Chapter 10

Before he knew it, Katsuki was back at school.

They discharged him shortly after Inko's visit and the last checkup he had, which was a relief because staying in that stuffy room was not fun. Deku called it a punishment for getting hurt, but regardless of what it was, Katsuki was free of it now.

The jagged scar across his hand, from the surgery, would probably not be going anytime soon, at least according to the doctor. However, the scar on his cheek would most likely disappear after some time, but how much Katsuki couldn't say.

Katsuki could tell that Deku was happy. Really happy.

It was because of Katsuki's talk with Inko and her reassurance of what Deku had been saying for a long time.

Katsuki was nervous when he walked up to U.A High School once again. He didn't know what it was, maybe the distrust he held in the staff at the moment. Or possibly something else? It was more a feeling and Katsuki couldn't put a name on it but he didn't exactly feel safe.

"It WILL be okay." Deku smiled at Katsuki with an underlying tone of 'don't be too insecure now, please'

"Yeah?" Katsuki looked up at the large sprawling structures in front of him.

Deku nodded.

"Go give em hell for me, Kacchan."

"Already planning on it." It was something very bold to say, but Katsuki knew it was the answer Deku was hoping for. A glimpse into a different Katsuki, one who was a bit more aggressive, and a bit happier.

Katsuki straightened his posture as he walked into U.A.

A lot of students ignored him, but others seemed to whisper and it felt as though the whispers, however faint they were, we're following him.

Katsuki just powered on to put his backpack away, and then to Class 1-C.

It was only after he had sat down, and let go of a breathe he hadn't realized he been holding in, that he saw Eyebags walking towards his desk.

"What happened to you?" He asked.

"U.A's incompetence." Katsuki replied harshly. The harshness wasn't directed at Eyebags but instead said with frustration.

Eyebags sent him a look of amusement and confusion.

"Sounds like someone's unhappy."

"You know it." Katsuki huffed out as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"What about you?" Katsuki figured he should probably show at least a little human decency.

"Me?" Eyebags sounded surprised, as if people usually didn't ask about him.

"Yeah, you dimwit." Katsuki grumbled.

"Pleasant as always, I see." Eyebags smirked. "No, but I'm fine."

Katsuki raised his eyebrows at Eyebags. The way he said it didn't make it seem like he was fine, but he knew he shouldn't press.

The two sat together in silence for a little bit, before Eyebags said one more thing.

"You're a real asshole."

Katsuki looked at him with a look of confusion and amusement.

He opened his mouth to reply with a witty remark, but Cementoss had walked into the door before he could.

"Good morning Sensei." The class echoed, but Katsuki just crossed his arms before leaning back in his seat.

Throughout the morning Katsuki did his best to ignore the concerned and pitying glances from Cementoss. But, he still noticed them and so he decided to just zone off as Cementoss gave his spiel on upcoming events and anything important.

"I'm sure you have heard of the attack on Class 1-A" Cementoss was looking right at Katsuki, who decided to pay attention, "Although it was something horrible, you all still have the Sports Festival to look forwards to. There is the opportunity of transfers into the Hero Course if that is what you are interested in." The class started to whisper among each other, but Katsuki narrowed his eyes before smirking.

He was going to win that fucking festival, and when they asked if he wanted to transfer he'd stun them with his unchangeable

"No."

Yeah, Katsuki was going bring fucking hell to them. The thought of it almost made him feel giddy.

Cementoss looked at Kastuki thoughtfully before stepping back, allowing Present Mic, who Katsuki didn't know entered the room, to start his lesson plan. Katsuki didn't really care for his lesson, so instead he planned out what he be doing for the Sports Festival. He knew Deku wanted him to use his quirk, but it wasn't an option at the moment. He had to beat everyone quirkless, he just had to. Katsuki looked down at his desk full of focus. He always avoided watching Sports Festivals, he had no use but because of that he had no idea what to expect. He'd just have to train harder than anyone else. And well, that wasn't hard. Katsuki knew he could beat everyone in General Studies, regardless of their quirks. He already knew what they were, and so he'd have to go into Deku mode and analyze Class 1-A and the other classes. He'd gain more equal ground that way with-

"Bakugou!" Present Mic shook Katsuki from his thoughts.

"What?" Katsuki asked gruffly.

"Please answer the question on the chalkboard."

Katsuki grumbled his protests before answering Present Mic's question.

The rest of the morning passed by slower than Katsuki had wanted, probably because of the pitying and angry looks some of the teachers gave Katsuki. It was pathetic. He wanted none of it. Although, anger was more acceptable than any pity.

At lunchtime Katsuki just wanted to be done with the day.

He wished for a peaceful lunch with no distractions.

Clearly nothing was going how he wanted to because he found Eyebags talking, unhappily, with the stupid fucking idiots who decided to visit him in the hospital.

The second Katsuki saw them he turned around completely. He didn't want to talk to them at all, so instead he sought out a different lunch spot. He wasted a few minutes trying to find someone he could eat lunch by himself, before Deku gave him an option.

"How about the roof?" Deku mused.

"Hmm. It works." Katsuki grunted as the two made their way to the roof for lunch.

There is a nice breeze outside as Katsuki sits in the very middle of the roof. He smiled a little bit, it was a nice day, except for everything that had happened so far.

Deku walked towards the edge of the roof with a curious look on his face.

It was a quite peaceful day, he observed. There was a soft murmuring of students walking around the campus, and a few teachers slipping into classrooms. It was the kind of environment that was comforting and inviting. It was what Deku would've wanted if he could've had it. Even simply watching the happy grins and glee laughing put him at ease. Katsuki was lucky to be here, regardless of shitty staff members.

Katsuki hadn't realized Deku was standing near the edge until after he had set his lunch down, and sat next to it.

"If you want a quirk that badly why don't you take a swan dive off the roof and hope for one in your next life!"

"DEKU!" Katsuki screamed as he stumbled forwards with the hopes of reaching his friend. "STOP!"

Deku turned his head with confusion at Katsuki's words. He turned his head back as he observed U.A's campus. All the sudden it struck him. Katsuki was afraid, he was scared with Deku being so close to the edge. He thought he was going to jump.

"Sorry, Kacchan." Deku said sheepishly as he scratched the back of neck. He took a few steps backwards before turning back around.

Katsuki's face began to twitch as his face was set with a deep frown.

"Be fucking careful, and don't go near the edge again." Katsuki ordered Deku harshly.

"Didn't know you had control over me." Deku muttered sarcastically, but Katsuki just sneered at him before sitting back down next to his lunch.

Deku laid on his back next to Katsuki, staring up at the sky.

"What does falling on a cloud feel like?"

Katsuki's face visibly softens.

"Probably like falling through mist, dumbass."

"Sure. But, would it?"

"You're a fucking idiot."

"Awww... You know you love me!" Deku flipped his body so that he was on his stomach and looked at Bakugou with wide puppy eyes and his hands positioned to frame his face.

"I can take it back"

"You wouldn't!" Deku narrowed his eyes.

"Sure"

After a few seconds of silence, Katsuki shifted his body so that he was lying on the ground next to Deku, with his back pressed against the solid roof. It was nice to be in each other's company as they sat together for a few minutes. Katsuki felt at peace as the breeze rolled over him.

"Kacchan." Deku said, breaking the silence.

"Mmm."

"I need to talk to you about something important."

Katsuki gestured with his hand to get Deku to continue talking.

Deku sighed heavily before speaking.

"Look, I understand you want to make it to the top and win the Sports Festival without using your quirk, but you can't."

Katsuki furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to say something.

"Let me finish." Deku ordered, "As a kid I always wanted to be a hero, and to save people, but I never worked towards it. I sat around wishing and whining for something to change. I understand that more now. I would have never been able to make it to U.A Hero Courses, and I wouldn't stand a chance at the Sports Festival unless I had support gear and worked my butt off eyerday to get stronger. That's how society is."

"Bullshit." Katsuki grumbled as he sat up.

"IT'S NOT!" Deku yelled, "You keep idolizing me, like I was some perfect person. I'm not even close! You keep an image if me as that quiet, smart, and clingy nerd, but ignore all my imperfections. You claim it's all your fault even though I had a stake in in too. STOP PLACING ALL THE BLAME ON YOU! If it wasn't you who bullied me it was going to be someone else!"

Katsuki looked at Deku in shock.

"NEVER. SAY. THAT. AGAIN." Katsuki screamed. "YOU FUCKING DEKU. You really think it's your fault? It's not, not even close."

"Whatever" Deku snapped harshly. "I'm not perfect, and I wasn't strong enough to fight back. That's my fault."

"NO. IT WAS NEVER YOUR FAULT" Katsuki fumed as he stood up.

"You're missing the point!" Deku said in an exasperated tone. "I'm not perfect, and I wouldn't have been able to make it as far as you have. I share some of the blame, whether you think so or not. And, by not using your quirk you're hurting me even more."

"No. No. That's not true. My quirk only hurts people." Katsuki put his hands on his head as he panted heavily.

"YOU'RE WRONG!" Deku had tears in his eyes. "I never had a quirk, and by not using yours it's disgraceful."

Katsuki looked at Deku in shock.

"You're not using what I always wanted."

Deku stood up, and turned his back on Katsuki.

"It's ironic, really. WHY CAN'T YOU SEE?" Deku shook his head. "Why can't you see? If you don't use your quirk you're taking for granted what I have always wanted to have. You're wasting it. It's the biggest disgrace to me."

Deku turned around, and Katsuki saw how broken the boy looked. His eyes were red, and tears streamed down his face.

"You're my hero." Deku smiled faintly. "But you have to be your own hero, too."

Katsuki dryly chuckled.

"What's that about idolization? I am a bully, yet you only see between the lines. You see what could've been. Not what did happen. I've been a disgrace to you all of my life, and I don't know if that will ever truly change."

A few tears slipped down Katsuki's cheeks.

"No, Kacchan. I saw what others refused to see."

"You think that, but it's wrong. All along through my life I thought you were looking down on me, and yet you were my hero, all this time. I'm no ones hero."

"Then be your own! Save yourself from what's happening."

"I FUCKING CAN'T." Katsuki clutched his hair. "And I don't know if you can either."

"Kacchan you're a victim, not a villain. Stop thinking your are." Deku took a few steps towards Katsuki.

"I don't know if I can believe that anymore. I told you to kill yourself. I did that. And... and... you actually jumped. You actually listened... why did you listen."

"It was time."

"BULLSHIT." Katsuki looked at Deku with a desperate glare. "Please don't tell me you believe that."

Deku looked down at his feet, with a guilty expression on his face. Katsuki closed his eyes as he shook his head. Deku wasn't entirely wrong in the fact that he was idolizing him a bit. Well, maybe it was a lot. Katsuki had forgotten Deku was a human, and was full of anxiety and problems. Human problems. But that was no excuse for him to blame himself, and yeah that was pretty hypocritical, but the situations between him and Deku were different.

Katsuki wiped his eyes, and started to pace on the roof, but he didn't stray too close to the edges. The more he thought things through the more tears started to spring in his eyes against his control.

He had to stop being weak. It seemed all he did these days was cry, have panic attacks, and yell at people. That really didn't speak well towards his character, and he was all too aware of that. He hated how pitied he was, how people looked down upon him. Deku especially. But, at this point he couldn't even say he deserved the pity.

The Katsuki of the past would've loved to be saved of the pitying glances, but now he almost wanted it. He wanted someone to care about him. Which was fucking stupid because pity and caring were so different, but Katsuki didn't care anymore. He didn't, he really didn't.

Katsuki violently shook his head before stopping his pacing, and looking at Deku with an intense gaze, and speaking what had been on his mind for a long time.

"STOP PRETENDING! I'm a fucking monster. You know that, but you refuse to admit it." Katsuki frowns, "Why?"

"You're so eager to be the bad guy." Deku looked up at the sky, "You just want to understand everything. Not all emotions have words, you know?"

Deku smiled faintly at Katsuki, before a look of overwhelming sadness overcame him.

"It's hard. It's hard when I have to convince myself that you're a good person, and I have to convince you." Deku clasped his hands together. "But monsters are typically supposed to be imaginary beasts who are frightening. And it may not have ever seemed like it, but Kacchan, I'm not afraid of you. I never have been truly afraid of you."

Deku started to play with his shirt, and he looked down as if he was afraid. But, Katsuki could hear how his tone was laced with hope and forgiveness.

"Sure you frightened me on occasion, but that doesn't mean I was scared of you. I was more scared of what you saw of yourself. I'm scared of what you've become, and how you've driven people away. I was scared about what would happen to you."

Katsuki couldn't stop it. Tears started to stream down his face.

"T-then... then why did you jump?" he could barely choke out the words.

Deku let out a short, dry, humorless chuckle.

"I really don't know. It'd not something that can be explained. Pain doesn't really work that way, and even though I want to, I can't tell you."

Katsuki suddenly sat down on the ground. He stared ahead, blinking occasionally, but not moving much otherwise.

"And I wasn't born again with a quirk, but I got an even better gift." Deku smiled as he knelt next to Katsuki.

"I got to be your friend."

"You were always my friend." it was very quiet, but Deku heard the words coming from Katsuki's mouth.

The two sat in more silence.

Deku knew there were thoughts mulling around in Katsukis head, two sides of him were arguing over morals and what the right thing was. Deku wasn't a stranger to Katsuki's behavior. The Sports Festival was coming up, and he had to convince Katsuki to use his quirk. He knew it would be odd and a bit rude to turn the conversation back to Katsuki's quirk use, but he had to do it. He had t help Katsuki win the Sports Festival and gain back some confidence.

Deku sighed deeply before saying the words he knew would once again change everything.

"Again, Kacchan, you really need to use your quirk."

Katsuki groaned unhappily.

"Not this bullshit again." he snapped harshly. It really wasn't the time or place to come back to this.

Deku sharply breathed in.

"Fine." he spoke much colder than Katsuki was used to. "You're too stubborn, you know? I don't understand it. You don't use your quirk because you think it will be hurtful to me. No. It won't. The last time you thought you were doing something to help me, you instigated suicide."

Katsuki's eyes widened as he raised his head to look at Deku in bewilderment.

"Don't get me wrong, you're not one hundred percent at fault, but you need to stop doing what you think will be better." Deku knew he was being harsh, but especially after the conversation they just had he had to be harsher. He couldn't keep treating Katsuki's delicately, and using his quirk would only help him heal even more. "I'm here to help you. So if you won't use your quirk for yourself, use it for me."

Katsuki kept staring at Deku in disbelief.

"PLEASE!" Deku begged him.

"I need time to think." Katsuki murmured.

Deku frowned. He wanted Katsuki to just agree with him, but he knew the healing process would take more time than that.

He had to respect the other's wishes, so ultimately he nodded. Then he stood up and started walking towards the stairs where he would leave Katsuki to think things over. It would be good for both of them to have some distance, it had been a while.

"Loving someone means you never give up on them, no matter how things may seem. I love you, Kacchan, and I will support you, quirk or not. But, please do this, if not for yourself, for me." Deku smiled encouragingly at Katsuki. "I'll come find you when you're ready."

Katsuki stared at the door in which Deku had just left. He was shocked. He had asked for time to think, but he half thought that would only mean they would abandon the conversation entirely. He hadn't expected Deku to just leave like that. Katsuki didn't know how long he stared at the door before he was finally able to pull his eyes from it, and turn his body, so that his back was facing the door.

He couldn't over-analyze what Deku leaving really meant, it wouldn't turn out well and his mind was already falling into the questions such as:

What if he'll never come back?

How long had he wanted to leave for?

Is he finally happy now?

No, he had to think about what Deku had said about his quirk.

Katsuki winced as he brought his knees up to his chin, and wrapped his arms around them. It made him feel safer.

He knew having a quirk as powerful as his was amazing, and so many people dreamed of having it. He never wanted it, and he would gladly give it away if anyone asked him, but that wasn't really possible.

"That's why you need to use your quirk, Kacchan! You have to help those who aren't as fortunate!"

Katsuki could almost imagine Deku saying it to motivate him. It brought a faint smile to his face.

Alas, the smile fell in place of a frown as Katsuki thought about how Deku actually wanted him to use his quirk. He felt as though he was being stabbed when Deku had mentioned how Katsuki's help had never got him anywhere. It was true, but what Deku was trying to say was off. He believed Katsuki could do something good, but he knew better than to trust Deku's biased opinion.

Katsuki ran his hands through his hair before raking them over his face.

And what was that about "I'll come find you when you're ready."

What the fuck did that mean? When he was ready... did that mean when he would use his quirk? Because that would take a very long time. And how could Deku find him, well Katsuki was at U.A so that might not be too much of a problem. It's not like Deku didn't know where he lived.

But where was Deku?

Katsuki put his legs down as he thought about how harmful his quirk has been. It's hurt him, and Deku. Not to mention he's also hurt his parents and probably other people too. But, why had Katsuki not used his quirk for months?

The more he thought about it, Katsuki realized he really only stopped using it because of Deku. He didn't really care about those other people, as morbid as it sounded. But they weren't reduced to a little puppy that had to unwillingly follow its owner for the rest of their lives.

Katsuki really didn't know anymore. He was a horrible person, yeah. He had only hurt people, sure. But what did that mean for him? What was he to do?

The more he thought, the more he frowned. He was being led down a darker path than he wanted. A path Deku usually pulled him out of, but he couldn't do it now. And who knows maybe it was good for Katsuki to spending time away from Deku...

Oh who was he kidding? He needed that damn nerd, he just wasn't going to admit it anytime soon.

Katsuki spent a lot of time mulling over things in his head. So much so that he didn't know how much time had passed, it could've been a few minutes, a few hours, or somewhere in between. If lunch was over someone would've come and got him, right? Maybe not... his classmates weren't too fond of him, and other classes had no stake in his business. The teachers didn't really care either if you consider what they did at the USJ any example.

Ugh. It was all too much.

Too many unknowns, he didn't know what to think anymore.

Katsuki groaned.

His brain was overloaded and it was hard to think. He knew what he should do, what was the right thing to do, and he knew what he wanted to do and what would be better for him to do. So what was the best choice?

He didn't know.

"Tis a blessed day, is it not?" an airy voice spoke out from behind Katsuki, surprising him to the point where he might have made a small noise. Of course, if anyone asked he would deny it.

"The fuck?" Katsuki's tone was sharp, but he was genuinely confused. He turned his head to see the Class 1-B girl with the plant hair… plant girl?

"I was merely reflecting upon the wonder in which is this planet." The girl sounded like a hippie or extremely high, and Katsuki didn't have time for her bullshit. He had some real life contemplation to get to.

Katsuki scoffed at her, as he picked up his full lunch, and got up to leave.

A hand grasping his wrist stopped him from going anywhere. The girl had a hard grip on his wrist, and she looked at him with eyes that sent waves of danger rolling over him.

She had an intense stare, however Katsuki didn't let that stop him from glaring right on back with a glare he hoped could rival hers.

He wrenched his wrist from her grip, and crossed his arms.

"What?" he asked gruffly. It wasn't phrased like a question, it was phrased as a threat.

The girl's face broke out into a bright smile, as she sat down on the roof and crossed her legs.

"I was only hoping you'd sit with me on a day like this."

Katsuki narrowed his eyes. She wasn't being this nice to him for no reason, she wanted something. Although, it was good to know she didn't spit out religious or hippie nonsense every five seconds. He weighed his options. He could either sit with this strange girl, or leave and probably find another spot to eat in solitude, with whatever time he had left of lunch.

Katsuki massaged his forehead before finally deciding he really didn't have much to lose.

He sat on the floor a good three feet away from Plant Girl. He wasn't a fan of people invading his personal space, and Plant Girl didn't seem to mind.

"What brings you to this here roof?" Plant Girl was now sitting on her knees with closed eyes, as if she was embracing the wind.

"None of your fucking business." Katsuki growls at her, and opens his lunch back up in hopes of eating at least a little bit of it.

"I see." Plant Girl opened her eyes and regarded Katsuki with a curious gaze. "I heard a devil's pleads from below."

Katsuki sighed before slouching a little bit.

"Doesn't matter." he turns his body ever so slightly away from her. "Just... nothing important" his voice was harsher than he wanted, but it was better this way because now she knew not to try and befriend him. He didn't need friends anyways, either.

"Might I be of service to quell those demons?" She talked funny, that was for sure.

"No, fuck off." Katsuki grumbled as he stuffed some of his food into his mouth. Deku wanted him to eat more because he'd gone a few nights without dinner, and that made Deku really worried. Emotional bastard.

Plant Girl hummed before turning and lifting her head, again, to feel the breeze across her face.

Katsuki just sat in silence, staring at her out of the corner of his eye. There was no use in making small talk, even if this was a bit awkward.

Plant Girl seemed contempt, and a small smile blossomed on her face. Katsuki watched as her hair, make up from tiny vines, seemed to wiggle and grow.

It was beautiful how her hair flowed with the breeze. It thickened and swirled around her as though it had a mind of its own. It twirled around Katsuki as though he was in the eye of the storm. It was amazing.

Katsuki unknowingly smiled at the sight of Plant Girl's dancing hair, he'd never seen someone use their quirk to do something so beautiful.

He stared off in wonder as Plant Girl's hair grew at an increasingly alarming rate and expanded, wrapping around both her and Katsuki.

Before he knew it, they were in a spacious vine cocoon.

Plant Girl opened her eyes, and she gave Katsuki a reassuring smile that make her eyes crinkle.

The look of terror on his face at being trapped with her in her own hair had not gone unnoticed.

"The world is cut off." Plant Girl nodded her head in thought.

Katsuki felt enclosed, he felt trapped. It was not a comfortable situation, and while small spaces never really sent him into a panic, it was an unwelcome occurrence to be enclosed in this small space with Plant Girl.

He backed up as far as he could go, his back hitting the vines connected to the girl's head. Katsuki stared at them in amazement, horror, and confusion. He didn't know what to feel about them.

"Aren't my vines a beautiful tribute to Mother Nature?" Plant Girl asked innocently, admiring her vines with a sense of proudness.

"Uhh..." Katsuki didn't know how to respond to that, "What the fuck?" it ended up sounding more like a question than a statement, to Katsuki's dismay. It was not what he had intended.

Plant Girl looked at him with an air of pity and was that regret?

"I did not mean to startle thee."

Katsuki snorted, because really she'd done an amazing job. Kudos to her.

"Nature had only blessed your heavy conscious with calm tranquility."

She bowed her head in a sign of respect.

And honestly? Katsuki didn't really understand what the hell she was saying, but he deduced she had attempted to erase his distractions and restore peace in him.

Although, Katsuki couldn't say it worked because he was probably even more freaked out right now than he was before. He couldn't call it a success, but it did take his mind off Deku, and it was a nice thought.

"Tch." Katsuki wasn't good at making conversation, and he didn't particularly want to, but here goes. "What the fuck is up with the way you speak?"

Oops, that was a bit rude. Whatever, he said what he said.

"I simply let the words flow through me." Plant Girl didn't seem offended by Katsuki's words at all, which was partly a relief, but a small bit of him wanted her to get mad and walk away. The prospect of being left alone sounded nice at the moment, but he doubted she would just get up and leave.

"Mm." Katsuki gave a slight nod. He didn't particularly care about her answers if all she would do is speak in the cryptic way she usually did, or what he assumed, was her usual way of speaking.

"Nature can be deadly." Plant Girl nodded to herself and gestured around her vine cocoon. "But it is also beautiful, entrancing, peaceful."

Katsuki furrowed his brow. He didn't know what she was trying to tell him about nature. So it could be dangerous and deadly, but it was also beautiful? Why would he care?

"The same applies for all quirks." Plant Girl stared at Katsuki as it finally dawned on him. She must have heard some of what he was saying! Or else how would she know about Katsuki having problems with his quirk?

Katsuki frowned at her with a menacing glare.

"You have no business in my problems." he sounded angry because he was. He was very angry that this girl thought with a swipe of her hand he'd be 'enlightened' or whatever bullshit she sprouted. But, no. It didn't work that way, and she was meddling where she shouldn't.

"I... Have heard talk." Plant Girl addressed Katsuki, "talk of you."

Katsuki's frown stayed fixed on his face.

"Oh yeah?"

"Indeed." She continued "you don't use your gifts."

Katsuki snorted at her. As if you could actually call them 'gifts.'

"Why is that?" She set a curious gaze upon him.

"Why is it that you feel the need to question me?" Katsuki fired back at her.

"Your opening speech intrigued me, as do you."

Katsuki sighed, he didn't want any of the attention from the school, or from her, on him, but look where that went. And USJ didn't him help in the slightest bit.

"It's none of your business." Katsuki looked down at his lap, he didn't want to have this talk again, and with a stranger at that? No thanks.

"Fair... however, it weighs on you." Plant Girl pressed.

"What the fuck do you want!?" Katsuki exploded, "I don't want whatever shitty help you have to offer."

She merely sighed in exasperation. She brushed herself off and slower retracted all of the vibes surrounding them.

Green plants slithered back towards Plant Girl as she calmly collected herself to speak again.

Katsuki was just glad to be rid of the cocoon. It felt as though a veil was being lifted off of him, and his partially touched food which he should really eat.

"Apologies for the discomfort." Plant Girl didn't seem regretful in the slightest. "I wanted to prove something."

Katsuki tilted his head in confusion... Prove what?

"Huh?"

"Beauty" the vines on Plant Girl's head started to wiggle and dance majestically once again, "and death." The vines suddenly stopped and poised themselves right at Katsuki's neck.

"Quirks have multiple sides." The vines relaxed and fell back into place as Plant Girl's hair.

"And?" Katsuki was the slightest bit terrified, confused, and even more intrigued.

"It takes effort, but no quirk is a sin. Only a sinner makes it so." Plant Girl said in finality before turning her attention back to the sky and the environment.

Katsuki's brow creased for the thousandth time today. First Deku, and now Plant Girl are yapping about how he should use his quirk, and that it wasn't evil necessarily. Katsuki thought he was on the highest setting of the bullshit meter, but it looks like it just went up.

"Still, you are strong." Plant Girl closed her eyes as she let the breeze flow through her hair, "I respect that."

Katsuki stared at her analytically for a few seconds before turning his attention back to his lunch.

The two sat next to each other, in silence. A smile grew on Katsuki's face as he quietly ate, maybe Plant Girl wasn't so bad. Although he was not strong. No, Deku was strong. He was weak and he wouldn't be using his quirk.

The more Katsuki thought about Deku and their argument, the more he worried. There were so many what ifs, so many loose ends and so many things to be unsure about, it was unsettling.

However, Plant Girl's calming presence chasing away many of those more demeaning, angry, and scared thoughts.

Yaoyorozu Momo stood, wide eyed, by the staircase which led back down to the school from the roof.

What did she just hear?

At first, Momo heard shouting and the sound of crying. Being the naturally curious and caring person she was, she decided to check what was happening.

She found Bakugou Katsuki, the talk of the school, standing on the roof screaming at nothing.

Well, more like no one.

He went on and on about not using his quirk, and being a monster?

What?

Momo was bewildered, she had never come across anything like this and she wasn't quite sure what to do.

Momo never interacted with Bakugou. She had seen him at the field trip to USJ, where he had bravely protected her teachers and classmates. She was witness to his ranting on the incompetence of U.A. It was something Momo didn't know about, and it frustrated her to hear that her school was not well protected. Her parents weren't very please when she told them, either.

Overall, Bakugou was always a strange student in Momo's mind. He was stubborn and angry, but now she saw him vulnerable and sad.

In the halls, he seemed to hide in corners and stomp around, as if he were trying to disappear and make his presence known all at once. The amount of whispers about him had doubled as well. Rumor had it, he had a horrible quirk, but still thought he was better than everyone else.

Yet it seemed like... he didn't like his quirk?

Momo decided right then and there as she watched Bakugou argue, with what seemed like himself, she was going to learn who he was talking to, and his quirk. If anything, she was going to crack the mystery that was Bakugou Katsuki.

As Momo continued to watch Bakugou argue, she felt the underlying urge to come out from her hiding place and quell his troubles. But, she didn't know enough about him other than his explosive personality. As far as she knew he was a threat.

After a while, Bakugou became silent as if he just lost. He stared at the door with a shocked look on his face. It was something Momo hadn't seen from the boy, anger being usual when she passed him during the brief times she'd seen him.

However, he wasn't alone for long.

Momo watched as the plant girl, Shiozaki Ibara, from Class 1-B, approach Bakugou and start talking to him.

Momo felt like she was intruding too much on their personal freedoms, and she turned her back on the pair right before a green cocoon enveloped them, but Momo didn't know that. She sat back down where she was originally eating lunch before the screaming she heard.

The roof was a preferable place to eat, it was much easier to carry a tea set up there than in the cafeteria, after all.

Momo's hand shook as she raised the porcelain cup to her lips, her grip so tight on it that her knuckles turned white. For the rest of lunch, Momo's thoughts were on Bakugou. Was he insane? Did he hear voices, or was he trying to figure out a problem and saying it out loud was easiest?

Momo shook her head, there were thousands of reasons, but the most probably being insanity.

Right before the bell signalling the next period rang, Momo pledged to monitor Bakugou Katsuki and learn what exactly was wrong with him.

Shinsou Hitoshi was miserable.

No, miserable wouldn't cover it. He was betrayed, agitated, annoyed, done.

That was more like it.

He had hoped, well expected, his lunch to go smoothly albeit a few angry glares from Bakugou and maybe a few arguments. He wasn't expecting half of Class 1-A to trail him to his usual table and ask him questions.

Well, there were only a few asking questions compared to how many people were there.

Hitoshi didn't like drawing unnecessary attention to himself, it never led to good things when it came to him.

Recently he had heard rumors about Bakugou and a field trip. He seemed to gather both admiration and criticism for it, but Hitoshi was never one to listen to rumors, instead relying on his own ability to figure shit out.

"Hi! I'm Kirishima Eijirou! Sorry to bother you but you're friends with Bakugou, right?" Hitoshi groaned as the boy with spiky red hair leaned towards him, and waves his hand in front of his face.

It seemed to be fruitless to just ignore the group, they were persistent.

Too persistent.

"I wouldn't call us friends." Hitoshi deadpanned as he continued to eat his lunch.

What a joy this conversation was turning out to be.

"That's better than us!" Kirishima continued as he took a seat across from Hitoshi. "You don't mind if we sit here right?" Histoshi stared at him without showing emotion. It was a bit late for that question seeing as he was surrounded by a gaggle of students he didn't know, and didn't want to know.

"Keep it short, what do you want?" Hitoshi just wanted to eat his lunch in peace.

"Ah! Yes." A girl with short brain hair said as she clasped her hands together, leaving her pinkies apart.

Hitoshi wondered what that was about.

"We wanted to ask if you knew where Bakugou was!" She was too cheery in this situation compared to how Hitoshi felt, it was slightly annoying.

"No, now leave me alone." Hitoshi grumbled as he went back to eating his food, hoping the students would simply walk away.

Alas, he wasn't that lucky.

"We really must see him." A tall boy with blue hair pressed while he waved his hand in front of him to make his point.

Hitoshi rolled his eyes before putting his chopsticks down, and addressing the boy.

"Look, I don't care who the fuck you are, but I'm not in charge of Bakugou, so go find him yourself and leave me alone because I really don't care about your problems." Hitoshi picked up his chopsticks and went back to eating his meal.

"I can see why him and Bakugou are friends." A blond haired boy with a black lightning bolt in it murmured. Hitoshi rolled his eyes, because, yes he could hear the boy's stupid remark about him and his explosive 'acquaintance.'

"Hey, let's be civil here!" Kirishima said, trying to keep the peace. "Look, I just said the wrong thing to him, and I want to apologize to him... so if you see him maybe let me know or something? Sorry to bother your during lunchtime."

Hitoshi looked at the group one more time, and saw the slightly ashamed looks on each of their faces. Well, on the face of a boy with half red and half white hair, along with a burn mark across one eye, there was only a neutral expression to be found.

How curious.

"Whatever." Hitoshi said in a tired tone, "Maybe give him time and don't press him. I bet he'd be sitting with me right now if it weren't for you idiots."

There was truth to what Hitoshi said, Bakugou was nowhere to be found, and he could only guess it was because of these Class 1-A students. It made him wonder, just what did they say? Bakugou was a force to be reckoned with in everything but his quirk, what happened exactly?

Hitoshi looked back up at the frowning and ashamed looks on the students.

Accompanying them were looks pity.

Hitoshi loathed the pitying looks, he received them often. However, after people learned of his quirk they would often take back their pitying looks for looks of disgust and anger. All for a villain's quirk. Society was fucked up in more ways than he could count, and he could only guess with a quirk like Bakugou's which was fairly useless, he was either bullied or ignored for the better part of his life. However, considering his loud mouth it was probably bullying. That would explain his trauma too.

"Okay, well, thanks."

The group of students shuffled away from the table after that. It left Hitoshi to eat his lunch in solitude surrounded by busy tables with friends chatting to each other happily. It was an odd scene to see the empty plastic chairs surrounding Hitoshi.

The bullying Hitoshi had suffered since he manifested his quirk was painful both physically and mentally. But in this moment of solitude, it wasn't pain, it was sadness. A kind of sadness that was almost pathetic, or would find a good home in an art gallery. An empty table among a sea of talking, and friendly punches to the shoulder. He could picture the title "Lonesome Days," it would either have a flood of admirers and observers, or none at all.

But regardless, it wasn't a good experience. Whether, or not, art worthy.

Maybe sitting with Bakugou wasn't as bad as Hitoshi had originally thought, seeing as he assumed Bakugou didn't care about quirks that much. Or at least enough to treat Hitoshi any differently than before.

But that brought up his unexpected visit just now. What had they said to make Bakugou feel the need to avoid them? Hitoshi could only assume it was quirk related, because that was how everything was these days.

It was pretty sick actually.

Hitoshi sighed. He was going to show that he could be better than any hero student, regardless of his quirk. It was frustrating how hard the entrance exam was for him because robots were impossible when it came to fighting with his quirk.

The Sports Festival was his chance, and he would succeed.

Hitoshi finished his lunch, and left the cafeteria with his hands in his pockets and his face downcast.

He was walking in the hall, to get back to Class 1-C, when he heard clomping down a staircase that was very close to him. From what he remembered, this staircase led to the roof. Being curious, but also very wary, Hitoshi found a wall to hide behind where he could still see the staircase, and wasn't seen. Hitoshi narrowed his eyes in suspicion, who the fuck was coming down from the roof? The noises of feet on stairs grew closer as the people descended down the stairs.

Bakugou came down the stairs.

Huh, so that's where he was. Hitoshi could see the logic in eating on the roof, Bakugou easily avoided the crowds, and the annoying hero class students that were pestering about him. Being on the roof explained why he wasn't sitting in the cafeteria with Hitoshi at all.

Hitoshi was ready to walk the other way, but another figure came down from the stairs.

It was a girl with green vine for hair, and an airy presence. Hitoshi remembered her giving the opening speech for Class 1-B, the other class studying to be heroes. That's who Bakugou was with. A hero student, of all things.

The two didn't speak a single word to each other, and instead Bakugou offered her a single nod before heading off towards Class 1-C. The girl smiled and waved at his back, before walking back to her own class.

Hitoshi didn't know what to think about the two of them being on the roof together. Did Bakugou like hero course students more? Was she a better friend than him? And especially after Bakugou's speech that portrayed some disdain for the hero courses, and now he was all buddy-buddy with them?

Something must have happened, but what was it?

What did it matter, anyways. Bakugou and him weren't even friends in the first place.

There had been a lot of rumors surrounding him recently, and Class 1-A's trip to the USJ or something. Maybe he became friends with hero students there, or some bullshit. Regardless, Hitoshi tried to not listen to the rumors that much. Rumors never spawned anything good, at least when they involved Hitoshi or anyone he cared about... but he didn't care about Bakugou so it didn't even matter.

Hitoshi sighed deeply before he leaned his head against the wall in front of him trying to make his mind blank. He didn't want to think about these things right now, and he had practice in emptying his mind of all thought. It dame with the years of bullying, after a while Hitoshi figured out that if he mind was blank he couldn't react to anything. He couldn't give them the satisfaction they wanted. Physical pain would hurt, but it would heal with time, so if Hitoshi could spare himself from the mental pain, then he figured he'd be okay.

Hitoshi didn't know how long he blanked out, but he was startled out of by the sound of foots coming down the stairs, and the clank of what seemed to be porcelain, maybe? He couldn't exactly tell what it was.

Hitoshi gathered up his thoughts, and tried to ignore the blankness and his anxiety, instead thinking about who was coming down the stairs.

He carefully stuck his head up to see who it was.

He saw another girl coming down the stairs. She was clutching a porcelain tea set in her arms, and she carefully maneuvered around the stairs as to not drop any of the precious china plates and cups. Hitoshi noticed a book wedged under her arm as she attempted to carry too many things at once. He could only guess she was rich. After all, who else would bring a tea set to school? It was a bit absurd. But, what peaked Hitoshi's interest was the expression on the girl's face. It was if she had found out about something she shouldn't have. It was a face of wariness and caution.

How curious.

Hitoshi was always naturally good at reading people's expressions, but now he excelled at it, after using his skills as one of the only ways to distract himself from his past loneliness.

He cocked his head to the side, as the girl looked down the hallway cautiously, obviously missing Hitoshi, before heading down the hallway, following where the vine-headed girl went. Hitoshi vaguely remembers her being part of Class 1-A, but that was about it.

What was she doing on the roof?

Hitoshi didn't know if that was her regular eating spot, but his interest was peaked by her, vine girl, and Bakugou. They all had something in common, they were all up there for a specific reason, and some little voice in his head told him it was because of Bakugou.

Hitsohi narrowed his eyes, he'd keep an eye on him for sure.

The bell rang, dismissing Hitoshi's insecurities and curiosities. He casually strode out from his hiding place and walked back to Class 1-C where he found maybe half of the class sitting, and talking with each other.

Bakugou and Hitoshi nodded at each other before he sat down, and the day continued.

How curious indeed.

The room was dark. It was dimly lit by a few lamps casting an orange glow across across the walls. Bottles of alcohol were carefully placed on mounted shelves, and most of them were dusty as though no one had used them in a very long time. Two glass cups with melting ice cubes were on the counter. It was most certainly a bar, and what seemed an abandoned one at that.

Except for two figures, both stood near a static TV.

It was hard to make out too many details in the dim light, but one figure was wearing all black and had a duller periwinkles colored blue hair. It seemed to be natural, and was matted with what was probably sweat and grease.

The other figure was wearing a nicely tailored suit, he also wore a large metal collar around where his neck should be. Instead, all that was there was a dark mist with two yellow splotches as eyes looking at the TV.

"Sensei." The blue haired man spoke out in a raspy voice, "What do we do now?"

It seemed as though he was talking to the television, not the other person who stood in the room with him.

"Your attack failed." A disembodied voice spoke out from the television, "But there will be more chances to end All Might."

The blue haired man flinched at the name in disgust, All Might was clearly a foe, and one whom the group was determined to defeat.

"Hmm" The voice from the television spoke again. Although there was no face to accompany the voice, anyone could tell whoever it was had power. The way they spoke was grand and powerful, they were not someone you should mess with.

"Watch the 1st years Sports Festival." The voice confirmed, "You may find someone who peaks your interest. And it will be good to lay low, for now."

"Yes, Sensei!" The blue haired man nodded before turning back to the misty man in the tailored suit. "Kurogiri, make preparations to watch the Festival."

The blue haired man smiled creepily with crusty lips and dark bags under his eyes. The misty figure nodded before bowing.

"We may need some help if you intend to continue your plan." The misty figure finally spoke as he walked behind the bar, and took down an alcohol from the shelf, which had no dust, before pouring it into the cups.

"They have to be trustworthy" The blue haired man started to scratch his neck obsessively. The misty man sighed in exasperation.

"But, we'll see." The blue haired man nodded, "Maybe we'll find someone at the Festival who will join our ranks." He chuckled a little bit before busying himself in what were his daily tasks and occasionally speaking to the voice in the television.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, except for the fact that these two figures were in an abandoned bar, talking to the television, and making plans to kill All Might, the number one hero.

However, from the corner of the room a gasp could be heard. It came from neither figure, and neither of them reacted in any way to it. The source of the gasp was a woman with black hair, and a hero suit on. She had defined muscles, and her usually smiling face was awash with terror and surprise.

Nana Shimura gasped as her grandson and nemesis made plans to kill her successor. However, those plans she was already aware of, and were not too surprising for her. No, what was terrifying was the aspect of them watching the Sports Festival held every year at U.A High School, and that they were looking to recruit.

She had to tell Izuku about what was going on, and how much danger he was in, along with his friend. If there was a traitor at U.A, then things would turn bad very quickly. It would turn worse than it already was. Nana always made sure to smile, even if she felt fear or was scared at the moment. Although, she could barely find it in herself to smile at this moment. No one was watching her, she wouldn't let others feel her fear.. she had to protect them. Even in death, she would help Izuku to protect the students as she pledged to always do.

But, at the moment there was only one person she could fear for, one who was involved deeper than she even knew.

"Kacchan..."