Invisible Strings | Katsuki Bakugou

The end

"I am happy, especially my ears," he straightened his back, pushing his phone back in his pocket, "no more screams and shouts."

Katsuki nodded, "I bet they are."

The boy was nineteen and he was an inch taller than the teacher now, his red eye was living without storm inside it and his whole persona was brand new.

Bakugou had the skin and the heart to be a Pro now, and Aizawa couldn't be prouder of how much that angry boy fought to reach that point.

"You know, I'm glad you didn't drop us despite everything," Katsuki spoke again, looking away from the man, "you're a great teacher."

Aizawa shook his head, "I could've done more," he showed the kid the piece of paper, "but I made a promise, and I couldn't break it."

Katsuki stretched his arm to the paper and Aizawa gave it to him, resting his other hand on the boy's shoulder.

"What's this?"

"I thought you would like to have it," he squeezed his shirt, "Lenora was like a daughter to me, and losing her was like being stabbed a hundred times every day. I wish she would've been here today, but that's all I could do to bring at least a part of her here."

Katsuki smirked, unrolling the paper and reading it, grateful to the school for that little gift.

She would've been so happy.

"Thank you for not breaking that promise," he pressed the paper on his chest, looking at the man's good eye, "it's still hard to think that I have to remember her for longer than I've known her."

Aizawa felt those words hitting hard.

They were filled with truth.

"Bakugou, I..."

"Kacchan! We must go, it's getting late!", Izuku appeared at the door, slamming it open and smiling brightly at their teacher, "Mr. Aizawa! We're coming!"

And the rest of the class was called, everyone in their graduation vest and big smiles. They were taller, stronger, healthier, closer than before.

A family.

He chuckled at the sign of them, watching Kirishima, Denki, and Sero tossing their arms around Bakugou and pulling him off the stairs, Mina holding the redhead's hand and Jirou holding Kaminari's and Momo's. Uraraka, Iida, Shinso, and Shoto went for Izuku, the girl jumping on his back while the boys passed their arms around them, marching down all together. Tokoyami, Tsu, Koda, and Shoji were all holding hands, trotting down the stairs all smileys. Ojiro had Hagakure on his shoulders, Aoyama grinning beside them with Sato and Mineta, all giggling together, happier than ever.

Aizawa quickly dried up a fallen tear, feeling the spring breeze brushing past him.

"You should smile, not cry."

He took a deep breath, looking down to his right, where the ghost of Len was standing, watching proudly her friends walk away.

"I am smiling."

"You need to smile with your heart, too, Aizawa."

He knew she was right, "I still miss you."

"And that's fine, but I need you to move on," she gave him one last big smile, "I need you to find your sparks."

"You were the closest thing to that spark I'd ever had", he confessed to her.

She stretched her back, closing her eyes, "I know you'll be able to find another one," she twirled in front of him, and he knew that was the last time he would've seen her, "you're the coolest hero I know, my favorite teacher and the second-best dad I've ever had."