Fiery Hearts (Bakugo x OC)

Chapter 41 (Smile)

The meeting was over now. Our current plan is to keep investigating groups and properties owned by the Hassaikai.

All of us students were sitting downstairs at a large table. I sat on the edge, across from Amajiki. Midoriya had explained everything that happened that day to our classmates in detail.

"If only I'd rescued her then, even if I had to use force, at least she'd be safe." Izuku said with his head dangling from his neck. Togata looked the same, while I just listened to them with my cheek resting on my hand and no particular expression to be seen.

"Aw, man. So that's what happened that day? So frustrating!" Kirishima said.

"We know you tried, Deku." Uraraka said.

Everyone went silent.

"Ya, know, if you frown too much, you'll get wrinkles..." I said.

Silence.

I chuckled before talking again.

"I can picture it now. All of us, old and grown with grey hair at a reunion. We'll all be retired pro heroes, reminiscing on all of our missions and thinking back to this very moment. We'll say, 'Remember that mission when we saved Eri from that bastard Chisaki?' And we'll all laugh and remember how good it felt when we did save her."

Everyone looked at me with wide eyes and I gave them a big smile.

"Doesn't sound too bad, does it?" I said.

I was frustrated too, but I knew I had to be strong for them. I'm always smiling and making jokes. When people are down, I can't get down on myself. I have to smile. For them.

"Is this a funeral or something?" he said walking towards us.

Everyone looked at him, surprised he was here.

"Mr. Aizawa! My man!" I said, smiling.

"Ugh, call me Eraser Head outside of school. Ya know, it's just my luck. Before you got involved in this...I was going to recommend your work studies be suspended." Aizawa said.

"What!? Why would you do that?" Kirishima asked, standing up from his chair.

"You were listening when he said the League of Villains was involved, weren't you? That changes things. Takayumi was a direct target for the league and even got captured by them once." Aizawa said.

My eyes widened and Izuku put his head down again.

Aizawa put his hand behind his head.

"Here's the deal. Midoriya. You still haven't proven I can trust you again." Aizawa said.

Izuku gasped.

"Unfortunately, I'm positive that if I try to stop you now, you'll do something reckless and attempt to take things into your own hands." Aizawa walked closer to Izuku and crouched down.

"So, I'll watch you. If you're going to see this through, you've gotta do it the right way. Use your head." Aizawa put his fist on Izuku's chest. "Ya hear me? Problem child?"

Izuku was on the verge of tears and nodded yes.

"Mirio, will you at least try to smile?" Amajiki asked.

"Hey hey! I know what'll help you. Just remember, regretting something and getting frowning doesn't change things, ya know?" Nejire said. Togata sniffed and raised his head.

"Yeah."

"I'll say this once, just in case it gives you a little piece in mind. Just because you didn't get Eri this time, doesn't mean you didn't give her hope. So keep looking forward." Aizawa stood back up.

"Right!" Izuku said.

"Mr. Aizawa!" Uraraka wailed.

"I said I'm Eraser Head here."

"I'm your man for the rest of my life, Eraser!" Kirishima said.

"Not interested."

"Sorry!"

"Take it down a notch, Kirishima." Uraraka said.

Togata stood up and looked at Izuku and me.

"Midoriya, Takayumi. Next time we'll definitely get Eri back."

"Yeah! No matter what!" Izuku said.

"Of course! That was always the plan.' I said.

I turned and looked at Aizawa and smiled.

'Thanks a ton, Mr. Aizawa.' I thought.

And he half smiled back at me.

—-----------

A few days had passed since that meeting. The pro heroes that had teamed up with Nighteye were still trying to find the location of Chisaki and Eri. So we've just been waiting for them to call us. We were under orders not to say anything about our work studies to anyone. Aizawa told us that if the League of Villains showed up, then we'd have to leave the raid.

I was back at the dorms in the courtyard, sitting on the fountain after school that day. I was looking at my phone, anticipating a call when I heard a voice. It feels like I haven't seen him in forever.

"Hey, why are you out here all by yourself?" Kacchan asked. He came around the fountain and sat next to me.

"Just cause." I said.

"You didn't come to my room yesterday to tell me about your work study. What's going on? You been learning anything?" he asked.

I could tell he was being genuine which made it so much harder to lie to him.

"Nah, not really. It's pretty much the same as an intern. You're not missing out on anything." I lied with a fake smile.

Kacchan narrowed his eyes. "Don't lie to me." he said.

I gasped. 'How did he know? Am I transparent?'

"What are you talking about? I'm not lying."

"You're doing it again...You're shutting me out with a dumb smile and not telling me anything." Kachan said angrily.

"I told you already. I'm not lying." I said, losing my smile. I put my head down between my shoulders.

Kacchan stood up. "And I told you that's a bold face lie! I know you're hurting and trying to push it down, but you have to talk to me, Yumi. You can't keep burying away your feelings."

'He's right. I am burying away my feelings right now.'

I stood up too. "Oh, yeah. Sure. You're one to talk. You can't even have a simple conversation with someone without blowing up on them because you don't know how to express yourself!"

"You want me to express myself? Fine! I care for you, Yumi. I just want you to be okay. I want to protect you. But I can't do that, if you won't tell me what's going on with you." Kacchan said.

"What a load of crap. You're just protecting me because you were told to. This isn't genuine. You can stop pretending. I can handle myself just fine. Just leave me alone and mind your own business."

I walked off and went to my room. I ran to my bed and silently cried the rest of the night away. I hated having to lie to him and I'm sure I hurt his feelings, but I couldn't say anything to him about the raid. I was the only person who knew how I was truly feeling.

Kacchan's POV

I stood there, stunned at her words and how she left me standing in the courtyard alone.

'She's lying. She didn't mean all the things she said. All I wanted to do was help her and I ended up making things worse for her. She was just stressed about something, and she's trying to smile her way through it.. I hate that she's not opening up to me about it, but I'll leave her alone...for now. Remember, she's mine. I won't let her go that easily.'