Chapter Fifty-Six: Don't Hold Back

It was the day they would all leave for the summer training camp, and everyone was gathered outside the bus with their bags and costume cases. Katsuki was among them, growing more anxious by the minute as his eyes searched the pathways in front of them. Everyone else was chatting excitedly about the trip, but Katsuki couldn't hear what was being said. He was too busy looking for the missing student who'd yet to show up, even though they were scheduled to leave in less than ten minutes. Normally, she was one of the first ones to arrive for events like this, which only made Katsuki's worry amp up even further.

Where are you, Aisla? he silently fumed.

"Yo, Katsuki!" Kirishima draped an arm around his shoulders and punched him playfully in the stomach. Katsuki growled, but his friend ignored that as he continued talking. "Can you believe we get to go to another training camp? How exciting is that! Plus, they're actually giving us some time to hang out and have fun, which means they won't be trying to kill us all!"

Katsuki scoffed. "I don't give a damn what they do!"

Kirishima looked at him, then followed his gaze to the empty path, then turned back to Katsuki with a knowing grin. "Oh, I see. You're worried about Aisla, right? You two haven't kissed and made up yet? Hasn't it already been like a month?"

"IT'S BEEN FOUR BUT WHO THE HELL'S COUNTING?!" Katsuki roared.

"Sounds like maybe you are, man." Kirishima shook his head pityingly. "Poor Katsuki. I knew there would be a day when you'd come to me for girlfriend advice."

"I didn't come to you at all!" Katsuki snapped and tried to pull out of Kirishima's tight hold on his neck. He had actually come to Kirishima once when he'd been desperate to make things right with Aisla, but he definitely wasn't going to bring that up.

"You see, Katsuki, when you really love a girl, the first thing you have to do…" He pitched his voice low as he finished the sentence, "is tell her." He let go and gave Katsuki a grandiose bow. "Thank you, folks, that'll be all from the amazing Eijiro Kirishima!"

Katsuki growled under his breath but couldn't find it in himself to pick a fight just then. The words made him angry, but there was truth to them, too. Katsuki knew that part of the problems he and Aisla had been having was due to his own inability to communicate.

"Hana's kind of like you," Kirishima mused. "She's not big on expressing her feelings either, and she's kind of terrible at communication." He said this with adoration in his red eyes. "But I love her, and I let her know that every opportunity I get because I don't want to lose her. And when she says she loves me back, I feel like I can fly to the moon! She's so amazing, Katsuki. I just love her." His eyes twinkled and Katsuki's lips twisted in a sneer at the cringe-worthy line.

"Stop saying that damned word, you stupid rock!" he shouted, then turned around so his friend wouldn't see the blush coloring his cheeks. Was Kirishima trying to give him advice about Aisla? Or was he just being his typical idiotic self? Maybe he was reading too much into it. After all, that moron talked about his girlfriend so much as it was, it was weirder when he didn't go off on some lovesick tangents.

Love… he thought, lips twisting again at the sour taste of the word. Love, love, love…

"Sorry we're late."

Katsuki jerked to attention at the sound of his teacher's voice coming from around the corner. His head swiveled toward the 'we,' and found Aisla walking alongside Mr. Aizawa with her costume case gripped in one hand and a thermos of what he suspected was coffee in the other. He couldn't help the amused smile.

So, that's why you were late. You were getting coffee.

His eyes slid over the short black skirt she wore under a red fitted camisole top. Her hair was straight today, and pulled back on the sides with the black satin ribbon.

"Everyone can board the bus now," Mr. Aizawa said, holding a small duffel in one hand as he dragged a large black suitcase with pink paw prints across the front behind him.

"Cute bag, Mr. Aizawa!" Racoon Eyes chirped in that annoying voice of hers.

Their teacher stopped mid-stride and glared so intently at the pink girl that the blacks in her eyes completely swallowed up the yellow iris. "It's not mine," he growled, then continued walking as if nothing happened.

Aisla was talking with her loyal labrador, Pink Cheeks, and Deku, so she didn't notice the exchange. Even so, Katsuki was pretty sure that was her bag their teacher was hauling around. It was almost amusing that she'd somehow convinced the pro hero to carry the thing for her all this way. Katsuki knew she didn't pack lightly, so he wouldn't put it past her to pawn its weight off on someone else. Still, Katsuki kind of wished he'd decided to show up late, too. He was used to being shown up by Todo-fucking-roki, but Mr. Aizawa? The thought made him clench his fists. Why hadn't Katsuki been there to carry the damn thing for her?!

"Everyone on the bus!" Mr. Aizawa barked when they continued to chat amongst themselves. They all filed in, each storing their bag and costume before taking a seat and settling in for the long drive. Katsuki wasn't sure how long it would be, but if he could get in a good nap along the way, then at least he wouldn't be bored.

He waited for Aisla to follow her friends onto the bus before joining them at the end. He wasn't hoping to get a seat next to her, but if she happened to be sitting alone and he walked by…

"Katsuki."

His gaze shot over to where Aisla stood in the aisle, crystal eyes sparkling with joy, a small smile on her lips.

"Sit with me?" she offered, gesturing to a pair of empty seats.

Yes, he thought as a small thrill shot through him that she wanted to be near him, that she had been the one to seek him out. The memory of all their shared lunches on the roof rolled through his mind like a film reel, replaying over and over, reminding him that there was progress, and this was proof.

He sat down next to the window and Aisla settled in next to him, sketchbook and pencil in her lap. She didn't open it yet, just held it there as everyone else found a seat and the bus started to move. They sat in silence for a long time, neither one wanting to be the first to speak. Katsuki didn't know what to say and wondered if Aisla felt the same way, or if she was thinking intently about something.

Finally, she opened up her sketchbook without a word and turned to a blank page. She started drawing, and Katsuki watched the expert way her pencil seemed to glide over the paper as though it wasn't even touching it. Despite the rolling and jerking of the bus, her lines were straight and flawless. He still found it amazing how she could create pictures that looked so real. She was incredible.

"What do you think about this, Katsuki?" she asked a while later, pointing to the dragon she was working on. "Does it look cool enough?"

She wants your opinion, he thought with pride. He missed the days when they would sit like this and she'd ask for his thoughts on her work.

"That's perfect," he murmured.

She glanced up at him with a pleased smile. "Thank you, Katsuki."

He watched with fascination as she added in more details—a long, spiked tail, fire pouring from an open jaw, and eyes blazing with fury.

"You should draw a cat down there," he suggested on impulse, pointing to the space just below the flying creature.

Aisla giggled. "Why a cat?"

Because cat's make me think of you.

"Because you like drawing them so damn much," he muttered aloud. The last time they'd been on this bus together was when they were on their way to the provisional licensing exams, and Aisla had drawn a picture of a cat in a space suit.

She snorted in reply. "Alright, if that's what you want." She made quick work of sketching out a small cat, then shaded in its body with a black charcoal pencil before adding a little scarf around its neck.

Katsuki blinked at it for a long moment. There was something oddly familiar about the feline she'd drawn. "Aisla…?" he said. "Why does that cat have a scarf and a deadpan expression?"

She stiffened beside him and nearly jerked her pencil across the page. "Uh…I don't know?" she replied evasively.

He rolled his eyes. "You just made Eraser Head into a cat, didn't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she exclaimed defensively, before he'd even finished his accusation.

He chuckled. "Wow, you really love our teacher, don't you?"

Aisla blushed bright red. "Shut up, it's not like that! He's just my favorite hero and that's all! And he happens to like cats, so my subconscious drew him this way. It was an honest mistake!"

"Sure it was," he replied with amusement. He could understand being obsessed with All Might, but Eraser Head? That was a fan-group he would never get. Although, he was pretty sure the Eraser Head Fan Club consisted of exactly three members: Aisla, her sister Airi, and that purple-haired weirdo who was always training with Aizawa and way too often hanging around Aisla.

She huffed and moved the sketchbook out of his view.

"Hey, let me see, too!" he protested, and tried to pull the book back.

She kept a firm grip, however, and stubbornly refused to let him see so much as a line. "Don't you dare look, Katsuki Bakugo!" she warned, though he could tell her tone was more playful than miffed.

"Come on, I won't make fun of your Eraser Head crush, Aisla." Out loud anyway… "Let me see your cat!"

"Not a chance!" She continued playing keep-away with the book until he finally gave up and tried a new tactic.

Katsuki let go and leaned forward to whisper into her ear. "Aisla…" he cooed in his best imitation of her sweet drawl, "please let me see your masterpiece. I promise I'll love it." This was something he'd utilized maybe once in all the time he'd known her. He couldn't remember if it worked the last time, but he wanted her to forgive him, so he figured it was worth a shot.

She gasped and jerked her head to the side to stare at him with surprised eyes. Katsuki hadn't expected that sort of reaction from her, but he wasn't disappointed. Ocean eyes regarded him curiously for a moment, and for once he didn't avert his gaze. He couldn't say for sure if all girls looked like this or if he was just biased, but he swore Aisla was the prettiest one he'd ever seen.

"You…love…it?" she whispered.

Katsuki felt his cheeks heat when he realized what he'd said. It hadn't been his tone at all that had surprised her. It had been his choice of words.

He nodded without breaking eye contact. "I love it," he repeated. "I promise."

She watched him for a long time, eyes spinning with thoughts and emotions. He couldn't decipher them, but something told him neither one of them was talking about her Eraser Cat picture anymore.

"Thanks," she gasped out before finally turning away from him. She clutched her sketchbook for a moment while she thought. He wondered if she was going to say anything else, but in the end she just returned to her drawing, and they spent the rest of the bus ride in comfortable silence.

When the bus finally came to a stop, Katsuki gave a slight jerk of surprise. Apparently, he'd fallen asleep sometime during the drive, and now his neck was stiff and sore from the odd angle he'd been sitting in. He yawned widely and started to stretch when he noticed the slight weight on his lap. His gaze shifted down, and he had to blink the sleep from his eyes before his vision cleared.

Aisla was curled up with her head in his lap. She had one hand still clutched around her sketchpad as though she'd fallen asleep while drawing, and the other rested against Katsuki's knee. Her eyes were still closed and her breathing even. Somehow, even with their teacher droning on in the front of the bus, Aisla was still fast asleep. Not that he blamed her for that. Sometimes he drifted off when Aizawa talked, too.

He didn't want to rouse her; he wanted her to stay exactly where she was, cradled in his lap like she still belonged to him. He knew better, though. She'd fallen asleep there by accident, she didn't want to be draped all over him. Not anymore.

"Hey." He gave her a gentle shake. "Get up, we're here."

Her eyelids fluttered sleepily a few times before she registered his face. A small smile pulled back the corners of her lips as a hand reached up to brush against his chin. "Katsuki…" she breathed, and a shudder passed through him.

Keep touching me like that, he silently begged her, but she was already pulling away and sitting up. She stretched her arms over her head and let out a groan that was too cute.

"Everyone file out!" Mr. Aizawa commanded, bringing Katsuki's attention back to reality.

Aisla offered him a sweet smile before stepping into the aisle and gesturing for him to do the same. Before she could reach for her bag, Katsuki grabbed it, along with his own, and gave her a challenging expression when he saw her about to protest. She clamped her mouth shut and shrugged. She took both of their costume cases instead and jutted her chin forward for Katsuki to proceed.

With a nod, he followed their classmates off the bus. He struggled with the two bags—Aisla's was just as heavy as he'd imagined—when suddenly hers was snatched out of his grasp, sending him stumbling down the stairs. He barely managed to stop himself from falling before he glared at the culprit.

Mr. Aizawa stood at the top of the stairs with Aisla's suitcase in hand and an irritated expression on his face. "Stop making such a scene, Bakugo," he chastised as he stepped down and joined the rest of the class, easily toting the bag Katsuki had just been struggling with. Once again, he was being shown up.

"Now, I want you all to listen up!" he intoned, getting the attention of all the gathered students. "You're going to behave during this trip. There will be sanctioned times for recreation, but the rest of the time will be spent training. There will be no goofing off or getting into fights." His glower landed on Katsuki. "You all have assigned rooms, and you're fortunate enough not to have roommates this time since this resort is closed off to outsiders. Classes A and B and their chaperones are the only people allowed inside for the next two weeks."

"Yeah!" Kirishima fist bumped the air. "That totally rocks!"

"It is nice to have our own rooms," Pink Cheeks agreed thoughtfully.

"I wasn't finished," Mr. Aizawa snapped, quirk activating to get their attention. "As I was saying, you'll all get your own rooms, so we'll be keeping an eye on you to make sure you stay in your own rooms. There will be no bunking together. Ladies, I'm talking to you." His gaze fell on Aisla specifically as if he somehow knew she used to sleep in Katsuki's room sometimes.

He blushed at the thought and hoped that wasn't the case. Maybe he knew that girls liked to sleep together and it had nothing to do with Katsuki at all.

"Training doesn't start until tomorrow, so you can all take your things up to your assigned rooms and then take the rest of the day to do whatever you like." Mr. Aizawa paused to glance down at his watch. "Dinner is in five hours. Make sure you're all gathered in the dining room by six for orientation."

With that, their teacher turned on his heel and began walking away. He dragged Aisla's suitcase over to her and sat it down at her feet before continuing on with hands stuffed in oversized pockets. Katsuki was about to walk over and take the bag from her again when Todo suddenly stepped up and took it right out of her hand. She glanced up at him with a pleased smile and he noticed her saying something to him that made his lips curve upward.

Katsuki blew out an annoyed breath. That bastard.

They all took their bags up to their rooms, and Katsuki passively noted that Aisla was not on the same floor that he was. With a huff of annoyance, he dropped his duffel bag onto the bed to unpack his belongings. He hadn't brought much with him, but since he had nothing better to do, he figured he might as well move everything into the drawers. He tossed all his shirts into the top drawer, his pants into the next drawer, and everything else took up the bottom one. He dropped his small bag of toiletries onto the attached bathroom counter, then stood in the center of the room with a frown.

What the hell now? he wondered as the empty room stared back at him. There were still a few hours before dinner, and he had no desire to hang out with everyone else, but he wasn't really sure what else there was to do at a place like this. He supposed he could wander around and pick whatever looked the least boring, but leaving his room suddenly sounded like the most exhausting task. Maybe he would lie down and take another nap, or indulge in an extra long shower just because.

A knock interrupted his musing, low and tentative, with a familiar pattern that made his lips twitch slightly.

He moved to the door and pulled it open, revealing long blonde hair and big reflective eyes staring up at him. She wore the same outfit she'd had on during the long bus ride over, but now he could see black bikini straps poking out from the top of the red camisole. A small, black tote bag was slung over one shoulder, and a pair of sunglasses was perched on top of her head.

He smiled when he saw her, standing before him like a model straight out of a magazine. Not that he owned any of those, but he sometimes saw them sitting out on display stands around shops. Those women were always beautiful, but Aisla… She was a vision.

"Hello, Katsuki!" she chirped happily. "Want to go swimming with me?"

He found himself nodding before she'd even finished speaking. He didn't care what this girl wanted; he'd do anything she asked of him.

A hand came up to cover a giggle. "Come on, then!"

"Wait." He held up a hand to stop her from retreating as something came to mind. "Who's all going to be there?" Katsuki wanted to please Aisla, but not at the expense of his own sanity. If Deku was there, he'd be too busy boiling with rage to pay her any attention.

Aisla frowned and cocked her head to one side in an adorable gesture of confusion. "What do you mean? It's just us."

Hope soared in his chest. Aisla not only sought him out to spend time with her, but she'd done so with the intention of it being just the two of them. The prospect of her finally wanting to be around him again, after everything he'd put her through, made pure joy spark inside of him.

"Really?" he whispered, unwilling to say the word any louder.

She nodded, a knowing smile now settled on her glossy pink lips. She knew exactly what she was doing. "Yes, Katsuki. I want to spend time with you, okay?"

Anything you want, he silently promised with another vigorous nod.

Aisla beamed up at him, then slipped the sunglasses down to cover her eyes. It did nothing to hide the slight coloring of her cheeks. "Let's go!"

Katsuki quickly changed into some black swim trunks while Aisla waited out in the hall. He could hear her humming through the door and couldn't help an amused chuckle. He'd missed the sound of her soft singing.

"Ready?" she asked when he pulled open the door. He carried a change of clothes under one arm and some blue shades dangled from his free hand. Aisla's gaze shifted down and she pulled her own pair down to the end of her nose to give him a dramatic expression of utter shock. "Woooow, Katsuki, didn't peg you for the Ray Ban type. Very classy!" She pushed her nearly identical black pair back into place with one finger, then offered him a wide-toothed grin. "Let us go and do the swimming!" she announced as she started down the hall.

As she walked, her hips swayed in the most unwelcome way in that tiny skirt of hers. Katsuki tried not to look, but his eyes found her small waist and firm rear anyway. He remembered the way both felt in his hands and had to force down the urge to push her against the wall and feel her skin once more. We're not dating. She's not mine anymore.

When they reached the pool, it was mysteriously empty for this time of day, except for an elderly couple who occupied the hot tub. What the hell? I thought only the hero courses were staying at this resort or whatever. Did someone bring their grandparents? The thought was fleeting, though. He had more important things to think about right now, like the pretty girl who asked him to go swimming. They placed their things on a chair, then stood awkwardly for a long moment while neither of them moved.

Finally, Aisla shrugged as if in response to some inner question, then turned her back on him. He thought for a moment that she was upset with him again, but then she started to take off her clothes.

He watched with bated breath as she shimmied out of her skirt, then pulled the red camisole over her head slowly, making the muscles in her back and waist follow the motion in a languid manner. Katsuki watched her taut skin settle back into place as a lump formed in his throat. He swallowed it down just as Aisla turned a look over her shoulder. His skin burned at the intensity of her blue-eyed gaze, but then she offered him a shy smile and gestured with her chin to her bag.

"Can you spray me?" she asked in a low voice—or maybe he just couldn't hear it over the sound of water rushing nearby and birds squawking loudly in the trees overhead. Either way, he stared at her with a dumbfounded expression until a frown settled on her lips and she turned slightly toward him, giving him the full view of her swimsuit: A simple black bikini with red polka dots and white lacy trim. A matching red ribbon was tied into a bow between her breasts, bringing attention to her impressive cleavage.

"Can you help me with the sunscreen?" she clarified, pointing to an orange aerosol container poking out of the side of her tote.

Kill me, he thought, though he was secretly grateful—and equally disappointed—that she hadn't brought along the lotion type of sunscreen. If he'd had to rub this stuff into her bare skin…

"Katsuki?" she said carefully, eyes pinched in worry now.

He shook off the wayward thoughts and grabbed the can from her bag before gesturing for her to turn back around with his hand. She obeyed, and he sprayed her bare skin with the sunscreen, moving her hair aside to get every part equally coated. She was pale as a ghost, so he added a second layer before asking her to turn around. When she did, he saw something strange in the depths of her ocean eyes, something he was certain he was imagining.

What are you thinking about right now, Aisla Haru? he wondered as he coated her front side as well, then asked her to hold her breath so he could get her face and ears.

She giggled when he was done and waved her hands frantically in front of her face to clear the lingering mist. "Thanks!" She donned her black Ray Bans once more before giving him a brilliant smile and holding out her hand expectantly.

He stared at it for a long moment. "What?"

Aisla sighed and he'd be willing to bet she rolled her eyes behind the shades. "The sunscreen, silly boy! It's your turn."

He scoffed and tossed the bottle back into her bag before folding his arms stubbornly across his chest. "I don't burn, Aisla. Not all of us were born with vampire paleness."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, joke's on you because you're going to be the one who turns into a lobster and I get to make fun of you for it!"

"You're on." He accepted the challenge with a devious grin, then made for the water. "Last one in buys dinner!" He called, just as he jumped in the air and plunged into the cool water head first.

"Cheater!" Aisla accused with a laugh when he resurfaced. He found her standing on the edge of the pool, face alight with amusement as she looked down at him.

"Get in, Aisla. I promise not to drown you," he said with a wicked grin.

She shook her head once before dipping a toe into the water and grimacing from the cold temperature. Despite this adventure being her idea, she seemed hesitant to get in.

"Are you too chicken or what?" he taunted.

She gave him a haughty expression, then dove into the water and came up right in front of him. "You're evil!" she shrieked at him as she sent a spray of water right into his face.

He laughed and splashed her back, forcing her to sputter out water and wipe her sunglasses with her wet hands to try and rid them of the offending liquid. On impulse, she jumped into his arms and tried to tackle him into the water. The action caused him to stumble backward, forcing them both back into the water. He kept a firm grip on her waist as they struggled to reorient themselves, then finally got his footing back so they both came out gasping and laughing.

"That was so mean!" she exclaimed as her hands fell onto his shoulders to steady herself against the churning water.

"You started it!" he shot back, hands holding her up so she wouldn't fall back again. He didn't notice he was rubbing circles into her skin until her exuberant expression was suddenly replaced with something else. Her blue eyes, so reflective of the waves of the pool, suddenly seemed to swirl with a familiar darkness that he recalled from nights when she was in his dorm room—back when she was his. He wanted to believe it was lust she was feeling—he'd definitely been dealing with fluxes of his own desire ever since she showed up at his hotel door, after all—but then she pushed away from him and swam across the pool so fast he barely even had time to register his now empty hands.

"Come get me, Katsuki!" she called from the other side of the pool, waving a hand in the air as water dripped from her hair.

His gaze darkened. Oh, I will, he silently promised, then dove under the water and torpedoed through toward her. He thought he was fast enough to catch her, but when he reached the spot she'd just been standing in, she was gone. He spun around and saw her on the opposite side now, as if she'd somehow teleported there.

What the hell?

He plunged back into the water and put even more force into his stride than before. This time, he kept his eyes open even though the chlorine burned. He watched the water as he swam, waiting for the moment she moved from her spot.

She zoomed past him at some insane speed he didn't even think was possible, and the surprised gasp he let out nearly drowned him. He resurfaced and gagged before coughing up water and scowling over at the victorious look on Aisla's pretty face.

"How are you doing that?!" he roared, his competitive side making him bitter.

He could hear her tinkling laugh from here. "Oh, that's my secret, Katsuki~" She blew him a kiss before disappearing under the water, then reappearing behind him in a flash.

He spun around and pushed her head down into the water as revenge for making him feel stupid, and she came up sputtering and laughing. "Hey! You could have drowned me!"

He scoffed. "Shouldn't matter to someone who's part fish!"

She laughed. "Silly boy, I'm not part fish. I just used to be on the swim team back in middle school. I was pretty good at it."

He huffed indignantly and refused to look at her.

"Aw, that's the cutest pout I've ever seen!" she cooed, poking his lips with her finger. "We can race again if you want?" she offered in that honey-sweet tone of hers.

"No way!" he snapped.

"Oh, come on~ You don't want to lose to a girl, do you?" Her words were laced with something new now, a tone he'd only heard a few times and definitely didn't belong in this situation.

Are you…flirting right now? His eyes flicked back to hers of their own accord. He couldn't see hers through the dark shades, but he suspected she was fluttering her lashes in that way of hers, the one she used when she was trying to get something out of him.

Careful, he warned himself as his mind went to places it didn't have the right to be. Don't do anything to scare her off.

"I accept defeat," he finally allowed. There was no way he was going to win this particular challenge and, even if he could, he kind of liked seeing the way she looked at him with such triumph.

"Do you want to get out?" she offered. "We could sit and have a drink?"

He shrugged, then followed her out and over to the chairs holding their things. Aisla pulled a towel from her bag and started drying herself off while Katsuki stood there, unable to look away.

You are so beautiful, he thought as he gazed over at her. Water cascaded down her slim frame, and the sun made her blonde hair shine like gold. Angel…

She turned a smile over her shoulder as she started on her hair and it was all he could do not to wrap her in his arms as he'd done on the roof a few days ago. He would never take another moment with her for granted again. He didn't deserve her, but that wouldn't stop him from hoping for more. Every smile she gifted him with, every word she expressed, every little touch was making the feelings inside of him grow. He couldn't hold them back anymore—no, he wouldn't hold them back.

I love you, Aisla Haru… I love you, and I hope you still love me…