Chapter 81

[Katsuki Bakugo]

He wasn't a morning person.

He wasn't an afternoon or an evening person either, but he was especially bad in the mornings. Curse his Quirk, but he was more irritable than usual until he fully woke up, which took its sweet time. He wouldn't be halfway reasonable until after the first class was over. Probably not after that either, being perfectly honest.

This only irritated him further, but that's how life went for one Katsuki Bakugo.

He still tried to focus himself once the school appeared in the distance once he turned a corner. Pushing down his anger, which sparked by anything and everything, he took a deep breath in. It didn't help much, but he had to try something.

As if to lend him a hand for once, life put a distraction right in front of him. Literally, really, considering it was at the gates of U.A., where he was going. What was it? One Kazuki Endo, apparently having been stopped there more than usual by the reporters. Katsuki usually arrived early, but Endo did so even more, so he usually had already gone inside by the time he arrived.

The only reason he knew the interviews happened was because they'd appear in the news quite often.

Passing by the small group outside the school, Katsuki spared a moment to be annoyed at the way the creepy fucker had improved his reputation. That was really a baffling thing to him. Everyone was suddenly acting like the guy hadn't caused a disaster that had killed people.

And meanwhile Katsuki still was looked at like he was a dynamite stick ready to blow up.

Stepping inside the gates, he paused, his eye twitching uncontrollably. 'God, I'm a fucking idiot,' he thought to himself. Either way, he stayed where he was, glaring at the wall beside the gates and occasionally at Endo outside. The absolutely bullshit guy, meanwhile, seemed determined to take his time answering all the questions directed his way with that damnable smile on his face.

'How in the fuck…?' Katsuki thought, his scowl growing even more pronounced and his teeth almost cracking with how hard he was grinding them. It felt like an eternity before the situation changed, with Endo stepping away from the small crowd and towards the school. Evidently, he had felt Katsuki, because the guy immediately turned his gaze towards him and then moved towards him. 'Good,' he thought with a grin.

"Hey, Bakugo," Endo greeted with a small wave, somehow managing to keep a smile on his face. "Anything I can help you with?" he asked and it annoyed Katsuki even more to see how calm the guy was. Wasn't he supposed to be feeling the same as he was? What the fuck was that bullshit? "You are especially mad today, man. What's up?"

"Your annoying face, B-Movie," he growled, to which the guy chuckled.

"Yeah, I figured. So… Really, do you need anything?" Endo asked, the smile receding but his expression kept the calm all the same. "Is your Quirk acting up?"

"What do you mean?" he growled, almost recoiling. What the fu-?!

"You are always angry, but most of the time it feels… odd. Like you are angry and confused, somewhat. I imagine it's your Quirk somehow. I refuse to believe that you are that angry all the time," Endo answered, explaining things annoyingly well. Katsuki had to stop himself from snapping something at the infuriating piece of-

He took a deep breath in.

"So…?"

"How do you do it?" he hissed in the end, drawing a confused blink from Endo.

"Do… what?"

"How do you make them like you?" he asked, waving his hand towards the gates, where there were some lingering reporters. Katsuki was just happy that they weren't taking photos of them or something. He could only imagine what that'd do to his image. "You fucking killed people, and they like you. What bullshit is that?"

Katsuki felt the shortest burst of pride at the twitch of Endo's face, the amenable mask cracking and annoyance shining through. However, that moment was short-lived. A deep breath in was all it took for the act to come back with a vengeance.

"I'm gonna choose to believe that you aren't as much of a piece of shit as you appear to be, Bakugo," Endo told him, the placid smile turning into something much sharper. "So, please, be more eloquent."

"... Fine," he said, taking a deep breath in and pushing down his anger… Not quite being successful, but it was something. "You changed your image, how?" he asked. And if that wasn't enough then…

"Oh… You want to improve yours, huh? Interesting," Endo said, finally proving that there was a brain somewhere in there. Fucking hell though, was everyone fucking slow other than Katsuki himself? "Well, you have a strong Quirk and I don't think physical appearance is really a problem for you," he said, further proving that he was smart. Katsuki knew there was a reason he'd approached- "Your personality is shit though."

Fucking son of a bitch said what?

"That glare isn't helping you at all. You look like you'll blow up anyone close to you, which isn't a good look when you are a hero. With villains it's fine, but civilians will run for the hills, which isn't quite what you are aiming for, Bakugo," Endo explained, making Katsuki's glare grow even stronger. "Nevermind what the reporters will do to you once you open your mouth."

"... You getting somewhere with this?" Katsuki asked through gritted teeth.

"Just that you need to deal with your anger issues."

"No fucking shit, goddamn Sherlock."

"This is kind of what I mean," Endo told him, his smile widening a little. "Well, fortunately for you, my emotionally challenged friend,-"

"Ex-fucking-cuse me?"

"-I have an idea to help you with that," the bastard finished, as if he hadn't said anything. "So, you interested?"

"... Fuck. I'm listening."

[}-o-{]

[Kazuki Endo]

It was taking all his control and all his acting training to keep a calm mind and a placid, friendly smile on his face.

He was counting it as a great achievement, considering that Katsuki Bakugo was sitting right beside him and as angry as he'd ever been. The only reason he wasn't doing something about it was because the guy clearly struggled to have any measure of control himself. It was a wonder he wasn't even more unpleasant, if he always felt that way.

Kazuki had been aware of this, sort of, but he didn't focus on the blonde much. He had enough things without paying special attention to specific people and emotions. Normally, he just let what his sense fed him wash past him as best he could. If he didn't let his mind dwell on them too much, then it was easier for Kazuki to ignore or at least diminish their effect on him, no matter how little.

And considering Bakugo had been a well of anger since the very first day, it'd been easy to get used to him, sort of. It helped that his anger was always odd, strong but somehow not quite as bad. It wasn't mixed with other emotions, most of the time. Mostly just confusion and frustration, but that was about it. It didn't have the same poisonous feeling that anger had when coming from other people.

That was why he guessed it was his Quirk that affected him. With that now confirmed thought, it also gave Kazuki strength and determination to help the guy. Because he'd have wanted to help anyway, sure. Bakugo was annoying but he was still a classmate and one that had stuck with him despite everything… Nevermind that he wanted to be a hero and ignoring someone asking for help kind of went against that.

More than all that, it motivated Kazuki, to help someone that struggled with emotions not his own, just like he did. Who knew? Maybe Bakugo would be a halfway pleasant guy if it weren't for that anger?... Doubtful, at least after having so much time affected by it. However, maybe Kazuki could help him get better, just like he was at the moment.

Maybe it was presumptuous to say he could help him? It was more that he could at least give him the push to get started on that path too. He probably wasn't going to be doing much else, he guessed. Any help was better than nothing, that Kazuki knew well.

"I can't believe you brought me here," Bakugo growled from beside him, but Kazuki paid his tone and emotions no mind. "Of all damn places."

"You need help," Kazuki replied calmly, smile still in place. It was surprisingly easy to keep it, when he considered he was doing something good. "I could help you, but if you are going to get help, why not get it from the best you can? That's not me," he explained with a shrug.

"Washing your hands off of me, huh? I see how it is," the boy said, a sardonic smile on his face. Under the annoyance that joined Bakugo's usual emotions though, Kazuki picked up on the smallest bit of some other feelings too. Feelings that solidified his resolution even more than it already was.

"Even after you go inside, if you need anything, just say the word," Kazuki told him, not looking at him. He knew short-fused people could often react badly to direct eye contact, like wild animals. Bakugo in particular seemed to take offense when he was having a bad enough mood, which was the case. "I'm class vice-president, after all."

"As if I care about that. I wouldn't ask Ponytail for help if she were the last person on Earth," Bakugo grumbled and Kazuki had a split second to make a decision. It wasn't a difficult choice at all though, not really.

"Careful," he growled, channeling negativity through his voice. He was getting better at that, but it wasn't the time to focus on his skill progress. "That's my friend you are talking about and she's president for a reason."

"Whatever you say, B-Movie," Bakugo huffed, and Kazuki almost pressed the issue. However, he decided it wasn't worth it. Maybe if Bakugo ever got better, he'd consider trying to reason with him or something. Alas, at that very moment at least, he didn't think there was a point. "You really think this'll help?" the blonde asked, a derisive sneer on his face.

However, Kazuki once more picked on other emotions in him. Deep inside, he felt some barely noticeable desperation, resignation, pessimism. 'Life's full of surprises,' he thought to himself, considering that and how to best answer that question. There were the obvious answers, of course, but Kazuki somehow thought those weren't good enough.

"I think it's a good first step," he said, speaking slowly as he considered his words. "Just like asking me was. Little by little. Much as I'd like it to, getting better is a process, not something that's done all at once."

"Sounds like it sucks," Bakugo grumbled.

"It definitely sucks," Kazuki agreed with a wry smile. "It's frustrating and demoralizing most of the time. It's awful and I hate it."

"Really not selling me on this, B-Movie," his classmate commented, unimpressed, which made him chuckle. That was fair, but he wasn't done talking. Although, to be honest, Kazuki himself wasn't completely sold on it himself.

"Once in a while though, I get a win," he continued, as if the blonde hadn't spoken. "And those… Those make me think it might all have been worth it. All those struggles suddenly feel like they are getting me somewhere."

"Is it really enough?" Bakugo asked, his emotions somehow calming down, even his anger. It was quite the change… even if they were still strong. Sort of like if Kazuki had been sitting beside a house on fire and suddenly that had changed to a bonfire.

"Still figuring that out myself, not gonna lie."

"Very encouraging," Bakugo grumbled.

"Next!" they heard someone call through the door, the voice muffled.

"Good luck," Kazuki said, watching the blonde take a deep breath in as his anger spiked again. However, he did stand up and move towards the door. 'You'll both need it, I bet,' he added in his own mind. 'It's all in your hands now, Inui.'

Now alone in the waiting area, without Shoto or Toru, since he'd asked them not to come that day, at least until Bakugo was gone, Kazuki didn't know what to do with himself. That was a dangerous thing those days, for a very simple reason. It took him a few seconds to pull out his phone and check it.

No messages nor calls from Distressed, yet he still waited for something.

Kazuki sighed.

[}-o-{]

[Neito Monoma]

"Class 1-A is already here," Kaibara commented and Monoma groaned.

"Some of them are," he grumbled looking around, noticing that none of the students from that class that he'd consider good were around. Evidently, things were taking longer than usual at the student counselor. 'Maybe I should go there too?' Neito wondered, in the privacy of his own mind.

He didn't think he needed a lot of counseling, really, but it'd beat being at the training facility without the rest of the group around, either his or Kazuki's. For one, he didn't much like most of class 1-A, even though he'd gotten better from his… rather low point in regards to judgment. He'd just gotten a little too fed up with the rest of the school talking about them like they were… 'Doesn't matter,' he told himself, mentally shaking his head.

Besides, class 1-A wasn't the only reason he was kind of annoyed then and the-

"Spare us, Monoma," Tsuburaba said, rolling his eyes beside him. Neito had a response at the tip of his tongue, but he held back because there was just no point.

He knew he might have reacted a little too strongly to the situation with 1-A, but he hadn't been the only one. He'd just been the most vocal. Was it so bad that he wanted to draw some attention to his class when everyone was looking at 1-A? Granted, he might have said some things of… questionable intelligence, but at the core of it all, he'd just wanted to tell the world that his class was there too.

And now even his class was side-eyeing him.

"He can steal your Quirk."

"Doesn't have a Quirk of his own, so he has to take ours."

"He thinks he can be a hero."

"He thinks he can use our Quirks better than us."

"He thinks he's better than us."

The whole situation brought bad memories and Neito wanted nothing to do with any of that. He'd thought U.A. would go better and instead it was more of the same. Was he just doomed not to fit in anywhere?

"There's a reason they aren't in the literal A team, you know?"

"They don't look that impressive. Have you seen 1-A?"

"1-A even fought villains already. What have they done?"

"Monoma, I've told you, they are fine."

"Ignore Monoma. He's just jealous, for whatever reason."

"Shut up for once, will you?"

Fitting in just wasn't something Neito could do, apparently. Even when he was already part of a group, he somehow found a way to screw it up for himself. 'Maybe I do need counseling more than I thought,' he thought wryly, watching how the classmates that had gone to the training facilities with him left as soon as they could, all of them with their own groups.

And Neito stood there at the entrance, because the people he could have gone with weren't around.

"Neito Monoma, right?" … "Want to team up?"

"Because I have a plan and your Quirk would be really good for it…"

"You didn't know, so why would I hold that against you?"

Maybe he wasn't as hopeless as he'd thought though, he supposed. It was just a matter of finding the right people, sometimes. Somehow, fortunately, he had managed to stumble over just that. He still cringed at the way their first meeting had happened though, but he was grateful that it hadn't ruined everything for him… again.

"Boss isn't here yet?" a voice called from beside him and he turned to see Chikuchi walking towards him slowly as she adjusted the support equipment around her forearms. "Taking his time today?"

"Looks like it," he replied, smirk in place and smooth voice flowing out without issues. His acting was top notch, if he did say so himself. He almost managed not to show how happy he was to have a friendly face around. He suspected the half-smile might have given him away though. "Not that you were any faster."

"I know," the girl grumbled. "I have to get faster at suiting up," she added, still fidgeting with her equipment even though they were set already. "I might need to talk with Mei about something easier to put on," she added, to which he nodded.

"Something to discuss once we are done here and go to the workshop," he commented, trying to hide how much he was looking forward to that. How long had it been since the last time he had something to do with people other than family outside of school things and such? He didn't care about the specific number. He was depressed enough without that.

"I guess," Chikuchi agreed with a nod. "Still hard to believe I have a tinker of my own."

"More like a borrowed one," he commented, because they all knew who was number one in Mei's list.

"I'll take it," the girl replied with a shrug and a smile on her face. She wasn't nearly as good at hiding how happy she was with the group that had formed… Neito wasn't too sure how, actually. "Really feels like we are an actual hero team, don't you think?"

Well, at least he wasn't the only one that had those daydreams.

Good to know.

"I guess," he answered with, trying to play indifferent.

He didn't know why Chikuchi looked so amused.

[}-o-{]

[Kazuki Endo]

"It does look like it's getting better," Hina commented through the video call as he angled his phone to better capture his fish tank. "Is that the famous kuhli loach?"

"Sure is, adorable noodle that it is," he answered, a wide smile on his face. It was always a good day when the loach came out from wherever it disappeared to. Harder to see than the shrimp, even with those disappearing into the shrimp dimension and all.

"That is very adorable, I have to say," Hina said as the kuhli started wiggling its worm-like body around, making the woman coo over it. "You seem to be doing well too, by the way."

"Sort of," he replied, his mood dimming a little bit. "I'm just… doing my best, I guess. That kind of came out of nowhere."

"Bad news rarely come at opportune times."

"You just look for moments to sound deep and philosophical, don't you?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about," the woman said, and he saw her expression turn into her best innocent look. When her only response was silence, she huffed. "Anyway, you've done all you can. Now, you just have to wait and see how things go. I know it's not what you want, but there's nothing else to do."

"I know," he replied, sighing and deflating. "Anyway, things on your side good? I see your taste in decoration fits your taste in clothing," he commented, trying to change topics. He wasn't lying though. What he could see behind Hina was some hardcore rich setting apartment, which he imagined was a penthouse somewhere. Everything looked very modern, very smooth and expensive. There was a touch of simplicity on everything though. All in all, it reminded Kazuki of the plain dress she used as a hero costume, which managed to look great and expensive while keeping things simple.

"I know, right? And things are good. Quiet few days, which is nice. I rather like this over hectic weeks," she answered and Kazuki wondered if this was her disguising a week where she suffered his backlash or- "I can see what you're thinking written all over your face, Kazuki. This isn't a bad week and it's certainly not your fault. It's all fine. Even with as good as I am, I've long since started being picky with the jobs I take. If I took all the ones thrown my way, I'd never have free time."

"Ok," he replied, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Speaking off though, I was told they'd send you a script so you can practice and do your audition soon," Hina told him, making him flinch a little. "Strong reaction. Can you put the front camera on? This is getting a little awkward."

"Right, sorry," he mumbled, feeling his nerves shoot up and it had nothing to do with whoever was two floors above his apartment. "That's quicker than I thought. Didn't you say it'd take some time to get things set up?"

"Well, time is money. The established actors and actresses they want in it won't be waiting forever," Hina explained to him calmly. If he had to guess, she was trying to project some calm and confidence to him somehow. "So, even if they have details to hash out, they still need to get things moving."

"... Okay," he mumbled, not even trying to hide how this piece of news affected him.

"It'll be fine, Kazuki. Even if the audition or the movie doesn't go well, it won't be the end of the world," Hina told him. "I've checked it and I've asked people, the movie shouldn't be a complete flop, your character shouldn't affect your PR negatively and… Well, I've made sure this job is good, that's all you need to know," she explained to him, which was indeed a little bit reassuring.

Only a little bit though.

"You can still turn this down, Kazuki," Hina reminded him, her expression and her voice softening. "Nobody is forcing you to do this. You don't need to do it."

"I know that," he said, nodding. However, he was interested. He thought it sounded like fun, sort of. He'd heard plenty of Hina talking about how jobs went for her and he found it interesting. It was just that he was worried he'd ruin things by being involved. But… "I won't ruin this, will I?" he asked.

"I very much doubt you are that bad at acting," Hina told him with a smile… the joke very much falling flat, which caused her to sigh. "People aren't stupid, Kazuki. A lot of money goes into these things. Even if I would, other people wouldn't risk the loss it'd imply if they didn't think it'd work."

Well, when she put it like that…

"Okay… I guess that makes sense."

"Of course it does," Hina told him, grinning and winking at him. "Now, do you wanna prepare for this? I can help you if you want."

"Didn't you say the script would take a bit?"

"Yes? But I'm sure we can find something to practice with. No need to over focus on anything. Some general acting practice can't hurt, right?" she suggested and Kazuki took a moment to appreciate just… having Hina in his life. She was one of the people that would repeatedly remind him that yes, people cared about him now.

Not something new in his life anymore, but he'd always take a moment to appreciate it when he could.

"Thank you, Hina," he told her, a small but very meaningful smile on his face. He didn't know what else to say or how to say it but… Hina was good at reading people, so he hoped she would use that talent on him at that moment.

"Don't mention it, Kazuki," she told him, beaming. "Now, let's see…"

Kazuki was kind of looking forward to this movie thing… and maybe not just because it sounded fun.

[} Chapter End {]

Hey guys! How's it going?

Man, the muse must hate me. Why'd she make this chapter happen? Bakugo and Monoma? Fuck me, I guess. Anyway, here's hoping I managed to write them well. They are not easy characters, let me tell you, guys.

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter even if you think I didn't do a good job with those parts.

As always, if you can't wait until next week for next chapter, or if you just feel like supporting my writing, there's up to three new chapters in my Pa tre on:

P a treon . com (slash) AdrianKing

Discord Link: discord .gg/UTDransjJZ

Random Question: You guys doing anything this weekend? I'm going on a trip with my family.

See you.