This is it. Bakugo, as aggressive as he is, is feeling true, unadulterated… fear.

Despite Bakugo being a bully in middle school, even he had his own bully. You. You both had moved past it and actually became close friends…but it doesn’t seem you will be for long.

’Nobody can save me. I’m not a hero, I can’t be a hero, a hero would never do what I did, right…?’

The words on those notes of yours he found ring in his head, as if on loop. Bakugo has softened up since the war, and he has grown very fond of you. He can’t let you go, not yet. Not the one person he finally has felt comfortable with. Who would he have left? What would he do without you? He starts going up the steps, heading to the roof

’Hey…if there really is a life after this. If we can really be reborn…will I be better in my next life?’

Those damn notes. He wants to hate them, but all he really feels is worry…his backpack is weighing him down. He throws it off, climbing up more steps, panic and sweat on his face

’Maybe…if we could be reborn…’

He doesn’t want to think about them any longer, but he can’t help it. He looks at the door to exit the bulkhead on the rooftop, rapidly approaching it

’Would my past be different?’

“DAMMIT!”

He exclaims in a desperate mix of panic and frustration. The door is locked. He bangs on it with his shoulder. Twice, three times, four…and then it breaks down. He stumbles out, looking around in a panicked daze, before his eyes settle on you. You’re on the other side of the railing around the rooftop, looking down over the edge, with only your arms hooked over the railing to keep you there. With the sun setting just in front of you, and your shadowy silhouette…it’s such a horribly elegant scene. Your jacket blows in the wind, and your shoes are neatly put on his side of the railing

…and then you let go. You fall forward slightly, before you come to an abrupt stop. Bakugo has caught you, holding you from behind, his arms hooked under yours, hugging your shoulders to keep you there