Chapter 15

Before the beginning of the Sports Festival, Aizawa was oddly very pensive about letting his students compete in such a wide stage against other students. He had already expelled two of them for their lackluster potential as heroes, and while all the others had shown themselves against a horde of villains, his gut was still telling him to be wary.

He had only just recovered from his wounds after the aforementioned attack, choosing to stand in the commentary box with Present Mic (or Hizashi as he always corrected) after giving his students the rundown required to each class. He knew Hizashi had a tendency to over exaggerate, especially when giving commentary so he made sure to counter any of that with his own critiques. The stand also gave him a good view over all of the three parts of the Festival, he'd most likely take whatever weaknesses he sees within his students and train them hard to prevent it from encumbering them.

The beginning of the Sports Festival was fairly standard, and Aizawa found himself napping for a few minutes before cheers shook him awake. From his view, it seemed the Obstacle Race had just started, yawning off any last dregs of sleep he scoffed at the sight before him. Todoroki (or potential problem child number two) was showing off his ice right out of the gate, skating by the competition with ease. Aizawa observed that the ice seemed to be very widespread, he'd have to help the boy get it under control and be more compact. In this case it worked for him because many other students, blissfully unaware of his quirk, slipped and fell.

Otherwise, no one else's actions were particularly noteworthy. Even more so, against the robots none of the students did something unexpected of them and Aizawa felt himself starting to nod off again. However, the second the race reached The Fall where all of the stone pillars posed a new kind of challenge, he felt his attention focus on each way the student overcame the ropes or chasms. Many either flew over, climbed the ropes, built their own path (he liked watching the students that did this the best, call him biased but oftentimes building your own path is necessary if it'll lead you to the most success) or skirted over the ropes.

All of their techniques were about speed, getting down the rope, flying, or building as fast as they could. But, as always there was one student who was the exception.

Katsuki Bakugou.

Someone who Aizawa deemed a 'problem child.' While he was not there to witness the fabled lecture the boy gave all the other teachers, due to him being in critical condition, he heard it was quite a spectacle. And while he did blame himself partly for dragging that boy along on the trip, he had full doubts about what he foretold happening, but that still didn't explain why he felt he needed to bring the problem child along.

Aizawa rubbed his eyes carefully as he sighed deeply, not wanting to unfasten the bandages covering his face.

As an underground hero he knew when it was valuable to hunt down your sources and when it was better not to ask. But that knowledge didn't serve him at all in this case where a random Class 1-C student was able to get their hands on critical information against a group of villains. It was truly bewildering to think about how that could ever be possible.

Aizawa had seen enough across his lifetime to say he wasn't scared of this boy at all, he doubted he was a threat by himself, but instead his fear stemmed from the unknown. The possibilities of what else this problem child could possibly know and the suspicion that he could be playing both sides in whatever war they had gotten involved with against these villains.

There were deep secrets involved and Aizawa was unsure what uncovering those secrets would lead to.

There was no training for these kinds of situations, Aizawa nearly snorted, there was barely any training for underground work in U.A. Especially considering you needed a whole new toolset to tackle the issues it would pose. Aizawa had also learned you had to reevaluate your sense of morals. His current morals as a teacher conflicted with his usual morals about information finding and how he handled suspicion, it would make handling this new problem child much harder.

For now though, as any good information collector, he would watch from the sidelines. And quite frankly right now he was interested in what the boy was doing with his precious time, and why he was moving so slowly compared to the other students who were moving as fast as they could across the ropes.

Initially, he would've assumed he too would've been one to obsess over speed. Contrary to that, the more he studied what was happening whilst Hizashi prattled away, the more he understood what Bakugou was doing.

He was playing dirty.

Not dirty in the sense of it being illegal or cheating, but dirty in the way that he was taking advantage of the limited entrance routes and closing one off to give himself an advantage in the race, regardless of how he could be setback by the lack of speed he had attempting this.

It was, if he dared to say, unheroic. Aizawa knew if he was in that challenge he would've settled with cutting the ropes, sure, but to cut the rope so badly in multiple places to insure no one could use the rope again? That was a completely different ballpark. It both impressed him slightly and disappointed him.

Now that was unusual. Disappointment from him was easy to garner, after all he'd already expelled two students from Class 1-A this year due to their utter incompetence. He was also considering expelling that grape twat, but decided to see how he would turn his quirk into something that could be an advantage on the battlefield.

However, finding himself impressed with a student's actions? His interest in the problem child jumped up a slight bit. In a situation with villains, that would be a smart play to prevent their access. The only issue is: was the problem child the kind to use it to inhibit villains or fellow heroes? It was not rare to see heroes get in each other's ways, especially when they had incompatible quirks. That was part of the reason Aizawa pursued underground work, so he could work with himself and not have to rely on some newbie hero.

But with a dirty parlour trick like this? And the way the boy seemed to enjoy doing it? Those previous scenarios seemed very unlikely. Instead, his actions could pose a danger in the future, behavior-wise alone. Aizawa filed it away mentally as something to remember - if worse came to worse this boy would be willing to abandon his own teammates, that's exactly what he saw down there on the obstacle course.

He would do anything to win, from the looks of it.

That was a dangerous personality trait, one that could lead to a lot of errors for a hero. There was no winning or losing - there was only survival.

Aizawa paused for a moment.

What was he thinking?

It didn't matter if this boy had traits unsuited for the so-deemed 'perfect' hero path, he wasn't even in the hero course. There was absolutely no reason for him to fret about this bot's potential unless he landed his ass in his class by some mystical miracle. And honestly, Aizawa had no interest in helping him learn or grow anyway so it didn't matter for whatever outcome was to occur, he would be resistant and preserve.

There was one more thing Aizawa had observed across the course of the entire Festival so far that had left him stumped. Why would the problem child not use his quirk?

He had reviewed it, Explosion, a pretty powerful quirk that could be hero-oriented depending on how it was used. Most wielders of that quirk would be ecstatic to show off the large bursts of heat obtained from their sweat. And yet, Aizawa hadn't seen a single spark shooting from the hands of the boy. Hadn't used it to fight, propel himself, or get over the drops between stone pillars, which resulted in his current tactic.

Aizawa had a feeling it was to be some trick up his sleeve that he could pull in dire situations, but he couldn't understand the motivation as to why he would use it in such a fashion.

His students and most kids these days were all too keen about showing off the greatest new ability they had unlocked with their special quirk, something that was unique to every person and thus a mechanism for popularity and friendship. Or you could get ostracized for what you have been given at birth, pushed to the very corners of society disdainfully.

So-called 'villainous' quirks were something Aizawa always hated. There was no such thing as a villainous quirk, only the user could be villainous depending on what they had decided to use it on. Bullying from these kinds of dangerous quirks would often result in…

Huh.

So that's what it could be.

Maybe this problem child was bullied for his quirk, considering how dangerous it was it wouldn't come to any surprise to hear there were people who looked down upon it as villainous. Then again, from what he'd seen of the problem child, he wasn't afraid to get angry and stand up for himself. That made this hypothesis much more unlikely.

Ignoring the Festival's progress and his duties to aid in the commentary with Hizashi, Aizawa sat and thought. He planned different ways a boy like him could get that info, why he wouldn't use his quirk, how to trail him effectively to possibly see if he could find his source, and if he could keep suspicions low for a while, during his time scouting out the situation.

There were a number of methods he could use to address this. But, only one would give him a basis of where to start and could potentially backfire.

He would just ask him.

Izuku was frozen.

Everything had been going okay in the Sports Festival, even if Kacchan hadn't gottne first place he at least got second which was extremely impressive without a quirk! But then the Cavalry Battle had come, and Izuku felt a pang of jealousy in seeing Kacchan be so popular and how many people flocked to him. It also made him happy to know other people had his back, but that wasn't what had set him off.

It was the end of the Cavalry Battle. Izuku wasn't angry that Kacchan and his team had lost again, rather he thought their approach was rather strategic, they didn't couldn't have accounted for the boy, Todoroki was it? And his insane quirk of fire and ice... Who would've known he could do that? It led to the plan's collapse and Izuku cried out with Nozomi as they saw it happen, protesting Kacchan's fall to third place.

Izuku knew he wasn't going to be able to get anywhere close to where he wanted without his quirk, and he found himself impressed by his second and third place achievements. But, when he collapsed at the end, it shocked Izuku.

Was he hurt? Did he not notice his brother get injured, or was it something else that had impacted him?

Midnight announced the results along with a break time before the final event that was unsurprisingly predetermined. Everyone knew Sports Festivals always ended with individual battles.

Through it all, Kacchan was unmoving, only worrying Izuku even more to the point where even Nozomi commented on his furrowed brows.

"Big brother, what's wrong?" She was so innocent to the constant pains and worries that plagued the teen.

"Oh nothing!" He grinned at her, but it didn't quite meet his eyes, "Don't worry about me, okay?"

Nozomi nodded hesitantly, she was observant, but thankfully didn't press on it and allowed Izuku to turn back to the screen, hoping to pick up on anymore queues.

It wasn't until he saw the purple-haired boy Shinsou whisper in Kacchan's ear that he knew something was wrong for sure. Immediately after Kachan stood up with a blank look on his face, waving and walking with the rest of the group. He acted like nothing happened. Like he wasn't just on the floor just now in pain. Like he was empty.

Anyone who hadn't known Kacchan as well as Izuku would be able to write it off, but Izuku knew too well. He knew Kacchan was never this emotionless, he knew that the boy would never react this way, and he knew that the slight glimmer that he caught on Kacchan's face before the cameras zoomed into the winning team wasn't glare from the cameras but was in fact a stray tear. A tear?

And then he was frozen.

Brainwashing… Now he remembered.

KACCHAN.

Izuku wanted to run, he wanted to sprint to his best friend, he wanted to free him, but he couldn't move.

Even when Nozomi looked over at him with distress, even when his limbs began to shake, even when tears flowed down his cheeks, he couldn't move an inch. He couldn't do anything. Kacchan was being controlled against his will, or so it seemed, and he could do nothing. He was useless.

More tears streamed down his face as he blankly watched the television.

He really was a Deku.

"BIG BROTHER!" Nozomi screamed at the top of her lungs, stunning Izuku as he whipped his head to look at her, his senses overloaded by her screech.

"Nozomi…" He whispered, it was barely audible even to himself.

The young girl gave him a bright grin, like the sun on a rainy day. "Cheer up! Your Kacchan advanced. He will win, I know it!"

Izuku's eyes widened. This girl was incredible.

"You aren't allowed to cry." She pouted and crossed her arms to emphasize her frustration in Izuku's actions.

He smiled slightly and reached his arm out to ruffle her hair. It was the only thing he could do to soothe her worry. He hoped it would be enough, because while he loved that Nozomi wanted to look out for him, she didn't understand the situation at hand. She didn't understand Kacchan like he did. She was just a small child, and didn't understand much of anything.

"Got it." He knew it was wishful thinking to assume he could stop his tears from flowing. Ever since he had died, the flow of them had been constant. His river of tears couldn't be held back by any dam.

Izuku turned back to the television, his hand in Nozomi's hair stilling when he caught sight of the television. From the few glances the audience was given he could tell Kacchan still didn't have control, he was still trapped and alone.

Alone.

Wait… he was alone… Izuku wasn't there to pull him out of it, and he didn't have anyone else to pull him out because his team members were all in on it. They were in on keeping Kacchan silent.

If there was one thing Izuku knew Kacchan hated most in the world it was not being able to speak, well shout, his mind's thoughts. And he couldn't do anything.

"IZUKUU STOP!" Nozomi cried out, "BIG BROTHER LET GO."

Izuku's eyes quickly widened as Nozomi brought him back to reality where his hand was tightly clenched in the girl's hair, pulling harshly. He cursed and immediately let go, face written in concern, not realizing that he had clenched his fists and that his hands were still in Nozomi's hair when he did so.

He had hurt her.

Was all he could do hurt other people?

"I'm sorry." Nozomi stared up at him with her big eyes, Izuku's mouth opened to speak but she silenced him as she continued to speak, "You need to help Kacchan. Clearly you worry for him. I find Moms by myself!"

"No, I couldn't do that." He shook his head fervently.

"You must!"

The second Nozomi had introduced the idea about him going to Kacchan, he jumped inside. He wanted to do it so badly, no, he needed to do it. But, his conscience weighed down on him. Kacchan was a high schooler and Nozomi was just a little girl, she needed him to help her out. He couldn't just leave her, no matter how much he secretly wanted to.

"Please Nozomi, I want you to be safe." Izuku kneeled down to her height, glancing at the television every few seconds to see if anything had changed on the monitor.

"I will be safe when Kacchan is!" She puffed out her chest bravely, hand placed on her hips. It was adorable and had Izuku cracking a small smile. "I know!"

She bounced up and down in excitement.

Honestly little kids confused Izuku. How could she go from slightly nervous and excited to scared, feeling Izuku's pain and hurt all the way to bouncing up and down happily.

Nevertheless, he cocked his head in a questioning manner.

"We will meet here when you're done!"

"But, I couldn't-"

"No!" Nozomi protested, "You cheer Kacchan then promise find Moms with me."

Izuku looked down regretfully. He didn't know what to do. There were so many things that could go wrong if he didn't get a hold of Kacchan in time to save him from his inner thoughts after that pressing brainwashing. But there were so many things that could go wrong if he didn't stay with Nozomi, namely he could never see her again.

Could a little girl be trusted to roam free in the city where she could get lost, get trapped, somehow excounter a criminal ghost who'd kidnap or abuse her… Izuku didn't think so. Even if he was being a little extreme, he wasn't going to let something happen to Nozomi while she was still under his care. At the same time, what he had with Kacchan was personal and he didn't want to drag her along, away from her parents and home just at his expense. Either way, he was forcing Nozomi to abandon something. Her goal of finding her parents soon or being safe in Izuku's arms.

"Nozomi." He spoke sternly, "I can't leave you, I'm sure Kacchan can figure it out himself." The words sounded hollow and meaningless to even him, his confidence that they are true was dangerously low. Unfortunately, Nozomi picked up on that.

"Spent days without you!" Nozomi recollected, "I be fine, help Kacchan! He makes big brother sad and I don't want you to be sad."

It was terrifying and adorable how much she had him wrapped around her delicate fingertips. He knew he had to go after Kacchan, he could trust Nozomi to stay safe, after all he hadn't met any other ghost-tpe beings and he hadn't contacted Nana in a long while.

That gave him an idea, give Nozomi for Nana to take care of! But the more he thought about it, the less he wanted to go through with it. He didn't have enough time to locate Nana who had disappeared, make sure Nozomi was settled, and run to Kacchan before he was beyond help. While Izuku knew that Kacchan being under that kind of control would hurt him the first time, it could do irreparable damage the second as he had learned from his many experiences witnessing Kacchan's life.

Nozomi crossed her arms cutely and harrumphed "If you don't go and are sad later, then I'll be sad too."

Regret.

Izuku was almost certain he would regret not being there for Kacchan and instead staying with Nozomi. He couldn't just leave this little girl he just met for-

Wait, that was it!

He had just met Nozomi but he's known Kacchan for his entire life. He knew without hesitation that he could trust Kacchan but there was still a small uncertainty surrounding the little girl he had just met. Because of this, he could leave her to meet with him later and he would take care of Kacchan. He had an obligation to his brother and he wanted to. If something happened to Nozomi he would be heartbroken, beautiful something happened to Kacchan… he didn't even want to think about that.

"I understand." Izuku nodded with new resolve, "Tomorrow we'll meet in this exact place, okay?"

Nozomi smiled brightly at him, nodding as she turned her attention back to the television screens, "Then we'll find Moms!"

Izuku patted her on the head, then turned towards the direction U.A was. SInce he was a natural fanboy he had pretty much nailed where the school was.

WIth a final wave to Nozomi, he set off, face steeling from bright smiles to serious concentration.

Izuku raced like his life depended on it. It was a funny thing to say considering he was dead, but his life did depend on it. Kacchan depended on it.

He wasn't actually sure if he was going the right way, but he couldn't bring himself to stop moving forwards, phasing through walls with a tenacity he had never before used. If he could Kacchan fast enough, if he could pull him out of it, if he could do something to help the boy when all he had been doing was cause him pain, then he had to try.

If Izuku were to still be alive, their relationship would seem to be very confounding to outsiders. Both boys held love for each other, but Kacchan didn't know how to express it. Izuku knew by now that more than half the fights that had with each other were Kacchan's fault for not understanding or simply ignoring the situations and blaming Izuku.

It was always Izuku's fault.

In the back of his mind, there was a part of him that wanted to abandon Kacchan and let him suffer as he had made him. No matter what he told everyone, Kacchan held a large hand in him committing suicide. He always, always, bullied his best friend for something out of his control. He didn't even know if they could be considered best friends anymore.

So Izuku ran with it.

He fueled himself with the thought that this was all Katsuki's fault, everything that had happened to him was Katsuki's fault.

The human brain has an odd way of assigning other people guilt and comparing them to other people in times of disarray or stress. Izuk realized he had been doing this all along, he had been blaming himself because he was so overwhelmed with worry for Kacchan when it was indeed his own fault.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

What if he just left Kacchan?

What would happen then?

A blank look crossed across Izuu's face before he started to run again, in the same exact direction towards Kacchan. If he left Kacchan, he would have had nothing to live for in this life after death, and while he secretly resented the other boy from taking everything from him, he still loved him. That's the funny thing about love… you can't get rid of it so easily. It was like a bloodstain that wouldn't get removed no matter how much soap you used, or how much you scrubbed away at it. A morbid comparison maybe, but Izuku thought it fit.

As a ghost-type being his brain was much more disorganized. One moment he was so scared for Kacchan he was about to pass out, and the next he was cursing his guts for being such a weakling that he caused all of these issues himself.

As it turns out, as Kacchan was discovering himself and who he wanted to be, so was Izuku.

Instead of running towards Kacchan to save him, to free him from his binds, Izuku ran to Kacchan to free himself. He ran for a chance to give the boy the tools to pick the lock, not give him the key. It was this change in thinking he had, not surrendering to his love or hatred that made him see so much more clearer.

He needed to find out what he was and why he was still alive after death. He needed to help Kacchan save himself. And better yet, he had to save himself from the confines of life and those of death. He didn't even know if he was going in the right direction, or would arrive in time, but he found himself smiling anyway. He now had a future.

If someone were looking at Katsuki in the stands where Class 1-C occupied, isolated except for Eyebags who was sitting two seats over, they would've assumed he was not paying attention to the ongoing battles. His eyes were downcast and unfocused, hands twitchy and unstable as he made sure to keep distance away from Eyebags. However, he was keeping a very close eye on each of the battles lest he miss seeing his competition in action. He would admit, a lot of the battles were disappointing. Take Bird Face and that one girl on icy fire bastard asshole's team. It was a very one sided fight, bird face being able to make use of his circumstances unlike creation girl (he found out that her quirk was Creation, explaining a few questions Katsuki held after this fight. It seemed Loudmouth was helpful in one area, and that would be him quirk explanations) who struggled to come up with ideas, finding herself pushed out of the pit. It was boring to watch such an easy defeat. Bird Face and his weird ass Bird Spirit quirk could pose a threat to Katsuki were he to fight him, but it would be a battle he would look forward to, although it would've been nice to see what else his quirk could have done were he up against an opponent who thought on their feet faster.

However, as fast as that battle was it had nothing on the length of the Lunatic facing Engine Boy. At first, Katsuki was convinced she would be able to defeat him easily with all of the gadgets she had been creating so dutifully and testing out, but after 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, there were no winners.

Why?

Because the Lunatic was treating it like a fucking advertisement. She had Engine Boy trapped in her perilous webs and yet all she did was blabber on about the invention itself, all of its capabilities and so on. Katsuki almost found himself angry to realize all of the machinery she had been holding back from them, only to use it so boringly.

After around 30 minutes of her non stop screaming, she walked out of the arena ring.

Just like that. Forfeiting.

The rational part of Katsuki reasoned that there was no reason for her to stay in, her only motivations being to show off her inventions and what wider audience would you get than right at the end of the festival where the audience would be on the edge of their seats in anticipation of who would come out victorious. It was a good plan, as most of the Lunatic's are, only one Katsuki didn't care for her theatrics and dramatic presentations. She wasted his time and didn't even have the audacity to keep going through rounds and eliminate Engine Boy? It was pathetic. But if there was one good thing from it, it was the priceless expression on Engine Boy's face as he figured out that he just got played and was handed a completely hollow victory.

After watching that showdown, Katsuki was feeling restless. He had some time before he would be going up against that blonde fucker, but the match couldn't come soon enough. He also had no idea what exactly his opponent's quirk was, he saw him mimicking Pinky's quirk, but how was he able to use it? Did he steal it? Does it have to be used against him for him to be able to use it back? So many unanswered questions remained, but Katsuki was hoping he'd be able to keep an advantage because his quirk was relatively unknown. It might not matter against that copycat, but all he had to do is hope he could out-maneuver him somehow.

He had to prove he could pound the person who beat him, although he didn't accept that, into the ground. All the other pressures, anxieties, and worries he had didn't matter, they dissipated as all of his focus was spent on making sure he would win this. He had to win this, quirk or no quirk he wasn't going down so easily.

Of course, it was much easier to tell himself that mentally, than to actually fulfill it. Especially after he glanced to the side and found Eyebags missing, sending his senses into haywire as everything he just said went into the garbage. It was an odd feeling, wanting to get away from the boy for as long as possible but also being fearful and wanting to keep an eye on him.

It wasn't that he was worried, but if he lost sight of Eyebags then he would have no way of knowing if he was going to use his quirk on him in some secret way. Maybe to try to make a fool out of him, or something nefarious. Or what if he kept him trapped? Just stuck inside a brainless body, free for him to control and manipulate. The very thought of it sent a shiver down Katsuki's spine.

Shaking off his fearful thoughts, he stood up to see if Eyebags was anywhere in the crowd, surveying the stands around him for bright purple hair. No matter how he squinted, he didn't see any at all.

His feeling of urgency shot up as his name and his opponents name was called from the loudspeaker behind him, it was the signal for him to go backstage and begin his own match. But, he was wary of doing so until he could find where Eyebags was, eyes roaming with tenacity.

His eyes froze when looked in the arena. It seemed as if his brain had lagged behind, because currently Eyebags was walking into the arena, faced against his opponent, Shitty Pikachu. He was so quick to think Eyebags was up to something bad, when really it was Katsuki's own fault that he had been too caught up to realize the boy's name had been called to go backstage and get ready to start his battle a while ago. He would feel bad for that judgement, but he still didn't trust the other boy, and he wasn't sure if that would change anytime soon.

Not wanting to draw more attention to himself, he quickly ran off to get to the waiting room in time, from there he'd probably be able to view the match either through a window or a television screen. If the room had that, although he didn't see why it wouldn't, so he dismissed any doubt in his mind lest it serve to distract him. As he left, he noticed his classmates didn't spare him a glance as he scooted by them before breaking out into a sprint through the halls he had been familiarized with when the icy flame bastard guided him. No matter how horrible that talk was, he could be grateful to the other boy for helping him remembering where everything was. Especially in this unwarranted situation. Katsuki would be honest, he was not expecting to have to go to a special room in preparation, but then again when had he actually listened to what the announcers were saying? As he ran, he silently agreed it was his fault for not paying better attention. At the same time, it didn't matter so long as he managed to make it on time. Finally, he found the proper room which was right next to the entrance into the stadium. He slammed the door open, not paying much attention to the details surrounding it. Unmistakably, it was filled with chairs and a television screen, but otherwise empty due to Copycat being at the opposite end of the stadium as he was. There was no way they would group competitors together, and it would make their entrance seem much less interesting. After all, no matter how much this Festival boasted to be training and fun, it's all for advertisement and U.A's reputation. Nevermind that, Katsuki's eyes caught on his prey. The TV screen was streaming the battle, and much to his relief it seemed as though it hadn't started yet, considering how Loudmouth was still monologuing for both competitors. If there was one thing to appreciate with his insistent need to hear his own voice, it was that it was perfect for stalling for Katsuki when he needed it.

It also gave Katsuki time to finally take a breather and collect his thoughts. He came to an odd realization: why was he in such a rush to get here on time?

To be honest, it shocked Katsuki how much he desired to watch this match to the point where he was willing to spring through the arena just to reach it in time.

He knew if Shitty Pikachu messed up, it was all over and he had no way of recovering, however if he knew about Eyebags' quirk he would dominate the other boy. It was a matter of speed, could Eyebags speak and trick Shitty Pikachu faster than he could charge up and electrocute the other?

It was suspenseful for Katsuki to wait until the start signal rang out. A side of him wanted Eyebags to win and show the audience Hero Students aren't all what they're cracked up to be. But, another part of him wanted Shitty Pikachu to win. Maybe because he didn't want a chance that he'll have to go up against Eyebags again, or maybe he just didn't want to see Eyebags get the chance to use his quirk again from where Katsuki had to be a witness to it. A bit selfish, yes, but that's why he did his best to suppress his feelings deep inside of him. He willed himself to watch it objectively, or as objectively as he could get. Whatever the outcome, he had to be prepared to face it.

With those finishing thoughts, the battle between Shitty Pikachu and Eyebags had commenced. The timer had barely gone one second in when Katsuki saw electricity start to dance around Shitty Pikachu and Eyebags moving his lips, not quite sure of what he was saying from the chatter going around him. But, it seems whatever he had said had pushed Shitty Pikachu's buttons, as a sneer took to his face and he opened his mouth to speak.

It was all over.

He had sealed himself into an impossible position by letting those words get to him. Although, Eyebags had a way of doing that so you wouldn't realize what was happening until he already had you placed under his thumb.

The match didn't last long after that, Shitty Pikachu's body had frozen over, all electricity ceasing at Eyebag's command, and started to walk robotically towards the end of the ring, which would cause him to be out of bounds and thus forfeit. Members of Class 1-A were yelling at him to break free, remember what they had told him, (so they did learn something from their encounter) and get back control. Katsuki would've thought they'd know words would do nothing to break Eyebags' control. Moments later Katsuki was proven right, their words fruitless as Shitty Pikachu was already out of bounds and Eyebags was declared the winner, without a single scrap on him.

As Eyebags walked off the stage, a realization dawned on Katsuki. Seeing someone else get controlled by Brainwashing didn't set him off in any way. It only made him slightly uncomfortable, but it was unnoticeable as he became focused on the technicalities of the battle. It gave him a great sense of comfort to learn that he wasn't insane - seeing Eyebags' quirk in use couldn't trigger anything, only for when it would be used on him. A small detail, but an important one nonetheless, because with that in mind he might be able to face Eyebags once again.

But, that would be for later. Right now, he had to be focused on his own match as the loudspeakers dotted around the stadium announced his name and the Copycat's name, signalling for them to enter their arena. Katsuki walked out of the waiting room he was in quickly, and stood in front of the large doors that were alongside it, waiting for them to open.

He hadn't developed a strategy of any kind to go against Copycat, but that wasn't where he excelled at. A plan might be beneficial, but there would be times where not having one can increase your adaptability to any oncoming situations, and thus save your life. At least, that's what Katsuki told himself.

It would only be a few seconds until the doors were to open, but Katsuki felt someone tapping his back.

He turned to see… Plant Girl panting behind him. She must have ran here to catch him before he began, but why?

"Quick" She hurried, "Shall not alloweth Monoma toucheth thy hair."

"Don't let him touch my hair?" Katsuki was perplexed, what was she going on about now? Was this supposed to mean good luck or something?

"For his quirk." She looked at him like she was trying to explain something to a child, who was being stupid. It made him angry, but he could cast that aside as she was giving him details on his opponent's quirk.

"Tell me more."

Of course, in that moment, right as Plant Girl opened her cryptic mouth to hopefully inspire a plan for Katsuki, the doors opened.

She had been much too late to give him much of a warning, all he knew was to keep that Copycat bastard away from his hair.

He almost laughed at the thought, his hair better not end up somehow becoming his downfall. If it did, well Katsuki would be more than pissed to say the least.

"God be with you." Plant Girl's parting words were as mysterious as the rest of her, but Katsuki took it as her wishing him good luck, and with a final nod, he started to walk out into the arena, the bright sky infiltrating his eyes as he became the focus of the bustling crowd's attention. Across from him, Copycat was strutting like he owned the entire stadium, a proud smirk etched onto his face.

Katsuki clicked his tongue, it was pissing him off the way the other boy was acting. He acted similarly to how he had used to, when he was a middle schooler and told his best friend to jump off the roof of a building. So you could say Katsuki was pretty motivated to beat Copycat's ass into the ground.

After considering what Plant Girl said, Katsuki was left with a lot of questions. How did hair have anything to do with his quirk? How so? Only hair or genetic information? But none of that mattered if he just kept his distance from the Copycat, he wouldn't even give him a chance. Katsuki was channeling all of his focus and resolve into his sole task: Win. He just hoped that was greater than his opponent's own resolve.

Loudmouth was narrating in the background as Lust Lady took out her whip, pointing it between where both competitors stood on their opposite ends. She raised her arm dramatically, and whipped it down fast.

The match had begun.

Immediately, Copycat charged forwards towards Katsuki. Unfortunately, since Katsuki was standing near the edge, he couldn't step backwards to avoid the other boy. Copycat knew this and kept charging, but Katsuki knew this was an opportunity. If he waited until the last moment, he could sidestep and use Copycat's momentum to push him out of bounds.

So, he waited while Copycat charged.

It was a risky plan, but if it worked Katsuki wouldn't have to worry about his quirk at all. So even when his muscles itched to jump and every bone in his body was working against his mind, he stayed put.

"Already giving up? I knew Class 1-C was too weak to stand a chance!" Copycat laughed in glee as he drew closer, arms reaching towards Katsuki, there were only a few centimeters between them.

NOW!

Katsuki swivelled fast, moving his left shoulder back with his left foot as fast as possible while thrusting his right shoulder forward to keep his balance. Instead of facing Copycat face on in a horizontal position, he was now facing the rapidly advancing side of him vertically.

That part had been executed perfectly, and now Copycat was charging towards the out of bounds area with Katsuki standing next to him, free of his clutching hands.

But that wasn't the last straw, no, to make sure Copycat would really be out of bounds, he used the momentum from his swing to shove Copycat forwards.

However, too late he noticed that with this move he left himself open, and Copycat was no lousy opponent in regards to his quick thinking, and as his left arm shifted positions and grasped the collar of Katsuki's uniform. Taking advantage of his shock, he quickly pulled the other boy close to him, so if he went down he was taking him too.

Katsuki wouldn't take this lying down, he recovered from his surprise and tried to jerk himself away from the boy who had begun to pull him in front, so Katsuki would land out of bounds first.

It was useless. Copycat's grip on his collar was too stable for him to break, so there was only one thing left he could do. Quickly unzipping his sports uniform, no matter how bare and untasteful Katsuki knew it would be, had the exact effect Katsuki thought it would. It lightened the load on what Copycat was dragging, so once the shirt had been unzipped he pulled the shirt in front of him with minimal effort. Of course, his eyes widened when the only sight that greeted him was a spare unzipped uniform shirt.

In the meantime, Katsuki had rolled his body backwards, back to back with Copycat. Ideally, he would've been facing the other boy's back in case he was to pull some sort of trick out of his pocket, but this would work too. So long as he was free from his grasp, he would be alright.

Or at least, that's what he thought before he felt a body slam into his own from behind.

He couldn't see what was happening as his arms flailed out and he lost his balance, tumbling on the ground with who he would presume was Copycat's body landing half on top of him.

Katsuki recovered from his shock quicker, shoving the boy off of him before getting to his feet and quickly examining how far he was from the edges.

It seemed like they were both a little further than the middle, whatever had boosted Copycat put them both in a safe zone, which partly relieved Katsuki because now he could fight without the stress that he could be one step away from being out of bounds.

Don't get him wrong, the arena was pretty large, but you never know what kind of tricks someone would be able to pull.

His train of thoughts died down the second his eyes came back around and caught Copycat standing up, hands smoking uncharacteristically.

That could only mean one thing.

The smoke, the way his body had slammed into his own rapidly as if being shot from a canon, or in this case propelled by an explosion.

Copycat had his quirk.

Shit.

When did he get it? Was it because Katsuki had gotten too close? Did Copycat expect him to dodge like that and make sure to be prepared for that? Katsuki knew that at the beginning of the fight that could've been his intentions, but he thought he did a good job of throwing the other boy off. It looked like her was completely and utterly wrong.

By now, Copycat had resumed a fighting position but he didn't attack.

Instead he started to laugh maniacally.

"OH I LIKE THIS ONE" He grinned like a mad man, raising his hands and letting loose a large blast directly at Katsuki. It was easy for him to say he liked it so easily, no spring a second thought at what it meant to have a truly destructive power. It pissed him off how it could just be taken for granted like this. His words were meant to antagonize Katsuki, and they did their job.

Because of his anger, he didn't have time to ponder how it really felt to have his quirk be used against him after he had spent so much time abusing others with it, as blast after blast chased him. He only had one emotion running through him, fuelled by one thought. Anger fuelled by survival. The only issue was Katsuki couldn't even expect to dodge out of the way before Copycat would come blasting again, getting used to the speeds he could use with his newly acquired quirk. And, while Katsuki's experience had built his skin up to be more resilient to his quirk, he still wasn't immune. Burns settled on his arms and at the sides of his body where the hot explosives came into contact, sapping his energy and stamina. But, there was another effect the usage of his quirk against him caused, as sparkles lit up across his skin where sweat glistened. The sparkles grew uncomfortable and uncontrollably. The more he ran, the more he sweat, the more unstable his environment and ability to contain his quirk became. Meaning, they weren't harmless in the slightest and unless he could get control of the situation he might lose all control, both of them would, and he would never forgive himself if it was his fault for preventing himself from winning.

He kept running away from Copycat, trying to put some distance between them. He wasn't a runner, but he was a ticking time bomb that was just itching to go off. And he would prefer it if he didn't go off, worried about what kind of explosion this buildup would cause.

At the same time, Katsuki couldn't possibly think of a strategy to defeat his own quirk without using one. Copycat was essentially quirkless until he stole someone's quirk, it would've been a fair fight between two people who weren't able to use their quirks - instead it became a one-sided massacre.

What to do, what to do? Katsuki didn't know, nor did he have the time to really think and figure it out as explosion after explosion was shot towards him, singeing his pants and bare chest.

An idea flew into Katsuki's mind as he stared at a drop of sweat trickling down from his shoulder. It would put him in danger but it might be worth it to discover some information that could change the match. Because if he was right, and he hoped desperately that he was right, then Copycat wouldn't stand a chance against the force of Katsuki's own quirk, were he to decide to use it.

So, Katsuki growled and instead of dodging and running like he had previously done when the next wave of explosions rained down on him, he charged.

It wasn't cool like Copycat's charge, or particularly graceful as he stumbled along the way, but it was enough for him to draw close to the other boy. Enough for his eyes to hone in on the other boy's sweat content.

Following the moment of his realization, a hand flew down, goldenly-orange explosion knocking Katsuki down and throwing him aside. But it was too late.

Copycat had subconsciously given himself away because of the specifics of his sweat.

Katsuki's skin was sparkling, Copycat's wasn't, he also wasn't sweating buckets like Katsuki either, maintaining his normal sweat.

That could only mean one thing.

Copycat's body couldn't adapt to the technicalities required for a quirk, and probably limited the source for the quirk he stole. In this case, maybe it was only sweat from his hands because there was absolutely no way he was using his whole body, or else Katsuki would've seen how his skin reacted when explosions were set off right next to it, as a supposedly flammable chemical-based compound.

But his skin wasn't, only Katsuki's.

Less sweat meant his quirk has less potency.

Less potency meant Katsuki would be able to overpower him and win this fight once and for all. There was hope left, even in such a situation because all quirks had a drawback to be utilized, and this was Copycat's.

Not to mention he had practiced enough to know the average blast range per each explosion, and Copycat's usage of it wasn't anything remarkable, if it were anyone but Katsuki against Copycat, they would be utterly beaten down. However, Copycat was pitted against Katsuki and he could make it known that copying his quirk was a huge mistake.

He couldn't achieve the same levels of genetics nor experience that Katsuki had with his quirk, only gaining the pure basic functioning for it.

What is the use for explosions if you can't have the biggest ones?

Katsuki's eyes sparkled.

He had to do it right here, right now.

At this point it was just a matter of thinking about how long it would truly take him to warm up to the idea that he could blast Copycat to oblivions without any worries. Right now, regardless of his foe, he was hesitant. Maybe too hesitant, but it was a hesitance that had prevented him from hurting anyone after Deku, so it was almost like a safety measure he could always fall back on. A safety measure he didn't know would go haywire or not, were it to be switched off.

But, Katsuki wasted a few seconds to let himself think about Deku.

The boy he was trying to avoid thinking about throughout this entire Festival. Even when robots and ropes rained down upon him, he tried to avoid him (to not much success), but it was different now. Now, he was drawing on his strength to be able to do this. As burning hot explosions scorched him, he remembered all the forest adventures they'd had as kids, singing about the Bakugou Hero Agency, and even after Deku's death. He thought about the late nights spent studying, hidden giggles at their inside jokes, with encouraging words and praises sent from afar.

He instinctively tries to move away from the incoming blast, but stops himself.

He thinks back to their fight, and about Deku's parting words. He can do it. This battle was really not against Copycat, but against himself. And he would win, he would be able to look Deku in the eye and see the other boy smile.

A small smile overtakes Katsuki's face, as the explosion overwhelms him. It hurts. His chest, arms, and face all burn painfully, but he doesn't even notice.

Even as his balance grows shaky, and he is thrown back from the impact, he doesn't care. Instead, he walks forwards towards Copycat with his arms extended out in front of him. Blow after blow, he'll take whatever he needs to to win for Deku.

Copycat's cocky smirk seems to have faded by now, replaced with confusion and anger because of Katsuki's refusal to stay down and defeated.

Now Katsuki was going to give him something else to be mad over: a complete and utter loss.

He keeps advancing without any fear, palms sparkling as he suddenly stands up after being seated for so long, finally feels that addictive tense of his muscles as he lights his hands up.

He finally released all the tension he had been holing up inside of himself, letting loose a huge explosion from his left hand, wary of the destruction it would cause to use both of his hands especially with all of the sweat he had built up. A ripple ripped through the air as a grand orange light flowed across the stadium, sending hats flying and hair flowing. Katsuki's explosion certainly didn't play around, stunning the audience, his classmates, and Loudmouth who hadn't been able to shut up, completely silent. Small particles of smoke were floating down around the arena, the glow of orange still stained into the eyesight of everyone watching.

No one could speak.

the only audible noise was the boisterous laugh Katsuki let out. He couldn't control himself, shoulders shaking as he doubled over in laughter.

He had finally done it.

And goodness, did it feel good.

But, he was a bit too over-confident in his quirk's power, not realizing Copycat's state instead only celebrating his own achievement in overcoming an aspect of his fear. It was after the smoke had cleared that Katsuki finally noticed Copycat standing, a bubble-like force surrounding his practically untouched body.

Shit.

Katsuki didn't know he could operate multiple quirks at once, he shouldn't have been that surprised that this had happened. Although, it did feel like Katsuki's victory was being ripped completely away from him with no mercy. It was pathetic how quick he was to assume he had won, there was no way he could be given a win so easy.

That didn't matter right now though, what truly did matter was that he had to break through that barrier Copycat had seemingly summoned, or else there was no way he could win. There was no way he couldn't break through that field with his full power- especially considering Copycat wasn't able to emulate quirks at the full level, at least going off what he had seen from his own quirk being copied.

Across the field, Katsuki's eyes landed on the self-assured smirk that found its way back onto Copycat as he gloated in his victory over Katsuki's quirk. He wiped sweat from his eyebrows, safe and secure inside his little cowardly barrier.

Katsuki couldn't help but think if he had trained more and not given up on his quirk he would have beat the other boy drastically in power and control of his quirk.

Because of those thoughts and what he saw, Katsuki made up his mind.

If he could be faster and shock Copycat, he would let his guard down and give him an opening that would lead to a win. He couldn't stall any longer or else the window of opportunity would be completely lost.

It was his time.

Using his left hand again, Katsuki shot forwards. He found it easier to get over using his explosions a second time, especially in a non-threatening manner to buff up his speed. Although the explosion had been on the smaller side because of the large explosion he had just set forth, it still did the job in propelling back towards Copycat.

He could visibly see Copycat's eyes widen as he drew closer, eventually coming face to face with his ever-so slightly dropping smirk.

Now that's what he liked to see, a bastard taken down a notch.

"FUCK YOU!" Katsuki shouted out from the top of his lungs, extending his right arm and using all of his strength to punch the barrier. He cried out in pain, the field being much harder than he would've expected, however that didn't mean it wasn't brittle.

A web of cracks formed in the barrier, leaving Copycat looking unexpectedly scared. He had nowhere to run to with Katsuki right next to him and a giant barrier attracting all sorts of attention to him.

Even if he did have a chance to escape, Katsuki didn't give him any time to think about it before he pulled back his right arm and swung with gusto again.

His hand still throbbed with the familiar blunt pain, but his adrenaline was too high and he was far too focused to stop.

The second his fist had impacted on the barrier, the web of cracks grew exponentially until it started to crumble around Copycat.

But no, Katsuki wasn't finished yet - not even close. Breaking the barrier wasn't enough, he had to win this match and knock his opponent down or out.

With that, he finally lifted up his right hand that he had been saving. Due to his sweat buildup, Katsuki didn't even have to look to know how massive the explosion would be.

His arm tensed, heat pooled in the palm of his hands as the energy built up in an exponential mass that had nowhere to go but out, exploding into a bright fiery rose right inside of the bubble. The barrier was torn to shreds, vaporized from the heat of Katsuki's explosion. It was magnificent, but also terrifying and Katsuki didn't know if he wanted to stay as the orange light danced his eyes, or run far away from the dangers of the explosive force. It didn't matter after a minute, a new plume of smoke spreading all around. Even though the explosion was gone, Katsuki could still see it outlined in his eyes, it's brightness had imprinted while his ears rang with a burning pain. All of his senses were overwhelmed, at this point it just being a miracle he could still stand at all.

Of course, he was the only one standing as Copycat was crumpled in a pile on the floor. Admittedly, Katsuki had gone a bit far, but in his opinion it was a good thing to not let the other boy get too cocky, lest he get beaten by an inferior student again. Maybe that was the old him trying to claw his way back, but the idea of completely and utterly crushing his opponent was still more overwhelming than Katsuki would've ever hoped it to be. That hadn't quite registered in Katsuki's mind, as the shock from the explosion still had him frozen. He was still staring in shock after his eyesight began to fade back to normal, and he was still in shock when the smoke had mostly cleared, Loudmouth and Lust Lady announcing him as the winner of this round.

As he walked off as though he was in a trance, he didn't think. Not of Deku, not of his many frustrated and angry classmates who probably felt tricked about his quirk, not of Eyebags, not of anything except the pure adrenaline of a crowd cheering you on and the resounding noise of huge explosions breaking through.

Katsuki likened his quirk to a thunderstorm. In the beginning, it was a soft rain that gradually began heavier and heavier until finally storming down with high winds, lighting, thunder, and of course blistering rains. That stretch caused property damage, lives were lost, and families were ruined beyond any resurrection. However, now the rains started to fall back and lessen, light sprinkles were all that were to remain and Katsuki had control again. Or, he thought he had control. Deep down he still knew he had a lot to go through before he would ever begin to really start trusting himself and his own quirk again. But, with Deku's help, he was prepared to take those steps and work on it.
For the first time in a long time, standing all alone in the area with thousands of eyes upon him, he cracked a huge smile. Unlike the smirks and small smiles he gave Deku, this was the product of pure joy, or as Katsuki saw it, growth.

Everything that took place after that was a blur.

He knew someone came to get Copycat, because it made no sense to leave his body there when multiple matches had yet to go on, and he knew he got shepherded out into a medical room so his own burns could be patched up. None of it really imprinted on his memory, the hazy feeling of victory still giving him a sense of giddy unlike any other.

He did remember that he didn't particularly feel like facing his classmates after what just happened, and the other patients in the room weren't paying any attention to him, and thus wouldn't cause him much disruption. So he asked if he could stay and rest in the bed that he was assigned to. He probably seemed so distant and out of it that Recovery Girl agreed immediately, that coupled with the many burns on him, requiring his stamina to heal.

The drop in his stamina drooped his eyes, and drew him to the brink of sleep but even if he tried he wouldn't be able to get any rest with how hyped up on adrentaline he was feeling from the match.

He had won. He had done it, beat his own quirk in a game where the winner takes all. He would admit, it felt pretty great to win that match against Copycat. Not only had he beaten someone from the Hero Course, but he had advanced onto the next round. He still had a chance to win, to be the number one.

Just like he promised Deku.

Goodness, he wished Deku was watching him now, seeing how far he had come with his control and adaptability, and in such a short amount of time. He wondered what the other boy had been up to... If he learned he wasn't watching this festival, Katsuki knew he would force the boy to watch it with him, (not that it would be hard to convince him to do with his absolute love of heroes and quirks.) Just thinking about being able to come back to Deku with that golden medal around his neck brought a smile to his face. Especially that proud and happy look Deku would give him. Was he being too confident in his abilities? Possibly, but not even those negative thoughts could cover up the pure glee he felt at the prospect of seeing Deku smile again, but this time make it genuine.

The fake encouraging smiles always made him feel even worse, but maybe if he was lucky he could draw out one of those blinding smiles from the other boy.

Katsuki shook his head, it was a cute thought. One that he didn't have time for.

Right now all he needed to do was get out of this bed, lazing around while he could be preparing for his next battle was pathetic, if he wanted to make Deku proud he couldn't be uselessly daydreaming.

So, he got up quietly, making sure not to disturb anyone (especially not Recovery Girl) and shoved his hands in his pockets, strutting down the halls. He sighed as he walked, he should probably find the listings for the next match, he was sure they were out about now considering he had been resting for a good time.

On the way there he couldn't help but think back to Deku.

The second his mind mentioned even his name, he couldn't help but remember the bright picture of Deku smiling at his win, being truly happy.

"Who are you thinking about?" A familiar voice asked right next to Katsuki.

He recognized that voice… no. It couldn't be.

He slowly turned his head, and saw it.

A floating uniform with a girl's bust and seemingly no one inside… He wracked his brain trying to conceive if this was someone different. Alas, he knew it wasn't anyone but the invisible girl who Katsuki had encountered when he ran into the broom closet.

The one who asked about Deku. The one who sent him into a further panic. The one who Katsuki had forgotten about completely because he was so afraid of someone learning about Deku's existence.

And now she wanted to know who he was thinking about? His body shook as he stared right into where he pressured her eyes were. Could she read minds? Did she have some freaky connection to Deku and the dead?

He didn't particularly care, his body urging him to get away as fast as possible. Whatever she was doing, wanted no part of it.

"Was it Deku?"

Katsuki kept running. He didn't know if he had lost Invisible Girl somewhere in the halls or if she was even chasing after him in the first place, but he kept running.

The second she had uttered those words he sprinted away from her, not looking back at all, and not ready to face whatever questions she had for him.

For fuck's sake, he had a match coming up. But even then, Invisible Girl tried to bother him and dredge up a topic he would rather never talk about to anyone. Ever.

He still couldn't fathom how in hell she had figured out that name, his nickname for Deku. Did he accidentally spill something and she heard him, or did she have some sort of mind reading, ghost seeing quirk that no one knew about? Did she know it was his fault he died and was going to use that knowledge to her advantage? Katsuki didn't even know how much she had realized about the situation, or what kind of information she knew. It didn't matter to him, any information at all was enough to panic him.

No matter what she knew, Katsuki was scared.

He turned down a hallway before flipping his head back. He didn't see any floating clothes following him, so he ducked into the nearest room.

He silently hoped Invisible Girl wouldn't be able to find him. Especially because he was in the midst of multiple different crises, the one she brought up was the one he had hoped to avoid the most. He needed to focus. Focus on his match and banish Invisible Girl from his mind completely.

His eyes frantically searched the room and landed on a television screen that was broadcasting the new matches, much to his luck.

Regardless of the situation he was in, Katsuki felt relief when he heard the announcer's voice. He could do this, he could get his control back. He took a few deep breaths before peeking at the matches, trying to steel himself for who he was against and contain his contempt for the girl who seemed to show up at the worst times. He would not go into a panic attack because of her, he refused to.

A few seconds later, his breathing and personal affirmations seemed to have worked, as he felt ready to see who he was battling, Invisible Girl the furthest thing from his mind (well, not the furthest, his concerns still lurked but he shoved them deep down to revisit much later.)

Katsuki's eyes flickered to the television, he could do this.

The second his eyes landed on his name and he saw who his opponent was, he felt sick.

All his previous troubles seemed to dissipate in the face of his fear against his opponent.

He was going against Eyebags. The one person he had hoped to avoid fighting after he has learned what being put under brainwashing really felt like. Just his luck that he had to go against Eyebags and be forced to win to move on, as opposed to the other boy being able to lose early on within the competition.

Was it that bad of him to wish such bad fortune on a friend? If they could even be considered friends, well Katsui certainly didn't consider them as such. The thing he wasn't sure of- how much did their relationship change after Eyebags' quirk was used against him? And if it were to happen again, what would that mean?

Katsuki was running circles in his mind, unable to fully comprehend the situation that had been placed on him. The words of why? How? And other conjunctions began to float around in his mind. Katsuki felt hopeless. This entire day he had been feeling helpless and hopeless as these similar thoughts had been resurfacing and hiding themselves, just waiting to blunder all of his efforts. And yet he couldn't help but wonder, what efforts were those? How much effort had he really given to this… enough to give up in face of adversity? No. He would not quit when he knew he was capable of winning and refusing Eyebags' attacks.

Not to mention the observation Katsuki had made about the nature of this fight. It was only natural they would pit the two General Education students against each other to ensure Hero Class students would still be able to take a win.

That thought alone almost made Katsuki feel a sense of pity for Eyebags who he knew still held apprehension about being in the General Education class. He knew it would be hurtful for the boy to lose to someone who had no interest in heroics, but at the same time Katsuki didn't have the time nor the conscience to give enough thought to the feelings and experiences Eyebags might have been going through.

Gah, Katuki brought his hands up to clutch his head. Everytime he thought about Eyebags, he became faced with a mental argument about his own ethics and his trauma. Just as he made that connection, a lightbulb went off in Katsuki's mind.

What was the trigger for Eyebags' quirk again?

It was verbal, he needed to answer Eyebags in order for him to get controlled. He could avoid the trauma so long as he didn't talk to him at all, he didn't need to worry about the mental argument that was burning inside of his mind.

The only issue he had was that if Deku was brought up, if Eyebags somehow had information on hsi closest held secret, he's not sure how quiet he would be able to remain. Because of that hesitation, that anger that came to the slander of Deku's name, Katsuki knew he wouldn't be able to hold his silence.

He would scream at the boy, the audience, the injustice of Deku's actions upon him even though he secretly knew that his childhood friend had been right. He was always right about Katsuki, he never failed with his assumptions, not when he called him a bully, and not when he told him about his failures. There was a side of his brain that mentioned the idea that not everything Deku had said to him was negative, positive greetings and wishes of love hidden in between the harsh truths.

"SHUT UP." Katsuki pounded his left fist on the side of his head, he wanted his thoughts to stop. He just wanted his brain to be blank, not jump from idea to idea without any form or order whatsoever. He was drifting in and out of logical sense, clinging to his emotions and any evidence he could grasp at random.

Fuck, he couldn't do this.

It didn't matter how much he built himself up, how much he told himself he could face Eyebags and his quirk with no hesitation, or how much resolve he had, he knew he could fall apart the second he was actually faced with the purple haired boy. It was pathetic how fast he could come off of his high horse, as the old hag would put it. He cou;dn't help but agree with her.

But, another voice spoke out.

"Kacccchan!" You didn't train so hard for nothing, you can't let this beat you!" Katsuki smiled at the projected voice of Deku speaking out into his mind, "I know you can do it, face him for me!"

It wasn't what Deku would say exactly, especially after their fight, but just picturing it was enough for Katsuki's body to relax. His tensed muscles started slacked as his mind filled with happy green clouds to float around and absorb all the negative thoughts that were nagging him.

Shortly after the smile had risen to his face, it fell again, reality crashing down.

Deku wasn't even fucking here to say those words to him personally, all he could do was conjure up sone make niceties Deku would never dream about telling his bully.

And when the negative thoughts start up again, they don't stop. It's a never ending churn where you fight for positivity and happiness but never manage to catch it, the churn sucking you back in all too eagerly.

This was happening to him now - memories of Deku's bright smile being replaced with his terrified eyes. Memories of freedom and him using his quirk at winn being replaced by the feeling of Eyebags' quirk, trapped and forever silenced.

A lone tear rolled down his cheek as the presentment repeated in his head.

Trapped.

Lost.

Broken.

He was in a black room.

There were no doors to be found, only eternal darkness surrounding him on all four sides. He runs, tripping on thin air as he gasps for any kind of life, and finally he sees it. He sees a window, it's… it's him? It's a view of his hands, water drip dropping on them as they surround his face.

Where is he?

He screams out for help, for attention, for any kind of recognition but the same image keeps playing, tears dripping onto his cold and empty hands. Is this supposed to mean something? Why isn't he moving, even in his limited and trapped body he feels transfixed to stare at the tears. There's nothing interesting happening, it's a boring image, yet he can't look elsewhere. He just can't.

Even as the darkness inches closer, the window begins to shrink and the light dimming around the corners fading the image, he can't tear his gaze away. He's stuck… his voice is useless, vocal chords freezing up at his most critical moment, feet cemented in place, and worst of all, his eyes are fused to the window. To the drip drip drip of salty waters on hands that have hurt so much and caused so much pain.

As the darkness edges closer and threatens to consume the image, he feels himself falling backwards. He can't see, eyes shielded by the dark.

And suddenly, he drops.

He's in his own body now, but he's still falling.

Not falling down a hole, but falling into unconsciousness.

"Help me.."

He's gone.

.

"Hey, are you okay?" Murmurs floated in and out, who was talking to him? "I think your match is going to start soon, you should wake up."

Katsuki was groggy, he didn't know quite what was happening to him nor who was talking to him.

When had he fallen asleep in the first place? To him, it had seemed like the world had come to a halt, he was a blank slate once more, understanding slowly settling into him.

He remembers slurring words together, but they weren't coherent, and didn't stop the person from shaking him.

"You need to wake up!" A feminine voice, Katsuki could hear it more clearly now. Was it Plant Girl or the Lunatic? Maybe, but why would they care if he missed his match. Sure Plant Girl had revealed Copycat's quirk, but that didn't mean they were on good terms now after he hid his true quirk and practically ignored what she told him. Him and the Lunatic weren't close enough that she would care whether he was awake in time for a match or not.

"Go away." His voice sounded hoarse and laced with sleep.

"I apologize for the disturbance but it really would be in your best interest to get to your match, I'm sure you don't want to lose it." The voice repeated, slightly angering Katsuki. What rights did this person have to tell him what was in his best interest.

He slowly started to open his eyes, bright luminescent light flooding his vision and overwhelming his senses.

"FUCKK." He quickly lifted a hand to block the beam of the light, taking in his surroundings.

Why was he in this abandoned room… suddenly his eyes widened behind his hand. Ignoring the other person in the room, he started to slowly stand up.

The blood rushed through his body at the same time as the memories.

He had rushed into the room because of that fucking Invisible Girl and her saccahrine filled stalking, there had been too much going on, and his body didn't seem like his anymore.

He didn't even know how to describe what happened to him, only that he disconnected from his body. Almost as if his body had lost battery, like a broken computer with no charger, yet the memory inside of the device was still churning.

The light started to get more bearable as his eyes had ample time to adjust. Yet, Katsuki could still feel a headache rising, his fingers drawing back from the light to massage at his temples. The feelings of thirst, hunger, and anger were all swirling around but greatest of all was the utter confusion and helplessness he had felt as he was sitting in this room alone, somehow disconnected from his body and reality. Shit, he really didn't have enough time to ponder about whatever just happened to him along with his long standing complicated relationship with Deku, the trauma that came from being brainwashed, and the painful memories of his quirk. So he decided to sort it all in his little mental folder of shit he never wanted to think about again. Although the chances of him never thinking about his disconnecting were slim, he at least wanted to forget about it for as long as he possibly could.

"Who the fuck are you?" He settled on figuring out what he could right now, which is what the fuck his person could gain from waking him up.

As he turned, his eyes squinted in shock.

It was the black haired girl who had been in the icy fire bastard's group during the cavalry battle.

"Yaoyorozu Momo." She bowed.

He found that he didn't actually care who she was, prioritizing the more important question.

"Why the fuck did you wake me?"

She seemed to strighted her posture, to make herself look dignified in the face of hsi vulgarity. The barbarian versus the princess? Is that how she saw it, Katsuki shook his head, it was too stereotypical for her to assume because of his harsh language he needed to be saved and educated, and that it was her duty. He would gag if she even mentioned it.

"Your match is coming up, and I wanted to be sure you wouldn't miss it." She reiterated, ignoring the point of Katsuki's question. At least it wasn't related to her needing to be superior.

He growled, "BUT WHY?"

"It would be unheroic." She stated clearly, "Especially since I know you were in here, it would be wrong to abandon you and risk having you miss the match." And there you go, there was the form of superiority Katsuki had been waiting for.

He snorted. So he was her charity case, there to reinforce her position within the Heroics Course and prove to herself that her intentions are altruistic.

"Yeah sure, got placed to be." He took a deep breath and walked past her. He didn't think he owed her any sort of thank you, especially if it was just Hero work to her, then she shouldn't be expecting anything in return.

Luckily, as he walked away, no black-haired ponytail girl chased after him or screamed at his lack of thankfulness. He would bet she was pretty pissed though, she seemed too proper with her vocabulary use not to expect people to bow at her every whim.

He scoffed, if he spared her anymore thought, he wouldn't have the chance to go over his plan for defeating Eyebags.

It was very simple: 1. Don't talk to Eyebags at all costs, 2. Don't mention Deku at all costs, 3. Be the first person to move or do any action, and 4. Use hand to hand combat as much as possible.

Well, it was less of a plan and more of a bulleted list of reminders. They weren't in any particular order either considering Katsuki had no idea what angle Eyebags was going to pursue against him.

Although, it could be argued that the last match he went in without a plan didn't end too well, with both him and his opponent needing medical attention. But the point of that match proved that even when disorganized he could win, and not by a particularly small margin either. Of course that was all dependent on whether or not he had the upper hand. In this fight, it would be pretty even. Both Katsuki and Eyebags had seen each other's quirks being used but didn't fully understand how to defeat it and probably had some sort of ace up their sleeve. At least that's how Katsuki was, he couldn't speak for Eyebags, nor did he want to.

It didn't matter much anyway. Katsuki proved he could go into a fight without understanding someone's quirk and still pull out a had his four guidelines to go by, so he knew he would be somewhat okay so long as he actually followed them. If he forgot to cross to cross a t or dot an i, he would know, as for how? It would be when he loses the battle. But, he had to have confidence to prevail, or at the very least some kind of assurance, considering there wasn't anyone else that would give it to him.

It would be fine.

He would be fine.

He just had to prove to the world how his control of his quirk was superior without it dredging up any of the past he was burying away for the short term. He had to focus on his objective of winning, even if Deku's existence managed to burrow into his brain and never let him think about anything except him.

The timid boy had forced his way into Katsuki's brain, or it was more like Katsuki had pushed Deku to horrible depths and in doing so he trapped him forever in his thoughts. He chuckled dryly, even now when he was trying to tell himself to stick to his plan, thoughts of Deku kept popping up. It was like he was infected by some disease, one that he honestly would never wish to be cured from. But Deku wasn't here to save the day, Katsuki was the only one who could change his future from losses to victories. Thus, he had to stop thinking about Deku and start thinking about himself.

At least, that's how he tried to rationalize it.

He shook his head as he continued down the halls, loudspeakers going over whatever match was currently in progress. Katsuki wasn't paying attention, he was focused on getting to the preparation room so he could hone in on what he needed to do.

Every single second counted, and he had to be ready for it.

With that said, once Katsuki reached his room he sat down at one of the chairs and pressed his fingertips together, resting his forehead on his pointer fingers.

Weird as it may look, it helped to balance his mind and prepare him for what was yet to come. So, he stayed in that position until his name was called to start the match.

All that repeated in his head were his four rules to stick by, a reminder not to disappoint Deku, and the contempt he held for the other boy's actions against him during the Cavalry Battle. All of it coalesced into one fuel for his body, one source of his fighting spirit. It would all be okay as long as he kept that flame burning, his spirit alive.

He could not let any distractions get to him regardless of their nature, so he blocked his mind off as he got up from the chair. He repeated his encouragement in his mind over and over again as he walked to the door, heavy footsteps marking his path.

And as he stood in front of the large doors, opening for him as the crowds went wild with anticipation over the fight between two unexpected General Education students, he couldn't help but feel a little pain leak through his swiftly erected barriers.

He suddenly closed his eyes, not wanting to see the bright lights shining on him and ecstatic crowds awaiting a public humiliation from one of two different parties. He knew he had to open his eyes eventually and leave the comfort of the hallways where he wished to forever remain.

Opening his eyes slowly, he saw a shock of purple advancing.

Shit.

Eyebags was already walking forward, and here he was, stuck like a fly in honey with his eyes shut closed. He quickly shuffled forward, keeping his eyes straight ahead of him as Eyebags' features became more and more visible the closer they got.

As they walked, Loudmouth introduced them, his introduction for Katsuki had slightly varied to making him out like a potential Hero Student and it made him grimace. Eyebags got the same intro, why did his introductory sentences have to change based on the discovery of his quirk and be played up so dramatically? It frustrated him to no end but he had no other choice than to go along with it and their shitty ploy using General Education students to create more drama and media coverage. It was all a ploy for fame to them, not for their student's actual health. It made Katsuki want to rip them a new one yet again.

He could do it after he won this match.

Hearing the end of the introductions from Loudmouth, and getting into the right starting area for the match, he was now deemed ready physically. Of course when the whistle was blown he would have to shift his footing and get into a fighting stance, but his muscles were aching to fight in preparation. He would probably never be ready mentally, but that didn't matter for right now, it didn't matter so long as he could ignore Eyebags completely.

"AREEEE YOU READYYY?" Katsuki smirked at the words, was he ever.

"START!"

A large whistle went off and the crowd roared.

His match against Eyebags had begun.

Immediately, Katsuki's body jumped into action. His arms curled into fists and his legs shuffled so that one was in front of the other, but they were almost parallel if measured. Not unexpectedly, Eyebags also had the same idea about getting what he had to say out into the open early. He didn't even give Katsuki a chance before he started speaking, shocking Katsuki into place even though he had repeatedly told himself he couldn't let this happen to him.

The icy cold words had speared through him, freezing his body.

"You're pathetic. A complete disgrace." Eyebags spat the words out hatefully, "You think it was funny? Sitting all up on your high horse talking about how the Hero Course sucks and how we're the cowards for having hopes."

Katsuki didn't know where he was going with this, but he clenched his fists tighter, and in his balanced fighting stance he started to quickly move towards where Eyebags stood. He had told himself he wasn't going to give Eyebags a chance to talk, but those plans had quickly been thrown out as his natural curiosity had taken hold, making him almost hesitant to start fighting back. That, and his willingness to hear someone insult him, hear someone talk about how much of a failure he is. It was in this way that it would be impossible for Eyebags to get a rise out of him, he was too accepting of the criticisms.

"Hiding your true quick from us this entire time, was it all just a joke you could play on the poor General Studies students who didn't have the chances you had at birth?" Eyebags was drawing closer, anger written on his face as he narrowed his eyes in contempt. "Or did you do it so we would all underestimate you? So you could beat us down easy after passing off your useless quirk."

Katsuki breathed deeply. Nothing Eyebags said was any worse than what he said to himself, it didn't matter whatever poison he let into his words, Katsuki would be fine.

Still, he found himself walking forwards to meet Eyebags as well, both of them expecting a fight to ensure if Katsuki's resolve could hold up as long as it was.

"Is that why you won't refuse to go down for this Festival? So you can finally manipulate your advantages and mock us." His tone, his expressions, his words. None of them were Eyebags. Katsuki didn't know who was advancing towards him but he knew it wasn't his acquaintance, who he came to know as a little snarky but holding a strong compassion and sense of justice. Was this really what he became, or was it him all along, just hiding in the shadows awaiting prey to catch in its large jaws. "You of all people, I knew you were cruel and selfish, but I didn't know it went this far."

Those words struck a chord with Katsuki. Not enough for him to open his big mouth and start screaming at Eyebags, but it stopped him in his tracks.

Just another person he had managed to let down, he guessed. Another name to be ticked off, another back to be blacklisted from his mind, and another name to be added to the list.

"Oho? Did that one get you?" Eyebags was smart with his observation, giving away what he knew without giving away too much. He liked to keep his opponents on the border of discomfort; he would wear anyone against him out by letting them adapt, but not for too long. Before anything else that could counter him was determined, he would pull the reins back into discomfort. "I'm sure you've heard it a lot. A pathetic guy like you? No doubt."

Katsuki gritted his teeth, he couldn't let the other boy get a rise out of him. He had to pull through for Deku. With that, he took a step forward, and then another. He walked more and more, blocking out all the insults Eyebags threw at him. It was finally time for him to use his zoning out for good, with that capability he would be undefeatable against Eyebags.

Or so he thought.

Eyebags wasn't quick to give up, and he managed to say the perfect thing to get Katsuki's attention.

"I can't believe you!" He prattled off, "You seem like just the type to bully others."

His eyes snapped up immediately, the word bully echoing in his head until it was all he could hear. His reaction was much too obvious, and Eyebags was just playing with him at this point, he knew how to get to him.

"I wonder..." Eyebags drawled, "So you were a bully? How did that feel? Did you enjoy tormenting those inferior to you... maybe that's why you've been hiding your quirk? To do it again! Wouldn't that be amazing for you."

He couldn't control himself, he had reached the edge.

Even with someone like himself who knew all the insults were true, whose self esteem was so low you could say anything, he still wanted to resist. He didn't like this pathetic boy calling Deku weak and inferior because he wasn't. And before he knew it, the words were already out of his mouth.

"SHUT UP, WHAT DO YOU-"

"Go walk out of bounds."

Eyebags didn't even let him finish his sentence before he was put under his control, features adapted from jeering into stoic. It was all a waiting game now, to see how long Katsuki would have to struggle and scream internally before he was declared the match's loser.

Left, right, left right.

He couldn't stop his feet from moving forward robotically.

He couldn't do anything.

He was spiralling, he could feel it. Katsuki knew he wasn't going to last much longer in his current state, he had seen what happened to himself. And while these circumstances were much different than before where he was controlled to prevent embarrassment, his terror was still very real.

Katsuki had lost. He lost to Eyebags, he lost to his weakness, and he lost to the very words that he had been telling himself everyday. Somehow they sounded different when said by someone else. He didn't know what it was, but he wanted to cry. He wanted to get away as far as possible and never resurface again.

More than anything, Katsuki didn't want to feel trapped.

He didn't want to feel weak, that was his greatest flaw.

Because of that, he made a desperate decision that he knew wouldn't do anything for him. Katsuki decided to beg. He prayed and cried, he reached out to Deku. He called to him within his body's prison.

Katsuki just wanted to see him one last time before he would be declared a loser. Before all his efforts, even with his quirk would be for naught and both him and Deku were proved wrong about what he could do. Quirk or no quirk he was weak, and he didn't want to face it. Fuck, was he really this weak? All he wanted to do was see and hear Deku before he had to actually face the reality of that idea. There were only minutes, seconds left of him being trapped within his body. Yet, somehow Katsuki felt like he would be trapped in his mind for the rest of his life, chained down by the very fear that had control of him now. He would never be able to escape it, would he?

"KAAAAACHAN!" If Katsuki had control over his body he's betting his eyes would've popped out of his sockets, disbelief coursing through every bit of his being. It was just him making it up. It still wasn't real. Deku wasn't here. His desire had just materialized, and that wasn't possible.

No matter how much he tried to convince himself of it, he knew he wasn't making this up. It didn't sound like his fake Deku voice, this had to be the real one.

He didn't know if he was really that desperate, that he would believe Deku had come and saved him (no matter how much every cell in his body hated to be saved, somehow when it was Deku it was okay.) He didn't even account for how unlikely it was that Deku would all the sudden decide he was worth it, or forget that their fight took place and that they were currently divided.

His body involuntarily took a step forward, towards the out line.

Internally he kept struggling, but found himself distracted with trying to determine where Deku's voice was coming from and how to stop the tingling darkness at the feeling of being trapped from consuming him completely.

"Resist it, Kacchan!" He heard the familiar desperate cry, "Don't give in, please. I know you're in there."

Didn't Deku, or his imaginary version of Deku, know he was trying his hardest? Didn't he know it was his choice to have been held kidnapped again within his own mind? Out of anything he would've wanted, this wouldn't have been it, not even by a longshot.

Darkness pooled around his conscience, he was losing it.

The feeling of being tied down and trapped was resurfacing, his trauma from being forced to do whatever Eyebags wished couldn't be pushed down for long, it didn't work like that. He could struggle, cry, and scream all he wanted but nothing would change.

Nothing would ever change.

However, just when he felt himself give up, when he felt the grand forest Eyebags had brought into his mind, close in on him, branches wrapping all around to keep him entrenched, curling and cutting off his blood circulation as they choked him, he saw the clear path through the forestry prison. He saw the sunlight's bright beams.

He saw Deku.

Standing in front of his stoic walking body was Deku, waving his arms and shouting for attention. Of course, he got ignored as Eyebags control kept him locked with a single goal; to cross the bounds of the arena.

Even with that promise of self-defeat etched into his brain, Katsuki felt a swell of joy leap up inside of him. Even if he was going to lose now that he was under Eyebags' control and lost to him once again, he was happy to know Deku did care about him enough to watch him, at least even a little bit.

"Kacchan, you need to stop right now, I'm here to help!" Deku sounded frantic, arms waving around as he tried to push back up against Katsuki's body to no avail, "You can't lose like this! I won't let you!"

Oh Deku, ever the savior.

Katsuki would chuckle if he could, eyes filled with amusement, did he even want to be saved?

He had been converted in a shell. However temporary that was, it didn't matter. What mattered is that he let it happen to him, he took the bait, and now he was suffering the consequences. Through his trauma, the memories of past events, of being trapped, and alone.

It was all coming back.

Deku's face sent a beacon of hope through him, but by now it was far too late.