Where Our Hearts Fall

Chapter 21

The next day, Y/N found herself back in the training room. Ever since she'd told Bakugo about her second quirk, Reality Vein, it had weighed even heavier on her mind. She couldn't keep avoiding it—not with everything that had happened. But facing it was easier said than done. Every time she tried to dig deeper into the quirk's abilities, the backlash reminded her just how dangerous it was.

In the silence of the room, she focused, stretching her hand out slowly. Her fingertips tingled as she felt the fabric of reality subtly shift around her, like invisible strings pulling at her energy. The air grew thicker, colors seemed to ripple faintly around her—until a sharp pain jolted through her, breaking her concentration. She doubled over, her vision spinning.

"You think you're strong enough for that?" A familiar voice cut through the room, low and unimpressed.

Y/N looked up, blinking as her vision cleared. There was Bakugo, leaning in the doorway, arms crossed and his gaze set firmly on her. His expression was sharp, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something she didn't usually see.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, swallowing back the lingering pain.

"Came to see if you were dumb enough to try this alone," he muttered, stepping forward. "Guess I was right."

She scowled. "I have to learn to control this, Bakugo. What do you expect me to do, just leave it alone?"

He rolled his eyes. "I expect you to be smart enough not to blow yourself up. You don't get stronger just by throwing yourself at something that's way beyond your level."

Y/N crossed her arms, feeling her frustration bubble up. "Then what am I supposed to do? Just ignore it? This quirk could hurt people if I don't control it—"

"Then you get stronger first," he interrupted, his tone harsh but unwavering. "Focus on what you can handle, not on whatever insane stuff that quirk of yours is throwing at you."

She clenched her fists, staring at the ground, but his words made sense, and that only irritated her more. He wasn't wrong, even if his way of saying it made her bristle.

"You don't get it," she muttered, "how it feels, knowing that if I mess up, I could seriously hurt people."

A brief silence fell between them, and when she looked up, she was surprised to find Bakugo's expression softened, just a fraction. "You think I don't get that?" he said quietly, his eyes narrowing. "Look around. We're all training because if we mess up, people get hurt. It's our job not to screw it up."

She took a breath, letting his words settle in. He wasn't pitying her—he was pushing her, challenging her to see that she wasn't the only one who felt the weight of her power.

"Fine," she muttered, finally meeting his gaze. "But I'm not giving up on it."

"Good." He smirked, crossing his arms again. "Then don't waste time messing with stuff you're not ready for yet. Train the hell out of yourself until you are."

A small, determined smile tugged at her lips. Bakugo wasn't here to coddle her, or to give her some speech about courage. He was here to remind her to stop overthinking and just put in the work. She'd been so wrapped up in the fear of her quirk that she'd lost sight of the basics.

As she turned back to face the training area, she felt his presence behind her, a reassuring, steady weight.

"Get to it," he said gruffly, his tone as blunt as ever. "I don't have time to wait for you to catch up."

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Short chapter! Sorry

Word count: 596

Hey everyone! Quick update: During the two months Y/N was in a coma, the rest of Class 1-A moved into the dorms. Now that everyone's living together, there'll be more opportunities for deeper bonds and interactions—especially between Y/N and Bakugo as she trains to master her quirks. Thanks for reading and supporting the story! More coming soon!