Katsuki stared in awe at the facility of the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, the amazement not showing on his face. Aizawa had announced that today would be different than usual and had guided them onto the bus towards the facility.
The dome was huge and filled with all kinds of different terrain, made for rescue operations. They were accompanied by another Pro Hero, Thirteen, who was specialized in rescue operations.
As they stood at the top of the stairs listening to Thirteen's explanation of their surroundings, an eerie feeling crept onto all of the students as something that seemed like a black hole starting to appear at the middle of the open square. Multiple villains started to emerge from the portal, and all of the students took a step back as Aizawa ordered them.
Aizawa didn't hesitate for a moment as he barked at Thirteen to ensure the student's safety as he jumped down and started attacking their assailants, moving with such speed and skill it almost looked like he could've taken on the entire army by himself.
The blood in Katsuki's veins started to flow faster as his heartbeat was raising. He looked behind himself at the door that they just entered through and saw several of his classmates eyeing the escape route, ready to make a run for it, as the purple portal shifted in front of them, manifesting into a nearly human form.
Sparks were flying from Katsuki's palms as the adrenaline rushed through him. He clicked his tongue. Villains were the last thing he wanted to deal with right now.
In an instant he and Kirishima both leapt forward, hands outstretched to damage the warp gate. Katsuki sent off an explosion and Kirishima lurched out as the warp gate quickly sprung outside, barely out of reach.
'That could've gone bad,' the gate mutters as he outstretches his arms, enclosing all of the students in the swirl of black and purple mist. Before Katsuki had a chance to notice what was going on, his surroundings had changed.
He took a step backwards as he was faced with multiple villains, all with varying degrees of strength and useful Quirks. As he stepped back he hit something. Katsuki quickly glanced over his shoulder and instantly recognized the bright red hair on top of Kirishima's head.
'What should we do?' Kirishima asks, his gaze occasionally flickering Katsuki's way but also keeping an eye on the villains. Katsuki grinned and slammed a fist into his palm, creating smoke that twirled up. 'Kick their asses,' Katsuki said.
He lurched forward, all the blood in his body boiling, as he fought.
Barely any villain had laid a hand on Katsuki or Kirishima. Together they were skillful enough to take all of them out. 'Do you think the others are okay?' Kirishima asks as he nudges one of the unconscious villains with his foot. Katsuki outstretches a hand and without looking blasts a villain with a chameleon-like Quirk in the face, knocking them out in an instant. 'Should be,' Katsuki replied.
Even though he didn't seem like it, Katsuki kept close attention to his classmates, and he believed that every single one of them was strong enough to account for themselves in this situation. It's the closest thing to compassion Katsuki could manage at this point. 'We should go to the central area,' Kirishima suggests. Katsuki nods and follows Kirishima as they try to find a way out of the building they were warped into.
As they get out, Katsuki spots something from across a rubble filled area. On the ground, covered in blood, is one of their classmates. Katsuki instantly recognizes the orange hair. 'Kendo,' Kirishima gasps as a villain closes in on her.
Katsuki clicks his tongue as he doesn't waste a second and sprints forward. 'Bakugou!' Kirishima calls out and dashes after him.
While running, Katsuki analyses the situation. Only one villain visible, but might be more around. Strong Quirk if they got Kendo knocked out. Not to be messed with. Also not something Katsuki couldn't handle.
Katsuki puts his hands next to his body and sets off his Quirk, flying into the air to gain a height advantage. As he comes crashing down, he moves his hands to the front of his body, aiming the palms at the villain, knocking them back five feet without any struggle.
Katsuki ends up standing in front of Kendo's unconscious body. He sees Kirishima rushing up to them and picking Kendo up from the ground. 'Her head is bleeding,' Kirishima says. Katsuki turns around and kneels down at Kirishima who's holding her in his arms. 'Try to stop the bleeding,' Katsuki orders, taking Kendo from him.
Kirishima gets up and tears a part of his costume off to press on the bleeding wound. Kirishima takes Kendo from Katsuki again as he sees something shift from the corner of his eye. He can't jump aside so he crosses his arms in defense as the villain crashes into him.
He can feel the strain on his forearms as he tries to ward off the attack, shifting his hands that his palms are facing forward and sending off an explosion which makes the villain stumble back. The villain grins as he looks at the three of them. 'Isn't that girl dead yet? What a pity.'
Katsuki grits his teeth. 'Shut up,' he barks at the villain. He raises his hand, aiming at the villains chest as he takes the safety off of his gauntlets. The villain bursts out laughing. 'Try me,' he taunts. It makes Katsuki even more angry and he doesn't hold back.
The entire villain's body is surrounded by smoke and Katsuki is sure he's dealt enough damage to take him out once and for all, but as the smoke dissipates, the villain is still standing. His body is glowing softly as it seems to get absorbed. 'My body thrives on absorbing heat. Your Quirk is a treat to me,' the villain grins. 'Should've ran when you had the chance. Or kill yourself. It'll be less painful that way.'
Katsuki's eye twitches. It's a taunt, something to provoke him, but the villain doesn't realize how much it is doing its job. In the split of a second Katsuki unhooks the safety of his other gauntlet and leaps forward, hand aiming at the villain's face as he blasts his most powerful explosion yet, not holding back.
The villain stammers back, tripping over his feet and falling backwards. It's enough for Kirishima to pick up Kendo and run, but Katsuki is blinded. Rage is making his vision blurry as he jumps on the villain's body and starts slamming his fists into the guy's face and body, quickly drawing blood.
The villain has gone way past unconscious as Katsuki keeps punching him, unable to stop. He can't hold back. He doesn't want to. A pair of strong arms pick Katsuki up as he kicks and screams at the villain.
'Bakugou,' Kirishima's voice enters his ears. 'He's already knocked out.' Katsuki stops thrashing. He puts his feet steady on the ground and pulls himself from Kirishima's grasp.
Katsuki's breathing is heavy. He wipes his gloved hand across his forehead, sweat dripping from his face as his heart is pounding. 'Are you okay?' Kirishima asks. Katsuki looks over at Kirishima, who is frowning with worry. Katsuki looks away. 'I'm fine.'
Kirishima wants to reach out and ask him what's wrong, but this isn't the right time and place. He turns on his heel to pick Kendo up and nudges Katsuki on his shoulder while passing by, indicating they should move. Katsuki has lost control of his body and his mind, and he felt terrible for that.
Right now, his brain on zero, he obediently follows Kirishima as the rest of the fight unfolds.
Katsuki is walking out of the building, his bag slung over his shoulder. He'd been chewed out by several teachers for nearly an hour for his outburst back at the USJ.
In the end, All Might had come to save all of them, but Thirteen and Aizawa were fatally wounded. So was the villain Katsuki had beaten up.
They told him it wasn't hero-like behavior to act like that and that he had to seriously think about what he'd done. Katsuki knew that what he had done was wrong, but every mention of suicide just got to him so badly.
He drags his feet towards the entrance gate. 'Hey.' Katsuki looks up. Kirishima is standing at the gate, leaning against it. As Katsuki comes closer Kirishima pushes himself up and walks up next to him. 'Did you wait for me?' Katsuki asks.
Kirishima flashes a sheepish grin and scratches his head. 'I thought they'd lecture you for a while. Didn't think it'd be this long, though.' Katsuki's gaze is focused on the ground. They walk in silence for a while. Katsuki isn't sure why Kirishima is sticking around. He's positive that they have to go in completely opposite directions to go home and he isn't up for a study session right. Kirishima would be crazy if he did.
'So, uhm,' Kirishima starts. Katsuki glares up at him. 'I've been meaning to ask for a while now.' Katsuki starts to walk a little straighter so he can look Kirishima in the eye. 'Is there something wrong?' It's such a broad question. Katsuki doesn't know any other way to reply to that then 'Yeah, why?'
Kirishima scratches his head but the grin isn't present. He actually looks kind of concerned. 'You kind of seem to have these.. I don't know.. temper issues? And you've been closing yourself off from most of the class during lunch and such. I'm starting to get worried.'
Katsuki looks over at Kirishima. His glance is down at the ground and his cheeks are slightly flushed. He must find it awkward to discuss this with Katsuki. Katsuki can't blame him. He doesn't seem very approachable to begin with.
'It's nothing,' Katsuki says, trying to brush it off. Kirishima takes a hold of Katsuki's wrist and comes to a halt. Kirishima is staring at Katsuki's back who is keeping his eyes on the ground. 'Please, talk to me,' Kirishima pleads.
He can see how much Katsuki is hurting at times. He notices when he's spacing out, when his aggressive behavior is normal and when it gets out of proportion. They haven't been friends for long, but Kirishima has a knack for it and it just so happened that he could see all of these things in Katsuki in an instant.
'I can't.'
Kirishima sees Katsuki's shoulders tensing up. 'Please, Bakugou,' he tries again. Katsuki lifts a hand to his face to hide his red cheeks and the tears in his eyes.
'I can't,' he repeats and tries to pull away from Kirishima's grasp, but Kirishima won't let him. 'I'm trying to help,' he begs.
'You can't!' Katsuki spits out, turning around and freeing himself from Kirishima's hold. Tears are dangerously close to rolling off his cheeks. It makes Katsuki feel awful to look so weak in front of one of his classmates.
'Why?' Kirishima asks, taking a step forward to close the distance between the two of them. Katsuki staggers back. 'Nobody can help me! Cause it's my fault!'
Katsuki's emotions are overwhelming him once again. He truly resents feeling this much. He isn't able to control it as he used to and his entire demeanor is shifting because of that. He feels weak and vulnerable, something he had never experienced before until a year prior to this day.
'What is your fault?' Kirishima says, his voice trying to be soothing. It makes Katsuki feel even worse.
Suddenly, his emotions are pouring over. The toll of his friend's death is still weighing heavy on his shoulders. Add to that the stress of today's attack, plus an hour-long scolding for going overboard. Now, standing face to face to the person he considers his best friend, seeing him so worried over someone like him. It's too much.
'It's my fault he's dead!' Katsuki screams. 'It's my fault he killed himself!'
Katsuki feels like he just reached his lowest point as a pair of arms wrap around him, pressing his face into their shoulder and holding him close. Katsuki's body shivers with every sob he wishes to suppress.
'I'm sure it isn't your fault,' Kirishima says softly. But no matter how hard Katsuki wants it to, he just can't believe him.
Hey, I just wanted to leave a quick note for y'all: Thank you. Thank you for reading this. I really appreciate it. I love you. You're appreciated. 3