A Stone's Love Trial

Protecting You

Katsuki hurried home in the evening.

I was leaning against the windowsill as I gave him a glance and continued to read my book. He stood in the doorway for a moment before cautiously coming in. He sat down on the edge of the divan, deliberated, and then said, "Deku, I heard that soldiers came today."

"Yes." I answered, nonchalant.

"Deku—"

I threw the book to the side, sat up, and looked him square in the eyes. "What do you want to ask me?"

He opened his mouth but did not manage any words.

"It was I who beat those soldiers off," I told him. "Lady Ochako was also chased away by me."

Kacchan looked at me for a moment, and then actually smiled a rather helpless smile. I raised an eyebrow and said, "What? So you want to marry the general's daughter? Oh, I was wrong then; I've ruined your marriage. If it makes you this sad, I'll go look for the girl and bring her back. She seems smitten with you."

I walked out the moment I finished speaking. He pulled me back, his face slightly blushing. "Deku, you know that wasn't what I meant. I'm actually happy that you... that you would be so jealous because of me. It's just that..."

"It's just what?"

"The soldiers said that you're a demon. They intend to invite the All Might here to exorcise evil tomorrow."

"The All Might?" I recalled seeing that stern face yesterday in the alley.

Katsuki nodded with a frown. "Deku, do you need to hide?"

"Hide?" I asked quizzically. "Why should I hide? I'm not a demon." But seeing Katsuki's worried expression, I suddenly understood. "Kacchan, have you always thought of me as a demon? Do you want me to hide because you're afraid that All Might would uncover my 'demonic' identity?"

Katsuki continued to frown, deep in thought. I nodded my head understandingly and muttered to myself, "I guess it's only to be expected. I've lived with you for so many years, yet my appearance hasn't changed a whit. When I wanted fire, I would make fire; when I wanted wind, I would summon wind. It makes sense that you'd think of me as a demon. Right now, you must be very afraid of me?"

After listening to my words, a sudden change came over Katsuki's face: a rare trace of anger. "Why should I be afraid of you?! So what if you're a demon? I only know that my Deku has never harmed me. Not to mention, you're not an evil demon at all; if anything, you're just a useless Deku who does nothing but read and wait for me to come home! And even if you are one, I've already loved you and will love you for the rest of my life no matter what!"

The word 'love' made me happy inside. My mouth could not help curling into a smile. Katsuki had always been hot-tempered. Needless to say, he was especially gentle toward me. I rarely saw him so riled up that I found his present display rather amusing. "Then what are you afraid of?"

His face stiffened. My laying his thoughts bare had slightly discomfited him. He was silent for a moment, and then he sighed. "Deku, I don't want them to have an excuse to harass you."

I was even more amused after I heard him. "Do you remember the fire I set in that boy's backyard?"

He glanced at me, contemplative, "Not even a blade of grass was left."

I nodded in satisfaction. "It's fine to be bullied as long as I can bully them back. Your wife can swallow anything except for abuse. You have nothing to worry about."

Appeased by my quip, Katsuki did not say anything more.

In the evening when we went to wash up, I noticed a small hole in his sleeve. I asked in surprise, "What happened?"