Serendipity [Bakukami]

Chapter 11

Shoto Todoroki was the general of the Army. He had taken over his job from his father, who had taken it from his father and so on.

Katsuki hated such ancestral occupations. How was Todoroki entitled to such a precious job simply because his father did the same thing? Katsuki found it foolish.

But he is no longer the one to bicker about it, considering the fact that he himself was following his father's footsteps.

But regardless, Todoroki was the most cowardly soldier Katsuki had ever chanced upon. He was the most ferociously law-abiding person Katsuki knew.

Even the most ridiculous ones, like tying his boots in a specific way. Everytime Katsuki noticed such little perfections in him, he got angry.

He never knew the source for his anger. Did he hate him because he was a law-abiding person? Or because he was simply given such a prestigious job? Or because he was just annoying in general.

Regardless, Katsuki loathed this man. They've known each other since about middle school, and Todoroki naturally got closer to Midoriya.

Midoriya was a people's person, everyone loved him. But Katsuki didn't like the closeness Todoroki had developed with Midoriya. It was weird.

"Contemplating on dropping out, Bakugo?" Todoroki asks with a smug smile, throwing a sword towards him.

"Wouldn't dream of it, sir." Katsuki catches the sword and balances it on his palm, checking it's weight.

Once the both reach a safe distance away from each other and stand with their swords in front of their chests, the game begins.

The first few steps were slow and calculated, but Katsuki saw Todoroki's first move coming. He could deviate it easily.

A small snort leaves Katsuki's throat, irritating Todoroki even further. "Seems to be a clear miss, don't you think so, sir?" Katsuki chuckles.

Just as Todoroki tries to swing his sword, Katsuki immediately lifts his clashing them mid air. The metal creates an uncomfortable scratchy noise, but both seemed to be unaware of it.

Katsuki swings his sword towards Todoroki's abdomen when he thinks Todoroki wasn't noticing. However, in a split second Todoroki is defending himself.

"For a second you thought you caught me, didn't you?" Todoroki says through gritted teeth. Katsuki doesn't answer.

Todoroki was steadily trying to disarm Katsuki's swords by flicking it, however Katsuki had a strong hold onto it. "I would never expect it to be that easy, sir." Katsuki answers, his sword heavily clashing against Todoroki's.

Todoroki gives a hard flick, almost through Katsuki out of balance. And in the span of moments, Katsuki feels a sharp pain against his right bicep.

But without waiting, he swings his sword against Todoroki's right calf, effectively drawing some blood.

"Oh." Todoroki softly exclaims, looking down at his wound for a moment before continuing, "Guess that makes us even."

Todoroki turns around, gathering momentum for his swing and hits Katsuki straight on, almost touching his head.

Katsuki holds his sword horizontally, defending himself. The sword almost slips for a second, but Katsuki finds the power to throw him off.

"I never understood why you always hated me, Bakugo." Todoroki tries to strike a conversation.

"It was simply because of your privileges, sir." Katsuki answers, just as casual.

"Wasn't my choice to be born in this family." Todoroki retorts, almost losing balance when Katsuki moved forward with a harsh swing of his sword.

"It was your choice to stay. To obey. To take over your father's designation. To follow the queen and her stupid principles-" Katsuki stats, anger slowly sleeping through his imperfect persona.

"You're in the castle grounds, Bakugo. Watch what you speak. Inside the castle, even the walls seem to have ears." Todoroki quickly cuts him off, eyes quickly scanning for anyone around them.

Katsuki exhasperatedly drops his weapon, refusing to fight. "Why are you so scared?" Katsuki asks with a huff. "Fear is the only way of manipulation."

"I would rather live in fear than die a brutal death, Bakugo." Todoroki cuts him off, glaring at him.

"You choose to live a pathetic life because of your incapability to be brave?" To which Todoroki shamelessly responds.

"Yes."

Katsuki's eyebrows twitch, his eyes glare a deep red. He swings in full force, a loud "Argh-" resonating into his ears.

Todoroki's forcefully flicks his sword. And to Katsuki's surprise, he loses the grip on his sword, which falls a few meters away with a loud clank.

"You dropped your guard for a second. You are always blinded by your hatred, Bakugo. Which is why you've been losing duels with me since middle school." Todoroki snaps, forcefully digging his sword on the ground. He walks away, leaving the sword deeply stuck in the ground.

Katsuki stays still fuming in anger. He spits out in anger and walks towards to castle. Katsuki glances Todoroki going into the kitchen again, but forcefully looks away.

Katsuki automatically reaches Denki's room, softly knocking on his door. "Coming, give me a minute!" Denki's muffled voice is heard.

"Oh, Mr Bodyguard." Denki greets him with a smile, Katsuki feels a little better after that. Denki seemed to be in a better mood after everything that happened in the morning.

"Your Highness." Katsuki bows with his right arm forward. And that's when Denki notices.

"Hey-! You're bleeding, are you aware?" Denki gasps, pulling Katsuki inside his room with him. Katsuki looks at it with a frown and sighs.

"It's not a big deal, Your Highness. By the time you finish your breakfast, I'll get Deku to patch it up."

"You don't need Midoriya to patch you up, I can do it quite well." Denki grumbles, pulling out his first air box from under his bed and starts dabbing a cotton against his arm.

"How did you get hurt? Did you get into a fight?" Denki asks, still focussed on his arm.

"Duel. Nothing too serious. Just a practice with the Army General."

"Oh, Todoroki?" Denki asks, to which Katsuki squints.

"You know him?" Katsuki slowly asks, as if accusing him of something.

"Of course I know him, he's the Army General. But i don't think i necessarily like him, he's too hard to be friends with." Denki grumbles, pouting softly.

"I know right! That's exactly what I've been saying!" Katsuki exclaims after which both naturally fall into a conversation.

Author's note:
Exam week guys, I apologise for the delay. Hopefully I can return to my old schedule soon T.T