Noble and Pride [Katsuki Bakugo x Shoto Todoroki]

Chapter 42: Kazerashi

"This is it. The tallest mountain of Ryotatsu, Aori Mountain,"

The little boy's eyes instantly brightened up in awe. From this view, everything looked so small, looked so out of reach yet very close to his small hands. Katsuki felt like he was at the very top of the world. His hands were holding tight onto his parents'. One grasping onto his mother's, another grasping onto his father's.

"Here, we traditionally do our King coronation ceremony. The highest peak of the mountain is the closest to the Celestial Realm, where the Gods of Dragons and our ancestors watch us. As soon as you get an omega to marry, you'll be the one to get a coronation," Katsuki's father explained and Katsuki blinked, mouth forming a small 'o'.

But somehow, a pout formed on his lips. "Why so? The kingdom is already all happy and cheerful with the old man's ruling. I don't need to be a king. I'm happy with you being my king, too. And Bleurgh, marrying an omega sounds gross. I don't wanna!" Katsuki protested.

"You brat-" Mitsuki huffed, kneeling in front of the little dragon and pinched Katsuki's cheeks. "Who taught you to be this cocky? Do you think you can rule without an omega by your side? An omega, the queen is as important! While the king distracts himself with all the matters of the kingdom, the queen is there to ensure the king's very health and mental serenity. To ensure that the king's well-being is perfectly taken care of.

And what are you so worried about, huh?" Mitsuki asked and Katsuki huffed.

"You two are fucking great at everything. So damn smart too," Katsuki murmured. "What if I mess everything up and everyone hates me?"

The King simply chuckled, kneeling as well, and smiled at his son.

"You're a person too. I'm a person too. Mere men like us tend to make mistakes. But that's alright. All that matters is how quickly you stand up again, and how much effort you put up to fix every single mistake you've made. The people in our kingdom don't want a perfect king. They want a king that can listen to every one of their needs, that is the closest to their heart..."

Masaru poked little Katsuki's chest, the spot where Katsuki's heart was.

"And just like that. You're the king that you, yourself, would be proud of,"

Something within Katsuki just moved, and Katsuki found himself waiting forward to be the greatest king he ever could to make his parents proud.

What he didn't expect was...for him to take the throne so soon. 

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"That looks so good, Katsubro! Can I taste that?!"

"Please leave some for me, I'm starving!"

"FUCK OFF. THIS AIN'T FOR YOU TWO!"

Katsuki's yell echoed inside the palace kitchen, making both Eijiro and Denki pout. "I bet that must be for Todobro again," Denki huffed, showing his obvious discontentment.  Eijiro gave a small nod to that. "Yeah, ever since he liked the prince, he never cared for us, his besties anymore," Eijiro sobbed.

"The actual hell? Are you two fucking serious?! Since when are you two dumbasses my-"

"What's with the ruckus?" Shoto asked, entering the kitchen and the two sobbing alphas halted their doing. Denki and Eijiro went towards Shoto, hugging the omega's side, and continued their weeping. Shoto grew a little awkward, but simply patting their back. "What did Katsuki do this time?"

"This time? Fucking hell- why are you going along with this?! I'm killing both of you!" Katsuki emitted crackles of explosion in his hands and aimed a few punches at them, which made the two alphas laugh and quickly run away. Katsuki pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated by this immaturity he had to handle.

"Katsuki," Shoto called out. "I'm, well, actually here to tell you something. About the knight's training ground. But you seemed to be busy," Shoto mumbled, peeking at the boiling soup inside the pot. It smelled like fish stock. Fish stock soup...that's very familiar to Shoto.

"Would have finished making this shit way quicker if those dumbasses did decide to be a wuss," Katsuki grumbled, going over to close the stove and pour some of the soup into a bowl. The buckwheat noodles had already been cooked too, so Katsuki drained them.

"What are you cooking, exactly?" Shoto asked. "Just for your information, there are maids and servants that would prepare all the needed foods so you don't have to bother cooking anything for yourself. If you're still wary of the ingredients, you can just inspect them before letting the ingredients be used," Shoto pointed out.

"Yeah, I fucking know that. But I ain't making shit for myself. Whatever. Just go on with whatever shit you wanna tell me," Katsuki mumbled, letting the parts of the meal aside to cool down in the fridge and walking towards Shoto.

"The training ground for Inasa's soldier will be here," Shoto opened the map he was holding and pointed to the area. "This forest. It's just two kilometres from the main city, from this palace. It's on the north side where a large waterfall was also located. I figured telling you the location would give you an idea for the training you'll put them through,"

Katsuki closed his eyes. Memories of the past hellish training he had went to enhance his dragon strength came by and Katsuki instantly gave a devilish smirk. Shoto who was there, somehow found himself pitying the soldiers for having Katsuki as their momentary trainer.

"Don't be so harsh. You still need to gain their trust, you know? Taking orders from an outsider can be a lot to process," Shoto reminded and Katsuki snorted. "As if. They're gonna grow way fucking stronger than the whimps they once were. And to make sure of that- I can't show a single damn mercy,"

"But they're Inasa's soldiers. We have to channel our gratitude for them letting us stay here,"

"That's the more reason to beat their asses. They're BALDY'S fucking soldiers,"

Shoto sighed. They're no use arguing with Katsuki sometimes. He's too stubborn. As Shoto was about to say another word, Katsuki walked off to the fridge where he had kept the meals stored and Shoto eyed curiously. Must be the meal Katsuki worked on earlier. But he thought Katsuki liked hot meals. Did Katsuki make himself some desserts? Strange. Since when does Katsuki eat desserts for lunch?

Nonetheless, as soon as his eyes take in the meals in front of him, his eyelids are broadened in surprise. Katsuki had just casually placed a tray of a certain meal right before Shoto's eyes.

Buckwheat noodles are neatly placed on a plate, with thinly sliced seaweed on top. A small bowl of fish soup and a pair of chopsticks, along with some refreshment of green onions. His mother's gentle look flashed into Shoto's mind. It's cold soba. The very meal that his mother always prepared for him whenever everything felt too hot. Whenever Shoto's body was burning from either his curse, the overwhelming training with his fire or his heat. It's the meal Shoto has missed for so long, the meal that Shoto have always found solace in eating.

"Fucking remembered that you mentioned about this shit once before. Seriously, who the fuck enjoys a cold meal? This shit tastes expired and bland as fuck- but I guess since you fucking enjoyed it, it actually ain't that shitty," Katsuki murmured, cheeks tinted with pink. "What cha waiting for? Dig the fuck in-"

Katsuki's words were paused as he noticed how glassy Shoto's eyes were. Katsuki blinked, growing a little anxious from the sight of the omega almost crying. Shoto quickly wiped his eyes, his lips forming a genuine smile. "You're just so thoughtful at times. You really have ways to make me fall in love with you even more, don't you?" Shoto lifted some of the noodles with his chopsticks and Katsuki cleared his throat, growing flustered.

"You know damn well it's my fucking job to make sure you're happy. Sentimental bastard," Katsuki murmured. Shoto fed himself some of the noodles and his eyes instantly sparkled. A soft, delighted hum was created. This tastes too good to be true.

As Shoto was eating, Katsuki couldn't help but keep himself staring. This moment was one of the moments Katsuki couldn't help but treasure so much. This peaceful, quiet and relaxed time. For a man who seeks challenges and battles like Katsuki, he finds such equanimity as comforting.