As Izuku walked home that day, she seethed with anger as she replayed her encounter with Katsuki in her mind.

His demeaning words and arrogant attitude had struck a nerve deep within her. She couldn't understand how someone could be so dismissive and... cruel. Especially considering she had reached out to the said someone with genuine concern.

I know I'm Quirkless, but... why does society insist so much on viewing me as a lesser human being...!

Sigh.

I'll be okay.

I won't be a worthless Deku forever.

Katsuki poked at his food with his fork.

"Katsuki, why aren't you eating your food?" His mother frowned as the two family members sat at their dining table. "It took me forever to cook it right."

"I met a cute girl today." The blond said impassively. He then flinched.

Wait.

Did he just say cute?

Katsuki's mother, Mitsuki Bakugo, raised an eyebrow, her concern mixing with a hint of amusement. She set her own utensils down and leaned forward, giving her son her full attention.

"A cute girl, huh?" she replied, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Tell me more about her. What's her name? Is she someone from school?"

He grumbled. He continued to poke at his food, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the encounter he had earlier that day.

"Her name is Izuku," he muttered, his voice lacking its usual edge. He paused. "She's Quirkless."

Mitsuki's smile faded slightly.

"And this bothers you? Her being Quirkless."

Katsuki snorted, playing with his food. "Lots of things about life bothers me."

He seethed.

"Like how I got expelled from my last school for accidentally blowing up an empty classroom."

"You should be grateful you didn't get sent to juvenile hall, Katsuki." Mitsuki huffed. "Blowing up a classroom is usually something people get sent to prison for, for Christ's sake."

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" Katsuki cried, heaving. "I couldn't control it, ma. I can't control this fucking Quirk... this curse, for the life of me, sometimes, ma."

Mitsuki was silent.

"How does any of this relate back to Izuku?" Mitsuki asked.

Katsuki glared.

"It doesn't. Like I said. Lots of things about life bothers me. Izuku is one of them."

"Why?"

The food in front of Katsuki had cooled down.

"I don't know."

Izuku's footsteps echoed in the quiet streets as she made her way to school the next morning. In spite of Katsuki's hurtful actions from the day before, Izuku didn't have much time yesterday to dwell on the things he'd said. She'd had homework to do. And well, anime to watch.

Such things were to be expected for the life of a busy, hard-working middle school student such as herself, after all.

As she turned a corner, she flinched as she spotted an all too familiar face standing near a streetlamp, his gaze fixed on the ground.

Katsuki seemed lost in his own thoughts, oblivious to her presence.

Izuku was unsure of how to react. Part of her wanted to just walk past him and avoid any potential confrontation, while another part urged her to address the situation.

Against her better judgement...

"Um, hey." She beckoned.

His crimson eyes turned to look at her.

"Hey."

Izuku bit her lip.

There was something she wanted to say, sure. But ultimately...

Izuku blinked, realizing that he was holding something in his hand.

Something that looked like a cigarette, but smelled too foul to be one.

"What... What are you doing?" She asked stupidly.

"Getting trashed before school starts. What it's look like?"

"Is that weed?" She asked. She wouldn't know. She just knew whatever he was smoking, smelled... particularly gross.

Katsuki hummed. "Maybe."

Izuku gulped.

This was bad.

"I... I can't believe you use that drug." She said. "I mean, you're only, what. Fourteen? And we live in Japan, where the drug is very illegal."

"I don't do it often." Katsuki replied.

Izuku shut her eyes.

"Katsuki, you shouldn't be doing this," Izuku said firmly. "It's illegal, and it can seriously harm your health. There are better ways to cope with your frustrations."

Katsuki took a drag of the drug. Izuku sneered in disgust.

"I used to blow shit up as a means to cope with my frustrations." Katsuki said darkly as he stared off into the distance. "Would go to the local dump and blow up shit all I wanted."

Katsuki took another drag. "But now I can't even do that anymore."

"Why would you blow up things as a means to cope with things? That's something a Villain would do-"

"Freckles." Katsuki said, voice devoid of any warmth, and gaze colder than ice. "Considering you're a Quirkless nothing, I'm not all too interested in hearing your opinion on things. Thanks."

Izuku shook.

"Oh yeah? Watch this Quirkless nothing of a girl tell on you. Maybe then you'll think twice before insulting me like that again."

"GO AHEAD, TELL ON ME! I ain't scared of shit 'no more."

Izuku's heart sank as she witnessed Katsuki's bitter response.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Izuku mustered her resolve.

"Katsuki, I don't want to see you go down a dangerous path. Blowing things up or resorting to drugs won't solve anything. It'll only lead to more pain and regret."

Katsuki scoffed. "Regret? Who cares about that? Life's too short to let yourself feel any sort of regret."

"What about God?" Izuku pleaded. "Don't you know this type of behavior seriously displeases him?"

"I don't believe in God," Katsuki said gruffly.

Izuku shrunk. "You don't?"

"Nope."

Izuku took in a deep breath.

She forgot sometimes that there were many people who didn't believe in God in this world.

"Why?" She asked. "Why don't you believe in Him?"

Katsuki raised a brow.

"Why do YOU believe in God?"

"I mean... while my family IS Christian..." Izuku said. "And while we're not really, I guess, extreme hardcore Christians... I mean, I think we don't even have a Bible in our house... Anyway. I kind of just know intuitively that God is real." Izuku replied. "I honestly don't get people who don't believe in God. I think that they were seriously lied to. I feel sorry for people who don't believe in Him, to be honest. They're missing out."

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "Missing out on what?"

"Feeling His love." Izuku said.

Katsuki scoffed at Izuku's words.

"Feeling His love? What does that even mean? Love doesn't solve problems or make things better. It's just a bunch of empty words."

Izuku shifted.

"Love is so much more than just words, Katsuki. It's a force that can bring healing, compassion, and understanding. It has the power to change lives and make a positive impact on the world. God's love especially, is stronger than anything. It can make you feel a deep sense of peace, comfort, and belonging. It can also give you the strength to overcome challenges and face adversity with grace. It's not something I'd say you can explain or prove to someone who doesn't believe, but it's something you can feel in your heart."

Katsuki was silent.

"You really believe all that?"

Izuku nodded. "I do. And I believe that everyone has the potential to experience that love, even if they don't realize it yet."

Izuku stared up at the morning sky.

"I hope that one day, you'll feel that love too."

Katsuki didn't respond, his expression unreadable. But as they stood there in silence, Izuku couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope, believing that maybe, just maybe, her words had planted a seed of curiosity and reflection within Katsuki's heart.

A girl could dream, couldn't she?