STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 61 // Ending

Due to school, work, and personal issues, updates will be reduced back to one day a week, and that day will be Saturday. I haven't been able to keep up with writing and editing as much as I'd like. This book with be coming to an end soon, but don't worry! There's more stories to come. If you'd like to vote for which book is published next, head to the authors note between chapters forty-five and forty-six Thank you, and happy reading!
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Your hand shook ever-so-slightly as it hovered over Midoriya's dorm door, the wave of anxiety settled in you growing stronger.

You had been waiting to properly speak with the boy one on one. However, now that you were about to, you were extremely anxious about how the conversation would go.

What if it was a waste? What if speaking to him didn't shake anything in your memory and instead only tore down your spirit more? What if what you were about to do was useless? What would you do then? It was obvious you couldn't beat Shigaraki without Midoriya's power, so what would happen if the boy refused to give it to you?

You eventually pushed past the long list of possibilities clouding your mind and knocked on the door, almost immediately hearing a faint "one second" in response.

You brought your hands against your stomach and proceeded to fiddle with your fingers as you waited for Midoriya to open the door.

"Oh, hello [Y/N]," Midoriya greeted with a small smile upon seeing you.

"Hey," you exhaled, finding familiarity and comfort in his welcoming expression. "Can we talk?"

Midoriya blinked, a light aura of confusion settling upon his somehow still soft and innocently appearing features.

"Sure," he eventually answered, stepping aside and allowing you to enter his room.

His room was somehow still bright and lively, decorated with dozens of differing All Might posters and figures.

You would've tore it all down if this were your room, but you supposed Midoriya was better than you in that way. He didn't let his trauma corrupt him. He was still Izuku Midoriya. You didn't know who you were anymore.

"What did you want to talk about?" Midoriya asked as he closed the door, folding his arms self-consciously behind his back as he walked over to you.

You glanced at him nervously, looking around to find a place to sit comfortably before you settled on taking refuge in his desk chair. You didn't feel comfortable enough to sit on his bed.

"These past few days have been rough," you explained. "While some things have gradually came back to me like Aizawa and Bakugo, you never returned to my memory, not fully, yet somehow I still know that I need you. There's been this little voice in the back of my head telling me to talk to you, but, now that I know Shigaraki is in my head, I wouldn't be shocked if that was him trying to get something he wants."

Midoriya listened to you with intent, crossing his arms over his chest as he settled down on the edge of his mattress, never taking his eyes off of you.

"I don't remember you, not really. I know your name and face, but I can't think back to any time we interacted before this, and, while it's frustrating, there's nothing I can do about it," you continued. "I can't control the past, but I can dictate what's left of my future."

You lifted your head higher, forcing yourself out of your previously slouched position, which had become an adaptation.

"I know this seems manipulative of me after I just poured out some of my trauma, but, if you'll let me, I'd like to wield One For All again," you finished.

You pursed your lips as you fell silent, staring at Midoriya intently as you tried to decipher what he was thinking simply by observing his scrunched features.

"You'll die," he eventually stated.

"I know," you agreed, "but I'm dying regardless. I'd rather go out doing something worthwhile, something that will help us in the war."

"It hurts," he confessed as if trying to convince you of another solution. "It's not an easy power to wield for an extensive amount of time."

"I know", you began, "but Overhaul changed my body for his benefit, which may prove to be our benefit in this war. I know it's a lot to ask, and, if it makes you feel better, it's mostly to keep myself conscious during the battle. One For All will counteract Shigaraki's internal destruction of my body. Hopefully, it'll do so long enough for me to help using my own abilities."

Midoriya shifted his eyes to the ground, silently contemplating your request further. You didn't interrupt nor add anything else to your argument. You simply waited.

"Alright," he soon agreed, "but I'll only transfer it at the moment the battle begins. I don't want you wielding it longer than you have to."

You pursed your lips, noticing the hesitant look in the boy's wavering eyes. He didn't want to give you One For All, but he knew doing so was for a good reason.

"Thank you," you said, standing, "and, one more thing, please, don't tell Bakugo. I don't want him worrying more than he already does."

"He's always going to worry about you, [Y/N]," Midoriya replied with a small smile. "He worries about everything now. You changed him into that type of person, a person who cares."

"Yeah..." you trailed off, knowing how much more this ending was going to hurt because of how you've changed him, "that's what I'm worried about."

You settled your eyes upon Midoriya once more, soon stepping forward to wrap your arms around his shoulders.

"Oh," he sounded at the feeling, eventually circling his arms around your torso to reciprocate the hug, "what's this for?"

"I'm sorry," you apologized.

"For what?"

"For not being able to ever remember you."

[EDITED]