"Absolutely not."
Those were the first words out of Endeavor's mouth right after Amari boldly explained to him why she wanted to go back to train with Hawks for her provisional exams. In fact, they were probably the fastest words he had ever uttered his entire life, now looking at the small child like she was a complete idiot.
Expecting the rejection but not that quickly, the girl blinked in surprise before trying to make her case again, flapping her arms out in reason. "Come on Endeavor, just listen to me.."
Although that was not the man's speciality, now huffing as he mulled through a large crowd of people in the street. She had caught him on patrol after all, knowing it was the only time he couldn't fully shout at her decision. There were too many people for that.
And that only added to his displeasure, Todoroki's father cutting her off immediately. "No, I will not listen to your foolish reasonings, no matter how much you try to make sense of them. Now leave me alone, I have work to do.."
Hawks couldn't help but prop his feathers up as well, brushing by a young couple before speaking back in his normal cocky persona. "I get where you're coming from man, I really do. In fact, you would be crazy if you didn't think something was up, but me and the kid talked and…"
Endeavor didn't seem pleased by that answer as well, now stopping his steps in order to tower over Hawks' short statute with authority. "I don't care what kind of words you used in order to get her to take your side. I will not make the same mistake again and let you ruin her all over again you spineless bird."
Cringing at his words choice, Amari frowned before stepping in front of Hawks in order to protect him from the verbal abuse. "Hey hey, hold on. This was my choice, he didn't coax me into anything, okay?"
Although the man couldn't help but scoff, already knowing her personality well. "And you expect me to believe that, given your past record?"
A look of hurt crossed through Bakugo's eyes then, realizing that his words were indeed true. Not too long ago she would've followed any crazy promise as long as it made her feel loved and wanted. But now, things were different, now she understood who Hawks really was.
Noticing her silence, the bird tried to speak up for her, his wings spread out in response. "Whoa, that's a little harsh there man, don't cha think? Chickadee is just a good hearted person, that's all."
Yes he was being rough, but Endeavor just couldn't fathom why Amari would want to go back to this obviously shady man when all he did in the past was hurt and manipulate her. He just couldn't understand why she was still hanging out with him, why she was still protecting him.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Todoroki's father only frowned. "I know, and that makes her a target for people like you who think they can do and say what they want. I said no and that's final."
Bakugo puffed her cheeks out in frustration as Endeavor started to turn away, causing the girl to panic, now seeing Hawks chase after him. This wouldn't work, he very clearly hated Hawks and refuses to be honest with him around. "Endeavor, wait..I…"
Moving up to the bird, Amari then placed a hand on his shoulder before whispering. "Let me handle this.."
Hawks twisted his brow in confusion, not fully understanding how this small girl was going to make the number one hero change his mind. If the hero knew one thing, it was that Todoroki Enji was always very set in his ways.
Continuing to follow the man, Bakugo then twisted her brow before shouting back something that would definitely make him stop. "Shoto talked to you, didn't he? About training him again.."
And that certainly did cause the man to freeze in his steps, turning around only to meet Amari's serious face. He was going to ask her how he knew such information but it was obviously that his son probably already told her. "And what does that have to do with this?"
Narrowing her eyes, the girl spoke back plainly. "Endeavor, you and I know you can't train us both. You're too busy and.."
Already knowing where she was going with this conversation, the man's voice grew dark and low. "I'm not discussing this. My hero work is none of your concern."
Shaking her head in exasperation, Amari only pushed further though. "Oh please, you don't think I notice how run down you are all the time now? This is what you've always wanted Endeavor, a second chance with Shoto, a chance to start over. You have to take it."
And Amari had seen it many ways. His sullen eyes, the mountain of paperwork on his desk all the time. He couldn't do it all, and the girl understood that. That's why she was suggesting this, for his health and well being. "Forget about me and.."
Hawks then watched as Endeavor's eyes widened his anger before stomping up to the girl and grabbing her by the arm before pulling her into the nearest alleyway. Oh shit, he was gonna yell at her, wasn't he?
Once they were free of people, the man let go only to speak back roughly. "Don't be foolish Bakugo. You would rather waste your future by going with this shady bird then allow me to do my job? Did you forget, I agreed to train you, I took that responsibly."
Grumbling at his stubborn nature, Amari scoffed. "I'm trying to help you here! I'm giving you an easy way out old man, stop being so god damn stubborn about it already! Shoto needs you, he's finally willing to give you a chance! You know how rare that is!?"
Hawks couldn't help but widen his eyes at her rough nature, mostly because of the similarities between her and her brother. He caught glimpses before but there was no denying it now, the two shared the same rage.
Screwing her lips together, the girl seemed to realize it as well, trying to take a calming breath before she went full Bakugo. "You can't afford any distractions. If I train with Hawks then.."
Yet it seemed like Endeavor was not taking her attitude well, only crossing his arms in disgust at what she was suggesting. "And you think of yourself as a distraction? What about that annoying goal of yours, what about your license? You would throw that all away just for my son?"
The words seemed to tumble out of the girl's mouth before she could ever think about them, like they were the easiest things in the world to say. "Of course I would! I would do anything for Shoto! He will always be the most important thing to me, you know that!"
Her tone sounded so incredibly desperate causing Hawks to raise his eyes in shock. He knew she loved that boy but this was something else entirely. This was fully blown dedication, something on a deeper level he couldn't understand.
The girl wasn't having his rough tone though, stewing to herself silently. Why was he still trying to keep her around. It was like he thought she had a future or something. How comical.
She fully knew that All for One would kill her someday so this wasn't what he should be focusing on right now. He needed to get back together with his family, before it was too late and she couldn't do anything to help anymore.
Running her hands through her hair, Amari then sighed roughly, almost like she was exhausted from this whole thing. "Why are you doing this to me? I've been trying so hard to help you get back together with your family, I've been working for this and it's finally happening.."
Bakugo began to shake her head before finishing plainly. "I know I'm a pain in your ass, so just make it easier and let me train with Hawks. Then you won't be so exhausted, you won't be so pained. Come on Endeavor, you know I'm right.."
She sounded tired, like the girl had been putting up a fight for many years before reaching this point, causing Hawks to step forward in question. There seemed to be some sort of tension he didn't know about, some sort of hidden information that he was missing about this whole thing. Why did Amari seem so desperate all of a sudden about this?
Staring back at the girl, Todoroki's father took in her words before a hard silence entered through the air. He hated when she did this, when she disregarded her own future for someone else. It was like she didn't value herself fully, that she was fully willing to sacrifice herself for those she loved. And that was a very dangerous notion to have in the hero world.
Taking in breath, Todoroki's father finally spoke back a moment later, although it wasn't the response Amari hoped for. "You may think your sacrifice is righteous but it's only idiotic in every way imaginable. Your future career is my responsibility, regardless of what my son desires from me.."
Bakugo couldn't help but let her mouth hang open in disbelief at his words. She didn't understand, he didn't get why he was still trying to keep her around. Amari fully knew she was only a replacement for his family, because she was only one who didn't turn him away.
That's all it was, she knew that from the beginning. He didn't actually care about her, so why was he making it seem that way now? "You're the one who's being idiotic. Just give it a rest already, will you? I think we both know why you took me on in the first place so cut the crap.."
Noticing the heavy tension in the air, Hawks couldn't help but speak out in hopes to quell it. "If I could add.."
Although that's when both Endeavor and Amari turned to him before shouting in complete unison. "No!"
Because of that, he took a step back, allowing Todoroki's father to huff in disagreement." What are you even saying child? I took you in because of your small sliver of potential…"
Scoffing loudly, Amari fired back immediately, without really thinking about the audience or the words she was actually saying. "Bullshit, we both know I'm just a replacement. Stop sugar coating it into something else.."
Endeavor twisted his brow in frustration before replying back. "What are you implying?"
Balling her fists by her side, the floodgates of Bakugo's emotions came pouring out then, her eyes blinded by grief and rage. "I'm implying that no matter how much you wish it, no matter how much you may think we are the same, I'm not Toya!"
A hard air of silence appeared after her words, causing Amari's voice to lower in volume right after. "I'm not a part of your family, I'm just a sick kid that you pitied, alright? You never wanted me as Amari and that's fine, so don't try to paint it as something else, don't give me that kind of hope.."
Sighing roughly, the girl finished."Go be with your family, cherish what's important and stop worrying about me. They need you, they've been waiting for you to be a real father."
Hawks watched her eyes fall then, a sense of hurt in her own words. He didn't know what was happening and who this Toya person was but he seemed pretty important to the both of them. In fact, at just the name he watched the two falter. What kind of power did this unknown person have on them?
Feeling like she wasn't going to get a response, Amari then turned on her heels before calling to the bird over her shoulder. "Come on Hawks, Let's go.."
Although just as he turned around, the two heard Endeavor's voice, gentle and small. "Amari, wait.."
At the sound of her first name, the girl turned just slightly only to see the man's sullen eyes, the age around his face now more telling than ever. "You don't get to tell me what's important and what's not.."
Frowning at his response, Amari opened her mouth to fire back when his next words caused her insult to immediately get lost in the back of her throat. "I value your future just as much as I do my children"
Bakugo couldn't help but widen her eyes at that. "W-What?"
Endeavor only took a step further in response, his tired eyes boring into hers. "You are correct in a sense. I do see Toya in you, I see it so perfectly clear some days, but that's not why I agreed to train you. It's because you have that stubborn spark of a hero I once had.."
Twisting his head away, the man spoke again, almost like he was slightly embarrassed in his words. "So don't act like you're doing me a favor by disappearing. I've already had to live through that once and I don't wish it again.."
The words crashed into Amari all at once before a lump of emotion caught in her throat. She always thought that she was just a replacement for Toya, a placeholder for the boy in order for Endeavor to fully process his grief.
But hearing him now, hearing the way he supported her, it made her almost want to cry. She knew she wasn't a part of his family, she knew that someday Dabi would come back and she would be casted out, but his words couldn't help but make her hopeful.
Maybe he saw more in her after all, and that was enough for Amari to smile. He really cared, didn't he? "Aww Endeavor…"
Seeing her goofy grin, the man couldn't help but groan, already knowing he was going to be made fun of for being so soft. "Don't even start Bakugo, otherwise I'll take it back."
Amari couldn't help but giggle to herself though, already trying a new approach, his caring words giving her a new understanding as she blinked away the unnecessary tears lining her eyes. "Alright alright, you got me. I'm not going anywhere."
Then she took a step forward before glancing to Hawks from the sidelines. "I know you care, and I know you are just looking out for me but trust me on this one. Besides, if anyone knows about giving people a chance to change, it would be you, right?"
Endeavor hated it but she had a point. He was the biggest offender for wanting to change, for people turning away from him because of it. It was kinda hypocritical if you looked at it that way.
Narrowing his eyes, the man then turned to Hawks before frowning. "It's not you I don't trust.."
The hero only gulped back before speaking for the first time after their very heated argument. "I know, I know but I promise to care for Bakugo right this time. The commission has nothing to do with it, this is my own choice."
Todoroki's father couldn't help but catch onto one of his words, never knowing the man to do anything without the commission. Well that was new. "So you had a change of heart then? Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Hawks closed his eyes for a moment before softening his stance, something very vulnerable for him. "Yeah, I guess I kinda did. It was chickadee here, she really showed me something and I wanna repay her for that."
Then he curled his lips into a small smile, something that Endeavor had never seen before. It was real genuine emotion. " She deserves to be a hero, don't you think?"
Todoroki's father remained silent then, staring between Hawks and Amari before thinking about the absolute emotion in his voice. He sounded different, he sounded real. It was something even the number one hero couldn't understand from him. Perhaps he did care.
It took a couple more seconds before Endeavor closed his eyes before sighing loudly, his voice rough and plain. "I already know that. And if you really think that too, then you better be prepared to take responsibility."
Widening her eyes in surprise, Bakugo then turned to the man before gasping. "Wait, is that a yes?"
The man only ticked his tongue in annoyance though, already making his way out of the alleyway. "Don't regret your decision Bakugo. I won't forgive you if you end up failing your provisional exam. Remember, you still represent my agency."
Curling her lips into a small smile at his approval, the girl couldn't help but bow to her trainer, eyes full of utter joy. "Don't underestimate me old man. I think you already know I'm gonna pass."
Although the man didn't reply, only leaving the alleyway silently as Hawks' mouth was still hung open in shock. "You amaze me kid. I honestly don't know how you did that."
Bakugo only shoved her hands in her pockets though, looking up at the sky in a wishful gaze. "I guess the old man does care. Funny.."
Shaking her head, the girl then turned to the hero. "Alright, what's the plan Hawks?"
The hero couldn't help but grin at that, already having an idea from his back pocket. "I thought ya never ask. How do you feel about inviting your brother to train with you?"
Well that wasn't something she would've expected him to say. In fact, it caused the girl to turn her head in utter confusion. "I mean I don't mind, but why?"
Hawks only lifted one finger in response though, his mind set. "You'll see. You just gotta get him to my agency and I'll take it from there. I would do it but I don't think he likes me that much right now.."
Still not fully understanding, Amari replied. "Katsuki doesn't like anyone ever so don't take it personally. I can see what I can do though. "
The hero couldn't help but clap his hands at that, already excited for the plans he had tomorrow. "Alright chickadee, sounds like a plan!"
After a short conversation, Bakugo made her way out of the alleyway in order to get back to U.A. before dark as Katsuki would be worried in a couple hours.
Although, just as she turned the corner, the girl was rammed into by a large body, his chest causing her to hobble a few steps to the left and almost fall over. What the hell is with his guy? Was he standing there the whole time?
She opened her mouth to get him to apologize when the figure huddled away quietly, causing Amari to twist her brow in confusion.
What the heck was that?
Moving towards the edge of two, the figure then removed his sunglasses and large black coat before staring down his hands in utter confusion and shock.
He had made the crazy decision to follow Endeavor around, just foolishly trying to disprove Bakugo's crazy theory, the one saying that such a garbage fire of a man had changed. He couldn't believe it, he wouldn't believe it. It wasn't true, people like that couldn't change.
But that was until Dabi heard Endeavor and Amari's conversation with his own ears, and heard the man that he once called father not turn away from her, even though Bakugo was fully ready to give up her own happiness for Shoto.
He recalled the conversations he had with his father in the past, the ones that left him broken and torn apart on the inside. The one where that man called him a failure because he was so weak, because he was useless.
But if that was the case when why hadn't he turned his back on Amari, why hadn't he dropped her just like he did with his own children? It didn't make sense.
So much so that Dabi couldn't help but feel an unwanted ball of utter jealousy course through his veins. This girl wasn't even a part of his family, she didn't even fit the definition of strong that Endeavor had valued through the years.
In fact she should've been so painfully average in the eyes of that man, so much so that Bakugo should've been tossed out on her ass in just the first couple days of his training. That's what happened to Dabi after all, and they were practically the same.
But if that was the case, why did his father care for her in the same way he always wanted, why did he speak so kind and gentle?
Dabi hated it, he hated that it reopened those ridiculous past memories and feelings. He hated recalling how much he longed for that, how much he desperately wished to be accepted by loved in that manner.
But the thing he hated most was that sliver of unsaid hope that crept into his mind once again.
Waiting for Katsuki outside of U.A. the next day, Amari leaned back and forth on her heels, wondering just how in the hell she was ever going to get him to agree to train with Hawks. From the sound of it, it seemed to her like her brother went full Bakugo on the guy, and that was never good.
So much so that her wandering found its way to the back of the building, the girl stopping suddenly when she realized where she actually was. This was the same spot that she caught Kazumi and Kenji arguing with each other.
Letting her eyes fall, a sharp vision of Kazumi's lifeless eyes flashed through the girl, causing her to shiver at the sight. Maybe this was her conscious bringing her to this spot, the spot where she could've saved him.
Amari then gave herself a breath of courage before moving over to the corner, placing one of her hands on the very area where Kazumi was pushed into during their fight.
A hard ball of emotion coursed through her then, the girl shoving her own despair down in order not to seem suspicious. Why did it have to be like this?
This boy, he had a family, he had a brother that loved him and she just took it all away. She only thought about her own selfish desires and did what she thought was best. And now, Kenji had lost his only brother, all because of her.
Closing her eyes, she felt her body turn before sliding down the ground, Amari's back now pressed against the wall as she tried not to cry, not to mourn for the boy that was manipulated into believing he was weak.
She hated this, the cycle that Dabi was referring to.
Just then, a loud voice caused Amari to wake up out of her trance, the tone forcing her to lift her head from her hands. When did she put them there? "Oi, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Blinking in surprise, she re-focused her eyes only to find Kenji staring back at her, very clearly annoyed.
When she tried to speak Amari then realized her voice was far raspier than anticipated. "K-Kenji?"
He didn't seem pleased though, already moving up to her before slamming his foot on the wall just behind her, causing the girl to flitch. "I asked you a question, shrimp. What the hell are you doing here?"
Taking a shaky breath, Bakugo tried to piece herself back together before standing up quickly in order not to anger him. It was the least she could do after killing his brother. "O-Oh, I uhhh.."
Yet Kenji spoke over her so suddenly, causing Amari to screw her lips shut in familiar anxiety, one she hadn't felt in awhile. "Hurry up already. What, are you deaf?"
Gulping, the girl immediately slipped out her next words without really thinking about them, like she was on autopilot. It was something she hadn't done since Katsuki and she talked and cleared the air. "Ah, sorry..I didn't...sorry.."
She did know why apologized but the girl suddenly felt like she was bothering him, like he was being burdened by her. It was a familiar very awful feeling.
Kenji spoke over her again though, his rough voice cutting her off immediately. "Stop apologizing and get on with it. I don't have all day…"
It happened before she realized it, causing Amari to shut her mouth in devastation. What the hell was wrong with her? Why couldn't she speak? "Ah Sorry, I was just..uhh...relaxing. It's been a long day."
The boy stared at her for an uncomfortable long amount of time, almost like he was trying to figure something out before speaking back a moment later. "You should give up on being a hero."
Widening her eyes in utter disbelief, Amari's mouth ran dry. "Excuse me?"
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Kenji then grew pained before glancing to the spot she was before, the spot where Kazumi used to be. "This place isn't for people like you. You'll only drag us down."
This got Amari absolutely livid, wondering where his brash attitude was coming from. He wasn't like this at the press conference.
Back then he seemed far more desperate than anything. "Whoa whoa hold on there. I think you're forgetting that I'm the one that stuck up for your brother at that press conference. The president was going to bury Kazumi but I made people talk about his death. Is that dragging you down?"
Yet the boy didn't seem pleased in the slightest, just brow twisting his disgust. "So what do you want, a metal or something? His murderer is still out there. You got any information on that?"
At his words, Bakugo couldn't help but freeze, her eyes hollowing slightly as Kenji continued cruelly. "Listen, I'm about to give you some tough reality. People like you are only gonna burden us in the end. So why don't you do all of us a favor and go back to America where we don't have to pick up your mess anymore…"
Kenji's words cut her deep, in a way that Amari couldn't comprehend. It was just the familiarity of the words, the cruel nature of his voice, it was like she had traveled back in time. So much so, that she didn't have a response.
Just then, another voice joined the mix as the girl felt a warm hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her own delusions. "What the fuck did you just say about my sister, you extra?!"
Blinking in surprise, she looked up only to find Katsuki glaring back at the first year, murder in his eyes. "Katsuki, what are you…"
But she was quickly cut off as Kenji answered for her, causing the girl to flitch again and Katsuki's eyes to darken even further. "This just proves my statement. Your weakness is going to be the death of your brother, you know that?"
Balling her hands into fists, Bakugo immediately stomped up to the boy before poking a finger into his chest. "Listen up here. First of all, your statements don't mean shit. Second of all, you must seriously be an idiot if you think Amari is weak. Anyone with eyes and a decent brain can see that. And third of all, how about you shut your goddamn mouth and stop cutting my sister off.."
Amari reached forward as well, hoping to quell the fight even Katsuki did something surprising, he walked away. "Let's go Amari. This extra isn't worth your time."
Grabbing her arm, the boy then began to pull her away towards the front of the school, Amari noticing the vacant and distant look in his eyes for some reason. Why did he look ashamed?
She then twisted her head before calling out to him quietly. "Katsuki, are you okay?"
This seemed to cause her brother to wake up, his eyes pulling away from hers. "Yeah, what about you? I heard what that bastard was saying. You don't believe him, right?"
Smiling softly, Amari replied. "Of course not. I just, I couldn't stand up to him for some reason. I don't know what it was. It felt strange, but not a good strange."
Bakugo's lips dipped down into a frown then, knowing perfectly well why his sister felt uncomfortable. He was surprised she hadn't figured it out yet but then again the boy was thankful, not wanting to express his guilt right now.
The boy then let out a frustrating sigh before changing the subject. "What did you want to talk to me about anyways? You were being so damn cryptic last night."
Widening her eyes, Amari seemed to then realize that whole point of her waiting outside, the girl clapping her hands together in excitement. "Oh, right! Well, I know you're not gonna like this but hear me out, okay?"
Her brother couldn't help but be skeptical though. "I already don't like this."
The girl only slapped him on the shoulder though, a small huff escaping her lips. "Oh shush. Let me finish before you bitch alright? I was talking to Hawks and he wants you to join our provisional training together!"
She gave the biggest grin at that, laughing nervously as her brother frowned. "You are still training with that asshat? I thought you were done?"
Laughing even further to clear the air, Amari replied. "Yeah well, plans change. He's actually not that bad, and I even got Endeavor's approval to continue training with him. So what do you say, you wanna help?"
She then raised her brow, trying to coax the boy further before adding something she knew he'd love. "I'd really love it if you came, and on the bright side maybe he could give us some tips about opening that agency we want? He would be the person to ask.."
The air was quiet for a moment, Katsuki not wanting to do anything that the hero wanted, just for the sole purpose of pissing him off. That man broke his sisters heart after all. Why should he give him shit?
But then he thought about Amari and how she was going back to train with him. If that asshole was going to use her again then he wanted to know, he wanted to be the first to stop it.
And for only that reason, he agreed. "Fine."
When they reached Hawks' agency a couple hours later, the bird was beyond thrilled to see her brother in tow. He honestly wasn't sure if she was gonna pull it off. But then again, Amari managed to convince Endeavor of all people so he knew her skills were impressive.
Not wanting to waste this second chance that he had been given by the girl, he quickly rose from his seat, immediately lifting out his hand in order to seem as friendly as possible. "Oh, there you two are! I'm so excited you decided to join us Bakugo. You're not gonna regret it!"
Although Katsuki only stared down at the hand before scoffing and slapping it away, the respect for the man nonexistent. "Don't touch me, and the only reason I'm here is so your shady ass can't do anything to my sister. You better watch yourself."
Blinking at a loss of words, Hawks then retracted his hand before laughing nervously. Maybe this was a bad idea after all. "Ah, well I certainly see your point there. No matter, I'm just happy you're here, given that we kinda disagreed before.."
Amari's brother didn't find his words comical though, picking up on his light hearted tone and answering plainly. "I hate you."
This certainly caused the hero to stop, causing Amari to elbow her brother in the side roughly a moment after. "Katsuki cut it out. He's trying to help us. I get where you're coming from but can't you be a least a little grateful? We are gonna need his help, you know with agency stuff..."
Katsuki let his mouth hang open in disbelief at that. "Huh?! I don't need anyone's help, never mind a lowlife like him! We can open an agency without his half ass advice."
Crossing his arms in front of him, the blonde haired girl couldn't help but sigh, pointing a finger out in reasoning. "You and I both know that we need all the help we can get and Hawks has decided to take our problematic asses so quit being such a dumbass, will you?"
Bakugo only grumbled to himself at that, knowing that she was right in a sense. The two weren't really the most popular in the hero world cause of their actions and having the number two hero on their side could really help their chances of having a successful agency after they graduated.
Although that didn't mean he had to like it, still not trusting the hero for anything. It was a shitty situation but this is what they had. "Whatever."
Knowing she had won, Amari sighed a second time before turning to a dumbfounded Hawks. Were these two always like this? "Sorry Hawks, Katsuki is quick to judge most of the time. Just ignore him and he'll stop. I'm grateful for your help."
At the plain insult, her brother then opened his mouth again, fully willingly to curse her out loudly. "Why you…!"
But before he could do that, Amari quickly covered the area with her hand, cutting off his words in an attempt for him not to ruin the meeting. "Anywayssss, what do you have planned for us?"
Hawks still seemed surprised by the explosive nature of the two siblings. In fact, he hadn't seen them interact before so this was certainly new. He kinda wondered how Amari kept her brother in check sometimes. This was going to be a handful.
Clapping his hands together, the bird then decided to get back on topic. "Uhh right! So, I was going over your file and I noticed something about you two. Your weaknesses tend to set you back from reaching your full potential most of the time."
Amari then uncovered her hand from her brother's mouth before turning her head in question. "What do you mean?"
Lifting his hands up, the hero immediately pointed to the girl. "Chickadee you have a wide range of problems but they mainly root from pushing yourself and your quirk limit. You tend to take things too far which is extremely dangerous on the battlefield. Along with being physically weaker than other heroes in your age group, your gold matter quirk is far stronger than your explosion one which heavily limits your capabilities."
Amari couldn't help but tick her brow in annoyance as he kept listing off flaws. Yes they were true but that didn't mean it didn't hurt a little. "Okay, now that you've listed off my insecurities would you like to add anything else?"
And the bird did just that, now turning to Katsuki before continuing. "And your problems stem from your lack of teamwork and communication skills, which was the sole reason why you failed your provisional license exam in the first place. You also have a problem holding back and don't listen to others and frankly just have a terrible attitude about everything. Long story short, heroes can't trust either of you."
Katsuki as well didn't seem very pleased by his flaws being too openly described like that. "You have a point to this?"
Nodding back happily, the hero replied a moment later. "Yes actually. Have you two ever worked together?"
His words sounded strange to the twins, Amari answering the question first. "Yeah we have. I mean, we are in the same class and everything."
Although Hawks responded plainly. "No no not like that. I mean have you two either worked together in combat. Like not as enemies?"
The two took in his statement before scoffing all at once. The answer was simple, of course they had fought together before. They had to have done that..
Yet as they thought about the question even more, the twin couldn't help but draw a blank. Ever since Amari and Katsuki entered U.A. she had saved his life, fought each other in the sports festival, and argued more times then she could count, they knew that..
But that's when the heavy realization crossed their faces.
Wait, Hawks was right. They had never fought together or worked as a team before. It was always one on one or fights where the two looked at each other as enemies. Why hadn't they noticed that before?
It was always Amari against Katsuki, and it seemed Hawks realized that also, now smiling back. "When will you two realize that you are twins, which means you are two halves of the same whole."
Remaining quiet, the two then let the hero continue. "Yes you have flaws, but have you ever thought about using each other to counteract those flaws? I think that if you can do that, then you two can really be something special.."
Amari soaked in his words before looking down at her hands. Working together, being each other's strength, could they really do that? It was something the girl had always desired as a child.
And although this was something that was instilled in her as a kid, somehow she became clouded by desire and her own twisted mindset to get stronger, to fight for her spot.
But what if she wasn't ever meant to fight her brother, what if they were always meant to work together? "You want us to fight together?"
Nodding back, Hawks lifted his hand before gesturing to the two kids. "Exactly! Your brother has the strength and power, you have the strategy and heart. You just have to balance your strengths and weaknesses together, be what you two were always meant to be, two parts of the same person."
Widening her eyes, the girl turned to her twin before recalling the rocky relationship the two shared for years. Katsuki and Amari did come from the same egg originally after all, they were meant to be one person, one mind.
But when the split happened it each created a void that could never be replaced, a hole that could only be filled by each other. They were like two puzzle pieces that always clicked together, opposites but the same, different but similar in many ways. That's what Katsuki and Amari always were, ever since the beginning.
Why hadn't they seen in before, why were they always so blind in their own desires? It was like it was right in front of their faces the entire time. Ever since birth, every since the day that they became twins..
They were always meant to fight together.
It seemed like Katsuki had the same realization as he locked eyes with his sister causing a thousand of unsaid words to pass between them with a heavy silence.
Hawks watched the two with confusion, that was until Amari and Katsuki smiled at each other at the same time, the girl speaking out confidently and smoothly.
Yes, everything made sense now. There was certainly a kind of clarity now, one that they would never forget. "When do we start?"
Hearing a loud knock on his door, Kenji stumbled out of bed before aggressively opening the surface, wondering what kind of person would disregard his desire to be left alone.
Although when the two locked eyes, the first year couldn't help but frown, now seeing that annoying blonde haired boy from earlier. "What do you want? You back to play white knight for your sister again?"
Katsuki narrowed his eyes in disgust before ignoring the statement. "I need to say something to you, so shut up for a second before I punch you."
The boy couldn't help but be confused by his statement, He had heard a lot about Bakugo Katsuki but the two had never actually met before this so he didn't understand why he was on his doorstep now.
Taking a breath, Bakugo then turned his head away before speaking plain and small. "It's your guilt isn't it? That's what made you act like a dumbass, cause you saw your brother in Amari earlier."
Kenji couldn't help but widened his eyes at the boy's statement, his heart twisting in unsaid hurt. How did he know, how did he know that he saw Kazumi in that girl? "What are you.."
But before he could finish, Katsuki did so for him, his stance falling that slightly. "Listen extra cause I'm only gonna say this once. The way you are handing it, you're gonna regret it. Lashing out in anger, running away from it and being an ass, that's not gonna change shit."
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Bakugo continued. "You feel like it's your fault, like it would've been better if it was you, right? You hate yourself because of it."
He stopped when Kenji reached forward in order to hit the boy, not liking that he was reading him like a book. "What the hell are you saying. What kind of fucked up narrative are you making up!?"
Although Bakugo was easy to doge the hit, stepping aside from his punch. "You can take my advice or not but don't throw your self hatred on my sister. She's had enough of that to last her a god damn lifetime."
Scoffing at his statement, the first year huffed without thinking. "Oh yeah, and who did she get that from, you?"
He meant it as a joke, as a throw away insult that the boy would brush off.
But he was certainly surprised when he watched Katsuki's eyes sadden, a thousand invisible needles stabbing him all at once. "Not that it's any of your fucking business but I know what it's like, okay?"
It confirmed Kenji's question without a second thought and that made the first year boy falter just slightly. Why did this boy know how he was feeling, why did he fully see through his anger and guilt? He didn't like it. "H-How would you even know.."
Bakugo then closed his eyes before balling his hands into fists. "I just do, the guilt, the hatred, it's very easy to think like that, alright? Condemning yourself, wishing for a different outcome, it's useless as shit. It's not going to change anything, it's not going to give you what you want…"
Lowering his voice just slightly, the boy then recalled his sister's face when she forgave him for his unruly thoughts, when she accepted him as he was. It was something he would've never imagined, something he always thought he wasn't worthy for.
And now they were standing together, fighting together, working through everything together. It was truly remarkable. "Whatever your reasons are, If you only focus on that then you'll miss out on what's really important."
Turning his back, Bakugo then took another calming breath before walking away from the very distraught first year, his words echoing on repeat over and over again.
He couldn't help but stew about them and their meaning. His reasons, his choice, it wasn't something Kenji could comprehend just yet.
Oh wow we got lots of development here! Endeavor not giving up Amari, Dabi seeing dad Endeavor, Amari and her brother working together finally, and Katsuki using his past experience to talk some sense into Kenji.
But can we just talk about Katsuki here. Like damn, he really pointed out his past behavior in Kenji and personally went to him in order to stop it. Wow, that's some spicy character development.
Also I low key got super emotional when Amari and Katsuki realized that they were meant to fight together all along. Everyone has grown so much and I just *cries proudly*
Now my peeps, it's time for the finale arc, and all the drama that comes with that.
All for One's been awfully quiet lately after all...
Next Chapter: Provisional Exams.
