Invisible Strings | Katsuki Bakugou

The end

"Of course, you did," he squeezed the boy's hip, "I'm amazing."

"You should've said 'I've missed you too, Izuku!', y'know!", the hero frowned, and that only made Katsuki laugh.

"Never in a million years!"

"You're a horrible friend."

"I'm not."

"I know."

"I know you know."

"Jesus, Kacchan!"

"You really will never get over that nickname, aren't you?"

"Give me a valid reason to do that."

"We're adults."

"Not valid. Case closed."

"Love fucked your brain."

"Oh, shut up!", Izuku laughed, letting Katsuki guide him to their friends.

They all reached the explosive boy to his Japan's house since he moved to the Dominica Republic five years prior. Their government heard about what Lenora did for Japan during the Great War and they decided that they could need more heroes in their state Katsuki didn't think twice before packing his bags and moving there. Ines followed him, along with Best Jeanist, who was finally dating the woman of his dreams; so, Bakugou Katsuki became the Republic's Number One Hero in no time and people loved him despite his serious attitude and workaholic side.

Izuku remained in Japan and after Endeavor stepped back, he was elevated to Number One in less than five years inside his Pro Hero job. He was a young boy, but he did so much for that nation that the title was well deserved. He also provided help to Tenko Shimura, who was now living in an apartment outside Shibuya, strictly followed by a psychiatrist and with an electronic anklet that signaled where he was every time of the day, but at least he could re-start living and finally being himself.

Uraraka and Tsu raised their voice and helped Toga Himiko to have the same treatment Tenko had, and they won, using their free time to go see her, hanging out with her, and making her feel normal and loved and appreciated. No one deserved to live how those villains lived most of their lives and it was time that some true heroes would show them how was a serene life.

Shoto decided to stay close to his family despite the fact he was now living in China, his Number One title shining beside his name. He did his best to be a good brother to Toya, he tried, but the wounds his big brother had carved in his heart were too deep to be healed with a bit of love. That didn't stop the Hero, though.

He was still trying, and he would forever do that.

The rest of the class was scattered around the world, everyone doing what they worked so hard for being heroes.

But that day, it was a special one.

They tried to meet each other, all together, at someone's home, on a specific day every year.

It was their family reunion.

And most of the time Aizawa, All Might, Mirko, Present Mic, and some other Pros would be there too, to add joy to that encounter.

That year it was harder to be all together, and Katsuki was ready to only have just some of them at his house, not all the class. So, they went to buy some ingredients and something to drink before heading home, chatting all the way to it.

They cooked together and ate scattered all over the big back garden, where lights were placed all over it and Katsuki had the great idea of putting some decorations and music to make it all prettier and more organized.

"You did a nice job, Katsuki," Momo complimented him, sipping her red wine, "I didn't know this side of you!"

He winked at her, "I'm full of surprises."

They chatted and had fun, they joked, they spoke seriously, they remembered the old times, and Izuku showed them the photo album they gave him for his seventeenth birthday, making them all shed some tears at the sight of those old memories.

"Man, I missed those moments", Mina caressed their first class photo together, her thumb rubbing on Lenora's face.

Uraraka nodded, passing to another page and ending up on a group photo with Lenora in the middle, the girls all appearing from between her long hair, her eyes closed and her teeth in display, her rosy cheeks and loud laugh. If she concentrated, she could still hear it sometimes.

"I'm forgetting her voice", Sero admitted, looking deeply sad while saying it.

Tokoyami lowered his head, "I can't recall the exact color of her eyes."

"Lavender," Katsuki fast replied, "with two black runes shaped on them."

"She had a sweet voice, almost a lullaby," Izuku added, "when you heard her speak, you could've fallen asleep."

Of course, they didn't forget a single detail about her.

Shoto patted their backs, "What about we light the lanterns?"

They nodded, standing up with the group to go pick their lantern, everyone lighting it up and waiting for the hot air to hit the material.

"Alright, you're all ready?", Mina asked them all, sniffing.

"Yeah!"

They all closed their eyes, making a wish, and then tossed the lanterns in the air, smiling.

"Happy birthday, Len", Katsuki whispered.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!", Mina screamed to the stars, waving at them.

"Happy birthday", Izuku took Uraraka, Shoto, and Iida into a hug, smiling.

"Happy birthday!", Denki clapped his hands with Jirou and Momo.

Shinso couldn't look at the sky, "Happy birthday..."

They all proceeded to wish her a happy birthday, but they weren't the only ones.

"Happy birthday, Enchantress," Eri was on her balcony, smiling at the sky.

"Happy birthday", Aizawa whispered to their framed photo.

"Happy birthday, little rabbit", Mirko raised a glass to the sky.

"Happy birthday", Tamaki was in a hallway, taking a break from the hero's work.

"Happy birthday, my darling", Ines sent a kiss to the sky.

If Mariko would be there she would've baked a cake, but the woman passed away six years prior, so now they could celebrate all together.

Tenko was the only one on the list, sitting on the roof of his little apartment, looking up.

"I hope you're proud of me. I hope you're happy whenever you are," he clenched his fists, "happy birthday, my Lennie."

And so, their lives went on.

And they lived.

Loved.

Danced.

Laughed.

Protected.

Until their dying days.

Because that's how Lenora taught them to live.

That's how she wanted them to live.

And she watched them from above, shining like fireworks over them.

Smiling forever.

She died for love.

And she knew, that for them, she would do it all over again.