Until Death Do You Part

Test of Intention

It was a long 9 months. 9 months after Izumi's secret resurrection, 9 months after the killings started... and 9 long months of nightmares for one Katsuki Bakugo. Of a menacing villain able to overpower every single extra, decapitating them in swift, yet brutal strikes, before turning to him. The shadowy figure only was able to point at him before he awoke in a cold sweat. Breathing rapidly, his mind struggled to fully wake up, but he was soon able to. However, he couldn't afford to focus on stupid dreams and nightmares... he had his UA entrance exam today, and needed to be prepared. As he arrived downstairs, dressed and ready for the day, his ear caught... something. Normally, he didn't pay attention to the news, seeing it as a waste of time, extras talking about meaningless things in other cities that didn't bother him... but one thing caught his attention. A story about a triple murder the night before. The newscaster was on the scene, standing as close to the police tape as he could without breaking the law. "Another three students were found dead this morning after a brutal attack last night. This serial killer, whose aims are unknown, has had a very obvious trend, even to outsiders like me: they seem to be targeting those who used to go to Aldera Junior High School, and has shown no sign of stopping." The victim's identities were kept secret, due to them being minors, but Bakugo knew that they must have been from his class. All he could say in response was: "What the hell?"

Mitsuki was about to make a snarky comment when she noticed her son paying attention to the news. She glanced between the two of them, knowing full well what exactly was going through his head, but still wanting a clearer picture. "What is it?"
"I know them. They went to school with me."
Her face continued to pale when she watched the news, and heard that all the victims had been Aldera students. That meant that Katsuki was very much at risk. The blonde was horrified to learn the most important detail, the method of death. "That's... that's just like what happened to Izumi... They still haven't caught the killer?!"

Katsuki was shocked, as that was very similar to what he'd seen in his nightmares... all of them had been decapitated, and the silhouette pointed to him next. But... he didn't know that Deku had the same happen to her. Sure, he had blasted her off the roof, bud didn't see the result. "Deku had her head cut off? I thought she..."
His thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. Mitsuki opened it to find Naomosa Tsukauchi waiting for them. She was surprised that he was visiting today, but knew why. Or suspected she did, as her heart sank. "Hello, my name is Detective Naomosa Tsukauchi. May I come in?"

"Sure..." She mustered a smile, and gestured inwardly.

He took off his hat when he entered. He saw Katsuki and bowed his head. "I heard you were..." pausing for a moment, the detective struggled to find the right word, "...friends... with Izumi. I'm sorry."

Katsuki kept his mouth shut, afraid that he'd find out what happened. Naomosa's voice continued, to the blond boy's sugrin. "Although... the medical examiners had found multiple explosion related injuries on her body... is there any way that could've happened? It obviously wasn't from you, who was such a... dear... friend..."
Unable to speak, or form a plan of attack in this conversation, the boy bluescreened. Or the next best thing to that. "Uh..."

This was not what she had been expecting after the news this morning. Mitsuki narrowed her eyes, he voice sharpened. "Katsuki... What did you do?"
Meanwhile Katsuki's voice was shaking. "I... I didn't do anything!"

"You BRAT!" She hit him over the head with the palm of her hand, a clear SMACK could be heard from where the detective was standing. He watched impassively, but took note of the family dynamic for later. After all, abuse at home often encouraged bullying behaviour elsewhere, because children learned what was appropriate from their parents or caregivers.

The detective was quick to inform him of the circumstances. "Listen, Bakugo. My quirk allows me, on top of my deduction and investigative skills, to determine whether or not you told the truth. So why did you lie? Is your "friendship" also a lie?"