Evil....Maybe Not

Past memories

Bakugo POV:

It was morning already. Yesterday had gone by in a blur, but it had been filled with laughter and the warmth of being surrounded by friends. Even though it felt like it passed too quickly, the memory of everyone hanging out together left a lingering sense of contentment. I glanced down at Deku, who was still nestled against my chest, his soft breathing steady and rhythmic. The gentle rise and fall of his chest, the way his face relaxed in sleep—it was enough to pull me back into slumber.

When I woke up again a few hours later, the sunlight was streaming in through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. The first thing I heard was Izumi's voice, bright and animated, talking to someone on the house phone. We hadn't given her a cell phone yet—she was only ten, after all—but it was something we planned to do next year. For now, the old house phone served as her lifeline to the outside world, a tether to her growing circle of friends.

As I moved closer, her excitement was palpable, and I couldn't help but smile. She was talking with all three of her closest friends—Hayno, Todoroki's boy, with his calm demeanor and a bit of his father's seriousness; Hime, Mina's daughter, who was all boundless energy and infectious laughter; and Shinki, the son of Denki and Shinsou, who had a quiet intensity about him that made him wise beyond his years. I wasn't a huge fan of the boys, but Deku always insisted that it was good for Izumi to have different friends, to learn from people with varied personalities and perspectives. Even if it made me a little uneasy, I knew he was right.

I leaned against the doorframe, listening in as she spoke. Her voice was filled with excitement, that unmistakable joy that comes from being young and carefree, with the whole day stretched out before you like a blank canvas.

"Hey, do you guys want to hang out today and show off our new presents?" 

Izumi's little face lit up with excitement. "Yes, that would be so much fun! But we should invite Sakura as well. She is still part of our friend group."

A chorus of sighs echoed from the phone. "I really don't want to hang with her; she seems pushy," one of her friends complained.

Izumi's smile faltered, and a small pout formed on her lips. "She is not pushy. She's really nice once you get to know her," she insisted, her voice tinged with a quiet determination.

"Yeah, yeah, Izu," came the dismissive reply, but Izumi wasn't one to back down easily.

She stomped her foot in frustration, a fierce determination in her eyes. "Look, if we're going to hang out today, let's invite her. I'll show you how kind she really is!" Her voice was firm, and I could tell she was ready to fight for her friend.

I felt a swell of pride at her words. Sakura had joined their group a little later and had struggled to fit in at first, but Izumi had always made sure she felt included, always went out of her way to make her feel like she belonged. It was one of those moments where I could see so much of Deku in her—his kindness, his empathy, his instinct to care for others. It amazed me how such a small person could have such a big heart.

Even from where I stood, I could almost feel the eye-rolling through the phone, the kind of exasperated gesture that only kids her age could muster. But Izumi held her ground, her resolve unshaken.

"Alright," they eventually conceded, and after exchanging goodbyes, she hung up the phone with a satisfied little smile.

"Dada, I know you're there," she called out, her voice light with amusement.

Caught, I stepped out from where I had been quietly observing. "Was I that obvious?" I asked with a sheepish grin.

She nodded with a playful smirk. "I thought you did this for a living."