The twentieth of April is coming up soon. This means that it'll be Bakugou's 22nd birthday. Cecelia has no idea of what to give to him as a gift for that day. But she is even more nervous of what she should do as she's pacing side to side around the conference room. This is when Kirishima walked in and asked, "Hey Cecelia. You looked a bit troubled. Is there something wrong?" At first, she was going to refuse on answering his question, but she doesn't want to be a liar by hiding what she's truly feeling. She decides to speak up as she said this: "Kirishima? I'm not sure how to say this without being a bad person. Umm..." In truth, she wants to tell Bakugou of how she feels about him since the first day of U.A. High. But she's not sure if now will be the right time or not. Remembering how much Bakugou respects Kirishima, perhaps having a advice from a friend that he trusts could give her the answers that she needs. He said to her with his usual manly grin: "Don't worry about it! It's okay if you don't want to tell me or if you're feeling uncomfortable. Just know that I'll be here if you need a friend to talk to. I won't judge and will do my best to give you my honest advice." She sighed and then said to him when looking into his eyes of brightly red: "But that's the thing. If I tell you of what's been going on in my mind, you might judge me for my honesty." She took a deep breath in and out before continuing on: "You see...since the first day of U.A. High, I start to develop a crush on one of our classmates and eventually developed more than just a crush. I wanted to tell him how I feel while training to improve myself for the both of us and everyone else. But no matter what I do, I would always be reminded that I am Quirkless. But do you want to know what's mentally and emotionally worse for me? The guy that I mentioned of being in love with...and probably still is even if I would be rejected...was and will always be Katsuki Bakugou..." She continued on as her head turned away a bit from Kirishima: "But while I want to be honest of how I feel as I always would be, I don't believe that I have the right to do that. What if he wants to work things out with Midoriya again? I don't want to be the one who is the obstacle between them. What should I do?" There was a bit of silence between herself and Kirishima at this moment in time. He starts to think of what to do, especially when this involved the three of his many best friends. He knows Cecelia to be the most honest yet most considerate at the same time. He knows Bakugou and Midoriya have broken up, but there is a slight possibility that they might end up together as a couple. He turned to her and responded: "Look Cecelia. I have known you to be the kind of friend who is both honest and considerate. You're also the kind of hero that I know who would selflessly put others first before yourself. If I were to be in your shoes, I would confess to Bakugou but will also give him the freedom to follow whatever his heart wants."
Cecelia fears the possibility of rejection, but she can't force Bakugou to be in love with her the same way. She nodded her head silently and turned to Kirishima before saying this: "Thanks Kirishima. You really are one of the many good friends I know." While that was happening, Bakugou shows up at Kiyo's office in recommendations of Yume when he is addressing not just anxiety but also the mixed emotions as he would be around Cecelia time and again almost every day. Kiyo looked up from her seat and asked: "So tell me, young Bakugou. What has been on your mind that has been bothering you?" Bakugou tried to quickly yet thoroughly collect his thoughts in a certain order. But knowing that he couldn't think of this rationally, he began to speak all that was on his mind: "This has been going on for a few months after Deku broke up with me. Miya was my former classmate and later became a friend that I start to highly respect when she took me in her missions that involve life outside this world where Quirks exist. I admit that I find her life a lot better than mine and I start to find myself wanting to spend more time with her. But here's where I'm probably the worst. While I want to apologize to Deku and perhaps work things out again, I couldn't stop this aching feeling of guilt whenever I see Miya. What the Hell is going with me here?" Kiyo thought of an solution when she recalled of how Cecelia would show in little ways that she's secretly in love with Bakugou but never pursue because he was with Midoriya. She then mentally made a plan as she said this to Bakugou: "I could be wrong despite of my profession. But is it possible that it's because Cecelia means something to you? Like she's someone that you might consider amazing? I would suggest this as the last resort. Try and talk to Cecelia if you're not comfortable to share your thoughts with Midoriya. Who knows? Maybe, Cecelia would even have something on her mind but didn't want to tell you out of fear." Bakugou gets of why Kiyo said that she could be wrong and that talking to Cecelia about his problems can be the last resort to see if he'll be open about it. But at the same time, it's highly possible that he's feeling something towards her. Was it infatuation or admiration? Or could it be something that he was missing? His birthday is coming up, so only time will tell.
On the 20th of April, this counts the day of Bakugou's 22nd birthday. Kirishima got Bakugou a heat-vision tracker that he can wear as a watch to detect anyone from day to night who is likely hiding from him. The gifts are cool and useful of which Bakugou appreciates quite a lot. Cecelia was hesitant to give Bakugou this gift that she has in mind after even Uraraka got him these coupons to this restaurant that only serves spicy foods and he can bring someone with him. Cecelia gave everyone a envelope and each one has these tickets and passports to Magnolia Town. Bakugou was the first to speak up and said: "Wait! Isn't that the town you mentioned that you were born from?!" His expression was in shock and awe because he has heard of the other Dragon Slayers that are like Cecelia and he did say about wanting to see into the town someday. He just didn't expect that she would arrange all of this for even him. He surprised everyone by hugging her for ten seconds before he pulled away and mumbled a bit in embarrassment. She said with a light chuckle and a smile on her face: "It's okay, Bakugou. You must have been feeling excited. I did remember you saying of wanting to meet even the Dragon Slayers like Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox with Laxus Dreyar." Midoriya got Bakugou this upgraded Hero Costume that can take in Quirk attacks to channel into kinetic energy that he can mix into his Explosion Quirk. So far, the birthday is going well as Cecelia is about to pick up the courage to tell Bakugou of her feelings for him. But as she turned around, she sees Midoriya with him and he said this: "Kacchan...I have noticed how much you have been doing well for yourself. I am happy for you as I am even doing better myself. Umm...I have been thinking for quite a long time now. It has been about a few months since we have broken up. I want to say that I forgive you..and if you want to...I was thinking that we could perhaps get back together again and see ho things will go for the second try." In that moment, Cecelia felt her heart shattered and she dropped her glass cup of lemonade iced tea as she ran. Feeling concerned both Midoriya and Bakugou ran after her and Kirishima said this to Uraraka and Iida: "Uh oh. I think I know what's going to happen next." That's when the trio along with Kaminari and Sero with Mina and Tsui followed along. They grabbed their umbrellas when Iida was precise to notice the gray clouds that will likely rain down hard soon. Cecelia ran to the outside bench that has a glass roof to block off from the rain that got her quite wet as she stood underneath it. Finding herself alone for the time being, she starts to cry in her tears of her heart being broken. It didn't take long for both Midoriya and Bakugou to find her despite that the rain became heavy when pouring down from the sky.
Bakugou spoke after catching his breath from running: "Alright Miya. You got some explaining to do. Why did you run off like that? You even got Deku here all worried." Cecelia turned her head to the side and said without looking at the two: "You really don't want to know why I tried to get away from both you and Midoriya. As much as I want to...if I do, it will only make things worse." Midoriya spoke up and said when looking at her with concern: "Cecelia...you are the most honest besides Kacchan that I know from U.A. High. At the same time, you always withhold of what you truly want for someone else. So please tell us what is on your mind and what's been bothering you. Even I want to help just like you have helped us all time and again." She knows that she can't hide the truth, but she also knows that it will ruin what could be the chance for her own happiness. She stood up from her seat on the bench and turned her back on the two childhood friends that might consider going back together again. She mustered everything from the inside and spoke as her voice is breaking from the tears: "Bakugou...since the first day of U.A. High, I start to have a crush on you. At first, I thought that it's just a small infatuation towards you from your personality. But the more time passes by, the more I realized that I'm falling in love with you..." Her body shakes when feeling the shocked expression on Midoriya's face and Bakugou felt his heart skipped a beat in shock. She pushed herself forward to continue on: "I didn't want to tell you...of how I felt and still feel about you, Bakugou. You see...if I confess to you and I get rejected by you, I feared that we wouldn't even become friends anymore. But even if you do feel the same about me and we could try out as a couple, it would only make Midoriya's life miserable. So I thought that I should just give up on you...so no one could get hurt. But the more I ignore my feelings, the more unhappy I become. And now...hearing Midoriya wanting to get back together with you...I just regret of being in love with you, Bakugou. Now, I don't know what I want...! I'm so stupid! This is all my decision in the first place! Bakugou...Midoriya...you two better make your second chance count. Goodbye...and Happy Birthday..." She ran away again before either of the two would stop her.
Bakugou was left in shock and even Midoriya didn't know what to say. They just found out that Cecelia is in love with Bakugou but never stepped in between the two of them out of her painful selflessness. He spoke up after the long silence: "Kacchan...do you feel the same kind of feeling to Cecelia like you did when you were with me?" Bakugou was just about to berate Midoriya for that question, but he stopped himself to think. Cecelia has been the only one who has been pushing aside her heart's desire because she wants him to pursue his own happiness. It's been proven time and again for even now. And at this moment, he is at a loss of what to do. Midoriya spoke up when looking up: "You should go to her, Kacchan." Bakugou turned around and was about to shout something. But then, Midoriya said more: "You're more free around Cecelia. You have even become a better person and I don't want to be the one to get in the way of what makes you happy." He tried not to cry because he might have thrown away his chances to try again with Bakugou. But who is he to stand in the way of a new beginning? He said this when looking away: "And Kacchan...I forgive you." Bakugou couldn't believe his ears as he hugged Midoriya before he ran out in the rain to find Cecelia. By the time Bakugou have left, this is when Uraraka came over and Midoriya cried as he fell into her arms as the two of them sat down on the bench. Uraraka thought to herself: "I want to tell Deku how I feel about him for the longest time...but not yet. I'll wait until he gets his life together. Until then, I'll be someone that he can turn to..."
Disclaimer Notes:
*Natsu Dragneel, Gajeel Redfox, and Laxus Dreyar are the characters from the anime called Fairy Tail