𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 || bnha x tcf ||

‎‧₊˚✧[Chapter 3]✧˚₊‧

𓆉𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓇼

The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the small, humble Bakugo home. The sounds of bustling activity filled the house-Mitsuki Bakugo's energetic humming from the kitchen as she cooked lunch, the occasional thud of Masaru Bakugo's voice booming as he watched the morning news, and the faint rustling of paper as Cale Henituse, now Cale Bakugo, sat in the corner of the living room. Despite the normalcy of the scene, there was an unsettling tension in the air. Cale could feel it deep within him, that strange, almost imperceptible pressure building in his chest.

Cale had never quite fit in with the Bakugo family. He didn't share the fiery personality of his older brother Katsuki, nor did he have the signature blonde hair and piercing eyes. In fact, his appearance was startlingly different. His hair was a deep crimson red, his eyes a fierce, almost unsettling shade of red that seemed to reflect the intensity of his soul. In his previous life, Cale had been a noble, a distant, calm strategist who'd never truly been one for emotional outbursts. Now, in this strange world, he found himself stuck in the body of a boy with little physical strength, a boy with no visible quirk, and a boy who was forced to live under the shadow of his explosive older brother.

That's how it had been for the first few years of his life, anyway.

Yet, Cale never really minded it. He had learned to adapt, to live quietly, and to embrace the love of his parents, who doted on him with an almost ridiculous amount of care. They made sure he stayed inside most of the time, away from the rough and tumble that Katsuki thrived in. They insisted he take care of his health, considering his frail body often failed to meet the physical demands of daily life. Mitsuki had always been especially protective of him, fretting over his condition every time he even looked slightly unwell.

But today was different. Today, Cale's body felt strange-something was stirring deep inside him, an insistent, almost foreign presence that refused to be ignored. He didn't know what it was, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen. His breath hitched as the pressure in his chest intensified. It felt like something was pushing against the inside of his ribs, threatening to crack his bones. He tried to ignore it, dismiss it as some strange, temporary ailment, but the sensation grew stronger with each passing moment.

No. Not again...

Cale's mind raced. It felt too similar to the moments just before he had awakened to the ancient powers in his previous life-the powers that he had inherited. Powers that should never have been able to exist in this world, not in a place like this, with its quirk-based society. Powers that had once been a part of him-powers that were now demanding to be unleashed.

And then, it hit.

A sharp, searing pain stabbed through his chest, and Cale doubled over, clutching at his ribs. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision blurred. He could feel it-the power. The ancient, long-dormant energy that had been waiting for this moment. It was awakening, fighting to be free. The pain was unbearable, like his very body was about to tear itself apart, and yet the sensation of that power surging through his veins was unmistakable.

"Cale!" Mitsuki's voice cut through the haze of pain, sharp and filled with concern. He heard her footsteps rushing toward him, but all he could focus on was the sensation of his own body convulsing, of the sheer weight of the ancient forces beginning to break free. His body was trembling uncontrollably, and he could feel it-the presence-the deep, familiar whispers from the ancient powers inside him.

He couldn't breathe. The room seemed to spin around him, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness. But then, it happened.

A burst of energy erupted from him, and a massive shield-a shimmering, indestructible barrier-appeared in front of him, a glowing, silver orb of power that hummed with an intense, unnatural energy. Cale's eyes widened in horror. The shield was identical to the one he had wielded as Cale Henituse in his previous life. The Indestructible Shield, the Wood-elemental power he had once used to protect himself and others, had manifested here, in this world, in his fragile body.

"W-What the hell?!" Mitsuki's voice broke through the chaos, her hands reaching out to touch the shimmering barrier in front of her, only to be repelled by its unyielding force. "Cale! What is this?!"

Cale could barely hear her over the ringing in his ears. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his vision was fading. He tried to focus, tried to remember the control he once had over these powers, but the pain in his body was unbearable. His body couldn't handle it-not all at once.

The shield flickered, its form wavering in the air as it fought against the strain Cale's body was under. He could feel it-the strain. His body wasn't strong enough to contain the power of the ancient forces. Every cell in his body screamed in protest. He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth, staining the floor beneath him.

And then, another surge of power. The Wind, the element that Cale had once mastered with the Sound of the Wind, was called forth. The air around him crackled with static, and the wind howled as it began to whip through the room, sending papers and small objects flying into the air.

Cale's body jerked upward, pulled by the wind. His feet lifted off the ground, and for a moment, he hovered, disoriented and struggling to breathe through the suffocating pressure.

"Cale Henituse..."

The voice was unmistakable-an ancient, resonating force that echoed through his mind. He had heard it once before. It was the power that had shaped him into the person he had been in his previous life, and now, it was demanding to be heard once more.

"Cale!" Mitsuki shouted again, but her voice was drowned out by the roaring wind that threatened to tear the room apart. The intensity of the storm was growing, as if the very air itself was responding to the awakening of Cale's ancient powers. His body trembled, his breath shallow, and he could feel the wind swirling around him, like a living creature, lifting him higher into the air.

But then, something far more terrifying happened.

A searing heat-like fire-rushed through his body.

The Fire of Destruction, the element of flame he had once used to purify and destroy, surged to life within him. His hands burned with the heat of it, and the very air around him began to grow heavy with smoke and fire. His body screamed in agony as flames erupted from him, scorching the air around him and threatening to consume him entirely.

His body-so frail, so weak-couldn't handle it. He coughed again, more blood spilling from his lips, his vision fading.

The flames intensified, tearing through the room, but he couldn't stop them. He couldn't stop the ancient powers that were demanding to be unleashed.

"Vitality of the Heart..."

The voice whispered again, this time more comforting, more grounding. Cale could feel the healing power of the Vitality of the Heart working its magic. His body began to heal at an accelerated rate, but the toll of the powers still left him weak and trembling. The fire receded, the wind slowed, and the shield flickered out of existence. The raw force of the Ancient Powers subsided, leaving only a weakened Cale, lying on the floor, drenched in sweat and blood.

Mitsuki rushed to his side, her face pale with fear as she cradled him in her arms. "Cale, what happened to you?!" she cried, her voice trembling. She could hardly make sense of what had just occurred-what she had just witnessed.

Cale could barely answer. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. His head was spinning, and he could barely stay conscious.

"I'm... fine," he whispered weakly. "Just... too much... power..."

But his mother wasn't listening. Her hands shook as she dialed the emergency number. "We need a doctor! Something's wrong with Cale!"

---

The aftermath of the awakening would be a blur for Cale. The doctors arrived, examined him, and then concluded that it was likely just a case of his quirk manifesting late. They said some children experience delayed quirk activation, especially in cases where stress or trauma triggered it.

But Cale knew the truth.

It wasn't just a quirk. It was far beyond that. The Ancient Powers-those forces from his previous life-had followed him to this new world. And they would stay with him, whether he liked it or not.