Cherry Bomb

Nothing Personal

The morning of the festival...

Women were easier to kill. But there wasn't any fun in it. Nine times outta ten they didn't try to fight back, they just got down on their knees and started begging for their lives.

Pathetic.

Imagine my surprise when I blew open the door of an apartment in Okinawa and found a soccer mom standing in front of me with pink hair holding a shotgun in my face.

I laughed. "Hey, lady...I think it's illegal for civilians to own an assembled firearm like that," I said.

She had the nerve to smirk at me. "Oh really? Is that law below or above the one that forbids trespassing?"

I raised an eyebrow at her, biting my lip. Touche. "You're a fun one," I mumbled. "You know, I don't extend this offer to everyone, but...you've got guts. And from the look of that very illegal firearm you're holding...you also have a blatant disregard for the rules. I like that in a woman."

"I'm flattered," she grumbled sarcastically, "But I'm married. And you're a bit young for me."

I snickered. "We're taking recruits. If U.A. 's files are correct...you've got a powerful quirk. We could use you. Your daughter, too."

She bared her teeth at me. "If you know who I am, then you'd know I'd never accept an offer like that from you ."

I shrugged. "Bakudan Cheri. A.K.A. Quirk, fireworks. Graduate of U.A. Academy. Had the potential to go Pro but instead became a stay-at-home-mom who can't even light a stove."

She pumped back the magazine of her 12-gauge and stared down its sights. "Trespassing. Destruction of Private property. And bad manners. You must be a villain."

I smiled wide. I haven't had this much fun in a long time. "A representative from the League. We can offer you protection. Membership. A bright future in a new world. An opportunity to be something great."

Her next words were snarls. "This is what I have to offer you . Get the hell out, stay the hell away from my daughter, and I won't pull the trigger."

I sighed. A hero, through and through. Still... "Last chance. Take my offer, while it's still on the table."

She glared at me with icy blue eyes. "Over my dead body."

I lit my palm and grinned. "That can be arranged."

~.~

Bakugo

"We have to tell her!" Deku exclaimed.

Aizawa winced. "She might already know."

The excitement that coursed through me from fighting Deku...the anticipation of seeing her put Mr. Brainwash in his place...completely left my body. How is she gonna take this?

" - NEXT UP FROM GENERAL STUDIES IS HITOSHI SHINSO!!! AND FROM THE HERO COURSE, OUR FIRST-YEAR HIBIKIIII ASUGAA!!!"

I gasped, whipping my head around to look at the TV. "She's still fighting?"

"She doesn't look upset at all," Deku remarked, puzzled.

"She's got nerves of steel," Kaminari noted.

"No," I snapped, letting go of Deku's hand. "She doesn't know." I ran out of the room.

"Bakugo, wait!" Aizawa called after me but I was already out of earshot.

~.~

Deku

I straightened my body, putting my shoulders back. "Mr. Aizawa."