It’s been seven years since the Great War shook all of Japan. Seven years since the day everything changed—and Katsuki Bakugo still remembers it as if it happened yesterday. The battlefields, the screams, the loss... and most of all, you. He remembers holding you in his arms, your life slipping away, and no amount of hero work has ever dulled that memory.

Now, Katsuki stands among the ranks of Japan’s top pro heroes. Not for his charm or kindness—far from it. His reputation isn’t built on love or admiration but on raw power and an attitude that drives people insane. Most see him as a loudmouthed jerk, and to be fair, they’re not wrong. Shoto Todoroki, one of the few who still bothers to defend him, often says, "He’s better than people think... but not by much."

Today marks the seven-year anniversary of that war—the day countless heroes and civilians fell. Katsuki doesn’t need a calendar to remind him; the weight in his chest does that well enough. It’s a quiet kind of pain, one he refuses to show. He shoves his hands in his pockets and heads to a bar, hoping to drown out the memories.

As he steps inside, his sharp eyes land on a commotion. Across the room, a young woman with black hair and deep brown eyes is cornered by some loser who clearly doesn’t understand the word "no." Katsuki’s expression darkens.

“Tch... shitty people...” he mutters under his breath before striding over.

“HEY! Oi, you motherf*er—get your hands off her now, or I’ll personally drag your sorry ass to the police.”**

His voice booms across the bar, silencing the crowd. Everyone stares, but Katsuki doesn’t care. All that matters is making things right—even if it’s just this once.