-Beyond the illusion-

Aftermath

May 17
Saturday
12:45pm

"Not too shabby, huh?" I said, my heart still racing.

"Yeah, your alright" he replied, a hint of a smile breaking through his usual scowl.

Just then, the civilians began to emerge from their hiding places, eyes wide with relief and awe. The park, once filled with chaos, felt safe again.

As we turned to face the crowd, I couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude. Together, Bakugo and I had faced down a villain and emerged victorious. I looked at him, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.

"Let's stick together from now on," I said, determination burning in my chest.

"Damn right," Bakugo replied, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Next time, we'll be ready."

As the dust settled and the civilians began to gather, a news reporter rushed over, her camera crew trailing behind. She looked breathless, excitement lighting up her eyes as she approached us.

"Excuse me! Can I get a quick interview?" she asked, her microphone pointed straight at us. "You two just saved the day! What are your names, and where are you from?"

I glanced at Bakugo, who was already scowling, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He didn't seem keen on the idea of being in the spotlight, but I felt a surge of responsibility to represent us both.

"I'm Y/N, and this is Bakugo," I said, giving him a quick smile to ease his annoyance. "We're students at UA High School."

The reporter's eyes widened in recognition. "UA! The prestigious hero academy! What made you jump into action like that?"

I took a breath, recalling the adrenaline of the moment. "We just knew we had to help. People were in danger, and we couldn't stand by and do nothing. We worked together to take him down."

Bakugo shifted, clearly impatient. "Yeah, yeah, enough with the fluff. We're just doing what any hero would do," he grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"Right," I added, trying to keep the momentum going. "Teamwork is key, and we knew we could count on each other."

The reporter nodded eagerly, scribbling notes. "So, Bakugo, how does it feel to have Y/N by your side during such a dangerous situation?"

He shot a quick glare at the reporter, his annoyance palpable. "I didn't need anyone holding my hand," he retorted, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. "I could've handled it myself."

I chuckled softly, feeling the tension ease slightly. "But together, we made a great team. It's all about working together, right?"

"Whatever," Bakugo grumbled, but I caught the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "Next time, let's skip the interview and just focus on the mission."

The reporter laughed, clearly thrilled with our dynamic. "Thank you both! You've shown incredible bravery today. Any final words for aspiring heroes out there?"

I leaned in closer to the camera, my heart racing with excitement. "Just believe in yourself and your teammates. We can all make a difference if we work together."

Bakugo huffed beside me, but there was an unmistakable gleam in his eye. "Yeah, just don't screw up like some people," he added, nudging me playfully. As we made our way down the bustling street, the remnants of the chaos slowly faded behind us, replaced by the mouthwatering aromas wafting from the local ramen shop. Bakugo walked beside me, still buzzing with energy from our earlier fight.

"You want to grab something to eat?" he asked, his tone casual but with an underlying edge of urgency. "After all that fighting and listening to you yap, I'm starving."