Katsuki woke up to the alarm clock, which he turned off by hitting it with his fist, miraculously not breaking it. The morning was terrible. Getting out of bed, he headed to the bathroom and saw his tired face. Not noticing anything special in his morning routine, he turned on the cold water to wake himself up and go to school, which he hated. There were the hangers-on waiting for him every day, the teacher who tried to brainwash him, and the friend he had tormented for years, turning him into his fiercest enemy. Izuku had returned the debt Katsuki owed him for the years of torment he inflicted, albeit not physically, but psychologically, dealing a blow straight to his heart through his mother's tears.
"If I wasn't so self-centered would you still consider me your friend Izuku?"
Seeing a younger version of himself in the reflection, one that created explosions with his palms, Katsuki snorted at himself, knowing what a brag he had been in childhood. Over the years, he had grown up, but childhood habits and a superiority complex still remained. Remembering how Deku had begged him to stop the beatings and bullying, Katsuki paused, realizing the anger he had brought upon himself. His mother, who had come home completely drained, and even his father, who had always been on his side, though he never got angry, was shocked to learn the truth about how his son had bullied the Midoir's son for years, hiding it all from them. After that incident, Masaru felt like a terrible father. His son wanted to be a hero, and he himself believed in nobility, but the gift that was supposed to benefit society was being used as a tool for intimidation and humiliation of the weak.
As he approached the door of his room, Katsuki felt a terrifying gaze directed right at him. He turned his head and saw his father looking straight into his soul. Masaru stood in his work clothes without glasses. Katsuki squinted and was ready to say, "Get lost, old man," but Masaru was faster.
"We're having a serious conversation tonight, Katsuki, whether you want it or not. I won't tolerate refusals." With an icy tone, Masaru invoked fear and trepidation. Katsuki couldn't believe his father was capable of such a thing. All he knew about his father was that he had always been quiet yet friendly, but never someone who would say those words.
"Fine," he replied, hearing footsteps echoing through the corridor like a giant's steps that shook the ground.
"This is all your fault!"
Mitsuki's words, like a broken record, drilled into every corner of his mind and soul. Because of him, Mitsuki had started drinking almost every day, trying to numb her emotional pain, but it always ended in drunkenness and blackout. Masaru managed to convince her that he could restore relations with the last member of the Midoriya family.
"Before you drink that bottle, Mitsuki, just listen to me." The bottle was an inch from Mitsuki's lips, ready to spread throughout her body, but Masaru wouldn't let her continued drinking, which had gone on for three days.
"Say it quickly, Masaru, I don't want to hear excuses to whitewash his name," she said, tired and morally exhausted. Her hair was messy, and once beautiful and desired by many men, the model now looked wretched in her despair. The fiery temperament that had silenced every bully couldn't coherently say a single word.
"Enough of this drinking, Mitsuki. I will talk to Katsuki today and restore the Midoriya family's trust in us." With a confident, manly tone, he gave her a weak spark of hope that extinguished the moment the burning, bland taste of alcohol spread through her throat.
"Masaru, you always say that, but the result is always obvious. It won't work," Mitsuki said, not caring about her husband's feelings, which were deeply hurt by her words. Not wanting to listen any longer, Masaru got up from his knees and headed to the front door.
"It might not work, but if you keep drinking like this, at this rate our child will become the second Katsuki, whether you want it or not." Reason and common sense took over Mitsuki, and for the last time, casting a glance at the bottle of alcohol that poisoned not only her but also the future baby, she let out a heavy sigh, placing it on the wooden table in front of the TV, clutching her head tightly, gripping her hair.
"I... I'm sorry, Masaru. I'm a terrible mother who couldn't raise her son. I can't be sure that I will be able to raise the son or daughter who will appear in nine months." She replied with a lifeless voice, looking at Masaru, who was ready to leave the house but stopped, giving her a chance to speak. Feeling her guilt, Masaru wanted to share her pain, not allowing his wife to fall into even deeper despair.
"This is not only your fault, Mitsuki, but also mine, so the path to redemption we will walk as a family, from me to Katsuki." With determined eyes, he looked at her, instilling hope for a better future. Feeling a burning desire to become a better mother for the new child, she finally made a decision from which she would not turn back.
She nodded, looking her husband in the eyes, and finally voiced what lay heavy on her heart.
"If there's even the slightest spark that can ignite the flame of change, then I am ready to follow it." Hearing her words, Masaru exhaled, understanding that she wouldn't back away from her words for even a moment. He knew her too well and didn't argue with her.
"I'm sorry I can't be with you for long, but I have to go." In a hurry, he closed the front door, leaving her alone with Katsuki, who had not yet left for school.
Agreeing and accepting all the praise from the surrounding world, Katsuki, society created his egocentric character. His determination to become the number one hero was fueled by All Might, who, with a proud smile, became a role model for him and Deku, someone to strive for. There was also Endeavor, who held the title of Japan's number one hero, but he had a strong fanbase like the number two hero. Fueled by the desire to become the best hero in the eyes of people, seeking recognition, he forgot about the people around him. Relatives and friends ready to support him in the toughest moments, but he ruined them all, remaining alone. Behind the smiles and gratitude of people lay emptiness, and he inadvertently found himself alone with his quirk of "explosions."
Remembering the dialogue with his mother and the uncomfortable and stressful state he was in, Katsuki tried with all his might to forget the conversation, but he remembered everything too well – how it all began and how it all ended.
****
Returning from the Midoriya residence, Mitsuki slammed the door behind her, waking Katsuki. Shattered, she approached the shelf with alcohol and carelessly pulled one of the bottles, opening it.
She didn't care about what would happen to the kitchen; the main thing was to numb the pain of losing the last trust of the Midoriya family. A family with which she started her conscious life and was unable to keep her own promise to a deceased friend, Mitsuki did nothing to sort out the situation. Instead, she decided to test her liver, poisoning her already broken mind. Creating a war axe between mother and son, Midoriya wanted to harm his ego as much as possible through his parents. Physical wounds could heal over time, but mental wounds were much harder to get rid of, as Katsuki understood from his mother's condition.
"What are you making noise about, you old witch? I was sleeping here," Katsuki grumbled, receiving an angry glare from Mitsuki that burned a hole in him.
"Tell me, why did you lie to me?" Her voice trembled before Katsuki realized. Deku had told her everything
"I don't know anything. I don't know what Deku told you, but everything he says is a lie." Katsuki's audacity knew no bounds. Boldly looking at his mother with shameless eyes, he trembled at the thought of what he could have said to Deku.
Mitsuki squeezed the bottle so tightly that the glass creaked threateningly in her hands. Her eyes burned with fury, blazing brighter than any of her son's explosions. She was no longer going to tolerate this audacity.
"You lie as you breathe, Katsuki!" she shouted, throwing the first thing she could find — an empty glass shot glass that was on the table. Remembering how Izuku had felt pure hatred towards them, especially towards Katsuki, she vented her anger on him for the harm done to Izuku. The ugly scars all over his body and numerous burns made it clear to Mitsuki that he had bullied her son's friend for a long time, keeping the whole truth from her.
Katsuki barely managed to duck just as the shot glass shattered against the wall behind him. He recoiled, but his mother didn't care — her rage was raging, engulfing everything around her.
"You thought I would never find out?!" her voice rang with fury. Following that, a bottle flew — Katsuki ducked, and it crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. The alcohol spilled across the floor, the smell instantly filling the room.
"You've been lying to me for years!" Her hand grabbed a wooden hot pad from the table, and in the next second, it was already flying straight at him. Katsuki dodged it, but facing an aggressive mother was pure torture he wanted to escape from.
"Shut up already! You don't know anything, witch," he snarled in response, gritting his teeth. Afraid to answer any further, he simply fell silent, unable to confront her.
"Shut up? You've been bullying him for years, and the fact that he snapped at me doesn't tell you anything?" Mitsuki pulled a plate from the kitchen cabinet and hurled it at her son with all her might. Katsuki jumped to the side, and the plate shattered against the wall with a crash, scattering the floor with shards. Hearing the sounds of broken items, Masaru reluctantly woke up and headed downstairs to the source of the noise.
"Snapped at you? Deku can't do that; he doesn't have the guts to do that to you," Katsuki's audacity infuriated Mitsuki, and grabbing the nearest wooden chair, she hesitated before throwing it at Katsuki. Despite the audacity and teenage rebellion, she loved her son but couldn't forgive him for this act.
Tired of the emotional pain, she sat down on the wooden chair, clutching her hair with her hands and quietly sobbing.
"He yelled at me, and I saw the scars left on him by you, Katsuki. Tell me, Katsuki, how could you feel so much hatred towards him when he is well-raised and has good parents?"
Katsuki stood in the middle of the kitchen, breathing heavily, clenching his fists so tightly that the nails dug painfully into his palms. Before him stood his mother, broken, exhausted, more like a shadow of the woman who once ruled their home. Her shoulders shook, and her fingers clutched at her hair as if she were trying to tear it out along with the memories.
From this sight, Katsuki felt strangely. He was used to seeing his mother loud, explosive, and screaming, but he had never seen her like this — broken. She had always inspired fear and respect, and now she looked as if she had lost all her strength. And he understood: the cause was him and his hatred.
Masaru finally came down from the second floor and saw the mess they had created. Seeing his wife, who was the opposite of himself, Masaru asked himself a question.
"What's going on here?" he asked, directing the question at Katsuki. The boy was too nervous to even open his mouth after his mother's words.
Hearing his wife's sobs, Masaru approached her, avoiding the broken glass underfoot. Surprised by her behavior, he hugged her and looked at Katsuki, who was in a state of shock.
"Go to your room, Katsuki," he ordered him, to which Katsuki complied with his father's will. Reaching the door, he closed it with a quiet creak, leaving his mother in tears, which made him feel ashamed. She had always coddled him and cared for him, repeating the methods of Aunt Inko, but it irritated and offended his self-absorbed nature.
****
"This is all your fault."
It had been ringing in his head since Mitsuki came back from the Midoriya house. For three days, his mother had been drinking alcohol, refusing to talk to him, and during that time, he felt sorry for her. Unable to look her in the eyes, he put on his clean shoes, which Mitsuki even cleaned while being drunk, feeling hatred towards him. Ignoring this, he reached for the shoehorn. After putting them on, he was finally ready to step over the threshold of his home when he was called.
"Stop!" Mitsuki sharply replied, burning her gaze into his back. Katsuki tensed, realizing she would blame him for all her troubles.
"What do you want, witch?" he asked in his rude manner, not caring about his mother's feelings. He expected her to hit him on the head, knowing in what emotional state she was.
"Look at me." Turning to her, he saw his unkempt mother and her tired appearance, which was uncharacteristic for her. She always took care of herself and quickly removed even the slightest wrinkles in her clothes, wanting to look perfect.
"Ask Izuku for forgiveness, whether you pray on your knees or kiss his feet, you must ask for his forgiveness." At this thought, Katsuki felt sick. What does it mean that he must apologize to him? He owed him nothing. The thought that he would ever have to apologize was so repugnant that bile rose in his throat, wanting to say it to his mother's face.
"Fuck you and your apology."
"I owe him nothing. I will never apologize to him." Mitsuki did not take her eyes off her son, who clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. There was no spark of fire in her eyes — only weariness and disappointment.
"You never will, will you?" she slowly repeated his words, as if tasting them.
"Because your pride is more important to you than acknowledging your mistakes?" Katsuki gritted his teeth but said nothing. He hated this feeling — as if he were cornered, as if his mother were trying to break him just like Deku had broken. But he wasn't like that. He was strong. He was a winner. He was stronger than Deku.
"I don't know if he will forgive me after all this?" Lowering his gaze to the floor, he didn't want to see Izuku, but he was surprised by his mother's further actions. She hugged him tightly, and when Katsuki tried to break free from her bear hug, she hugged him even tighter, but resisting was pointless in front of her, and lowering his arms, he didn't dare to hug her back.
"I love you, Katsuki, and I'm sorry for the words I said to you." Opening his eyes wider, Katsuki was shocked by his mother's remorse. He was ready to scream and say,
"What are you talking about, you old hag!!" but he remained silent, wanting to listen to what she would say next.
"I didn't speak out of malice and wish you nothing but the best, but I want you to understand. He is your friend, even if he is angry with you, but he has a kind soul, just like his mother." Katsuki stood still, not moving, feeling how his mother held him tightly. Inside, everything was raging — anger, misunderstanding, disgust at what he was hearing. His pride screamed that he didn't have to forgive anyone, that he didn't have to apologize to Deku, but another part of him, the one he had tried to silence for so long, began to doubt.
Her words echoed in his head: "He has a kind soul, just like his mother."
"You speak as if you know what's in his heart," he muttered quietly, finally freeing himself from her embrace. Mitsuki sighed heavily, her gaze softening. She understood that the patience of her cross son had come to an end and hoped that he would forgive Katsuki.
"Katsuki... I know what's inside you. I see how you try to cling to your pride, but you can't deny that deep down, you feel guilt." Katsuki turned away, gritting his teeth. He hated such syrupy conversations about forgiveness, mercy, and everything else. He avoided it because he didn't know what it was and, feeling fear of the unknown, he defended himself by insulting it or shouting nasty words in its direction.
"To hell with it all. I won't apologize," he growled, heading toward the door. Mitsuki did not stop him. She just watched him leave, and when he reached for the doorknob, she said:
"You're scared, aren't you?" Katsuki froze.
"You're afraid to look him in the eyes because you know he's no longer that pathetic kid you could bully. Now you don't know what he'll do in return." Katsuki's fingers tightened around the cold metal of the handle. His heart raced, knowing what his former best friend had become.
"Shut up," he hissed, but his voice trembled. Mitsuki shook her head.
"I don't blame you for being afraid. But if you really want to be a hero, you'll have to learn to acknowledge your mistakes." He yanked the door open and stormed out, slamming it shut. As soon as he was outside, his chest tightened. He walked down the street quickly, not looking back, as if trying to escape her words. But they followed him.
"You're afraid."
He clenched his fists, feeling the heat from his quirk ignite in his palms. He wanted to blow up the nearest fragile object close by but didn't dare to, swallowing his pride.
At school
The classes dragged on slowly and boringly, but Katsuki couldn't shake off the conversation with his mother and the serious talk that awaited him at home that evening with his father.
"Have I really gone this far?" he asked himself, glancing at Izuku, who was writing while Fuyumi was babbling to all the students. He didn't blame or criticize her; she was just doing her job by talking to students and listening to their problems. He wasn't the only one with issues; he often noticed how many students approached her, asking about something or seeking advice.
In his opinion, she was better than most teachers who taught in the classroom and in his life. She willingly got to know and genuinely cared about the lives of students who shared their experiences and failures with her. Even Deku approached her, asking how she was doing and bringing food for her. Her showy kindness always irritated Katsuki. If he were in her place, he would have tossed the food container aside.
In the first lesson, Katsuki couldn't focus. Fuyumi was droning on about math, but his thoughts were far away. He caught glimpses of his "friends" — loyal hangers-on, exchanging glances and whispering. They continued to cling to him, but he no longer felt the same satisfaction from it.
At one point, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a new message from his mother.
"This is not an order, Katsuki. This is a chance. Whether you take it or not is up to you."
Katsuki squeezed the phone in his hand. He wanted to delete the message, but his fingers wouldn't obey.
Damn witch.
But the words stuck in his head.
Lesson after lesson, watching Deku was exhausting, and Katsuki was approached by Kacuo to plot against Deku.
"Baku, why are you sitting here alone? Let's teach Deku a lesson; I think he's too relaxed," he suggested, but for some strange reason, Baku was against the idea. Not understanding himself, he decided to decline.
"Leave me alone, Iron Fingers. I'm not in the mood to do anything," Baku growled, clicking his tongue, lost in his thoughts.
"Come on, remember how we wanted to douse him with water and strip him naked, filming it?" he grinned, observing the stoic expression on the class leader's face.
"I said I'm not interested. If you want to do it, do it without me." Not hiding his irritation, Baku growled, intimidating the hanger-on.
"Why are you so nervous, Baku? He's quirkless; what can he do when we're many and he's alone, especially without a quirk? No one will listen to him, not even the teachers." Katsuki shot him an aggressive look before Kacuo took a step back.
"I said, get lost." Hearing the hostile intentions from the class leader, Kacuo raised his hands in a sign of peace and jokingly mocked Baku.
"All right, all right, I'm not bothering you." Katsuki turned away from Kacuo, feeling everything inside him boiling. Thoughts about Deku, his mother, and the upcoming conversation with his father all mixed into a huge ball that pressed on his chest. He couldn't understand why he had suddenly become so... soft. In the past, he would have eagerly joined in on "teaching" Deku a lesson, but now the very thought of it disgusted him.
"Damn, what's wrong with me?" he whispered to himself, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
Classes continued, but Katsuki couldn't concentrate. His gaze kept sliding towards Deku, who was calmly taking notes in Fuyumi's lecture as if nothing had happened between them. He looked so... at ease. As if everything that had transpired had left no mark on him. This infuriated Katsuki even more.
"Why is he so... normal?" he thought, feeling his rage begin to rise within him again. But this anger was not directed at Deku; it was directed at himself. He hated this feeling — the feeling of guilt he had suppressed for so long.
When the bell rang for the break, Katsuki quickly left the classroom, trying to avoid any conversations. He headed to an empty corridor where he could be alone. But, as fate would have it, his thoughts wouldn't leave him in peace.
"You're afraid."
His mother's words echoed in his mind. He wanted to scream, wanted to blow something up to get rid of this feeling, but he knew it wouldn't help.
"Damn witch," he muttered, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. "What does she even understand?"
But deep down, he knew she was right. He was afraid. Afraid to look Deku in the eyes. Afraid to admit he was wrong. Afraid that Deku was no longer that weak kid he could humiliate. Now Deku was stronger — not only physically but also morally. And that terrified Katsuki the most.
Standing in front of his locker, Izuku wanted to open it, but the internal symbiote warned him that bullies were nearby and would try to do something bad.
"They're after you; there are several of them," he grumbled, watching them crowd around him while he slowly sorted his notebooks.
One of the bullies was ready to splash him with water, but Izuku jumped aside, having been warned, thus ensuring his safety from the water.
The water hit the school lockers, and as soon as Izuku was about to pounce on them with fists, Fuyumi stepped between them to break it up. The frightened student accidentally splashed water in the teacher's face, bringing trouble upon himself.
"All of you will go to the principal's office," she pointed at the four students who had tried to bully Izuku. Wiping her face with a cloth, Fuyumi looked at Izuku, who was ready to attack for her.
"Are you okay, Fuyumi-san?" Fuyumi quickly waved off his words, as it was just plain water, but this was the use of a quirk in a public place without the use of licenses and permission from adults.
"I'm fine, Izuku-kun; it's just water. Now I need to take these troublemakers to the principal." Giving them a fierce look, Izuku smiled, thinking that his life outside the Silent Phantom persona was getting better.
Katsuki watched this, not understanding where Izuku had found such courage and not daring to approach him.
The lessons dragged on slowly, making Katsuki grumble internally.
Awakening the last remnants of his conscience, Bakugou involuntarily became a victim of his own ambitions. He dreamed of being the number one hero, and looking at his path, which was full of disappointments, he felt lost. His best friend hated him, his mother, although she loved him, simultaneously despised him, and his father — it was unclear if he would trust him again.
"If I continue like this, what kind of person am I if even my own family doesn't trust me?" he asked himself. But his torment would have ceased if he had once again tried to ask Izuku for forgiveness, telling him everything, including that he would have a brother or sister.
The school day was coming to an end, and Izuku was the last to leave the classroom, heading home. Bakugou wanted to follow him, but Fuyumi called out to him to stay.
"Bakugou Katsuki, stay here; I have important news for you," Fuyumi ordered in her cold manner. Bakugou was not pleased but obeyed.
"What have I done this time? I didn't bully anyone today," he grumbled, sitting back at his desk and tapping his fingers on the table.
"You're not at fault, Bakugou-san, but there's important news for you." Bakugou, although anticipating something, pretended to be uninterested, resting his chin on his palm and leaning on his desk.
"A new student is transferring into our class from another school." Hearing about the new student, Bakugou grumbled, wondering if that was why she kept him after class instead of letting him go.
"And you kept me here for this?" Displeased, Bakugou frowned and wanted to stand up and leave, but Fuyumi interrupted him.
"You didn't let me finish. The new student will take your place in the class." Shocked by this statement, Bakugou momentarily froze and sniffed, looking back at the teacher.
"What do you mean she will take my place? The class is full of students, and there's no room for new ones." Inside, he was panicking, as this meant he was being replaced in his usual spot.
"You're transferring to another school, Bakugou-san," Fuyumi replied calmly, looking at Bakugou's shocked face.
"WHAT?!!" he shouted across the classroom, suddenly realizing what kind of conversation awaited him with his father that evening.
"I never said I was going to be expelled from this school." Shocked by her statement, he approached her angrily, at which Fuyumi warned him to keep his distance.
"Calm down first, Bakugou-san. This isn't my fault; I just informed you. Your parents decided this for you," she replied, sighing as the hot-headed teenager grew even angrier.
"You filed a complaint against me to my parents, and they decided to transfer me to another school, right?" Refusing to accept the situation, Bakugou denied it and thought it was a bad joke, but Fuyumi's gaze indicated otherwise.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't file any complaint against you. If I wanted to, you would have received a complaint on the very first day." Bakugou couldn't believe this; he was denying obvious things and wished she had made an unsuccessful joke.
"I'm not in the mood for jokes; I just warned you about this. If you want to know more, ask your parents."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you; I apologize, Todoroki-san." Walking toward the exit, he remained silent, but Fuyumi quickly called out to him. Bakugou stopped at the door, not turning around. His back was tense, his fists clenched, but he didn't want to show how much Fuyumi's words affected him. He felt rage and confusion battling inside him, but he couldn't allow himself to lash out again. Not here. Not now.
"Bakugou-san," Fuyumi repeated, her voice sounding softer but still firm.
"I understand this is unexpected for you. But please, talk to your parents. Maybe they will explain why they made this decision." Katsuki slowly turned around, his eyes blazing, but they reflected not only anger but also fear, confusion, and uncertainty. He wasn't used to such emotions, and they were literally tearing him apart inside.
"You think I don't know why they did this?" he growled, but his voice trembled.
"It's because of him. Because of Deku. They want me to disappear so I don't ruin his perfect image anymore." Fuyumi sighed, folding her arms on the table. Her gaze was full of understanding, but Katsuki didn't want to see that. He didn't need her sympathy.
"Bakugou-san, I don't know all the details, but I'm sure your parents want what's best for you. Perhaps this is their way of helping you... change." Fuyumi sighed, understanding the situation with Bakugou, but this was a choice made without his input, and he hadn't asked for it.
"Change?" Katsuki scoffed, but his voice lacked the confidence he usually had when speaking to people.
"I don't need their help. I know what to do." His voice trembled, and the prospect of what lay ahead didn't inspire joy at all.
"Then why are you so scared?" Fuyumi asked quietly, her voice hitting the mark. Katsuki froze. His eyes widened, and his lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to scream, wanted to deny it, but the words got stuck in his throat. He was scared. Scared to admit that perhaps Fuyumi was right. Scared of the idea that his parents really wanted him to disappear from their lives.
"I'm not scared," he finally managed to say, but his voice sounded unconvincing even to himself. Fuyumi shook her head.
"You can fool yourself, Bakugou-san, but you can't deceive those who truly care about you. Talk to your parents. Find out what they think. Perhaps this will be your chance... to start over." Katsuki remained silent. His gaze fell to the floor, and his fingers tightened into fists until the knuckles turned white. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to feel. All he knew was that his world was collapsing, and he couldn't do anything about it.
"Okay," he finally muttered, not raising his eyes.
"I'll talk to them." Fuyumi nodded; her face softened.
"That's the right decision, Bakugou-san. And remember, I'm always here to listen if you need help." Katsuki didn't respond. He simply turned and exited the classroom, slamming the door behind him. His thoughts were tangled, and his heart raced wildly. He didn't know what awaited him at home, but he knew one thing for sure — this conversation would be one of the hardest in his life.
The road home felt endless. Katsuki walked, his gaze fixed on the ground, consumed by one thought — the upcoming conversation with his parents. He couldn't understand why they had decided to transfer him to another school. Did they really want to get rid of him? Or perhaps they just wanted to give him a chance to start anew?
"Damn," he muttered, clenching his fists.
"What's wrong with me?" He couldn't find an answer. All he felt was emptiness and fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of losing everything he had.
When he finally arrived home, he was greeted by silence. His mother sat in the kitchen, her face pale, and her eyes swollen from tears. His father stood nearby, his face serious, but his eyes showed weariness.
"Katsuki," Masaru began; his voice was firm but not angry.
"We need to talk." Katsuki nodded, feeling his heart begin to race even faster. He knew this conversation would change everything. And he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.
"Okay," he said, sitting down at the table.
"Go ahead." Masaru sighed, and Mitsuki clenched her hands into fists, her eyes filled with tears.
"We've decided to transfer you to another school," Masaru began, his voice calm, but every word hit hard.
"We think this will be better for you. For all of us." Katsuki remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. He felt anger and hurt rising within him, but he held it back. He knew this wasn't the time to explode.
"Why?" he finally asked, his voice quiet, but it carried pain. Mitsuki sighed, her voice trembling.
"Because we want you to change, Katsuki. We want you to become better. We love you, but we can't keep watching you destroy yourself and everything around you." Katsuki felt something inside him break. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to feel. All he knew was that his world would never be the same again.
"Okay," he finally mumbled, lifting his eyes.
"I... I will try." Mitsuki smiled through her tears, and Masaru nodded, his face softening.
"That's all we ask, Katsuki," he said.
"Just try." Katsuki nodded, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. He didn't know what would happen next, but one thing he knew for sure — he could no longer be who he was before. And perhaps that was for the best.
Still feeling guilty towards Deku, he realized he had to apologize for real. He was prepared to face resistance from Midoriya, but at least he was going to try.
"I'm not sure you'll forgive me, but I was wrong for bringing you to this point."
***
Walking through the city's night streets, Bakugou left home without informing his parents, heading towards the Midoriya residence, which was 6 km away from their house. Memories of helpless Deku, who constantly cried and couldn't even respond to him normally, kept surfacing in his mind.
Resting his head against the bus window, he watched as the light changed from ordinary white to neon, entering a sort of hypnotic state. Night heroes patrolled the streets, ensuring law and order and keeping the citizens calm at night. The image of his once-best friend lingered because, in most parts of this city, they sought adventures and played on playgrounds.
He called him Jōnetsuka until he awakened his quirk. He remembered how he laughed first when he confessed to everyone that he was quirkless. The first one to distance himself after that was Bakugou himself, and the disgust towards himself was so strong that he couldn't believe he had cruelly tormented him all those years while Deku still considered him his friend. In their 12 years of friendship, he had never said a bad word to him or filed a complaint to the police.
"Maybe I scared him so much that he was afraid to approach my mom."
Thoughts were consuming him, and all Katsuki wanted was to burst out of the bus and run as fast as he could until his legs gave out from physical exertion.
***
"What, Deku, are you climbing where you're not invited again?" — Bakugou's voice was full of contempt. He stood towering over Izuku, his palms crackling with the buildup of explosive energy. There was not a single drop of pity in his eyes, only malice and the desire to inflict pain.
Izuku lay on the ground, breathing heavily. His school uniform was dirty, and he had scrapes on his elbows and knees. He tried to get up, but a sharp kick to his side made him cough and fall again.
"Hey, Deku, have you ever thought the world would be better off without people like you?" Bakugou leaned in closer, smirking.
"Without any pathetic hopes, without trying to be someone you'll never become." Bakugou's palm exploded right in front of Izuku's face, burning his skin. The smell of burnt fabric immediately hit him, and the pain was sharp and unbearable. Izuku shut his eyes, feeling the hot air scorch his cheeks.
Excitement ignited in Katsuki's eyes. He straightened up, cracked his knuckles, and looked at Izuku, who could barely stand.
"You know, Deku…" — his voice dropped to a whisper.
"You still don't get it, do you? You're not a hero. You're just a pathetic kid hiding behind your mom." Suddenly, his hand grabbed Izuku by the collar, lifting him up, while his other palm ignited.
"Please, Kacchan, stop. I don't want my mom to scold me," — Izuku pleaded, tears streaming down his face. To Bakugou, everything looked pathetic, and the fact that such a crybaby was ready to become a hero angered him more than his quirklessness.
"Do you think I care what your mom says?" — the memory cut off at the moment Bakugou inflicted one of the strongest burns on Izuku's body.
***
All this time, I should have stopped Izuku. What have I done?
What have I turned you into?
The bus stopped in front of a multi-story building, and looking at the very familiar places, Katsuki clenched his fists, recalling the golden times when they were friends and played on the playground while Inko and Mitsuki chatted with each other.
"Kacchan, let's be heroes together!!!" Izuku shouted, smiling, and that childlike, innocent face accompanied him as he walked toward his apartment.
Familiar corridors and a familiar interior. Every step leading to the fourth floor was a struggle. Each step felt solid and heavy under his feet, and pain accompanied him in his chest. But Bakugou never backed down; he walked on despite the pain, even when he was scared. The last floor was the hardest — he saw the door with the inscription.
"Midoriya Residence."
As he approached this door, he looked at his face in his nightmares. He couldn't believe he had come here to apologize to Deku. He would never have done such a thing, but his soul begged him to do it. A part of his childhood soul remembered this place and couldn't let go of it, filled with warm memories.
I destroyed all of this with my own hands.
"Is this how growing up works, that I look at my past self with disgust?" he asked himself. His hand, heavy with sorrow, finally raised to look at the door, which seemed to distance itself from him with each passing second of contemplation.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Someone's here." Peeking out from the host, they both looked at the door.
"And who has come on such a night?" Midoriya said aloud, heading toward the door.
"I hope it's not the neighbors asking to borrow salt," Venom smirked, retreating back into the host's body. A heavy atmosphere emanated from the door, making it hard to breathe, but as he touched the doorknob, he opened it and saw someone he didn't expect to see.
"Bakugou?" Midoriya asked his friend with tired eyes.
"Hey, hello." Bakugou didn't want to be here, but pushing aside his pride, he decided to speak to him in a calm tone. Before he closed the door, he placed his hand to prevent it from shutting.
"Go away, Bakugou, you're not welcome here." Looking at his former friend, Midoriya didn't want to talk to him or see him at all.
"Listen, I admit I was a jerk. And I want to apologize to you and your family," Bakugou admitted in a sad tone. After his confession, Deku opened the door wide, piercing Bakugou with a glare.
"And that's it?" Katsuki raised his gaze to him, continuing to observe the frown on Midoriya's face. Watching his old friend, Katsuki condemned himself for the years of torment he inflicted on him.
"Don't believe him; he's lying. How many times has he hurt us? How many times has he insulted our mother? The years of bullying that caused us pain, and after all that, he thinks saying 'sorry' will make it right?" the symbiote grumbled, looking at the traitor who had abandoned them. Bakugou looked ashamed and couldn't clearly explain what was on his mind.
"After all those years of neglect and insults, you just want to buy your way out with words of 'sorry'?" Midoriya asked in a chilling tone. He ignored the symbiote's words, acting purely out of his personal motivations and grievances accumulated over years of humiliation and torment.
"I know I was a jerk, Deku... Midoriya, but I truly want to change." Not believing his own words, Katsuki lowered his gaze again, unable to meet Deku's emerald eyes.
"You don't deserve it," said Midoriya, not hiding his disgust for Bakugou.
"I understand what I've done, and without jokes or deception, I came here with a sincere heart to apologize to you." Realizing that further dialogue was pointless, Izuku opened the door wider. All the bullying and destroyed items, including the cherished painting with Nejire that he had ruined before Bakugou's eyes, didn't spark any remorse in him.
"If I hadn't influenced you through your mother, you would have remained the same jerk you were, Katsuki." Midoriya stood silently, looking into Bakugou's eyes. Inside him, emotions were boiling anger, disappointment, resentment. Before him stood the one who had destroyed his childhood, who was the cause of many of his fears and pain. And now this person simply stood at his door and said, "I acknowledge that I was a jerk"?
"Do you seriously think that's enough?" — Izuku's voice was cold and indifferent, but inside him, a storm was raging.
"You just came here to ease your conscience?" Katsuki clenched his fists, his face twisted with tension. He knew that Izuku had every right to react this way, but hearing it in person was more painful than he expected.
"I don't expect you to forgive me, Deku," Bakugou replied, lowering his gaze.
"But I had to say this. I... I can no longer live knowing that I caused you so much pain." Izuku only smirked, but there was no joy in his eyes.
"You can no longer? Have you ever thought about what I've been through because of you? Do you remember how I begged you to stop? Do you remember how you laughed when I cried? How you told me to jump off the roof because without a quirk, I was nothing?" Katsuki flinched. Those words felt like a knife to the heart. He remembered every act of cruelty, every insult. At that moment, he felt strong, confident that he was doing everything right. But now, years later, those memories burned inside him.
"I remember," he whispered.
"And I am ashamed." Shyly lowering his head, Bakugou closed his eyes, expecting Deku to shut the door on him, but instead, he received a kick to the stomach.
"I would have endured everything and still not forgiven you, but you dared to insult the most precious person to me—my mother." Fully swinging the door open, he slowly approached Bakugou, standing at eye level with him. Katsuki was ready to activate his quirk but waited for further escalation of the conflict.
"Tell me, what was she guilty of? For caring about you, for considering you her godson?" Izuku's words pierced Bakugou like poison. Trying not to panic, Bakugou clenched his fists, ready for an impending fight.
"I was wrong, Aunt In..." Midoriya couldn't endure hearing her name from such a deceitful and hypocritical person. Ready for a fight, he punched Bakugou in the chest, knocking the air out of his lungs.
"Don't you dare call her name with your filthy mouth, Bakugou." A sharp punch to the jaw made him stumble back, barely keeping his balance. Pain pierced his face, but Katsuki didn't even try to respond. He knew he deserved this. Izuku stood before him, fists clenched to white knuckles, his chest heaving with anger.
"You have no right. After everything you've done, you come to me and utter these pathetic words, thinking that's enough?" Bakugou ran his tongue over the inside of his cheek, tasting blood. He looked at Deku, at the person he once knew, but at that moment, it seemed that a completely different person stood before him.
"I... I know I can't fix anything." His voice broke.
"But I... I really wanted..." Izuku prepared to hit him again, but his conscience wouldn't allow it. After everything, he felt pity for him. Many warm memories with him and those connected with Inko prevented him from doing so.
"Wanted what?!" Izuku stepped forward, cornering him.
"Wanted to ease my conscience? To prove to myself that I 'changed'? Do you think I need that?" Katsuki gritted his teeth. He understood that any attempt to justify himself would only worsen the situation.
"I just..."
"You just came too late." Midoriya turned away, his shoulders trembling slightly. Inside him, fury mixed with pain surged. He wanted to hit Bakugou again, to make him feel at least a part of the pain he had endured all these years.
But... was there any point in that?
"Get lost, Bakugou, I don't want to see you or your family." Izuku's voice became even, indifferent.Bakugou walked down the dark street, clenching his fists until it hurt. His legs moved automatically, as if he were no longer in control of his body. The words of Deku echoed in his head. Cold. Cruel. Full of contempt.
He gritted his teeth, but it didn't help to silence the pain in his chest.
"You came too late."
Katsuki suddenly stopped, feeling his breath quicken. He ran a hand over his face, gripping his hair with his fingers, pulling so hard that it felt like he might rip it out by the roots.
Why did it hurt so much?
Wasn't he always stronger? Wasn't he always looking down at Deku? Why did he now feel like someone who had been crushed and shattered into pieces?
His chest tightened with a suffocating feeling of guilt, and for the first time in a long time, he felt scared. Not because he was fighting someone stronger than himself. Not because of the threat of losing.
But because of the realization that he had truly lost everything.
"Fuck..." his voice trembled.
He sank onto a bench at an empty bus stop, resting his forehead in his palms.
How many years did he torment Deku? How many times did he humiliate him, beat him, insult him? He never thought about the consequences, never thought about the mark he left on this boy's soul. He just lived, enjoying the feeling of superiority.
But now... now he felt the shards of the past cutting him from the inside.
He wanted to say something, to do something, but when he met Izuku's gaze, he realized — there was not a drop of forgiveness left.
Deku was no longer that naive boy he could disregard.
And Bakugou was no longer someone who could influence him in any way.
That was what hurt the most.
He bit his lip until it bled, feeling a single tear traitorously roll down his cheek.
"Forgive me, Deku…" he whispered into the emptiness of the night, knowing that those words no longer meant anything.
To be continued.