Amethyst. (Katsuki Bakugo x Reader)

Part 23 - A Fragile Balance

I stepped into the Todoroki household later than I expected, the weight of exhaustion pressing heavily on my shoulders. The internship with Best Jeanist had been more grueling than I'd anticipated, and the only thing I wanted now was to unpack and collapse into bed. But as I slipped off my shoes, the faint hum of voices and the clinking of dishes caught my attention.

The dining room light was on.

"Y/N!" Fuyumi's cheerful voice greeted me as I entered the room. She was setting a plate down at the table, where Natsuo and Shoto were already seated.

I blinked, unsure if I was imagining things. "You waited for me?"

"Of course," Fuyumi said with a soft smile. "You've been gone all week. We thought we'd have dinner together, you know, like normal people."

Natsuo smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Don't act too shocked. We can be normal sometimes. Well, except for him." He jerked his thumb toward Shoto, who gave him a deadpan stare.

"Very funny," Shoto replied flatly, though there was no malice in his tone. He gestured to the empty seat beside him. "Sit."

I hesitated for a moment, still caught off guard. Family dinners usually weren't this... peaceful. With Dad not around, the usual tension in the air was noticeably absent. I sat down, taking the plate Fuyumi handed me.

The conversation was surprisingly easy. Natsuo complained about his workload at university, Fuyumi talked about her students, and even Shoto contributed, sharing a few stories the Internship. It was simple, normal, and for the first time in years, I didn't feel like I was walking on eggshells in my own home.

_________

Back in my room, I unpacked my suitcase methodically, folding my hero suit and stacking it neatly in the closet. My mind wandered as I worked. The week with Best Jeanist had been intense, pushing me to my limits both physically and emotionally.

I thought about the dragon. The raw, terrifying power I had unleashed. It didn't just feel like an extension of my Quirk-it felt alive. The memory of its voice echoed in my head: "He'll hurt us." I shivered, brushing the thought away.

Then there was Bakugo. Every night, we'd somehow ended up in the same routine-me knocking on his door, laptop in hand, and him letting me in without a word. I'd fall asleep next to him, his warmth and steady breathing oddly comforting. He never made a big deal of it, and neither did I. But... what did it mean? Did it mean anything? My cheeks heated at the thought.

I shook my head. Stop overthinking, Y/N.

Before I could let myself spiral further, I remembered the news about Shoto, Midoriya, and Iida's fight with Stain. I had so many questions about what had happened, and I needed answers. Just as I stood to go to Shoto's room, a knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Can you read minds now?" I asked as I opened the door to find Shoto standing there.

He frowned slightly. "What?"

I waved him in, letting the door swing shut behind him. "I was just about to come find you. I wanted to ask about-"

"I wanted to know how your internship went," he interrupted, his expression calm but curious.

I blinked, caught off guard. It wasn't like him to ask questions like that, but I smiled and sat back down. "It was... a lot. Jeanist is strict, but I learned so much. I'm getting faster at controlling my ice, and my fire isn't as wild anymore."

I paused, running my fingers over the hem of my sleeve. The words I wanted to say hovered on the edge of my tongue, but they felt heavy, like if I said them aloud, I'd finally have to face what had been clawing at me all week. My internship had taught me more than just how to wield my Quirks-it had forced me to question everything I thought I knew about myself.