Chapter 38: Burst out of the Bubble

Except that Katsuki lose the first two games…

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It was vexing. She knew how he feels right now. He might be throwing a fit to anyone he sees. Fortunately, he got the second place in the Cavalry Battle proceeding him to the next part of the tournament. However, she knew that placing that way, will not even satisfy the seething blond. Other than worrying about the ash-blond's situation, she's actually glad that her friends made it especially for Izuku. The curly-green haired guy doesn't have the time to drop by to her every now and then, but she knows that above all else, Izuku is working hard.

Chiharu is also proud with Eijirou. Heck, she is really surprised that he managed to be with Katsuki's company despite heading off in a tight start. Truly, he is a ball of sunshine. Now, for Shouto, she's glad that he's doing his best but somehow she got this feeling that he's not giving everything. She's not to judge but it irks him to see him that way. He's still mysterious in her eyes, remembering the night where they talked and how Shouto reacts when his father is mentioned.

"Chiharu-chan!" Ochako called from afar, heading towards her with a hefty grin. She smiled, waving towards the bubbly chocolate-haired girl together with Tenya. Currently, Present Mic announced that there will be a short break to replenish each one's energy.

"Let's go to the cafeteria together," Ochako chided, "I'll introduced you to the others!"

Chiharu's smile grew wider, "Eh? Really?!" Hearing the word 'introduce' made her giggly inside. There will be a lot of people whom she can be friends with. Somehow, having an encounter with them is truly a satisfying idea.

"Well, I will call Izu-chan to join us!"

"Alright, Aragaki-san. We will wait for you in the cafeteria," Tenya waved his hand in the air and proceeded to the cafeteria with Ochako.

Katsuki is in a pinch. He's off to the cafeteria when he's put in this situation. Somehow, he doesn't get himself to the reason behind hiding himself when Shouto and Izuku is having a chit-chat, and him eavesdropping. According to what he heard, Shouto is suspecting that Izuku is All Might's love child, which is totally ridiculous. He might be a genius in quirk-handling but he's stupid when trying to deduce things.

Then, the topic shifted towards Shouto's history about his father, Endevour. It is quite serious enough that he's a bit shock about his situations. From what he heard, Endevour is an asshole. In short, that guy has an inferiority complex with All Might and that he's molding Shouto to be the best among the rest. In short, he is using his son to fill the gap that he didn't obtain when he's in his hero record. Whilst, he thoroughly listened to their conversation.

He might even pick up something—the reason—why Todoroki Shouto hasn't used his left quirk in this Sports Festival. It's rubbish. Everyone is doing their best. He should not do things half-baked or what. And it angers him to see that guy being mediocre.

"In my memories, mother is always crying. Your left side is unsightly. My mother said as she poured boiling water to me..."

Katsuki's breath hitched when he heard that. That was worse than he thought, then suddenly…

THUMP!

Chiharu's brown paper bag fell from her grasp. The sound of the falling items echoed all throughout the silent hallway. Some items rolled down to the floor, but she's in no condition to pick it up when her full-attention is in what she heard. Shouto had it hard. She can feel herself crying for him. She is shocked. With her eyes widened and cold sweat running down her features, she can't help but feel the cold breeze sending chills to her spine. It made her furious. No one is entitled to be treated that way. Upon hearing the loud thump, Katsuki's attention snap towards Chiharu across him.

Then, Shouto continued, "You are Aragaki-san's childhood friend, right?"

Izuku can only nod. His heart nearly bursting out of his rib cage.

"All my life I've been a burden," he trailed, "and I'm telling you this because I feel that I also have the need to tell you."

Izuku gulped. His heart raising. On the other hand, Katsuki froze. Somehow, he knew that Shouto will confess about Ryuuji's death. Heck, he doesn't care about Shouto telling Izuku but Chiharu deserves the truth but not in this situation. Chiharu should not hear it just by eavesdropping. Katsuki wanted Shouto to tell her face-to-face. And he intends to halt him from letting her hear.

"I am the kid that Ryuu—"

"Oy, Haru!" Katsuki's voice rang in the whole hallway causing Shouto to quickly shut his mouth. Chiharu also snapped from her delusions and fluttered her eyes towards the blond. Her expression changes from a frown to a quick smile, "O-Oh, Katsuki! Do you know where Izu-chan went?"

"He's here." Katsuki pointed onto Shouto and izuku's position. Upon doing so, the One-for-All user stuttered in his pace, bidding his farewell to Shouto before going to Chiharu's place, leaving the dual-quirk user on his own. As much as Chiharu tried to invite Katsuki and Shouto, they both refused, making the two friends depart towards the cafeteria leaving them alone.

Katsuki huffed, "Don't get me wrong," scowling with his crimson eyes, "It's not I covered you up or anything."

Shouto hissed, "I don't need you to go and protect my secret like that."

The explosive-user's anger is at its limit. With a swift, he found his hand gripping Shouto's shirt again and gave him a piece of his mind," Listen, I am fucking allowing you to get chummy with her because that's what she wants. BUT before doing so, tell her STRAIGHT to her face that you're that fucking kid. Listen, Haru isn't that type of person who will harbor hatred so you better suck-up your fucking emo side and goddamn be brave once and for all. I fucking do not care about your circumstance. My eyes are locked down to her that's all!" He ends his statement with a loud 'harrumph' before storming out of the hallway, leaving a confuse Shouto on his own.

"Tada! Aragaki Chiharu-chan is here!" Ochako opened her arms, really wide, and pointed towards the petrol-blue haired girl. Together with Tenya and Izuku, the trio introduces her to the whole Class 1-A. Some of the Class 1-A had their lunch together, and currently they are maximizing their break times to get to know each other more. Bit by bit, each students introduced themselves to Chiharu which made her chest warm and happy.

"So, on to the real question to why we summon you here," Mina smirked, thinking of interrogating Chiharu with her schemes, "So who is it? Bakugou or Todoroki?"

"EHHH?!" Izuku screeched with all his might when he sensed Mina's questions are turning into 'that' kind of questions, "Ashido-san, you sh-should really stop."

Tenya waved his arms in protest, "Would you mind completing your question, Ashido-san? Aragaki-san clearly does not understand your words at all."

Mina puffs her cheeks, crossing her legs together and sighed, "What I mean is... Who is your boyfriend between the two? It seems like you're too chummy with each other, especially Bakugou. I have never—ever—see him mention someone's name at all! He often refers us to some bunch weird names and I am shocked to know that there is a woman who manages to snags his heart, that sneaky brat!"

Chiharu blinked. Snag? What is even Katsuki doing to their class? Isn't it normal to call them by their names? Questions flooded her mind about the ash-blonde's behavior inside UA. Speaking of which, it's new to her about some other sides of Katsuki and she is eager to learn about this side of him.

"And also," Mina followed, "Todoroki-kun, he never really interacts with anyone besides you. What is your secret?"

Chiharu replied, "I don't have in particular… Katsuki is my childhood friend together with Izu-chan so naturally he calls me by 'Haru'. Shouto in other hand, we are friends right before he enrolled here."

"Well isn't it strange that ikemen floods your way!?"

"I really wouldn't call them an ikemen," Tsuyu rebutted. Then her frog eyes trailed towards Chiharu's eyes, "But, I do sense a special bond between you and Bakugou-kun other than being childhood friends."

"C-Chi-chan, you see, has this special place in K-Kacchan's group of friends. There's no other people who really stood up longer with him but her. So, I could say that they really know each other." Izuku joined the conversation.

"Hey, I have a suggestion, "Tooru cheerfully raised her invisible hand, "I'm really intrigued by this conversation but since lunch time will be over and it sucks that I really wanted to push more buttons especially about Bakugou! Why don't we…" She prolonged her sentence then added, "Have a girls' night out after this event?"

"That's right," Mina second demotion, "Exclusively for girls! I want to know more about you Chiharu-chan!"

Momo, with her eyes gleaming in full stars, offered, "Why don't we do it in my house? I'll prepare lots of food and accommodation to suit your taste!"

"How's that, Chiharu-chan?" Ochako asked the petrol-blue hair beside her.

Chiharu couldn't believe what she heard. Nodding vigorously, the girls decided on their own girls' night out. Meanwhile Chiharu is really happy that she can float on her place immediately. First, she got introduced with some new set of friends then she got ask to go with them and have some girls' night out. With only having a few friends for the past few years, her heart can't stop thumping in excitement when she heard that she belongs in a group. Not only that, it is rather her first to have this night out and wanted to squeal in joy to the events unfolding right through her eyes. This is new to her and she couldn't explain in words how happy she is. She can't wait and tell this to Katsuki.

Wait…

Katsuki?

Why?

For a white, her excitement subdued. There are times that she longs for his presence pretty much every day. She wants to brush the idea that maybe she just got used of him that she feels this way. But of all people, why does she unconsciously search for him? Why does he keeps on popping up to her mind? Why does she deliberately tell him how her day was to him? Why Katsuki? As she searches for answer, Izuku snaps out of her rumblings.

"Chi-chan, can we take a walk for a few minutes?"

"O-Of course, Izu-chan."

They strolled down the whole campus with Izuku pushing Chiharu's wheelchair and her inhaling the fresh breeze of air. It's peaceful and silent between the two of them. For Izuku, he is utterly nervous as hell for the next match with this Shinsou guy. And the only thing that can calm him for now is to have a talk with Chiharu. If he can only describe her in words it would be the sea or the ocean as her tranquility soothes his heart and somehow giving him in courage in return.

"Izu-chan," She called him out, stopping midway in the UA garden. Izuku stomps in front of Chiharu, kneeling at her in response. With a giggle, she brings out her handmade lucky charm and gave it to Izuku, "This is for you. Do your best out there!"

"Thank you, Chi-chan. Honestly, I'm a bit nervous battling against a student as well."

"Why's that?"

Izuku ruffled his messy curly locks and timidly explain his claim, "I still can't completely control my quirk. So, I tried my best out there with just racking my ideas to win with all my might. It might be lame for you to cheer me because of this lame excuse of mine."

"It's not lame," she deadpans, "Why would it be lame when you totally crushed Shouto and Katsuki out there and take note without a quirk." Her hand reaches to ruffle his curly locks and plastered out a smile, "That alone is impressive."

"Chi-chan…"

"I am happy," Her eyes roams around the buildings of the campus, "that I got to watch UA's Sports Festival. And I got to witness how great my friends can be, that includes you Izu-chan. You may not be confident with your skills but believe me you're really good out there. The one who strives the most right now is you—Izu-chan."

"Chi-chan," Izuku with a big determination on his face, promised her, "I promise that I'll give everything I've got and later on thoroughly develop my quirk. I will really make you proud!"

"You really don't have to, geez. I am proud of you already for being admitted here in our dream school." She added, "Wait for me, I'll become stronger too! I will fulfill my promise between the three of us."

"Chi-chan, sorry for not being able to visit you."

"No, it's alright. Though, I really do miss you."

"Oy, Deku!" Katsuki called out, making Izuku flinched.

"Let's fucking switch."

Izuku nodded, then once again turned to Chiharu,"When this is over, I will take you around!"

"It's a date then!" Chiharu chuckled.

Katsuki's ears twitched, scowling onto Izuku, "What the fuck?!"

Izuku stammered, "N-No, i-it's not! Geez, Chi-chan, it's hang out, you know!"

"But, I really miss it…" She mumbled, "The three of us together."

There's a long pause between the three of them. She's not going to lie but before the tragedy that the villains caused her. It's been really a long time when they are able to hang out; the three of them together. She really missed the idea on how Katsuki gets grumpy with Izuku and how bashful Izuku easily gets. He misses their bond. Will they be back? She hopes so.

"W-Well, I really miss it a-also," Izuku muttered softly, as he glances over the grumpy ash-blonde. He knows that Katsuki doesn't miss him at all and will even yell to him for getting to chummy with her presence. As this conversation makes them more awkward than ever, Izuku retreats and left the two of them alone.

As Izuku left, Chiharu initiated that the two of them should sit in the grass and stare upon the clouds. As soon as she stated so, Katsuki has no real reason to refuse her request so he carried her and place her on the grass, sitting beside her on the process as they stared onto the fleeting clouds in the blue sky.

"Hey, Katsuki! You're great out there!" Chiharu initiated.

"I wasn't."

"You are!"

"…"

Then, she began to enumerate his move a while; every single bit of its detail, "Obstacle race; the entire time you're blasting yourself towards the course, fighting off with Shouto while gritting your teeth then came Izu-chan who made you really surprised when he made you as his stepping stone and then blasted himself towards the goal. You were intimidating, idiot. Even in the competition you still wore that grumpy face,

"Shut up, dumbass."

Chiharu giggled.

"And then came the cavalry battle, people surrounded you because you are smart and good in handling your quirk. I am even glad that you picked Eijirou to be one of your horses. And then, you were trying to steal izu-chan's headband while he tries to flee away. But somehow, this blond guy stole your head band and heck you were really furious. You should see your face when your nose is flaring! If looks can kill, you may have kill that guy in an instant. Oh, I was so surprise when you suddenly exploded your way towards him, not even giving two cents about how your team will handle you." Then she paused, leaning back onto the buildings wall as her eyes landed onto Katsuki, "But… clearly, you trust them…"

"I fucking don't!"

She pesters, "You are!" Then she added, "And then, you had your comeback when you blasted that punk's shield and grabbed hefty amount of headband. In the last minute, the cool thing is when you tried to fight your way up to the sky and tried to grab the one million points but sadly… beep beep! Time's up and planted your face first!

Are you fucking Present mic? Repeating all those things. It's fucking embarrassing me, you know."

"E-Eh? Is that so? I just wanted you to know that I did what you said." She laughs, "The entire time you are giving it your all, with those striking crimson eyes while blasting off your opponents, I was looking," she trailed, "At you."

Katsuki gulped. His heart fucking skipped a beat.

NOT NOW YOU FUCKING HEART.

"It might not be what you really wanted me to do. But I literally did what you said! Honestly, Katsuki you were really cool; you gave everything, your one hundred percent—to be the number one! " She smiled crookedly, adding, "You are really great. I am proud of you, Katsuki."

"Stop."

"O-Oh, you don't really like that, huh?

"Just stop talking for a bit." He tries to hide his even more obvious bashful face, "Are you done playing with your fucking friends?"

"Y-Yeah? Ochako-chan introduced me to many friends… And then they invited me to a girl's night out! It's my first time you know." She happily began her story. And when he saw her being so energetic, a small smirk curved up his lips. Maybe, it's not really a bad idea, to let her go outside of her comfort zone. He might as well do the same.

Katsuki huffed, seriousness plastered to his features, "Okay, my turn."

Chiharu frowned. She might have upset him. But she didn't know how to decipher his words when said that she should look at him. In what sense? She tried everything but she really has no clue at all. Her head blobs, staring down the healthy green grass brushing their legs. Katsuki shifted closer to her. Chiharu sighed greatly in her foolishness. As she's about to turn and apologized for what she did, she completely froze in her place when Katsuki leans in and rests his head in the crook of her neck.

Her lips-parted for a few moments. Her cheeks bursts out into red hues, flaring up instantly her cheeks. Her heart is already boisterously leaping out of her ribcage. It was a surprise attack. She didn't get anything she's been feeling. When Katsuki tries to be out of character for a second, everything became blurry and she couldn't sense anything at all. His blond locks tickles her skin, making her emit a shallow and uneven breaths.

Katsuki is driving her crazy.

"W-W-W-W-What a-a-are you d-d-doing?!"

"Recharging," is his brief answer.

She can only squeal in her place. In what sense, did he think he can charge in this moment? Is she his battery or what? What is she to him anyway!? She swears that in another minute she'll be exploding in her position. Katsuki has been acting a bit strange lately. And she doesn't know why? Also, she can't help but notice that she's greatly been acting too nervous around him as well.

"W-What the h-hell is that?" she stammers, as she's about to push him when instinctively he grabs her wrist.

"Don't say anything, you already had fun with those people, it's my turn," he breathed, "I just want to stay like this." Katsuki buried his head deeply into her neck, "please."

Okay, that one word totally blew her off. Katsuki just stated the 'p' word and somehow she couldn't tell if she's happy or he's driving her crazy. She's not used seeing him acting so vulnerable in front of her. Thoughts flooded her mind; wondering if the ash-blond shows this kind side—his vulnerable and rather cute side—to others. Crossing her fingers, she silently and selfishly wishes that she's the only one who can see him like this—the different side of Katsuki that no one knows but her.

After a while, she regained her control over pulse. But still, Katsuki's still burying his head into her neck, and she can absolutely feel the warmth of his breath hitting her nape. She's already beet-red by this point, and she doesn't have the choice but to accept it.

Tic, toc, tic, toc…

How long had the two of them been sitting in this garden in total silence? She doesn't have a clue. But, she can feel, that for now, she wishes time stops and for the explosive guy to not hear the sound of her heart thumping vigorously in her chest.

"…Haru."

"Hm?"

"I…"

Katsuki trailed. Closing his eyes to feel her warmth and smelling her vanilla scent, he prayed to any deity he can name that she won't hear the rapid beating of his heart. He wants to cherish this very moment with her, and he wishes things will stay like this. He wanted to say something—anything to distract his vigorous heart thumping.

"I," once again he breathe, "…thank you."

He is thankful of her—her undeniable support to her. In some way, that wasn't the words he wanted to convey. He wanted to say far greater than just being thankful of her. He wanted to tell her that she's getting prettier day by day. He wanted to tell her how she's driving him crazy and that she'll be the death of him. Is their promise—being each other's king and queen—still valid up to this moment?

Shaky fingers slowly crept up to his hair, settling into its ruffled ash-blonde locks. She lets out a soft sigh, placing her palms and gently stroking his head. Neither the two of them say anything. A small smile crept her lips, enjoying this moment with him.

"The second half of the Sports Festival will start in a few minutes!"

Chiharu happily glided her wheelchair towards the audience's stadium. As she's trying traverse her seat, suddenly, she coincidentally stops onto her tracks when she is met face-to-face with a tall, sturdily-built man with a very muscular physique. He wears a tight, navy turquoise bodysuit with lines of flames streaming across his chest, upper torso, arms and most prominently his shoulders. Chills traveled to her spin, glancing towards the man's cold gaze.

"Endevour…" She mumbled, biting her lip upon mentioning his name.