, and for a split second, he glances towards you. He sees you sobbing while holding Katsuki’s bloody, unconscious body in your arms. You’re cradling him so gently, as if he’s precious to you. 

Didn’t you already cast him out of your life? Just the other day, you told him you never wanted to speak to him again. You professed that he no longer meant anything to you. Nothing at all. 

But here you are, still clinging to him. Even after you promised you wouldn’t. Not only that, but Izuku fully registered Shigaraki’s words just now. He heard the word kiss , loud and clear. 

Izuku’s eyes turn eerily dim. “[Name]. You actually kissed—” 

The door to USJ bursts open. And by bursts open, you mean that the door gets blown clean off its hinges, in such a loud, explosive manner that you can’t help but turn your head. Once you do, you start crying even louder. This time, however, you’re crying from relief . It turns out that using your Quirk on Shigaraki wasn’t pointless after all. You managed to stall, just barely long enough. 

All Might is here now. It’s all going to be okay. You’re safe. It sounds almost impossible to believe, but you really, truly are safe. 

You bury your face against Katsuki’s shoulder as you cry, ignoring the scent of his blood and how it stains your skin, sticks to your hair, and mixes with your tears. Once again, you’ve somehow managed to evade death. As long as All Might is here, everyone can be saved. Some of your classmates, like you, have started sobbing even louder from overwhelming relief. 

Izuku is the sole exception to that rule. You can’t see it while you cry in the crook of Katsuki’s neck, but he’s the only one. The only one whose expression hasn’t lit up or taken a turn for the better. 

He wishes All Might wouldn’t have gotten here so fast. He already planned on protecting you regardless. He successfully intercepted the Nomu’s attack, and if necessary, he would’ve picked you up and used One For All to propel both of you to safety. If All Might was going to show up, he could’ve at least waited a bit more. Just a little longer. 

Long enough for Katsuki to die. 

Chapter Text

“It’s alright now. Because I am here!” 

Uttering his trademark catchphrase, All Might practically blinks over to you, picking you, Izuku, and Katsuki up in his arms. He carries all three of you to a safe spot, towards the other side of the base of the staircase, away from the villains. He can’t afford to take his eyes off Shigaraki or the Nomu, but for a split second, he glances down and is forced to take in the state of Katsuki’s mangled body. 

For the first time that you’ve seen him, possibly ever , All Might isn’t smiling. 

“Young Bakugou,” he mumbles sadly. “He’s in desperate need of treatment. It’s my fault for not having come sooner. All of the blame falls upon me.” 

You sniffle, cradling Katsuki even closer to your heart. No, All Might is wrong. This situation isn’t his doing. Katsuki only ended up like this because of you . He would’ve been just fine on his own, and despite how badly you yearn to absolve All Might of his guilt, you’re too grief-stricken to do anything but quietly sob. 

Meanwhile, Izuku merely stares at you. His emerald eyes are wide, unblinking, and although he does his best to hide it in front of All Might… 

His gaze is filled with contempt. 

“Young Midoriya, Young [Name],” All Might says. “Look after Young Bakugou and head towards the entrance together. Aizawa is unconscious as well. I leave both of them in your care. Now, please, hurry!” 

Izuku clenches his jaw slightly, but doesn’t protest. With his help, you’re finally able to make some progress with moving Katsuki’s body. In fact, he insists on carrying Katsuki himself for some reason. He slings Katsuki over his back and holds onto him firmly, making a point of having you touch him as little as possible. As for Aizawa, you both pick him up into your arms and slowly carry him together. You thought that he would be in terrible shape, but by comparison to Katsuki, it’s a significant step up. He actually got lucky that the Nomu tossed him aside earlier. It was a much better fate than being repeatedly mauled. 

All Might is fighting the Nomu now. Although you’re almost too scared to even watch, curiosity gets the better of you, so you end up turning your head while carrying Aizawa up the stairs. Sure enough, All Might and the Nomu are locked in an intense battle. It’s a bit concerning that the creature doesn’t appear to be taking any damage, but the Symbol of Peace will surely find a way to win. He always does.

What you end up fixating on, however, is not All Might, or the Nomu, but rather, the other figure standing nearby. 

Somehow, even with the embalmed hand covering his face, you get the feeling that Shigaraki is staring directly at you. 

“[Name], let’s go,” Izuku insists. “We can’t afford to waste any time. The longer we stick around here, the more we’d just be getting in All Might’s way.” 

“Yeah… I know.” 

Shigaraki hasn’t moved. He hasn’t so much as turned his head a single inch. He’s still staring at you, with those hateful, blood-colored eyes of his. It’s the last time you’ll look back over your shoulder. The very last time you’ll gaze upon him, hopefully for the rest of your life. 

“I didn’t mean to do it,” you mumble, and although your voice is faint, Shigaraki can just barely read the words upon your lips. “I didn’t want to. I never asked for a Quirk like this. I hate it. I just hate it…” 

His eyes widen. 

By some miracle, you’ve succeeded in evading death yet again.

Luck . In the end, it all came down to luck, and there’s simply no denying it. You got incredibly lucky when Izuku showed up right before the Nomu was about to kill you and Katsuki, and even luckier when All Might burst through the door. Your Quirk may have briefly worked on Shigaraki, but it was nowhere near enough to guarantee a victory. 

You would have died. There’s no nicer way of putting it. Just… death. 

Nothing more, nothing less. 

But you didn’t die. This is the third time you’ve survived horrible, unforeseen situations. At first, you thought you had terrible luck for ending up in those situations to begin with, however, your rationale has since changed. It’s not that you’re unlucky. Quite the contrary, in fact. You are lucky. You must be the luckiest person in the world, to still be alive after everything that’s happened to you. So, it’s not that bad luck is the source of all your misfortune. You can’t possibly blame it on something so abstract. 

The reason you continue to lose, the reason you repeatedly find yourself with seemingly no escape, is because you’re weak . 

Your weakness is to blame for all of this. Some might say that there’s no point in beating yourself, and that you couldn’t have predicted villains would break into USJ. That’s true, of course, but it still doesn’t change the root of the problem. If you were stronger, you could have held up an actual fight against Shigaraki. You wouldn’t have found yourself in the Nomu’s clutches so easily. You could have fought bravely, valiantly, and prevented Katsuki from getting hurt in the process. In an ideal world, that’s what would have happened. 

…you aren’t living in the world of your dreams, though. Which means you have only two options. 

One: become strong enough that you can actually fight to ensure your survival, instead of always needing someone to save you. 

Or two: give up on becoming a hero for good. 

Your gaze darkens, becoming more vacant, more discouraged, more empty than ever before, because at this very moment, you find yourself leaning towards the second option. 

It’s late. A lot happened today, and the police had to be called, among other things. Even though Shigaraki escaped, the police were at least able to retrieve the Nomu and take it into captivity. Something good came of this horrible incident, after all. You hope a group of scientists can do their research and figure out what the hell that thing actually is . Even if the answer they stumble upon is bound to be unpleasant.

Most students have already gone home by now, except you, Izuku, and Katsuki. And the reason those two stayed behind was certainly not by choice. Izuku was in need of treatment. He didn’t break his limbs initially when he saved you, but later on, while attempting to cover All Might, it happened. He’s in the infirmary now, alongside Katsuki. You haven’t been able to check on either of them yet. You’ve been waiting for Recovery Girl’s go-ahead.

“...oh. You’re still here.” 

Speaking of, Recovery Girl just stepped out into the hallway. You’re sitting on the ground, cross-legged, with your back to the wall, but the moment you see her, you practically shoot upright. 

“What happened?” you ask, frantically. “Are Izuku and Katsuki okay? And what about Aizawa and Thirteen? They looked like they were injured really badly too. How is everyone doing?” 

“Thirteen will be alright, and although Aizawa acquired enough damage to end up with some lasting injuries, it’s nothing life-threatening,” she says. “It’ll make his Quirk a bit more difficult to use, however. Midoriya is also fine. All of the damage he sustained was self-induced, and much less severe by contrast.” 

Huh? She only mentioned… three people.  

“I’ve already moved the rest of them to a different room. As for Bakugou,” Recovery Girl mumbles, eyes tinged with sympathy, “Well… it’s probably better that you see for yourself.” 

She slides the door open without another word. There’s a weight in your chest, so heavy it almost doesn’t feel real , as you take a hesitant, wavering step forward. The room is deathly silent. You can't even hear your own breath, let alone the sound of anyone’s voice. The room is almost entirely empty, too. With the exception of the ash blond boy sitting in one of the beds. 

You take a few more steps. Katsuki isn’t moving his body, but you notice his crimson eyes flicker towards you, albeit lethargically. It’s an expression you’re not used to seeing him wear. He’s alive, of course, but it’s almost as if… as if…

As if he’s already dead inside. 

“Katsuki,” you gasp out, and you rush over to his bedside, heart still lodged in your chest. “H-How are you feeling? Are you still in pain? Does it hurt anywhere?”

“No,” is all Katsuki says. 

“No… as in it doesn’t hurt at all? You’re okay?” 

“Yeah. I’m fine.” 

He’s looking at you, just barely. Out of the corner of his eye, still without bothering to turn his head. He just continues to face ahead, shoulders positioned forward, low, as if even the act of keeping them steady is a burdensome task.  

Katsuki’s alive. 

You should be grateful for that simple fact alone. You know it doesn’t sound like much, but back at USJ, you were convinced you were going to lose him forever. Even if you managed to survive somehow, you weren’t sure he’d make it through. He’s in a terrible condition, undoubtedly, but the alternative could easily have been worse . Being able to speak to him like this is a miracle in itself. 

“Katsuki, I—” 

“That boy’s life may have been saved, but I’m going to tell you exactly what I told him,” Recovery Girl mutters gravely. “He was exposed to extreme, destructive violence at that creature’s hands, for a prolonged period of time. Unlike Midoriya’s wounds, which were a relatively clean break, as usual, some of this boy’s bones were essentially pulverized. His body will never appear as it was before, and scarring aside, I wasn’t able to get him back to perfect condition either. I did everything I could, but the damage was far too severe.” 

You stare at her in disbelief. “So, what… exactly are you trying to say?” 

Recovery Girl sighs. 

“[Name], part of his body no longer functions normally. He can’t move either of his legs, and only one of his arms is still mobile. In his current condition, it’s impossible for him to become a hero.” 

And that’s it. Just like that, your soul shatters into a million pieces. The fragments split apart, too small to be grasped or put back together. You can feel the light inside of you fading into nothingness. Everything is dark all of a sudden, and a sudden memory comes to mind. From many, many years ago—when Katsuki and Izuku were still friends. 

“I’m going to become the Number One hero someday! I’ll be even stronger than All Might!” 

There’s an image before you, of Katsuki raising his All Might figurine towards the sky and posing victoriously, while you and Izuku applaud him without abandon. You remember the way Katsuki smiled, so bright, earnest, and free. He was filled with so much hope and ambition. All those years that you and Izuku drifted apart from him, but the one thing that never changed was his desire to become the very best. To engrave his name into the history books. 

But now, it’s all been taken from him. He has nothing anymore. No friends, no happiness, no dreams…

Absolutely nothing. 

You clamp a palm over your mouth, desperately stifling the urge to gag. Your vision has just turned violently blurry. You’re seeing shapes that distort and blend together, instead of distinct images. Everything just feels wrong . So completely and utterly wrong, in fact, that you don’t even realize that you’re already crying.

Why? Just why…? 

You don’t have a good relationship with Katsuki. Not long ago, you were ready to never speak a word to him ever again, but how can you possibly turn away in a moment like this, knowing that everything has been taken from him? He risked his life to protect you. If he hadn’t done exactly as Shigaraki said, you would be dead right now. Despite all the times he was cruel to you, when it mattered most, he did act like a hero. He proved that this is what he’s meant to do. 

And now, just like that, it’s over? 

How the fuck is that fair? 

Recovery Girl makes a pained face as she turns away. “I’ll give you two some space. Let me know when you’re ready to leave. I need to contact that boy’s parents and properly convey the situation to them.” 

She shuts the door behind her. For a few seconds, you hear the sound of her cane tapping along the ground, but soon, it fades into the distance.

It’s only you and Katsuki now. 

“Stop crying,” he says, but there’s no hostility to his voice. None of his usual anger, or annoyance, or gruffness. It’s the voice of defeat. And acceptance.

The voice of someone who’s already given up. 

“K-Katsuki,” you sob, leaning your head against his shoulder as you bury your face into the palms of your hands. “I’m so, so sorry—” 

“Just stop. I don’t need your apologies. It’s not like you even have anything to apologize for. Those villains were stronger than me. I lost. That’s… all there is to it.”

Katsuki does his best to keep a straight face, but when you lift your head to look at him, you notice his bottom lip trembling. He’s trying—and failing—to bury his frustration as deep as it can possibly go. Even in a time like this, he refuses to let you see him being vulnerable. He would rather endure the pain, all alone, then let anyone know that he’s suffering. 

…no. There’s no way. There’s no way Bakugou Katsuki , of all people, would ever give up. Surely there has to be a solution. Someone like him, with so much talent, so much passion, can’t possibly be forced to accept such a miserable reality. This isn’t the end for him. You won’t let it be the end. 

“Recovery Girl might be wrong,” you insist, hurriedly wiping the tears from your eyes. You take a deep, shuddering breath and force yourself to calm down. “A second opinion might help. You need to speak to a bunch of different doctors and see what they say. I’ll go with you, if you want. I’m sure there’s a workaround. Plus, more and more advancements are being made in the realm of support equipment. It’s not like your Quirk doesn’t work anymore. Maybe we can find something that will help you—” 

“I said, stop . There’s no fix for this. My body doesn’t fucking work anymore, and I can’t do a damn thing about it. I might not even be able to walk ever again.” Katsuki chuckles bitterly, and you can see the heartbreak reflected within his eyes. “It’s over. Even I know when to quit. I’m not going to waste my time with stupid, unattainable goals. What’s done is done. Either way, I don’t regret it.” 

He finally turns his head all the way towards you, and at the same time, he places a bandaged hand on top of your own. You can feel his fingers shaking as he wraps his hand around yours, and you start sobbing all over again. 

“I don’t regret it,” Katsuki repeats. “Because at least you’re alive.” 

And so, you cry. There’s nothing else you can do but cry. It hurts. It honestly hurts so fucking much, and you can only imagine how much worse it must be for Katsuki. You regret everything. You shouldn’t have gotten angry with him and told him that you wanted him out of your life. If you’d known that he was still a good person underneath it all, you would never have poisoned him with such hateful words. 

It’s too late now, though. Too late for all of it. Having regrets won’t change anything. You know that, and yet, it doesn’t make the sensation any less suffocating or unbearable. 

You just keep crying. Over and over and over again.

A sharp, hasty breath. A hurried wipe of your eyes. Only to continue crying once more, with a hundred times more desperation than the last. 

Until, finally—

“Kiss me,” you hear Katsuki say. Naturally, the shock is enough to slow your tears to a halt, and you simply stare back at him, dumbfounded. 

“What?” you mumble. 

“Kiss me. Use your Quirk on me, I mean. You did it to Deku before, didn’t you? After the Battle Trial. You hypnotized him, controlled him, so that he didn’t have to feel the pain anymore.” Katsuki squeezes your hand again. This time, the gesture is so unsteady that you feel his desperation, even without any words. “Just do it. I don’t want to have to feel anything right now. I’m tired, so just… do it. Please.” 

As far back as you can remember, Katsuki has felt nothing but disdain towards your Quirk. Actually, no. Even that’s putting it lightly. He despised your Quirk with his entire heart and soul. It enraged him, drove him mad with frustration. In fact, the only thing he seemed to hate more than Izuku was the power you’ve been unfairly burdened with, since you were four years old. 

The fact that he’s practically begging you to use your Quirk on him right now, in spite of everything, tells you that he truly is broken.

And how can you deny a broken person their wish? 

“I’m not sure how much it’ll actually help,” you admit, voice dropping to a mumble. “I don’t know if it’ll make a difference or not, but it has worked before, so I’ll try it. I’ll do whatever I can if it eases your pain, even a little bit.” 

Katsuki nods, and you take that as your signal to go ahead. You’ve already been sitting on the edge of the bed, so all you need to do is lean a bit closer, gently cupping his face the closer you get. Your lips are now scarcely a few inches away from his cheek. It’s not a foolproof plan, but if the past is any indication, then—

“Not like that,” Katsuki glares. “Now’s not the time to half-ass it. If you’re going to do it, at least do it properly.” 

Using the only arm that he’s still able to move, he grabs hold of your waist and forcibly adjusts your position. You’re now facing him head-on, rather than at an angle, and the warmth of his breath seems to dance across your skin. His lips are looming ever-closer. You know exactly what he wants. You know what he wants, and despite the embarrassment you feel, you’re in no position to refuse. He saved your life. At the very least… you owe him this much. 

Katsuki presses his lips against yours. The kiss is gentle, by far the gentlest kiss you two have ever shared. It’s nothing like the last time he kissed you. It carries none of the spite and anger you’re used to feeling from him. 

Still, you continue crying, because even if the kiss isn’t aggressive, it breaks your fucking heart. 

Within a few moments, you’ve already pulled away from him. Katsuki bites down on his lip, hoping to hide his disappointment. Meanwhile, you’re thinking through what you should say. What command should you give him, to put him at ease for a little while and take away his pain? Maybe you should try something similar to what you did during your first meeting with Shouto. You can’t quite remember the exact words, but you have a vague recollection of how it went. 

Right as you’re about to charm Katsuki and put him in a trance, your eyes widen. 

There’s… a screen in front of you. And not the familiar wall of text that you’re used to seeing. 

SYSTEM UPDATE:

[Congratulations, player! You have met the necessary conditions to unlock your new ability, Angel’s Kiss ! This ability can be used to heal the most recent person that you’ve kissed, but keep in mind, its effectiveness will vary. Give it a try and see how it goes!]

[Use Angel’s Kiss on Bakugou Katsuki?]

>>[YES]

It’s by the far the fastest selection you’ve ever made. You didn’t even have to think it through before activating it. You’re holding your breath, reminding yourself not to get your hopes up too much. Recovery Girl already healed Katsuki herself, and she’s widely hailed as the best nurse there is. There’s no way you can possibly compete with such an amazing Quirk, but if by some chance, just maybe …

Perhaps you can finally be of use after all. 

Light engulfs Katsuki’s body. It’s so bright that you can hardly see what’s happening, but you can vaguely feel movement, and you get the sense that he must be glancing around, trying to pinpoint the source. Ultimately, though, he doesn’t manage to decipher it on his own. And by that point, the light has already died down. 

“What the hell was that?” Katsuki blinks, completely bewildered. “Hey, you saw that too, right? It was—” 

He stops mid-sentence. You’re not sure why at first, but then you notice him slowly raising his arm. And not the arm that he was using until now. His other arm. 

The arm that he supposedly couldn’t move anymore. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki blinks repeatedly. He doesn’t seem to understand what’s going on, and rightfully so. Last he checked, he couldn’t move most of his limbs. Recovery Girl essentially told him to give up on his dreams. Even with all his resilience and determination, reality can be cruel. Some disadvantages are impossible to overcome. They can’t be fixed, no matter what. 

Katsuki was prepared for a bitter, unfulfilling life. Everything he’d ever wanted, everything he’d been working towards, ended up disappearing, just like that. The disappointment was immeasurable. He did his best to hide it in front of you, but truthfully, he couldn’t wait for you to leave, so that he could bury himself underneath mounds of blankets and quietly sob. 

At least, if nothing else… he was able to save you. That was the one thing keeping him sane amidst all this unfairness. He was too weak to do anything but be used as Shigaraki’s puppet, however, if he hadn’t done as Shigaraki instructed, you would have been dead by now. And if that were to happen, there’s no way he could’ve possibly gone on. Not a chance in hell. 

The thought of losing you forever is the only thing he fears more than defeat. 

As fate would have it, though, he didn’t lose you. In fact, not only did he not lose you, but his dream of becoming a hero, which already felt so far out of reach, has suddenly and inexplicably reappeared at his fingertips. 

“What the?” Katsuki mumbles, slowly rotating his arm, still visibly in awe. “A second ago… I couldn’t move this arm at all. It wasn’t reacting, no matter what I did. Wait—my legs. Holy shit. I can move my legs too. Seriously? Everything feels… exactly the same as normal.” 

To further emphasize his point, Katsuki shoves the blankets aside and steps out of bed. His movements are hesitant at first, as if he’s still testing the waters. However, it doesn’t take long for him to start walking around the room, without even the slightest limp or misstep. It doesn’t look like he’s in any pain either. As far as you can tell, he’s the same old Bakugou Katsuki you’ve always known. That prideful, confident boy who refused to ever back down from a challenge. 

Tears rise to your eyes. It’s the first time this has happened. The first time in your entire life that you’ve felt this way. Finally, after many long years…

You’ve found a reason to be grateful for your Quirk.

“Katsuki!” you cry out, and without warning, you throw your arms around him. He flinches—mostly from surprise—but doesn’t try to push you away. He just stands there, still at a loss for words. He might even be questioning if this is the real world, or some figment of his imagination. 

“I don’t understand,” he merely blinks, and his eyes meet yours, gaze uncharacteristically gentle. “I’m just… what ? A second ago, I couldn’t even move. I thought it was over. I thought I had no choice but to accept how shitty everything was and get on with my life.” 

“I know,” you sob, squeezing him tight. “I know, and it would’ve been unbelievably unfair. But it’s okay. You’re going to be okay now. I promise.” 

Other than the sound of you crying from sheer relief, the room falls silent. Katsuki still doesn’t seem to know what he’s supposed to say. He continues staring at you, though. He never looks away, not even once. 

Then, his eyes widen.

“Wait, was that you ?” he asks incredulously. “That weird light from earlier. It happened right after you kissed me. But that’s not even how your Quirk works. It just doesn’t make any sense…”

He’s not wrong. Generally speaking, Quirks can only do so much. Some Quirks are hereditary, while others may be entirely unique, but there’s still a limit for what can be achieved through them. On paper, a Quirk like yours, which provides you with more than one specific power, is an incredible rarity. It’s similar to Shouto’s in that sense, except… even more unheard of.

That being said, it’s not entirely surprising. When your Quirk first manifested, it presented itself to you as some kind of video game that allowed you to unlock more and more powers over time. Occasionally, you still get missions that allow you to hone your physical abilities, too. The ability to charm others isn’t your Quirk itself—it’s only a component of your Quirk. 

Which means that as much as you’ve resented your powers up until now, as much shame as they’ve brought you, this is only the beginning. 

You might have it in you to become an amazing hero after all. 

“It’s my Quirk,” you say, and although there are still tears in your eyes, you’re finally able to smile again. “I don’t really know how it happened, but I learned a new power just now. Normally, I can control someone after kissing them, but this time, it gave me the option of healing you instead. I wasn’t sure if it would even make a difference, considering Recovery Girl already did everything she could… but I had to at least try. And I’m really glad I did, because it worked. It actually worked, thank god.” 

Katsuki doesn’t even have the chance to respond, on account of the fact that you’re now hugging him even tighter than before. It doesn’t look like you have any intention of letting go. You’re embracing him with so much emotion, so much care and warmth, that it’s a miracle you can’t hear how fast his heart is beating right now. 

“I still don’t get it,” Katsuki simply mumbles, hoping the blush on his cheeks isn’t that noticeable. “I guess you did mention before that your Quirk is kind of like a game, with the screen that pops up and all that. But still. That nurse granny couldn’t even fix me, and she’s supposed to be the best healer there is. You made it look so easy. You brought me back to normal, just like that.” 

He’s right. It is unbelievable. 

You can’t act as if you’ve fully wrapped your head around it, but honestly, what does that even matter right now? The most important thing is that it worked. It worked, and Katsuki won’t have to live a life of broken dreams. You protected him. You saved him. 

After all, isn’t that what it means to be a hero? You’ve made excuses for yourself all these years, but if your Quirk truly is a force of nature, something that can go further beyond than you ever imagined, perhaps all of your doubt and self-loathing was worth it. Just the fact that Katsuki is able to walk right now, because of you , makes all of your former heartache insignificant. 

Izuku has gone most of his life feeling like a failure. Even though you were never Quirkless, you always felt that you had that in common with him. Midoriya Izuku, the crybaby, Quirkless reject, and you, the girl with a Quirk that practically everyone despised. The girl with a Quirk that seemed like it was good-for-nothing—ironically, exactly what Deku was supposed to mean. 

Just like Izuku eventually overcame his hardships and received acknowledgment from All Might, this may very well be your awakening of sorts. That pivotal moment in which everything finally changes. And to think you were so close to giving up on becoming a hero altogether… but no more of that. You’ve made up your mind now. You won’t stray from this path, no matter what challenges await. 

This is your start line. At long last, you’ve earned the right to stand alongside Izuku, Katsuki, and all of your classmates. You won’t be useless anymore, or weak, or so quick to despair. 

From now on, your life will change for the better.

You’re sure of it. 

“I’ll never let you be afraid like that ever again,” you promise, gazing firmly into Katsuki’s eyes. “I’ll get stronger. I’ll train more, so that I don’t always need to be protected, and if you ever get hurt, I’ll be right there to heal you. I can protect you from now on, Katsuki. Just like you protected me.” 

Katsuki finally pulls away from you, cheeks visibly red. “Th-The hell are you saying? I don’t need to be protected, idiot! Gross! Don’t you dare say such cheesy bullshit to me ever again!” 

“It’s not bullshit. I mean it,” you insist. “I know you’re a lot stronger than me, but even really strong heroes can get hurt sometimes. That’s why I’ll be there to help, in case you ever need a little bit of support. And you can win. Just like you always do.” 

It’s strange, really. If anyone else were to utter these words to him, he would surely interpret them as an insult. He’d accuse the other person of ‘looking down on him’, or whatever nonsense he usually spouts, despite it being the furthest thing from the truth possible. He couldn’t stand it whenever Izuku offered to help him in the past. It was enough to drive him absolutely insane. 

But not you. 

Never you. 

Katsuki has lashed out at you too many times to even count by now, however, even he can acknowledge that your words weren’t meant to belittle him. He hated when anyone else offered to help him—and even when you did it, he would still snap at you and insist he was fine on his own, but deep down, he was happy. He was happy that you cared about him. You’re the only person whose kindness and compassion he’s ever genuinely yearned for. 

The only reason he ever treated you poorly was because of Izuku. In the end, it always comes back to that insufferable, curly-haired bastard. He got angry with you whenever you defended Izuku. He got angry whenever you picked Izuku’s side. When you started distancing yourself from him more and more. 

You’re the only person in the world who will ever see him like this, so vulnerable and starved for love. 

And you’re also the only person in the world who will ever hear him utter these words. 

“...thank you.”

Huh? 

At first, you think your mind must be playing tricks on you. You assume it’s some kind of mirage, or a daydream. You’re hearing what you want to hear, even though you know damn well it would never happen in real life. 

But you’re not dreaming. You can’t possibly be dreaming. That’s the whole reason you were wailing earlier, cursing the world for being so cruel and unfair. You’ve already affirmed that this is reality. You knew it from the moment you first saw Katsuki’s broken, lifeless expression.

Those words just now weren’t a hallucination, nor were they a hopeless, romanticized ideal. 

Without a doubt, Bakugou Katsuki just thanked you. 

“I guess I shouldn’t bother making excuses, because I wasn’t good for anything this time,” Katsuki begrudgingly admits. “All I could do was stand around like a useless loser and hope that the villain leader wouldn’t go back on his word and kill you. It’s not like there was any guarantee he’d actually keep his promise. But I was too weak to figure out any other solution, so I had no choice. He had me backed into a corner, which means I lost. If not for you, I’d probably be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, so… yeah. Thank you. I was really—” 

He stops for a moment, quickly covering his eyes with the palm of his hand, but there’s no point in trying to hide it. You can see his lip quivering, too. You can hear a slight whimper; a crack in his voice. 

Still, he swallows his tears and forces himself to choke out the rest of his words. 

“I was really fucking scared,” Katsuki sobs. 

You smile sadly. Of course he was scared. Not that he’d ever admit it to anyone else, but it’s only natural to feel that way. It must be so tiring, constantly putting on airs and acting like nothing fazes him, when really, you know he’s battling a never-ending emotional storm. 

“I know, Katsuki,” you say, leaning in to hug him again. “I know. I was really scared too, so I can only imagine how you felt. But it’s okay now. And I should be the one thanking you. I could’ve easily died back there. You saved me. You really are going to be a great hero.” 

Katsuki sniffles, hurriedly wiping his eyes. “I told you to quit it with all that cheesy crap. It makes me sick.” 

“You don’t actually mean that, though, so I’m not going to stop.”

Silence, once again. This time, neither of you is crying, and if you listen closely enough, it’s almost as if your hearts are both beating in unison. 

Katsuki rests his hands in the groove of your hips, gently, but there’s a wistfulness to the gesture. His eyes are filled with melancholy. He looks like he’s in pain all over again, and you knit your brows together, trying to figure out why. 

Then—

“You said you hated me,” Katsuki says, practically whispering the words. His tone isn’t accusatory, though. More so… dejected. Heartbroken, even. “You told me not to talk to you anymore, and that you wanted me out of your life.” 

Your throat tightens. Right. You did say that, and at the time, you truly felt that it was the best course of action. 

How could you possibly stay true to those words, though? That was before you knew that Katsuki still had good left in him. Before he threw himself in harm’s way so that you wouldn’t have to suffer. 

You were ready to turn your back on him, but it seems that decision was premature. It turns out that you were wrong about a lot of things. Giving up on Katsuki, giving up on becoming a hero… you know better now. 

It’s time to start anew. 

“I don’t hate you, Katsuki,” you say. His fingers tense a bit, and you can feel him gripping onto you a bit tighter. His eyes aren’t quite as downcast anymore, either. He simply stares at you, gaze clear, awaiting your next words. “When I said that… I’m not even sure if I fully meant it, to be honest. I was just so frustrated. I was really frustrated, and upset, and I thought maybe it was time to move on. For a while, I thought you were the one who hated me. You always looked so angry whenever you were with me, and you said so many hurtful things. I just didn’t know where to go from there. Putting our friendship behind us felt like the only option.” 

“You didn’t mean it?” Katsuki presses. “You really didn’t mean it?” 

“No. Because I’m not even sure if I have it in me. I doubt I would ever be able to hate you, no matter what,” you admit. 

“Then why did you say it?” 

“Probably for the same reason that you also say things you don’t mean. Because I was angry. And tired. Really, really tired.”

He doesn’t try to argue with what you just said, which is the closest thing to an affirmation you’ll probably get. Yes, you’ve always known that Katsuki usually exaggerates the things he says, but at a certain point, it all started sounding so painfully real. You believed your relationship had officially fallen to ruin. It felt like there was no coming back from it. 

You’ve never felt so happy to be wrong . 

“I think another part of it was the guilt,” you continue, eyes flickering downwards, shamefully. “I always wanted to be friends with you and Izuku. The three of us together again, like when we were younger. But I know that’s probably never going to happen. I always felt guilty trying to defend you in front of Izuku, or vice versa. No matter what I do, it feels like I’m making a mistake. I know you don’t want me to spend time with Izuku, and Izuku doesn’t want me to spend time with you. There’s just no winning. So, I guess I’m going to be a bit more selfish from now on. Because I really don’t want to lose either of you.” 

Katsuki chuckles bitterly. “What do you even like about Deku anyway? Can’t you see it? He’s such a fucking creep—” 

“Stop. Just stop. I know how you feel about him, but it’s not going to change anything. I’m sorry for making you feel like I pushed you away up until now. I never stopped caring about you, but I get why you were upset that I always turned to Izuku instead of you. I’m going to try harder to be your friend from now on, but in return, can you promise me something?” 

“If you’re asking me to apologize to that piece of shit, then you can forget it. That’s the one thing I’ll never do,” Katsuki grits out. 

“No, not that,” you sigh. “I’m not an idiot. I know I can’t force you to suddenly get along with him again.” 

“Then what?” 

“It’s just… you weren’t like this before. You didn’t used to say such awful things to me, constantly. Lately, it started feeling like you were trying to hurt my feelings as much as possible. It all felt really intentional. Deliberate. I want to be your friend again, but not if you’re going to keep kicking me when I’m down and trying to humiliate me in front of other people.”

Once again, he doesn’t try to argue. Even he must realize how miserable he’s made you, on so many occasions. You can’t act as if you’re perfect, and that’s why you promised to be more considerate of his feelings from now on, but in order for a friendship to work, it has to be a two-way street. 

Which is why he finally hugs you back. 

“Okay,” Katsuki mumbles next to your ear. He leans close enough to rest his head against your shoulder. You can’t see what expression he’s making, and that’s probably by design. He’s too embarrassed to look at you right now. Too ashamed. 

“Okay… what?” you insist. 

“I mean, I won’t say shit like that anymore. Like you said, I was just angry. But it’s mostly other people who piss me off, not you. So, I’ll try not to take it out on you from now on. And for the record, I never hated you. Even if it seemed that way.” 

Finally. No, it’s not the resolution between Katsuki and Izuku that you always dreamed of, but at least it’s something. Maybe you can be friends with him again, properly, after a seemingly endless drought.

You don’t expect him to be perfect. After all, you’re not perfect either. But the fact that he said he’s willing to try is already a step in the right direction. 

Your eyes slowly close. Honestly, right now, all you want to do is keep hugging him for as long as possible. You don’t want this moment to end. Please, let it go on forever—

Ah. Nevermind. 

The door just opened. 

“...[Name]?” 

You turn immediately, although you already know who it is, based on the voice alone. Izuku is standing by the doorway, brows laced together in confusion. It takes a few moments to realize that you and Katsuki are still hugging, so you pull away with a sheepish, slightly guilt-induced chuckle. 

Katsuki clenches his fists and does his best to hide his disappointment.

“What… what’s happening?” Izuku asks, glancing between the two of you in disbelief. “I just spoke to Recovery Girl. She stopped by to check on me, and when I asked, she told me that Kacchan was in a really bad condition. Is everything… okay?” 

“Oh. Right,” you say, expression brightening. “Izuku, listen! My Quirk did something amazing just now!” 

“Quirk?” Izuku gasps. The word alone is enough to make him nauseous, because he knows all too well what comes next. “You mean—” 

“I was able to heal him! Even Recovery Girl couldn’t bring Katsuki’s body back to normal, but my Quirk had some kind of upgrade, and I healed him perfectly! He’s not in pain anymore, and he can move his body just like before. Look,” you babble excitedly, pulling away some of the bandages wrapped around Katsuki’s arms. “See?? I figured it’d be the case, but he doesn’t even have any scars. He’s all better now. My Quirk actually helped someone.” 

You bound over to Izuku, incapable of hiding your grin. As embarrassing as it is to brag like this, you can’t help it. You’re filled with an uncharacteristic sense of pride, and the feeling is so beautiful, so pure, that you yearn to cling to it for as long as possible. 

Until, inevitably, you remember that Izuku and Katsuki despise each other. 

“A-Anyway,” you stammer, taking a deep breath to compose yourself. “The point is, I think I can finally be useful from now on. As a hero, I mean. This seems like a really powerful ability. I’m just really excited that I can finally do some good for a change. I want to be able to save people, just like you.” 

Izuku doesn’t respond right away. He glances over at Katsuki, one last time, and there’s a strange pause. Maybe he’s collecting his thoughts? You’re not quite sure, but you can’t blame him for being confused. You could hardly believe it yourself earlier. 

“...that’s amazing, [Name],” Izuku finally says, and he smiles warmly, kindly, just as a hero would. “Wow. I honestly don’t even know what to say, but you’re right. That sounds incredible! Just think of how many people you’ll be able to help!” 

You bob your head enthusiastically. “I know, right? Oh—I just realized. You keep breaking your limbs every time you use your Quirk, but that means I can just heal you back to normal! Recovery Girl kept saying she was worried about you injuring your body so often. I agree that you shouldn’t be too reckless, but at least this way, you won’t have to worry about any long-term damage. I can support you so that you can train your Quirk more and learn to control it better!” 

Practically buzzing with excitement, you give Izuku a quick hug, then run out of the room in search of Recovery Girl, so that you can tell her the good news. She was saying Aizawa would end up with some scarring and permanent impairments, right? The injuries he suffered were detrimental to his vision, and therefore, his Quirk. Maybe you can test it out on him to see if your new ability truly is as incredible as it seems. 

God—you’re on cloud nine right now. You haven’t felt this overjoyed in years. It feels like you’re seeing the world through a whole new lens. Everything looks so much more vibrant and hopeful. 

To you , at least. 

“I’m glad you’re okay, Kacchan,” Izuku mumbles. He’s already turning towards the door, ready to follow you, but before he can take a single step forward, Katsuki chuckles coldly. 

“Ha,” Katsuki sneers, gaze brimming with hatred. “Don’t even bother with that bullshit facade of yours. You’re not glad I’m okay. Not even a little bit. I bet you’re pretty pissed off, actually. You probably wish I’d stayed crippled for life. At least have the guts to own up to it, Deku .”

A harsh, demeaning tone. It’s certainly nothing Izuku isn’t used to by now, but for so long, he cowered in front of Katsuki. He was always so quick to shrink back, or even cry, and it wasn’t until recently that things finally began to change. 

He isn’t Quirkless anymore. He was chosen by All Might , of all people. He was entrusted with One For All, an honor that even Katsuki can’t possibly fathom. If he knew the truth, it would surely send him into a jealous, desperate fit. 

Izuku isn’t scared of him. Maybe he used to be, but those days are long gone. He’s already proven himself, time and time again. 

Besides… the truth can be rather freeing. 

“You’re right,” Izuku says, and Katsuki watches, somewhat horrified, as Izuku smiles again. It’s such a bright smile. A genuine smile, unlike the one he threw on to deceive you earlier. “You’re right, Kacchan. You’ve always been smart, so I guess I shouldn’t try to lie to you anymore. I’m sorry, though. I really am sorry. I wish I didn’t feel this way. I wish I didn’t, but it’s not my fault. It’s your fault. For treating me terribly all these years. For bullying me and destroying my life for no reason. And… for constantly trying to take [Name] away from me.” 

Izuku’s smile stretches out even wider. 

“Next time, do us both a favor and just die, okay?” 

Chapter Text

You can’t remember the last time you felt like this. How long has it been, really? When your Quirk first manifested, you were absolutely thrilled—as most kids tend to be—but it didn’t take long for the illusion of happiness to fade. 

Everything became worse over time. People started avoiding you, gossiping about you, and the nature of your Quirk seemed ill-suited for a hero to begin with. It was all about control. Putting people in submission and dictating their next move. Granted, if used properly against a villain, you always believed it would be a worthwhile ability, but it didn’t exactly seem very heroic . Plus, factoring in the whole kissing aspect, which was more than enough to make people’s heads turn… yeah.

Much like how people called Izuku a fool for wanting to become a hero while he was Quirkless, you looked both foolish and shameless parading around with a Quirk like yours. 

However, at long last, things have changed. Things are different now. Izuku said it himself. Just imagine how many people you’ll be able to save with a power like this. Recovery Girl’s Quirk is already amazing enough, but yours was somehow able to surpass hers. 

It’s normal to be excited. It’s normal to feel proud. Yes, you probably shouldn’t get your hopes up, especially since things almost never go your way, but surely this is a sign. The turning point you’ve been so desperately hoping for. 

Thanks to you, Katsuki didn’t have to give up on his dreams. You saved him, right when he needed it most. 

If that’s not proof that you can be a hero, then what is? 

“Recovery Girl!” you exclaim, bursting into the room without warning. Katsuki was the only one resting in the infirmary when you went to see him. It looks like this used to be a storage area or something, but has since become a back-up nurse station. Instead of beds, there’s a sofa and a few armchairs strewn about. Aizawa and Thirteen are each sitting in an armchair, and their heads turn at the sound of your voice. 

“Try to keep it down, please,” Recovery Girl sighs. “Their injuries may not be as severe as that other boy’s, and I did finish treating them earlier, but they still need as much rest as possible.” 

“I’m sorry,” you apologize, but it’s almost impossible to suppress your grin. From Recovery Girl’s perspective, this must seem rather odd. Last she checked, you had just found out Katsuki was almost completely paralyzed. She left you with bleak, hopeless words, the likes of which nearly made your heart shatter. 

And yet, here you are. Looking happier than ever before. 

“Did you already contact Katsuki’s family?” you ask.

“I did,” Recovery Girl frowns. “I told them to get over here as soon as they can. I didn’t tell them the details over the phone, however. I thought it was a conversation that would best be had face-to-face.” 

“Okay, good.” 

“Good?” 

“I mean, it’s a good thing you didn’t tell them anything and upset them for no reason. They don’t need that kind of stress. Everything’s going to be fine now. I healed him. Katsuki’s okay.” 

The doubtful, slightly bewildered look Recovery Girl gives you isn’t surprising in the slightest. Everyone knows by now what kind of Quirk you have. After kissing someone, you gain the ability to control them for a certain period of time. It’s a strange power, which can’t be classified as offensive or defensive. It fits into a category all of its own. But it’s certainly not a healing-type Quirk. Not even close. 

Or so everyone—including you—once thought. 

You’re about to start rambling excitedly, but the sound of footsteps can suddenly be heard, approaching from behind. It looks like Katsuki and Izuku followed you. They’re actively avoiding eye contact with each other, as expected, but that’s not what’s important right now. 

Katsuki’s here. He’s here, walking around all on his own. He’s moving freely and unrestrained. Even though he shouldn’t be. 

Recovery Girl’s jaw drops open. 

“What in the world is going on…?” she mumbles, hurrying over to Katsuki’s side. You watch as she looks him over from head-to-toe. You removed some of his bandages earlier, exposing his unblemished forearms. There isn’t any scarring whatsoever, despite the fact that the Nomu shattered his bones, and he wasn’t even supposed to be able to move most of his body. 

“I healed him,” you say again, with a big, beaming smile. “Isn’t it amazing? Katsuki told me he feels good as new. He doesn’t have to worry anymore. He’ll be able to keep being a hero.” 

Recovery Girl glances over at you, still in stark disbelief. She reaches out and gently grabs Katsuki’s arm, applying a slight amount of pressure to it. He doesn’t flinch or react with any sort of discomfort, and when she asks him to make big, rotating motions, he does so with ease. 

Once again, Recovery Girl looks at you in disbelief. 

“I don’t understand,” she finally confesses. “I had already used my Quirk on him, and even that wasn’t enough. Since when did you have healing abilities? I thought your Quirk was control-based.” 

“Well… not exactly.” 

“How so?” 

“It’s kind of hard for me to explain my Quirk, but it functions in a number of different ways. When it first manifested, I saw this strange screen in front of me. It reminds me of a video game. There’s a visual component to it that only I can see, and every now and then, it gives me missions to complete that are supposed to enhance my strength. Technically speaking, charming people is only part of what I can do. A while ago, it said I was in the process of developing a new power… but it was still incomplete back then. I guess I was able to unlock it somehow.” 

All three of the adults present in the room—Recovery Girl, Aizawa, and Thirteen—look equally puzzled. In Aizawa’s case, he’s practically covered in bandages, so it’s a bit harder to tell, but you notice him scrunching his brows together. It’s clear that nobody was expecting this. Which, of course they weren’t. You weren’t even expecting this. 

Recovery Girl has no reason to doubt you, however. It’s not like you’d gain anything by lying, as bewildering as the situation may be. Either way, this is an incredible outcome. An outcome that nobody could possibly be unhappy with.

Unless, of course, that person wasn’t in their right mind. Say, for example, someone who was hoping for Katsuki to remain crippled. 

…but you obviously don’t know any people like that. 

“How are you feeling?” Recovery Girl asks, addressing Katsuki now. “Are you sure you don’t feel any lingering aftereffects? There may still be issues with your mobility, even if [Name] was able to heal you more effectively than I did. I understand wanting to be appreciative towards your friend, but it’s always best to be honest, no matter what.” 

“I’m fine,” Katsuki simply says. 

“Are you sure? Just to be safe, I’m going to have to give you another examination before you leave.” 

“Okay. But I meant what I said. I feel exactly like how I used to before I got injured. Thanks to [Name],” Katsuki adds, and when he looks over at you, his lips pull into a small smile. 

Meanwhile, Izuku bites down on his own lips to keep from screaming . 

“Alright, then. That’s good,” Recovery Girl says, heaving a sigh in the same breath. “Goodness, I think I nearly just had a heart attack. All of these emotional ups and downs aren’t good for someone my age. You’ll all put me into an early grave at this rate.” 

“I’m sorry,” you hum.

“You say you’re sorry, and yet, you’re smiling.” 

“I know. I’m just so excited right now! I still can’t believe I was actually able to help someone!” 

You’re grinning so hard you can feel your cheeks starting to hurt, and you’re even bouncing in place, giddy from the beauty of life. Recovery Girl chuckles softly. It goes without saying that she’s happy for you. And not just you, but all the people you’ll be able to save. It looks like she’s unintentionally found herself a successor. She can rest easy knowing that if anything happens to her, you’ll be able to take her place. 

“Oh, right!” you suddenly exclaim. “Actually, I wanted to try healing Aizawa, too. You said he’s okay overall but that his eye is a bit damaged, right? You said it would make his Quirk more difficult to use from now on.” 

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Aizawa brushes off. 

“But if I’m able to help you, then I should at least try, right?” 

Recovery Girl nods encouragingly. “I don’t see why not. Still, this is a new ability that you haven’t gotten used to yet, so make sure you don’t overdo it. You don’t know what kind of repercussions it might have.” 

It looks like you have the go-ahead, whether Aizawa insists on being stubborn or not. You happily bound over to him, and although kissing people normally makes you rather embarrassed (especially when you’re about to kiss your teacher, no less), oddly enough, you feel none of that right now. Besides, it's no different than what Recovery Girl does. People never judged her for it the way they judged you, however, because unlike your ability to control others, hers is beautiful. Selfless. Nobody would ever dare to speak ill of her Quirk because she does so much good with it.

Over time, you really hope that people come to see you the same way. 

“I’m going to help you, sensei,” you tell Aizawa, with a gentle squeeze of your hand, and a reassuring smile. He looks like he’s about to tell you there’s no need, but as you lean closer, his expression seems to soften a bit. 

Most of his face is concealed by bandages, but there’s a small patch of exposed skin, on his cheek, for you to quickly press your lips against. It’s a brief, chaste kiss. In other countries in the world, a kiss on the cheek is nothing more than a greeting. A polite, friendly gesture. You need to stop letting it upset you so much, because after today, it feels like you’re finally starting to come to terms with your Quirk. 

[Use Angel’s Kiss on Aizawa Shouta?]

>>[YES]

It’s the exact same screen prompt you saw when you healed Katsuki earlier. Despite what Recovery Girl tried to warn you about, you don’t feel any discomfort, not even a little bit. Nobody can use their Quirk indefinitely, because they’re bound to get tired after a certain point, but thankfully it doesn’t seem like your limit is anywhere within reach. You’re no more exhausted than you were before. You feel absolutely fine. Still beaming with joy, for that matter. And now—

[Error. This target has already been healed to maximum capacity. Angel’s Kiss will have no additional effect.]

…what? 

Your shoulders slump. Something went wrong just now, and you’re not quite sure why. What exactly does maximum capacity mean? Katsuki was healed by Recovery Girl too, but you were able to go beyond the limits of her Quirk and restore his body back to a perfect state. You’re not sure why the same thing isn’t happening with Aizawa. What did you do differently? Is it because you kissed Katsuki on the lips? Because there’s no chance in hell you’re about to smooch your teacher. 

“Sensei, do you feel any different?” you ask hesitantly—despite already knowing the answer to that question. 

Aizawa purses his lips. “Not really. But I wasn’t in any pain to begin with. Recovery Girl took care of that when she treated me.” 

“In that case, please excuse me.” 

You reach out, much to Aizawa’s surprise, and carefully remove some of his bandages. Based on what Recovery Girl told you, he should have a scar under one of his eyes, from when the Nomu brutally slammed his head against the ground. If his eyes are permanently damaged, it’ll limit the amount of time he can use his Quirk for. It’ll make it more difficult for him to fight and capture villains. Aizawa Shouta, also known as Eraserhead , is an incredible hero. The world needs more heroes like him, and you want to ensure his wellbeing, so that others can be saved as well. 

Or at least, that was what you wanted to do, but…

Unlike Katsuki, his scars haven’t disappeared. 

To be more precise, there’s only one scar, but it’s a large, noticeable one, directly underneath his right eye. The rest of his face looks relatively unharmed, which is a relief, but it doesn’t change the fact that your Quirk didn’t take effect. You were unable to heal him. 

But why ? 

Your gaze droops towards the ground, and in that moment, you remember. The screen clearly stated that your healing’s effectiveness would vary. Is it entirely random? Do you not get to decide how powerful it is? Or is there something more conditional, specific, that determines how effective it’ll be? 

“It didn’t work,” you mumble sadly. You feel briefly weighed down by dejection, but then you pick yourself up and smile again. “I’m sorry, sensei. Recovery Girl is probably right. This ability is still really new to me, so I haven’t gotten the hang of it yet. I’ll try again another time, once I know how to use it better.”

“It’s alright,” Aizawa reassures, and he smiles again, reaching out to pat you on the head. “Don’t worry about it. I appreciate that you tried for my sake.” 

Yeah. It really is alright. You’ve already decided to grow stronger, in as many ways as possible. Izuku’s still trying to get the hang of One For All. He’s in the same boat as you. Together, you’ll figure it out. You’ll both grow into your powers, one day at a time. 

You turn towards Izuku, offering a bright smile, and as expected, he smiles back at you. 

It doesn’t occur to you that his smile could ever be fake. 

School will be closed tomorrow. It wasn’t exactly an unexpected decision, considering what happened today. Not only is USJ in need of repairs after All Might’s fight with the Nomu, but U.A now faces the immense pressure of having to defend against any potential future attacks. Their security system, which they once prided themselves on, turned out to be useless. It couldn’t do anything to counter the threat. As shameful as it is to admit, they made a grave oversight, and the students nearly paid for their mistakes. 

Nobody died. That’s a victory in itself, you suppose. Today could have come to a much more tragic end. Even though you briefly thought Katsuki would be paralyzed for life, that would still have been better than death. You’re honestly not sure how you would have handled such a thing. You don’t even want to imagine it. 

Some time has passed, and after bidding goodbye to Katsuki, who still needed to be examined by Recovery Girl, you and Izuku went home. He was less talkative than normal, although you can’t really blame him. He must have been worried about you, even though you didn’t actually get hurt. His emerald eyes, which normally shine so bright, were laden with sadness. You could have easily died back there. If Izuku had been even a fraction of a second later to come rescue you, the Nomu would have torn you to shreds. 

A quiet, steady sigh leaves your lips. At least it’s all over now. Your parents smothered you with hugs the second you stepped through the door, while doing their best to choke back their tears. Izuku went to go see his mom right away. She was worried sick about him. You’re willing to bet she was even more emotional than your family. 

To be honest, it hardly even feels real anymore. You’re outside, just a short distance away from your house. It’s getting late, but you told your parents you needed to get some fresh air. There’s a park in the neighborhood, the same park you, Izuku, and Katsuki often played at back when you were kids. You’re sitting on one of the benches while staring up at the dark, starless sky. It’s sort of an out-of-body experience. Maybe the shock of what happened today is finally taking its toll on you after all. 

You hear the faint sound of a car slowing to a stop, but otherwise, it feels like the whole world is silent. You rub at your eyes and eventually turn around. The car you just heard is parked behind one of the trees, partially obscuring it from sight. At first, you don’t think much of it, but nobody steps out. The car just sits there, for some reason. It didn’t even pull into a driveway or garage.

Perhaps you’re reading into things too much. It must be the day’s horrific events, making you more paranoid than usual. Still, you’re getting a bad feeling all of a sudden, so you sit up from the bench and start walking briskly—in the opposite direction from where the car just parked. 

Your lips part so that you can make some noise and alert the neighbors just to be on the safe side, but regretfully, no sound escapes. 

Instead, you topple to the ground, having lost control of your body. 

“You’ll find it difficult to speak for a while,” someone says, voice devoid of empathy or concern. The moment the man speaks, you get a strange sense of deja vu. You swear you’ve heard that voice before. Somewhere, not too long ago… but you can’t for the life of you remember where . 

A cloth is forcibly stuffed in your mouth. Even if you wanted to form any words, you doubt you’d be able to. It’s like your jaw has gone completely slack, along with every single nerve in your body, which now refuses to cooperate. 

You can barely move. Even just blinking seems to take a tremendous amount of effort, eyelids falling shut slower than a turtle’s walking speed. Nevertheless, tears slowly fade into sight, and the man picks you up into his arms, holding you like a glorified ragdoll.

Even though you can’t fight back against him, from this position, you can see his face. And it’s not your first time seeing it either. He was there that day, in the alley. He was that other man’s accomplice. As a result of the trauma you endured, you even remember his name. 

“I acted on my own, but I think Kai will be pleased with my decision,” Kurono says, eyes cold and narrowed. “At the time, we had no idea you were training to become a hero. It’s a shame. We would have left you alone if not for that. Try not to take it personally. This is just… a case of terribly bad luck.” 

Kurono clamps down on your limbs like a vice, dashing any and all hopes you had of possibly escaping. You pray that someone is around to see this, but to no avail. It’s dark. And cold. Everyone is inside with their families right now. You shouldn’t have gone out on your own. You should have stayed right outside your house, at least. You thought that your neighborhood, if nothing else, the place you know like the back of your hand, would forever remain a safe haven.

But you suppose you should have known better. 

The car door opens, and Kurono tosses you into the back seat without another word. He shuts the door immediately after and enters the passenger side. You can hear him telling the driver it’s time to leave, but not much else. The car has already begun to move. Nobody saw you. Nobody even knows you’re being taken. 

Haha. Ha. 

For the first time in what felt like ever, you were actually optimistic. You thought your future would be bright from now on. At long last, you were ready to accept your Quirk, but of course, the moment that happened, something else had to go wrong. Just like it always fucking does. 

You don’t know what else to do. There’s nothing you can do. 

And so, you cry. 

Chapter Text

Why won’t it just end? 

Every now and then, you manage to blink, eyelids heavier than lead. More tears spill over your cheeks in the process of doing so. By this point, it feels like you’re drowning in them. Your body won’t react the way you want it to, so you honestly wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up choking on your own tears and biting the dust. What a pitiful fate that would be. To think that you survived the USJ encounter, only to literally cry yourself to death. 

But no, it seems you won’t get off quite that easy. You already know exactly where Kurono’s taking you. Not in the literal sense, as in location-wise, but you know who he’s taking you to. No doubt you’re being brought to that frightening, golden-eyed man. The man who watched your throat get sliced open, then somehow brought you back to life after the fact. 

This time, however, he’s definitely not going to do you any favors. He probably regrets saving you in the first place. He probably wishes he’d just left you there to bleed out on the cold, dirty ground. 

He’s going to finish the job tonight. That much, you’re sure of. 

Kurono’s Quirk clearly has something to do with slowing other people’s movements. You’ve been practically paralyzed until now. By some miracle, you just barely managed to move your hand towards your mouth, so that you could try to remove the cloth he’d stuffed in between your lips, but your hand went limp before long, and ultimately, you gave up. 

It’s not like it would even make a difference. So what if you temporarily regain your ability to move? Kurono would use his Quirk on you before you even have the chance to get close to him. Without kissing anyone to control them, you’re useless. That’s why you resolved to get stronger from now on. You finally felt like you had a purpose, a sense of direction, an actual fighting chance. 

Haha. Man, you’re so fucking stupid. 

As expected, your muscles still don’t work properly, and it’s not until the car finally reels to a halt that you finally feel like you’re regaining your strength again. Of course, it doesn’t matter. Kurono steps out of the car before you can even force the door open, and he shoves a bag over your head. The last thing you see is his cold, remorseless expression. You succeeded in getting the cloth out of your mouth, but wherever the hell you even are right now, it doesn’t seem like anyone can hear you. 

Pinning your arms behind your back so that you can’t wrestle free, Kurono shoves you forward, ignoring your frenzied, despaired wails. It’s too dark outside. You were just barely able to glance out the window, only for Kurono to obscure your vision immediately thereafter. You feel like you saw some kind of gate…? But apart from that, you have no other information to go off. 

There’s a buzzing, clicking noise. Definitely a gate, then. You feel yourself stumble, and you probably would have fallen over if not for Kurono holding onto you. Every few steps, your feet get tangled up, and you just cry even louder than before. 

Still, nobody comes to your rescue. 

You can tell that you’ve just entered a building. The asphalt beneath your feet turns into something softer, padded. It reminds you of tatami floors. Not that it helps you narrow down where the hell you are right now. And it’s not like you’re going to live to tell anyone the tale. 

The longer you cry, the more your energy depletes. Eventually, you just stop crying altogether. A numbness overtakes you, similar to when you made up your mind to kiss Shigaraki, even if it meant dying at the hands of his Quirk. 

You’re just so fucking exhausted. USJ was already traumatic enough. You even thought Katsuki would be paralyzed for life. You thought you’d have to live on knowing that he was going to have to give up on his dreams because of you. By some miracle, your Quirk evolved at just the right moment. At least… yeah. At least you were able to save Katsuki, if nothing else. You managed to do one good, heroic deed right before your pathetic life came to an end. 

There’s a long, descending flight of stairs. You continue stumbling through the darkness, and eventually, the stairs end, allowing the ground to even out again. No more tatami flooring, from what you can tell. It’s something solid and cold, a seemingly vast expense of concrete. The temperature has noticeably dropped too. It’s a bit colder down here then wherever you were before. 

Finally, a door opens, and you’re roughly shoved inside the room. The bag on your head is removed a split second later, but it takes you a while to adjust to the sudden influx of light, and to blink through your tears. 

You’re in an office, by the looks of things. It’s sparsely decorated, and just as you thought, the floors and walls appear to be made of solid concrete. You don’t see a single window in sight, but that doesn’t surprise you. Considering how long you descended those stairs for, this must be some kind of basement area. Somewhere completely hidden and cut off from the rest of the world. There’s no way anyone would ever find you here. 

A few more tears slowly roll down your cheeks, though not a single sound escapes your lips. You really have lost the strength to cry properly. Your theory was right, too. The room wasn’t empty before you stepped inside. A man sits at the desk in front of you, and at the sound of you entering, his gaze lifts ever-so-slightly. 

Dark brown hair, golden eyes, and a mask resting upon his face. It’s different from the simple dust mask he was wearing last time, though. This one is red and gold, fashioned in the likeness of those plague doctor masks commonly worn during the 17th century. It makes for an even more menacing picture. It sharply accentuates the cruelty of its wearer. A man whose full name you now know as Chisaki Kai . 

“I found the girl, Kai,” Kurono says, gesturing to you as if you’re some kind of offering. An object, at the very best. Something to be used and taken advantage of. 

Chisaki sighs irritably. “I didn’t tell you to actually bring her here. Why did you act on your own? You’re complicating things.” 

“I realize that, but you had previously told me to keep an eye on her. I followed her home and was able to pinpoint where she lives. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, I admit, but she was all alone. I’d been patrolling the neighborhood just to be safe. You saw the news about what happened at U.A earlier, right? The students were attacked by a group of villains. Even if she disappears for good, the authorities will likely assume that the League of Villains is responsible for it. There’s no reason why any of us should fall into scrutiny.”

So, that’s their plan. Sure enough, you have absolutely no idea who the hell any of them are, apart from the fact that they’re criminals in their own right. Honestly, though, it doesn’t matter whether the police conclude that the League kidnapped you or not. They have no other suspects to investigate. You doubt anyone thought you’d be snatched up just a short distance from your own home. You certainly didn’t. 

“It’s as good an opportunity as any,” Kurono insists. “Letting her roam free was simply too dangerous, now that she’s seen what you look like, and what your Quirk is capable of. Like you said, a civilian wouldn’t have mattered, but she’s training to become a hero. This would have caused needless problems down the road.” 

Chisaki slowly stands up, and your body instinctively starts trembling. Technically speaking, he saved your life. Yes, he allowed you to be killed in the first place, but he didn’t have to bring you back. He chose to do it. He must have thought your death would put him at risk of being discovered somehow. Through a single encounter alone, you already know this man to be meticulous, composed, and able to approach any situation with chilling detachment. 

He saved your life. That’s a fact. 

But so what ? 

Kurono’s words have already given you insight as to how bleak your future will be. You were safe at first, until Chisaki discovered you were a threat. He doesn’t want heroes or the police to catch wind of him. Whatever he’s doing, it’s clear that he wants to go under the radar. You’re a thorn in his side. An obstacle that needs to be eliminated. 

And yet, despite knowing it’s hopeless, despite being faced with death once again, you still can’t help but bow your head and beg for mercy. 

“P-Please,” you sob, and just like that, your tears return with a vengeance. “Please, please, please don’t kill me. Please, I-I just barely managed to survive today, and I promise I’ve never—” 

“Be quiet,” Kurono snaps, harshly bearing down on your arm. He’s still holding onto you so that you can’t run, but even if you managed to slip out of his grasp, there’s another man behind you. Probably the driver from earlier. He’s dressed all in black, with a plague doctor mask of his own, although far less intricate. Apart from Kurono, they’re all wearing masks. The odds of kissing any of them and successfully using your Quirk are slim to none. 

You’re incapable of being quiet, though. Just moments ago, you thought you were completely numb, but it seems that it doesn’t matter how many times you find yourself in this situation. You’re destined to be overwhelmed with fear every single time. 

Well. Not that there will even be another time.

Chisaki steps closer to you, and you grip down on your own arm to keep from trembling furiously. As expected, it doesn’t help. He’s right in front of you now. He hasn’t made any attempts to touch you, but he stands there and stares at you, golden eyes every bit as apathetic as you remember. 

After a pause, Chisaki turns towards the man dressed in black. “Nemoto. Use your Quirk on her. First and foremost, I’d like to know whether or not she kept up her end of the deal.” 

“As you wish,” the man, Nemoto, replies. He positions himself closer to you, and you bite down on your lip and whimper, of course, but just like Chisaki, he doesn’t actually try to touch you. 

Instead, he asks you a question. 

“Have you told anyone about what happened that day? Have you broken your promise and reported what you saw in the alley?” 

“No, I haven’t.” 

You blink. Wait, that felt… weird. It’s the truth, of course, but you feel like you weren’t entirely in control of yourself when you answered. Rather, it felt like the words were forcibly ripped from your mouth. You couldn’t have resisted answering him, even if you wanted to. 

“She’s telling the truth,” Nemoto says. “Thankfully, it seems like she didn’t make any foolish decisions. But if she’s planning on becoming a filthy hero like all those others, I can’t say I feel bad for her.” 

He made me tell the truth? 

That must be the Quirk Chisaki was referring to. It’s actually similar to your Quirk in that they’re both control-based. You’re not sure if there’s a way to defend against Nemoto’s line of questioning, but that’s the last thing on your mind right now. If anything, shouldn’t it prove that you’ve kept your mouth shut? You did exactly as Chisaki told you. He shouldn’t have any reason to doubt you. 

“I-I won’t tell anyone,” you promise, frantically swallowing your tears as they come. “See? I didn’t… I didn’t tell anyone before, and I won’t tell anyone this time either. Please, you don’t have to do this. I just want to go home…” 

“The past doesn’t necessarily determine the future,” Chisaki says, and he narrows his eyes slightly, gaze far from forgiving. “You’re a first-year U.A student. When we first met, you hadn’t even been admitted to a hero school yet. There’s no telling what you might later on. You could easily have a change of heart. Heroes are compelled by a sense of justice, however delusional they may be. You might choose to stay silent for a while, but one day, you’ll realize that you aren’t willing to let it slide. You’ll confide in other pro heroes and do everything in your power to take me down.” 

“No, I won’t!” you protest. “I promise I won’t do any of that! That day, I saw that you didn’t even kill that man. N-Not permanently, at least. You didn’t let me die either. You saved my life, so why would I want to get you in trouble? That just… wouldn’t make any sense. Right?” 

Chisaki hardly looks convinced. He even scoffs right in your face. “Are you trying to tell me that a hero is going to turn a blind eye to a violent crime? What a ridiculous notion. If you’re going to lie, you should at least put together a more believable argument.” 

“But I’m not lying,” you sob, wiping frantically at your eyes to keep your vision from blurring completely. “Can’t you just tell that man to use his Quirk on me again? Force him to make me tell the truth. Then you’ll know for sure if I’m lying about this or not. Please. Please just give me a chance.” 

“Kai doesn’t owe you any favors, you disrespectful little brat,” Kurono sneers. 

He clamps down on your arm even harder than before, making you wince outwardly, but still, you hold strong. Even Chisaki must realize this is a viable option, right? He can confirm your intent right here and now. There won’t be any need to shed any blood. He seems like the kind of person that can be reasoned with. 

Sadly, you don’t yet realize how utterly wrong you are. 

“Fine,” Chisaki shrugs. “Nemoto, use your Quirk on her again. Check to see if she’s lying about what she just said.” 

Your expression brightens, and you even turn towards Nemoto hopefully. It’s hard to tell what he’s thinking because his entire face is covered, but you swear you hear him click his tongue in annoyance. 

“Are you being honest when you say you’re going to keep this matter hidden? Will you keep it to yourself, promising never to divulge it to anyone else?” 

“Yes,” is your immediate response, and for the first time in ages, it feels like you can actually breathe . They should now have confirmation of your intent to keep your word. You’re not trying to delude anyone, and even if it doesn’t sound awfully heroic of you to sweep this under the rug, you don’t have a choice. If you die now, you won’t be able to save anyone else. You need to stay alive as long as possible, and if cooperating with Chisaki is what it takes, then so be it. 

“Well, that’s what she says, but I’m still hesitant to trust her,” Nemoto grumbles. “The choice is obviously yours, Overhaul.” 

Overhaul? 

Some kind of alias, perhaps. You’re not sure, and to be honest, you couldn’t care less. It’s none of your business. You’ve already promised not to stand in Chisaki’s way. He needs to let you go now. He has absolutely nothing to gain from this. 

Please, for the love of everything, why isn’t he letting you go ? 

“So, that really is how you feel,” Chisaki frowns. “Interesting. I suppose I shouldn’t be all that surprised. You’re still young. Perhaps you’re coming to the realization that you’re not quite ready to die for your ideals.” 

“I need to live longer so that I can help people,” you desperately insist. 

“Is that so? I’m not sure why you’re bothering to tell me, because your foolish ambitions are really none of my concern.” 

“I just want you to trust me. I promise I won’t tell anyone. I really promise, so please let me out of here…” 

You clench your fists, just barely resisting the urge to cry all over again. Fear aside, you hope Chisaki can tell how solemn your expression is. It seems like he has faith in the effectiveness of Nemoto’s Quirk. Haven’t you already put his worries to rest? Everything you’ve said has been verified by one of his own accomplices. 

“I can’t deny that you’ve been telling the truth,” Chisaki acknowledges. 

You let out a heavy, shuddering sigh. Finally. He really isn’t devoid of reason after all—

“But as I already explained, that’s only how you feel now . In the moment. Just because you have no plans to tell anyone now doesn’t mean that can’t change later on. You’re being honest presently, but a person’s truth can change from one second to the next. Opinions can sway drastically, oftentimes without any logic behind them.” 

Your eyes widen. What? No. No, what’s happening? Nemoto’s Quirk already proved that you were telling the truth. You’re literally standing here, sobbing, begging for him to believe you, and he still doesn’t?

He’s really going to kill you based on a distant possibility that might not even occur? 

“Stop!” you scream, but the second you try to run, Kurono wraps both of his arms around you and prevents you from getting far. Chisaki is moving closer now. You vaguely remember how his Quirk works, and sure enough, when you see him reaching down to remove his gloves, your entire being is sent into panic. 

Everything happens so fast, it might as well be a blur. Right as Chisaki closes the distance, you forcibly slam the back of your head into Kurono’s face, then kick your leg up as high as it can go. Chisaki sidesteps and manages to avoid getting hit for the most part, but your foot grazes the front of his mask, and the swift impact knocks it loose. It falls dully to the ground, revealing his face for the very first time. You don’t have time to focus on any of that, though. While Kurono winces from how violently your skull collided with his nose, you lunge forward, and as always, there’s no chance to even think it through. 

For a brief, fleeting instance, your lips press against Chisaki’s. 

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” 

The outcry is far more visceral than you were expecting. He shoves you to the ground, hard , but it doesn’t matter. You kissed him. On the lips too, which practically guarantees that your Quirk will be at maximum effectiveness. It even worked against Shigaraki, however brief the effects may have been. You only need an opening window. Just enough time to get a head start. 

“Restrain your men and let me go,” you demand, rising to your feet on shaky legs. “Don't let any of them chase after me. All of you are going to let me go. And you’re never going to come after me ever again.” 

It has to work. You saw the screen light up, just like always, the moment you kissed him. By now, of course, Kurono has already apprehended you again, and Nemoto is grabbing onto you as well, but it shouldn’t matter. Out of all of them, Chisaki is the strongest. That much is blatantly clear. 

“What the hell did you do?” Kurono hisses into your ear. He even shakes you around, roughly. “You’re disgusting! I don’t know what you thought that was going to accomplish, but all you did was—” 

He stops himself. Perhaps it’s because he noticed that Chisaki’s expression has changed, and that he’s approaching the three of you with a vacant, unfocused look in his eyes. You’ve seen that look before. It’s proof of a person dissociating after you use your Quirk on them. He’s not in control of himself right now. He’s charmed, incapable of acting of his own volition, and he looks like he’s locked onto both Kurono and Nemoto. 

You deliberately told Chisaki to restrain them, not kill them. Just because they commit cruel, villainous deeds doesn’t mean you need to sink to their level. Your face was covered earlier, but you paid close attention and memorized the direction you came in. Having been deprived of one of your senses, your muscle memory kicked into overdrive. You’re almost certain you can retrace your steps.

“What’s the matter, Kai?” Kurono frowns. “She must have done something to you after all. Just tell me what needs to be done. If you want me to kill her, I’ll do it right this very second.” 

Chisaki doesn’t respond. Instead, he removes one of his gloves, still staring vacantly in Kurono’s direction. Wait, you did say restrain , right? You didn’t tell him to do anything beyond that. Otherwise, you’d basically be an accessory to murder—

Dark crimson sprays the floors. There’s a scream so gut-wrenching and monstrous, under normal circumstances, it certainly wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. Blood pools onto the ground at an alarming rate. The ground is almost pristine white, making for a disturbing contrast. 

What a fool. You really, really are a fool.

Did you think for a second you could afford to worry about anyone else? 

You fall to the ground, still screaming, now missing one of your arms in its entirety. The blood keeps gushing from the open wound, and worse yet, you’re forced to stare at your dismembered limb in horror. 

You don’t understand what happened. You thought you used your Quirk on Chisaki. You thought that you could accomplish something on your own, but as expected, you really are… useless. 

Already, you can feel your eyes rolling back into your skull. There it is again. That familiar, nauseating sensation. Your entire body is becoming impossibly cold. Your breaths are becoming more shallow, more effortful, and more futile. 

Chisaki doesn’t say a word. He simply watches as you bleed out on the ground, and for some reason, he feels strange. 

He wonders why he hasn’t broken into hives yet.