Shadows of the Mind

Chapter 12: Fractures and Echoes

The morning light filtered through the UA classroom, casting soft patterns across desks as Class 3-A settled into their routine. The previous night's game still lingered in Kageko's mind, a rare pocket of fun that had softened her usually guarded demeanor. She caught herself almost smiling when Kirishima waved at her from across the room, his grin infectious as he mouthed, Last night was epic!

Bakugo, sitting two seats away, scowled at the exchange. His eyes shifted to Kageko, narrowing as if trying to decipher her thoughts. The air between them buzzed with the tension that had started building over the past weeks, a mixture of curiosity and annoyance simmering beneath the surface.

"Alright, listen up!" Aizawa's voice cut through the chatter as he stepped into the room, hair already disheveled, his tired eyes scanning the class. "Today, we're moving outside for joint combat exercises. I expect focus and teamwork."

The students exchanged excited murmurs. Combat training always had a way of turning into a spectacle, especially with Bakugo involved. Kageko took a steadying breath, already feeling her shadows stir at the edge of her control. The past few days had been marked by those little flares—moments where her emotions chipped at the solid wall she maintained.

The training field hummed with anticipation as pairs were announced. Kageko's name echoed in the crisp air, followed by Bakugo's. The class fell silent for a beat, the match-up sparking immediate interest. Kirishima raised an eyebrow at Bakugo, a hint of playful warning in his expression. "Try not to blow up the field, yeah?"

Bakugo's scowl deepened. "Tch. Don't tell me what to do."

Kageko met his eyes with her usual calm, but inside, her heart pounded a bit harder. Sparring with Bakugo was always unpredictable—charged with a volatile energy that mirrored a storm barely kept in check. She stepped into the ring, her shadows coiling around her like an extension of her thoughts.

"Ready?" Aizawa's voice was low but commanding. The whistle blew, and Bakugo surged forward, explosions crackling as he closed the distance. Kageko spun away, her movements fluid, shadows trailing behind her and reforming into tendrils that lashed out, forcing Bakugo to shift his attack.

"You're too slow!" Bakugo barked, blasting into the air to avoid her reach. He smirked, eyes narrowing as he launched a barrage of controlled explosions.

Kageko's breath caught as her shadows faltered, reacting to the spike of unease she felt. Not now, she thought, willing herself to focus. She ducked low, sliding across the field as the blasts missed by inches. Bakugo's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before his smirk returned, sharper this time.

"Is that all you've got, ShadowReaver?" he taunted, using her gamertag with a knowing edge.

Her jaw tightened, and without thinking, she pushed her shadows harder, sending a wave of darkness crashing toward him. The force met his blast head-on, the impact rattling through the field and drawing gasps from their classmates.

Kirishima exchanged a glance with Shinso, who watched with narrowed eyes. "She's pushing herself," Shinso muttered, concern threading his voice.

The match reached a crescendo as Bakugo lunged again, this time with precision. He managed to break through her defense, grabbing her wrist just long enough to ignite a small, controlled blast that forced her backward. Kageko's feet skidded across the ground, the burn of frustration mingling with the sting of defeat.

Aizawa stepped in, eyes sharp. "Enough. Good work, both of you."

Bakugo's gaze stayed locked on Kageko for a moment longer, the competitive fire in his eyes tempered with something else—something almost like understanding. Kageko met his stare, refusing to show the turmoil beneath her calm facade. As she stepped out of the ring, the whispers of shadows brushing at her skin were a reminder of how close she'd come to losing control.

The day passed in a blur of lectures and idle chatter until evening settled in, casting long shadows across the dorms.

Later that night, the common room hummed with quiet activity. Kaminari and Kirishima were playing a game on the console, laughing as they argued over strategies. Jiro strummed her guitar in the corner, head nodding along to the soft tune.

Kageko sat on the edge of the sofa, fingers absently tracing the seam of her pants. Shinso dropped into the seat beside her, his expression unreadable.

"You good, Ko?" he asked, voice low enough that only she could hear.

She nodded but didn't meet his eyes. "Yeah. Just tired."

Shinso's gaze lingered, weighing her answer. "You know you don't have to keep it all in, right? One of these days, it's going to crack."

Kageko's fingers stilled, the warning hitting deeper than she cared to admit. She looked at him, the wall around her slipping for just a moment. "I know."

Before Shinso could respond, Bakugo's voice carried from the other side of the room. "Oi, Red, you still bragging about that win last night?" His eyes cut to Kageko, their usual sharpness softened slightly, as if challenging her to respond.

Kageko allowed herself a smirk. "He deserved to brag. You struggled to keep up."

Bakugo's eyes flared with defiance, but a corner of his mouth quirked up. "Keep talking, ShadowReaver. Next time, I won't go easy."

"Neither will I," she replied, the playful tension threading the room with anticipation.

The quiet of her room felt different that night, lighter. Kageko sat on her bed, phone in hand as a notification appeared:

New Message from BlastingKing
BlastingKing: "You're better than I thought. Training earlier was decent."

Kageko's lips curled into a smile as she typed back.
ShadowReaver: "Just decent? I must be slipping."

The response was almost instant.
BlastingKing: "Don't get cocky. Next time, I'm not holding back."

ShadowReaver: "Good. I like a challenge."

There was a pause before the typing icon popped up again.
BlastingKing: "Don't push too hard, though. I noticed your Quirk acting up."

Kageko's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected concern. She stared at the screen, debating her reply. Finally, she settled on honesty.
ShadowReaver: "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

BlastingKing: "Tch."

Another message followed before she could set her phone down.
BlastingKing: "Why don't you use your telepathy more? You could mess with people's heads during a match."

Kageko smirked at the question, biting her lip in thought before replying.
ShadowReaver: "I don't use it much unless I have to. Too invasive."

BlastingKing: "Didn't stop you last time we fought."

ShadowReaver: "That was different. Needed to prove a point."

A pause.
BlastingKing: "Hmph. Makes sense."

The simple acknowledgment made something ease in her chest. She glanced at the clock, noticing how late it was but feeling reluctant to end the conversation.
ShadowReaver: "Surprised you noticed."

BlastingKing: "I notice more than you think."

A flutter spread through her chest, warmth replacing the usual weight.
ShadowReaver: "Good. Keep noticing."

This time, there was a longer pause.
BlastingKing: "Don't worry. I will."

Kageko let out a quiet breath, a genuine smile curving her lips as she placed her phone down. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies at the simple response, a spark of anticipation carrying her into the night.