Mystic

Chapter 9

Since arriving at U.A., she hadn't gotten a real chance to spend time with her dad. With him being the number one hero and her busy with school, their schedules never seemed to align. She understood it wasn't anyone's fault, but that didn't make it any easier. Today, though, for once, their schedules had miraculously cleared. She'd been looking forward to this for weeks.

After school, she waved goodbye to her friends, lingering in Aizawa's classroom for a few moments before making her way over to her dad's office. She slipped inside, gently closing the door behind her, and sank onto his office couch, idly scrolling through her phone as she waited. Minutes ticked by, the usual hope giving way to a familiar sinking feeling in her chest. When twenty minutes passed with no sign of him, she sighed, trying to brush off the disappointment.

Just as she rose, reaching for the door, it swung open. Her dad stood there, his gaze meeting hers with a mix of guilt and exhaustion. The sadness in his eyes was unmistakable as he took in her resigned expression.

"Hey..." he murmured softly, stepping inside. Without another word, he pulled her into a hug, his arms firm but gentle around her. She wrapped her arms around him, trying to ignore the ache in her chest.

"I'm sorry, honey," he whispered, tightening his hold on her, as if to make up for all the times he couldn't be there.

A tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away. She didn't want him to see how much it hurt, but he noticed anyway. Ever since she was little, she'd been second to his work—something she tried to accept, but no matter how old she got, it still stung.

"It's okay, Dad. I understand." She forced a small, sad smile.

Her dad sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "No, it's not okay. I should be here more. I thought, with the FaceTimes and messages, that maybe it would help... but I know it doesn't make up for actually being here."

She shook her head, unwilling to let him blame himself. "You're the number one hero. It's not like you can just leave your work behind. Besides, I'm used to it."

He winced at that. "I know you are... and that hurts even more."

His words, his regret, chipped away at the wall she'd carefully built up. Before she could stop herself, she felt fresh tears streaming down her face. He cupped her cheek, wiping them away with his thumb, looking at her with a sadness that mirrored her own.

"Look," he said, managing a faint, almost pleading smile. "Tonight is just for us. I won't let anything get in the way, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered, and despite herself, her heart lifted a little.

The evening turned out to be better than she could have hoped for. They found themselves in a cozy little café nearby, laughing over stories she'd never heard before, like how Izuku had clung to her dad when he was little.

"So you're telling me Izuku clung to you the first time he met you?" she asked, tears of laughter streaming down her face.

Her dad chuckled, shaking his head. "Yup. I remember him staring up at me with those big, determined eyes, and he just wouldn't let go. He was so stubborn, even back then."

She laughed, wiping her eyes. "That sounds just like him. Even quirkless, he'd try to save his friends without a second thought."

He nodded, his expression softening. "That's Izuku, all right. Always putting others first, even when he shouldn't."

The conversation turned to her life at U.A., with him asking all the usual dad questions—how were her grades? Was she getting along with her classmates? Was there anyone she liked?

And then he smirked, giving her a teasing look. "What about Young Bakugou? I see you and him have been getting along just fine."

She nearly choked on her drink, her cheeks flushing pink. "W-what? No, it's not... Dad, it's not like that! We're just friends."

"Yeah, mhm." He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced as he took a sip of his drink.

She rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks burn hotter. "We are! He's just—he's just Bakugou!"

"Sure, whatever you say," he chuckled, clearly amused.

The playful banter continued, lightening the mood. But as the night drew to a close, a subtle sadness began to settle in her chest, knowing their time together was almost up. He walked her to her dorm, stopping at the entrance as he squeezed her hand.

"Remember," he said, looking at her with a gentle but serious expression, "you're still my little girl. If anyone breaks your heart, you know I'll handle it."

She giggled, rolling her eyes. "Okay, Dad, whatever you say."

The warmth of the evening carried her up to the common area, where she was met with the usual chaos. Her classmates were playing Smash Bros., others were gossiping in the kitchen, the noise a sharp contrast to the quiet she'd just shared with her dad.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, she slipped away toward the elevator, only to find Bakugou falling into step beside her, hands tucked into his pockets.

"They were too loud for you, huh?" she teased, shooting him a knowing smile.

He smirked, though there was a hint of relief in his eyes. "Figured you'd be asleep by now."

"Well, you know how Shitty Hair gets. He practically dragged me out of my room," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

They rode up in companionable silence until Bakugou cleared his throat, looking at her a bit sheepishly. "So... if you're not tired... you wanna hang out?"

Her smile softened. "Sure, my room or yours?"

"Yours is fine," he said, cheeks faintly pink as he looked away.

They walked down the hall, trading quiet jokes until they reached her door. But when they approached, she noticed something that made her pause. The door was slightly open, and she could see the light spilling out from inside. She was certain she'd turned it off and locked it. Her brow furrowed, and a glance at Bakugou told her he was on edge too.

They heard a faint shuffling sound from within. Without a word, she dropped her bag, her hands beginning to glow with red energy as she prepared for a fight. Bakugou caught her look, and with a nod, he kicked the door open, ready to face whatever threat was inside.

The sight that met her eyes, though, was anything but expected. There, standing in the center of her room, was a man she hadn't seen in a long time. He looked calm, almost smug, his dark eyes meeting hers with a familiar glint.

Her heart skipped a beat, shock and disbelief flashing across her face. Bakugou stiffened beside her, casting quick glances at her frozen expression, uncertain whether to jump into action or wait.

The man's lips curled into a lazy smile as he held her gaze, unbothered by Bakugou's stance or her defensive energy. His voice was smooth and infuriatingly calm as he greeted her.

"Hey, baby. Did you miss me?"