I think my main issue with Bakugou is widely how…irrelevant he is for a majority of the story. And then when he is, he's very…awkwardly thrown in. I think what hurts him most is the lack of a personal nemesis. Like, let me break it down.
Bakugou doesn't really fight a lot of villains- it took him roughly...I dunno, if we count Chapter 90 as Bakugou's last fight against a villain (Chapter 90; May 16th, 2016) and the Meta Liberation Arc fight against the "Cider House Gang" (Chapter 218, March 4th, 2019)...1022 days. Yes, I know Bakugou has some fights here and there, but between Deku v Bakugou Round 2 (Chapter 117, November 28, 2016) and Round 4 of Joint Training (Chapter 206, November 19th, 2018), there's a smaller but still notable gap of 721 days.
Bakugou does not GET many fights, but instead gets character driven arcs / events. Even in the Nine movie, he's sorta shoehorned in. So, Bakugou's lack of an enemy really takes away, especially since he's piggy backing on Deku's coattails. If I had to give him a canon enemy, it'd be…Muscular. Too similar looking.
Anyways, here's your chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
It seemed surreal to be back at Heights after what felt like a few weeks, but no- it was alllll one day. Ochako was looking forward to go to her room, collapse on her bed, joyfully text her parents, Ben and Ruby the news, and then snuggle Ship for a few hours while she drifted off to sleep. She had survived a great deal, all of which occurred while she was still human. No Four Arms or Big Chill needed.
As the bus halted in front of Heights, Ochako reflected on the day. Now that I've got a license, I have to wonder what's in store for me next. Ochako thought. I just feel this spark inside me- I can't just sit around and wait for something. The first chance we have at an internship, I'm gonna jump at it.
Everyone unloaded from the bus, and began to walk towards the entrance. Rook was waiting for them, clapping his hands. Almost the entire class passed! That was very wonderful news!
"Hey, Mr. Rook!" Kirishima beamed. "Don't tell me you've simply been waiting for us all day."
"No! I was waiting for the class for something else." Rook said.
"For what?" Ochako asked.
"Come inside and see for yourself." Rook opened the double doors, and showed off the decorated main area- a giant banner read 'CONGRATS ON PASSING!' Ochako's eyes widened as Yang, Blake, Alan and (shockingly) Shinsou all walked out clapping.
"Good work, rookies!" Yang said. "I knew all that extra work was gonna pull off in the end."
"This is your first step into the big leagues. I hope you don't waste the opportunities you've been given." Blake cautioned. "But…congrats."
"Y-yeah! And nothing totally happened while any of you were gone!" Alan said, looking nervous. "Everything was fine, and I'm not acting weird! YOU ARE!"
Shinsou sighed. "...smooth, Albright."
"I'm not talking about THAT incident, dude." Alan said. "I'm talking about the other thing."
The class looked around at each other, confused. Other thing? They all collectively thought.
"I don't really think he's the type for drumrolls…" Yang said. "Y'know how I've been busy helping someone with their prosthetic these past few weeks?"
"Yeah- you mentioned that when we first met you." Sero said. "Why, did something happen with that?"
"Yeah. The patient got through everything faster than we expected. Although he's not gonna be allowed to see some action for another week or so." Yang said. "We got the paperwork filled out today, so…he moved in."
Wait! So, does that mean- Izuku's eyes widened as HE approached the doorway. Jaws were dropped, and gasps were heard.
Bakugou Katsuki glanced at the gathering of students, his eyes weary and his face appearing indifferent.
"Hey." Bakugou said, holding up his left arm. His new artificial limb was green in color and had the appearance of being constructed out of...Legos. It was plated in gold over a black base and looked quite elegant. The joints on the fingers were black, but otherwise they were silver.
The class stared, in silent shock.
At least until Kirishima dropped his bag, ran over and full on tackle hugged him.
"KIRISHIMA!" Iida yelled, running to scold him. "HE JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!"
"I'm fine…" Bakugou grumbled, as Kirishima lifted him off the ground and wrapped him in the biggest bro 'bear hug' imaginable.
"DUDE! YOU'RE BACK!" Kirishima cheered.
"Yeah! And I'd appreciate it if you dropped me!" Bakugou tried pushing away from Kirishima's embrace.
"Hey guys! If you wanted to hug Bakugou, now's your chance to do so!" Kirishima yelled. Bakugou's friend group rushed over, and happily joined Kirishima in that hug.
"Come on! This…this is just…!" Bakugou stammered, but quickly shut up. Izuku and Ochako watched the scene from afar.
"...he's…changed." Ochako said. "Normal Bakugou would've blasted them all to hell for pulling this."
Izuku frowned. Bakugou…
Kirishima eventually set Bakugou back down on the ground, and Bakugou shoved him away. "Yeesh. I didn't die or something like that…" Bakugou scoffed. "So, which one of you extras flunked?"
"None of us, shockingly!" Mina beamed.
"You're kidding." Bakugou said.
"Only Todoroki failed." Sero smirked. Bakugou looked shocked to hear that…and a small hint of that signature 'smile' returned.
"Best news I've heard all day." Bakugou smirked.
"They are offering a remedial course for those who failed though," Todoroki mentioned. "With...All Might retired, they need all the heroes they can get. So, in addition to my usual coursework, I'll be taking this second chance. I...believe Gang Orca may be running it as well."
"Lucky break," Bakugou huffed, as his eyes went over to Izuku and Ochako. Izuku didn't know exactly what to do in this scenario.
"H-hey, Bakugou." Ochako said. "Uh, how're you feeling?"
"Tired."
"U-uh, yeah...I...guess that makes sense. Been through a lot lately...so," Ochako stumbled with her words a bit.
"So...I'm going to bed," Bakugou answered.
"Aw, what? Already? Not even staying up for the congratulations party?" Kirishima asked.
Bakugou paused, before looking at Yang. Yang gave him an encouraging look, and he took a deep breath.
"Fine. I'll look past my curfew for...an hour." Bakugou said. "Then I go to bed."
"Alright!" Kirishima cheered. "Well, let's get this party started!"
Ochako and Izuku both took notice of that. Usually even the teachers weren't safe from Bakugou's vitriol, but now he was actually looking to one for outright encouragement. Yang must've had a way with words that made the usually explosive student pause.
The students all began to cut themselves a slice of cake, and crowd around Bakugou, who retreated to the couch to sort of chill. Kirishima and Kaminari were seated close to him.
"So, how's the new arm treating you?" Kaminari asked.
"Dude! You can't just ask him that off the bat." Kirishima scolded him.
"What? Serious question." Kaminari said.
"It's alright," Bakugou admitted, holding it up. "Mr. Tennyson paid for it, and his wife designed it- it's made of multiple alien materials, like Segmentaspien and Parvakomputatrium parts. They also allow me to shapeshift it for combat."
"Wait, seriously!?" Kirishima asked. He had no idea what those words meant, but they sounded cool.
"Yeah. They want it to be multifunctioning." Bakugou said. "So I'm prepared for anything."
"Woooow." Mina said.
(If Mineta was here, he'd ask if there was a vibrator function.)
"They actually made sure it was resistant to a Quirk like your's, Pinky," Bakugou said, "Acid, fire, lightning, ice, it could tank a lot of 'em...up to a point."
"That's pretty impressive," Todoroki said. "Miss Rose must've taken great lengths to reinforce it."
"Yeah." Bakugou huffed.
"Segmentasapien...that's the...that's the Lego one, right?" Tooru asked.
"It's not Lego!" Bakugou countered, "It's..." He blinked a few times, trying to remember the exact wording that Ruby used to describe it. Something something plastic polymer.
"Semi-organic Mimetic Plastic Polymer," Yang answered.
"Yeah, that!"
"Do you have...a cover or something for it?" Izuku asked.
"Sort of." Bakugou clenched his arm, and the metal plates suddenly activated- in a second, it looked like Bakugou had a regular human arm.
"Woaaaaah," Kirishima gasped, "That's cool."
"That's the mimetic part. He just needs to think about the shape," Yang explained.
"Not that hard to do, to be honest." Bakugou said. "It just takes...focus."
Although it was nice to see Bakugou again, no one could deny it- it was weird to see him so...extinguished, for the lack of a better word.
Yang knew the feeling all too well, really, being extinguished like this. It was definitely something he'd have to work through, even if physically he was ok now. Bakugou's flame had lost quite a bit of its kindling, just like hers had. But she was able to bounce back, so there's no doubt he can too.
"I noticed the purple bastard's gone." Bakugou said. "You guys finally run him outta here?"
"Oh, my god...you don't know?" Mina asked.
"No? What, did he die or something?"
"No, he got messed up by a Nomu and transferred to Management." Jirou said. "There's more details, and we were all messed up by it...but he was a douche about it."
"Ochako cursed him out," Sero teased.
Ochako looked away, while Bakugou laughed. "No fuckin' way. Her?" Bakugou said.
"It was terrifying," Tooru said, "I've never seen her that mad before or since! It was crazy! And then Mina ended up scaring so bad he apologized to us!"
"...the hell did you do, Pinky?"
"Well, we...all kinda leveled up." Mina said. "I got a big slime guy, Izuku got some weird whip, Ochako and Kaminari are point and shoot buddies, Iida has this SICK weapon and Momo's magic-"
Bakugou frowned. "...great."
"That...didn't help...did it?" Mina's smile fell there.
"On the contrary." Bakugou said. "It makes me ready to get back out there, and show you extras who the hell you're dealing with."
There he is, Izuku thought.
"You think just because I got my arm chopped off by some villain that I'm gonna slow down!? Hell no!" Bakugou scoffed. "Plenty of other heroes are still out there despite the fact they got one of their limbs hacked off!"
"He's riiiiiight," Yang said, with a bit of sing-song tone to her answer.
"So, if any of extras had any INKLING of an idea that you could surpass me because I was all mopey for a bit, bite me." Bakugou said. "I'm gonna be the next top hero!"
The class stared in silence...before clapping and cheering.
"NOW he's back!" Kaminari said.
"There's the Bakugou we all remember!" Kirishima cheered.
Bakugou smirked, as Izuku shook his head. "Looks like he's doing good."
"I suppose he wouldn't let a thing like losing a limb hold him back," Iida said. "How perfectly Bakugou."
Ochako, however, felt this performance was...for show or something. It was like with that Yo Shindo kid- his eyes didn't match his words.
Prying wouldn't do any good though. At least, not now.
Besides, it looked like even Yang could tell that something was still off with Bakugou's act.
"NOW WHO WANTS TO ARM WRESTLE!?" Bakugou yelled, holding up his new arm.
Aizawa frowned. "He's breathing life back into this place." He said, picking at his cake. Ren saw something different.
There's...an overwhelming amount of sadness lingering around him. Ren observed countless blue petals around Bakugou's body, almost obscuring the view of his body.
"You see it too, huh?" Yang whispered.
"How do you-?" Ren began.
"I don't need visual empathy to tell. Remember, I went through this."
"He's probably holding it in," Ren guessed. "So he won't make his classmates worry. He's carrying a large burden on his shoulders."
Yang watched him easily win against Kaminari and laugh. "If you didn't know any better...you'd think he was okay."
"Yeah..." Yang muttered. For a minute, Bakugou and his classmates were replaced by a younger Yang and her teammates and friends. Well, some of them, anyway.
Izuku watched Bakugou win, over and over again. It was...almost like old times.
...almost.
See, usually, Bakugou's eyes had a fire in them, a drive, and, let's not kid ourselves, he still had that fire. Nothing was putting it out entirely, not for good. But to say that fire was unaffected would be a lie. The flames were dimmer, and they weren't raging as greatly as before. They'd been subdued. Bakugou wasn't going to make that too obvious, no way in hell, but he couldn't act like nothing changed. Ignoring what happened would be a disservice to those who saved him: 10K, Rose, Endeavor, Gran Torino...and All Might.
Especially All Might.
"You see it too, don't you?" Ochako muttered.
"Yeah." Izuku frowned. "…I want to talk to him, but he hasn't even looked at me since I walked in."
"And he's only looked at me when they mentioned me cursing out Mineta..."
"Do...you think...?" Izuku wondered.
"I don't know..." Ochako said.
Bakugou slammed Sero's arm down and yelled. "Come on, Sero! That all you got?"
"It's so weird to hear you say my name, but hell no it's not!" Hanta said, setting his arm back up.
Bakgou smirked and grabbed Sero's hand, ready for round 2.
"Alright, here we go!" Kirishima said, "3...2...1...GO!"
Bakugou slammed the hand into the table, and roared with laughter. "HA!"
"Aw, come on! Robot arm!" Sero frowned.
"Just because I have one doesn't mean I'm stronger WITH it. This thing has the same strength I did before-" Bakugou paused. "…before…"
That pause was felt by everyone in the room. They all knew how the sentence ended, but no one knew if Bakugou would actually say the whole thing.
Before he got kidnapped was the full line.
"…you good?" Alan asked.
Bakugou snapped back to reality. "Huh? Uh…yeah." He said. He stared off into space for a minute.
"…is it true that you guys all wanted to come and save me?"
"Yeah!" Kirishima said without the smallest bit of hesitation, "If we didn't even try...what kind of heroes would we be?"
"And you didn't...because...?" Bakugou asked.
"…Mr. Tennyson recommended against it." Iida said. "He said just because we could fight a D lister doesn't mean we can tangle with every villain."
"Or something to that effect." Mina said.
Bakugou closed his eyes as he took that in. "I see." He said, taking a deep breath. He looked around at the crowd one last time. "He was right to say that"
Honestly, if anyone from Class 1-A went to Kamino that day, they might've died. Hearing it from Bakugou, the most 'fuck it, we ball' kind of guy, agree that maybe they shouldn't rush into action was…the craziest thing.
Bakugou shook his head, and clapped his hands. "Come on! Next challenger! I'll use my other arm if you extras are so worked up about it." Bakugou snapped. He pointed at Shinsou. "You! Eye Bags! Fight me!"
Shinsou blinked. I just came here for cake, but whatever. He put his cake down, strolled over, seated himself, and boredly held up his hand. He rolled down his sleeve, displaying some of his hard-earned muscles. He clasped hands with Bakugou, and the struggle began. Bakugou and Shinsou were actually both trying their hardest in this match.
"Hey." Shinsou said, curling his palm inward to weaken his opponent's wrist. Bakugou didn't respond.
If he thinks he can brainwash me or whatever, I won't budge. His quirk can only get him so far! Bakugou smirked.
"Fun fact: I really focused on bicep workouts with Aizawa. Swinging around with that cloth takes a lot of upper body strength." Shinsou explained, leaning in to position his body over Bakugou's arm while keeping his body and arm close together. Bakugou was pleasantly shocked.
Things were heating up in the match. As the match progressed, it appeared that Shinsou would be the match's surprise winner. Bakugou let out a mighty howl as a second surge of power surged through his veins. The shout from Bakugou surprised Shinsou. For a brief second, he stopped pushing-
But Bakugou was instantly pinned in that moment. As Bakugou began to breathe heavily and swear, Shinsou watched in disbelief. The children cheered enthusiastically, and Shinsou smiled.
"Dang. I defeated the winner of the Sports Fest." Shinsou said. "Can I take your medal, then?"
Bakugou smirked. "In your dreams, Aizawa Jr."
"Aizawa Jr?" Shinsou chuckled. "Seriously? I liked Eyebags more."
The fact that Bakugou wasn't screaming and yelling was also a shock. When Bakugou lost at Monopoly once (he was forced into playing the game by Kirishima, Mina and Jirou), he set the board on fire and cursed so loud police were called. To see him joke with-
Okay, you get the idea. He's VERY different now. But where did this all start, exactly?
Izuku was admittedly curious to know, but he wouldn't get that answer today.
Kirishima would get it the next morning.
Sometime after the party ended, Bakugou had successfully retreated into his room. He took a deep breath- interacting with his classmates was more exhausting than he thought. That was maybe the longest conversation he'd held with…any of them. Except for maybe Kirishima.
Bakugou passed his untouched boxes, and flopped on his bed. It was maybe the only thing he'd unpacked, save for some boxes of clothes. He took a deep breath, and rolled over onto his back. He stared up at the ceiling for a few moments, and closed his eyes.
So, almost everyone passed, huh? Even Izuku… Bakugou thought.They're all ahead of me. They all ranked up, while I had to relearn how…to use my arm.
They still wanted to save me...even when 10K said no...why?
Bakugou had been plagued by that thought especially. I yell at them, I curse them out- I don't even know half their names, and yet they were happy to see me. Treated me like an old friend...why?
Bakugou grit his teeth, gripped the sheet with his left arm. "D-damn it…" He cursed. "Why…why did it have to be me?"
Bakugou's self hatred and loathing was more powerful than his anger. Truth be told, even he was shocked he didn't break down crying and cursing during the time spent with Class 1-A.
All this emotion, all this self-hate had just been building up ever since he was initially taken. First, it was what the League told him, that he'd make a perfect villain. He didn't let himself get swayed by those words, obviously, but to say he ignored them would be a lie. He was trying to be a hero that could outshine All Might and, in that moment, a madman who wanted to kill that very same idolized hero was telling him he'd fit right in with his own little group of murderers and monsters.
And then one of those monsters took his arm. He didn't tell anyone yet, but sometimes there were...flashes, taking him back to that night. Hallucinations might be a better word to use. It was a similar set up each time, just with slight differences. Most of the time he just found himself alone in that hidden bar. No crazy lizard fanboy, no freak covered in hands, no scorpion guy, just him. Hell, he wasn't even tied to a chair in this version.
But she was always there.
While he was still in therapy, Bakugou heard her name again and that name stuck with him throughout the entire process. Cassidy Fallman. He didn't really know any of the significance of the name, just that she was one of Ben 10K's and Rose's villains. Given how she acted that night, she was dead set on making 10K's wife suffer.
In these flashes, she applied that same demeanor to him. In these hallucinations, Bakugou had both of his arms back and each and every time, he raised them to attack. But she was always faster. This nightmare version of Cassidy was like lightning, slashing through one and sometimes both of Bakugou's arms. And then she just let him sit there, screaming. He didn't know what she'd do next, nor did he want to, because that was always where the flashes ended, with Cinder's legacy standing behind him ready to do...something. Kill him? Maim him further? Knowing her, it was probably both.
His memory returned around...I dunno, day 4 of being in the hospital? Everything was just a blur. Bakugou was basically a shell of his former self as he laid on his hospital bed, staring out the window at nothing. He was silent, barely registered anything, and wanted to just scream. He was surrounded by 'get well' gifts from friends and family- his old middle school buddies even tried to drop by, but he didn't want them to see him like this.
Family, however, was a different matter.
Hearing about him being kidnapped was a nightmare for his parents, as it would be for any parent. His mother tried to keep a brave face during those initial hours, but inside...oh you better believe she wanted to either just cry or storm the League's headquarters herself and tear Shigaraki's "precious hand mask" right off his face and slap the bastard with it. Maybe both in that order.
When they heard that he'd been rescued, it felt like weights had been taken off their shoulders and they could breathe easy. Only for them then to be told that he was being taken to the hospital. The extent of his injuries wasn't told at first, in order to keep them calm and to avoid a media swarm, something that already plagued the hospital All Might was staying at.
The second they saw the damage was when things got nasty. His parents thought Bakugou would power through, and escape unscathed. Maybe the hospital visit was to patch up some wounds.
Mitsuki was stunned in silence when she saw her boy, laying down in the hospital bed, bandages wrapped around where his left arm used to be. Masaru, usually the level headed father...just snapped. No one could fault him for rampaging around an empty hospital room in a fit of rage.
Some orderlies actually had to restrain him during the rampage, before he just stopped and broke down in tears. Mitsuki was just...silent throughout the whole rampage, unable to look away, unable to process just how bad things were. She was...at a loss. Ironically, she was the one who went into quiet shock. For a minute, she could've sworn her heart stopped beating in that hospital.
And...then there was his cousin. He hated acknowledging her, mainly because the two just hated each other, but she was also at a loss for words. Yu, usually a girl with a snarky comment or witty retort, was just as stunned and silent as Mitsuki.
Bakugou had hurt everyone.
Because he had to be him.
Mitsuki was still in shock when they allowed his family to visit and his father stayed out to support her, get her ready for seeing their son in such a state. So, in what might have been a weird twist of fate, Yu was actually the first to go in and see him.
Yu walked in, and stared at her listless cousin. She had her own injuries- a few scrapes and a nasty head wound, but those were important.
"Katsuki?" She asked.
Bakugou said nothing.
"I'm...glad to see you're here." Yu admitted.
Bakugou wasn't facing her, laying on his side and facing the window of the room.
Oh god, please tell me he's not ignoring me, Yu thought. As much as they argued...they were still family. And she failed to save him. She was a goddamn Pro Hero and she couldn't save her own cousin. Sure, people would say that everyone had issues with All for One, but that didn't matter. They didn't fail. She did.
"Sorry I...couldn't be more involved with the rescue, but I had to take care of the factory and..." Yu trailed off. "I...can't believe they did that to you."
Can't believe it? Bakugou thought, Believe me...I wish this was just some...illusion or some shit.
Yu sighed. "This isn't working." She said. "How...do you wanna go about this, Katsuki? How do you want to communicate? Should I let you lead the conversation or something?"
Yu had read up on a document online- she was absolutely trying to avoid some words and phrases like 'Does the stump hurt?' or 'Let me do that for you.'
Honestly, that second one would have been a buzz phrase around normal Bakugou, let alone when he was...like this.
"...Yu..." Bakugou said, "...what happened to...to All Might?"
"All Might?" Yu repeated. "Oh, yeah...no one told you. After Tiger carried you off, All Might engaged in this crazy battle with the boss of the League. He was fighting so hard, especially since this guy he was fighting had multiple quirks. He could...steal them or something."
Bakugou grimaced at that.
"So, All Might went all out- he was flying, and speeding up, and-" Yu sighed. "It was...crazy."
"...where is he now?"
Yu went silent.
Bakugou held his breath.
"He's in a coma." Yu said. "Dunno when he'll wake up."
"...the Symbol of Peace is gone..." Bakugou finished. "Because of me."
"No, don't say that-"
"Don't say what!?" Bakugou raised his voice. "Don't say 'it's my fault'? Cuz it IS! I got myself kidnapped because I had to be a fuckin' idiot!"
"Bakugou-!" Yu tried to interject.
"Don't 'Bakugou-!" me! I was a moron! A moron who killed All Might!"
"I said he was in a coma!"
"I don't CARE!" Bakugou yelled, whipping his only functional arm into a bunch of the gifts and cards that had been setup.
All of them loudly clattered to the floor before Bakugou turned away from his cousin once again.
Stupid, Yu, STUPID! You know he loved that guy and you go on and say Endeavor was better at something?! God, could you kick yourself in the ass any HARDER?! Yu mentally chastised herself. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes before she went and set the gifts and cards back up on the stand. Not because she didn't Bakugou couldn't do it, but he wasn't making any moves to try and fix it either.
"I...I'm sorry..." Yu said, not really able to think up any other defense of her words earlier.
The door slid open, and Mitsuki rushed in. "W-we heard a commotion! Is everything a-" Mitsuki saw the mess, and made a face. "O-oh."
"I'm sorry...I...I'll be outside." Yu said, walking past Mitsuki. She was only going to break once she was out of the room. Because god did she want to right now.
Mitsuki stared at her son, and closed her eyes. "Katsuki. I-"
"Don't." Bakugou said. "I know what you're going to say. I don't need the hard ass routine right now."
"I...I wasn't going to..." Mitsuki said, moving over to grab a chair and sit next to her son.
"When have you ever tried anything else? Tough love's just your way of doing it...right?"
Mitsuki had to admit her fault there. If she were nice, sweet, and passive like Inko, Bakugo would walk all over her and go out of control. So, she had to think outside the box. Her style of parenting used "tough love" and empathy to say, "I know you don't like the rules, but I'm going to make you follow them anyway because it's good for you and I love you."
And it worked for him when he was young. But they did fail to correct his superiority complex, anger issues, violent tendencies, or the fact that he was bullying another student.
"It is. Because...being passive with you wouldn't have worked, would it? I could've ditched the tough love act long ago..."
"But you didn't," Bakugou interrupted.
"Because I knew it was the only way for you to...follow the rules. Stay..."
"Safe?" Bakugou finished, with a bit of spite.
"Yes. And I know it didn't...work out," Mitsuki said.
"Gee, you think?" Bakugou hissed.
"Listen, I know you're mad." Mitsuki said.
"No shit."
"Just...what do you need?"
"I don't need your tough love bullshit, I just…I just need something else."
Mitsuki and Katsuki stared at each other for a few seconds.
It wasn't just "something else" he needed. Mitsuki knew that. She knew what he needed; he needed her to drop the act.
So she did. She just grabbed Bakugou and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry," Mitsuki whispered, the tears already welling up in her eyes, ready to flow now that the mask was off.
Bakugou didn't wanna cry in front of his mom- he wanted to show he still had some fight left in his body. He needed some sort of control over what was going on in his life.
But he failed.
They both just broke down in the hospital room, letting all those bottled up emotions out.
Bakugou was discharged two days later. Going from being listless in his hospital room to being listless in his bedroom, the student at least welcomed the change of scenery. This week had been hell on his psyche.
But he didn't want to give up. Despite everything, that spark of anger existed- and while it was buried underneath a sea of sadness, it refused to die.
Of course, Mitsuki wasn't blind to that and she spent hours with Masaru, already looking for something to help their son recover. They weren't the only ones determined to bring Bakugou back to himself. While Bakugou's parents sought help, Mitsuki received an unexpected call.
A few hours after the call, the surprise help arrived. Bakugou had been dissociating all day long when a knock on his door brought him back to reality.
"What." He said flatly.
"Heya. Can we come in, Katsuki?"
Bakugou knew that voice.
"Yeah."
Ben 10k opened the door, with Yang and Ruby following close behind. "Hey, kid."
"Hey," Bakugou said, without even looking at any of them.
"Bakugou? Hi, I'm Ruby Tennyson-Rose...I was involved in the raid." Ruby said.
"I recognize you." Bakugou said sourly.
"I'm...so sorry Cass did that to you. It's my fault that it happened." Ruby apologized.
"Sure." Bakugou scoffed.
"Hey there," An unfamiliar voice to him greeted, "Nice to meet you, Bakugou. Name's Yang."
Bakugou ignored her greeting too, until he heard her extend her arm for a handshake. What caught his attention was the fact that the act was accompanied by several whirring sounds. He actually looked over to her and noticed that she had extended her own mechanical arm. It sported a yellow paint job, complete with extra armor on the forearm and, while Bakugou was no engineer, he could tell that the armor moved and shifted when needed to. Probably a weapon of her's.
Bakugou's eyes regained some life as he saw the arm.
"Like I said. It's my fault it happened. You shouldn't be a casualty in my war against her." Ruby declared. "So, we wanted to talk to you about-"
"Is that the limited edition 30th anniversary Ishiyama and Kenko poster on your wall?" Ben asked, pointing at the adjacent wall.
"Yeah." Bakugou said, not making eye contact with 10K, "Why...do you ask?"
"...you're a Sumo Slammers nerd." Ben muttered. "Oh my god."
"S-shut up." Bakugou frowned. This is EXACTLY why he didn't have any company over.
"Ben. Focus." Yang said, slapping him upside the head with her prosthetic arm. "Not the time for you to geek out."
"Heyyy…that hurt." Ben frowned. Bakugou chuckled at that, but his expression turned grim again.
"That's just a selling point with the arm." Yang joked.
"So what if I am?" Bakugou scoffed.
"Oh, I'm not judging. I'm appreciating," Ben corrected.
"Anyways, ignore my brother in law." Yang said. "We want to give you your own prosthetic arm to help you continue your hero journey."
"You want to give me an arm." Bakugou repeated.
"Yep. Specially made, courtesy of yours truly," Ruby confirmed.
"...when do I start?" Bakugou asked.
"Soon." Ruby said. "Probably by tomorrow..."
"Why not today?"
"Because today is when you and I talk," Yang said, "Call it a primer. Ben, Rube?"
They both nodded and stepped out of the room so that Yang could talk to the kid alone.
"So, how much do you know about me?" Yang asked once the door to Bakugou's room was closed.
"I've never even heard of you." Bakugou scoffed.
"I'm wounded, but whatever." Yang laughed. "I'm more popular overseas."
"So...?" Bakugou gestured for her to introduce herself.
"Like I said, name's Yang, but my hero name is Golden Dragon. Ruby's older sister, Ben's sister-in-law and so on. If you've never heard of me, then you've probably never heard of the Grimm War either, huh?"
"Nope," Bakugou said.
"Well...here's the long and short of it. Back when me, Ruby, and all our friends were close to your age, our school was attacked," Yang said, immediately piquing Bakugou's interest, reminding him of the USJ incident, "We didn't know it back then, but the one responsible was a witch named Salem."
"That sounds made up." Bakugou scoffed.
"It was real." Yang sounded pissed at that scoff. "Her servants had teamed up with an older version of the Red Fang. Back then they were still called the 'White Fang,' practically mocking the original group. During what's known as the Fall of Beacon, their leader almost killed my future wife because he wanted revenge. I jumped in without thinking..."
Yang closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She remembered that masked bastard, the red blade raised high.
"And he used that against me," the present Yang finished.
"He..." Bakugou started.
"Took my arm, yeah."
"…so. You're…like me." Bakugou said.
"I was like you," Yang replied. "But I've grown since that day, and everything's been different ever since."
"Then you went through...this?" Bakugou didn't motion to anything or emphasize anything, he didn't need to.
"Yep, pretty much the exact same. Sat in bed for days, not doing anything except looking out my window. Then when I got over that... I still wasn't quite back in the game." Yang sighed, "It hurt. Hurt me, hurt those around me..."
Bakugou looked down at his arm, and then back at Yang's arm. He clenched his fist, and regained that typical 'resting bitch face look'.
"I don't care if I won't be the same at this point…" Bakugou said. "I just want to get to the top."
"This is gonna be a tough journey, kid." Yang frowned. "The therapy is gonna be fine, but…regaining that sense of control and your old self? I can't guarantee it'll come back immediately."
"I've been sitting around for too long…" Bakugou said, standing up from his bed. "What I need now is action."
The spark had returned.
Ever since the age of heroes began, technology had been on the up and up. By the time Izuku and the others had been born, there was technology for flying cars, giant robots and most importantly, advanced prosthetics. A hero losing a limb wasn't common, but in the case that they did, medical sciences had developed easily accessible and simplistic arms for pros.
Let's take the Pro Hero Ectoplasm. At one point, a villain named Gashley mutilated Ectoplasm's legs. They needed to be amputated, but he was able to make a recovery. He now wore a real prosthetic when he's out in public and a special, light-weight prosthetic for battle.
There was, however, a serious issue in the case of some heroes. Some prosthetic limbs meant 'early retirement' or having your capabilities significantly weakened. Since we all know it's gonna happen, let's grab Mr. Compress from the future. Yeah, he gets his arm chopped off. It's gonna happen in…3-ish chapters. It's in the manga, you've probably read it, whatever. Mr. Compress had his arm completely destroyed- and that meant he lost one half of his quirk.
The term "Quirk Factor" refers to the collective traits that compose a Quirk. This includes the primary Quirk power as well as all the biological mechanisms that allow said primary power to function properly. Katsuki Bakugo's Quirk Factor, for instance, is in the fact that he can sweat a liquid similar to nitroglycerin from his palms and detonate it at will.
With the arm now missing, he thought he would be half as effective.
This was not the case.
Bakugou wiggled his new robotic fingers. "It feels so…life-like." Bakugou said, as he moved it up and down.
"I've redesigned one of Yang's arms to suit your needs in combat." Ruby explained, as Bakugou started flipping the bird with his new arm. Ruby gave him a look.
"I'm gonna ignore that because you deserve a pass." Ruby sighed.
"Whatever…" Bakugou huffed. "Like you've never flipped the bird."
"Oh, I have. Watch!" Ruby flipped him off. Bakugou flipped her off back.
He smirked at that.
Ruby cleared her throat. "Since your quirk factor was tied into your palm, we…decided to try and replicate it as best as we could." Ruby explained.
Bakugou raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Well, your arm collects the sweat from your body, and stores it inside the arm." Yang said. "So, you've still got your 'full' quirk. One side is just gonna hit harder than the other."
"Sweet." Bakugou grinned.
"Just try it real quick. This will also be a durability demonstration," Ruby grinned, taking a few steps back. Bakugou held up his new arm, and started to focus. He couldn't see them, but tiny little pores started to 'secrete' his sweat. Bakugou smirked, and swiped forward.
"DIE!"
Bakugou unleashed the explosion from his new arm, an exhilarating surge of power surged through him. The force of the blast rippled through his entire body, vibrating with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine. None of his explosions had ever felt this way before. This was…
Empty.
Despite the satisfaction and the feeling of 'we're so back', he missed something he never thought he'd miss. The searing heat that radiated from the epicenter of each detonation. Yeah, the explosion felt controlled, precise, and undeniably powerful, yet Bakugou found himself missing the radiant warmth that used to engulf his hand.
That was a weird thing to miss. Bakugou's smirk wavered for a moment, but he quickly regained it so not to make Ruby get all 'mushy'. She seemed like the type to info dump her problems.
Ruby grinned. "So? Whatcha think?"
"Now this is more like it." He grinned.
But that grin was very much false.
In close combat, there's no hiding behind weapons or distance. It's raw and personal, relying solely on your own skill and instinct. Every strike must be executed flawlessly, each movement calculated to gain the upper hand. A delicate balance between danger and adrenaline pumping. A great test of physical prowess.
Bakugou couldn't resist a good one.
And neither could Yang.
Bakugou effortlessly deflected Yang's left-handed swing with his artificial wrist, causing her to withdraw her hand from him. Bakugou took advantage of the situation. He swiftly and carefully aimed a jab at Yang's middle. Yang stumbled backwards, momentarily startled by Bakugou's counteroffensive's unexpected intensity...but the astonishment was short-lived. Yang smiled- she was just getting started.
"Nice hit." Yang said, eyes lighting up. "Ruby obviously spoiled you a bit with that arm."
"Don't quip." Bakugou said. "I'm enjoying this TOO much right now."
Yang's hair started to ignite as she activated her semblance. "I'll respect your wishes, then."
Bakugou, undeterred by Yang's fiery resolve, charged forward with explosive bursts, closing the distance between them. He unleashed a barrage of rapid punches, each strike calculated for maximum impact. Yang skillfully blocked and dodged, using her enhanced strength to parry Bakugou's relentless assault. Yang countered with a swift roundhouse kick. Bakugou narrowly avoided the blow, responding with a series of explosive blasts that propelled him backward, creating distance between them.
"No wonder you won the Sports Fest. You're really some kind of Wunderkind." Yang quipped.
Bakugou, fueled by the compliment, scowled but couldn't hide a hint of satisfaction. Though it didn't last. Yang raised a hand, signaling an end to their battle. "What the hell?" Bakugou frowned.
"We'll be doing these in 'short bursts'. Just wanted to see if you were adapting well enough to it." Yang said. "One step at a time, kid."
Bakugou scowled. "I guess."
"So...how's it feel?" Yang asked.
Bakugou looked down at his arm. "Honestly, I'm kind of surprised. It feels... natural. They did a great job with this thing-"
Bakugou didn't expect what came next. Before he could finish his sentence, Yang delivered a sudden left hook right into his face. Bakugou's upper body reared back both from the impact and surprise. Despite the unexpected blow, Bakugou, always quick to react, prepared to retaliate with a right hook. Using the turning momentum, he aimed to deliver an elbow jab.
Yang, however, was equally quick and skilled. She expertly blocked Bakugou's elbow jab, effortlessly dodging the kicks that followed. Bakugou, adapting to the situation, switched to a series of punches, but Yang proved too agile for him to land a hit.
Seizing an opportunity, Yang used her left hand to block an incoming elbow thrust from Bakugou. Simultaneously, she grasped his robotic arm and pulled it forward, disrupting his balance. Bakugou found himself vulnerable as Yang swiftly swept his forward leg, sending him crashing onto the ground on his back.
Yang threw a towel at his face. "Sorry. My dad did the same to me." Yang smirked.
"Your dad's a bitch." Bakugou muttered, using the towel to wipe the sweat off his forehead.
"I'm mainly doing this because I see the same issues he saw with me." Yang explained. "I saw your tournament fights- you're kind of predictable."
"That grey haired dick said the same thing." Bakugou frowned.
"Oh, you fought Mercury...huh." Yang said.
"What?"
"Nothing, just...for me, fighting Mercury was the first domino that led to me losing my arm." Yang said. "How...weirdly cosmic."
"Was he still a massive dickhead back then?"
"Oh, the BIGGEST." Yang said. "But, seriously. You're predictable. Stubborn...and a little boneheaded."
"So?" Bakugou said.
"You don't see anything wrong with that?" Yang frowned.
"Why should I? It's what works for me." Bakugou said.
"How's it been going recently?" Yang asked, looking down at his arm.
Bakugou glared at her. "Shut up."
"Listen. I know you were permitted to fight, but sometimes, it's better to walk away." Yang said. "Not only were you a target, you had an injured kid with you. Your priority should have been rescuing him."
"I don't need a lecture from you." Bakugou said.
"I think you VERY much do. We're doing this all free of charge. If we can donate some of OUR time to you, then you can get chewed out by me." Yang frowned.
"I said, I'm fine." Bakugou frowned.
"No, you're not."
"Are you saying it's MY fault I got my arm chopped off!?" Bakugou said.
"No! Jesus no." Yang frowned. "That was someone being petty. However, fighting opponent's who out class you seems to be your death wish."
"The hell do you-"
"You've fought against All Might AND Ben 10k, and lost both times. Yet your confidence says 'I could beat the blindfolded'." Yang said. "You need to scope out your situations better, and I damn well know you can. I've seen your grades- you're a lot more perceptive than you look. It's just that you...tunnel vision towards violence each and every time."
Bakugou gritted his teeth, his fists clenched. "I don't need your analysis. I'll handle things my way."
Yang sighed, frustration evident on her face. "Bakugou, there's strength in recognizing your weaknesses and learning from them-"
"Not for me." Bakugou said, throwing the towel back at her. "I lost ONCE because of someone being hung up about a loss I wasn't responsible for. They took it out on ME. I have nothing wrong, and that's not coming from a place of ego, that's the damn truth. You can psychoanlyze me, tell me I'm rusty, but don't you DARE even try to say I have any damn weaknesses!"
Yang was unimpressed with his little 'temper tantrum'...but also concerned. "...Weaknesses are all about understanding where you can improve. You're strong, but that doesn't mean you can't get stronger."
"Yeah? Well, watch me. I'll squash anything." Bakugou said, stancing up again. "So, we going again, or no!?"
It seems fighting was the only way Yang could break the idea to him.
...she could live with that.
And from then on, learning to use the arm was…a breeze. More than he thought. This gave him some new life, made him feel more like 'Bakugou'...
So why couldn't he look most of his classmates in the eye?
Was Yang really right about the whole 'weakness' thing?
These thoughts haunted him as he laid on his bed, holding back these strange, alien tears.
Holding them back was...draining, honestly. Sleep was more than welcome after those all strange emotions rose back up to the surface. His sleep wasn't...good, per se, but it wasn't full of nightmares either. But there weren't dreams to replace them. It was just...empty sleep.
Sleep didn't really help his tiredness. Bakugou decided to spend the next day keeping distance from everyone. His thoughts seemed consumed by the petty insults spewed by that annoying redhead bitch from the League of Villains.
If you continue living the life you do, you won't end up at the top. You will only find hate, loneliness, despair, anger, ruin, and death in the long run.
I want this night to forever haunt you.
This is your first loss, Katsuki Bakugou.
Despite his attempts to shake off these words, they still lingered in his mind, weighing him down with a sluggish feeling. The path to recovery appeared much simpler in theory, but when put into practice, it proved to be an exhausting ordeal.
But at least he was moving. He decided to take a walk. It'd been a long while since he'd been on campus. As Bakugou neared the dorms, he stumbled upon one of the training gyms, the sound of commotion echoing from within.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he took a peek inside and spotted Izuku, Iida, and Ochako training in unison, with Ochako assuming the role of Chromastone. Bakugou stood on the sidelines, observing their progress for a moment before releasing a heavy sigh.
"Wow, she's made incredible progress in just a few months, huh?" Someone commented behind Bakugou. He turned to find All Might approaching him. Bakugou was taken aback - it had been the first time he had seen All Might since the incident in Kamino. He couldn't help but notice how thin and different All Might looked. The sight of him, less muscular and seemingly more subdued, was odd and out of the ordinary.
But it was the new normal.
"All Might," Bakugou said, a mixture of greeting and confirmation in his voice. He wanted to make sure.
"Welcome back," All Might replied, attempting not to glance at Bakugou's new robotic arm.
"So, this is your true form," Bakugou mumbled, gripping his arm.
"Yeah. Not bad for a guy in his fifties, right?" All Might joked. "And this is after having most of my organs replaced."
Bakugou gave him an odd look. "Kind of morbid, but alright."
All Might chuckled nervously. "So, um...do you have time to walk and talk?" he asked.
Bakugou took a deep breath. "Yeah." He nodded. "I do."
"Alright…follow me. I suspect you have a lot of questions." All Might said, motioning for Bakugou to follow him. Bakugou gave one more look back at Ochako and the others. He watched Izuku summon Blackwhip, sending it towards Ochako at full force. They hadn't noticed him in the midst of all their training.
And even if they did, he wasn't sure that he wanted to talk to Izuku one on one just yet.
Despite All Might's invitation of a talk, the two didn't say anything for a majority of the walk over to wherever All Might was going towards. It wasn't that they didn't have anything to say, but they needed privacy. Soon, they arrived at their destination-
Ground Beta.
Bakugou started the conversation. "So…is it true?"
"Hm?" All Might asked, as they walked through the faux city.
"That crap Deku said about you giving him a quirk. He blabbed about when he was crying after that first hero practice." Bakugou said.
All Might nodded. "It is. It's complicated- but it's a stockpiling power that's been passed from person to person…but now the other quirk factors are seeping into it."
"...and you gave it to him because he saved me," Bakugou guessed.
"Also correct." All Might said. "In a crowd of bystanders…he was the only one who rushed forward without a quirk to save a friend."
"We're not friends." Bakugou said. "So you thought Deku could be the next Symbol of Peace or something?
"Thought? I know he'll be it." All Might chuckled. "The Symbol of Peace is more than just power. You're undeniably strong, Bakugou…but you have your own path to walk."
"Own path?" Bakugou scoffed. "My path's been crumbling recently. And if he's just gonna be number one irregardless of everything I do…"
All Might hesitated. "It's not…totally hopeless. Being the best hero isn't about outdoing someone else-"
"Why...why the hell...do I just have EVERYONE goddamn worrying about me?!" Bakugou suddenly yelled, cutting off All Might. "Why did you have to choose HIM? Some loser I'm constantly having to play catch up with?! Why did he get that kind of power!?"
"I lost my damn arm, and now I have to watch as he, of all people, gets to play hero with the power you gave him! And I can't even put aside my stupid pride to ask for help or get some sort of damn pity. I'm responsible for my own damn issues, and I hate it!" Bakugou continued yelling. "And the worst part!? THE WORST PART? I'm the one who ended your career. Because I couldn't back down from a stupid fight!"
All Might looked sad as Bakugou looked like he was finally having some big breakdown. "If only I'd been stronger...if only I hadn't been kidnapped by those stupid villains...everything woulda been fine!"
"Bakugou, I don't blame yo-"
"Don't LIE!" Bakugou yelled. "You should hate me for messing everything up! I'm the one who ruined your legacy! I'm the reason you can't be the Symbol of Peace anymore! So just SAY IT! Say I'm...I'm...I'm..."
It was like it all hit Bakugou at once. The regret and realization he was just yelling at his idol, for probably no good reason. Again, the situation was out of All Might's hands. It was just an unfortunate domino that was going to fall eventually. He dropped to his knees...and just sobbed.
All Might stood there for a few moments, letting Bakugou just get it all out. This was probably the first time the kid had this wave of emotions wash over him like this.
"...why him?" Bakugou asked quietly. "Why...of all people him?"
All Might took a deep breath. "Like I said. Even powerless, he was more of a hero than anyone else. I could tell, even then, that you were already on your way. So, I wanted to give Midoriya a chance to walk the same path. This, however..." All Might motioned to his body. "This is NOT your fault. I was fast approaching my limit, day by day. This was my destiny."
All Might dropped down to his knees, to be level with Bakugou. "I burdened you with your own strength. You have the potential to surpass even me, and that's both a gift and a heavy responsibility." All Might said. "...and you're only a kid."
All Might wrapped Bakugou into a hug. "Being a hero...has taught me something. Saving and winning go hand in hand. You and Midoriya admire those facets, but hold them in different regards. If either had been missing from my sense of justice...I don't think I could stand for justice in the way I did. Everyone looks up to a hero in different ways..."
Bakugou, caught off guard by the unexpected embrace, hesitated for a moment before allowing himself to be enveloped by All Might's presence. He wanted to push him away, but he didn't.
...he needed this.
"...you're still hiding it, aren't you? The crap with your quirk." Bakugou said.
"Yeah." All Might said. "You, Izuku and Ochako know. So do the principal and Recovery Girl...and the Outcasts."
Bakugou took a deep breath. "Then I won't say a word."
"You're not alone in this journey. Heroes lean on each other for support all the time. If you can learn to respect, and lift each other up..." All Might said. "Then maybe Midoriya won't be the ONLY symbol of peace. I fully believe all of you kids can become the ultimate generation of heroes. Ones who save by winning...and vice versa."
Bakugou absorbed All Might's words, a mix of determination and contemplation in his eyes. "Right," Bakugou said, a rare hint of agreement in his tone.
...he didn't know if he'd reach out to Midoriya about this sort of mushy crap.
But maybe one day, he would.
Just not now. While their paths were divergent, they would intersect again.
Bakugou just had to take the 'scenic route'.
Yang was in the midst of cooking dinner when the sound of a knock echoed through the room. Setting down her ladle, she made her way toward the door, curiosity etched on her face. With a swift motion, she opened it, revealing the visitor on the other side.
"Oh, hey." Yang said. "What are you doing-"
"I'm…sorry I treated you like a dick." Bakugou said.
"Huh?" Yang noticed it looked like he'd been crying.
"I'm sorry." Bakugou sighed. "I probably didn't deserve your help, but…tell Ben and Ruby I'm thankful for them giving me a second chance."
"Oh." Yang said. "Thanks."
Bakugou looked down at his arm, and then back at Yang. "Did you mean it back then? When you said…that you were like me."
Yang shrugged. "Sort of, yeah. Maybe more in the heat of battle."
Bakugou clenched his fist. "Then I know what I need to work on next."
"Well, if you need help…I'm a few doors down the way." Yang smirked.
"I need to focus on something first." Bakugou said. "And…if it goes well, I'll come to you when I'm ready. Deal?"
"Deal." Yang said.
Bakugou then sniffed the air. "...by the way, your soup's on fire." Bakugou said.
Yang's eyes widened, and she immediately turned to see a plume of smoke rising from the pot on the stove. With a yelp, she rushed back into the kitchen, grabbing a nearby towel to fan away the smoke.
"Ah, crap! Not again," Yang muttered as she hurriedly ran to the stove. Bakugou quietly slipped away as she moved the pot off the stove.
He was tired to ask him now…but he'd ask tomorrow.
For sure.
Bakugou woke up in the morning, not refreshed but at least rested. He rolled over to check his phone to see what time it was.
7:00 AM? Bakugou thought. .I could sleep in, but...
Bakugou felt his stomach grumble for food. He sighed. "Alright, breakfast time I guess..."
Surprisingly, he was actually the first one up, or at least from what he could tell anyway. It felt...weird seeing the dorm this empty, especially after coming back.
Bakugou walked towards the kitchen, and looked at the foods they had in stock. Some cereals, microwavable breakfast pouches, all sorts of healthy breakfast bars- Bakugou settled for a glass of water and cheerios.
He went over to the table and started eating after fixing everything. In the midst of Bakugou's breakfast, Kirishima came walking down the steps. He appeared to be ready for a workout, since he was dressed in a gym outfit. During breakfast, Kirishima saw Bakugou eating alone and feeling down.
"Oh! Hey man." Kirishima said, walking over. Bakugou gave a solemn wave. "Missed you yesterday. What are you doing up so early?"
"I was hungry." Bakugou stated.
"Gotcha," Kirishima nodded.
"...hey. You're gonna go work out, right?"
"Yeah."
"...mind if I come with?"
"Sure! You can spot me if the weights are open. If not, we can see how much of a punch that new arm packs," Kirishima said.
"Like last night wasn't proof enough?" Bakugou raised a brow.
"That showed how much strength the new arm had. Not how good a punch it can throw."
Shit, he's right, Bakugou thought, "Alright fine."
"I'm hoping you didn't get all rusty on us. I've been waiting for a good rematch since the sports fest, y'know." Kirishima pounded his fist into his hand.
Bakugou scoffed. "In your dreams, Kirishima."
"...that's weird."
"What?"
"You. Just saying my name. I kinda miss Spiky Hair." Kirishima admitted.
"I mean I can still use that nickname," Bakugou said, "Nothing's stopping me."
"Alright, man. How about you get changed and we'll head over?" Kirishima said.
"Fine by me." Bakugou dumped the rest of the cheerios in the trash, and downed the rest of his water. He then headed back to his room to change. Kirishima watched him go, and sighed.
I'm a little shocked HE was the one to ask to hang out. Kirishima said. That never happens.
Bakugou came back after a few minutes, dressed now in the academy's gym outfit. He had to admit, the arm still felt a bit weird in this. Not uncomfortable, but he didn't know how else to describe it other than weird. It wasn't phantom pain but...
Bakugou shook it off as he and Kirishima entered the gym. Kirishima immediately headed over to the mats and started with his usual stretches.
"So, like...when do you think you'll be allowed to go back into the fray?"
"Next week. They wanna make sure my arm isn't weird before I can do any real hero training." Bakugou frowned. "Annoying as it is, they're right to do so."
"Hey, that's great! A lot sooner than I thought!" Kirishima said.
"How long did you think it'd take?" Bakugou asked.
"I dunno. Two or three weeks? Maybe more? Not a doctor, man."
Bakugou rolled his eyes. "Physical therapy was pretty fast- faster than I expected. But still. Need to take some precautions while I get used to it."
"Makes sense," Kirishima nodded.
Bakugou picked up a weight with his robot arm, and began to do some curls. Kirishima watched him, confused.
"What?"
"I mean...do you really need to work that arm out? It's..." Kirishima made a face. Bakugou blinked. He looked down at his arm and then back at Kirishima.
"...tell ANYONE and you'll be seeing your great grandpa." Bakugou warned.
"Not a soul's gonna know," Kirishima promised.
"Thanks for that." Bakugou said, as he began doing curls with his 'real' arm.
Kirishima continued with his stretches, as Bakugou lifted his weights. The two stayed silent for a brief while, before Bakugou let out a loud sigh.
"Kirishima." Bakugou said. "...why are you friends with me?"
"Why?" Kirishima repeated.
"Yeah. Why? What have I done that ever said 'hey, this guy seems like a good friend.' All I've ever done is...curse you out and threaten to blast you to hell."
"I mean. There's some redeeming qualities to you. You're cool, know what you're doing, you're probably one of our best fighters in the class..." Kirishima said. "I just find the positives in everything."
"...But I treat you like shit." Bakugou frowned.
"I mean yeah," Kirishima shrugged.
"Don't just 'I mean yeah!'" Bakugou countered.
"I know, I know. But...believe it or not, you can thank Mina for this."
"Pinky? What did she say?"
"Oh, this was way before UA. Me and Mina actually knew each other since middle school."
"...really?" Bakugou asked.
"Yeah. She...kinda helped me grow out of that shell." Kirishima said. "And then, I wanted to extend that same offer to everyone."
"So...that's it? You wanna help me...come out of my shell?"
"I know that might not be the best use of the phrase, but yeah," Kirishima nodded.
"...why me?"
"I dunno, man. When I met you, you were moody, angry and...kind of a dick." Kirishima said. "I just thought, 'Hey, maybe this dude needs someone who can be on his level.' So, I decided to try and befriend you, and...it kinda worked."
"Just kinda, huh?" Bakugou scoffed.
"No, no, it definitely worked," Kirishima laughed. "Look at us now, we're friends."
Bakugou rolled his eyes. "...somewhat."
"And you know, it's not like you're always a dick. You have your moments, like when you helped me out with my exams this summer." Kirishima said. "I think you just need someone to remind you that you can be a good person."
Bakugou looked away. "Thanks, Kirishima."
"No problem, man. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your weird robot arm curls." Kirishima said with a grin.
"Shut up," Bakugou groaned, but he couldn't help but feel grateful to have a friend like Kirishima.
Not that he'd ever admit it.
This was step one on the road to recovery.
…and what a long road he'd walk.