My Hero Academia: Ruby and Emerald

Chapter 20: Younger Bakugou Katsuki POV

Katsuki couldn’t do anything to help Izuku train with OFA, so he was practicing using his explosions to move through the air. Every so often, Katsuma-nii would call up a tip.

Mostly, though, Katsuma-nii was watching Yagi-sensei and Mikumo work with Izuku. He would call out tips to them, too.

The explosion released from Katsuki’s right hand was too big. He went careening sideways, overcorrected, and landed haphazardly in the sand.

Goddammit! Shit. Get up, Katsuki. Try it again.

So what if Izuku needed more attention right now? Katsuki could practice shit on his own. Izuku just got his quirk, which made him like a toddler.

Also, seeing his bones shatter from the force of his own punch had been terrifying. Katsuki remembered the damn conversation they had about Izuku getting OFA, back when Mikumo revealed his quirk.

Mikumo had apologized, which was baffling at the time. But watching Izuku break his bones with it, the very first time he tried to use it? That shit was terrifying.

Katsuki thought maybe he understood, now.

And, hey, if Izuku was crazy enough to learn to use a quirk that dangerous, he deserved Katsuki’s respect.

He had deserved Katsuki’s respect for a long time.

Katsuki just hadn’t been willing to give it.

He was trying to make up for it now by dropping the “Deku” nickname, but he knew he would have to do a lot more than that to make up for his past actions.

Whatever. All he could do for now was focus on his own training.

Explosion. SAND AGAIN! Fuck!

Okay, Katsuki, stop getting distracted by the damn nerd and the teachers! Try to stay in the air for more than five minutes this time!

-----

“...So, have you put any thought into a costume design yet?” Himiko-nee asked, slowly setting down her drawing pad next to the stack of homework Katsuki was working through.

Katsuki glared at her, then pointedly started on another math problem.

“Oh, come on! I bet I could make your costume super cute!” Himiko-nee wheedled.

“Shut up and fuck off! I have a costume design, and I don’t want to be a fucking cute hero!”

“Please please please please…”

“Just because you got into some fancy art-centric high school doesn’t mean you’re suddenly qualified to make my hero costume! Keep your kawaii couture or whatever over there!”

“Over where?” Himiko-nee asked, cheekily.

Katsuki felt his patience snap. He only had one move left. The ultimate card.

“HAG!”

-----

Squats. Push-ups. Crunches. Lunges.

Stretch to cool down. Drink water. Extra water, because Katsuki’s quirk dehydrated him faster than a normal person.

Morning workout complete. It had been the same since he first learned what a workout was at age ten.

Dagobah was completely different. Katsuki never knew what kind of bullshit Yagi-sensei was going to throw at them next, but he couldn’t deny that it was effective. Katsuki was already stronger, faster, and more precise in a fight.

Yagi-sensei worked with Izuku on technique and predicting opponents’ moves, but it was slow going. Katsuki himself apparently already had “excellent battle sense”, and having the nerd train against him didn’t work because, as with all things Katsuki, Izuku had already memorized his battle tactics and strategies. Katsuki was the one person Izuku could consistently read in a fight, even when he tried to shake things up! It frustrated Katsuki, and stalled progress for both of them, so Yagi-sensei usually didn’t have them fight each other.