Author's Note: So I'd just like to disclose right away that this story is actually something I intended to make just for myself because I couldn't find anything else like it out there. But my editor convinced me to share it with all you, with the hope that you all would like it as much as I do.
This first chapter is something I've been working on in between chapters of my other story, technically making it a side project, but that doesn't lessen it's importance to me. Writing it was kinda different for me, not only in how i wrote the first chapter, but because I'm not really used to writing stuff for shounen anime/manga, but I still thought I'd try my hand at it for the reason given above.
I know this won't really be everyone's cup of tea, but for those of you that do enjoy it, leave a review if you feel like it. I always feel so happy reading the feedback of people who read my stories, it pushes me to keep writing, and keep writing this I will! I'll see you all again soon, until then, see ya!
More important than Winning.
A Life Long Forgotten.
It had all happened so fast for Katsuki Bakugo. So fast that he hadn't even been sure if it actually happened at all. One minute he had pinned down the warp villain Kurogiri, getting his own personal payback for the cheap stunt he pulled at the start of the invasion. The monstrous nomu had been encased in ice, and All Might had freed himself, for the four 1-A students present, the idea that victory was within their grasp, was a shared sentiment.
But it had all turned south in a mere matter of moments. The avian-shaped monstrosity freed itself from Todoroki's icy prison by shattering its own limbs, regenerating them just as fast as it had lost them. And then came the last words that rang in the young Bakugo's ears before he heard it, the desperate cry of his name from the last place he'd expected it.
" But first we need to free our means of escape...Get him Nomu! "
In the split second it had taken Bakugo to turn his head, a mass of black and muscles had been upon him, fist raised high to crush him. All Might had raced forward, arm stretched to grab hold of the hero in training.
That was when he heard "her."
" KATSUKI! "
Time came to a halt for everyone, All Might practically had his arms around the explosive student, the Nomu was mere inches from bringing its giant fist down on the teen. But neither made contact, something had yanked Bakugo to the side, surprising everyone present, All Might included, who, having lost focus for a single second after witnessing Bakugo's rescue, took the full brunt of Nomu's attack, sending the number one hero crashing so far back that he had left everyone's sight.
But that hadn't been what Katsuki Bakugou had been staring at, not like his stunned classmates.
No, his crimson eyes sat frozen on a figure who laid mere feet away from him, the figure of the person who saved him.
The limp figure of Tsuyu Asui.
He hadn't even seen what really happened, so seeing her there, and knowing that she had something to do with his rescue, shook him deeply.
The frog-like girl had never stood out much, at least to him. Since the start of the school year she had always blended in with the rest of the "extras" As Bakugo had "affectionately" dubbed his classmates.
There hadn't been anything special about Tsuyu in his eyes, and yet, seeing her unconscious on the ground before him, so defenseless and damaged, it stirred something inside of him; Some deeply buried part of himself, the remnants of the Katsuki that existed before his quirk manifested.
The excitable hero-worshipping child he had been was tossed aside, not long after his powers came to be, with only bits and pieces remaining on the surface, the last of which had been concealed almost five years ago.
Five years. Five years before he would go on to attend U.A. Five years since he declared he would be the greatest hero ever.
Five years since he had last seen her.
Like a raging flood, memories of a time long forgotten to the user of the explosion quirk came rushing from deep within, overtaking his senses, and leaving him floating in a sea of white.
For most ten year-old children, summer break was something to look forward to. No school, no responsibilities, just fun in the sun. But for the ten-year old Katsuki Bakugo, summer was just another season, one that was typically the most useful to him.
The free time and heat that came with summer meant there was more of an opportunity to practice with his quirk. But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the typical activities for someone his age. He had friends, or at least people he chose to be around, kids his own age who liked being around him, even if the feeling wasn't mutual.
That particular summer had been different though. Everyone the young Bakugo typically spent his time with had been busy in one way or another, leaving him on his own for the first time.
" This sucks! " He growled out. " None of those losers could be here...Not even that stupid nerd, Deku! "
Practice just hadn't seemed all that appealing today, and sitting around the house with his banshee of a mother was the last thing Katsuki wanted. So a little stroll through town seemed like the most logical way of wasting time, maybe a trip to the arcade, just anything to appease his boredom.
Even as a child he had never really cared what people thought of him, barring praise of course, so brushing off the awkward looks he received as he ranted through his walk wasn't hard. What was hard however, was admitting that he despised being alone, a feeling he'd abandon in a few short years, but at the time was something that bothered him deeply.
" ...I don't need those extras, I'll do something on my own...Yeah! I'll find something so cool that when I see those losers again, they'll be dying of jealousy! "
Filled with newfound inspiration for what he would do, Katsuki took off in a mad dash, barreling past people, caring not if he had knocked them down or not.
So the young Bakugo ran and ran for what seemed like the longest time, searching for something amazing that he could do alone, something he could rub in the faces of everyone else. But the longer he searched, the less likely it seemed he'd find anything. It wasn't that he was finding activities he couldn't do, Bakugo was an astoundingly talented boy for his age. The notion that there was something he couldn't do, was an almost foreign concept.
The fact of the matter was, that there just wasn't anything for him.
He had reached the town park before giving up on the pointless pursuit. With a heavy sigh, the ten year-old rested himself on the edge of the park's fountain. His brows furrowed in annoyance as he tried occupying himself with watching some ants pass by his feet.
The park was almost barren, which was unexpected for such a nice summer day. Nothing more than a few joggers and pet owners, not a single person his age to be found, no one for him to wow with his quirk.
" Ugh...Guess I'll just go home, maybe the banshee won't be there and I can try for some peace and quie- "
" H-Hey! Let go of me! Ribbit! "
Bakugo's ears perked up, the sound of a distressed voice hit his keen ears. Quickly, he started scanning around the park for the source of the cry, and thankfully it hadn't taken him long to find the owner of the croaky voice.
" Ribbit! I said let go! "
" Would you calm down ya brat?! "
Towards the back of the park, where the trees covered the most ground, a girl, no older than Katsuki himself, was flailing about in the arms of a lanky man in a cheap face mask, accompanied by a shorter portly man in an even worse disguise.
The girl had long dark green hair, and from what Bakugo could tell was shorter than him. There didn't seem to be anything all that great about the child, and yet she seemed to be of enough importance for those lousy goons to try and kidnap.
" Don't worry girly, as soon as your daddy pays back the money he owes, you'll be safe and sound, but until then, you're gonna take a nice little trip to our daycare. "
" N-No! Ribbit! Let me go! "
An extremely long tongue came flying from the girls mouth, smacking one of the would be kidnappers clean across the face.
She would definitely be in trouble after that. A toothy grin formed on Bakugo's face as he started off towards the attempted abduction. It seemed he had found something amazing to do in the end, after all, how many kids could say they got to be real heroes during their summer break?
" Why you no good little- "
The girl flinched, turning her head away, bracing for whatever retaliation the criminal had in store for her.
" HEY! "
A young but booming voice stopped the kidnapper before he could lay a hand on the girl. She cracked one of her large eyes open, taking in the sight of a boy her age, with wild ash-blonde hair. His eyes were cut into the fiercest glare she had ever seen, and yet she herself felt no danger as she looked into his blood red orbs.
" Get lost kid, this ain't no place for little punks like you to go shovin' yer nose in.
" Yeah. Now be a good little munchkin and scram. This is important adult business.
" Oy! Don't talk to me like I'm some little kid you dirty old geezer! " The child barked with such ferocity.
" Hey! "
" Who the hell are you callin' a geezer you little pest! "
" The two of you! " He stood tall, his chest poked out and his index finger stretched out towards the offenders.
To the green haired girl, he looked just like one of the heroes off T.V. He didn't have an ounce of fear in his fiery gaze, just power and pride, it brought about a broad smile to the girl's face.
" Now let her go before I blast ya to kingdom come! " Bakugo growled out, letting little explosions pop off the surface of his hands.
" Ya hear that? This little shrimp is gonna blast us! "
" Haha! That's cute kid, now run home to mommy before you go and get hurt! This is yer last warni- "
" Just shut up already! " With a wild roar, the boy rushed forward, putting his arms behind him. The palms of Bakugo's hands crackled, his grin took on an almost feral appearance, and his eyes widened with excitement. " I'll blast you sky high you damn perverts! "
" Who's he callin' a pervert?! "
" You ya moron, now shut it and shut him up! "
Before either of the lawbreakers could act, two minor explosions rang through the air, and in a matter of seconds, the red-eyed boy was right over them.
The girl had seen everything the two bickering goons had missed though, the boy had released the two explosions from his palms, and while neither was all that big, the force was still enough to jettison the child clear across from where he was standing, to where they were now.
" Ribbit! Get em! " She cheered on.
" I told you two creeps! I was gonna send you sky high! " Bakugo boomed, raising his hands above his head, letting loose two more small blasts, rocketing him down towards the thugs, impacting with enough force to send the criminal flying into the trees, kicking up dirt, and causing the girl to go airborne.
Now covered in scrapes from his less than stellar landing, Bakugo watched as the girl reached the apex of her flight, before plummeting back to the ground.
" Ah crap! "
" H-HEEEEEELP! "
He'd have no hopes of getting to her in time by running, he'd have to put as much juice as he could into one last blast, just not so much that he'd hurt himself or the girl. Filled with fierce determination, the boy rocket forward, letting loose the biggest blast he could, propelling himself forward, his arms outstretched to catch the falling girl.
That short burst of speed had been more than enough for Bakugo to reach the girl, intercepting her fall, and skidding across the ground, the girl secured in his scraped up arms.
" That...Was close. " He sighed out. A prideful smirk formed where his feral grin had been just moments ago. He'd done something that no other kid his age could say that they've done. He'd been an actual hero, fought actual criminals, no matter how wimpy they were, he'd saved an actual person.
" HAH! I really am the best! "
Not even the stinging sensation coursing through his arms could rid him of the pride swelling in him.
That didn't mean he couldn't be pulled out of his moment though, and if there was one thing that could bring Katsuki back to reality, it was the feeling of another person wrapping their arms tightly around his torso.
" H-hey! What the heck?! "
It was the girl with green hair. She'd pulled her savior into a tight embrace, so tight that he couldn't pry her off; she was certainly stronger than she seemed to be.
" Thank you! Ribbit! Thank you so much! "
" O-oy! G-get off! " Bakugo fought against his burning red cheeks, not being very fond of physical contact, most of all from girls. It's not that he hated it, as he did many other things for someone his age, he just got flustered easily was all. It all became worse for the boy when he saw tears threatening to leave the girl's eyes.
" H-hey! Hold back the waterworks! "
She seemingly obeyed his flustered demand, using one of her unusually long fingers to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall. " S-sorry...I just thought...Well, no one was going to stop them. Ribbit… "
Bakugo's brows furrowed once more, only this time the frustration had been nowhere present. This girl had to have been all alone in the park, otherwise someone would've intervened with the poor kidnapping attempt. " Hey big eyes, where the heck are your parents? "
"M-my parents? "
" Yeah, your parents, or did you just fall out of the sky one day? "
" Well, I'm actually...Staying with relatives for the summer, and they were busy setting my room up...Sooo I...Kinda snuck out...Ribbit… "
"Well that was stupid of you! Don't you know there are all sorts of weirdos out there, like the two chumps I sent sailing! "
The girl puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away. " If it's so stupid of me then why are you out here? "
Bakugo's mouth gaped for a literal second, quickly shifting into a scowl. " Oy! Don't go tryin' to turn this crap around on me! " Realizing that shouting would get him nowhere in this conversation, Bakugo stood up, turned away from the girl and "composed" himself. " I can take care of myself, you saw that. But you, what even is your quirk, big eyes? I saw that thing with your tongue, and if that's all you have then I gotta say it's really lame. "
" My name isn't "big eyes". Ribbit. It's Tsuyu Asui, and my quirk is called frog. " She croaked out, feeling frustration building from her "savior's" comments. He'd just saved her from being kidnapped, she should have been grateful to him, but the way he was talking really made it hard to be thankful. " And what's your name, or should I just do what you do and call you as I see you, and if that's the case then I'll just call you loud mouth. "
Oh that was it! This girl, who should be thanking him, was giving him attitude! Bakugo could feel the vein on his forehead pulsing from his rapid increase in anger.
" SHUT UP! My name's Katsuki Bakugo! Remember it now tadpole, cause someday I'm gonna be the number one hero! " Katsuki stood up, no longer caring for the soreness from his rough landing, his hands placed on his hips with his chest puffed out. His pose was one he'd seen All Might strike several times, his "I am here!" pose, as Bakugo had called it.
Tsuyu couldn't help but stare in awe at the boy and his ludicrous statement. Had any other person said it, she would have waved them off as having too much imagination, but this kid, this boy, no older than herself, barked it out with so much conviction, that she wasn't sure how to feel about it.
That was when her attention backpedaled, just a little, back to the nickname he;d squeezed into his declaration. " Did you just call me tadpole? "
Her reaction was enough to prompt a wily grin on Katsuki's face.
" Yeah. Yeah I did call you Tadpole, it's a nickname, and one I gave. So you gotta live with it now, or at least until you're older. Then I'll have to think of something a little more creative. "
Tsuyu's round eyes were practically plastered on the blond-haired boy. By all means she should have been upset, after all, he'd just "nicknamed" her because of her appearance, but for some reason, unknown to even herself, she wasn't. Sure he made it sound like he was mocking her, but Tsuyu had always been a good judge of character, and could tell that his "hurtful" words had a much kinder undertone to them.
" And is a nickname from Kastu-Chan something special? Ribbit. "
" Oy! What the heck did you just call me! "
Now it was her turn to smile at his reaction. This boy, this strange grumpy child, no older than herself, was making her feel the best she'd felt since she first came to stay with her relatives.
It wasn't just his valiant rescue of her that brought about this newfound joy. In fact, it wasn't just a couple of things, it was just about everything she could see. His explosive personality, his determination, his bravery, how easily he gets flustered, even the dumb little nickname he'd given her.
In her eyes, Katsuki Bakugo was like an open book, pages spread wide for her to take everything in, and the more she read, the more she enjoyed it.
" You heard me. Ribbit! I called you Katsu-Chan! You gave me a nickname, so it's only fair I do the same. "
" That isn't how this works! "
And just like that, the lights came on in Katsuki's head. He'd just now realized what she was doing. She was screwing with him! He gave people nicknames because he didn't want to have to try and keep up with so many names at once, it was never supposed to be anything special. But this girl, this irritating frog girl, turned the whole thing around on him.
It actually kind of impressed the young Bakugo. Most kids would've just accepted it and moved on, even Deku didn't try pushing past it, or doing the same thing to him in return, not if you count him constantly calling him Kacchan at least. But this girl, Tsuyu, Asui Tsuyu, she said her name was, embraced the name, and gave him one of his own right back.
Of course that didn't mean he was totally qualm free about the chosen name.
" IT'S SO DARN GIRLY! "
" Oh? Ribbit. Then how exactly does it work, Katsu-Chan? "
" It works like this! If you're gonna call me anything then...Then! "
He turned his face away, trying his damnedest to hide the red that was pouring onto his cheeks. It felt like he was choking on the next few words that he had planned to say, but knew that if he didn't say something soon, then "Katsu-Chan '' was here to stay.
He let out a deep sigh, turning back to face the frog girl. " Then...Call me Kacchan...Or heck, just call me Katsuki! Just, anything but what you picked! "
Asui placed her index finger on her bottom lip, and angled her eyes upwards, as if she were deep in thought. But in reality, she was just juggling the two names. Kacchan, while sounding cute enough to tease him with, didn't seem like something he was all that comfortable with. And just calling him by his name was no fun, but at the same time, it seemed like a big deal to him.
" Ribbit. Okay, I'll call you both then. "
Bakugo stared at the cheeky little frog, his mouth agape at the audacity of her blatant teasing.
" W….WHY YOU! "
Asui, realizing that now was the time to move, positioned herself in her hopping stance, jumping away from the aggravated Bakugo. But she wasn't seeing his actions as aggressive, or even in a negative light for that matter.
As the two children ran through the park, Asui glanced backwards, her gaze briefly meeting Katsuki's. His faux malice was gone, in its place now was a broad grin, and a gleam in his eyes. What had started with Bakugo chasing after her for the whole name thing, turned into a heated game of tag, one where he never once attempted to use his quirk.
Not because he was still in pain or anything like that, no, he'd never admit to that. He just wanted to give the girl a winning chance, yeah, that was all.
Whatever his reasons though, Katsuki realized something midway into their game. He was actually, sincerely having fun,and for the first time since his days in preschool, he laughed a genuine joyful laugh.
For Katsuki Bakugo, and Tsuyu Asui, the summer had transitioned. Changing from a dull period of boredom and mediocrity, into something that neither of the two would ever forget, even if it would take one of them almost losing the other to awaken their dormant memories.
For Tsuyu Asui, turning back to see what had just caused the sudden commotion had been a mistake. Because as her head swiveled back towards the direction that Midoriya had just sprinted off in, her eyes laid upon him.
" ...Katsuki... "
He'd managed to make it just in time, saving Midoriya from that warp villain, and giving Todoroki a proper opening to help free All Might.
Seeing him with the villain pinned beneath him, wearing his sadistic, but triumphant grin, brought about so many feelings within her. Feelings she'd tried, and failed to rid herself of since she had last seen him. But not even five years apart had been enough to put a stop to her budding emotions.
After their departure at the summer's end, Asui had continued thinking about the loudmouthed, arrogant, explosive brat that was Katsuki Bakugo. And the more she thought of him, the higher her heart would soar, even as she grew, the thought of what he would look like, what he'd be like if she could see him now, consistently filled her head.
It had gotten so bad that she'd started a journal, jotting down every thought she had, every "scenario" about the type of person Bakugo would be by the time they next met, just to keep her head clear, of course this was something she'd never disclose to anyone. But everything culminated on the day of the U.A entrance exam, the first time she'd seen him in five years.
Had it not been for his rather distinct hairstyle, and those unforgettable eyes, he'd have been almost unrecognizable. He'd definitely matured in their five years apart, at least physically. He'd grown considerably, putting on a good deal of muscle, while remaining as lean as she remembered him.
But what stood out the most to her? It was nothing physical, but rather his personality that had changed. He seemed different, he seemed volatile, almost as if he were in a state of perpetual rage. And even as he wore a grin that brimmed with pride whilst he brought about the destruction of the training robots, she could almost feel the anger pouring off him in waves.
In the five years she'd been absent, Katsuki had taken a change for the worst, a change she desperately wanted to know the origin of.
He'd paid her almost no mind for the entirety of the test, his focus had been coming out on top after all. But for the briefest moment, amidst the chaos of it all, their eyes connected. For that singular instant, time stood still, and she could see the rage leave his eyes.
If only it would have lasted longer. Bakugo had torn his eyes from her, returning his focus to his impending victory.
It was only after the entry exam had ended that she started racking her mind with questions. Why had he been that way? What caused him to change? And the one that troubled her most of all; did he even remember her?
The time leading up to her first day attending had gradually filled with more and more questions, and that little dream journal of hers, gained a new entry far faster than it had when she was growing up.
And when the time for her homeroom class came, she wasn't sure whether fate was smiling down on her, or mocking her. She'd been put in the same class as Katsuki, she should have been elated, they shared their classes together. Unfortunately, just like during the entrance exam, he'd merely spared her a glance, and while it lacked the malice he'd been directing towards the other students, it felt no better than if it had.
Not even her new friend Ochaku Uraraka could ease her of the doubts that had begun plaguing her mind. This wasn't due to the fact that what she was feeling was complicated, it was more due to the fact that Uraraka had developed a poor opinion of Katsuki relatively early into the time she'd "known" him.
How could she possibly explain to her friend that she had feelings for the one person that no one seemed to like. So, she'd kept her feelings hidden, keeping up her usual persona of a perfectly calm and blunt individual, but while she had no issue speaking her mind about her classmates, even the ones she'd become close friends with, she couldn't find it in her to join them in point out Katsuki's many "flaws" as they had put it.
It was best that no one ever knew how she felt, but of course, it's impossible to keep something hidden forever.
And the day that she'd have to reveal just how she felt had come in a matter of days.
The attack on the USJ had come so suddenly that no one had been able to mentally prepare for it, and while Asui kept up her collected demeanor the whole time she'd been fighting alongside Midoriya, inside however was a different story. Seeing Katsuki fall into the void villain filled her with fear and distress, which she tried keeping down with the thought that he was still here in the USJ, giving these villains a thrashing they'd never forget.
But what she was feeling wasn't a fear for her own life, not even when the threat of death from the leader of the villains present. What Asui feared more than anything at that moment, was that she'd never be able to see Katsuki again, never be able to tell him how she felt. So to say she felt a wave of relief wash over her when All Might came to their rescue was a major understatement.
He was the world's greatest hero, and Katsuki's personal idol, if there was anyone who could put a stop to all this, it was All Might. With instructions to get mister Aizawa to safety, she, Midoriya, and Mineta set off as fast as their shaken legs could take them.
When Midoriya took off to assist All Might, Asui could feel a pit forming in her stomach, he was her friend, and running head first into danger would only get him killed.
That's when she heard it, the oh so familiar sound of an explosion ringing through the air, and most of all, his voice, his boisterous, power-filled voice.
" GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY, DEKU! "
Turn her head back, Asui could feel her composure giving way thanks to the warmth swelling in her heart.
Bakugo Katsuki was there, pinning the very villain that had warped him away beneath him, a dominant glare in his crimson eyes. But it didn't matter to her that he'd managed to get his revenge, all that mattered at that moment to Asui was that he was safe.
Everything would be fine now, All Might was free of the monstrous Nomu's death grip, Katsuki as well as the rest of the classes "top dogs" were present. By all means it should've meant a wrap for the whole ordeal, it should have given Asui the notion that the day had been won.
But as she resumed carrying Aizawa to safety, an inexplicable surge of dread flooded over her, making her already cold-blood as frigid as ice. For some reason, one that not even Tsuyu could explain, she handed Aizawa off to Mineta, not even caring if the smaller boy could carry their teacher.
She turned on a dime, leaping off into Katsuki's direction, going as far as her legs could with each bound. Her eyes widened as she watched the newly regenerated Nomu in the motion of standing, further filling her with dread. Adrenaline pumped through her, letting her leap faster, and farther than she'd ever been able to, but whether it was enough for her to reach Bakugo was all that mattered at that moment.
Time came to a halt for Asui. Nomu had taken it's first blinding step towards Katsuki with the intent to smash him into a bloody pulp. It was now or never for her, she needed to reach him, to get him away from there before he was killed, and with all the strength she could muster in her hind legs, she launched forward, stretching her tongue out, managing to wrap it around Bakugo's waist just as the Nomu had reached him.
She had to pull him away, but knew that her tongue couldn't retract as fast as that beast could throw a punch, but before the worst could happen, she felt a firm hand push against her abdomen, shoving her back and pulling Katsuki with her, and while he had managed to evade the shockwave brought about by the blow, Asui hadn't been as lucky.
The wind kicked up by the impact alone had been enough to toss her about like a leaf in a hurricane, but that was nothing compared to the force of her hitting against the concrete below, robbing her of consciousness on impact.
As the light around Asui began to fade, she saw flashes of the time she and Katsuki spent those five years ago, the summer she'd never forget, and her greatest regret of never acting on how she felt. But amidst the bombardment of memories, a noise rang in her ears, just long enough for her to hear as she fell unconscious. The distressed cry of a voice, of his voice.
" ASUI! "
" "...K...Ka..Katsuki… "
Her name left Bakugo's mouth almost subconsciously, brought about by the sudden influx of memories he'd tried so desperately to bury. But staring at her in her current state tore at Bakugo, flooding his mind with foreign emotions: Concern, fear, but the one that felt the strangest to him, the one that stood out the most, it was love.
"It seems that even the world's greatest hero can be blindsided. Nomu, teach All Might just how worthless he is. Crush the frog so he has a nice surprise waiting for him when he manages to pull himself together, but try and take it slow, I want to be able to enjoy this. "
The mammoth frame of the Nomu shifted, it's body turning in the direction of the fallen girl. The ground quaked as it took one lumbering step after another, making its way towards Tsuyu.
And despite this, none of her classmates even tried stepping in, their focus still on the spot All Might had been before getting blasted back by the monstrous blow.
Without even thinking, Bakugo picked himself up, dashing to her, placing himself between Asui and the Nomu who was under the order to "crush her" with no intent of disobeying. Kaktsuki's fist clenched tighter than it ever had, if he hadn't been wearing gloves he was sure his knuckles would be a pale white.
With fury in his eyes but fear in his heart, Bakugo's right arm rose, the particular arm that had been equipped with a gauntlet that day.
" Stay the fuck back you bird brained bastard! That is unless you wanna get fried! "
But the threat was pointless, the beast before him, despite very clearly having a brain, was mindless, and couldn't be deterred by such shouts.
" What's this? " Came the voice of a suddenly interested Tomura Shigaraki. " It looks like another one of the little runts wants to die! Give him what he wants, Nomu! '
And so the musclebound behemoth continued it's march, growing closer to the two students with every step. Bakugo's eyes grew wide, he wasn't going to let anyone get to Tsuyu, not even a monster stronger than All Might. His finger wrapped around the pin of his gauntlet, he'd get the message to those damned villains one way or another.
" I FUCKING WARNED YOU! DIE! "
A massive explosion poured forth, quickly enveloping Nomu's body and further past it, nearly hitting the monster's master in the process. The shockwave was more than enough to knock his unprepared classmates off their feet, but they didn't matter to him. At the moment, all that had mattered to Katsuki was keeping Asui safe.
And when the explosion subsided, revealing the completely unfazed Nomu, something snapped in Bakugo. Some primal urge that cried out to him, telling him to destroy it before it could hurt Asui.
With vigor and a roar akin to a feral beast, Bakugo stamped forward, holding both his arms out in front of him, his palms opened as far as they could go. While his right arm was braced thanks to his gauntlet, Bakugo's left arm surged with pain as he pushed everything he had forward.
" DIE DAMN YOU! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! "
Blast after blast erupted from his extended palms, each more powerful than the last, yet none seemed to halt the monster's advance for longer than a second. But Katsuki didn't care, he continued his assault, bathing the Nomu in the flames of his explosions, doing little more than scorching the surface of it's skin.
" K-Kacchan! "
That voice, it belonged to Deku, the last voice that Bakugo wanted to hear at that moment. He'd always harbored the darkest of feelings for the previously quirkless boy, just the sound of his voice had been enough to set him off at one point, so hear it now, when he needed to concentrate as much as possible, only enraged him further.
Wait
That brought a wicked grin to Katsuki's pained face. He needed to get angrier, and seeing the "nerd" as he commonly referred Deku as, running to his aid, was more than enough to get his fire roaring.
" Stay the fuck back Deku! As Much as I'd like to, You'll just get your ass blasted if you try getting in my...WAY! "
Once more he roared out, using his heightened frustration to release a blast that dwarfed all but the one fired from his gauntlet. His left hand trembled with unimaginable pain, but he wouldn't stop.
Bakugo Katsuki wouldn't stop, even if it meant his death, something that was apparent to the awestruck students on the sideline, none more than Izuku Midoriya, who'd never once seen this new "protective" side to his childhood friend. But for whatever reason that no one present could even begin to comprehend, Bakugo Katsuki, the angriest, loudest, most vulgar student that any of them had ever laid eyes on, was throwing his life down to protect Tsuyu Asui.
Midoriya's hands trembled, and a feeling ran through his body, one not dissimilar to the feeling that had been present when Bakugo was trapped by the sludge villain. He wanted to run forward, to aid the person he'd always considered his best friend, but at the same time, felt as if some unseen force was holding him back, keeping his legs from moving on their own once more.
" DAMMIT! "
His gaze shot forward at the sound of Bakugo's frustrated cry. Seeing that nothing Bakugo did even slowed the Nomu down, and seeing the look of desperation starting to form in his once rage-filled eyes, caused the feeling in Midoriya to swell, but the greater it grew, so too did the subconscious force that held his body in place.
" I'LL KILL YOU! EVEN IF I HAVE TO BLOW OFF MY OWN DAMNED ARMS TO DO IT! "
The futile effort brought about by the U.A student brought a cruel smile to Shigaraki's obscured face. Nomu was made specifically to destroy All Might, the most powerful hero in the world, so how exactly did this loudmouthed brat expect to destroy it.
" Just give up. It'll make it all the more satisfying when Nomu crushes you like the bug you are, and then he'll do the same to your little girlfriend you seem so keen on protecting. "
" YOU SHUT YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH! "
Another massive explosion rocked the ground as it came from Bakugo's palms, but despite the size and power of the blast, the beast didn't yield.
" ...D..Dammit! That...That was all I had in me...But...But I can't just give up! I have so many goddamn questions for her! I...I need to know if she remembers...I have to protect her! "
No more explosions came, not that Bakugo could make many more if he wanted. He had his limits whether he'd like to admit it or not, and that many full powered blasts had drained him in such a short amount of time.
Where the hell was All Might?! That was the question racing through Katskui's mind as he racked his thoughts for a way out of the desperate situation. Surely the number one hero wouldn't have been knocked out cold from a sucker punch?
" ...Come on Katsuki! Think! What would he do in this situation...What would the number one hero do when he has no way of possibly winning on his own?! "
His eyes widened further with realization. He knew exactly what he needed to do, and whether it got him killed or not, was up to pure chance. Without even hesitating, Bakugo ran forward, rearing his right arm back as far as it could go, slamming it into Nomu's stomach as hard as he could, and Just as he had expected, there was no response.
But despite this, he threw another, and another, punching the beast's abdominal area with everything he had in him. Bakugo was certain that his blows must've felt like flies landing on the Nomu, but he refused to surrender, because in his mind, if the number one hero had no possible way of winning, he'd go out fighting, never stopping till his last breath left his body.
" Y-Yeah! You like that you beaked piece of shit! Your fights...With me! "
A massive hand grasped the blonde boy's head, stopping the pointless barrage of punches, and raising him into the air. Bakugo's eyes clenched shut, the pain from just being grabbed was more than he could handle in his current condition.
" Yes! That's good Nomu, now crush his skull! "
" I-I Won't go down...Not without a Fight! "
With the last ounce of his strength, Katsuki thrusted his arm forward, grabbing the Nomu's face, and firing the last explosion he could muster, the explosion that would be his last.
But something happened as the blast went off, Nomu had been sent sailing back, dropping Bakugo and crashing into a slab of concrete.
Katsuki could feel himself falling, the sensation of gravity pulling him to the cold hard ground, and yet, he never hit the ground. No, a muscular, but gentle set of arms had caught Bakugo's falling figure. The one eye Katsuki could keep open fell on the one who had saved him, the one who had sent the Nomu flying with a single blow.
" ...You have no need to fight any longer young Bakugo...Because I am here for you… "
All Might had arrived.
And as if by magic, all the fear and desperation that began taking hold in him, telling him that there was no way to save Asui, had vanished. In place of the emotions that had been trying so desperately to break his resolve, came a blanket of weight that enshrouded his body.
With solemn eyes, All Might glanced down at Bakugo, taking in the damage he had inflicted to himself in his hopeless bout to keep his fallen classmate safe. Even now as the boy fought to stay awake in his arms, All Might couldn't help but feel ashamed, Bakugo had done this because he'd failed to be there.
" ...Bakugo...You truly have the heart of a hero… "
The boy's eyelid finally closed, signifying that Bakugo's consciousness had finally left him. With the utmost ease, All Might rested Bakugo next to Asui, tightening his fists once the hero-in-training was out of them. He'd failed to be there when Bakugo needed him most, but he was here now, and he'd make sure the villains responsible would pay tenfold.
Filled with newfound inspiration from his student's selflessness, All Might turned to face the now standing Nomu, ready to do battle.
" Rest now young Bakugo...I'll put a stop to this, once and for all! "
Light. All Katsuki Bakugo could see the moment he woke up, was a bright light. Was he dead? No, he couldn't have been, you don't exactly wake up when you die. So it begged the question.
" What the hell's with the damn light?! " He cried out, shooting upwards to meet the source of his annoyance.
Standing over him, thanks to the assistance of a stool, Recovery Girl held a small flashlight in her hands. She'd been using said light to make sure Bakugo hadn't suffered a concussion from having his skull grasped like a can of soda. In the end however, all it seemed to have done was pull the boy from his slumber.
" Ah. Good, you're awake. "
The sight of the school's nurse had caught him off guard. Wasn't he just in the USJ? Where were the villain's? Where was All Might? But more importantly, where was-
" Asui! "
" Pardon me, dear? "
" Grr! Dammit lady! Asui! Where the hell is Asui! "
" Why I never! The nerve of some of you students. " Recovery Girl could feel the concern coming off the boy in waves, but felt as if she needed to scold him first. " That doesn't matter now. What matters is the condition you put yourself in! If they hadn't gotten you to me then your left arm would have been ruined. Your muscles were torn from the force of your explosions, and you even- "
" Shut it already! " He lowered his head, refusing to meet the older woman's judging stare. He didn't care that he was being disrespectful to a veteran hero, he didn't care about anything he said at that moment. " Just….Just tell me...Where she is… " He ground his teeth against one another, forcing himself to choke out the last word needed to get his answer. " ..P...PLEASE! "
A sigh left Recovery Girl. She knew just how stubborn boys like Bakugo could be, his teachers had even informed her of his particular behavior, but the stubbornness he was showing now, didn't stem from the typical male nature. No, what he was displaying now was brought about by pure concern, and even if she hid it, it touched her how much he cared for the frog girl that was under her care.
" Very well...Come with me, but take it easy. You've been off your feet for well over twelve hours. "
" .Yeah...Whatever… "
Wordlessly, Bakugo trudged behind the school nurse, his legs feeling like they had been encased in lead, making every step he took feel heavy and sluggish. He'd chosen to tune out Recovery Girl when she started prattling on about how reckless he was. The last thing he wanted right now was to have someone bite his head off over something he had no regrets about doing. Then she brought Tsuyu up, drawing Katsuki's fleeting focus back to her.
" ...I'm afraid she wasn't as lucky as you in terms of damage. The poor dear suffered a nasty concussion and was covered in head to toe with scrapes and bruises when they brought her in. I managed to patch her up, I even took care of her head wound...But… "
" ...But what? Spit it out granny! "
She chose to pass his rude behavior off as more concern, and understood why he was doing so as she did. " ...But, despite that, she's yet to wake up… "
They stopped outside the room that she'd rested Tsuyu in, finding the door partially ajar, no doubt from the visitors the girl received.
" She's in here. Well go on, just be quiet while you're in there. "
Bakugo would gladly oblige, he didn't want to shout, or even get angry, all he wanted was to see her.
But as he stepped inside the room, several sets of eyes were laid on him almost instantaneously. That old bat had failed to mention that the entirety of their class was in the room.
" Bakugo! " Kirishima, Bakugo's only real "friend" shot up, running to greet his newly awakened friend, only to be silenced by a punch to the top of his head.
" Keep your damn voice down, shitty hair...I got a hell of a headache… "
" Yes Kirishima, you should also keep your voice down for Tsuyu's sake. " Came the scolding voice of Momo Yaoyorozu.
Ignoring them, and making his way to Asui's bedside, Katsuki's eyes laid on her sleeping figure. A layer of bandages had been wrapped around her, covering most of her forehead. In spite of the situation that left her how she was, Katsuki couldn't help but feel that she looked so peaceful laying in the bed.
" Kacchan...Are you alright? "
Tearing his attention away from Asui and shifting it to Midoyira, Bakugo's expression became that of a half-hearted scowl.
" Listen Deku...Take all these extras and get lost… "
" B-but Kacchan… "
" Dammit Deku! " He turned away, putting his focus back on Asui's sleeping form. " Just...Just fucking do it...I'm not in the mood to argue, you damn nerd… "
There was a moment of hesitation for Midoriya, but ultimately he ended up replying with a silent nod. He'd never seen Bakugo act this way, never seen him show any level of concern for anyone, not since they were little. So to see the person he'd always tried so hard to reach out to, to try and understand, caring for someone who, to his knowledge, was an utter stranger.
But Katsuki Bakugo never did anything just because "he felt like it." Everything he ever did was for a reason, so for him to act such a way towards someone he'd had no prior interactions with meant there was some hidden explanation that Midoriya was fine with not delving into. In fact the thought of it made him happy in a sense, this gentler side proved that the boy he'd grown up admiring was still in that explosive exterior somewhere.
" D-Deku! Are you really going to just leave..? "
" Yes! Midoriya! Is it really wise to leave Bakugo with Tsuyu? "
Midoriya looked to see his two friends, Ochako Uraraka, and Tenya Iida, who both looked on with their own looks of concern. Neither of them had really seen what happened after All Might was sent flying back by Nomu; Uraraka could have only seen so much from where she had been standing, and Iida had been too preoccupied retrieving the rest of the faculty. It made sense for them to be skeptical, because only Midoriya had seen the look of desperation in Bakugo's eyes as he tried in vain to stop that monster.
" She'll be fine you guys...Let's just leave the two of them for now… " He proceeded towards the door, reluctantly followed by the rest of his class, who'd chosen to just watch what was going on. Only as the door was opening did Midoriya look back towards his friend. " Will you be alright, Kacchan…? "
He'd taken a seat next to Asui's bed, his back facing towards them with his head lowered, as if he were in deep thought.
" ...I said go! Can't you do anything right...Stupid nerd… "
But rather than taking his harsh words the way he usually did, Midoriya only smiled, nodding before walking out.
Following his lead, the rest of their class left one after another, each one bidding Bakugo a goodbye, until only Kirishima was left in the doorframe. In the couple of weeks he'd known the hotheaded, loudmouthed, hero-to-be, he'd somehow managed to worm his way into a friendship with the explosive blonde. He saw something in him that no one else even tried seeing, and was hell-bent on pulling it to the surface so everyone could see that Bakugo was more than just a spikey-haired ball of hate and vulgarity.
The whole ordeal with the USJ attack had only justified what Kirishima believed, that deep down Bakugo was more than capable of showing compassion for his fellow heroes-in-training.
" ...I thought I told everyone to get lost, that meant you too, shitty hair. "
Kirishima smiled, having learned to take his friends bitter words in stride early into their friendship. He could tell there was more than he could see going on, and wouldn't pry, it just wasn't manly to try and force someone to talk when they didn't want to afterall.
" Yeah, yeah, I heard ya buddy. I just wanted to make sure you'd really be alright on your own? You did rough yourself up pretty bad back there. "
" Agh! Dammit you're worse than that nerd...Yes I'll be fine...Can you please leave now..? "
That's all Kirishima wanted to hear. His smile shifted to a grin and he stepped out of the room, only stopping momentarily to wave before shutting the door behind him.
" ...Fucking finally… "
They were finally left to themselves, although with her asleep, it felt more as if he were finally by himself. Nobody was there to pester him, to ask him any annoying questions, just himself and the thoughts running rampant in his mind. Thoughts of a time he'd push to the depths of his mind to focus on his future as a hero, thoughts of the summer he spent with the girl laying in front of him.
He could almost hear the echoing of voices from those days, faint, but still within earshot of his mind.
" Ribbit. You're more fun to be around than I first thought, Katsu-Chan! "
" Oy! Stupid tadpole! I thought I told you not to call me that! "
" I'm sorry Katsu-Chan~ But I think you look cute when you're flustered. "
" ...Sh-Shut up already! "
They'd spent the whole of their summer together, even after his so-called "friends" returned from whatever activities had pulled them away, he distanced himself. Spending the majority of his days sneaking off to meet Asui so they could get a start on their day.
Day after day they'd spent in one another's company, going about various activities, most of which Asui chose. And with each day that went by, Katsuki had felt himself growing happier, as if just being around somehow quelled his inner rage.
And then it all came to an end, summer had come to an end, and Asui would have to return home with her parents. He could remember the hurt in his heart seeing her with those little bags in her hands, her relatives seeing her off.
" Asui...W...Where are you going..? "
She'd turned to face him, her eyes puffy from shedding tears.
" ...Katsuki...I have to go… "
He'd known before she'd even had the chance to tell him, he'd known the entirety of that week, but couldn't find it in himself to accept it. They'd made plans to spend the day in the nearby woods, playing in the stream, catching fireflies and the such. But deep down he knew they'd never have been able to fulfill that plan.
" ...But...But why...Why do you have to go?! "
" ...I have to go home, Katsuki...You know that… "
Even with the half-hearted smile she'd given him he could see that she felt the same way as he did. She didn't want to go, didn't want to leave the person she'd grown so close to. And seeing her try to put on a happy face for him, hurt him more than anything.
" ...I...I don't want you to go! "
Katsuki remembered the tears that forced their way from the corners of his shut eyes, the tears he'd fought so hard to keep contained till then. Tears were for the weak, and Katsuki hated feeling weak, but try as he might at that moment, he couldn't hold them any longer.
" ...I know...Ribbit...I don't want to go either...I want to keep having fun with you, Katsuki...But...I can't… "
With no warning at all, she'd embraced Katsuki, keeping him as close as she could, her own tears having forced their way out. The span of a summer may not sound all that long to anyone who'd look at the two at that particular moment, but to Asui and Katsuki, it had been everything. And to have it all end so suddenly, when there was still so much they wanted to do, so much time they wanted to spend with one another, it broke their hearts.
" Asui sweetie...I'm sorry but it's time to go.. "
Her relative had called out to her, even they'd found it hard to separate the two, but it had to be done. Asui had pulled herself away from Katsuki, taking a step backward to step into her relatives car, but before she did, she leaned forward, planting the softest kiss on Katsuki's lips, before sprinting to the car with a deep flush.
" ...Goodbye...Katsuki... "
Those had been the last words she'd said before leaving him standing there all alone. He remembered breaking down right there, shouting into the air every obscenity his mother forbade him from saying, the feeling of abandonment taking hold, leaving him emotionally torn. Looking back now that he could actually remember it, Bakugo realizes his reaction had been the poorest one possible, but he hadn't cared at the time.
He felt furious, but at who exactly? He could have felt enraged towards himself, he'd tricked himself into believing that their time together would last forever, so he certainly had a reason. But that wasn't who, and he couldn't bring himself to be angry at Asui, he cared too much for her. So in an almost desperate attempt to drain this unending well of rage he'd dug, he chose to direct it all towards the world, unintentionally turning himself into the person he was today.
The person who couldn't even protect her, who'd let her get hurt, all because he'd forgotten. And as Bakugo sat there, his head hanging over Tsuyu's bed, he'd given in to the weakness he sought to destroy after that day, he'd allow himself to cry, because in his eyes, failing to protect her had proven just how weak he was, and only the weak cried, right?
Bakugo's hands clutched tightly around the sheets that covered Asui, pulling them to his face in an attempt to hide his weakness.
" ...D...Dammit! "
With the "weakness" as he called it, came pain, nothing like what he'd put himself through to try and protect her, but more akin to what he felt the day she left. The pain, so unbearable that he'd told himself he'd never experience it again, and yet, here he was, his heart racked with it. Then suddenly, Bakugo's eyes shot open, the feeling of a hand brushing gently over his hair taking his attention off the ache in his chest.
Hesitantly, as if he were afraid to look, Katsuki's head rose, looking up to meet those same big eyes he'd seen all those years ago. She was smiling softly at him, her hand pressed to the side of his head.
" ...Hey you… "
Without knowing how to react, Bakugo just went with the first thing his mind screamed at him to do. And so he did, without hesitating, Bakugo pulled Asui into a hug, holding the girl as close as he possibly could without hurting her.
In that moment of silence they shared, taking in each other's warmth, Katsuki made a wordless vow to himself, but more importantly to her. He would get stronger, he would become the world's number one hero, but not because it was his childhood dream, not because it was the dream of so many others and it was his job to beat them. No, he'd become the world's greatest hero, so that he could protect Asui from anything that could ever possibly hurt her.
He'd do it all for her.