Emote: Bakugo x OC Reader

Chapter 96

I only have one target left. If someone catches me off guard and gets it, I'm out. I thought, quickly glancing down to make sure I wasn't being followed. Although there wasn't anyone in sight, I picked up my pace as I scaled the ladder, propelled by the sudden fear at how exposed I felt. I have to account for the possibility of not coming across the others. My best bet is to probably use my new equipment item. 

I recalled the conversation I'd had with Hatsume about my struggles with using distance attacks. My ultimate moves emotional whirlwind and pain were effective in throwing my opponents off guard and debilitating them momentarily, however I found that if I was a ways away from them, it was more difficult to follow through with a physical attack. Within a day she had concocted a new device, a boomerang-like equipment item that I could launch prior to using my ultimate moves which would connect with my opponent on it's way back to returning to me. I found that in practicing with it during my training that it worked quite well in knocking my opponent down, giving me time to close in for close combat attacks. 

As I neared the top of the ladder, I heard Kaminari's voice ring out and I felt an immediate sense of relief rush through me. An explosion caused me to move more quickly as I finally made it to the top. The sight of Kaminari caught my eye first, but then my eyes were drawn to the morphed piles of flesh that were littering the highway. I covered my mouth as a wave of nausea overcame me when I recognized Katsuki's equipment sticking out of one of them. A flash of electricity broke out across the highway as Kaminari attacked who I realized must have been the culprit of the flesh balls, considering the way his arms looked like putty.

Suddenly, the ball of flesh that seemed to be Katsuki began to morph as he was reverted back to his original body and it was then that I noticed Kirishima morphing back as well. They both attacked Kaminari's opponent, knocking the wind out of him and causing him to crumple to the floor.

As Katsuki was screaming something at Kaminari, I noticed the other flesh balls returning to their original forms. They seemed to notice at the same time, their backs turned towards me, and I began racing forward just as Katsuki started blasting. Someone had dodged the attack and was headed in my direction. Their hero costume, a thickly armored outer shell with a helmet shielding me from seeing their eyes, didn't give anything away regarding their quirk.

I was reminded of practicing against Ectoplasm and his reassurance that I had to have confidence in my quirk working even if I couldn't see its effects externally. Pain. I focused on picturing it like a dark ball of energy shooting directly into his chest, shattering his armor with its force. At the same time, I grabbed my boomerang and released it into the air.

Suddenly, mid run, I was frozen but everything else around me continued to move. I screamed out, exerting all of my energy to move even the slightest bit, but I was stuck. Everything seemed to begin moving in slow motion as my armored opponent continued to race towards me, an arm pulling back as he aimed his ball for my last remaining target. Fear consumed me as I realized that I was about to fail the exam.

There was a loud explosion followed by the tension in my body being released as I fell to the ground. Time sped up again as the ball was released and ricocheted off my shoulder just as my boomerang came whooshing back, slamming into the back of my opponent's head. He let out a grunt and tumbled forward. I quickly rose, rushing forward and finding his targets easily. When my ball connected with his third target, I collapsed to the ground.

"Students who have passed should congregate in the anteroom. Chop chop!" A chipper voice said and I realized that it must have been coming from my targets, which were now flashing.

"Screw you, lady," I said to the voice as I waited for the pounding of my heart to quiet.

Moments later I heard the same voice repeating itself and I looked up to see Katsuki standing above me. His crimson eyes were blazing with fury as he looked down at me.

"You idiot! What the hell were you thinking?!"

"Shut up, oh my God, why are you always yelling?" I mumbled, covering my face and turning onto my side. A stabbing pain exploded in my side and I cried out as I remember the wound I had sustained. The pain in my shoulder was awakened as well and I gripped at it, suddenly feeling short of breath.

"What happened?" Katsuki asked, his voice immediately softer as he came to kneel beside me. When he moved my hand, he saw the blood and I watched his brow furrow as he asked, "When the hell did this happen?"

"Earlier, when I got my first person," I said. As he helped me to my feet, I added, "While I was chasing your stubborn ass."

"Hah?!" He shot back. "I didn't ask you to chase me, did I? You're the one that wanted to listen to fucking Deku and follow him. I don't need your help or anyone else's to become the number one hero."

I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling the irritation rise within me, when Kirishima's voice rang out from further down the highway. "This coming from someone who was literally saved by Kaminari!"

I turned to find that they were both approaching us, their targets flashing.

"You guys passed too?" I said, feeling an immediate sense of relief. "I'm so glad."

"Where did you come from, Nakano? I thought - oh geez, are you okay?" Kaminari said, noticing the crimson stains on my hand as I lifted it in greeting.

Katsuki glared at him and opened his mouth to say something before I cut in quickly. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just a little scratched up." This was the understatement of a lifetime. Now that the adrenaline had wore off, the pain from my wounds was excruciating but I smiled to mask the pain. "Why don't you guys walk ahead, okay? We're right behind you."

"Sounds good!" Kirishima said, grinning as he grabbed Kaminari by the arm and started walking away.

"Let me help you," Katsuki said after a few moments. When he lifted a hand towards me, I slapped it away, staring at him defiantly. He growled angrily. "What's your problem? I can tell how much pain you're in by the look in your eyes. Now let me help you, damn it!"

"Once you admit that you can't do this alone." I said, matching his ominous stare.

"The hell if I will!" He shouted, a vein bulging in his neck as he spoke.

"Goddamn your pride, Katsuki." I said quietly.

Why can't you see it? I thought, as I turned away from him and began walking. Why can't you see that it's sure to be your down fall one day?