𝒦𝑒𝑒𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓈𝑒 | Katsuki Bakugo x OC

Chapter 34 - Aftermath

Apologies for the delay, this chapter took longer than expected because of how conflicted I was on deciding Ayumi's temperament heh. 

Hope you enjoy reading!

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Ayumi

I haven't dreamt of my life as Aya for days.

I suppose it could be due to my quirk's awakening. Or the fact that all I see when I close my eyes is my father's corpse and my uncle's deranged smile, his chains snaking the concrete floor.

A part of me is grateful I no longer see the princess's memories, no longer feel the despair in her chest from the barbarian king's harsh words. (Or the anxiety from his life nearly lost). Another part, a very small, near insignificant part, mourns the loss of her- mourns the connection itself.

Because now that means Katsuki and I don't have anything in common anymore.

Not that it matters. According to him, I am just a liar like in my past life.

(Though, his eyes—sharp rubies glinting in the musty bar's low light—told a different story when we were captured.)

So when I see him in the main hall of the dorms, vacuuming along with Midoriya-kun, bandages covering his arms and his cheek, I don't have it in me to talk to him. Not with the memory of his eyes boring through my soul. Not with the memory of his voice, desperate and edged, to keep me awake when we were shackled and chained.

Midoriya-kun sees me first, his mouth gaping in shock and quickly recovering with a splutter of both relief and glee.

"Yamamoto-san!" He exclaims while abandoning his chore to come to me, quickly taking my suitcase from my hand, "Let me help you to your room."

I want to decline his offer, but Katsuki's gruff sound makes my limbs go numb. "Let the nerd help," His eyes are boring right through me once again, the crease between his eyebrows showing more of his concern than I'd like to admit. "It's not like you can get rid of us anyway."

I jerk my head, my muscles not quite cooperating with how my quirk seems to buzz stronger as Katsuki continues to scrutinize me. Unable to take it any longer, I tear my eyes away from him, quietly retreating to Izuku's soft wobbly smile, "I'd appreciate it, Midoriya-kun."

We head down the hall. Thankfully, Katsuki doesn't follow and soon after the sound of the vacuum growling fills the silence before we reach the elevator for the girl's side. When the doors close and a soft jingle hums as we ascend, I clear my throat.

"I don't want to pry on what happened between you two, but is he-" I sigh, my quirk quickly flooding to my fingertips as my emotions threaten to take hold. The elevator creaks dangerously, the lights flicker and suddenly everything goes still. The doors open with a ding and I continue on. "Is he doing okay?"

Midoriya-kun sighs in tandem, carrying one luggage over his shoulder and pulling the other on its wheels to the one door that is open in the hall, a key stabbed into the door knob.

"Kacchan is doing better... I know it's not my place to share the details, but all I will say is that he cares. He cares a lot. Despite what he shows the world."

I nod softly, tears burning at my waterline. But refuse to let them show, refuse to let them reach my cheek. So I blink them away.

Midoriya-kun takes his leave with a soft reminder that they're downstairs if I need anything, his touch gentle as he gives one squeeze of comfort on my hand.