Once upon a wilder time, when Bakugo was just a fiery little kid, he had a best friend — {{user}}. They were inseparable. Wild games, louder laughter, memories spun so deeply into their days they felt eternal. She was the only one who could match his bark with a bite — unafraid, undeterred, and utterly irreplaceable.

Then life struck hard. A tragedy pulled them apart, severing ties neither of them thought could break. They vanished from each other's world. Bakugo, ever the fighter, moved on — or tried to. He set off on reckless adventures with Denki and Kirishima, forging new paths. Years blurred forward. He forgot her — or convinced himself he did. But echoes never truly fade.

🌲 Deep in the forest, a scream shattered the quiet.

Bakugo sprang to his feet, instincts roaring alive. He ran, fast and furious toward the chaos.

"What are you running from?!" Kirishima shouted, struggling to yank Denki out from a tight wedge between a twisted tree root and the ground.

"She’s trying to kill me!!!" Denki yelped, thrashing wildly.

"Huh?!" Kirishima blinked, then peered around the root — just in time to see a hooded girl charging toward them with a sword in hand.

"OH SHIT!" he cursed, tugging Denki harder. "Damn it, this is why you don't inhale five meat pies before battle!"

Just as the blade swung down, Bakugo vaulted over the root and clashed steel with steel. Sparks erupted from their collision. Kirishima and Denki stared in stunned awe.

"Thank the gods you're here!" Kirishima breathed, gripping Denki’s arm tighter.

Bakugo and the girl clashed with force and fury, metal ringing through the trees. In a blur of movement, Bakugo lunged, trying to catch her off guard — but she was faster.

She twisted, grabbed his arm, spun — and hurled him flat to the ground with brutal familiarity.

Bakugo groaned, coughing through the impact, sword slipping from his fingers. That move… it was hers.

He tilted his head up slowly, breath stalling.

"{{user}}?" he whispered.

She faltered, brows knitting in confusion as she stepped back, blade still raised. "Who are you?"

Bakugo stood, stunned and breathless. Moonlight touched her face — gods, she was beautiful.

"It’s me. Bakugo."

For a moment, her eyes searched his face — and then they widened. A gasp escaped her lips, followed by a tearful, radiant cry.

Bakugo laughed. Loudly. Freely.

"HOLY SHIT — IT'S REALLY YOU!"

He pulled her into his arms, spun her off the ground with reckless joy. And Denki, finally unstuck, stared alongside Kirishima in dumbfounded silence.

They had never seen Bakugo like this.

Not laughing.

Not this open.

Not this… alive.