Candor || bakugou katsuki

CANDOR || been through

I fall to my knees as I enter the waiting room, my eyes stinging with tears. The constant smoke from Bakugou's explosions clouded my vision and my skin burned. My chest was heavy from the exhaustion.

A knock at the door scared me almost half to death, my senses keeping me alert. From the door emerges Ashido and Uraraka with a drink in her hand.

"You did amazing, Abe!" Uraraka complimented.

"Yeah, yeah!" Ashido chimed. "I wasn't expecting you to fight like that! Did you even use your quirk?"

They walk up to me and I'm handed the drink. I take it gratefully, placing it next to my legs. "Thanks, guys."

The girls take a seat across from me on the floor. I reposition my legs to crisscross them, my hands folded in my lap. "I did use my quirk a few times, but it wasn't much of a help." I rub the back of my neck sheepishly. "Even after weeks of practicing with that brutal bastard, I still couldn't defeat him."

"You and Bakugou trained? Together?"

"Surprised?" I smiled softly. The girls glanced at each other, nodding. "He was too, I mean, when I asked him to train me. I was more surprised when he agreed."

"That's very unexpected.." Ashido mumbled. The girls helped me to my feet and brought me with them back to our class.

I stared at the floor as I let them bring me, my feet dragging on the ground. My energy was wasted. The feeling of the weight on my shoulders was practically unbearable.

I wonder if I'll get to see my parents again.

"Hey, everyone!" Ashido declared as we enter our section. "We're back with our little charm!"

"Little charm? What is wrong with you people?" I whisper with a sweatdrop. "Sounds dumb."

"Not at all, Abe!" Hagakure exclaimed. "It's cute."

I tilt my head, slowly sitting next to Uraraka with her help. I repeat in my seat as I gaze upon the fixed arena. Bakugou didn't use his quirk as often as I thought he would. Even though, he was still not giving me much of a chance to collect my thoughts. I got lucky to even pin him down for that second.

"Ah, Izuchan," I greet with nod. I hadn't noticed he was sitting next to me. "Are you okay? I heard you had to go through surgery."

He nods, smiling. "I'm okay. How about you? You and Kacchan were really going at it."

"All is good."

Mic introduces the next round after waiting a few minutes. I sighed silently, watching as Todoroki and Bakugou meet on the stone arena. Knowing both the boys, Bakugou will want Todoroki to fight with his fire while Todoroki refuses.

The fight begins and Todoroki hits Bakugou with his ice attack, a large piece of ice covering the other half of the arena. "Todoroki's really something," I mumbled, sipping on my drink. "But Bakugou isn't going to let that defeat him."

Loud booming comes from the ice, making it evident Bakugou was still going. The ice explodes and it reveals a very angry Bakugou. Bakugou jumps out the hole he made and grabs Todoroki's head. He lands and throws the boy.

Todoroki avoids the out of bounds with a wall of ice and circles around his opponent. He has the chance to use his flames, but doesn't. His actions seemed to disappoint me. "Todoroki... what's wrong with you?"

"Todoroki! Don't lose! Do your best!" I looked next to me. Midoriya had stood up just to shout that. "Izuchan?"

Something inside of Todoroki seemed to click and he raised his left arm, the flames covering it. This pleased Bakugou.

But when Bakugou closed in with his next attack, Todoroki's flames disappeared. The sorrowful expression on his face was upsetting to see.

。。。

Sparks and fireworks fly to the sky as the award ceremony begins. The cheers of the crowd are louder than ever and the tension has gone.

I stand on my place holder, staring straight across to meet my classmates gazes. Iida was suppose to be standing with me, but he had to leave early. Apparently, something came up for family reasons. "I wonder if it has to do with what happened at the station."

Next to me, Bakugou yells against his muffler. Strapped to a stone block and cuffs surrounding his hands, he struggles as if trying to fight Todoroki.

"What an idiot," I say, looking at the boy. "It sucks he won the way he did, but come on. At least have some pride, Baku-chan. You're live."

Bakugou turns to me angrily, his muffled profanities now directed at me.

"I'm sorry, did you say something? Oh wait, I forgot you had that muzzle on."

I look down to see my ribbon still tied to my wrist, ignoring Bakugou's yelling that heightened.

"Now, we will award the medals! The presentation of the medals will be by this man—"

Above the stadium, All Might appeared. He laughed loudly as the cheers roared. He jumped into the sky and flipped into his landing.

"—our very own hero, All Might!"

"I have brought the medals here!"

I blinked, tilting my head in amusement at the pros. Midnight apologized to All Might for talking over him. It almost made me chuckle.

All Might took the medals and stepped up in front of me. He presented me with the third place necklace and placed it over my head. "Young Abe, congratulations. I'm sure you did your parents proud today."

My lips parted as my eyes widened. I quickly averted my eyes, changing my expression back to its neutral state. "Thank you..."

The hero placed his arms around me. I let him as I bit my lip. "I heard about the news," he says quietly. "Don't worry. I know your parents well, and I know for a fact they will be fine. Keep your head up and continue to train to be the best hero you can. You're strong-willed and have the guts to be a hero."

I nodded slowly. "Thank you, All Might."

He moves onto Todoroki and Bakugou. I can't help but stare at the ground.

"This is too much," I hear All Might say next to me. I glance up and see him looking down at the pathetic state Bakugou was in. I stifle a laugh behind my hand, turning away when Bakugou snapped his head to me.

"Good job doing what you said you would during the player pledge!" All Might complimented as he took off the muzzle.

"All Might... Winning first place like this isn't worth anything!" I coughed into my hand quietly at the rising voice of my spiked haired friend. "Even if the world recognizes it, if I don't myself, then it's trash!"

I facepalm, letting my hand rest over my mouth to hide the smile I had. His face was priceless. All Might forces the medal on Bakugou and the male holds it between his teeth reluctantly, the scold growing more intense by the second.

"These were our winners this time! But listen here!" All Might holds his hand out. "Anyone here could have ended up on these podiums. It's just as you saw: competing! Improving each other! And climbing even further! The next generation of heroes is definitely sprouting! So, I have just one more thing to say! Everyone, please say it with me! Ready and—"

The crowd yells, "Plus ultra!"

But All Might simultaneously yells, "Thanks for your hard work!"

Later in the class, Aizawa informs us about the pros wanting to recruit and how we have a two day off period. It worked out perfectly for me. I don't think I could take going to school after what happened today.