United We Stand
Chapter 13: The Truth of Katsuki Bakugo
The morning after Kaito's early birthday outing, he'd spend it packing his suitcase for the trip.
This trip will last from Saturday morning (departure) to Tuesday evening (return), and they would leave on the bullet train at ten and arrive in Kyoto by no later than two.
During this train ride, Kaito reveals to Izuku that Shota and Miranda are adopting him.
"Wow, so you'll be Eraserhead's son," Izuku says quietly so other students can't hear.
"No, I'll be Shota and Miranda's son."
"Oh, you know what I mean and don't act like being Eraserhead's son isn't a big deal. How are you going to tell people"?
Ever since his talk with Miranda, the day of Kaito's and Katsuki's fight, Izuku had been calmer than Kaito had expected about him being close with Eraserhead.
"Well, my name will be changed on the roster. Hopefully, they'll just put one and one together, and I won't have to tell anyone outright. Only reason I'm telling you is because I was afraid you'd freak out a little more", Kaito admits, he hates being the center of attention, "Besides, I'm hoping most people will find out during summer and be calmer by the time school starts up again."
"Oh, don't get me wrong. This is definitely exciting news. I'm just more worried about you than anything. I mean, you're right when you say that this will probably stop some of the bullies but that only means the ones who do want to fight you will be all the more determined, and it's not just bullies who will want to fight you. Did you ever stop to think about the villains that may try and search you out because you'll be Eraserhead's son"?
"I have, but regardless he'd still be my guardian. Being adopted by him at least gives me the protection his name provides. Even if it does come with some negative attention, the positive far outweighs the negative. Besides, I'm obviously not just doing it for the protection".
"I-I-I never said you were," Izuku stammers out, "I'm just saying you need to really think about things before you just jump in like that."
At that point, Kaito would pull out his new book to go over with Izuku, and it worked in changing the subject before Kaito got irritated.
Upon arriving in Kyoto, all the students on the train would be restless and attempting to stretch their legs before they'd be jammed in tour buses and shown around the city.
They'd arrived on time, and upon stepping off the bus, Kaito immediately noticed Katsuki waiting for the three of them with their luggage. Due to Katsuki still being on a short leash, he'd been forced to sit with one of the teachers but would be allowed a bit more freedom if he remained with Kaito.
Obviously, Kaito was not very thrilled with being followed around everywhere he went. However, he'd gotten closer to Katsuki since the fight and found he was looking forward to walking through the city with him and Izuku.
"Thanks for getting my bags Katsuki," Izuku thanked with a smile.
"No problem, nerd. Are you two slowpokes ready or what", Katsuki asks frustrated that the two had taken so long to get off the train.
"What's the plan for the agenda tonight," Calvin asks as he pulls out the sheet handed out by the teachers.
It appears that in a few hours, the students would go on a tour of the city and then return to the hotel for dinner before going to one of the cities shrines to pray for a good trip. In the morning, they'd be headed straight off to Hero Cor where they'd stay till lunch. Afterward, they'd be taken around to a few monuments around the city, and then to the city's rather extensive library so they could start researching their paper they had to write about basically anything regarding Kyoto.
For the first half of Monday, the students were free to do whatever if they stayed in designated areas, but the second half would be spent taking a college tour in the city. Then they'd be watching a play about a legend regarding the city.
Tuesday, they'd get one last chance to get some information at the library, and then they'd be heading back at one. With any luck, they'd be back by dinner Tuesday night.
Calvin was interested in the play. Kaito was interested in the monuments and history. They were both incredibly excited for the tour of Hero Cor, especially since some new friends would be there, and they'd promised to say hi.
Hero Cor is one of the world's hero headquarters, and by far, Japan's largest hero conglomerate. While the different hero agencies occupied certain cities and districts, Hero Cor organized them all as a single entity.
"I've been reading up on the tour we're going on. Apparently, we'll be driving right past Hero Cor four times", Izuku's notice of that reminds Kaito that he isn't the only one who is excited about Hero Cor.
"Yeah, we'll also be passing the police headquarters," Katsuki points out, somewhat out of character before he picks up his bag and heads after their teacher who is trying to gather up all the students.
"That was weird," Calvin mutters regarding Katsuki's comment.
After dropping their stuff at the hotel, the tour of the city began.
Atop a rather elaborate double-decker tour bus, they rode around the city while a narrator describes landmarks using the loudspeakers.
Kaito couldn't help but chuckle at how the narrator's elongated nose flopped around much like a cat's tail.
"There it is," one of the students says in awe.
In a flash, all students conglomerate on the bus's right side to get a better look at Hero Cor.
With walls as tall as the neighboring buildings, the complex covers several city blocks and is barely off the city center.
"And to our right is the legendary Hero Cor. As the heart of Kyoto, it serves as the hub for all hero activity in Japan. Number one hero All Might is currently stationed here at Hero Cor to assist in the hunt of a dangerous villain who has been sighted in the area", the narrator explains.
"Oh wow, I had no idea All Might would be here," Kaito chirps at the idea he might run into him.
"Do you think we'll see him at the tour tomorrow," Izuku asks Kaito excitedly.
"Doesn't matter if we do," Katsuki snaps before Kaito can answer, "Hey, announcer guy! When are we going to pass the police headquarters"?
It was at this moment that Kaito began to get irritated, and Calvin began to understand.
For the remainder of the trip, Katsuki continuously tried diverting all attention to the police headquarters, the police stations, and even the uniforms some officers were seen wearing.
At first, Kaito thought that maybe Katsuki wanted to join the police force and that perhaps he wanted others to be interested with him. Afterall he did seem like the type to thrive off other's approval.
So Kaito let Katsuki try to shine the light on the police academy. Only when the police academy finally came into sight, and Katsuki pulled Izuku to the point that Izuku grunted in pain did Kaito finally step in. Stepping between them and forcing the two apart, Kaito inserted himself into what Katsuki was trying to accomplish.
"What's your-."
"No man, what's your problem. Everyone's just trying to enjoy the tour. If you think the police academy is amazing, then good for you but back off", Kaito interrupts much to the anger of Katsuki, who is now snarling at the younger boy and Calvin.
"Whatever," Katsuki grumbles out before walking over towards a group who really were head over heels excited for the police headquarters.
Hell, even Kaito was excited to see it. He just didn't want Katsuki trying to shove it in everyone's faces like that. It was especially true if it meant he would hurt people only so they'd pay more attention to it.
"We need to talk with him," Calvin whispers in Kaito's ear, and Kaito can't agree more.
He spent the rest of the tour close to Izuku and trying to make sure he enjoyed the rest of the tour. Knowing the older dark green-haired boy thought he was probably worried sick about what was going on with Katsuki.
Later that night at the shrine, students approached one at a time, rang a bell, and bowed while saying a little prayer to the rather attractive purple-haired shrine maiden.
After each student was done, they were instructed to walk back to the hotel and start to settle down for the night.
"Hey Kaito, can you even hear me"?
"Hmm, oh sorry, Izuku, just a little distracted," Kaito apologizes with a deep blush on his cheeks.
"You know with how much you obsess over girls; I'm surprised you don't have yourself a girlfriend yet," Izuku comments with a laugh.
Instead of laughing back, Kaito nearly feels ready to throw up as the memories of a pretty blonde who just wanted to share a meal passes through his mind.
"Are you ok Kaito," Izuku asks, worried.
"He just needs something to eat. You go on back up to our room, we're going to go eat a milkshake in the dining room", Calvin explains with a smile so Izuku would maybe worry less, "We'll be up in a jiffy."
Despite Izuku trying to protest, he did go upstairs when they'd arrived at the hotel, and Kaito soon was eating a milkshake as he sat and tried to shake the dark memories.
"Thanks for that, Calvin."
"It'll get easier, Kaito, just remember I'm always here if you need to talk," Calvin answers back gently.
With a smile, Kaito closes his eyes and takes a big sip of his milkshake, and when he opens his eyes, he's only slightly surprised to see Katsuki sitting down across from him.
"We need to talk," Katsuki growls out.
"We were thinking the exact same thing," answers Calvin.
"Why were you so interested in trying to get everyone to pay attention to the police headquarters," Kaito asks.
"Because he wants Izuku to join the police force," Calvin answers Kaito's question much to the surprise of the two boys.
"But why," Kaito asks.
"How is that even a question," Katsuki growls out, "Izuku doesn't have a quirk."
"So? UA is removing the requirement for a quirk in order to attend their school at the end of this year", Kaito answers, having been told so during breakfast with Shota one morning.
At that, Katsuki's eyes widen, and Kaito is taken aback because they weren't widened in anger. They were widened in fear.
"Damn it," Katsuki went from fear to fury as he slams his fists on the table,
"Katsuki, calm down," Calvin orders with a growl.
After a few moments of Katsuki shaking in silence, he lets out a deep breath and looks directly into Kaito's eyes.
"Have you ever heard of the hero known as Iron Man," Katsuki asks.
"Can't say that I have," Kaito answers.
"Yes," Calvin answers, much to Kaito's surprise, "He was the first pro hero without a quirk though some suggest he had some kind of quirk that improved his intelligence. To fight, he built robot suits with some of the most advanced weaponry in the world".
"And do you know what eventually happened to him," Katsuki grumbles as he looks down at the table.
From the noise Calvin made, it isn't hard for Kaito to guess the answer to that question.
"Did you know that me and Izuku used to be really good friends because our moms are really close"?
"Yes," Kaito answers since Izuku had told him that very fact just the other day.
"Izuku would always follow me around, and it only got worse after I got my quirk. He'd always tell me even if his quirk wasn't as strong as mine, he could still be my sidekick", Katsuki explains, and Kaito saw Katsuki smile lightly at the memory.
"But Izuku never got a quirk," Calvin destroys the smile with a few words.
"It was about this time that Iron Man got really popular. He'd only been a hero for a few months, but the fact that he took down two villains without a quirk of his own got him a lot of attention. So, I showed up at Izuku's house with a notebook like the ones he carries around now. I had spent all night drawing up ideas, and when I got there, I asked him if he really wanted to be my sidekick. He, of course, said yes, and I showed him the ideas I had for a suit that used weapons powered by my nitroglycerin sweat. He loved the idea, and for a bit, he didn't seem so sad that he didn't have a quirk", Katsuki stops talking for a moment to wipe away tears, "He may be an annoying bastard, but he was still my friend, and I didn't want to see him cry."
"That's when it happened, isn't it," Calvin asks sadly, and Katsuki nods.
"What happened," Kaito asks.
"Iron Man was fighting a villain by the name of Shockwave. Iron Man was the closest hero available, and despite being warned about the villain's electrical powers, he went anyway with the hope of saving people at a distance at the very least. When he arrived, people cheered, but before he could save a single person, Shockwave used his quirk to let lose an EMP blast. Iron Man fell from the sky, like any regular person would. When he crashed down, the villain Shockwave made a show for the news by ripping him out of his suit and using electricity to roast Iron Man alive, and they broadcasted the entire thing live", Katsuki explains with a look of distress heavy in his eyes.
Knowing how it was to look back on dark memories like that, Kaito pushed his milkshake to Katsuki, who took a sip in thanks and then just held onto the cold glass.
"That's when I realized it would never work. No matter what weapons were made for him and no matter the suit. Izuku couldn't be a hero, not without a quirk", Katsuki explains with a heavy heart.
"So that's why you pushed him away," Calvin asks.
"It didn't start out like that. First, I challenged him to fights, and I used my quirk. He said it was unfair, but I told him he'd be fighting villains without a quirk of his own eventually", Katsuki explains harshly, "I wanted him to realize that he simply couldn't hold against someone with a quirk. I hoped he'd eventually give up on becoming a hero. When that didn't work, I just kept being meaner and meaner to him until I was more bully than friend".
"Wait, so that's why you attacked me," Kaito's eyes widen in revelation.
"Me and Izuku were in the same play pin when we were toddlers, and suddenly here you come along and act like you know everything about me. It doesn't excuse my behavior but you kind of pushed me over the edge", Katsuki affirms Kaito's revelation.
"So that's why you were trying to get everyone excited about the police headquarters. You want Izuku to try and go a safer route", Kaito asks, knowing the precautions the police took in a world full of villains. It is still by far one of the most dangerous professions, but at least they had numbers and took their time to strategize before charging in.
"Yeah, no matter how much it isn't fair, not all men are created equal, and you can't be a hero without a quirk. If you don't believe me, you can probably ask All Might himself. After all, he was the one who ended up defeating Shockwave and collecting Iron Man's corpse", Katsuki answers with words he wished weren't true.
In response, Kaito couldn't say anything. Despite him wanting to scream at Katsuki and tell him that he's wrong, he too began to realize the truth. That because he didn't have a quirk, Izuku Midoriya could never become a hero.
It just wasn't realistic.
That night when Kaito returned to his and Izuku's room, he did so unable to look at Izuku as he told the older boy that he was tired and going to bed.
Despite the worrying eyes the Izuku sent their way, not even Calvin could say anything else, so the three just went to sleep. When they woke up at four in the morning, Kaito and Calvin got in the shower, and as the hot water cascaded down on them, they prayed for the world to be different. If only for Izuku's sake.
Disclaimer: I do not own the original characters, storyline, or themes of My Hero Academia, Life (2017), or Marvel..