Amethyst. (Katsuki Bakugo x Reader)

PART 21 - Where Fire Meets the Heart

I stormed out of the training room, my frustration clawing at me like the flames I had just barely contained. The hallways of the agency were eerily quiet, the weight of what had just happened still pressing down on my chest. My feet carried me forward, but my mind was somewhere else—angry, confused, exhausted.

Why is it always him?

Bakugo's voice had cut through the chaos when even I couldn't. The thought twisted in my stomach like a knot I couldn't untangle. I didn't want to rely on anyone—especially not Bakugo. Yet, somehow, he was the one who always managed to reach me.

I turned a corner and nearly ran straight into him.

Bakugo was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his usual scowl firmly in place. His crimson eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a flicker of that same anger surge back to life.

"You did good," he muttered, his voice low, almost begrudging.

My steps faltered. Good? My blood boiled at the simplicity of his words. How could he say that like it was nothing? Like I wasn't hanging on by a thread?

I felt my frustration bubble over. "Why is it always you?" I blurted out, my voice louder than I intended. "Why do you get through to me when I can't even control myself?"

Bakugo didn't flinch, his eyes narrowing at me in that infuriating way he had. "Because you're scared of your own quirk and yourself," he said bluntly. "And I'm not."

The words hit like a slap, and for a second, I couldn't breathe. He said it like it was obvious, like he'd known all along. Anger flared again, hotter this time, mixing with something else—something I couldn't quite place.

"I'm not scared," I snapped back, my fists clenching at my sides. "It's you—ever since you came into my life, I can't focus! I keep thinking about you and losing control!"

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I froze. I hadn't meant to say that. Did I really just say that?

Bakugo's eyes widened just slightly, surprise flickering across his face. Then, just as quickly, his expression hardened again. "Thinking about me, huh?"

My face burned with embarrassment. "I didn't mean—" I turned away, yanking the door to my room open. "Forget it!" I slammed the door behind me, leaning against it, my heart pounding.

I did NOT just say that.

__________

Best Jeanist's POV

I watched as Y/N Todoroki stormed out of the training room, her frustration evident in every sharp movement. Her potential was undeniable, but that potential came with a weight—one she wasn't fully prepared to carry yet. Today's training had exposed the cracks, not just in her control over her quirk, but in the emotional foundation beneath it. She's talented, but talent alone is never enough.

Her power is immense, but without emotional mastery, she's walking a precarious line.

I reached for my phone, scrolling through the contacts until I found the one I needed. Shouta Aizawa. He would need to know what transpired today. This isn't something that could be resolved in a mere week of training.

The phone rang twice before Aizawa's voice answered, gruff and to the point. "What is it, Tsunagu?"

"Aizawa, I need to discuss Todoroki's progress. Specifically, the development of her quirk," I replied, keeping my tone calm but serious. "Today, we saw something I believe she isn't ready to handle."

There was a pause on the other end before Aizawa spoke again. "What happened?"

"Her dragon manifested again—fully this time," I explained. "It's more than just a quirk manifestation. It's... primal. And from what I observed, I'm not convinced she was in control of it."