I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.
With a final pull at his neck tie, Bakugou finally took a good look at himself and was stunned. It seemed that the idiom 'clothes make the man' really wasn't kidding as the custom fitted suit made the explosive Hero like obsidian. He smirked at his impeccable form, pride welling in his heart that he could look this good. Unlike Deku who would, regardless of what he wore, look completely average.
The explosive Hero's mind paused right then and there, his cocky smirk being pulled down into a scowl. He sighed and turned away from his mirror, not wanting to stare at his ugly mug anymore. After all, nobody likes a prick who makes fun of the dead… Especially if the guy was a Hero that everyone praised. And now that he thought about it, making any sort of insult at Midoriya now would make himself look very petty. But before he could further contemplate the subject, there was a knock at his door and a small voice calling to him.
"Uncle? Are you ready? It's almost time."
"I'm almost done, head down first Shrimp." Bakugou said.
"Okay." She answered as her footsteps softly walked away from the door. The explosive Hero sighed and grabbed a towel that was lying around, wiping away the last of his sweat and nervousness. He grabbed some folded paper from atop his desk and with that, Bakugou left the security of his room and walked downstairs so that he and 1A can face their destiny.
Scanning his eyes across the common room, the explosive Hero took note of how light the atmosphere seemed despite the sharp yet dreary appearances of his classmates. And despite how shaky some conversations were, you can feel how honest their laughter was and how genuine their actions were. Eri was making those childish drawings. Kyouka was playing a few notes on her guitar. Todoroki was folding a few paper cranes. And Kaminari was… Going around whilst carrying a plate of hot dogs… That the others are graciously taking to eat.
Bakugou could only stare in confusion as Kirishima approached him, calmly smiling at his temperamental friend. "Hey man, looking good. So you ready for the doom and gloom of Midoriya's memorial?"
"First of all… What the fuck?" He whispered, knowing that Uraraka would skin him alive if Eri managed to hear him swear. Bakugou then waved his hands at Kaminari, who still had plenty of hot dogs to pass around. The crimson Hero looked over and gave a small chuckle, "Oh that? Kaminari made some so we won't feel hungry during the service. And these are the premium ones that we bought forever ago."
"Uh huh… Right… Anyway, is everyone ready? I want to get this over with."
"We're waiting on Aizawa-sensei, he's coming to retrieve us. So in the meanwhile, have a seat Bakugou-kun and here's a hot dog." Iida replied as he walked over. Before the explosive Hero knew it, he had an oblong meat product in one hand and his bottom was sitting in one of the couches. To gain his bearings from the sudden change in surroundings, the explosive Hero observed just what everyone was doing once again.
To his far left was Yaoyorozu, who looked like she was catching up on some reading. To his immediate left was Mina, who was drawing some diagram on the coffee table that involved something about pH properties. To his far right was Ojiro and Hagakure, who were whispering to one another about something. And to his immediate right was Mineta, who was intently watching a special news broadcast on the TV.
Yep, everyone around here was too lax given what today was…
Or maybe, he himself was too tense…
"Hey guys, check this out." Mineta said as he beckoned everyone to the TV. As 1A gathered around to watch, the imp turned up the volume on what was being shown. And one could feel the tension and awe grow as they read the headline of the broadcast.
"A Nation's Prayers, Japan's Commemoration to the One True Hero… This is…" Tokoyami couldn't even finish that line as he and his classmates witnessed something extraordinary. On screen, at every city, at every shrine, there were thousands upon thousands of people offering their prayers before a photo of Midoriya. Bakugou swore that his jaw punched straight through the floor, he hadn't expected this many people, let alone the whole country, to mourn Deku's passing. Then again, he hasn't expected much out of him for so many years.
Turning his focus back onto the TV, a reporter began her commentary on the incredible mass before her. "This is an absolutely incredible sight to see. Everyone from children, to adults, to seniors are here to give their appreciation and best wishes to Midoriya 'Deku' Izuku. You can just feel the cathartic energies coming from these individuals as they come to the shrine. Even I'm starting to get a bit emotional… And I barely even know him… Such was the impact of the One True Hero and his deeds. But now let's hear some thoughts from the locals gathered here today. Excuse me young man?"
The Reporter made her way towards someone with lengthy ash colored hair. Bakugou's eyes widened as he recognized the narrow face of one of his old classmates from middle school. Looking back, he should've at least bothered to remember their names since they've sided with him. But no, he had to be King Asshole atop his mountain throne of Fuck Off. Man, what the Hell kind of person was he before UA?
But that doesn't matter right now, this guy was going to talk. And from the look in his eyes, the guy looked like he had get the weight of the regret off his shoulders.
"Could you tell me what you think of today?" The Reporter asked.
"I'm surprised… I didn't think I'd ever see the day Midoriya would be praised like this… He… He wasn't exactly the most popular kid around…"
"Were you one of his old friends?"
"No… I–I helped bully him…" The explosive Hero could see the guy's soul dying as he admitted that, just as his own felt more constricted. 1A briefly looked at him before turning back to the TV, The Reporter moving on with the questions.
"Is that why you're here? To offer your apologies?"
"Yeah… It's just something I NEED to say after all the things we've put him through… I don't care if I'm not forgiven, I'm long past that, but I just… I just want to let him know how sorry I am… He deserved a whole lot more than what we gave him…" He then wiped at his tired eyes, tears clearly starting to form and his voice started to become strained.
"I'm so sorry…"
The TV turned off just as the guy finally broke down, all eyes going for the person holding the remote… "Bakugou? You alright?" Kirishima asked. The explosive Hero didn't answer, simply putting the remote back down onto the coffee table with a perfectly blank expression. There wasn't a single indication as to show what he was thinking, leaving his classmates to grasp at guesses. Though that still didn't stop the few who were brave enough to voice their concerns, not caring how the Hero would snap at them.
If he would, given how he didn't act like himself for the last few day…
"Bakugou-chan, do you want to talk about it?" Tsuyu asked. The explosive Hero didn't answer, it looked like he didn't even register the frog girl's words. He just sat there, eyes cast off to worlds unknown, searching for something to fend off the darkness. And it was only now that the class realized where Bakugou's mind is, the same cold place that imprisoned their minds for the days before today. But before anyone could utter a word of encouragement, their scraggly homeroom teacher broke the silence.
"Alright kids, it's time."
"Wait Aizawa-sensei! Bakugou-kun isn't feeling well!" Iida said loudly, raising his hand like that of an uppercut. The Pro Hero looked at the class president before turning his eyes to the student in question. And after a moment of silence and scrutiny, the teacher turned around and began walking towards the door, speaking along the way.
"Alright. If anyone doesn't want to go, you don't have to go. No one's forcing you to–"
"I'm going." Bakugou said as he stood up. All attention went back to the explosive Hero where their gaze met his. Whilst the despairing depths of his heart could be seen, the glimmer of his surging strength could still be found raging against the oppressive feeling. Though some weren't so convinced…
"Are you sure Uncle? You don't look… Okay…" Eri asked, her voice was shaking slightly. Bakugou looked down at the young girl and gently patted her head, answering her with a tone of half-filled certainty.
"Even so, I need to be there… Or I'm never going to be at peace with myself…"
More than a few eyebrows were raised at his statement, was he going to be selfish to the end? Regardless of his classmates' reaction, Bakugou began walking towards the front door with a steady but heavy stride. Without anything left to say, the others began to follow him and began readying themselves for the final trial that'll shape their lives. With their shoes on, they've opened the door and stepped beyond it… There was no turning back now.
For a day in very late Winter, the weather was incredibly merciful on the emotional people of Musutafu. The skies were completely devoid of clouds, the air was warm, and the luminous sun somehow bringing life to the city despite the lack of blossoming greenery. It was mysterious yes, but it was a welcoming feeling… Since sorrow tends to make the world a little colder.
1A didn't have to walk far to location of the service, it was just in front of Heights Alliance. Specifically, the path to the dorm buildings which was widened to accommodate a special project being built. Given the day and how the memorial is being held at that specific spot, it was fairly obvious as to what it was but everyone decided to play ignorant. It was the little things they needed now…
Still, the class' focus wasn't on that, but rather on the people who were there. On one end, they could see the other classes of UA, sitting down and mingling in semi-hushed voices and careful gestures. On the other side, there was the teachers, more than several Pro Heroes, the parents of the Hero Classes, and most importantly, Midoriya's Mother and, surprisingly, Father. And in all honesty, this was more than what the newspaper said about how 'only friends and family could attend'.
"Huh… Looks like the principal isn't ready yet… Looks like you all have a little time, feel free to talk to the people around here. Don't go wandering off." Aizawa said. The Class only nodded before dispersing on their own, either approaching or being approached by others. Once again, Bakugou was alone in the crowd… The explosive Hero casted his eyes around for anyone to speak to and saw a very short elderly man who was also on his own. With nothing better to do, he walked over to see if he could strike up a conversation.
"Hey."
"Not even a good morning? You really must work on those manners boy. Though I will admit, your personality is much better than the last time I saw you."
Bakugou's eyes narrowed at the old man's face, something familiar scratching at the back of his brain about him. But alas… "Have we met before?"
The elder sighed and pulled something out of his pocket and put it on his face, a domino mask. Only now did the explosive Hero recognize him, he was All Might's teacher and Deku's temporary mentor, the mysterious retired Pro Hero Gran Torino. They've met before during the mission briefing before All Might's tragic death…
Bakugou's eyes was the casted towards the ground and mused over that moment in his life. It felt like yesterday that All Might was still there teaching them on how to be Heroes… And yet, that time also felt like that was a long time ago, with each moment after that point shaving off their ever-decreasing youth and innocence. And now, after Midoriya's sacrifice, those feelings just deepened, and he certainly didn't feel like a high schooler anymore. How the rest of 1A overcame such hardships these past few days was beyond him.
"I see you're pondering on matters beyond your age. Let me tell you, save it when you're as old as me. You're still too young to focus on all your regrets in life."
The explosive Hero looked back at Gran Torino, who was looking straight back at him. Looking closely at the old Hero's wrinkled face and ancient eyes, he could see the storm dwelling within his stout body. Bakugou opened his mouth but couldn't find the words or a reason to even comment. Should he comment on matters that don't concern him? Even if he had already involved himself in everyone else's problems?
"Just sit down and say it boy! Just seeing you thinking so hard is giving me a headache!"
The explosive Hero looked around, seeing a few people staring at the duo, feeling their curiosity and judgement. As a result, he sat down next to the elderly Hero and waited before the attention on them faded. "Alright… I want to know how you're so calm about all this? Wasn't Deku your student?"
A frown appeared on Gran Torino's face, though it was more out of a sad longing rather than disappointment. Bakugou bit his tongue and held back his breath, did he already step on a landmine? The elder simply gave a tired chuckle, leaving the Hero-in-Training more than a little confused. "That's funny… Listen boy, living to my age has its ups and downs. I may have wisdom built from many experiences, but that comes with the price of outliving my friends and partners. No matter how I look or act, that burden constantly weighs down on me. And right now, I'm torn up as I lose another friend."
"I see… But you still seem so– "
"Because I know that weeping isn't going to bring that kid back, no matter how badly I want it to. I'm hurting, but I've accepted it… The events that led to this… The choices Midoriya has made… And the mistakes I've committed by him… All of this is a cross I have to bear and carry with me to the grave."
Gran Torino's grip on his cane tightened, the frown on his face becoming more pronounced. Bakugou himself mirrored that expression as the old Hero's words echoed through his head. Everything that he and Deku has been through, all the pain and loneliness he inflicted on him, returned to his conscious mind. But those memories held no glory like it once did and instead, the memories held a terrible reflection of the pride and wrath that plagued his every action and moment of being. Was he to live with that for the rest of his life?
"Old man, can I ask you something? What do you think your biggest mistake was?" Bakugou asked, finally breaking out of his thoughts. Gran Torino turned his gaze to the clear skies and watched a rare cloud lazily roll by. He let out a contemplative hum as equally thoughtful words came out of his ancient throat.
"I can't really say, I recall too many situations in which the outcome could've been better. That's the trouble with being old, you have too much of the 'past' to sort through and not enough of the 'future' to look forward to. But let me tell you something that I'm sure of boy. No matter what kind of choices I made, I'm satisfied with the 'present' we're at right now. We may have lost a great deal, Midoriya included, but the battle with All for One is finally over and we can finally be at ease knowing his empire will crumble. Either from the wave of Heroes inspired by our One True Hero or from the power vacuum the Villains would attempt to fill."
The explosive Hero frowned but also thought over the words and the feelings of the older man. As someone who lived long enough to see three wielders of One for All die, Gran Torino must have grown tired of all the negativity and grief that came with it. So to fend it off, he brewed his own cynical brand of optimism and held fast to it. But was that the thing HE himself needed? Because that answer didn't feel right to him… To just accept things the way they are…
"That's the way I see things at least, some people may be different. So why not go around and talk with a few others, get a sense of how they personally feel about what happened." Gran Torino said.
Bakugou then turned to look behind him, seeing the numerous individuals that crowded this space. He must have paled because the elder with him began chuckling, no doubt amused his startled expression. The explosive Hero quickly wiped whatever look was on his face and got up to look for some poor shmuck to speak to. Though Gran Torino got a few more words out to him before he fully left the old man to his own devices.
"And I do hope you find your answer as well."
The explosive Hero stopped briefly and looked back, the old Hero giving the boy a small grin and salute. He gave a small wave back before continuing his search for the next poor shmuck. And it wasn't long before he found someone, though he wasn't looking forward to the rush of emotion they'll no doubt display. Bakugou made his approach to the two individuals who no doubt took Deku's sacrifice the hardest…
"Mrs. Midoriya, Mr. Midoriya."
The short chubby woman and tall slender man turned and faced him, their eyes stained with exhaustion and tears. As he studied the two adults' faces, Bakugou could see the pieces that made up Deku's, the green eyes and hair of the Mother and the freckles and curly hair of the Father. Speaking of, he made a greater effort to examining Deku's Father since this was the first time he'd ever seen him. Though the man didn't looked exactly pleased to meet him and the explosive Hero could guess the reason for that...
"Oh, hello Katsuki, are you doing well?" Inko greeted, showing a smile as forced as her tone.
"I could be better… How about you?" Bakugou replied, turning to the woman. His thoughts ended there as instinct began kicking him for automatically blurting out something inappropriate. Of course she's not going to fine! What were you thinking! Despite this, Inko's smile grew a shade more genuine as though she appreciated the teen's blunder.
"Much better today than two and a half weeks ago, Hisashi's been here for me…" She said, holding the hand of her husband. The explosive Hero turned back to the taller man and meet his stern glare, his breath emitting a haze of heat. He took a deep breath and hardened up, he was going to be ready for whatever flame the guy's going to throw at him.
"Sir."
"I've heard quite a lot about you, Bakugou Katsuki… Not a lot of it being favorable…" Hisashi said, heat still emanating from his breath. Inko's thumb stroked at her husband's hand, trying to calm his flaring temper, but it did little to quell the contempt that laced his voice. "You kicked my son around because of his weakness… Insulted his dreams because he was Quirkless… Turned the world against him with that absurd strength of yours… And you still dare stand here like you're his friend? Like you care!?"
Fire finally escaped Hisashi's breath, the blaze punctuated each grievance as the embers brushed past Bakugou. He didn't flinch to the man's attempt at intimidation, but a nervous sweat rolled down his neck as the heat licked his face. Even though the man only had a minor fire breathing Quirk, the flames he made felt hotter than Todoroki's, no mean feat by any measure… Just how angry was he?
…
Though with the way the man rebuked him, Bakugou felt his temper flare in a manner forgotten over the past few days. And with the way he was now, the sound of his own anger was both refreshing and alien to his tongue. "This coming from the man who was never around for him! Maybe if you were actually around to teach him something then we wouldn't be having this problem!"
"And you think I don't know that?" Bakugou, despite Hisashi being weaker than any of the Villains he has faced, found himself suppressing a shiver at the chilled words of flame breathing Father. The Midoriya patriarch's look of remorse and rage was more than anything the explosive Hero could muster. Between Inko and Hisashi, he could now see where Deku got his ability to exert his will. But as Bakugou gazed at the man in front of him, he noticed that most of the anger was not aimed at him… But at Hisashi himself.
"I've failed him as a Father… So concerned with providing for my family that I never noticed the things that were trying to hurt them… It's my greatest mistake… To be away when Izuku and Inko needed me the most… So that's why things will be different from here on out. I'll protect the memory of my son from those who mock his sacrifice… From people like you…"
His eyes were now casted themselves to the ground, his breath going cold as he silently wallowed in the world around him. Bakugou could see than the hand that held his wife's hand tightened, trembling as though he was standing amidst a blizzard. Inko still was trying to comfort her husband through the gentle strokes of her thumb, but she turned still was able to respond to the words Hisashi said.
"Please forgive him Katsuki, he's frustrated that he never did anything right by Izuku before his sacrifice…"
"It's… Fine. Certainly woke me up…" Bakugou replied, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.
"Though in all honesty, Hisashi wasn't entirely wrong… For all the loyalty Izuku showed you, all you've ever done is hurt him. Despite the burns and bruises, he always kept on insisting that it wasn't you that caused them. And it pains me you know, to have my little boy tell such an obvious lie like he couldn't trust me to help. It makes me wonder if I've did nothing but fail him since that day…"
Her eyes were casted to the ground as well, the small smile she mustered faltering as it was replaced with tears. The short woman quickly wiped at it as she began to pull a fake calm over the eyes that were falling into to despair. Bakugou's clenched his jaw but felt the dregs of his conscious poke at his battered ego to say something. Then he remembered something…
"Deku told me something before rushing off..." Inko raised her head as did Hisashi, their eyes desperately searching for hope. "He wanted to thank you for everything you've done. And that's every part of him saying that. The Hero, the Quirkless, the Fanboy, the Son… They were all glad you were there." He said, voice without hesitation or malice. The explosive Hero was honest, never more so than in his entire life, and retold those words Deku had passed on to him. And based on Inko's watery eyes and weak knees, it struck her right in the heart.
"Oh Izuku…"
The woman buried her face into her husband's chest and began sobbing, Hishashi wrapping his arms around his wife. The man the looked at Bakugou, his expression halfway between suspicion and relief. "Did he really say that? Or was that something you came up with?"
Bakugou turned to walk away, noticing that more and more people began to look at them. Even so, he turned his head to look back at the Mother and Father and gave them his answer to that question. After all, through all the pain they've suffered, they deserve something reassuring in these trying times. "As if I could come up with something so sugary."
The explosive Hero then hurried off into the trees that surrounded the pathway to the dormitories, breaking the stares that he was getting. He never bothered to look where he was going, but the moment he did, Bakugo found himself far into the woods… He took a moment to ponder that thought. Did the dorms ever have this many trees surrounding it? But that train of thought also stopped when he spotted two children, a girl with white hair and a boy with a horned cap over his face, sitting beneath a tree.
"What are doing all the way out here Shrimp?"
"Oh, hello Uncle. Well… Kouta wasn't feeling okay and wanted to get away for a bit…" Eri answered. The boy shifted slightly away from Eri, who looked worried that she said something wrong, and began muttering something under his breath. Bakugou frowned, walked towards the capped boy, and crouched in front of him. Kouta looked up briefly before hiding his face again, though the explosive Hero already saw the red around the boy's eyes.
"Hey, don't give her the cold shoulder, she was just trying to help."
"Like you're the one to talk…" Kouta replied in a low tone. Bakugou opened his mouth to give a retort but found any argument formulated just die in his throat. He was forced to drop it and just looked at Eri for an answer. She fidgeted around as she stood up, brushing the grass and dirt from the black dress she wore. The girl tapped her fingers together the same way Uraraka would when she would need to release her Quirk. She made a quick glance at Kouta and the boy met her gaze, giving a slight nod even though his frown never left his face. "Go ahead and tell him, it's not like he'll listen…"
"But Uncle's been different lately, so he might." Eri said, doing her best to sound convincing. The boy just turned away with a laugh and would've gotten a rise out of Bakugou had the Hero not encountered the completely faithless Hisashi.
"Sure he would…"
Eri continued to fidget with her fingers as she looked between her surrogate Uncle and the boy, clearly trying to get him to personally talk about his feelings. The explosive Hero gave thought about how to approach this, still shaky on how to deal with uncooperative children. Thinking back, Deku had a connection with this kid despite their lack luster first impressions and built a bond with him the same way he did with Eri. So he should be just as broken over this…
"You're not the only one you know, there's a whole country around us that's crying over him. So stop thinking that you're somehow special and just let it out, it's sure better than holding it in…" Bakugou said. Kouta just looked at him, his glare was hard as he met the naturally sharp gaze of the explosive Hero. There was something about that look that he didn't like, not knowing what thoughts were running behind those tired eyes.
"You should listen to your own advice then, you look like you want to explode."
Bakugou swore he flinched when this kid not even half his age pointed out his own growing anxieties. His red eyes went to Eri and the young girl looked back with concern, her stare also holding evidence that she knew of his strife. Then he supposed the others have figured it out as well, but didn't try to forcibly dig at it out of courtesy… Or fear he might lash out. But would he?
No, he actually did, just moments ago at Deku's Father. So he supposed that he was in desperate need of catharsis from all of this. "Yeah… I guess I do have a problem…"
"And I should trust this guy?" Kouta asked as he looked at Eri. The horned girl turned away, tight lipped, as she tightly clutched her dress with both hands. The boy sighed, leaning his head against the trunk of the tree he was sitting against. "You know… Sometimes I wonder if I had anything to do with it…"
"Do with what?" Bakugou stared at the capped boy, eyebrow raised over the peculiarity of his words. Eri too looked back at Kouta, head tilted slightly and seemingly anticipating the moment of his answer. Kouta didn't look at either of them, instead casting his eyes towards the sky decorated with the budding branches of nearby trees.
"Midoriya really messed up his arm saving me… I heard he'll lose it with a few more punches… So maybe if he didn't–"
Kouta's body was suddenly lifted up and was face to face with the explosive Hero's sharp eyes that seemed to burn itself into his brain. The boy froze as he stared back into the inferno dwelling within Bakugou, not even having the courage to even tremble. "Don't you dare finish that." Bakugou said, though with his rough voice, it sounded more like the snarl of a wolf. Then, contrary to his tone, put the capped boy down gently and held him in place so that he wouldn't collapse. Eri stared between the two, her own terror present by the trembling that rattled her small frame.
"You're not the one to decide if being saved was a mistake, that lies with Deku. And if I know that nerd, he'll choose to save you every time. And that includes you Eri."
The horned girl nodded with a small smile when Bakugou turned to her. The explosive Hero released Kouta from his grip and allowed him to stand firm upon his two feet. But he then examined the capped boy for any reaction as he still didn't seem quite sure about himself. His eyes first went to Bakugou's, then his hands, and then back to Bakugou's. Kouta's mouth quivered as it opened to speak and Bakugou had to prepare himself in case the kid was going to tear up. Though lucky for him, Kouta held back the tears… For now.
"So, I didn't have anything to with…?"
"Unless you were there on that day and distracted him or something, then no, it's not your fault. Don't know why you thought it would be in the first place."
The boy, though his posture straightened slightly, didn't look completely convinced and had casted his eyes to the ground. Eri stepped closer to him and tugged at his sleeve, catching his attention again. "If it makes you feel any better, I sometimes thought Papa dying was my fault too… That maybe, if I just learned to use my Quirk, things would be different." She said, her voice a tad quieter than normal. Kouta nodded slowly before a small, somewhat dispirited smile appeared on Eri's face, causing the boy to tilt his head a little.
"But no matter how much I cry or regret, I can't change what's done. Besides, Papa wouldn't want me to worry about it, he would tell me to just do my best next time. And that's what I plan to do."
Kouta looked back onto the ground, clearly mulling over the words the girl just told him. And soon enough, the capped boy had a smile he was struggling to fight down. "Yeah, I guess he wouldn't. I can even hear that idiot lecturing me right now."
And then the two children gave a small laugh, one that had no weight and felt liberating to hear. Bakugou had to suppress the urge to grin at the sight of these two bonding over something. Though that feeling quickly soured when he remembered that his own problems went unsolved. Still, he supposed waiting around here did nothing to his progress to rectify that. So it is with a sigh, he caught the attention of Kouta and Eri before starting to walk away. "If you two are done, we have a memorial to get to." Bakugou said, looking behind him.
With a nod, the children quickly tailed him and the three made their way out of the trees and back to where they need to be. And upon arriving, all the explosive Hero could see was people moving about, with the UA students being organized by class and the guests by connection, getting seated as the principal waited patiently up upon the lectern on small stage that was set up.
Then Bakugou noticed Mandalay of the Wild Pussycats briskly approach, Kouta removing his horned cap when she reached them. "Kouta, please don't run off like that again…" She said, panting as though she ran the whole campus. The boy just grumbled something inaudible before going to stand by her. The older woman bowed to the explosive Hero and he returned the gesture with a nod before leaving with Kouta in tow. But not before the boy gave an awkward wave to Eri, which she readily and happily reciprocated.
"Come on, time to get back to everyone else." Bakugou said, nudging the horned girl. Eri nodded and they started to comb through the mass of people for signs of Class 1A. And as it turned out, they were closest to the front of this collection of people, being the most important of the classes and the one closest to Midoriya.
"Hey man, were you off taking a whiz?" Sero asked with a slight snicker. Bakugou just stared at the tape shooter and noted how forced the laugh seemed. In fact, the good mood in which the class displayed before leaving the dorm was just barely present. It was like looking at soldiers coming back home after being thrown straight into the fires of Hell. Granted, that's a fairly apt description of the events that brought them all here in the first place.
"Sure Soy Sauce Face, let's go with that." Bakugou answered, sitting in the open seat between Kirishima and Kaminari. Eri went on and sat in Uraraka's lap, the noise and din that surrounded the space slowly dying down as seats were filled and people began concluding their conversations. Principal Nezu slowly scanned the crowd before him, clearing his voice to signify the start of the memorial.
"Good morning everyone and thank you for coming to commemorate this special day. Two and a half weeks ago, Shigaraki Tomura and his League of Villains began his siege against Japan, her people, and the peace we've fought hard to secure. But despite the efforts of our Heroes, Police officers, and JSDF soldiers, with many losing their lives in that dreadful battle, the near myriad Quirks and abilities that Shigaraki has accumulated made the chance for victory all but impossible. Even our gifted Heroes-in-Training, who we had to unfortunately deploy against the threat, couldn't do so much as pester the near Godlike Villain. It was our darkest hour…" He began grimly. But as he paused for effect, an unmistakable glimmer shined within his dark eyes.
"But through the despair and desolation, one courageous soul rose from the dust and once more challenged the Villain in the name of all that was good. The country who has seen that fateful duel, broadcasted on all frequencies and mediums due to one of Shigaraki's Quirks, has given this individual many names between then and now. The Emerald Enforcer, Madman the Maximum, the Defender of Hope, Small Might, the Saint of UA, the One True Hero… But we know him better as Midoriya 'Deku' Izuku."
"In our age of numerous, fantastic Quirks, young Midoriya was part of the rare population of Quirkless individuals. As such, his dream to be a Hero was cut short before it even had a chance to begin. However, he never gave up the possibility, continued to reach out towards that distant horizon, and he got his chance when he crossed paths with All Might. Impressed with his courageous heart, our Symbol of Peace granted him the power that would go on to save us all, One for All. Thus, beginning his Hero's Journey, with each step towards the future forging him into a better individual. And through the many trials and tribulations fate has thrusted upon him, Midoirya fought valiantly and at many times snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Even in his finest and regrettably last hour, he chose to resist the terrible machinations of Shigaraki and brought us our salvation. So, to honor the Hero who saved Japan, we sculpted this statue and hope that his presence will inspire future generations of Heroes that'll walk these grounds."
With those words, the large tarp that covered the 'special project' was removed, revealing statue made in Deku's image. All gasped in awe at the details that made the stone Hero, making it seem like the statue was alive. From his curly hair, to the costume he wore, to even the freckles on his face, the work of art just emanated the presence of the Hero in Green.
Bakugou stared at the monument to his deceased rival, hearing the many happy comments that surrounded him. He admitted that the craftsmanship of the piece was sublime, but the audacious smile that was etched on his face left a sour taste in the explosive Hero's mouth for some reason. The principal let out a cough and all attention came back to him.
"But as great as the Hero he has become, that's only telling you half of Midoriya's story. Like all of you, Midoriya was a young man who lived his life hanging out with friends, spent time with family, and studying under his teachers. But what kind of student was he to his teachers? What kind of friend was he to his peers? What kind of son was he to his parents? So, it is with my deep pleasure to present to you the many speakers who will be expressing those sentiments. And with that said, the stage is yours." Nezu said before giving a deep bow. The congregation let out a thunderous applause for the mammalian principal as he left, his place on the lectern being taken by Aizawa.
And so began the numerous speeches made by the individuals whose lives were impacted by the One True Hero. From Aizawa and the rediscovery of his faith in aspiring Heroes, to Mirio and his admiration of his underclassman's spirit, to Shinsou and his newfound understanding of where Midoriya's strength laid… They all had spoken from the depths of their heart and Bakugou could feel the surges of their emotions. And as such, he and everyone else couldn't turn away from the speakers, no matter how much time has passed. Gran Torino finished his speech and slowly walked off as gentle applause once more filled the air, with eyes looking around for the next individual and became confused when no one else stood. Yet the principal has yet to come up again to say his closing thoughts…
Bakugou took a deep breath, it's now or never. He stood, and he could feel all eyes immediately lock onto him. Whilst he was always the center of attention, especially during the Sports Festival when he had to give the Athlete's Oath, this time, he wanted to do nothing more than to squirrel away somewhere and wait for the fire to die out. But if he were to do that, then a part of him will no doubt die and will become unrecoverable.
With his body now behind the lectern, he removed the sheets of paper he had and laid them out upon the wooden surface. The explosive Hero then looked out towards the crowd, carefully examining the faces of the guests. Several were surprised, like Class 1B, while other were waiting for his words with anticipation, like the Midoriya family. But 1A didn't have any kind of reaction, silently knowing that he had something to say about his childhood friend. So with another deep breath for clarity…
"My name is Bakugou Katsuki, one of the Hero-in-Training of 1A, and Deku's long time… Friend…" He began slowly, controlling the shaking in his voice. The word 'friend' seemed to hang in the air awkwardly, many not convinced that he meant the word in the way it was defined. The explosive Hero took another deep breath and soldiered on, looking at his sheets he had prepared the night before… But the more he stared at the strokes of ink, the more they seemed like incoherent scribbles. With a moment of pause, he flipped the pages over, and laid them down with the blank side facing up.
He can't do it like this…
"To tell you the truth, I've wrote something yesterday so that I could be ready today… But it's dishonest and not fair to those who have spilled their hearts out both today and the days before. So I'll do the same, but in my own, unaltered words. And, as most of you know, that would mean listening in on one of the foulest mouths that you had the misfortune of hearing. Anyone who doesn't want to be offended by my words or the things I say about our One True Hero, leave now and be spared of my ranting."
Despite this blatant warning before a literal verbal shit storm, Bakugou saw that absolutely no one moved. Not even the few children that were in the audience, he could even see Eri resisting Uraraka who was no doubt trying to get the horned girl away from his harsh words. In fact, the audience was anticipating it more.
"Last chance." He warned. But again, not a single soul present budged, all rooted to the seats they were in with fiery determination… Almost as though they were taunting the explosive Hero to do his worst.
"Alright… You asked for it… For most of the time I've known Deku, he was nothing more than a… A fucking piss rag." He could already hear a few gasps, disapproving murmurs, and feel the piercing hatred chew through him, but he couldn't stop. Not here. "Yeah, I said it. And for the longest time, that opinion stuck, and I treated him like the little shit he was. To me, Deku was a useless, Quirkless, little bitch and only existed to make me look better! He had no worth! I even told him to throw himself off the roof!"
Now the crowd was in an uproar, throwing insults and other colorful words at him. Even 1A, who had showed no reaction to his words, had begun to scowl over his admittance in trying to get Midoriya to commit suicide. The teachers grew antsy, and Bakugou knew that they were trying to decide whether to remove him from the scene. But the Principal only gave his signature calm smile and Aizawa was giving a stoic nod, almost as though they were goading him to continue. Which he would, even without outside influence.
"But no matter how much I turned the whole damn world on him, that fucking nerd still reached out to me!" Bakugou continued, successfully shouting for the crowd to hear him. "When that Sludge Villain was choking me, when I was kidnapped by Villains at Kamino, when fell off a log into a puddle deep stream when we were kids… Deku would reach out to me without a damn second thought! Over the last few days, I've been thinking about why I've been such an ass to him… And I now understand the truth."
Like one of his own explosions, that last statement caused the once outraged congregation to come to an uneasy stillness. Carefully listening and weighing every words and action that would inevitably come out of his body. The explosive Hero took a deep breath and opened his mouth, feeling the weight of his words and the burden on his shoulders.
"I was… Afraid. For all my power and bluster, I realized that I could never be half the Hero Deku was and I became scared that my whole existence would mean nothing. That, somehow, I was the target of some bullshit conspiracy aimed to making my life Hell and he was part of it. But don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to claim that I'm the victim… No, I'm the fucking monster who raged and turned Deku into a punching bag because I let my pride tell me what to do. I thoroughly convinced myself that he was the Villain of my story, so I did absolutely everything I could to beat and break him… Never realizing that I was becoming the very thing I hated."
Bakugou didn't know what kind of face he was making, but it must be severely pitiable if it made the once raging audience turn silent. And given how, in the past, the explosive Hero would never allow anyone to see him in moments of weakness, this sight must be new to most of the people present. But though his image as a confident and capable fighter was broken, he couldn't care less about maintaining that ill-gotten reputation anymore…
"After that, I had to start looking for the differences between me and that nerd, discovering what it was that made him the Hero of this story... And as I stewed in despair this past week, I learned just what it was that made me fucking useless. To my classmates in 1A, I know you figured out that I wasn't myself but kept it to yourself because you didn't know how I would react… But because you let me be a part of your promises and declarations, I was able to find what I was missing. So what I'm going to say now will go to you as much as it will go to Deku." The explosive Hero swore his voice cracked for a moment as he hesitated an apology and it threatened to release the tears that he held back since waking up in the hospital. But he mustered enough willpower to stall it for a little while longer, he wasn't finished yet and crying now would just ruin the words he needed to say.
"Where I only trusted myself to do anything, Deku had the faith to believe in other people to watch his back." Bakugou's eyes went to Mineta, momentarily meeting as the little imp gave him a subtle affirming nod.
"Where I was afraid of the truth and let it turn me into a Villain, Deku had the courage to face the impossible and became a true Hero." His eyes went to Kirishima, Kouda, and Aoyama, all of them having light twinkling in their eyes as the red-haired Hero gave him a toothy grin.
"Where I stupidly ignored the lessons and words taught to me by my teachers, Deku eagerly took in everything he could learn and furthered his wisdom." His eyes went to Mina and Kaminari, who were both giving him an inappropriately cheery but resolute thumb's up gesture.
"Where I was only a Hero in name and acted like a Villain for most of my life, Deku was a Hero in both heart and spirit since the day I met him." His eyes went to Iida and Todoroki, who gave small smiles to urge him on and complete this cathartic moment.
"Where I could never admit to my weaknesses and grow out of my habits, Deku had the strength to say he was weak and became someone better." His eyes went to Tsuyu, Uraraka, and Eri, who looked back warmly and radiated an air of calm that put him at ease.
But the moment he tried to move on to his final point, the greatest contrast between him and Deku, he felt his stomach tying itself into knots. One lone thought popping in his head began robbing him of his momentum, locking Bakugou in a silence that choked him in regret. Mostly because had it not been for this one virtue, everyone's lives would be irreversibly different, and no one would be here to commemorate this day. It was a terrifying… To have a single trait determine the fate of the country and possibly the world… And he had previously loathed to show such a thing.
Still, the others in 1A had to come to terms with something like this as well. And when he looked at the class he fought alongside of, the apprehension in his chest began to unwind. The flames in their eyes had not wavered since the day it first appeared, burning bright with the determination to move forward and go beyond. So with a hard swallow, Bakugou opened his mouth and finally spoke with a slightly shaky voice.
"Where Deku could reach out no matter how broken he was… Where he could bring smiles to the people he meets… Where he could laugh and cry with those who needed him… Where he would stand up again and again to protect the world he loved just because he could… Where he could thank the one person who turned his precious little life in a miserable Hell hole…"
The explosive Hero's vision blurred, hot tears stinging his eyes and turning his cheeks into streams. His grip was now tight enough to have his fingernails dig into his palm and draw blood, almost as though he was hanging onto the thread of life itself. His face finally crumbling to the burden of losing the one person that held out his hand to help him out of the creek, no matter what.
"I never had the kindness to take that hand… Make people genuinely happy… Be willing to share a moment… Hold up the world and ask for nothing in return… Say 'thank you for saving my life'… I could never do any of that… I thought a Hero didn't need anything like that… But here I am, before a True Hero, crying because I couldn't be more wrong! Crying because I beat him with my ideals! Crying because I could never admit that… That…"
Bakugou, drowning in the oncoming rush of memories, couldn't keep the remnants of his composure and placed his face into one of his hands. He didn't know what was going on around him, what the others were thinking about any of this. Not that it mattered to him, he needed to speak those feelings he locked away for so long. He could almost feel like someone was going to ask him to sit, but he won't allow it. Or else the words he needed to bring forth was going to be lost in the void. The explosive Hero mustered the will to press on, like the friend and rival that sacrificed himself.
"That Deku was my Hero too… He never doubted my allegiances, no matter how Villainous I acted. He never was afraid to throw himself between danger and the weak, even when he knew was going to lose. He praised me for my achievements without a hint of sarcasm, even if I took it as a challenge. He was the best of us, and I can see why all of you followed him to end." The explosive Hero admitted before growing silent.
But what had that meant for him? Bakugou wasn't sure where he stood in the grand scheme of things now that the smoke was subsiding. The main question being, could he still be a Hero despite what he's done? The explosive Hero did have an honest desire to become one, but his own pride had twisted that into one Hell of misguided attempt. He can even feel the remnants of his detestable pride trying to denounce Deku as some lucky upstart piece of shit. That he was the greatest Hero of their generation… But his conscious and subconscious mind knew better, though that left him in a frustratingly ambiguous situation of 'To be or not to be'.
So, in search for an answer, he wiped at his tears, clearing his eyes, and looked out to the crowd. And to his utter surprise, the scornful glares that had once burned itself into his head were reduced to looks of pity and sympathy. No matter where he looked or whomever his eyes met, he could feel the person's encouragement. It was strange to say the least, to reveal so much and yet be absolved of them all on the same day. Bakugou's eyes went to those he has spoken to today and tried to ascertain their thoughts on him.
Gran Torino, his ancient face producing an approving smile as his eyes were fired with interest. As though wondering where this new path shall take the explosive Hero next.
Kouta, initially looking skeptical, had a moment of reflection before giving him a daring smirk. As though the young boy was challenging him to attempt to become a better Hero than Deku.
Inko and Hisashi, along with Bakugou's own parents Mitsuki and Masaru, were giving him supportive and friendly stares. As though they acknowledged how much he has matured over this period.
Bakugou made one last look at the classmates he and Midoriya had fought alongside with, noting the look etched upon their faces. Despite the intensity of their steely stare, something about it was welcoming and the explosive Hero had found himself being pulled into something greater. This feeling of acceptance burned away at the fog that lined at his path and he found clarity amidst the self-doubt. He finally has his answer after it had eluded him for so long.
And for good measure, he swore he felt some phantom urging him forward from this starting line. "On the day I first woke up after that battle, I became unsure of what I was… And over the course of the last few days, I became further lost in uncertainty as my classmates could attest to. I even considered to quit being a Hero since I never did anything remotely Heroic… However, looking upon the people present here, I think I know what I need to do…"
"I'm not perfect, I know that too well now, so I'll try my hardest to live by the standard Deku had laid out for m– for us. I'll be considerate to my fellow Heroes, look after those who can't protect themselves, and generally stop being a huge dick trying to inflate his fragile ego. Maybe I'll fail and go back to my old deluded ways… Maybe I'll fail a thousand times over before I get there… Or maybe I'll die a Villain long before I become the Hero… But I'll carry on. And along with the people I've grown to call friends, I'll protect this new era Deku had brought us."
"And so I don't forget what I said here… I'll declare my Hero name and what it means right here, before you and the eyes of the One True Hero. For as long as he known me, Deku has called me 'Kacchan', a harmless and cute sounding nickname. But just like how he made his nickname into something he can be proud of with someone's help, I'll do the same with mine using the help you've given me. It'll have my own flair of course, but it'll still hold the feelings I feel right now and the power he once admired. My name is Catachan and today will be my starting line. Because for the Deku who went beyond and reached out to me, I'll go Plus Ultra and reach back. Thank you for giving me this chance."
There was a grand applause over this powerful declaration as Bakugou gave a thoughtful bow to the crowd. He has come quite far from his initial start, but still has a long road ahead of him. However, so long as he remembered this moment and why he chose his name, the explosive Hero had nothing to fear. Besides, even if he made mistakes, he had classmates to look out for him and catch him the same way they caught Midoriya. Things will never be the same from here on out…
But at the very least, Bakugou and everyone present had the will to carry on the flame Midoriya had carried. The explosive Hero won't know what will be waiting for them, but he knows they'll be ready for it. The explosive Hero stood back up and looked over the energetic crowd and gave a small smile before turning to face the statue of the One True Hero. As he looked at the statue, its calming presence bright against the blue sky, his smile turned into a challenging smirk. It wasn't a gesture done out of spite or arrogance, but out of an honest desire to challenge the Hero who has sacrificed so much for the sake of the world.
"Make some room you glorious bastard, we're on our way to the top."
And it is from this moment onward that Aizawa saw where their resolve would take them. In the coming months, 1A didn't just hit the ground running after accepting Midoriya's death… They soared heads and shoulders above all others... All upon the wings he left behind.
*Crawls out from the depths of Writing Hell*
And that was Chapter 7 and the end of What He Left Behind. My God, this chapter was even worse to write than the last one. I had to think about a why Bakugou acts like an asshole and break that down to it's most basic components. And these were the results.
"Stuff like this is basically a character study. Besides, its always fun to break someone to study their inner machinations."
But damn is it hard to put them back together in a cohesive manner is even more difficult... Like with everyone else before, I had to find a plausible path for Bakugou to come out of his depressive state. And for a good while, I got stuck on the many different interactions Bakugou had this chapter. Which wasn't helped by my brother, who kept shooting down certain parts, but I supposed that made for a better story in the end. Also, I had clear idea what Bakugou's Hero name would be from the beginning, and it's a reference to Warhammer 40000.
"I guess it's only appropriate."
So, I can only hope that this was a conclusion that you, the audience, found enjoyable and will leave me a response that'll tell me what's good/bad about it.
"Remember, only you can stop bad writers from writing bad fan fiction."
In other news, I'll be moving on back to my other projects that I've neglected all this time, about time I did some kind of update for them. Unfortunately, I have another idea waiting in the wings that has piqued my interest as I draft down the details. So when it comes around, I hope you'll take a look at it and bask in horror.
"I'll just be laughing all the way to the salt bank."
I'm sure you would Eris. Any how, I'm going to be working on an edit to one chapter in Heroic Inheritors next due to recent manga revelations. And after that, two new chapters before the start of the next arc. Now, those two chapters were written WAY before I started What He Left Behind, so be warned that the quality is going to be much different from this story.
"Such is the ways of writing everything ahead of posting... Once your schedule is fucked up, the discrepancy count is up the wazoo."
It's how normal authors do things before sending things into the publishing house... Speaking of which, I also have an original idea being developed, so wish me luck on that front too. But that is all I have to say for this week and I hope you'll be around for what appears next.
"It will be legendary!"
So with that said... Until Next Time. T1.