"𝚍𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚍
𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝
𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚝𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏."

- 𝚒𝚜𝚛𝚊𝚑 𝚊𝚕-𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚑

17


My father died in the hospital shortly after his arrival there, which I learned around 4 in the morning. We didn't really have a relationship. So, I wasn't necessarily sad about it, but I wasn't thrilled either... just kind of indifferent.

Plus, I have a million other things to fucking worry about.

I tried to call my little brother's phone over 10 times, until eventually it just started going to voicemail. He also didn't respond to any of my texts. To top that off, I'd spent more than half the night at the police station and in emergency hero meetings—both where I was interrogated, and completely unsure how to feel about it.

It was like everyone was pointing the finger at me... like, this was somehow my fault.

I'd be a liar if I said all of this wasn't eating at me. I don't know where my little brother is, my older brother has gone completely batshit crazy, and in a room full of heroes, despite what I tell myself, I still feel like a villain.

It makes me feel absolutely worthless. It almost makes me question why I'm even trying to do this in the first place.

The sun was coming up by the time we got back to Bakugou's place. I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was go to sleep and try to shut everything else out.

Bakugou's Point of View

What a fucking night.

Not at all what I was expecting.

I'm worried about Rei. She didn't have much of a reaction to the news about her dad's death—I mean, not that I blame her. I still can't believe what a dick he was to her, even in his final moments. It makes me sick.

Fuck him.

A lot happened, but she's had the same blank expression on her face for hours. Its killing me to know that she's feeling awful and there's probably not a goddamn thing I can do to fix it.

"Rei..." I said, as we walked into my bedroom

"Hm?"

"Are you okay?"

I watched as she slowly slipped one of my t-shirts over her head. I assisted her, pulling her long silvery locks out of the back.

"I think so... I don't know. I'm just tired." She replied

"You sure...?"

She went quiet for a moment as she walked towards the bed.

"I have a lot of questions about what happened." She said, finally "But, I don't have the energy to think about anything right now. Can you just cuddle with me?"

I made a face.

"You know I hate that damn word." I grumbled "...But I'll hold you."

I drew the curtains, shrouding the room in darkness before joining her under the covers. I pulled her small frame close to me, allowing her to rest her head in the crook of my neck.

"Fighting alongside you was the most fun I'd had in a long time..." Rei said

Oh, yeah...That was a first for us outside of training.

"It was pretty fucking sick, wasn't it?"

She nodded.

"Our date was fun too, even though it got interrupted... thanks for hanging out with me."

"You don't have to thank me for hanging out with you, dumbass." I chuckled

"Shut up."

I stroked her soft hair, twirling the ends of it around my fingers. I couldn't stop thinking about how she must be feeling.

"Look—I know you keep saying you're okay, but are you?" I pressed "I'm worried..."

"I don't know. I... I promise you I'll talk to you about everything that happened at some point—but for now, I just need to process it." She said "Also, who are you? Caring about how I feel? Where's Bakugou? I can't seem to find him."

Just when I start to think, hey, maybe she's not completely fucking annoying and the bane of my existence—she proves me wrong.

...And I still like her.

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!"

"This just in—" She said "Local Hero Katsuki Bakugou is MIA after last night's events."

"I. WILL. KILL. YOU."

"Psh. As if you could." She laughed

She pulled back a bit and looked up at me, making my heart jump.

Dammit, is that ever gonna stop happening?

Her pale-blue eyes had deep bags underneath them.

"Get some sleep, Rei." I said "Please?"

"But I wanna stay up and annoy you..." She said sleepily.

"Yep, you definitely need to take your ass to sleep then."

She closed her eyes, not because she wanted to, I think she just couldn't fight it anymore.

"Kacchan..." She breathed "I'm proud of you..."

My face got hot and tingly.

"Eh? Shut up! Why are you saying that shit all of a sudden?!"

"You always get so angry, well—angrier than usual, around Izuku..."

Damn Deku...
And since when are they on a first name basis?

"Tch." I sneered "Its because he's a damn—"

"You're amazing." She interrupted "I know he's your rival, Kacchan. Titles and whatever have never really mattered to me, but if they matter to you, I'll never see you as anything but number one..."

My eyes widened. I didn't know what to say. When people say "You'll always be number one to me"—I never believe them. I think its just bullshit that people say to pacify me, and I hate it.

Coming from her though, it actually meant something.

Jesus fucking christ.
I care about her opinion of me now?
Is this what actually liking someone is? Why do people voluntarily do this? Its excruciating.

"Thanks, babe." I whispered

I kissed her forehead. It didn't take long for her to doze off in my arms, and for exhaustion to hit me like a freight train.


Reiko's Point of View

I woke up God knows how many hours later, unable to tell if the last 24 hours of my life had been some sort of fever dream or reality. My mouth was dry and everything felt hazy and surreal. I reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, guzzling it down quickly.

I was trying to collect my thoughts when I noticed my phone wasn't sitting too far from where the glass was.

I picked it up.

2:17 PM.
1 New iMessage from Bakugou:
went to the agency. IF I SEE YOU HERE I'M DRAGGING YOU OUT! STAY THERE AND GET SOME DAMN REST!

HAHA—he's funny.

You think he'd know me better than that by now.

I showered and got ready. I walked to the agency in somewhat of a hurry. I tried to jog through the lobby, but I ran into Kirishima, who appeared to be on his way out. He showed me his usual toothy grin.

"Rei-chan!"

"Hey, Kirishima-kun. Have you seen Bakugou?"

"Yep, he's in his office working... Um, about last night," He said quietly "Are you... are you alright? I heard the news. I'm sorry about your dad, really."

I shook my head.

I was really hoping that what happened last night was apart of some twisted nightmare, but Kirishima's words slapped me in the face with the harsh reality that it wasn't.

"Don't be. Trust me. I'm okay, all things considered." I said, unsure if that was even true "I wanted to thank you, by the way... for having my back. I know when Bakugou made the decision to take me in or whatever, you didn't have to go along with it, but I'm really glad you did."

I was starting to realize how fucking lucky I am to have anyone in my corner. The few heroes that I have as my supporters... I really need to thank them all.

"What are friends for, right?" He said, warmly "You're a good egg, Rei-chan. Don't forget it. If you need anything, you know where to find me.

I smiled and gave him a tight hug.

"Now, if you'll excuse me—I have a date!"

"WHAT? With who?!"

"Secret!" He waved as he walked off

Its probably Mina. Who else would it be?

"Whatever, text me about it later!" I said

"Will do!"


I burst through the doors of Bakugou's office. He looked up from his desk, but had to do a double take.

"Hey, Rei...wait—WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, DUMBASS?!"

"Uuuugh." I groaned "Please with the yelling. You knew I wasn't going to listen to you and stay in, so don't act surprised that I'm here right now."

"YOU'RE INFURIATING!"

I, of course, started laughing at his wild expression. One of his eyes started to twitch, only making me laugh harder.

"STOP IT!"

"Whatever. You're happy to see me, aren't you?" I asked as I walked towards him.

"No." He grumbled

"Liar."

"DON'T CALL ME A LIAR, IDIOT!"

"DON'T CALL ME AN IDIOT, STUPID!"

"Tch. Just because you're getting quicker with your comebacks doesn't make you better than me, extra." He chuckled "I'm assuming you're here to train?"

I nodded

"Do you have time to join me?" I asked

"Not right now. Maybe later. I have a debriefing with some of the other heroes to go over what happened." He said "How are you feeling, by the way...?"

"I'm fiiine, babe." I said, exasperated

He furrowed his eyebrows, eyeing me suspiciously.

"I am." I reassured him "Even if I'm not, its nothing blowing some shit up won't cure."

A wide smirk spread across his handsome face.

"How can I say no to that?" He said "Oh yeah, since when the hell are we calling each other 'babe', eh? Don't think I didn't notice you doing it last night."

Huh, I guess I have been calling him that.
I don't know... It just feels right. Although, calling him 'babe' feels a lot like referring to a rabid opossum as "cute".

I'm kidding, of course.

"Don't think I didn't notice you saying it back." I teased

"I don't... mind it exactly." He muttered "Promise me you'll take it easy down in the gym, alright?"

"I will." I lied

He rolled his eyes and came out from behind his desk.

"You're a damn brat." He said, before giving me a quick peck "But, I've got a surprise for you."

A surprise..?