Trigger Warning: Toxic & aggressive behaviour. This chapter may be difficult for some readers. This behaviour won't continue after this chapter.

Note: Grammarly used. Apologies for the long wait, I had a big task at work that I have not long finished that took up a lot of time, even at home. Thank you for being patient with me! Please check out the adjacent Insta to this fic, mayhata_copycat for related art, collabs and dabbling in other AUs.

My Dear Copycat
Chapter 9
The Winter Festival

It was the morning of a press interview for Bakugo and Shoto, it was something that neither had wanted to do but was convinced that it would be a necessary promotion for their future pro-hero careers. They will begin to become more recognisable to the public and they'll no doubt become idols before they even graduate UA. They had been invited for this interview because on the same day they got their provisional hero licenses, they managed to stop rampaging thugs in the street and returned the stolen property. So the public was impressed, and wanted to hear from the upcoming pro-heroes in training! While Shoto was his normal composed and nonchalant self, Bakugo had a torch under him burning up his temper the moment they both sat down with the interviewer and the crew.

They were set up in the Alliance dorm commune area, and most of the class were out doing their own thing or in their rooms – no doubt trying to stay out of the inevitable blast zone. Except for Deku, Ochako, Tenya and May who watched the interview transpire from the open kitchen, making sure they didn't get in the camera shot. The reporter was a young brunette woman whose long twisted hair hung loosely over her shoulder. She was accompanied by two cameramen, a cinematographer and an assistant, who all looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there more and more with every passing moment.

The reporter watched a clip from the duo's fight before introducing their interview, her voice was vibrant and bubbly, "wow, pro-level work! Mere minutes after earning provisional licenses! This morning we welcome two students from UA. Young heroes who recently took down some rampaging villains. Shoto Todoroki and Katsuki Bakugo. What a pleasure it is to have you join us."

Bakugo scoffed, "tch."

The reporter was a little surprised by that but continued. "Uh…you must have bonded during your training. Given how well you worked together, huh?"

Bakugo snapped, "does it look that way to you? Ya better get your eyes and head checked out soon then."

Suddenly, Todoroki piped in, "that's right, we're friends." His voice was monotone and stoic, unmoved by Bakugo's growing voice and temper.

"Huh?! Where the hell do you get off making up random crap like that, you icy hot idiot?" yelling at Todoroki, seemingly forgetting that the crew were there.

"We've spent a lot of time together in our supplementary classes," he shrugged.

"Because the school forced us to! Training beside each other doesn't mean we're friends!

May, Iida, Ururaka and Deku look on in shock, their mouths hanging open at what was happening before them. Some even wondered if the rest of their class had the right idea in hiding from this. But Deku leaned towards May and whispered to her while Bakugo and Shoto went back and forth with each other, "you saw your dad recently, didn't you? Can you help calm Kacchan? Like you did during the exam?" Midoriya's eyes were wide and pleading. He knew the importance of such interviews and Bakugo was simply not doing himself any favours, and he knew that May could help and he would worry about the potential backlash later.

"How do you define friendship…?" retorted Shoto behind them.

Bakugo's answer made Midoriya wince as he searched May's face for a response. "I don't know! You should get your brain checked too!"

May pulled a face, her brows furrowed as she felt a surge of anger and pettiness towards the explosion hero. She shook her head and crossed her arms. "No, I won't. Not after how he's been…" She wanted to see him humiliated, she wanted him to see the repercussions of his temper and outbursts at last. But as she listened on and saw the faces of the crew, the anger and pettiness she felt changed to guilt and sympathy very quickly. She could protect him from himself, and she had made a promise to him that she would. Does that still stand? She sighed, a promise is a promise. The crew had taken a step back and the reporter was going through some paperwork with her assistant while the two students bickered. May slowly made her way around and sneaked up behind her squabbling classmates. She didn't want Bakugo to see her, knowing full well what would happen if he were to catch her using her father's quirk on him.

Sweat beaded on her brow as she tiptoed across the carpet, trying not to make a sound. This was more intense than the work-study missions she has been going on recently, involving actual villains. What the hell is wrong with me? It is just Bakugo, we were good friends once… she held her breath as she drew closer, Shoto keeping the untamed dragon occupied while she did so. As Bakugo was wearing his school uniform, he had no exposed skin other than the back of his neck. She gulped as she reached out. Her fingertips were mere inches from his skin, his blazing eyes darted to her and he stood, his temper turning on her. But instead of shouting at her and committing murder that day, Bakugo blinked as his face was wiped to a neutral state. May let out the breath she was holding. It turns out, that as Bakugo stood and turned, he had caused the back of his neck to reach her trembling fingertips, allowing her to complete her mission.

He straightened up and rubbed the back of his neck, a slight blush coming to his cheeks as he mumbled his gratitude. He turned to face the crew, with a sigh he bit the bullet, "can we start again?"

As the crew prepared themselves to start the interview from the beginning, May returned to her friends in the kitchen. Who now all had smiles of appreciation and understanding. She gave a weak smile back, but discomfort and anxiety glossed over her large eyes as she worried about what would happen later. She longed to be able to help Bakugo whenever he needed, just like she had promised – but she didn't want to have to sneak around and pray he doesn't spot her. That is not good for either of them. May, looking sombre leaned back against the kitchen counter and wrapped her arms around herself, she wanted to go and hide in her room but stayed because of her promise. In case he needed her again.

The interview went on for another hour without any issues. Bakugo's temper had stayed away long enough for them to get some cohesive answers out of him. But Bakugo was now pacing in his room, the sun was setting outside and his thoughts just would not stop. Just when he thought he getting free of her control, she goes and touches him again. No doubt reverting his recovery from her influence back to square one. He had to know why…why did she intervene in his and Todoroki's interview? She could have just let him do it himself. His fists clenched…harder and harder until his knuckles were white, his fingers ached and trimmed nails dug into his palm. Deep breath. Release. He left his room and headed towards the female wing, making a beeline for her door. His hand raised and stopped midair, he could hear her humming a delicate tune on the further side. Deep breath. Release. If he knocked like he normally would, she probably wouldn't answer. Not that he could blame her. He had to be diplomatic. He knocked with the joint of his index finger.

The humming stopped, "come in!" her voice chimed from the other side, he could sense the pleasant smile from behind her door. It almost made him want to turn back, to not confront her on what she did earlier that day. But he couldn't, he was Katsuki Bakugo and he never walked away from conflict. As soon as he opened the door and caught sight of her at her desk, he paused as the breath in his throat hitched. Her burgundy hair was thrown up in a messy bun, to keep out of her way while she worked on her computer science project. The style, while messy caused wild strands to shine in the lamplight, it only accentuated her soft features and revealed the pale, smooth skin of her slender neck. Her shimmering emerald eyes seemed to lose some of their joy at the sight of him. Which only made his heart sink further into his belly, causing him to feel nauseous. She saved her work and stood from her wheeled chair slowly, "Bakugo…err…what's up?" her voice had quietened, he could hear a shakiness to it. Was it nerves? Or fear? She knows why I'm here. She did not look him in the face as she took steps toward him, suddenly stopping halfway.

She looked so small and pitiful before him as she fiddled with the hem of her sleeves. The sight reminded him of when she first started here. She had been so frightened of him and acted so timid. However she had grown since then, she was stronger now. She's fully integrated into the class, doing well in her studies, a more capable fighter with ever-growing confidence in herself and her abilities. This confidence made her glow on a day to day, to him, she seemed to be a beacon of light, promising safety and compassion no matter the situation or environment. Drawing him in ever closer. It was no wonder why she was so good at helping the public. She was an angel, and with every passing day, she was becoming a more capable hero that stood tall and bought a sense of peace to the civilians around her. Yet, she shrunk at the sight of him, hiding her head in her raised shoulders. A hellfire lit in his gut, that boiled away at his temper. Was it because of how weak and pathetic she appeared? Or because he caused her to become this way? His body acted on its own, his steps thundered across the room towards her, causing her to jump and take steps back until she was pinned against the desk with Bakugo looming over her tiny trembling frame. His fingers gripped the edge of the desk on either side of her. He leaned in close with a snarl on his lips and a raging fire in his eyes, "you manipulated me again. Why?" he growled, he kept his voice low and dangerous as he didn't want anyone to interrupt them.

May could still not look at him, her eyes bore down at the small gap between them as she fumbled her words, "I promised…th-that…I would help to protect you…"

"I don't need protecting!" he barked. His attention was drawn to her phone that waited by her computer. It vibrated and lit up with a text from Mirio. The fire within him grew hotter, and he seethed. "You may have succeeded in tricking Togata, but you won't manipulate me again. If you do…I'll kill you. Say it…"

She cowered from him, her eyes squeezed shut in a poor attempt to stop the tears that were forming. "Say what?" Her words were so quiet he could barely hear her, even this close.

"Say you won't manipulate me again…" when she didn't respond save for muted whimpers, he slammed his palm on the desk and raised his voice, "say it!"

"I-I…wo-won't…" tears forced their way out between her clenched eyelids and a quivering hand went up to hide her face as she wept. He stepped back and took in his handiwork, his fiery temper dissipated just as quickly as May slid to the floor when her knees gave way. His mouth hung open as if to speak, but what could he say now to make this right? What have I done? His hand went to reach out to her, but he paused, deciding against it. She would want no comfort from him. Not now, not ever. He rubbed his face and backed out of her room, leaving her to sob alone as a result of his heinous actions. He did not acknowledge anyone else as he marched through the communal area, ensuring there was no stop. He had to think about this. He had to find a way to battle this conflict within him.

Bakugo paced his room, occasionally rubbing his face or scratching at his scalp – messing up his already spikey hair. "Why do I keep doing this…why can't I just leave her alone?" he lost his senses around her much like with Deku but this was…different? He just could not seem to control himself anymore and his temper was getting worse and worse when he was around her. But back then, when they had been friends when it was clear something else…something more was forming between them, he had felt at peace, he felt calm and…happy? Even if that was a fabrication…even if she had orchestrated it all – that must be better than this? "No…I cannot allow myself to be controlled. Get a hold of yourself Katsuki. She's just a weak little girl…" so why did he feel so bad? She was nothing to him, she tried to use him as a pawn, it is just the residual effects of her father's quirk "…and… you're going to be the number one hero someday," he clenched his fists beside him, suddenly they went up and he pulled at his hair in frustration as he groaned, "this is not how heroes behave." Images of her flooded his mind, from their good times together, when they would go out to eat, to train, that one time they lay on the grass during a power cut and watched the stars. To the time they fell on the grass during a sparring match and couldn't let go of each other, kissing for the first and last time. Then to every time he made her cry or frightened afterwards. "I'm pathetic…"

Over the next couple of weeks, Bakugo kept his distance from the red-haired Copycat. Still convinced by her manipulations he could not keep a lid on his temper, thus opting to stay away from her – give her space, and him free of her grip. The residue of her influence still affected him, made him feel guilty and nauseous whenever he treated her badly. It got to a point where one evening he had to stop himself from going to her room to apologise and beg her to forgive him. It felt like something terrible, something alien had nested in his chest and was eating him from within. He felt like he was going to burst. He couldn't bear this anymore, he just wanted the pain to stop. But he could not allow this influence, this control of him to win either. He could not allow someone to toy with his strings. He was no puppet. Bakugo gritted his teeth over his internal struggle. This was a fight he had to win. The last of her influence should surely diminish soon. He just had to stay away from her, and not allow her to touch him again.

"Bro…? Hey Bakugo!" Kirishima pulled Bakugo from his mental prison. His friend was leaning against the desk in front of Bakugo, arms crossed as he had tried to his friend's attention who had been ignoring him. It was during a short break and most of the students had chosen to stay in the classroom but were now hanging together in groups. Bakugo noted that Kirishima was ahead of him, with Kaminari who was perched atop the desk beside his own and Sero stood between Kirishima and Kaminari.

"Huh?" he grunted.

"I said…you're coming to the Winter Festival after school, right? Everyone's going!"

"Am I fuck!" he downright refused, he hated the cold and rather stay in his dorm where it was warm.

He noticed the girls huddled together on the other side of the classroom discussing going to the festival. About what kind of stalls would be there, the food, the rides and the games. "Hey May…are you coming?" chimed Ochako, but Mina answered before May could.

"She is but she's going with Togataaaaa!" she sang loudly, drawing out the now quirkless hero's name. May's face blushed a deep red as Mina made all kinds of guesses on how their date would go – including them canoodling behind a tent.

"He's taking you for your birthday right?" came Ochako again, in an attempt to calm Mina's obscenities and embarrassing May further. May nodded enthusiastically as she regaled her friends about Mirio's plans for their evening together to properly celebrate her birthday. This made Bakugos blood run hot, how dare she talk about Mirio in front of him. He was convinced it was just to drive his jealously, to build it up to a point where he would not be able to control himself and go back to her, to be her puppet again. It's her birthday today…I'll…I'll stay away. Be happy.

"You know I'm going to make you go, you're coming out with us!" grinned Kirishima.

"Yeeahh! Who knows what hotties will be there!" came the glorified phone charger Kaminari.

"Tch…"

The rest of the day drove on slowly, the excited giggling from the girls, and the comments from his friends about meeting new girls were giving him a headache. He was glad that classes were over with but it was now time to go to the festival. Bakugo had been waiting in the commune area while some of the others were getting ready. A cheerful knock at the main door revealed the one and only Mirio Togata. He was almost immediately greeted by a bubbly and excited May who practically pranced through the commune area to meet him as she wrapped a large, thick tartan scarf around her neck. Bakugo found himself missing the days she looked at him the way she now looks at Togata; the way she seems to bounce up to him as if his presence alone was all she needed. He gritted his teeth with a silent, internalised growl as he bore his eyes away from them, trying to distract himself by scrolling aimlessly on his phone. That should have been me… when the door clicked shut and the 'byes' and 'see you later' droned out, Bakugo dared to glance up and noticed the couple that haunted him were gone and his friend, Kirishima, was looking at him with a worrisome expression. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT SHITTY HAIR?!" He barked, instead of getting the usual quip, Kirishima stayed silent, in fact, those in their class that was also in the commune area had waited to see if they had to intervene again like they had to numerous times before – they released their held breaths in a united relief of there being no drama.

Bakugo took note of their reactions and chose to ignore them, losing himself in his phone screen. He knew why they were all like this, they wanted to protect the sweet, precious little May from him, a villainous brute with no thought for anyone but himself. For he had proved time and time again that he just could not tame himself around her, even Deku did not cause this reaction from him, at least not anymore. He just wanted to get this evening over with.

The Class of 1A arrived at the Winter Festival together, enchanted by the bright warm lights lining the bustling rows of stalls and activities. Colourful bunting and decorated stalls bought life and colour to the wintery streets and dark skies as the thin layer of snow crunched beneath their boots. The alluring aroma of baked sweets pulled at their noses with honied promises. The sound of a cheerful crowd, children's laughter as they ran with sparklers and live music filled their hearts with joy and delight. The class split off into their little groups, as everyone seemed to want to rush off to different areas first. Bakugo stayed with Kirishima, Kaminari, Mina and Sero, not that he was given much choice. If he had, he would have rather had stayed at the dorms – alone, and finally enjoying some peace and solace, or as much as his tainted thoughts would allow.

Not quite an hour in from reaching the festival, while the group waited in line for some hot, chocolate-filled pastries on sticks he heard her. Her laugh jerked at his ear, sticking out amongst the crowd as if to taunt him. He peered over his shoulder and saw a sight that made a dark shadow wash over him. May in hysterics as Togata recited some ridiculous story, making wide gestures and pulling even more silly faces while carrying an oversized red panda teddy that looked like May could nestle herself inside it. I should've won her that- "Here you go man…" Bakugo had not realised that he had been fully watching the couple for minutes now as they seemingly had the time of their lives. Kirishima held one of the fish-shaped pastries on a stick out to him while the others looked on with knowing, sombre expressions – he accepted the sweet. They all know, they could see his pain written clearly across his face, and in his actions over the last several weeks – that only worsened after May and Togata began hanging out. He peered back and saw they rounded the corner, completely oblivious of him and his anguish. Damn it. He stared down at the pastry and his hands gripped the stick so tight his hand shook.

"Tch…" he smirked, looking back up at his friend in defiance as he pushed down the darkness that was growing inside of him, threatening to devour him. "Well, she moved on pretty fast. So how real could it have been?" he shrugged and took steps away to get their little group moving again now they all got what they were queuing for. With a free hand in his coat pocket and the other holding his snack, he strolled on smugly, taking bites of the fried chocolate fish. Kirishima caught up beside him, with the other three not far behind.

"Wouldn't you? You've been a huge ass to her since you called it off. Your behaviour is not manly at all bro! It's been terrible. Why would she want that?"

"Agh! You would be mad at someone too if they had done to you what she did to me," he growled, refusing to look his friend in the eye.

"I have no idea what you mean, what did she do man?"

"You know…"

"No, I don't! Were she and Togata already…?"

"I'm not a side dish! It's not that!"

"Then what? You have been saying she's done something all this time, but you won't say what. So, what is it?" Kirishima grips Bakugo's arm and stops him. Getting his troubled friend to finally look at him and open up. He just wanted to get to the bottom of this, and even more so, help his best friend.

"Ugh fine! It was all a manipulation, okay? From the day of the exam, she used her father's quirk to mess up my brain chemistry. Manipulating me into liking her. It was all fake. Just when I think I am getting free of her influences she touches me again! Changing the way I think, how I act…I won't be controlled! I am done letting her make a fool out of me!" he snapped, other people stared at the group as they walked by, but with recognising the boy yelling to be the mad one from the Sports Festival, they just carried on walking muttering to each other.

Mina clutched her coat, her words were nearly a whisper, "May…she wouldn't do that…"

Suddenly Kirishima whacked Bakugo upside the head like a scolding older brother and nagged at him before he could react, "you seem to make a fool of yourself all on your own. May would never do that, she only ever used her father's quirk to help you, dumbass. Besides, even she would…Mellow's quirk does not last that long. A week tops. Do I need to remind you how May's quirk works too? Her imitation of someone's quirk is always weaker than the original! Whenever she used it on you, you were always back to your normal self after a few minutes, longest time was probably an hour when she saved you from making a tit of yourself in front of those interviewers." Kirishima paused to let his words drill into Bakugo incredibly stubborn thick head. "And…what proof do you have she would ever do this?" Bakugo looked on blinking, almost expressionless as his face dropped, he realised he had no proof. He had ruined something great for what…? Because of an idiot comment made by Kaminari. He had guarded himself for all his life and had no interest in romantic connections, so to have one suddenly appear had been unsettling – so when a potential reason for it, an idea of it being a façade had surfaced, it was all he believed and clung to him like a bad stench.

"This may have been my fault…" Kaminari scratched at his chin sheepishly with his index finger. Causing everyone to stare at him.

Mina grabbed him by the collar of his dark coat, a rage now filling her, "what do you mean Denki!?"

"Well erm…Bakugo told me about Mellow quirk and I erm…think I said something about making hotties want you, or you know, something like that?"

"Denki! You idiot!" Mina continued to scold and lecture him while Kirishima tried to comfort a friend whose world was suddenly falling apart. Both May and Bakugo were Mina's friends, and she had been rooting for them for a long time. They had bought out the best in each other – May was becoming more confident and stronger, while Bakugo was finally calming down and actually smiled from time to time. But it all came crashing down because of a stupid, creepy comment made by the electricity hero to be.

"It's all my fault. I should've known better," Bakugo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, he suddenly felt very conscious of those around them. "I should go, I need to think," he pulled some Yen out of his pocket and handed it to Kirishima, overpaying him back for the pastry. Without saying another word to either of them, Bakugo made his way out of the Winter Festival. He did not want to run into May and Togata again, especially now that he had been enlightened with the truth. Although, as he approached the exit to the festival, he saw May grab the oversized teddy and bags and Togata run off somewhere after placing a quick peck on her head. Losing control of his body again, he was stood there frozen. His temper should be raging inside of him, forcing him to charge over to take her for himself. But instead, he felt hollow.

May adjusted the teddy as her arms were beginning to ache, she struggled to get her small arms around it and hoped Togata wouldn't be long. She allowed her gaze to wander, in search of what the two could do next. Her emerald eyes unexpectedly fell upon a certain classmate watching her from near the exit. He was about a hundred yards away, but despite the ever-moving crowd between the two of them, Bakugo was all she could see. He looked…sad. Broken almost. She felt her mouth open and shut, and she took a shaky step closer. But then she shook her head and furrowed her brows as if coming to her senses. She looked away from him in spite with a huff. He had treated her so appallingly that there was no way she was going to comfort him now. Besides, she had Mirio, who was as sweet as honey, as radiant as the sun, and he would never treat her the way Bakugo has.

When she curiously peered over her shoulder, half expecting him to be storming towards her. She instead felt a little disappointed to discover he was gone. She looked around for him, but May suddenly stumbled when the force of another body caught her shoulder. She quickly steadied herself, "oh I'm so sorry! Sorr-" a familiar perfume hit her nose, filling her with dread and she stopped dead. Her eyes opened wide as she gazed at the back of the well-dressed woman that had bumped into her.

"Oh, I'm sorry dear…" spoken in English, from a voice she did not want to hear. That burgundy hair the colour of blood. That blasted red coat and sunglasses of all things. And that blasted large, inhumane smile baring large sharp teeth. The woman that made May's body freeze over did not look at her again, she just left the same way Bakugo would have done.

She hoped that the woman did not plan to do anything to him. She had to check…she had to make sure… "Hey, are you okay? You're shaking!" came the more welcoming voice of Mirio, who had bought a couple of hot drinks back with him.

May snapped out of her fright, grinning up at Mirio, "I'm okay really! Just a little cold is all," what could she do against her anyway? That woman is a force of nature. Bakugo could manage just fine without me getting in the way.

"Good thing I got these hot chocolates on my way back huh!" Mirio relieved May of carrying the teddy and the bags that contained treats for themselves and Christmas presents, "hey, I saw some band begin their set over there. I think you'll like them, let's go and dance!" he ushered her away, and she eagerly followed, feeling much safer now that he had returned. But her mind could not stop wondering why on earth that woman of all people was here of all places. Then it hit her. With a hesitant hand, May reached into her pocket, making it look like she was putting it there to keep warm and not to check for anything that could have been placed there. Before she had an empty pocket, but now inside there was something there that made her shiver. A letter.

Bakugo spent the next few hours training in the gym and running around campus in an attempt to clear his head. How could he have been so stupid? How could he fix things? He couldn't just fall at her feet and beg for forgiveness. That wasn't his style. Plus, how could he possibly do that to her, especially now that she was pretty well situated with the quirkless, but very popular third-year. Bakugo felt a stab in his chest as if he'd been betrayed. He had never made her laugh as much as Togata did. Why? Why wasn't I better? I'm supposed to be the best!

It was quite late by the time Bakugo returned to the dorm building, and he imagined that most of his classmates would be back by now as well. But as he walked up the path, he did not expect to spot May leaning against her balcony. He paused and watched her. Her face was expressionless and unmoving -from what he could see- as she read a piece of paper, completely oblivious to him standing there below. After a few moments, to his surprise, she set fire to the lower corner of the paper. Watching the paper burn up into tiny bits of ash. She noticed him then as if the paper disappearing had revealed him there. She was taken aback but regained herself quickly. With a huff, she turned and vanished inside. Leaving him there, wondering what the hell just happened.