This time I will protect them I won't be a coward

200

Chapter 199 Recap
After a tense encounter where Twice disguised himself as a cab driver and successfully tricked him, Denki was left in the dust questioning the League's motives. He pushed the paranoia aside to focus on his mission: visiting his overworked Aunt Kiko at the hospital to secure a signed apology letter for Aizawa-sensei. Despite the phantom pain of his scars and his initial nervous bravado, the visit turned into a heartwarming reunion that ended in shared laughter and a much-needed hug.

Chapter 200:
At the unexpected request, Aunt Kiko’s expression shifted. Her dark eyes narrowed in a silent, professional warning, a clear reminder that she couldn't simply drop her "Doctor" persona in the middle of a hospital. Instead of a hug, she slid a box of candies across the desk toward him.

Denki didn’t hesitate. He grabbed a toffee, unwrapped the crinkly plastic, and popped it into his mouth. As the sticky sweetness clung to his teeth, he noticed Kiko studying his posture with the intensity of an eagle.

"You’ve changed," she remarked, her dry tone laced with a hint of amusement. "You don't look nervous anymore. Not like you used to."

Denki nearly bit his tongue. Crap, crap, crap, he panicked internally. I can’t let her find out I time-traveled. I'm only this nonchalant because I've lived through the worst of it. He needed her to ground him, but not to unmask him.

Flashing a shy, practiced smile, he shrugged. "Maybe it’s just because I finally found a good circle of friends."

Kiko’s gaze softened into a warm, understanding smile. "So, was the Hero Course the right call after all?"

"Best decision ever!" Denki nodded enthusiastically, his golden hair bouncing.

"And no quirk overexertion?" she pressed, her gaze turning stern—a look that honestly rivaled Recovery Girl’s. "No flares from the Lichtenberg scars?"

Denki felt his mouth go dry. He gulped, crossing his arms defensively. "I’m not... geez, I’m not a little kid anymore, Auntie."

His ears turned a bright crimson as he looked down at the floor, unable to maintain eye contact. The weight of his secrets felt heavy. "The truth is... I’m scared. Everything is moving so fast. My friend was kidnapped by the League, and even though the Pros saved him, the pressure is insane. We’re working toward licenses that second-years usually struggle with. Sometimes it feels like I’m losing my footing, like my world is spinning off its axis."

He looked up, seeing the concern deepening the lines on her face. He could practically see her calculating the odds of him breaking down.

"But I'm okay!" he added quickly, trying to salvage the mood. "I'm helping with a high-stakes mission under Sir Nighteye’s agency, but I’m strictly on the sidelines. Just standby support for the medics."

Kiko let out a long, heavy exhale, the tension finally leaving her shoulders.

"So," Denki pivoted, his tone turning cheeky. "Did you finally quit smoking and the beers, Auntie?"

Kiko’s face went scarlet. She shot a panicked look around her glass-walled cabin. "Kaminari Denki! Do not say such things so loudly!" she hissed. "Don't talk about my vices in a hospital!"

She huffed, leaning back. "And what about you? You look like a stick. Is UA not feeding you? Perhaps I should pay a visit to Principal Nezu for a little private chat."

Burn. Denki winced. Damn, she’s still fast. Even at forty, she could counter-attack with the wit of a teenager.

He laughed, the genuine sound finally chasing the last of the tension from his muscles. He sank into the chair, relaxing for the first time all day. "Fine, fine. I’ll tell you exactly what I eat at the cafeteria every day. It’s state-of-the-art, you know..."

Through the glass of the cabin, a passing nurse smiled. Seeing the normally exhausted Dr. Kiko laughing along with her blonde nephew made them look like the picture-perfect family.

Fast forward: Minutes before the midnight curfew.

Denki made it back to Heights Alliance just in time. He quickly ducked into his room to change into gym gear: a black tank top layered under an oversized, off-cream hoodie. He needed the layers; his Lichtenberg scars were flaring again, tracing angry patterns across his neck, chest, and arms. He pulled on black compression shorts and ankle socks, prepping for a late-night session to burn off the lingering adrenaline.

The campus gym remained open late, mostly for the students buried in hero work-studies or those frantically training to pass their provisional license re-exams.

Denki paused outside the heavy gym doors. He didn't even have to open them to know who was inside. Bakugou Katsuki’s explosive voice was already bouncing off the walls, echoing through the hallway. Denki's heart gave a  sharp drop. The two people ahem (Bakugou & Midoriya) whom he wanted to avoid were right inside behind the heavy gym doors arguing about something which only God was aware of OR Principal Nezu knows about their brutal  sparring  because the rodent has ears and eyes everywhere and fricking cctv cameras set up everywhere including the air vents. Yes! The f***ing air vents. You just don't wanna know, how Denki found out about it. Because it had involved lots of earful scolding and detention.

Denki sweared silently. Nezu if he was watching was probably aware how fast his own heart was thumping erratically.

Author's Note:
Found a "frozen" draft I forgot I even had! I’m taking a little more time to thaw out my inspiration and get the next part of the journey ready for you all. See you guys in May with fresh updates! ❄️✨