Heya! So, as promised: here's the new chapter! It's much longer than the last one, though you have to know: it has both the last episode that came out and the one coming out next week. I know I said I would follow with the anime, but I'll make an exception on this one. Again, thank you to everyone who reviewed or favorited, it's always fun to see old and new faces ;-)
Also, a few of you remarked that the situation with Ren and Kira was similar to Itachi and Sasuke's. And I gotta say... I didn't think about that. However, it's not exactly the same either, but it won't be coming up for a long, long... very long time. So, I guess I'll just have to leave you guys in the dark for a while longer.
Oh, and for all of those who ship Kira/Katsuki: this chapter is for you.
Warning: Kira's language, Kira's mental state and Kira's determination.
Enjoy!
Kira was staring out of the window. She felt… empty. Exhausted.
A day had passed since… everything. She had been escorted to the hospital by the police officers, who questioned her on the whole way about everything that had happened. She gave them all the details, including Hagane's true identity. Search parties were immediately sent to find Ren, but she knew they wouldn't find him.
Recovery Girl had come by later to heal her. The burns on her palms were treated, and only some rougher skin was left from the awful experience. Her feet were scrapped like hell, but it'd all be gone in a week at most. As for her shoulder, well, the wounds weren't really deep, so they healed up in the night. All in all, Kira was perfectly healthy again.
Physically, at least.
Ren… Even though she loved him still, the betrayal hurt, and left many questions swirling in her mind. Why did he kill their parents? Why did he betray everyone? How long had this been going on? Probably for years, but I was too blinded by my own ambition to see it. And now what?
Now what? Truly the most important question.
"Meow?"
The girl stroke Deku, not really paying attention.
The more she thought about it, the more obvious then answer became, though. No matter what had just been discovered, she was still a student at U.A., a future Hero. Her brother had made his choice, and the reason why didn't really matter at the moment. Right here, right now, what mattered was what her choice would be.
There was a knock on the door.
"Kira-chan?"
She tore her eyes off the sky to meet Naomasa's. The officer offered her a tentative smile, but it was quickly replaced by a resigned sigh.
"We couldn't find him," he then announced, closing the door behind him. He sat on the chair next to her bed. "By the time we got to your apartment, most of his stuff had been taken. The group sent at the station only found the Archives opened, and many files were missing." He ran an hand through his hair. "Kira, I don't know what to say-"
"I'm going to stop him."
He blinked, looking back at her. She was gazing down at her opened hands, lingering on the scars left by Stain and the paler skin left by her little stunt back at the training camp.
"I'm going to stop him," she then repeated, more firmly. "Because no matter his reasons, what he's doing is wrong. And, no matter how much I love him, I can't just let him hurt people. I'd rather… I'd rather be the one to defeat him. And… I want answers, too. I need to know why he did all of this."
"I understand," assured her father figure, eyes softening. His hand fell on her head, and he ruffled her hair gently. "Just don't forget you're not alone in this, alright? You've got me, you've got your friends, you've got your teachers…"
"I know. Thanks, Nao-san."
"Sure thing. I'll contact you if we find anything."
"Please do."
After what, he left. He still had a lot of work to do, after all, and the Suttoki's case was only one of his many problems at the moment, no matter how close he was to them.
Stay strong, Kira-chan.
.
.
A day later, she was finally allowed out of the hospital. She texted her friends to let them know, before heading for the school. After all, she might have decided to pursue on her path to become a Hero, but… it didn't mean she would actually be allowed to do so.
Due to her brother being a part of the League of Villains, it put her not only in the position of target, but also in the position of potential traitor. She already noticed how wary the officers –some of which she had known for years!- had been around her that very morning, and she held no doubt that most of the Pro Heroes would feel the same.
And, really, she couldn't blame them.
No matter. As long as I can still be a student, then the rest doesn't matter.
She finally reached U.A. High School. She hesitated for a moment, before going in, nervousness settling in. What would she do if she was refused? There were many other Hero programs, but U.A.'s was the best, and all of her friends were there too…
"Oh, isn't that miss Suttoki?" She startled a little at the voice, before spotting Present Mic heading her way. "Already back on your feet, uh? Nice job~!"
"Thanks…" She didn't really know how to act at the moment. He seemed to be his usual self, so that was already a good start. "Do you know where I can find Headmaster Nezu?"
"Sure thing! He's in his office, though he's with Aizawa, Vlad and All Might-"
"All the better," she assured. "Thanks!"
"No problem!"
She bowed, before heading for the Headmaster's office. Considering how friendly Present Mic had been, she guessed that she was worrying over nothing. However, it didn't feel right to simply assume she was still welcome.
After all, she could have stopped the Villains' attack on the training camp.
Too late for regrets, she scolded herself. Stupid girl…
Deku, on her shoulder, simply licked her cheek. That made her smile a little, though the smile vanished when she reached the office.
"Well, no turning back now," she mumbled, and knocked.
"Come in!"
Breathing in deeply to calm herself, she then entered.
"Oh, Suttoki-chan!" greeted the mouse-man, smiling. "What can I do for you?"
The fiery teen bit her lower lip, glancing to the other three Heroes, before sighing.
"I don't really know how to put this…" Hesitating, she then bowed deeply. "Please, allow me to pursue my studies in the Hero Course!"
"Suttoki-chan…?"
"I… With my brother… now a Villain, with him having betrayed everyone, I would understand if your faith in me has wavered," she admitted, feeling a little sick. "But I beg of you! Please, allow me to remain in U.A.!"
…
…
…
"Suttoki-chan… You aren't your brother."
She stiffened a little, rising her head. The Headmaster was still smiling, even though it seemed a little sad.
"Please, do not burden yourself with your brother's choices."
"I… I had my suspicions," she admitted, straightening. "Kind of. I was suspecting Ren of being Hagane's informant, but I just… couldn't bring myself to believe it. But- but knowing I could have prevented all of this… if I had just talked to someone…"
All Might placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Only the Villains are to blame, young Suttoki."
"But if I at least said something-"
"Suttoki." She cut herself off at Aizawa's interruption. "Did you know the Villains were going to attack the training camp?"
"What? No! But- but I-"
"Did you know they would target Bakugo?"
"No, but-"
"Did you know what awaited All Might?"
"… no."
"Then why are you blaming yourself for anything?" He replied, his tone sharp. "You might be a constant headache, but you're not a traitor. Anyone thinking otherwise is simply stupid."
"… thanks, Aizawa-sensei." The ginger did feel a little better at his reassurance. "Then… that means I'm still a student?"
"Of course, Suttoki-chan," smiled the Headmaster.
Relieved, she let herself fall in the nearest chair. "Thank God… Though, what'll happen now? Is everyone coming back to U.A.?"
"We are working on it," confirmed Nezu, sipping his tea. "New security measures will be put into place… Oh!" He suddenly remembered something. "Aizawa-kun? Mind informing her?"
"Right…" The man sighed a little. Kira turned to him, curious. "Since the campus is the only place where we can guarantee the students' security, new dorms will be put into place. We're building them as we speak, but it'll take a few more days."
"That means I don't have anywhere to stay?" she understood. I could text Izuku and ask him if I can stay until the new dorms are ready-
"We arranged something for you, until the new dorms are finished," assured her homeroom teacher. "Bakugo's family kindly accepted to take you in for that time."
…
…
…
"You're kidding, right?"
"Come on, I'll take you there."
"You're kidding, right!?"
"Let's go."
"Ai-Aizawa-sensei! No, wait, you can't- Aizawa-sensei!"
He wasn't kidding.
Sitting in the backseat, Kira was muttering curses under her breath. Why did she have to go live with Katsuki, of all people? Though, then again, maybe it was for their safety. After all, it was much easier to look over them both if they lived together. With the Hero community in uproar, no doubt that not many had the time to watch over two different households.
Still, though…
"Deep in thoughts, young Suttoki?"
Oh, All Might was in the car too. Apparently, they were going to use the opportunity to meet with everyone's parents and try to convince them to send their kids back to U.A.'s Hero Course.
"Just wondering how this is all going to end," she shrugged, leaning against the window.
"Aren't we all…" He mused, before glancing at her. "If you don't mind me asking… What will you do about your brother's situation?"
"For now? Nothing," the teen admitted. She noticed how Aizawa-sensei's shoulders seemed to relax a little, and realized the he must have been worried about her answer. "I'm not strong enough to take him on. Plus, I don't even have my License yet. There's no way for me to do anything as I am now. Or at least, nothing legal."
"You'll have to face him one day, though," the blond pointed out. "It might be a difficult obstacle to surpass, but-"
"All Might," she cut him off, smiling a little. "I love my brother, I really do… and that's why I can't just let him go. I can't let him walk down this path any longer. We… we might be family, but we're on different sides in this day-to-day war, now. No matter how much I love him… I can't agree with what he's doing. So, I'm going to stop him, no matter what it takes."
"… I see. I admire your strength of character, young Suttoki!" All Might offered her a thumbs up. "You'll truly grow up to be a wonderful Hero!"
Kira blinked, startled, before her smile widened a little, brighter this time. The support offered by the Hero made her feel warm, seemed to fill some sort of void that had been growing in her chest ever since Ren's betrayal.
"Thanks."
Kira stayed in the car for most of the visits but, from what she'd gathered, it had gone smoothly for most of them. She had been a little worried when they finally reached Bakugo's house but, when All Might opened the door and gestured for her to come in, she understood it had gone well enough.
Well, too late to back out now.
Grabbing her suitcase and Deku, who had fallen asleep in the meantime, she then made her way to the house. All Might ushered her inside, and she soon found herself facing the Bakugo family.
Kind of.
"STOP HITTING ME YOU CRAZY OLD BAT!"
"IS THAT ANYWAY TO TALK TO YOUR FUCKING MOTHER!?"
"K-Katsuki, don't-"
"SHADDUP DAD!"
"YOU SHUT UP YOU BRAT!"
The ginger stared for a moment, unsure of what to do. None of them had noticed her yet, and Aizawa-sensei was rubbing his temples tiredly.
She sweatdropped. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, uh?
"Well, we shall take our leave, then," announced the Symbol of Peace. "Thank you again for agreeing to look after young Suttoki."
"Uh?" Bakugo's mother looked up, and blinked at the ginger, surprised. Then, her scowl shifted into a grin. "Sure thing!"
"Wait, what!?" exclaimed Katsuki, only now noticing her. "The fuck are you doing here, Carrot?"
"I'll be staying over," she answered plainly, completely ignoring him and bowing to his parents. "Thank you for your generosity. Please take care of me."
"What the fuck!?" repeated Katsuki, more and more pissed.
"Such an incredibly polite girl," smiled his father, calm once again. "Though I have to warn you, we have a very… intense, family relationship-"
"Oi, Carrot! You became deaf or something!?" snapped the blond. "Or you're so pathetic that you were injured again in the ears when coming here!?"
"So, if cursing bothers you-" pursued the man, only to be cut off again.
"Shut the hell up, Spikey! I'm fucking tired and I don't wanna deal with your damn shit right now!" she finally snapped back.
The two of them started bickering, and Bakugo's father sweatdropped. "Nevermind, she'll probably feel at home."
The teachers left. The two kids were still yelling at each other, and the two parents now felt a little left out.
"Okay, how about we get you settled, Kira-san?" Bakugo's mother clasped her hands together, drawing their attention. "There's a room next to Katsuki's that you can use. Oi, Katsuki! Bring her bag upstairs!"
"What? Don't order me around, hag! And like hell I'll do that!"
"Do as your mother says!" snapped the woman.
"I think I'll do it myself," snorted Kira, propping her bag on her shoulders. "I'm afraid he might accidentally blow it up otherwise."
"I'm not the one who looses control every time, Carrot," sneered the blond.
"No," agreed the girl, smirking a little. "You're just an asshole."
"Why you…"
Somehow, they ended up heading upstairs anyway, still insulting each other on the way up. Watching them go, Bakugo's mother snickered.
"Dear?" wondered her husband.
"I like her," simply stated the woman, heading for the kitchen. "She's not afraid to talk back."
"She reminds me of you," admitted the man, a little sheepishly.
That earned a laugh from his wife. "Something's telling me Katsuki met his match, uh?"
With that, her husband could only agree.
.
.
The evening was rather eventful. There was a lot of yelling and cursing involved, she might have thrown a fork at Katsuki's head, and he maybe kind of tried to strangle her. It was fun, though. It took her mind off of everything that had happened. In a way, she envied the bomber. Even if he didn't really show it, she could tell he cared a lot about his family.
Having dinner, fighting, hanging out, being with your family… The ginger sighed a little, staring up at the stars. Not something I'll do anytime soon.
While it had been fun while it lasted, she also didn't want to intrude more than she already was. Katsuki had calmed down, but he was still pissed, and she could only understand his position. Had it been the other way around, she wouldn't have been happy either.
So, there she was: sitting on the porch outside, enjoying the warmth of the night and less enjoying her loneliness.
"Mom's saying you should come back inside."
"Holy shit!" Jumping a little, Kira looked up, only to find Katsuki at his window, just a few meters above her head. "When'd you get there?"
"Just now. Though seriously, you should come back inside before the hag drags you back inside by the ear," he replied, rolling his eyes. "She's scared the Villains might pop up again."
"Understandable," sighed the ginger. She didn't feel like fighting right now, so she'd keep the civil conversation going a little longer. "You have a nice family."
"… I guess."
They kept silent for a while. This kind of peace was something they wouldn't be able to enjoy much longer.
"Ne, Katsuki?"
"What?"
"I'm really sorry for barging in like that," she admitted, bringing her knees to her chest. "But I'm grateful, too. I know you could have had me kicked out if you really wanted to."
"You overestimate my power," he snorted. "My mom's practically in love with you, no way is she letting you go."
"Should I be worried?" joked the ginger.
"Nan. Unless she shows up at four A.M. in your room with an apron singing under her breath about how she wants to adopt you, you should be fine."
"… that sounds oddly specific."
"Trust me, you don't wanna know," he sweatdropped.
That made her laugh a little, and she sighed again though, this time, it was a happy sigh. "You know, in a way… I'm really glad I ended up coming here."
"Why? We hate each other."
"I don't hate you, moron. You're just a jerk most of the time and yeah, back before U.A., you were a bully whom I just wanted to pummel into the ground-"
"Just get to the point, idiot."
"But I never hated you. Well, okay, maybe a little, but you've matured a lot since we got into U.A.," she shrugged. "You're just ambitious, and that's kind of normal for people who want to become Heroes, right?"
"I guess. But you didn't answer my other question," he pointed out.
She thought it over for a moment. "Why… Well, I guess it's just because you're the only one who I knew would treat me as per usual. I mean, with what happened with Ren and this whole Villain mess, everyone's really worried, and also a little wary. You're the only one treating me like normal, so I guess it makes me feel like nothing has really changed."
"That's stupid," he scoffed, leaning over the edge to look at her. Kira raised an eyebrow, curious. "Things have changed. Denying that would be fucking idiotic. But you? You haven't changed. You're still that damn, annoying, pain-in-the-ass Carrot, right?"
She laughed outright at that.
Of all things to say…
"Wow, Spikey. Didn't know you could get so deep," she teased.
"Tche." He disappeared for a second, before something flew out of the window and landed on her head. "Just come back inside when you're done sulking."
"I'm not… sulking…" She trailed off when realizing that what he had thrown was actually his jacket. "Katsuki…?"
But his window was now closed, and his light was turned off. Chuckling to herself, the fiery teen put on the jacket. It was somewhat too big for her, but it was also warm, and comfortable.
I can't believe it, she shook her head, in shock. He's actually a softie inside, isn't he? That's fricking hilarious! But… A small smile stretched her lips as she tightened the jacket around her shoulders. It's nice, too.
When she looked back to the night sky, the stars suddenly seemed a little brighter.
Run, run, run, run, run-
"Don't leave me!"
"Where do you think you're going?"
Ren...?
"I won't go after you anymore."
Stop it! Why are you doing this?
"Don't hurt them!"
"You're the one who'll come back to me."
NO!
.
.
Kira yawned, entering the kitchen. "'Morning…"
"Good morning, Kira… chan…?" Mitsuki, Katsuki's mother, blinked.
Once. Twice. Then, she burst in laughter.
"O-oh God… That's fucking precious! Bwahahah!"
"What…?" It took the ginger a few seconds to understand that it was her hair. She kind of forgot how it could look in the morning. "Ugh…"
"Dear, what is it?" wondered Masaru, lowering his newspaper. His eyes then landed on Kira, and he gaped for a few seconds. "Wha… your hair…"
He started laughing too. Kira sighed in defeat, knowing it was no use fighting it.
"Oi! Why are ya all so damn noisy in the morning? Just shut up already," grunted Katsuki, entering the kitchen. "What's going…"
He stared at Kira, for once genuine surprise written all over his face.
Then, he snorted, his lips twitching. "Trying out a new look, Carrot?"
"Ah, ah, ah," she deadpanned. "I'm dying of laughter."
That sent the two adults into another laughing fit and, this time, she didn't miss the actual smile that lingered on the bomber's lips. It was an unusual sight, she had only caught a glimpse of it a few times before, when he was with Kirishima, and it did make her feel a little smug. She made Bakugo Katsuki smile, gor God's sake!
"A-alright, let's go upstairs and see what we can do about this mess," then proposed Mitsuki, grabbing the girl's shoulders and pushing her forward. "Come on, come on!"
"Wait, what? What do you mean- wait!" She couldn't really fight back as the woman pushed her upstairs. "Damn it, don't touch- no, you're not cutting it! And why- argh! S-Spikey! Spikey, come save me from your mother ASAP!"
He snorted. "No way, I'm not suicidal!"
"Traitor!" A door slammed, and no more noise could be heard.
…
…
…
"Think she's gonna be fine?" couldn't help but wondered Masaru.
Katsuki simply shrugged, not having an answer to that.
.
.
Kira stared at her reflection, mouth slightly agape.
It… actually suits me…
The teen never really was one who bothered with appearances. Her lion mane had always been a hassle to handle, but she liked it long and so she never really cut it, even though it tended to end up a wild wreck. Washing it was a pain, too, and brushing it was a challenge she never managed to fully overcome.
So, when Mitsuki grabbed the brush, Kira had feared the worst.
"Well, aren't you a pretty one?"
She had apparently been worried for nothing, though.
"You're a miracle worker," she praised, honest. "How did you do that? I gave up years ago!"
Not only was her hair finally free of any kind of knots –which was already an amazing feat to accomplish- but Mitsuki had also braided it.
And, not only did it suit Kira, but it also proved to be terribly useful.
"I don't think I remember the last time I wasn't blinded by my hair," she admitted, still in awe. "And damn, I didn't think it had gotten this long…" Braided, it reached her rear. She beamed at the woman. "Thanks, Mitsuki-san! And… well, not just for that. Thank you, for taking me in and welcoming me in your home, even if it's only for a short time. It… it really means a lot to me."
The red-eyed woman patted her head, smiling softly. "You've been through a lot, eh? You know, when we heard that Katsuki had been taken, we were really worried. But then, we learnt that you were with him and, somehow, I found it reassuring."
"Reassuring?"
"We saw you at the Sports Festival," chuckled Mitsuki. "I know Katsuki's strong, but I personally think you can give him a run for his money, if not beat him. Knowing that you were together just made me feel a little better. Well, that and because I knew that he'd get out of it safely if he wasn't alone."
"I didn't really do much, in the end," admitted the teen, lowering her head. "He was facing them alone while I was forced to face… another Villain. Frankly, I think he would have been just as fine on his own."
"Maybe," her classmate's mother agreed. "But even though it might be selfish, I still felt better knowing he wasn't alone into this."
"Understandable, I guess." They exchanged a smile at that, before Kira sighed a little. "Though, I gotta ask something."
"What is it?"
"I'm pretty sure your hair isn't long enough for braiding it," pointed out the ginger. "So please, please tell me you've learnt how to do it using Katsuki as a guinea pig."
At that, Mitsuki's smile twisted into a smirk. "I've got pictures, if you wanna see them."
"Yes!"
.
.
Katsuki felt his guts churn. Scrunching his nose, dread sending a chill down his spine, he took a peek in the living room.
He instantly spotted his mother sitting on the couch, that damn Carrot next to her. He noticed for a moment the distinct change of hairstyle, but that information was quickly shoved aside as he saw what they were doing.
God, no.
"Oh, Spikey!" The ginger found him, and grinned, a little evilly. "Wanna look at your baby pictures with us?"
"Fuck off! I'm gonna destroy them!"
"What? Why?" she played innocent. She then grabbed the photo album and showed him a picture of his four-years old self, covered in mud and twigs. "You were so adorable! Really wonder where you went wrong…"
Narrowing his eyes at her, the blond thought over his course of action. It was harmless teasing from the ginger, but it was also damn embarrassing, so he couldn't just let her get away with it.
He grabbed a pillow and, with no warning, slammed it in her face.
"Oof!"
The strength of the blow made he fall off the couch. She was however instantly back on her feet, and paid him back for the attack, with interests. The pillow she threw landed right in his face.
It was thrown so hard it left a red imprint.
"Oh, you're fucking on, Carrot."
"Bring it, Spikey!"
Mitsuki quickly made her exit. She'd rather not be around when they started actually destroying the living room.
.
.
The two teens glared at each other.
Mitsuki chuckled nervously.
Masaru simply sighed.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do I want to know why the living room is a fuming mess, why all of the pillows seem to have imploded or look like they've been through a forest fire, why Katsuki has a split lip or why Kira-san has a black eye?"
"… no."
"Nope!"
"Not really."
.
.
After supper, Kira returned to her room to hang out with Deku. When she got there, though, the cat was nowhere to be seen.
Weird, she mused. He's usually always following me around…
Mitsuki and Masaru hadn't made much of a fuss when they learnt about the cat's presence the day before. In fact, they had been rather open to the idea. They really liked animals but, since the didn't really have the time to take care of one, they simply decided not to take any in.
"Deku?" She called, but the cat didn't come. "Now, where the hell did you go?"
The green-eyed feline liked Mitsuki, but Kira had seen her just a few minutes earlier in the kitchen, so Deku wasn't with her.
I'll just look around, then. Maybe he fell asleep somewhere?
She checked all of the rooms upstairs, saved for the parents' bedroom and Katsuki's. However, finding all of them empty, she decided to try her luck and went to knock at the bomber's door.
"What?"
I'll take that as a 'come in'.
She opened the door, peeking inside. "Sorry for barging in, but have you seen Deku?"
"Yeah. Your shitty cat's here."
"For real?"
She fully opened the door, wondering if he was just jesting, but actually found the little shit sleeping on the boy's lap. Katsuki had a small scowl, his split lip apparently still hurting a little, but the fact that he hadn't shoved the cat off of him showed that he didn't really mind.
She offered a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that. I'll bring him back to my room."
"Whatever."
She gently picked up the cat, which instantly snuggled closer to her body, enjoying the warmth. She chuckled a little, before heading out. As she was about to leave, though, her eyes landed on a pile of magazines near the bed.
"What is it, Carrot?"
"You read magazines?" she raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of this information.
"Wha…" He trailed off, noticing what she was talking about. He looked back at her, clearly unimpressed. "You've gotta be kidding."
"What?"
"Those are comics, moron. How can you not know that?"
"Never really had the time for hobbies or things like that, so I guess I never really bothered with reading either," she admitted, rubbing the back of her head.
He stared at her some more. This stupid Carrot was something else alright. He could respect her training, if nothing else, but wasn't this pushing things a little too far?
No, it isn't. Not if you're aiming to become a Hero.
But there was a difference between working hard and obsessing and, no matter how ambitious he was, Katsuki still knew that. Balance was key, and having nothing normal to enjoy once in a while couldn't be good for someone's mental health.
He jumped onto his feet, leaned down to pick the pile of comics, made the distance between him and the ginger in three steps, shoved the comics in her arms, and then literally kicked her out of his room.
"You better like those!" he practically snarled. Stupid Carrot…
Kira, on the other side of the door, blinked a few times. She then looked down at the comics in her arms, before glancing at Deku, on her shoulder.
"What the hell just happened?"
The cat simply yawned.
.
.
When morning came, Katsuki didn't know whether to snicker or facepalm.
"Carrot… you look like utter shit."
"Gee, thanks, Spikey. Exactly what a girl likes to hear first thing in the morning," she rolled her eyes.
He narrowed his. "You haven't slept at all, have you."
It wasn't even a question.
"I may or may not have passed most of the night reading," she admitted, a faint red now tainting her cheeks. "They're good stories, okay? Much less of a pain than those annoying books we had to read in school, at least."
What she didn't mention were the nightmares she was trying to hide from. Reading all night was a surprisingly good way of staying awake.
"So what, you finished all of them?" He still was kind of impressed. There were a lot of comics in the pile he handed her, and she had started rather late in the evening, after all.
"… maybe?"
The bomber sighed. He passed an hand over his face, still not fully woken up. It really was too early to deal with that shit.
"I've got some more in my room," he gave in.
"For real!?"
Fuck, what kind of monster did I just create?
"Kids, we're going out for the day-"
"Don't make the oven explode-"
"Don't burn down the house-"
"Try not to maim the cat-"
"Nor the neighbor-"
"Unless he starts singing of course-"
"Don't go outside-"
"You can invite friends over-"
"Though Katsuki has no friends, so I guess that's not gonna happen-"
"Oi!"
"Don't cause too much trouble-"
"And most of all-"
"Don't kill each other," concluded the two parents in a single voice.
They then headed for the door, grabbing their coats, and leaving two somewhat dumbstruck teens behind.
"Also, Katsuki's in charge of cooking dinner," added Mitsuki.
"Have fun, kids!" added Masaru, waving.
"And if you do kill someone, make sure you know where to hide the corpse first!"
The door then slammed behind them.
…
…
…
Unable to help it, Kira started laughing. Katsuki rolled his eyes.
"Ugh. They're annoying."
"They're fricking awesome," she corrected, grinning. "Damn, I love your parents."
Makes you wish you had yours, uh?
At that, Kira's smile dropped somehow, something the bomber instantly noticed. How could he not? She was annoying when she got happy over nothing, but she was even more annoying when she moped around.
Katsuki shoved her shoulder her little, getting up. "Come on, Carrot. I want my comics back."
Instantly, the girl's mind wandered back from her darker thoughts, remembering what he had said about having some more comics to lend her.
None of the two students could tell at the time, but it was the true start of a somewhat more civil relationship.
.
.
"You know how to cook?"
"Uh? 'Course I do! What kind of idiot doesn't?"
Sheepish, she raised her hand. He snorted.
"Go figures."
"What's that supposed to mean, asshole?"
"Don't start asking stupid questions, stupid."
Glaring, she grabbed some flour and threw it at his face. There was a moment of silence as the boy froze in place, and it took the fiery teen a few seconds to realize what she had just done.
"Oh, shit. Wait, Spikey, don't-"
She was cut off by a handful of salt in her mouth. She instantly started spitting into the sink, groaning in disgust. The taste was simply awful.
"Don't start something you can't finish, Carrot," taunted the bomber, going back to mixing the ingredients.
After a few more seconds during which most of her taste buds died, Kira finally got over it, and clenched her fists. Then, without hesitation, she grabbed some of the pastas that had just been cooked and threw them at him.
His eyes flashed. "Carrot…"
She offered an innocent, angelic smile. "What?"
He returned a feral grin. "You're fucking on."
.
.
"Kids…"
Mitsuki gaped at the state of her kitchen. There was flour everywhere, pastas and sauce covering the walls, meatballs on the floor, rice over everything else, and a few eggs broken here and there. The counter was also a little singed due to obvious explosions, and there was still a small fire that had yet to be put out burning in the sink.
The two culprits weren't much better. There were both covered in food from head to toe, rice in their hair and sauce over their faces. Kira's black eye had turned white because of the flour, and Katsuki's split lip was bleeding again, some egg splattered all over his face.
"Hey guys! I'm back- aaaand I'm out of here," Masaru announced, instantly leaving once he noticed the state of the kitchen.
A few seconds of silence passed, until…
"You never said anything about food fights," gruffly pointed out the blond.
Mitsuki raised an eyebrow, before her lips twitched slightly. "Fair enough. But! You guys are cleaning this up right now, and then you'll go wash yourselves, got it?"
Kira offered a cheeky grin and a military salute, while Katsuki simply rolled his eyes. As they started cleaning things up, though, Mitsuki couldn't help but notice the small smile still lingering on the girl's lips, or the smirk on her son's face.
.
.
Katsuki pounded on the door.
"Carrot, I swear to God, if you don't get out of here in the next fucking second, I'm smashing down the goddamn door and I'm dragging your ass out myself!"
"Fuck off, Spikey! Do you have any fucking idea how hard it is to get rid of the flour in your hair!?"
"You've been in there for a fucking hour!"
"And I'll be in there for as long as it takes, so shut the fuck up already!"
Stop... please stop...
"I told you, didn't I?"
I tried, I swear I tried!
"We're bound to always be together."
I don't want this... I never wanted this...
"I'm not the one who hurt them."
"No matter what, we're family."
My brother wouldn't do this...
"I'm not the one who hurt them."
"You are."
.
.
"Spikey… are you eating a full pepper?"
"Yeah. Got a problem with it?"
"Not if you give me some."
.
.
Soon enough, a routine had fallen in place. The mornings were for light teasing, they tried not to destroy too much of the house during the day, and comics reading time was their peace time. They'd usually end up in Katsuki's room after supper to read, and not a noise could be heard during that time.
Kira liked it there. Mitsuki was literally the mother she never had, and the ginger kind of guessed that herself was the daughter the woman never had. They got along great, and she knew she'd miss their time together. Masaru was extremely nice, often cracking jokes and handling his family's violent antics fairly well. As for Katsuki… well, they no longer were at each other's throat, and they managed a more civil relationship from time to time, so that was a plus.
But of course, all good things had to end at some point.
"Thank you again, for taking care of me. I'm truly grateful."
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask, kid," grinned Mitsuki, patting her head. "And look after my brat of a son while you're in school, alright? Don't hesitate to punch some sense into him."
"Shut it, old hag!"
"Will do," chuckled the ginger. After hesitating for a second, though, she wrapped her arms around the woman's waist. "Seriously, though: thank you."
At first startled, the red-eyed mother than smiled softly. "No problem. Don't forget to drop by from time to time, alright?"
"I'll see what I can do. See you later, Mitsuki-san, Masaru-san!"
"Bye bye!"
"Have fun!"
"And don't forget!"
"Don't destroy the school-"
"Don't fight with the other kids-"
"Unless they throw the first punch-"
"And try not to get in trouble with the teachers-"
"Though if they're assholes, don't hesitate-"
"And most of all-"
"Don't kill each other!" completed Kira, laughing. Katsuki also said it along, though he sounded a little exasperated.
The adults waved until the two teens fully disappeared from sight. After what, they returned inside, not worried one bit. If the Villains tried something again, it'd be at their own risks. After all, a pissed-off fire manipulator and an angry bomber weren't the kind of pair you wanted as enemies.
"IZUKU! EVERYONE!"
She waved cheerfully. Seeing everyone together again made her feel at home, in a way. Her joy quickly vanished when Katsuki roughly whacked her behind the head.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" she protested.
"Stop being so damn loud," he huffed, arms crossed behind his head. "I've had to support your damn screeching for a whole week-"
"I don't screech-"
"That's not what I heard three days ago-"
"I told you I hate scary movies! And I was startled, that's all!"
"You ripped out my fucking eardrums!"
"It was three days ago, grow up already!"
"You little-"
"Guys, guys, do you have to fight already?" Kirishima suddenly jumped between the two, chuckling nervously. "We haven't even started school again."
The two teens exchanged a glance. Kira huffed, looking away. Katsuki scoffed, but said no more. The red-haired boy sighed in relief, though couldn't help but wonder why those two had walked to school together.
Plus, isn't Kira living on the campus already?
"Izuku!" The ginger suddenly disappeared from the two boys' side.
She jumped on her target, startling the poor green-haired boy and almost sending them both roll in the dirt.
"K-Kicchan!" he squeaked out, mildly terrified.
She laughed, getting down from his back. She noticed for a moment how he easily withstood her sneak attack. Had it been three months earlier, he would have collapsed to the ground under her weight.
"I'm so happy to see you!" she beamed at him. "In fact, I'm so happy to see everyone! Gosh, I need to hug them all!"
"W-wait, Kicchan-"
But she was gone in a flash, already scaring the crap out of Iida with a surprise hug. The bespectacled teen flushed ten different shades of red, but she didn't really pay attention, moving on to her next victim.
Izuku sweatdropped. She's… in an awfully good mood…
In the end, she had hugged almost everyone in the class as they reached what would become their new home. She hadn't tried her luck with Katsuki, of course, but she actually hugged Mineta, so that was saying something about how glad she actually was to see them all. She also didn't manage to get her hands on Jiro before they reached their destination, as the purple-haired girl always seemed to vanish before she could get to her.
"It's so big!"
"Talk about a school for gifted youngsters!"
As everyone awed at the majestic building on which was written '1-A', their homeroom teacher finally showed up. They instantly fell silent, not wanting to cause trouble. After all, the faster Aizawa-sensei was done talking to them, the faster they'd be able to finally see what the dorms looked like.
"First thing's first, Class 1-A," started the Pro. "We couldn't be more glad that you're all safe and sound, back together again."
"Looks like everybody got permission, uh?" mused Sero.
"I had to fight tooth and nail for it…" sighed Ashido.
"That's what you'd expect normally," pointed out Jiro.
She was careful in keeping her distances from Kira. The ginger noticed, but didn't say a word about it. Now wasn't the time.
"We're glad you're okay too, sensei!" remarked Tsuyu. "When we were watching the press conference, we were so sad that you might not be with us anymore!"
"Yeah!" nodded Uraraka.
"… I'm surprised, too," admitted their teacher, scratching his cheek. "Well, a lot's happened, kids. Now, then! I'm going to be giving you all a brief explanation of how the dorms will work. But, before that… We need to address how we'll be moving forward to acquire the provisional licenses we'd planned to get at the lodge."
"Oh, yeah, I totally forgot!"
"So many things happened, it slipped my mind entirely…"
"This is important, so listen up," warned Aizawa-sensei, gaining back their attention. "Todoroki, Kirishima, Midoriya, Yaoyorozu, Iida and Jiro. On that night, you five headed to Kamino Ward to to rescue Bakugo and Suttoki, did you not?"
At that, the mood tensed somewhat. Kira frowned a little when noticing how stiff her classmates had become.
"And judging by your reactions…" The black-haired man sighed. "You all knew full well that they intended to do so. Listen up! Up until now, I've been shelving things left and right, but let me say this clearly: had All Might not been forced to retire then, save for Bakugo and Suttoki, I would have expelled every single one of you."
The ginger gritted her teeth a little. Despite how unfair it felt, she also knew that their teacher would have had every right to do so.
"The six who went go without saying, but the twelve who knew about it but didn't stop it wouldn't have gotten away scot free either," he stated, more harshly. "Whatever reasons you may have had, it doesn't change the fact that you have betrayed our trust. So, I'd be grateful if you restore that trust by going through the proper channels and Hero-ing legally. That is all! Now, let's go inside, and with a spring in your step."
As he turned around to go inside, though, the students didn't follow. They all felt terrible for disappointing their teacher of the sort, and Kira didn't know how to cheer them up.
Katsuki suddenly grabbed Kaminari, dragging him behind a bush. "Come on here."
"What? Get off me!"
The fiery ginger raised an eyebrow, curious as to what the blond was doing. A few seconds later, there was a sudden burst of electricity. Then, Kaminari stumbled out in his idiot form.
"Derp~a~werp~!"
Instantly, laughter took over most of their classmates, the dark mood vanishing as if it had never existed in the first place. While Kaminari kept on ridiculing himself, Katsuki stomped towards Kirishima, before handing him some cash.
"Uh? Money? What the hell, man?" He backed away. "You're scaring me-"
"Yeah, well, I'm cheap as shit, so this is painful for me too," snapped the bomber.
Understanding flashed in Kirishima's eyes. "Wait… Where did you hear how much I paid for-"
"The dumbfuck always spills." Not in the mood for waiting any longer, Katsuki shoved the money in his hands and quickly walked away.
Now more relaxed, the students finally accepted to go inside. As soon as they stepped in, though, the air was knocked out of their lungs.
The place was simply amazing.
"It's a class to each building. The right side is for the girls and the left side is for the boys. The first floor is co-ed space," informed their teacher. "The mess hall, baths, laundry stuff and the like are here."
"So much space!" squealed Ashido. "It's so nice! Oh my God, look at the sofa!"
"Hey, check it out, there's a courtyard!"
"I'm in a mansion…"
"Did I hear that right? The baths and laundry are co-ed?" whispered gleefully Mineta.
Kira instantly slapped him over the head, using the chomp move Kendo had taught her at the beginning of the training camp. The boy instantly fell unconscious, making her snicker slightly.
I love that move…
"The dorms are located on the second floor up," pursued Aizawa-sensei, acting as if he hadn't seen her just knock out her classmate. "Each of those floors has four rooms, for a total of five floors. Each individual room, meanwhile, is outfitted with air conditioning, a toilet, a fridge and a closet. It's pretty luxurious."
"Why didn't I have that kind of luxury when I lived in the dorms?" Kira whined a little.
"The rooms will be laid out as we saw fit," Eraser head continued, completely ignoring her. "All of the luggage we had you send us beforehand should be in your respective rooms. For the time being, go get all your stuff set in your rooms. I'll explain what we'll be doing next tomorrow. You're dismissed!"
"Hai!"
He then left them to deal with the settling in part. They soon found a plan of the dorms on the table in the mess hall. Kira's room was on the fourth floor. Ashido and her were the only girls on that floor, while Shoji, Kirishima and Katsuki occupied three of the four rooms on the boys' side.
When Kira got there, she sighed heavily. There were so many boxes!
Well, no point in wasting any more time. Let's get to it! And so, she opened the first box.
.
.
"You know, the way things got to this might've been rough, but I'm really shocked we're all gonna live so close by!" remarked Kaminari.
A few hours had passed and, before they knew it, the darkness of the night had started falling upon U.A.'s dorms. Everyone was a little exhausted from the day they had just spent setting up their rooms but, all in all, everyone was satisfied with the results.
"A community living… This, too, is but another trial to nurture our discipline and cooperative spirit!" exclaimed Iida.
"Don't burst a vessel there, class rep," joked Sero.
"Hey boys!" Ashido suddenly showed up with the rest of the girls. Well, saved for Kira, who was apparently missing. "You finish setting up your rooms yet?"
"Yeah, we're just chilling, now," confirmed Kaminari.
"Soooo, like! We were just talking, and it's only a suggestion, but! Why don't we have a competition to show off our rooms?" proposed cheerfully Uraraka.
The boys simply gulped in answer.
Someone knocked at Kira's door.
"Come in!" she called, finishing up with her fourth wall.
A heartbeat passed, before Ashido peeked inside. "Ne, Suki-chan? We're doing a competition with the boys, to see who's got the best room. We kind of passed a lot already, but now we've reached yours… Wanna join in?"
"You just want to see my room, don't you?"
The pink girl offered a sheepish grin, making her laugh.
"Yeah, I don't mind. Tell everyone to come in."
"Yes! Guys, let's go!"
Saved for Katsuki and Tsuyu, pretty much everyone was actually there.
Well, this is a little embarrassing… "Hope you guys don't mind the decoration too much. I just felt… appropriate, you know?"
No one answered, eyes wide and jaws falling to the floor. In general, Kira's room was extremely simply. There weren't any flashy colors, her bed set was bland, there were a few weights and other training stuff lying in the corner… Her walls, though, were another story entirely.
There were pictures. Dozens of them. They were all over the four walls of the room, almost reaching the ceiling. Pictures of her and her family, of her and her friends, of simply her friends… She had pictures of pretty much everyone in the class, that ranged from their first day of school to the Sports Festival, and even a few from the training camp. There were also numerous pieces of newspapers amongst it, about Heroes and Villains and such. Her medal from the Sports Festival was hanging over her desk, with two other nails planted on each side of it.
"Kira-chan…" Uraraka trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"You guys have been with me through a lot, and you've always had my back. I know I've got a lot of issues, but I'm working on them. I know that I'm not alone in all of this, but I also know that I'll probably forget a few times. So, I thought this might help me remember, you know?" She explained quickly, a little embarrassed. "I know it's kind of cheesy, but I-"
She was cut off by Ashido's sudden embrace.
"This is awesome! How'd you get so many pictures?"
"Err, I asked around…? I took a lot of those myself, but I also sent some requests to teachers and stuff like that," shrugged the ginger, red tainting her cheeks.
"Did you have to put all of those pictures?" sweatdropped Kaminari, spotting one of himself in his 'idiot' form.
"Kaminari…" She placed an hand on his shoulder, looking dead serious. "Being a moron is a part of who you are. Denying it will only hurt you."
He slumped in defeat at that. "So mean…"
The girl exchanged a high five with her pink friend.
"Say, why have you put two other nails next to your medal?" wondered Sero, curious.
"For my two next medals, of course," she rolled her eyes. "We've got two more Sports Festival, remember? I don't intend to give up my place on the podium anytime soon."
They all grinned a little at the challenge, knowing she said that to fire them up.
And it worked, too!
Soon enough, though, everyone left to see the next room. Feeling a little tired, Kira simply intended to directly go to sleep, when her eyes landed on Jiro. The girl wasn't smiling like everyone else, avoiding her gaze…
Well, that won't do anymore, will it?
"Kyo-chan, can we talk for a few seconds?" she asked softly, stopping the girl in her tracks. "It won't take long. I think."
"… sure."
The rest of their classmates left, closing the door behind them. Kira went to sit on her bed, picking up Deku and placing him on her lap, before tapping gently the empty space next to her, inviting Jiro to sit too.
Her friend simply lowered her eyes, though.
"Kyo-chan… What's going on?" She asked, now a little worried. "Is it something I did? If so, please tell me what it was. Are you mad at me? I…"
She trailed off as the purple-haired teen mumbled something under her breath.
"What?"
Jiro gritted her teeth. "I said: I'm not mad at you."
"Then… what is it…?"
"Kira… Can't you understand? I'm mad at myself," spat the teen, startling the ginger. "I'm so, so angry… and disgusted…"
"Kyo-chan, what-"
"I left you alone, that night!" snapped the rock-loving girl. "I left you alone… with Hagane… I ran, even though I should have stayed and helped you… And because I was such a coward, you were injured really badly, and then you were taken, and… and then… the rest happened…"
Frustrated, but unshed tears, were glistening in her eyes. Kira thought it over for a moment, before getting up on her feet, and gently hitting her head. It wasn't hard enough to really hurt, but was hard enough to send some pain.
"Itai!"
"You're being an idiot, Kyo-chan," scolded the fiery teen. "That's Kaminari's job. Why are you blaming yourself? It was the best course of action you could take."
"I should have helped you!"
"You wouldn't have been able to! Hagane…" Kira bit her lower lip as she almost spilled the beans. Because, saved for the Heroes, the police forces and the five students who had helped her and Katsuki escape, no one knew about Hagane's true identity. "I sent you away… not just to find help. I discovered information about him, and I needed to confirm it. I knew for a fact that he wouldn't kill me, so I wasn't really worried about it, but I couldn't say the same about you. If you knew the information I knew, then Hagane surely wouldn't have hesitated twice before killing you. I couldn't… I couldn't put you in this kind of danger." At that, she offered a bright smile. "Can you forgive me for being so selfish?"
"… baka…" Jiro punched her in the shoulder. "You baka! Stop trying to deal with everything on your own already!"
"I know, I know! I'm sorry, okay? That's… that's why I put up so many pictures, so that I don't forget again! So… so please, stop blaming yourself. If you have to blame anyone, then blame me, alright?"
Jiro glared at her for a few more seconds. Then, her anger seem to vanish as she simply deflated in defeat.
"Idiot… as if I could do that… But you better not pull another stunt like that one, you hear me?"
"Y-yes ma'am," sweatdropped the ginger. Then, she remembered something. "Though, I've gotta ask… do you still have my jacket? I kind of forgot I lent it to you until today, so-"
"Shoot, I forgot about that too! Yeah, it's in my room," chuckled the purple-haired girl. "I'll give it to you tomorrow?"
"Don't worry about it-"
Her phone suddenly started ringing. Startled, the two girls exchanged a glance, before Kira answered, finally recognizing the number.
"Nao-san?"
"Hey, Kira-chan! So, I think you kind of forgot, but you asked me to look after your cats before you went to the training camp-"
"Gah!" She paled. "I completely forgot! I'm so sorry! Can you bring them over for me?"
"Actually, I'm already downstairs, so…"
"R-right! I'm coming, just wait a second!"
"Nao-san, I'm so sorry!"
"Don't worry about it, Kira-chan," chuckled the man, ruffling her hair. "I'm glad I got to see you again so soon, too. You look a lot better than you did last time."
"Last time we saw each other, I was in the hospital," she rolled her eyes. "Of course I'd look better now."
"True, true. Anyway, here are the little devils…"
He handed her back the cage. There was a lot of trashing about in it, and she could guess that Spikey was giving a hard time to Shiro.
"Thanks for looking after them," she beamed at him, ignoring the loud hisses. "I'll see you around? I wouldn't mind a visit from time to time."
"I'll see what I can do. Say hello to All Might for me!"
"Will do!"
On which note, the police officer left. She watched him go, before heading back inside, where she was instantly greeted by the few students who were still awake.
"Kicchan… what's that?" wondered Izuku, unsure if he really wanted to know.
"Those… are my other cats," she admitted. "I actually got three."
"For real!?"
"Yeah… Though, I've gotta warn you guys, one of them is a real hellion. You'll find his name extremely fitting."
She opened the cage. Instantly, the beige cat bounced out and landed on Kaminari's face, who screamed in fright as the animal started clawing at his face. The blond managed to pry him off, and the feline landed on the couch. He instantly got back on his paws, hissing their way.
"That's Spikey," presented the fiery teen.
They all sweatdropped at the name.
Extremely fitting indeed.
"What about the other one?" then wondered Sero. "You said you had two more, right?"
"Well…" She glanced into the cage but, as she feared, the white cat wasn't there anymore. "Damn it…"
"Gah!" Izuku's cry made them all jump, and it took a few seconds for Kira to see her missing cat now purring on the boy's lap.
"That's Shiro. He's a ninja," she deadpanned. "I hope you guys don't mind?"
"As long as that one doesn't get anywhere near me," replied Kaminari, holding his bleeding nose and glaring at Spikey.
"Right, right… Anyway, how about we all go get some sleep?" she then proposed. "I can only imagine what kind of hellish training Aizawa-sensei is going to put us through, so…"
The rest of the students paled a little at that. And, needless to say, they all quickly returned to their room to get some sleep.
God knew they'd need it.
So, that's all for now. Kira has made her decision but the betrayal is going to haunt her for a little while, I think. Also, if it wasn't clear, no one but Izuku, Shoto, Katsuki, Iida, Yaoyorozu, the teachers, the police and some Pro Heroes know about Ren. It hasn't been made public, considering the chaos that it would ensue.
Anyhow, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, because I had a really great time writing it. God, I love Kira and Katsuki... Once more, if you guys have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them. I'm looking forward to your reviews!
Plus Ultra!