Mystic

Chapter 13

The next morning, Y/n woke up with a mix of emotions. Finding her mother's missing bracelet last night had been a bittersweet reminder of her, bringing both happiness and a sense of longing. The clock read 5 a.m., and though it was early, she knew a workout would help clear her mind. After her usual session, she showered, got ready for school, and tried to shake the feeling of melancholy lingering in the back of her mind.

By lunchtime, Y/n grabbed her tray and started heading over to Katsuki's usual table, feeling her spirits lifting as she spotted her friends. But just before she reached them, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she was greeted by a familiar face—Izuku's.

"Hey, Zu! What's up?" Y/n greeted him warmly, a genuine smile lighting up her face.

"Hey, Y/n! Nothing much... It's just, we haven't really hung out since you moved here," Izuku replied, a soft frown crossing his face.

She placed a gentle hand on his arm, immediately feeling a pang of guilt. "Oh, I'm sorry, Zu. I guess I just got overwhelmed with everything here," she admitted.

He shook his head and smiled. "No worries! Do you want to sit with me today?" he asked, a hopeful tone in his voice.

"Of course, I'd love to!" Y/n said, following him to his table, where she was instantly welcomed by Iida, Todoroki, and Ochako. The group fell into easy conversation, with laughter and jokes flying around. Everyone seemed so happy, and Y/n found herself feeling lighter with each laugh and shared story.

But across the room, Katsuki's mood was anything but light. He had been looking around for Y/n ever since lunch started, waiting for her to show up. His gaze narrowed when he spotted her—at another table, laughing and smiling with Deku. His jaw clenched, irritation bubbling up inside him.

"Bakugou, what's got you sulking over there?" Denki teased, noticing the scowl on his face.

"Shut it, idiot," Katsuki snapped, looking away, though he couldn't help but glance back at her. She looked so genuinely happy, her laughter contagious even from afar, and he felt an unfamiliar pang in his chest.

He scowled as he saw Izuku sitting next to her, making her laugh. How was it that Deku, of all people, could get her to laugh like that? Why was she giving him that smile—the one that Katsuki had secretly come to treasure? He scoffed, rolling his eyes, forcing himself to look away.

But the truth gnawed at him: he couldn't deny his feelings any longer. There was something about Y/n that had gotten under his skin. She wasn't even his, yet here he was, feeling a mixture of jealousy and frustration. Katsuki's scowl deepened. Maybe he'd be better off keeping his distance, defusing these feelings before he made a fool of himself.

The entire day, Katsuki kept his distance from Y/n, ignoring her whenever she was nearby. She spent the day with Izuku, and every time Katsuki caught a glimpse of them together, his mood soured further. He knew he was only hurting himself with his jealousy, but he couldn't help it. The feelings he had whenever he saw her with someone else stung, sharper than he expected.

Later that afternoon, Katsuki found himself in the common room, begrudgingly dragged there by Kirishima to play video games with the rest of their friends. Katsuki slouched on the couch, his grumpy frown as prominent as ever, completely uninterested in the game.

"Come on, Bakugou, get in the game!" Kirishima encouraged, nudging him, but Katsuki just shrugged him off with a low grumble.

As they played, the door to the dorm opened, and Katsuki looked up instinctively. His eyes immediately narrowed as he saw Izuku and Y/n walking in together, laughing as they chatted about their day. His mood darkened, and his hands clenched into fists.

He knew he shouldn't feel this way; she wasn't his, and maybe she didn't even like him back. But seeing her with Deku—the way she smiled, the way her eyes lit up—felt like a punch to his gut. Gritting his teeth, he shoved his hands into his pockets and stood up, making his way out of the common room. Kirishima and Mina exchanged a knowing look but decided not to press him; they could all see he wasn't in the best mood.

Meanwhile, Y/n and Izuku had spent a full day together, and she couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so much. They'd gone to the arcade, challenging each other to games, then gone back to her house to have dinner with her dad, who had been delighted to see her with such a close friend. As they walked back to the dorms that evening, they continued chatting, talking about everything from school to their crushes.

"So, Zu, are you finally going to make a move on Ochako?" Y/n teased, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously.

Izuku's face immediately turned beet red. He covered it with his hands, groaning. "I-I don't know! She probably doesn't even like me back..."

"Oh, please," Y/n scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You are so dense, Izuku. Of course she likes you! She talks about you all the time, and her face turns bright red whenever anyone mentions your name. Just ask her out!"

Izuku's eyes widened in shock. "R-Really?" he asked, disbelief coloring his face.

Y/n nodded, grinning at him. "Of course! I wouldn't lie to you, Zu. She's crazy about you," she said, playfully punching his arm.

He rubbed his arm, but his face broke into a huge smile. "Thanks, Y/n. You're the best," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.

As they continued walking, Y/n felt a strange sense of warmth. It was nice helping her friend find a bit of happiness, and she couldn't help but feel proud of him. Little did she know, however, that her own happiness was being carefully watched—by someone with feelings far from friendly.