Fiery Hearts: A MHA Fanfic Tale

Apology

That weekend, Katsumi and Ochaco explored Musutafu together, going from place-to-place, taking in everything. They got ice cream, Takoyaki, and souvenirs. As the day was drifting away, Ochaco led Katsumi to a nearby park, to sit and chat.  

"I know what you're about to ask Ochaco, and I don't know if I want to talk about it yet." Katsumi looks down at her feet. She doesn't really understand the situation that occurred previously that week, and her feelings are all messed up. Katsumi is usually good at expressing her feelings, more so anger than anything else, but she's stumped, and she doesn't know how to explain herself. 

"It's okay Kat. I understand something happened, and I know that when you're ready to talk, I'll be here to listen." Ochaco smiles in understanding, and she puts her arm around Kat. Comfort was what Katsumi really needed in that moment, and it soothed her. Katsumi looks up and smiles. 

"I think to truly understand what happened, I'm going to need an outside perspective." Katsumi nods her head, and takes a deep breath. 

"So, here's what happened: Bakugo offered to help me study (after constant nagging that was), and after a failed attempt Monday, I think something clicked in his brain. That day we went to a cafe first to study, but Bakugo got us kicked out, so instead I brought him to my house. He was uncomfortable and nervous, so he abruptly left. That night, he told me he would help me study in the common room after school the next day. I met him after school, and sat down next to him. Well, I think that might've made him even more uncomfortable. I've never seen someone so flustered, and my feeble attempts at making him feel better, failed. He yelled at me for getting too close (I just looked at his notes), and then he stormed off after being silent. I chased after him, but that made him even more angry. I think I hit a nerve by calling him sensitive, and then he told me we would never be friends. All I was trying to do was to understand what I did to make him so uncomfortable, but it just blew up in my face." 

Ochaco nodded in silence. It was silent for awhile, while both girls looked down at their feet. Katsumi knew Ochaco was trying to think of what to say, but the situation was sticky. Bakugo is hard to understand, and even more to try to pick apart his emotions. Katsumi had no idea what was going on his head, and neither did Ochaco. 

"I know you're going to hate this, but I think you should leave him alone for a bit, just to cool off. I know your heart was in the right place, but obviously something snapped in Bakugo. I'm not saying to completely stop talking to him, but give him a break, just until summer vacation. Maybe, once he's calmed down, you can try to talk to him again, and become friends." Ochaco says this sweetly, and not an ounce of annoyance in her tone. Katsumi almost beams at Ochaco, not particularly of the advice, but because Ochaco took the time to listen, and to try to help.  

"You're right Ochaco. Thank you for helping, and listening." Katsumi hugs Ochaco tight, and they stay there for a bit. Katsumi is thankful for all the help she is receiving from her friend, and she is starting to consider her as her best friend. Katsumi never really had a best friend; friends? Sure. But a best friend that she can always rely on? No. 

They get up and walk back to the dorms. The humidity hangs in the air, and the cicadas are buzzing. For once that entire week, Katsumi is at ease. No matter how hard Bakugo was going to make Katsumi's goal, Katsumi was never going to get discouraged and give up. 

Across town, back at the dorms, Bakugo is at the training ground, blowing things up. It's not quite curfew, which is at 7, so Bakugo has decided to let off some steam. That entire week, Katsumi wasn't the only one thinking about what went down between the two of them. That entire situation has been bothering Bakugo, and he hasn't had the right words to explain how he felt. Unlike Katsumi, Bakugo would never, NEVER ask for help, so he's out there trying to put how he feels into words.

As he's absentmindedly blowing things up, his mind ponders. What is bothering him so much? Bakugo is too confident and too prideful to feel sad for Katsumi, so what is nagging him? Bakugo doesn't think too much on having a crush on Katsumi, so he rules that out. The only friends Bakugo has (really the only people he can stand) are Kirishima and Kaminari. He thinks back to how he feels about them, and comes to these conclusions: he can (partially) stand them, and he knows that they're strong enough to handle Bakugo's explosive personality. Bakugo respects the two of them, and regards them as his friends. Just how those two handle Bakugo, so does Katsumi. "Maybe she was trying to get to know me?" He thinks. He already knows that she was trying to befriend him, but just like with Deku, Bakugo thought she was mocking him. 

After careful consideration to that question, Bakugo makes up his mind. He's not going to openly admit Katsumi as a friend, but he'll go a little bit easier on her (emphasis on "easier"). But, he's going to push her harder to see how much respect he can give her. Bakugo doesn't like weak heroes, so Katsumi is going to have to push herself harder to prove she's worthy of being Bakugo's friend. 

Bakugo heads back to the dorms before curfew, and notices Katsumi and Ochaco walking in at the same time. Katsumi takes Ochaco's advice, and gives him his space. Unfortunately, the way she does it comes off as arrogant, and that makes Bakugo mad. After all the thinking he just did, Katsumi's actions are making Bakugo want to take back what he thought. 

"Hey nerd! I wanna talk to you." Bakugo points at Katsumi, and she stops. She was trying to ignore him, so Bakugo wanting to talk to her throws her plan out the window. Katsumi waits at the front of the door for him. She instructs Ochaco to go inside without her. Technically, being on the porch is okay past curfew, since they're at the dorms. 

Bakugo walks up to Katsumi, with his hands in his pockets. Awkward silence fills the space between the two of them. 

"What do you want Bakugo?" Katsumi breaks the silence, and speaks first.

"After written exams, let's fight after school." Bakugo is blunt about it, not wasting any time. 'Is this his way of apologizing?" Katsumi thinks.

"Why?" 

"'Cause I told you to nerd. I can take it back." Bakugo shrugs his shoulders and starts to walk back inside.

"No wait!" Katsumi reaches for Bakugo's arm, stopping him. She notices what she's done, and lets go immediately. 

"Okay fine. But can I ask you why?" 

"Nope." Bakugo walks inside, having the door close. 

Katsumi just stands there, dumbfounded once again by Bakugo's actions. This boy was tripping Katsumi up even more, and that made her excited. She liked a challenge, and was willing to deal with Bakugo's confusing personality. Somewhere in her mind, Katsumi knew that this was some form of an apology from Bakugo. Although it wasn't a traditional apology, it was important. Bakugo doesn't fight just anyone, so having him pick Katsumi meant a lot. Katsumi was starting to understand this, and it made her smile. Suddenly, Iida comes running outside, breaking Katsumi away from her thoughts.

"Come inside. It was well past curfew!" Iida swings his arms back in forth.

"It's only 5 past 7, and besides, I'm allowed outside on the porch." Katsumi walks past Iida, content with herself, and her new found friend, even if Bakugo wasn't going to admit it.