Chapter Fifty-Five: Words of Wisdom

Classes were out for the summer, and Aisla had taken the opportunity to spend some time with her family. They were all allowed two days to see family members before the trip, and she'd debated whether or not she wanted to subject herself to her adoring father for that long. After some consideration, she finally decided that a short trip home would do her some good.

She let out a soft sigh as she stared out the train window, contemplating the last few months of her life. She hadn't been very good about responding to her parents' messages or phone calls, but she'd been putting in a lot more effort in the last month or so. Even so, she knew they were worried about her and had been wanting to see her for a while. She hadn't been home since her birthday, which she knew concerned them greatly. Part of that had been due to the rule that students weren't usually permitted to leave campus, but she knew that was only an excuse. Shoto left campus to see his mother every weekend, but Aisla's family lived a lot farther away and a trip to visit them required special permission.

She missed her family and had been wanting to see them for some time, but knew they would have a lot of questions about her relationship with Katsuki. The last time they'd seen her was the night of the huge scene. Aisla had broken down after he'd left. She'd fled to her room and locked herself inside, refusing to accept comfort from her own parents while she wept into a pillow for hours. Once she'd finally emerged, her only request was to be allowed to go back to her dorm where she swore she'd feel better. She didn't want to dwell on her heartbreak, she'd reasoned.

It was all a lie. Aisla knew it, her parents knew it, and even little Airi knew it. She could see it in her sister's wide, dark eyes as she watched Aisla leave, one little hand extended as if to grab onto her and force her to stay. Aisla felt guilty the whole way back to school that night—not just because of all the trouble she'd caused, but also for the little girl she was leaving behind.

Aisla couldn't stay with her family that night, however. She couldn't stay in her room wallowing in self-pity with her family downstairs worrying about her. If she could distance herself just a little, she could pretend to be better than she was. She thought she did a fair job of convincing them at first, but her parents knew her well and didn't let her get away with her farce for long.

Depression and anxiety started to war within her, threatening to make her lose control once more. The last memory she had of being home was now tainted, and Aisla had half the mind to just ride the train all the way back to school and claim to be sick so she wouldn't have to pretend to be okay.

You are okay, she reminded herself. You've been okay for a while now. Don't think about the last time you came here. Make a new memory, Aisla. Be happy with those who care about you.

By the time she arrived at the train station, she felt a little better about her much needed vacation. Though the anxiety still roared inside of her, making her shaky and dizzy, she tried not to show that as she grabbed her bag and made her way off the train. She could see her dad and sister waiting for her, waving excitedly as she stepped off the train and started toward them. She put on a brave face and was suddenly glad that she'd remembered to bring her sunglasses along to help hide the lie in her eyes.

"Sissy!" Airi squealed, throwing her arms around Aisla's back and burying her face in her stomach. "I missed you so much!"

Aisla giggled despite herself and ruffled the little girl's hair. "I missed you too, sweet Airi."

"My girl!" Her father scooped her up in one of his signature bear hugs and twirled her around, earning giggles and amused smiles from passersby. "It's been too long since we've seen your lovely face! I'm starting to regret the decision to allow you to stay in a dorm so far away from us. I wake up every morning crying for my little girl!" He hugged her tighter and kissed the top of her hair repeatedly until she was laughing and had to beg him to stop.

He finally let her go, but kept a firm grasp on her hand as they walked to the car. Airi held onto her other hand with both of hers, and stared up at Aisla with big, awestruck eyes, as if she couldn't believe she was right in front of her.

"I love you, Aisla," she said sweetly.

Something squeezed Aisla's heart at these words, and she wasn't sure if it was a good or bad feeling. She hadn't heard that phrase since she'd uttered them aloud to Katsuki that last day. She had refused to say them to anyone ever since.

She offered her little sister a forced smile but couldn't bring herself to return the sentiment. The words were lodged deep within her throat, buried under all the boxes of pain and heartbreak she'd so carefully pushed aside. It wasn't fair to the girl who had no way of understanding Aisla's inner turmoil, but she just couldn't say it. The pain these words caused her was almost enough to send her into another crying fit.

"We're having steak for dinner!" her father announced once they were all seated in the car. "I know how much you like your meat, Aisla."

"I like chicken!" Airi interjected. "Let's have chicken, daddy!"

Her father chuckled. "Not tonight, sweet Airi. Tonight, we feast on steak!"

The rest of the drive was spent talking about equally casual topics: Aisla's schooling, how her quirk had improved, what she'd been sketching recently. Admittedly, she hadn't done much of the latter since she'd been too depressed, but she'd taken up drawing again over the last month or so and felt much more like herself. She wasn't Aisla Haru if she wasn't sketching.

When they got to the house, her mother was in the kitchen, singing an off-tune song about cats while flipping vegetables in a pan. The smell of bell peppers filled the air, reminding her of home. A few dishes already sat out on the island, along with some desserts.

"Hi, Mama," Aisla greeted softly as she came to stand next to her.

Dark eyes turned to her and a relieved smile settled on her pretty face. "Sweet Aisla, how are you? I've missed you." She wrapped her daughter up in a tight embrace, peppering her head and cheeks with kisses.

"I've been doing well," Aisla said with a soft smile. At her mother's raised brow she added, "Honestly, Mother. I've been doing a lot better. I promise."

She smiled and ruffled her curls. "That's my girl. Let's have a chat later, alright? For now, let's just enjoy our time together. Can you help me with the food?"

"Of course!"

Her mother tasked her with pie prep: Chopping fruit, making the crust, and mixing the ingredients. Aisla was an expert at this by now since her mother always asked her to help bake the pies. She finished in record time, chatting casually with her mother until her father demanded her attention once more.

Her mother allowed her to go, and she followed her father out into the sitting room for tea. He'd already brewed a pot, and two cups and saucers sat on a silver tray in the center of the table, along with some small biscuits.

"Oolong, right?" her father asked, gesturing at a cup with pink roses adorning the sides and a gold ring around the lip.

She nodded and gratefully took the proffered cup. She took a tentative sip, enjoying the way the warmth spread through her like a fire engulfing her body. "Thank you."

"Tell me what's been going on," her father said, getting straight to the point for once. Normally, Kaito Haru was the type to spend his time joking around and pretending everything was okay, even in awkward situations. He preferred to make light of things and get his information out of someone by making them feel at ease. His blunt approach surprised Aisla, and for a moment she couldn't think of a proper response.

He arched an eyebrow. "Aisla? Talk to me. You haven't been by to see us since your birthday four months ago. You rarely answer my calls, and your messages are stilted."

Guilt made her shoulders slump. She thought she'd been doing a better job at responding to her parents lately, but she supposed she hadn't really been as exuberant as she used to be. She was feeling a lot better, but texting her family was still somewhat of a chore and required a lot more emotional energy than she had.

"I'm sorry, daddy…" she whispered. Her finger traced the edge of her teacup as she kept her eyes downcast, unable to look into her father's dark gaze.

"You can talk to me, sweet Aisla," he told her gently. "You know how much I love you."

She couldn't help the wince at those words. Much like when Airi had said them, Aisla was suddenly filled with a crushing pain.

"You can't accept those words, can you?" he guessed. "Oh, my sweet girl. I know how hard it must have been for you after what happened that night, but you shouldn't live your life afraid to be who you are. Don't stop yourself from feeling love and giving it to others. Your family loves you, Aisla. We would do anything for you. And I know you feel the same way about us."

Aisla felt her eyes burn with the possibility of tears, but she knew that would only make her father worry even more. She'd already caused her family enough pain because of her stupid decisions. She needed to be stronger for them; she needed to be more like her father.

"I'm sorry…" she echoed. I can't say it, she finished silently. She wondered briefly if this was how Katsuki felt when she confessed her feelings to him. Aisla felt a crippling pain in her chest when her father and sister said those words, and fear threatened to paralyze her. Her answering words were stuck inside her throat like something forcibly held them back. Was that why he'd overreacted? She knew how he was about expressing his feelings, but she'd always been open with her own and didn't think he would reject her so fiercely.

I'm a hypocrite, she thought. She couldn't even be angry with him anymore because here she was doing the same thing to the people who cared about her the most.

"You don't have to feel guilty, Aisla," her father said, guessing her thoughts once more. "No one is upset with you. We understand how you must be feeling."

Aisla doubted it but thought it would be disrespectful to say so aloud. Her parents were happily married, what would they know about broken hearts?

"Remember when I told you I used to be a delinquent when I was younger?" her father suddenly spoke up in a musing tone. Aisla looked up to find a soft smile on his face as he stared out the window to his left. "I wasn't much different than that boy of yours—Katsuki was it? I used to lash out at people all the time. Those I cared about the most got the brunt of my venomous tongue."

Aisla felt taken aback. "But…I thought you calmed down once you met Mom?"

He nodded slowly. "Yes, I did, but not without a lot of work on her part. Your mother and I were dating for a very long time before I managed to come to my senses." He looked over at her with a knowing expression. "Aisla, I want you to know the events that conspired on your birthday haven't damaged our opinion of young Bakugo. I'm no stranger to shutting out one's emotions and trying to push away those he loves."

Aisla felt the tears start to drip down her cheeks but made no move to wipe them away as she stared at her father in complete astonishment. "But, Daddy… What are you saying?"

He took a deep breath. "Aisla, my sweet, your daddy wasn't always the best person. I broke Mommy's heart pretty bad." Despite the fact that Aisla was sixteen now, her father still referred to himself and her mother in this way, as though Aisla was still a little girl with no knowledge of pronouns. It was…endearing, in a way. She really was still his little girl. "I thought she was gone for good, too. I spent months trying to work up the courage to tell her that I still loved her and needed her in my life because it was hard for me to allow myself to be that person. I was afraid of rejection as much as I was afraid of the concept of love. Your mother was just like you, sweet Aisla. She loved freely and generously, she always looked after others above herself. You are both selfless and self-sacrificing, two very good traits to have, but they can lead to you letting others hurt or take advantage of you. Sometimes, it's important to stand up for what you believe in."

Aisla bit her lip and stared into her cup, unsure what to say to all that.

"I did some bad things back then, Aisla," he continued. "When we were young, college-age kids, we used to go to a lot of parties. I dragged your mother with me, but I knew she hated going. She went because I made a big fuss about it. I was the jealous type back then, and more than a little bit possessive." He trailed off as his gaze went somewhere far away. "I may have…overreacted to Mommy hanging out with some of her friends. I went off on them, cursing and even going so far as to throw punches. I was drunk, you see, but that was no excuse. What's worse, the next day, once I'd sobered up, my pride was so wounded that I continued to lash out. I told your mother she wasn't allowed to hang out with those people anymore just because I didn't like them. Just because I was insecure."

"What did she do?" Aisla whispered. She felt horrible for her mother, but she also felt sympathy for the man who was so much like Katsuki in so many ways. Katsuki was better at hiding these parts of himself, but she could tell he had a jealous side, and he could be possessive, too.

Her father let out a heavy sigh. "She told me that wasn't fair. She said that if I was going to continue with my possessive ways, then she didn't want to be with me anymore. I didn't take her words seriously, Aisla. I continued to be the same way I always had been, and she finally decided that she didn't like the man I was becoming…and she left me."

Aisla sucked in a sharp breath. She'd never heard this story before. It paralleled hers and Katsuki's story so closely that for a moment she thought she must have been the one who'd spoken instead. No one had ever told her that her parents had broken up at one point. She'd always assumed… It had just been a given that they fell in love when they were young and were deeply in love and happy the whole time. Of course, thinking about that now, it didn't make sense. No couple would be without their hardships, but she'd never once stopped to consider her parents' trials.

"I had to work hard to earn back her trust," her father went on. "She finally forgave me for my wrongdoings and allowed me to be in her life again, but it was hard for a long time. I struggled to be better for her, but it wasn't always easy to make progress."

"What are you saying?" she asked again in a hoarse whisper. Tears continued to fall, and she clutched her teacup in tight hands as she waited with bated breath for him to explain.

He offered her a warm smile. "All I'm saying, sweetie, is that everyone makes mistakes. We all crumble when we're overwhelmed, and react poorly to situations we later regret. The truth is, no matter how hard we try, no one is perfect. Striving for that goal can be part of the problem. If you're too busy seeking perfection, you'll never be satisfied with where you are and what you have.

"Young Bakugo may have overreacted and lashed out that night, but I could see in his eyes how much it pained him to do that. He was hurting inside; he was falling apart and didn't know how to deal with his own emotions. Just like I used to be."

"You don't…think he's a bad person?" she asked softly. All this time, Aisla had been under the impression that her parents would hate the boy who'd broken their daughter's heart. In reality, they looked past the anger and cruel words and tried to see who the real Katsuki was—just like Aisla had done from the very beginning. She felt a little ashamed that she'd lost sight of that. She really was the one to blame for their long breakup.

She sat her teacup down so she could pull her knees up into the chair and wrap her arms around them. She'd been feeling guilty all evening, but suddenly it began to feel suffocating, as if the feeling alone would squeeze the life out of her.

"Aisla," her father sighed. "Come here, sweetheart."

Aisla shook her head, teeth clamped down on her bottom lip as she desperately tried to push back a sob.

"It's okay to cry, Aisla," her father told her. "I've always told you girls that. I spent enough of my time telling myself that crying is a sign of weakness…but that's not true. Crying doesn't make you weak, it's just another way to express those strong emotions inside of you. It's important to let those out sometimes. Don't be embarrassed. Let it out."

"Daddy…" she choked out, then threw herself into his strong arms and buried her face in his chest. Suddenly, she felt five-years-old again, being embraced by this large, bear-like man. She felt safe back then, too, like nothing bad could happen to her if she was tucked in his arms. "I'm sorry…"

He squeezed her tighter. "Don't apologize, my sweet girl. There's nothing to be sorry about. You're entitled to your feelings as much as anyone else. You and your mother feel things very strongly, and that's a beautiful quality to have. You should be proud of who you are, Aisla. Your mother and I couldn't be happier with you and your sister. And you especially have made us so proud with how much you've achieved all on your own."

"But…I failed the provisional license exam…" she pointed out.

"But you passed the second test, right?" he reminded her.

She nodded against his chest. She supposed he was right. Aisla, along with Katsuki and Shoto, had been a part of an extra training program for those who failed the initial exam. Later, they'd all been awarded provisional licenses, but that didn't stop Aisla from feeling like a complete failure. She'd basically been handed a pity license.

Minutes ticked by while the pair sat in silence until Aisla felt her back start to ache from the uncomfortable position. She pushed away from her father, gave him a sheepish grin, and wiped the evidence of tears from her cheeks. She sat back and grabbed her teacup, even though it was now cold, and gulped the rest down with a grimace.

Her father chuckled. "You always did hate to waste food," he observed with a grin. "I could have made you a fresh cup, you know."

"I want coffee," she said tiredly.

Another deep rumble. "Alright, I'm sure your mother has a pot already on for you." He shook his head and gave an amused sigh. "But first, why don't you tell me about that boyfriend of yours?"

Aisla winced. "Katsuki…" she closed her eyes and let out a long breath, "he's not my boyfriend anymore."

"Still?" her father asked with genuine surprise. "But don't you love the boy?" The way he said this was so matter-of-fact, as if there couldn't be any possibility that she didn't feel that way.

"I…" she trailed off, unsure how to answer that sort of question. "I don't know."

"Yes, you do, sweet Aisla." Her father said cryptically, then patted her knee, stood to his feet, and stretched. "Alright, let's go see what your mother is doing. I'm sure she and Airi want some of your attention today, too." He held out a hand, and Aisla took it gratefully before following him into the dining room where her mother and sister already sat.

"Sissy! Sit next to me!" Airi commanded, patting the chair next to hers with an almost violent hand.

"Is there any coffee?" Aisla asked as she took a seat.

Her mother smiled widely. "Of course, dear. I know how my girl is."

Her father snorted. "Yua, you're the same way about your coffee. You both have an addiction."

"At least it's better than being addicted to cookies," her mother shot back sweetly.

Her father flushed and looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about, woman."

Dinner went by without further comment about Aisla's love life—or lack thereof. They chatted about her father's job as an international aid worker, and how work had started to pick up a lot more since All Might's retirement. Airi went on about how she was in school now and how many friends she was making. Aisla showed them some of the new drawings she'd been working on, though she didn't have many to share since she'd only recently picked up the hobby again.

After dinner, her father offered to do dishes with Airi so Aisla and her mother could talk. She took Aisla outside into the garden like she always did when she wanted to have a serious conversation. A short path lined with tulips led up to a white gazebo surrounded by various flowers and bushes. During the day, birds liked to splash in the baths that sat on either side of the garden, or chirped their songs from the towering trees that offered shade from the afternoon sun. At night, they turned on the lights that shone brightly in the fountain across from the gazebo, along with some string lights that hung throughout the yard and wrapped around the pillars of the structure.

Aisla loved being out here, even though she knew her mother only wanted to be alone with her to ask about things she didn't really want to talk about. She trusted her mother more than almost anyone, and valued her knowledge and advice, but Aisla didn't want to talk about Katsuki anymore. She'd already talked to her dad about her breakup, opening old wounds and reminding her of months of depression. Plus, she hated the idea of burdening her parents with her own sorrow.

"Sit down, my love," her mother instructed softly. She took up a seat across from Aisla and offered her a warm, motherly smile. "My sweet Aisla, tell me how you've been."

Aisla knew this question was coming. She averted her gaze and stared into the remnants of her coffee, which she stubbornly wanted to finish even though it was after seven.

"I've been doing a lot better," she said evasively. She didn't add, now that I'm not the center of so many scandals, because her mother didn't need to worry about that.

"Better how?" she prompted.

Aisla took a sip of coffee so she could delay having to answer. "I got my provisional license."

"I know, dear," her mother said. "And I'm very proud of you for that. But how are you doing? I've been concerned about you."

Aisla lifted her gaze slightly and found a reassuring smile on her mother's face. She blew out a breath, making the hair sway slightly that clung to her cheeks. "I told you, Mother—"

"Yes, I heard you," she interjected gently. "But I don't appreciate being lied to. Talk to me, sweetheart. You know I'm always here for you. What's been going on in your life at UA?"

Aisla considered what she should tell her mother. She wished her parents had simply confronted her together so she could have gotten this over with in one blow. Instead, she had to suffer through another explanation and a different perspective on her problems—the problems she'd tried hard to bury. It wasn't that she didn't like talking to her mother, but also knew if she told her too much, she would over-sympathize and worry to the point of her own detriment. Yua Haru was too much like her daughter. They both concerned themselves too much with the problems of others and not enough with their own struggles.

"We just finished our term projects," she offered with a shrug. "We all passed, so they're rewarding us with a party at the end of our summer training camp."

Her mother smiled. "That's nice, dear. How was the test? Did you have any difficulties?"

Aisla talked about the test and how she'd been doing extra training with her teacher to prepare for it. She admitted to being nervous and not doing her best, but still passed because of her two teammates.

"Aw, I don't think that's true," her mother argued with a small frown. "I know my daughter, and she always does her best. Tell me about these teammates of yours." The knowing glint in her eye told Aisla she had a good idea of at least one of these teammates.

Aisla stiffened. She'd been hoping to avoid telling her mother this bit of information. She twisted a piece of hair between her fingers as she spoke. "Um, it was Shoto and…Katsuki?" She didn't mean for the words to come out as a question, but part of her brain was still trying to come up with another excuse.

Her mother gave her a curious look. "Oh? And how was that? Working alongside Katsuki?"

Aisla shrugged. "It wasn't that bad, honestly…"

"Have you forgiven him yet?"

This question surprised Aisla. "I…yes," she admitted softly. "I did forgive him. But…how did you know?"

A knowing grin met her words. "Mother always knows, my sweet Aisla. It's important to let go of grudges and anger, and forgive those who have wronged us. Young Bakugo did not mean the things he said to you that night. I could see it in his eyes."

Aisla almost cried again. Those were so close to the words her father had used during their conversation. Both of her parents felt the same way about Katsuki's reaction to Aisla's love confession. They both recognized that Katsuki had reacted out of fear and not out of malice.

Aisla felt even more guilty for some reason, as if her parents knew Katsuki better than she did. She hadn't given him the benefit of the doubt that he'd deserved. She'd acted out of hurt and betrayal. She didn't stop to consider that maybe she'd surprised him and he'd been too emotional to react in a way that a normal person might.

"You're feeling guilty," her mother guessed. "But it's not your fault, Aisla. I know how you must have felt. I had similar feelings when your father used to act out. I felt rejection and betrayal, and an overwhelming sense of sorrow."

Aisla recalled the first two months of her breakup with Katsuki. Her mother was spot on, just as her dad had been. Were her parents reading her mind? Or had they really gone through something so unbelievably similar?

"Katsuki's actions were inexcusable," her mother added, "but not unforgivable. It pained us to see our precious girl get her heart broken… Believe me, Aisla, I'm not trying to invalidate your feelings. We love you, and we want to protect you from pain if we can. We had to sit back and consider young Bakugo's actions for a long time before we came to the conclusion that he wasn't being cruel just to be cruel. It's obvious that he cares deeply for you."

Aisla felt her eyebrows pinch together. "He doesn't feel that way, Mother. He said so himself. He just wants…" She trailed off, unsure how to finish her sentence. What did Katsuki want from her? He'd been so different from his normal, angry self lately that Aisla sometimes had to remind herself he was the same person.

"What do you want, Aisla?" her mother asked. "Do you still feel the same way you did when you gave Katsuki that drawing?"

Aisla squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth together. She tugged on her hair so hard the strands came out between her fingers, causing pain to prick at her scalp. Still, she held on as if that pain would ground her to this place and take her away from the memories her mind tried to bring her back to.

Katsuki's face when he read her poem.

Katsuki's rejection of her confession.

Katsuki telling her he didn't love her back.

And then later…

Katsuki punching Monoma and threatening every student on campus who played a part in the rumor thread about Aisla.

Katsuki carrying her to the nurse's office after she fainted from starvation.

Katsuki sitting with her on the roof every day for weeks.

Katsuki apologizing for his actions and expecting nothing in return…

Aisla dropped her cup and just barely registered the sound of it crashing against the wood floor. Her hands smacked against her face as sobs started to wrack her body.

"Oh, sweet Aisla," her mother crooned softly, and then her warm arms wrapped around her daughter's shoulders and pulled her tightly against her chest. "Don't be afraid to feel, my love… It's hard to show someone your feelings, even harder when you've tasted rejection. It feels impossible to come back from that and learn to be brave again, but I know my daughter is someone who can overcome anything. You'll be just fine, Aisla. You just have to learn how to believe in yourself again, and trust the feelings inside of you."

"It's not my feelings I'm worried about," she wept, clutching her mother's shirt in a tight fist. "What if he doesn't feel the same way that I do? What if no one ever does again? I can't go through that again, Mother! My heart can't take it!"

"Shh…" her mother soothed, brushing her hair back with her fingers. "Heartbreak is just one of the unfortunate parts of growing up, I'm afraid. We all go through it at some point in our lives, but it's how we learn from that experience that matters."

"All I learned is that words hurt," Aisla practically spat this, though the aggression wasn't pointed at her mother. She was more angry with herself than anyone else. She still felt foolish for pushing her feelings on someone who didn't feel the same way.

"You'll be okay, my sweet," her mother echoed softly. "And you know I'll be here for you no matter what."

"I know," Aisla whispered. "Thank you, Mama."

"I love you so much, Aisla," she murmured into her hair. "I will always love you."

"I love you…" Aisla breathed, so softly the words could barely be heard.

"There you are, sweet Aisla~" Her mother pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Never forget who you truly are. Don't be afraid to be you, no matter the cost. It's important to be exactly who you are."

"What if I don't like who I am?" Aisla asked. What if she didn't want to be the girl who loved so deeply, and who was so easily heartbroken? She still held onto her mother for support, but the sobs had died down now, leaving her with that familiar numbness that came from a good cry.

"Sometimes, we all feel that way," her mother answered. "But for what it's worth, I think you're the most amazing young lady anyone could hope to have as a daughter."

Aisla sniffled. "You're biased," she accused.

Her mother gave a soft laugh. "Perhaps, but my point stands true. You're a good person, Aisla. You're kind, selfless, and always try to help others. I honestly don't know what your father and I would have done if we'd never met you. You made our lives complete."

Aisla shuddered from the sentiment. Even though that was just a cliché line all parents told their children, it meant something more coming from her adoptive mother. Aisla knew she meant it, too. Her parents had doted on her from day one, making her feel like she was a gift to them. Even after they had Airi, they never stopped treating Aisla like she was special to them. She never once felt less than their biological daughter.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I'm so grateful to have you both. I'm sorry for causing you so much grief."

Another soft laugh. "You have brought us nothing but happiness, I assure you. Now," she stood up and offered Aisla a hand, "shall we go and find your sister? I know she's been patiently waiting to play with you."

Aisla smiled and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

As her mother led her back inside the house, Aisla couldn't stop the thoughts from churning inside her own mind on repeat.

I love Katsuki Bakugo. I love him…and I hope he loves me back…

A/N: This chapter was a little different, but it was important for Aisla's character. I hope you all enjoyed it anyway! Family is very important to Aisla, and talking to them after everything that happened the last time she saw them was really important for her. She needed to get some things off her chest, and she REALLY needed them to tell her that it's OKAY. She doesn't need to be afraid that her parents hate Katsuki. They've looked past what happened and have forgiven him. That was what she needed to hear in order to truly be able to move on from that trauma.

Next time will be a Katsuki chapter, so I hope you're all ready for his side of things! We're moving on to the summer training portion of this story, so look forward to some action-packed chapters coming up!

Reviews:

kibaschick: Thank you so much for the review! Always glad to see your name pop up in my email!

Beta: yellowchikadee