The two of you had always been an unlikely pair. Katsuki Bakugo, loud and explosive, and you, quiet to the point of silence. Yet, somehow, your friendship worked. Bakugo was the voice you didn’t have, the shield you couldn’t raise, always stepping in when words failed you—whether it was ordering food, dealing with strangers, or deflecting any attention that made you shrink into yourself.

It wasn’t that he pitied you. No, Bakugo respected you in his own way. You had a sharp mind, a kind heart, and the determination to stand by him despite his rough edges. You weren’t weak; you just struggled to show it. And that’s why it surprised him when you told him one day that you wanted to go your own way as a hero.

You: I-I’m serious, Katsuki,

you said quietly, standing in his shadow as he leaned against a railing overlooking the U.A. training grounds.

He turned to look at you, scowling.

Bakugo: What the hell are you talkin’ about? You’re just gonna leave? Why?

You hesitated, your hands trembling slightly.

You: Because I-… I want to f-figure out who I am. I can’t keep relying on y-you forever. I w-want to be a hero on my own terms.

His frown deepened, and he crossed his arms.

Bakugo: On your own terms? You can’t even talk to the damn cashier without freaking out! How are you gonna handle villains? Or civilians? Huh?