IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:
I'm working on the draft for my JJK Yuuji/OC fic, and I just wanna take a quick poll on some things.
(1) Nobara/Maki: should I pursue the pairing? And if I do, should it only be implied, or confirmed?
(2) Junpei: should he live? And if he does, should he go to Jujutsu Tech with the gang? (This option might mean the story takes me longer to layout)
(3) Should I wait until the end of the current manga arc to start publishing? If I do, it could take a while. But I might have a better draft made if I wait.
Please let me know what you think in the comments.
(I'm also getting too attached to an Armin/OC concept. Help.)
Anyway! There's a short little moment in season five where Sero mentions borrowing manga from Todoroki. And it's my headcanon that Todoroki reads many different genres, including shoujo. So he's familiar with romance formulas, and cliches, but less so the organic, real thing. So he's still hopelessly clueless for the most part. Just an fyi.
"I don't think holding the drill at this time is a good idea."
"It's important they can prove that they're strong enough for this. How can we expect them to get their licenses if they can't handle a simple simulation?"
"I just don't think Hitomi's ready for a scare like this. After everything that happened… You've noticed, I'm sure, how she hasn't used her Quirk ever since Kamino."
"That's exactly why this drill is necessary. It's the best way to test if she's up for the exam, and what comes after acquiring a license."
"But—"
"Midnight."
"…Alright."
…
"Here's a useful tip about the big exam. Most years you have to rescue someone from a pretend disaster." Mr. Aizawa divulged to them during class. "Which can be difficult, so let's prepare now."
The chalkboard/screen behind him changed to show two lists of teams. Team A consisted of Tsuyu, Tenya, Ochako, Kaminari, Eijirou, Hitomi, Shouto, Katsuki, Izuku, and Momo. Team B was Aoyama, Mina, Ojirou, Kouji, Sato, Mezou, Kyoka, Sero, Tokoyami, and Mineta.
"You'll be split into two teams of ten. Each group will complete a training exercise together."
"Looks like I'm on team A." Tenya observed seriously.
"Iida, and Tsu? We've got this in the bag! I can't wait!" Ochako cheered.
Hitomi leaned over, looking back down the row of seats to Momo. "We're on the same team!"
"It'll be a good opportunity to grow." The ravenette simpered.
"We'll kill this thing!" Kaminari boasted, shooting Katsuki a teasing smirk.
"Tch, I'm on the same team as that damn nerd?" Katsuki growled, glowering over his shoulder at Izuku.
Hitomi turned fully in her seat, facing him. "Come on, now, let's not pick fights."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a third grader!"
"Quiet." Mr. Aizawa's eyes flashed. "Now then, you'll begin the exercise immediately. Everyone go change into your costumes and regroup at Ground Beta."
…
Team A was sent to a dilapidated, underground mall, left with little instructions, and no supervision from any teachers.
Hitomi had a strange feeling about the exercise being unmonitored.
"Alright! As your class representative, I've been designated as the leader of Team A." Tenya, in full costume, clenched his fist as he stood before them. "It should be our goal to complete this rescue mission swiftly, so we don't bring shame to our school." He chopped his arms in typical Tenya-fashion. "We'll need each of you to bring your absolute best to this training. I will accept nothing but your finest work today!"
"I understand how eager everyone is to start, but it's important for us to carefully analyze the situation at hand. Then we can plan more effectively." Momo joined Tenya, standing at his side in front of the group.
"You see? Yaoyorozu understands."
"Deputy Momo!" Hitomi pumped her fist.
Her outburst was ignored. The class was largely used to them by now.
Momo pulled out a thin disk, which she held out in the palms of her hands. It lit up, and projected a blue tinted 3D layout of the mall.
"Two hours ago, a fire broke out on the bottom floor of a large underground shopping mall. Fortunately, the blaze was extinguished and most everyone present was evacuated. However, we've received word that somewhere inside of this building, there's still one stranded person who needs our assistance."
"Our mission is to rescue that citizen as quickly and safely as possible." Tenya continued for her. "For our purposes, the citizen will be a training dummy."
"Damage from the fire has taken out the underground power lines, but luckily a backup generator is working."
"That's good. Things will be a lot easier if the lights stay on." Ochako leaned closer, studying the map.
Hitomi raised her hand. "Should we split up, maybe? To cover more ground?"
"Hey, this is weird… I'm not getting any kind of phone signal out here." Izuku held up his cell phone.
Kaminari checked his. "Me neither."
"This thing might as well be dead." Eijirou did the same.
Hitomi didn't even bother taking hers out, assuming the outcome would just be the same.
"I'm guessing it's no coincidence that our most common form of communication is out for this exercise." Izuku surmised.
"If that's how it is, then we'll need a rendezvous point, as well as a time to meet up there." Shouto suggested.
"This mall has six underground floors." Tsuyu noted, peering at the map. "What if we go down the central stairwell, and search the first level, B-1, in teams? We can meet back at the stairs ten minutes later, then continue to sweep each floor until we find the person who needs to be rescued."
"Yes! That's a great idea, Tsu!" Ochako pumped a fist.
"I agree!" Izuku eagerly nodded.
"You're gonna be such a great Hero." Hitomi beamed, amazed by her friend's ingenious planning.
Did green hair just automatically make you smarter?
"Hey, where are you going, Kachan?" Izuku nervously asked, noticing the blonde was already marching toward the entrance.
"Where do you think?" He scowled over his shoulder. "I'm gonna track down the stupid citizen who didn't escape in time."
"Wait a minute, Bakugou!" Tenya called, chopping his arms. "Going off on your own ruins our cooperative efforts! We should do as Asui proposes!"
"I told you to call me Tsu."
"Ah— yes, as Tsu suggests."
Katsuki kept walking. "You idiots are the ones saying the search is a race against time! I'll find this dummy while you're still trying to figure out what to do. That's the real difference between you and me."
"No, don't!" Izuku sputtered after him, and was ignored.
"Yeah, wait up, man! It's dangerous to go alone!" Eijirou sighed, following at a more sedate pace. He glanced back at Hitomi. "You comin'?"
Hitomi blinked, cocking her head and pointing at herself. "Me? Why?"
Eijirou shrugged. "He's easier to manage when you're there."
Huh?
"I'll tag along!" Kaminari smirked, sauntering after them with his arms crossed behind his head.
"You guys, we need some kind of plan." Izuku lamented.
"We're good, just meet us at the stairs in ten." Eijirou gave a sharp toothed grin.
"We'll make sure Bakugou's with us. Probably." Kaminari waved a hand, the three of them entering the mall.
"Right, sure, o-okay… Be careful in there." Izuku awkwardly called.
"Wow, Bakugou never changes, does he?" Ochako chuckled weakly.
Hitomi crossed her arms.
"Watch it, extra!"
"Your new suit. It's practical."
She smiled. "No, he has."
…
"Sorry you had to get stuck with me." Hitomi awkwardly chuckled.
Shouto looked at her over his shoulder, walking a few steps ahead. "Why are you sorry? Yaoyorozu made some good points when pairing the teams."
Hitomi winced, glancing around at the dimly lit mall. The storefronts they passed by all had metal shutters down, making it feel almost like a maze, with all the long corridors. "It's just… I'm not sure how useful I'll be to you."
Without my Quirk.
Shouto opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, the ground began to shake, the whole building rumbling from the intensity.
"Is that an earthquake?"
The lights went out, bathing them in deep darkness. Hitomi's breath hitched, a horrible sinking feeling forming in her stomach.
They're here. They found me. They came to finish the job. They—
"Saito!"
Hitomi's head shot up, and she grunted as Shouto tackled her out of the way, while simultaneously creating a wall of ice, shielding them both from the massive pieces of the ceiling that cracked and came down above them.
She coughed, sputtering from accidentally inhaling some of the dust that was kicked up. When she opened her eyes, she met a concerned heterochromatic gaze hovering over her.
"You alright?" Shouto carefully stood, offering her his right hand to help her up.
Hitomi dazedly nodded, taking the hand. Blinking until her eyes adjusted to the dark, she looked around and frowned at what she saw.
The ceiling had crumbled away from the shaking, and the floor now sported some cracks as well. The way they came was blocked off by the debris, and ice Shouto had made.
"We have to keep going. And find a way back someplace else. Hopefully no one got hurt."
Momo…
"It'll be difficult in the dark like this." Shouto took out his phone, using the light of the flash to illuminate their immediate surroundings, but only slightly.
Hitomi cocked her head, turning to face him and pointing at her eyes. "We don't need light. I've been training my night vision, and it's gotten pretty good. And you can use your fire, right?"
"I'd rather not. If I start a fire, and there's no airflow from outside, it could use up all our oxygen. We could get carbon monoxide poisoning." He looked down at his left hand. "Unless it's absolutely necessary, we should avoid fire at all costs."
"Oh…" Hitomi tugged on her hair. "Uh, maybe we should sit and wait for a bit, to see if the emergency power will kick on again."
Shouto nodded, and they both settled down against the wall, sitting side-by-side.
Unable to bring herself to look at him, Hitomi toyed with the ends of her hair. "Um, thank you, by the way."
"Hm?"
"I would've been crushed, if you hadn't saved me."
"That's what friends are for, right? Don't worry about it."
Hitomi's head snapped to the left, as she stared at him wide-eyed. "We're friends?"
Shouto fidgeted slightly, but his expression stayed subdued as usual. "I thought so, yeah. Do… do you not—"
"No! I mean— you—" Hitomi cut herself off with a sigh, lowering her head. "It's just… I thought you hated me, actually." She hugged her knees to her chest.
Shouto looked taken aback at the notion. "Why would I hate you?"
"Well, after what Endeavor did when we were kids— the proposal… and during the sports festival, you wanted to prove to him that I wasn't powerful enough to marry."
Shouto's brows raised, his mouth opening but no sound coming out.
Hitomi smiled mirthlessly. "I may be stupid, but I'm not an idiot. You kept glancing to the stands during our fight. And you wanted me to use my Quirk."
"Sorry." Shouto looked down at his lap, face contrite.
"It's okay."
"…You always say that."
"Hm?"
Shouto frowned. "You say everything's okay when it's really not. And you smile when you're hurt too. I don't think I've ever seen you act how you're really feeling when you're upset or sad."
Hitomi stared ahead, absently twirling a lock of hair. "I just don't like making a fuss. Everyone has problems, and I'd rather they focus on their own, than worry about mine."
Shouto pursed his lips. "Saito, you were abducted by Villains. There's no way to keep us from worrying."
Hitomi offered a weak grin. "I can try."
Shouto sighed through his nose, checking his phone one last time before putting it away.
"The exercise may not be in effect anymore. But there's also the possibility that this collapse was part of the training from the beginning. Whatever the case may be, I'm worried about our classmates. We didn't get hurt, but that shaking was intense. So…" he stood, once again offering his hand. "We need to make sure everyone's okay."
Hitomi mustered a stronger smile, taking it gladly.
"Mm!"
…
"If only Uraraka or Yaoyorozu were here, this would be easy."
Hitomi nodded along, frowning at the roadblock in front of them. Another hallway cut off by rubble.
If she could just activate her Quirk, she could dig through it. But…
"Are you still not using your Quirk?"
Hitomi flinched, taking a step back and staring at him anxiously.
"W-what? I'm not— it isn't—"
Shouto gave her a small, understanding frown. "I can recognize it, you know." His left hand clenched. "I just can't tell if you're choosing not to, or if you can't."
"I…" Hitomi gazed down sadly at her feet. "I can't."
"Do you think you can try?" He probed gently.
With a deep breath, Hitomi made her body step closer to the debris. She reached out, putting both hands on broken pieces of concrete, and focused.
Come on… come on…!
She felt something start to happen, her hands tingling foreignly. But when she leaned curiously into the strange sensation, the debris gave way, and started to tumble.
"Get back!"
Hitomi jumped away, the feeling in her hands fading, as the small mountain of rubble lost its integrity and collapsed somewhat. Leaving the top half of the hallway open.
She was almost disappointed, wondering what would have happened had she kept egging on the unexplained tingling.
"How did you do that?"
Her brows furrowed. "Do what?"
Shouto gestured to the toppled debris. "Knock it down with your bare hands. I knew you were unnaturally strong, but I couldn't even get it to budge."
Hitomi clenched them unsurely. "I… I don't kn—"
The lights flickered back on, finally.
Hitomi flinched, rubbing her eyes at the sudden change.
"Nevermind. Let's go."
Shouto took her elbow, pulling her along after him to carefully climb over the debris.
"Who d'you think fixed the power?" Hitomi blinked, squinting to get used to the light again.
"I'm not sure. It could be that it rebooted itself. Or it's possible that Kaminari recharged the batteries."
They stepped down on the other side of the mess of concrete, continuing on down the seemingly endless hallways.
"Is he smart enough to think of that on his own?" Hitomi genuinely wondered, knowing that they were both two stupid peas in a dumb little pod.
"Probably not. Someone else likely told him what to do, so it must've been someone who thinks quickly. Yaoyorozu or Midoriya. Unless it was…"
Hitomi bounced, pumping a fist. "Katsuki!"
Shouto looked at her for a beat, considering something. "Why did Kirishima ask for you to come with them?"
"Hm? I dunno." She spun one of her batons in her hand, keeping it in its compact size.
"That thing he said, about Bakugou being easier to manage with you there, what do you make of that?"
Hitomi smiled. "Well, we're friends! He doesn't yell at me much anymore."
Shouto kept watching her. "Why do you think that is?"
She shrugged. "Not sure. You know, even Hitoshi seemed surprised when he heard me and Katsuki were friends."
"Shinsou?"
"Mm!"
(Shouto distinctly remembered Midoriya mentioning Shinsou in passing. Specifically the almost infuriating degree of ignorance Saito showed towards the boy's feelings for her.)
"Did Shinsou seem… angry? About you being close with Bakugou?"
"Huh, you know now that you mention it, he did smell annoyed. But I just thought it was because he was tired or something. He's always tired."
"Could he have felt threatened?"
"Threatened?" Hitomi cocked her head.
"You're the only one Bakugou shows restraint with, apparently."
(Kirishima was supposedly Bakugou's friend as well. Yet Shouto often witnessed the blonde arguing with and insulting the redhead. But thinking about it, he couldn't really recall the last time Bakugou was as abrasive toward the pinkette.)
"Okay?" Hitomi continued blinking cluelessly.
("Then there was that guy from Isami. Ashido seems convinced he was interested in Saito. And honestly, I kind of see it. But of course, Saito didn't notice it." Midoriya had sighed.)
Shouto stopped, seemingly mulling something over and coming up stuck.
"Hm? Sho—"
Again, the building began to rumble.
Hitomi's ears flicked, catching the sound of the source.
"It's Katsuki. He's blowing something up." She could've giggled at the very faint bellowing of 'die!' she heard, if the situation wasn't so dire.
"This building is still on the verge of falling in on itself, how can he be so reckless right now?"
That was a good point, but she trusted he would be smart enough not to do something too risky.
"It came from below us. Probably floor B-6."
"That's the bottom level. Of course he would be in the most unstable area." Shouto paused, realizing something. "Bakugou was the one who restored the emergency power. And he's the cause of the explosion… oh come on, don't tell me he's continuing the training like nothing has happened."
"Sure he is."
Shouto stared at her.
Hitomi shrugged. "It's Katsuki. He's gotta save the civilian before he even considers getting out of here. I coulda told you that."
There was a crack, followed by the sound of running water. They both spun around, staring at a splintering wall with geysers of water spurting out.
"Shit." Shouto scowled, freezing up the cracks quickly. He grabbed Hitomi's wrist, turning and running towards where she heard the explosions originate.
She caught on to his plan. With a click of her heels, Hitomi skated down the halls, picking up speed, but not letting Shouto fall too far behind.
"Here!" Shouto suddenly came to a stop, eyeing the brittle looking floor. "Stand back!"
Hitomi did as he said, giving him enough room to go all out.
Using a giant spear of ice, he punched through the ground, creating a large hole down to the bottom level of the mall.
Hitomi peered over the edge, shocked and concerned to see the amount of water that had already flooded in. Katsuki, Eijirou, and Kaminari all looked up at them, chest deep in the water.
Shouto made more ice, extending it out and creating a ramp for them to climb up to get out.
"This way! Climb up, quick!"
"Todoroki!"
Hitomi popped her head over next to him. "Hey guys!" She spotted the dummy slung over Eijirou's shoulder, and gasped happily. "You saved the citizen! Nice work!
"Saito!" "Hitomi!"
"Nobody asked you for your help here, Icy-Hot!"
"Are you freaking kidding me right now?!" Kaminari sputtered. "We were gonna die here! A Villain could be helping us and I'd be happy!"
"Let's go, we have to move!" Shouto called down to them.
Eijirou grabbed Katsuki's elbow. "Bakugou, come on!"
"Stop pulling me!"
"Then start climbing!"
Kaminari reached the top first, and Hitomi quickly took his hand, helping hoist him up over the hole and onto the solid ground. She did the same with Eijirou, earning a sharp toothed grin in thanks.
Then, she held her hand out to Katsuki, without thinking. A bulky gloved one clasped with hers, and she easily pulled him up.
Katsuki— still scowling at Shouto —stopped, and blinked. His eyes snapped to his left hand in her right, before he ripped it away as if burned.
"Tch, I don't need your help either!"
Hitomi stared, having held out her hand absentmindedly. She never expected him to take the help when offered. And going by his face, neither did he. But he had done it so fluidly, without hesitation, like he didn't recognize what she was doing, just instinctively trusting her and going with it.
Watching the exchange, Shouto's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
"Oh. I get it."
"Huh?"
"Ugh, that was close!" Kaminari sighed before Hitomi could question Shouto on what he just said.
"I'll say." Eijirou nodded. "Thanks guys. You saved us."
"Ah, Shouto did all the work." Hitomi hurriedly brushed it off.
Katsuki scoffed.
"We can't relax yet." Shouto warned. "The water in here is gonna continue to rise. I'll freeze it to the best of my ability, in the meantime the rest of you can escape."
Eijirou frowned. "By yourself? I'll stay with you—"
"I appreciate the offer, but your Quirks aren't right for this. I don't want you to get caught up in the ice. If you don't want to be a burden, then go, leave this to me."
"If you're sure…" Eijirou hesitated but ultimately turned and started toward the nearest exit.
"Always gotta be so cool, huh? Fine, then we'll see you up top." Kaminari went with him.
"Come on, Bakugou, Hitomi!"
Hitomi bit her lip, watching Katsuki, who made no move to follow. If he was determined to stay, and make sure Shouto got out safe, then…
"Go on ahead! We'll catch up with you!"
The boys hesitated again, before shaking their heads and running out.
"I can't convince you to go, can I?" Shouto sighed.
"Nope!"
"Just shut up and make the damn ice!"
The floor below slowly filled with ice, inching up higher and higher, until all the water was covered by a thick sheet of it. Only covered, meaning it was a temporary fix.
"It was a lot of water, but it looks like I was able to stop it from rising." Shouto turned to them, gaze falling on the ashy blonde. "I'm curious as to why you stayed, Bakugou."
"Because I don't wanna owe you anything." Katsuki glowered.
"We wanted to make sure you got out too." Hitomi chirped, earning a sneer from Katsuki.
"Speak for yourself!"
"Let's just get up the stairs while we can." Shouto intervened.
"It's too late." Katsuki spoke with his rarely used subdued voice— the one that oddly soothed Hitomi's ears. "No way we'll be able to walk outta here now."
"What do you mean? Why?" Hitomi shifted anxiously, feeling like an idiot for not understanding.
Instead of snapping at her, he answered still in that easy tone. "It's like a time-bomb. Force is building up below, and as soon as it gets strong enough, the walls are gonna break and pummel us with debris."
He didn't yell at me for being stupid, or anything… Hitomi's eyes almost sparkled, despite the very serious and life endangering situation.
"Obviously I predicted that this would happen." Shouto deadpanned
Hitomi winced, immediately feeling inferior again.
"Oh shut up!" Katsuki barked.
"But I still don't get why you stayed behind. Saito I get, she's loyal to a fault. So that makes me think you've thought of something. You came up with a plan."
Katsuki gave an almost unnoticeable nod. "Listen up, you Half-n-Half bastard, Cherry. We use the water to escape. I'm gonna blast a hole in the ice, that'll make a geyser for us, and you make a platform of ice for us to stand on." Katsuki pointed upward. "I'll keep shooting as we fly up. We'll rocket through every floor." He smirked broadly. "I'll bet we can even beat those losers to the surface."
"W-what's my job?" Hitomi raised her hand, as if asking a teacher.
"Use those weird-ass rods to bat away any wayward debris that could land on us." Katsuki answered without missing a beat.
Hitomi's lips parted, then stretched into a smile.
He didn't ask for me to use my Quirk… He trusts I can use the batons…
"I understand the fundamentals, but can you focus your explosions? It'll have to be a precise shot in order for this to work."
Katsuki snarled, opening his mouth—
"He's got this!" Hitomi clenched her fists in front of her chest, grinning widely. "He has that new move, AP Shot! Right?" She looked questioningly at him, making sure she got the name right.
Katsuki's enraged expression vanished, replaced by a sort of blank one, aimed at her.
"…Yeah." The subdued voice was back.
The faintest scent of confusion and contentment(?) arose. But it was so subtle it slipped away before she could dissect it further.
"Kachan, Todoroki, Saito!" Izuku came barreling toward them, from the way Eijirou and Kaminari left.
"Midoriya." Shouto's brows raised at his arrival.
"Told you to call me Hitomi." She playfully scolded. He'd been doing good, only slipping up and using her surname a handful of times.
Katsuki twitched. "Ah great, what are you doing here you damn nerd!?"
Izuku paid his anger no mind. "Hold on, I'll open a hole in the ice."
A vein popped furiously on Katsuki's head. "You little—"
"Be ready to freeze a platform for us to stand on." Izuku told Shouto, who nodded.
"Got it."
"Kachan, make sure you blast every ceiling."
"Don't you dare tell me what to do!"
Hitomi cocked her head. "We already went over this. How'd you know Katsuki's plan?"
Izuku blinked. "Uh, coincidence? Not sure. Sai— Hitomi, you…" he pursed his lips. "Uh, use your Quirk to—"
Katsuki stomped closer to the freckled teen, gritting his teeth. "You stupid nerd, she—"
The walls started to crack, water spurting through.
"There's no time!" Izuku activated his Quirk, green sparks crackling around him. "Here I go!"
He leapt through the air, putting his new gear to work, and kicking the ice below. Immediately a giant gush of water shot out, overtaking him. Standing on the ice platform, Shouto managed to grab Izuku's wrist, pulling him aboard as they surged toward the first obstacle.
"Die, ceiling!"
Hitomi slapped her hands over her ears, preparing for the noise.
With a boom, the concrete broke apart, making a large enough opening for them.
The batons strapped to her waist were snatched up, buttons pressed on both to make them full-sized. Twirling them once, Hitomi readied herself to deflect anything that rained down on them.
Katsuki gave me this job, so I'm going to damn well do it!
"The next level!"
Katsuki roared, setting off another blast. But when the smoke cleared, the ceiling was still intact.
Hitomi gasped, fear gripping her body. There was another strange electrifying sensation, this one taking over every part of her. Even her hair felt wired.
Before they were crushed, Izuku shot ahead, kicking through the rest of the way. But it was messier than when Katsuki used his explosions, leaving massive chunks of concrete to fall over them.
Katsuki growled, rapid-firing his new move to obliterate them into smaller pieces. Ones Hitomi could deflect.
Still, it was enough of a screw up that it caused some serious trouble. The hole wasn't big enough, and when one side of the platform clipped the edge, it violently threw them all off.
Hitomi grunted and yelped, hitting the floor and rolling from the force. Coughing on the thick dust in the air, she pushed herself up and looked around.
It was dark— the emergency power must've gone out again. Shouto had acted quickly and froze over the hole, cutting off the petering geyser so they wouldn't be swept away. The floor was covered by the jagged pieces of debris, some even large enough to totally crush a pers—
Hitomi's stomach dropped.
"Guys!" She croaked, coughing again with a wince. She staggered to her feet, whipping her head around, eyes adjusting to the dark, frantically scouring for a sign of her friends. "Hey, g—"
There was a grunt, and rasped curse.
Hitomi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Katsuki!" She darted toward the sound, spotting a flash of orange. "Oh thank goodness you—"
She tripped, hand slapping over her mouth.
Katsuki was laying on the floor, grimacing in pain. Because a chunk of concrete had his right leg pinned below the knee.
She could smell blood.
His leg— blood— pinned down— can't move— it hurts— think it's broken— someone please hel—
"Hey."
Hitomi flinched, the burning ache in her right shin fading.
Katsuki was glaring sternly at her, but the twitch in his brow gave away how much pain he was in.
"Calm down. We're in a training drill. Fuckin' breathe."
What? When had she stopped breathing?
Hitomi took a shuddering inhale, before all but throwing herself down next to him.
"D-don't move, okay?"
"Does it look like I can—" Katsuki cut himself off, closing his eyes, and sighing through his nose. "…Yeah, fine."
Hitomi swallowed thickly, taking one of her insanely sturdy— thank you Hatsume —batons, and wedging the end under the debris.
"This— this is probably gonna hurt."
Katsuki scowled up at the next ceiling. "Do it."
"Okay, I'm gonna countdown. I'll say one, two, three—"
"You'll go on go, I know how countdowns work, damnit! We've been over this!"
"Right… One, two, three—"
Katsuki tensed.
"—Go!"
It was relatively easy to lift the debris, what with her adrenaline boosted strength. She just didn't want to hurt him, so moving it slowly and smoothly was the challenge. The baton helped, inching it up off of his leg steadily.
"Kachan, Hitomi!"
Hitomi didn't look up when Izuku and Shouto came running over, too busy glaring at the debris as she hoisted it up and off of him completely. Once it was, she lifted it, carrying the jagged concrete and taking small steps away from the injured blonde, before dropping it away from him.
"Stop yelling, you idiot, it's annoying." Katsuki grumbled, sitting upright.
"Y-yeah, okay."
"Saito, are you alright?" Shouto glanced her over.
"You just saw her deadlift a piece of rubble half her fucking size. She's fine." Katsuki barked, moving to stand.
"Don't!" Hitomi thoughtlessly moved behind him, putting her hands on his shoulders, and lightly pushing down.
Katsuki for a moment seemed too stunned by her gall to even yell at her.
"Bakugou, lean on me and Midoriya so you can walk. We're almost out of here." Shouto held out his hand, the same way he had for Hitomi early in the exercise.
Katsuki predictably slapped it away. "This injury's nothing. I'm just fine on my own! And get off'a me!" He snapped at Hitomi.
For once, she scowled back at him, making that four times she'd stunned him in a single hour.
"No."
"Excuse me—"
"Kachan, we don't have the time. Please, grab onto me!"
"Not a chance!"
"You have to!"
Hitomi frowned thoughtfully, reluctantly letting him go, and taking a short step back.
She could— no, no way he'd let her. But…
Katsuki started to stand, his right leg giving him obvious trouble.
"I'm gonna walk out by myself, even if it kills me. A guy who needs help for a scratch like this is weak." He stood straight, grimacing. "I'm never gonna be the most amazing Hero if I can't—" he took a step, grunting and limping.
"You seem unsteady." Shouto quipped.
"My feet just won't do what I'm telling them to." He continued to limp.
That's it.
"Hey!" Katsuki barked when Hitomi latched onto his arm.
She kept her head ducked, but her grip strong.
"Katsuki…"
He twitched.
Her grip tightened further. "Please. You did the same for me."
(He kept her close, and safe. He held her up when she didn't have the strength to do it herself. Even when they were neck-deep in danger, he made sure she was okay.)
Katsuki stiffened, face turned away from her.
Izuku kept trying. "Let us help you! You were the one who restored the emergency power to save us earlier. Aren't you? To make it easier for our friends to get out."
Katsuki glared to the side. "Yeah right. I just wanted to keep trying to find that stupid training dummy."
"Then why did you stay when everyone else left?" Izuku prompted. "You wanted to save Todoroki, didn't you? You didn't want to leave Hitomi to do the same by herself."
"I just didn't want to owe anybody!"
"And me! You saved me back there too." Izuku pressed on.
"Yes, he's right, Bakugou." Shouto added.
Katsuki glowered at the floor, silently mulling it over. Carmine flickered to fuchsia briefly, before he gritted his teeth and growled in reluctance.
"Fine—"
Hitomi let go of his arm, bracing her left one behind his back, before hooking her right behind his knees, and—
Izuku gaped, and Shouto blinked. Katsuki however, stared blankly as Hitomi easily lifted him into a bridal-carry.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Her posture and gait were the same as usual, as if carrying him was no harder than holding a small child. She managed to make it ten steps before he tensed, and snapped out of his shock.
"What the fuck! Put me down!
"No."
He looked furious. "Cherry, if you don't drop me right fucking now—"
Hitomi leveled him with a hard, merciless glare.
"No. I'm carrying you. Or I'll tell the boys you smell like you use Uneri brand hairspray."
His rage went from burning and loud, to cold and quiet.
"I'm going to kill you."
"Sure. After I get you out of here."
…
Izuku stared, watching in something akin to awe as Sa— Hitomi walked ahead with Kachan fuming in her arms.
Never before in his life had Izuku seen his childhood friend be so… tolerant. Sure, he was currently hissing a slew of curses that would even put Aunt Mizuki to shame, but he was still letting Hitomi do this. There was no doubt in Izuku's mind that Kachan was capable of walking out of the mall— though it would be painful and stupid to do so —and yet here he was, being carried by Hitomi.
Kachan was being carried by someone. While conscious. And he wasn't putting up a physical fight.
Suddenly, Izuku recalled something. On the night of the Kamino incident. When they were all leaving the ward, and were intercepted by the police and an ambulance— one that Yaoyorozu had called for Hitomi.
Kachan went with the police, while Hitomi was loaded up into the ambulance. And not once had his eyes left her, until the doors shut and it drove away.
Izuku watched the two thoughtfully, feeling something hopeful swell in his chest.
…
The principal's eyes scanned the papers with inhuman speed.
"It's good to see the students did so well. I believe it's safe to say they're ready for the exam."
Shouta pursed his lips. "About that, I have a request to make."
Principal Nezu set down the extensive reports on the day's training drills. "Yes?"
A sourness formed on the back of Shouta's tongue, acidic guilt weighing on him already.
"I want to pull Saito from the licensing exam."
(Omake: Shouto knows his tropes)
"Midoriya."
"Yeah, Todoroki?"
"I figured it out. It's a reverse harem, with three tsunderes."
The freckled teen choked.