My Omega

Chapter 8

               Remastered: January 20th, 2025

                      *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The days following the argument between Katsuki and Izuku were quieter. The tension in Class 1-A, however, was palpable. It wasn't just the tension between the two of them—it was the silence that lingered in the air, thick enough that even the other students had begun to notice. Katsuki had become even more distant than usual, his interactions with Izuku practically nonexistent. He spent his days either training alone or sitting with Kirishima and Kaminari, occasionally throwing out a short comment, but nothing that would suggest he was interested in rekindling anything.

Izuku, for his part, had kept to himself as well. He was still polite and cordial to everyone else, but his eyes had a haunted look to them when he thought no one was looking. He didn't push Katsuki anymore, didn't try to break the wall Katsuki had built around himself. The silence between them became its own kind of barrier, the gap widening every time they crossed paths. But it didn't seem like either of them wanted to make the first move anymore.

Katsuki, however, had made his decision. He was done. Done trying to understand what had happened to Izuku, done trying to make things right, done with the endless back-and-forth of emotions that left him drained. Izuku had made it clear that he needed space, and Katsuki would give him that—permanently.

The classroom was quiet that afternoon, the usual chatter subdued. A rare moment of peace had settled over the class, and everyone was either focused on their work or enjoying the brief respite from training. Katsuki, though, barely noticed. His eyes were fixed on his phone, his expression as unreadable as ever.

Kirishima, who had been quietly watching his friend, leaned over. "Yo, Bakugo, you're seriously not going to talk to him today?"

Katsuki glanced over at Izuku, who was sitting by the window, scribbling in his notebook, his focus entirely on his work. There was no tension, no flare-ups between them. Just the kind of distance that made Katsuki's chest tighten in ways he refused to acknowledge. His lips curled into a bitter smile.

"I'm done with him," Katsuki said, his voice flat, as if the words had lost their weight. "Let him do whatever the hell he wants. I don't care anymore."

Kirishima's eyebrows furrowed, but he didn't push the subject. He had seen the way things had been between Katsuki and Izuku, and he knew it was complicated. If Bakugo had made up his mind, then there was no point in arguing with him.

The day passed in silence. When the bell rang to signal the end of school, Katsuki gathered his things and left the classroom without a second glance at Izuku. The others were used to this by now. The boy who had once been loud and brash, who had fought for everything, had become a shell of himself.

Later that afternoon, Katsuki found himself at the mall, trying to unwind. He wasn't in the mood to go home yet, and he didn't have any specific plans in mind. The bright lights, the crowded hallways—everything was a blur as he aimlessly walked through the aisles of the shopping center. He barely noticed the people around him, his thoughts consumed by the coldness he had embraced.

It was then, in the middle of the food court, that it happened.

As he walked past a row of tables, Katsuki bumped into someone—a tall figure, broad and commanding. The impact was enough to make Katsuki stagger slightly, the sudden collision knocking him off balance. He glanced up, ready to snap at the person who had dared to get in his way, but his words died in his throat when he saw who it was.

The man in front of him was tall—at least a few inches over six feet—and his broad shoulders were draped in a casual but well-fitted jacket. His eyes were a piercing blue, and his sharp features were framed by a mess of dark hair. He had the unmistakable presence of an Alpha—intense and confident—but there was a softness to his expression, a calmness that immediately disarmed Katsuki's irritation.

"Sorry, didn't mean to bump into you," the man said, his voice low and warm. "Are you alright?"

Katsuki blinked, slightly taken aback. His first instinct was to bristle, to snap, but the other man's easygoing demeanor made him hesitate. He frowned, trying to mask the confusion that suddenly welled up inside him.

"I'm fine," Katsuki muttered, his gaze narrowing slightly. "Watch where you're going."

The man chuckled, a low, deep sound that caught Katsuki off guard. "Fair enough. Still, I didn't mean to make you stumble." He paused, then offered a hand. "I'm Lorenzo. I'm new around here."

Katsuki looked at the offered hand for a moment before reluctantly taking it. "Katsuki Bakugo."

The other man's grip was firm, but not overpowering—confident without being forceful. There was a quiet strength to him that made Katsuki uneasy in a way he couldn't quite explain.

"Well, Katsuki," Lorenzo said, flashing him a charming smile, "since I've already caused you trouble, how about I make it up to you? Let me buy you lunch. I know a great place around here."

Katsuki hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Whatever. I'm not in a rush."

Lorenzo's smile grew wider, and he gestured for Katsuki to follow him. "Great! You won't regret it."

The two of them ended up at a small café near the mall's entrance. Lorenzo led them to a secluded booth by the window, and Katsuki slid into the seat, trying to ignore the nagging voice in his head that told him he shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be spending time with someone he barely knew. He shouldn't be letting himself relax.

But Lorenzo was different. He didn't push or prod, didn't ask intrusive questions. They talked about random things—life, school, their favorite foods—and Katsuki found himself laughing at a few of Lorenzo's offhand remarks. It was easy, effortless, and for the first time in days, Katsuki felt like he could breathe again.

Lorenzo casually mentioned his background as a hero, though it seemed like an afterthought. The Alpha had been raised in America and had recently moved to Japan, eager to join the hero community here. His calm demeanor and friendly attitude were a stark contrast to the tension Katsuki had been carrying around, and it was... refreshing.

They exchanged phone numbers at the end of the lunch, and for the first time in a long while, Katsuki felt a spark of something—something that had been missing for weeks. There was no weight hanging over his head, no painful memories of old friendships, no unanswered questions. Just two people who enjoyed each other's company.

That night, as Katsuki walked back to the dorms, his mood had shifted. He wasn't sure why, but he felt lighter. It wasn't the same feeling he had when he was around Izuku. This was different—more carefree, less complicated. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Katsuki didn't feel like he was suffocating.

But little did he know, Izuku was noticing the change.

As the days passed, Izuku couldn't help but feel a knot form in his chest every time he saw Katsuki. It wasn't that Katsuki was being rude or distant—no, Katsuki was the same in his usual, cold way. What unsettled Izuku was the fact that Katsuki seemed... different. He was engaging with people more, laughing and joking with Kirishima and the others. But whenever Izuku tried to make eye contact, Katsuki looked right through him, as if he didn't even exist.

Then, there was the phone call Katsuki had received just the other day, the one that had caused him to smile for the first time in ages. Izuku hadn't been able to make out the name on the screen, but the warmth in Katsuki's voice when he answered had made his chest tighten.

He hadn't seen this side of Katsuki in so long. And for reasons Izuku couldn't fully understand, it made him uneasy.