I woke up the following morning. I felt like I was in a dream, stuck in a false sense of reality that my life was perfectly intact. I smelt bacon; Ai must be cooking breakfast before Saturday school. I grabbed onto my chest. It was aching. My eyes and throat were sore, but what brought me back into the real world was that the room I was in, was not mine. The walls were painted a light blue, with cream curtains and dark furniture. It looked like a standard guest room you see in those magazines. I looked over at the clock, 8.a.m. At my beside was Todoroki.
I moved his hair out of his face. "Todoroki." He opened his eyes and looked at me. "How long have you been here?"
"Since about 7. I must have fallen asleep; I didn't sleep well last night." He rubbed his eyes. He stood up and extended his hand to help me up. He was treating me so fragile. I took his hand in mine. He was always so warm, just like…Bakugo.
That's right, I threw myself at him last night. I blushed; I was so careless. "Do you have a fever?" Todoroki felt my forehead.
"Uh, no. Just a minor headache." I reassured him.
"Good to see you awake, my moms making breakfast, hurry up and change. You still have Saturday school." Bakugo stood in the doorway.
"I think Mr. Aizawa would make an exception…" Todoroki started to defend.
Bakugo pushed him aside and grabbed me by my arms. "YOU HAVE TO GO YOU BIG BABY!" He seemed so pissed at me for even contemplating on not going. I was in so much pain though. I needed to grieve. The only person to ever care for me was gone. She devoted her life to me, and I never even got the chance to return the favor, or even thank her for all that she's done. "You once told me, you wanted to become a hero to make you sister proud, and now you have to become the hero she needed. Skipping training isn't going to help your goal." He wasn't pissed, he was passionate. "Do right by your sister by becoming a pro, or else all her efforts would have been for nothing!"
Bakugo was right, I needed to grieve but now was not the time. I grabbed my bag that Todoroki packed for me. It had my UA gym clothes and uniform. That's it? Maybe I will be able to stop by my place later and gather some more clothes. "Please leave, I need to change before training." I locked the door behind them. I'm not sure how I was going to get through the day, but I needed to, for Ai.
I sat down at the breakfast bar. Bakugo's mother set a plate in front of me. "Eat up, you're going to need all your strength." She was way quieter than the first time I met her. She reached out and touched my hand. "I'm so sorry…for your loss."
"Thank you." I gave a light smile.
"Let's go, I'll walk you to the school." Todoroki touched my shoulder and I followed him out the door. The walk there was mostly quiet besides traffic. He stayed in strides with me. I was moving so slow. I felt at war with my body. With every step a battle was won. "You can do it, today is your day Aiya." I stepped onto the school grounds; Mr. Aizawa was waiting for me.
"You ready Tadoka?"
"Yes Sir!"
Todoroki left my side giving me a small wave. I wanted him to stay so bad. I needed him, he's been such a big help and great friend. I followed Mr. Aizawa to the training grounds. Within the first hour I had dropped the bus four times. I finished my 5ks as fast as possible. Utilizing my quirk helped a lot with that.
"Tadoka, it seems like you have regressed since last week!" Aizawa was frustrated. "I thought you wanted to be a hero?" I opened my mouth to explain before he cut me off. "I know what happened, and its not an excuse to be doing worse! As a future hero, you are going to lose many loved ones, friends, and allies. A hero can't take time off to grieve, they have to keep saving people and fighting! Being a hero can be a lonely road! Especially when you have the potential to be great!" He tore me apart. He exhausted my body with all the hardcore workouts, and now he was attacking my very soul. I tried to stay concentrated on the bus. "You have to keep pushing yourself!"
"I KNOW DAMMIT!" I lost focus; the bus started to fall. No! I was so close! I outstretched my arms, outline the bus with my mind holding that picture attempting to stop it.
"You have to become the hero your sister needed!"
There was a flash before my eyes. What the hell? The bus? Its exploding! Windows started breaking out of it as it heated up, eventually combusting, Mr. Aizawa picked me up and moved me away from it. "I think that's enough for today." He put me down and touched the top of my head. "I'm sorry, I was trying to push you, my words must have hurt pretty bad. Even though what I said was the truth, it doesn't get any easier." He pulled me into a hug. "I know how much she meant to you Tadoka, and I am so sorry." After that Mr. Aizawa dismissed me.
I started the walk back to Bakugo's house. It feels like I haven't been by myself since starting UA, and I hate it. I looked at my empty hand that has on more than one occasion held Todoroki's. I touched my cheek that was pressed against Bakugo's chest. What I wouldn't give to have either one of them here with me right now. I quickly dialed the police stations number to see if my apartment was open to stop by and grab extra clothes. They denied my request. I guess I was going to have to dip into my savings for some clothes.
Bakugo was in the front yard working on some of his combat moves. "Hey." My face grew hot again. The memory burned into my brain. Throwing my arms around him. How could I ever call myself a modest woman?! I touched my cheek. What's worse is I would do it again. "Do you want to go shopping with me?"
"Hell no!"
What a quick response. I internally cried to myself. "Okay, I'll be back later then." I ran inside, the clothes I was wearing the night before were folded neatly on my bed. I changed into them and headed out the door. Bakugo was waiting outside for me. His mom hitting him upside the head. "WHAT KIND OF HOST LETS THEIR GUEST WANDER ALONE AT THE MALL!" I see her quiet demeanor couldn't last.
"Well if I knew it was going to be this much of a pain, we wouldn't even have a guest!" He retorted back. I guess his didn't last long either.
We got to the mall. Bakugo, being Bakugo waited outside the store. Raging over why he even had to be here. "THAT DAMNED WOMAN!" He yelled. Damn he was so loud. I should hurry so he doesn't turn all that rage on me. I started to sweat, dammit, why is it so hard to shop?
"Hello again, waitress." Turning around I saw the men from Yuki's. The ones who followed me home. "You look lovely today, I'm a little sad I never got a call from you."
"Sir, I am only a minor, please leave." I kept space between us. What creeps. Hopefully they go away on their own. I'm not in the mood to fight.
"Our little secret then." He placed a finger to his lips. Okay, he's a major creep. "You may be a minor, but your body says otherwise." He examined me. God, he's so uncomfortable. I ran past him and out of the store. My arm was grabbed and I was thrown against the wall. Shit, I guess I am going to fight. He used an arm to brace himself against the wall, a hand in his pocket, his back facing away from the crowd. It was like he was shielding me. His face inches away from mine. "You really can't stay out of trouble, you cursed or something?" My face was getting hot as his gaze bore into the very depths of my soul. My heart was beating so fast. I placed my hands in front of my chest. "Bakugo, what are you doing?"
"Awe man its that guy from the restaurant. He's with her again." The creep piped up. Bakugo pushed himself from the wall and faced them. Showing off his quirk.
"Yeah, its me, you damn losers, and if you ever come near her again, I'll kill you!" He grabbed me by my arm and pulled me away. He can be so rough around the edges but…
"Bakugo, you're squeezing a little tight." I placed my hand on his and he jerked it away. He's just so different.
"Fight me."
"What?"
"You heard me! You told me you were going to prove to me you belong at UA just as much as me, now is that time." I followed him back to his house. He was getting pumped. I don't know what triggered this sudden anger in him when not even five minutes ago he was inches from my face. He didn't say a word to me the whole walk.
We got to his house and he threw off his shirt, dramatic, but okay. He got into position. He really isn't skipping a beat. If I get to close, he's going to blast me, but I can't win far away either, I haven't learned enough to cause a whole lot of physical damage in a fight, the bus exploding was a total fluke. So, I'm just going to have to attack first.
I focused my energy around my legs so I could move faster. He cocked back his right arm. Taking the swing, I dodged quick. I threw an elbow aiming for a kidney. He caught it with one hand. Grabbing his arm, I used the leverage to throw my body over him and around his neck. I had to go for a takedown. If I can get him into an arm bar, he will have to concede. Bakugo was to strong for his balance to be thrown off by my weight. Using telekinetic force, I brought us both down, gaining the position. This is it, my win. "You damn mind controller; I won't lose to a big cry baby like you!" His palm sparked, blasting me.
Shit, I didn't think that through. I need to stay away from his hands. I stood back up and ran to him again going for a high round house. He caught it again. I thrusted my body forward turning the round house into a straight front kick, knocking him back into a tree. This is it, all that training with Aizawa and Todoroki has paid off. Extending my hand and closing my fist I brought it back to my body, "COME HERE BAKUGO! I'M NOT FINISHED!" His body came to me against his will, he was my puppet now. I landed a solid left hook, but he was close again and blasted me again, breaking my quirk and throwing me across the yard. I got up, shit, I need to switch to defense before he incinerates me.
"What was that about you not being finished?" He smirked. He rushed me blasting me again. Dammit all, we are still on completely different wavelengths. I got up. That one really hurt. He's sweating more, his blast is getting stronger. I went for another punch, he blasted the ground and maneuvered himself over me. Pivoting I raised a hand to match his. He blasted me again, only this time his blast went completely around me. "Well that's a new move of yours." His smile got bigger.
"Telekinetic shield."
"Cute, now how long can you keep it up for?!" His explosions started coming at me a lot faster. He was trying to wear me down. I can't keep up, but he's wearing himself out. I eased up on the strength of my shield and focused it into my arms. I took eight more blast before my shield was gone. "COME HERE TADOKA!" His hand sparked up. He was going for a finishing move. I dodged left, and stepped forward. Grabbing on to his arm, I threw him over my shoulder as fast and hard as I could. What I didn't expect was for him to grab onto my collar and throw me forward over him.
My energy was spent. I was on the ground next to him breathing heavily. I looked at him, a small crater outlined his body from my shoulder throw. He lifted a hand as it sparked up. I took his hand in mine. "I surrender Bakugo, I don't think I can move much more than this." He stopped his quirk and let his hand rest in mine. "You said my name." My cheeks felt hot.
He squeezed my hand. "Tadoka, do better next time."
