The walk was relatively silent as Izumina trailed behind Bakugou, still in shock that he'd even agreed to her peculiar offer. Bakugou's expression was hard, his eyebrows furrowed in addition to his regular scowl, as he led her around a corner.
The two arrived in front of a small ramen shop. Red Noren curtains hung above the entrance, complementing the colour scheme of a sign out front with the name of the restaurant.
"Red Hot," Izumina read, gulping as her eyes fell on the cartoon chilli pepper and fire-breathing man on the sign. "Is the food here even safe for human consumption?"
Bakugou scoffed before ducking under the curtains. "You said anywhere I wanted, so quit complaining."
Sighing, Izumina followed.
Inside the small shop, there was only a counter separating the customers from the kitchen. A single long table connected both walls of the restaurant and was lined with no more than several stools, all of which were empty due to the bizarre time Izumina and Bakugou had decided to eat.
"Make yourselves comfortable," an old man called from behind the counter before ducking into a back room, "I'll be with you in just a moment."
'He probably wasn't expecting any customers until later,' Izumina thought, feeling slightly guilty for robbing the man of his break.
Bakugou said nothing in response to the man as he took a seat, dropping his backpack at his feet.
"Shouldn't you text your parents to let them know where you are?" Izumina pulled out the stool and sat next to Bakugou before tucking her backpack beneath the table's overhang.
Bakugou scoffed. "My folks can figure it out for themselves. They don't control my life."
"Yes but--" Izumina paused as she recalled meeting Bakugou's mother as a kid. "Your mother may not be pleased with you coming home late."
"You're changing the topic," Bakugou huffed, "Your quirk... explain."
Izumina rubbed her temple. "I need to let my father know where I am, so give me a second." For the most part, Nakiro Kimino had always given Izumina complete freedom, so long as he knew where she was. Out of respect and gratitude that he trusted her, Izumina felt it was a fair condition. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and sent her father a quick text before checking her other messages, noticing that she had two unread notifications.
The first message was from Mina. A simple 'Hey' was sent to the class group chat to start the stream of texts, and another asking everyone to respond with their names so others could add them to their contacts. Izumina smiled to herself, earning a questioning look from Bakugou, as she responded with her preferred nickname.
The second message, from Fleur-de-lis, read: "Hello Izumi, it's Charles. I'm in Japan and am hoping to meet with you in regards to Fleur's news. Will you be free for dinner at around 7? Let me know and I can meet you at your home, I believe I still have the address from the last time I saw you."
Izumina's face fell as she recalled coming home for the first time with Fleur and Charles at her side. The hero and social worker had been dating at the time, which Izumina only learned months later, and had since gotten married. Izumina remembered how their wedding had collided with her U.A. entrance exam and how disappointed she'd been to decline. Her eyes shifted to the hero's profile picture in her phone, which she'd since changed from a picture of a golden Fleur-de-lis to the two men's wedding photo, which she'd asked them to send since she couldn't attend in person. She noted the smiles on their faces and smiled back, knowing that they meant much more to her than a simple reminder of her mother's death.
"I'm out with a friend right now but seven works fine. Can't wait to see you." Izumina clicked send and watched as the text loaded, internally wondering what 'Fleur's new's' was. Perhaps they were coming to tell her that their adoption claims had finally gone through. Perhaps, in Fleur's mind, this would be like telling their oldest about a new member of the family, considering he'd already confessed to thinking of Izumina as his own.
"Oi."
Izumina flinched and looked up from her phone.
"How long does it take to send one fucking text?"
Izumina glared at Bakugou before taking a breath and tucking her phone back into her uniform pocket. "Sorry, sorry," she said, forcing a smile, "Where were we?"
Before Bakugou could respond, the old man from earlier reappeared behind the counter. "Thank you for waiting." He handed two menus over the counter. "Can I get you two anything to drink?"
"Diet coke," Bakugou said without looking up from his menu.
"Like, with mentos?" Izumina raised a brow as a smug grin spread across her face.
"Fuck off," Bakugou sneered as the girl burst into a fit of giggles.
Izumina, whose go-to beverage was normally an iced tea, calmed down before eyeing the man hesitantly. "How spicy is the food here?"
The man chuckled heartily. "The spiciest in town, young lady."
Izumina nodded. "Milk for me then, please."
The man smiled before disappearing into the back part of the shop, most likely the kitchen, leaving Izumina and Bakugou to decide on their meal.
Izumina sweat-dropped as she read the contents of the menu. If the words 'spicy', 'hot', or 'flaming' wasn't in the title of the dish, it wasn't on the menu.
"So..."
Izumina glanced over at Bakugou.
"Start talking, Aho."
Izumina sighed as she fiddled with the end of her ponytail. "Well, it's a long story... Firstly, I would like to apologize for not telling you the truth. Unlike Izuku, I actually did hide my quirk from you. Which is all the more reason for you to be mad at me instead of him. He didn't do anything wrong."
Bakugou huffed but begrudgingly stayed silent as Izumina paused to collect her thoughts.
"You see, the reason I pretended I was quirkless was because I knew what it felt like to be picked on. My quirk didn't develop until I was nine, which is extremely rare even in Canada. I knew what it was like to be bullied for being quirkless, which is why I kept it a secret in junior high." Memories of children's taunts and threats back in elementary school flooded through Izumina's mind. She shook her head. "I didn't intend to keep you in the dark, Katsuki. But with the way you and everyone else treated Izuku... I'm sorry, but I just couldn't let him face the same thing I did... at least, not alone."
Guilt washed over Bakugou, as the realization that she'd lied to him because of his actions settled against his chest. The weight of that reality stung, but Bakugou refused to show any more vulnerability that day. The day had been humiliating enough already by losing to Deku, having his weaknesses pointed out by the entire class, and crying in front of Deku, Izumi and, worst of all, All Might. Bakugou could hardly bear it as the all too familiar tightness gripped his lungs, and he watched helplessly as the world around him blurred.
"I know I left..." Izumina's voice snapped him back to reality. Her green eyes and messy brown hair fading back into focus before the rest of the ramen shop came back for him too. "I know I don't know everything that happened between you too... and that I wasn't able to say goodbye to you properly... But I'd do it again if I had to. So, I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sure that hurt... but I'm not sorry I did it."
Her eyes, which had previously been fixated on the countertop, shot up to meet Bakugou's. The boy's resting grumpy face wavered at the sudden movement. The force of having all of her attention on him caused Bakugou to feel very small, something he'd felt a crushing amount of since entering U.A.
Bakugou scoffed. "Yeah, yeah. It's whatever alright."
Izumina's hard expression melted into a soft one upon hearing Bakugou accept her apology. It was a gutsy speech, she'd known it would likely make Bakugou even angrier than he already was, but thankfully it worked out in her favour.
"Do you know what you want to order," Bakugou asked, changing the topic so he wouldn't feel worse than he already did.
Izumina's eyes widened as her mouth opened to respond, only no words came out. She looked towards her discarded menu before snatching it up and reading it cover to cover once more. Bakugou smirked.
After a minute, Izumina lowered the menu sheepishly. "I'm not hungry, to be honest."
Bakugou did his best to suppress his laughter upon seeing the look on her face, though he lost to the smile that tugged at his lips. "Is the brave hero-in-training afraid of a little spicy food?"
"N-No!" Izumina flushed the same shade of red as the Noren curtains behind her. "It's just food!"
Bakugou placed his elbow on the tabletop and leaned his chin against his hand. "Your face is red, Aho."
Izumina's lip quivered as she struggled to come up with a retort, and instead resolved to hiding her face behind the menu. Except for her eyes, which peeked over the top to glare at Bakugou.
Just then, another voice chimed in. "Well, well," the old man from behind the counter teased as he placed their drinks in front of them. "Aren't you two a cute couple. Young love is truly a beautiful thing. Anyways what can I get ya?" The man pulled out a notebook and pen as he spoke before smiling innocently at the two teenagers.
"Umm, we... we aren't... a couple..." Izumina stuttered quietly, lowering her menu to her chin so that the man could see her face.
"What was that," The man asked, leaning forwards to hear her better.
"Umm, I said--"
But before Izumina could finish Bakugou took her menu and handed both to the man. "Two spicy katsu ramen." Izumina shot him a look, to which Bakugou grimaced and looked away. "Please."
The man behind the counter chuckled at the two teenagers, both blushing profusely, before saying: "Coming right up," and exiting to the kitchen.
Izumina and Bakugou, both refusing to meet each other's gaze, spoke simultaneously.
"So your quir--"
"Why didn't you tell--"
Izumina laughed as she realized the only reason Bakugou had shooed the man away was so he could hear more of her story. Knowing Bakugou, he probably hadn't even been listening to what the man had said. She scratched her chin awkwardly.
"Two bowls of ramen? I know I said I was paying, but won't that ruin your appetite for later?"
Bakugou rolled his eyes. "One's for you, dummy."
Izumina's eyes widened. "O-oh... I wasn't gonna order anything, but thank you, Kacchan."
Bakugou made a 'tch' noise before taking a sip of his diet coke. Izumina couldn't help but chuckle as she mentally compared the drink to his quirk.
Glaring at her as she laughed, Bakugou set his drink down. "Your quirk..."
Izumina paused.
"Multitude... that's what it was called back in the monitor room. I've never heard of a quirk like that."
Folding her hands neatly in her lap, Izumina glanced away from Bakugou. 'I hadn't realized they were announcing everyone's quirks in the monitor room,' Izumina thought to herself. 'Granted, it makes sense considering the other students were observing the matches...'
"Well?"
Izumina sighed. "Here's the part that's hard to explain... Gosh, you're gonna think I'm nuts..." Izumina sighed as she twiddled her thumbs. "My quirk is actually teleportation. Only, that's not all it is anymore... Over the years it's developed into elemental manipulation and even healing, to some extent."
Bakugou flinched as he recalled holding Izumina's trembling form in his arms to keep her away from Deku. Healing... she always had been quick to recover from injuries. Come to think of it, Bakugou thought as his eyes flickered to her cheek. That scratch from earlier had already disappeared.
"I think I may have multiple quirks," Izumina continued in a lowered voice, oblivious to Bakugou's fixated gaze. "Teleportation and fire have nothing to do with each other. Healing and rock manipulation?" She forced a laugh. "My quirk really is some freak of nature if it's all supposed to be connected somehow."
Finally looking up, Izumina noticed Bakugou's eyebrows were furrowed into something deeper than his usual scowl. The expression on his face itself wasn't much different than normal, but something in the way he glared at the table made Izumina wish to know what was going on inside his head.
"Any questions," Izumina asked.
Bakugou shook his head, his bangs falling over his eyes. "How... how could anyone have more than one quirk?"
Izumina shrugged. "I get these dreams... like visions, and the next morning I always wake up feeling different. If the new quirk doesn't develop that morning, it always will by the time I go to sleep the next night. It sounds crazy, I know. I can't really explain it 'cuz I barely understand how it works myself... As much of a blessing these powers are, I feel guilty for having them when so many people are born quirkless. That's why I haven't told anyone about it yet. Aside from you, Deku, and some of the teachers of course. Though, come to think of it, Izu figured it out on his own. If he hadn't caught on, I probably wouldn't have confided in him either."
Bakugou stared in awe at the girl. She had not one, but multiple quirks, and yet she kept it a secret. Why? So, others wouldn't feel bad? It made sense to him, and yet, the thought would've never occurred to Bakugou if he'd been in the same position as her. He'd always had a powerful quirk. Being the first in the kindergarten class to develop one, and even by quirk standards, his explosions were strong. It was hard for him to imagine hiding that kind of ability for one person. Granted, if he'd known Izumina in later years of elementary school, maybe he would've understood why she did what she did better... perhaps he would've done the same for her...
No, that would be wishful thinking. Bakugou had already developed his quirk before she'd left. The rift between him, and her, as well as him and Deku, was already starting to grow. Bakugou couldn't possibly compare himself to her.
"Order up."
The man had returned from the kitchen and placed two bowls of ramen in front of Bakugou and Izumina.
"Thank you for the food," Izumina said, smiling at the man as he placed down two pairs of chopsticks.
"Such a polite young'un," the man said before turning and disappearing once more into the kitchen.
Bakugou stared blankly into his bowl as Izumina hesitantly poked a piece of chicken katsu with the end of her chopsticks.
"Katsu," Izumina mumbled as she stirred the red-tinged soup and noodles. "Kat-suki...?"
Snapping out of his daze, Bakugou picked up his chopsticks and ate a mouthful of noodles. The comforting heat of the chilli powder that had been added to the soup sharpening his focus.
"Katsu-ki..." Izumina mumbled as she lifted a piece of chicken and analyzed it meticulously.
"What," Bakugou groaned, mouth half full before swallowing and turning to glare at Izumina.
Izumina glanced at the boy and held the piece of chicken between her chopsticks proudly. "Like you!"
"The fuck--"
Izumina placed the piece of meat in Bakugou's bowl. "Katsu--" she spoke, pointing at the chicken with her chopsticks before pulling back and pointing at Bakugou. "--Ki! Like you!"
Scoffing, Bakugou lifted the piece of meat out of his bowl. "All that to get rid of one piece of meat?"
Izumina chuckled. "You caught me. I'm trying to tell how spicy it is by the look on your face. But unless the chicken called you a weakling, I have no idea how you feel about it, Mr. Grumpy-Face."
Bakugou popped the meat into his mouth without breaking eye contact with Izumina, his face remaining dead-panned as he chewed. He swallowed, smiling sarcastically in Izumina's direction before taking another bite of his noodles.
"What's that supposed to mean," Izumina drawled. "How spicy is it?"
Bakugou placed a hand on Izumina's head before turning her face forwards. "Just eat the damn food, Aho."
Izumina pouted before picking up a second piece of chicken katsu and begrudgingly shoving it in her mouth. Bakugou eyed her joyfully, his mouth full of ramen noodles, as her face flushed and she scrambled for her milk, fanning her face as she chugged half the cup.
"Heh," Bakugou scoffed before taking another bite of noodles, "weak."
Izumina knit her brows as she continued to fan herself. "How can you eat this? It tastes like fire! are you a dragon or something?"
Bakugou lifted his already emptied bowl and drank the remaining soup. When he was done, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and smirked. "Dragon King," he corrected.
Izumina mimicked his scoff as she rolled her eyes. "Oh, apologies, your majesty."
"Oh, whatever. At least I can handle my spice," Bakugou retorted.
"Hey now," Izumina exclaimed, dramatically flipping her ponytail off her shoulder "I'm spicy enough as is. I'm at max capacity here."
Despite wanting to stay mad at her, Bakugou couldn't help but laugh. "Oh Pl-ease! You're bland as fuck."
"Mean!"
Izumina playfully pouted and crossed her arms, a faint smile shining through her facade. Bakugou couldn't help but smirk. As much as finding out she'd been lying to him for the past two years hurt, Bakugou had to admit he'd missed having her around. She was, after all, the closest friend he had at the moment. Besides, it was all in the past now. Right?
The man peeked his head out of the kitchen and smiled at the two teenagers. "Well, aren't you two chatty. Are you done with your food?" Izumina perked up as the man approached their table and looked at her bowl. "Was the meal not to your satisfaction," he asked dejectedly.
"No, no," Izumina said, waving her hands in front of her. "It was delicious. I just can't handle my spice. My friend over here enjoyed his meal very much. Right, Katsuki?"
Bakugou nodded. "She just prefers her food tasteless."
"Hey," Izumina exclaimed, shooting Bakukgou a look before smiling back at the old man. "Is there any way I could take this to go?"
The man chuckled as he reached under the counter on the other side of the table. "Not a problem, miss," he said as he took her bowl and poured its contents into a styrofoam takeout cup and sealed it with a lid. "That'll be 1,500 yen, please."
Izumina reached into her bag for her wallet as the man bagged the ramen and handed it over the counter. Izumina paid him and took the bag, handing it to Bakugou. "For your lunch tomorrow," she said over her shoulder as Bakugou accepted the bag.
"Come back anytime," the man waved. "I'll give you two a couples discount."
Izumina chuckled. "Thank you, but we're not actually a couple."
Bakugou nudged her in the side as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "We can be a couple if it means free toppings."
"Katsuki," Izumina scolded. Picking up her backpack as the boy surrendered his normal angry demeanour and laughed cockily.
"For you, young man, we might be able to work something out."
Izumina rolled her eyes as Bakugou smiled like a little kid in the man's direction. Considering the day he'd had, Izumina was shocked that he was acting so carefree now. Though, if she was being honest, she was glad he could enjoy himself after everything that'd happened. Maybe Izuku's theory was right? Maybe she did have the unique ability to defuse him like a bomb.
"Thanks again for the food, Mr..." Izumina paused as it dawned on her that she didn't know the man's name.
"Daichi. Huo Daichi," the man introduced himself.
"Mr. Huo," Izumina finished. "Take care,"
"You too, kiddos," the man called as he began wiping down the table with a wet cloth.
Izumina ducked under the Noren curtains and turned towards Bakugou, who had made himself comfortable by leaning against the wall of the ramen shop.
"Thank you for agreeing to this. I'm sorry again for not being honest with you."
Bakugou shrugged. "It was shitty of you, but I understand why you did it." Bakugou held out his hand and made small explosions in his palm. "Now that I know your secret, I'll work twice as hard to surpass you. I'll still be number one, and I won't hesitate to crush you if I have to."
Though his words were threatening, Izumina smiled. Knowing that he viewed her as a worthy opponent was the best thing she could've asked for.
"I don't intend to fall behind you. We both tied for first in the entrance exam, so, we're evenly matched. Be careful what you wish for, Kacchan," Izumina responded, using his nickname teasingly.
Bakugou scoffed. "Don't look down on me, Aho."
"Maybe if you didn't slouch so much, I wouldn't have to." Izumina grinned cheekily, to which Bakugou rolled his eyes and made a 'tch' noise. "Oh by the way." Izumina reached into her backpack and pulled out one of the two textbooks she'd gotten from Kaminari. "You left in such a hurry you forgot this."
Bakugou grit his teeth and accepted the textbook. "Fuck-- thanks, I guess."
"Let me," Izumina said as she took the textbook back and rounded Bakugou's shoulder. Unzipping his backpack, she carefully placed the textbook inside, so he'd have at least one arm free on his way home, before rezipping it and smiling. "There."
"You're annoying, you know," Bakugou spoke as he straightened his posture to stand taller than the girl, who wasn't much shorter than him.
"Why?"
"You're too... you," Bakugou replied, unable to properly explain what it was about her that annoyed him so. Was it perhaps that she had more moments like this with Deku than with him? Or could it possibly be that she wasn't fazed by his bull shit? He'd pulled a lot of crap over the years, and was lucky to still have her support. He knew, for a fact, he didn't deserve it, and yet, he found himself thriving off of it.
Izumina shook her head in exasperation and frowned. "Yeah, yeah. Enjoy your noodles and don't forget about the English homework, alright?"
"I got it, I got it," Bakugou sighed as he turned to leave. "See you tomorrow, Izumi."
"Yes," Izumina exclaimed, causing Bakugou to flinch and turn to face her with a 'what the fuck' expression on his face. "Back to first name basis!"
Bakugou frowned, realizing his mistake before turning away once more. "Fuck off, freckles."
"No," Izumina drawled. "So close!"
Bakugou couldn't help but smirk as he walked away.
"Wait, Katsuki," Izumina called, causing him to stop. He kept his back to her but waited for her to continue.
Izumina swallowed the lump in her throat as she remembered the training from earlier that day. "Thanks for today, during training." The image of Izuku's broken form as Bakugou pulled her back flickered through Izumina's mind. "I was being reckless, and I'm grateful you stopped me when you did."
"Don't mention it," Bakugou said before continuing on his way, Izumina getting further and further away from him.
"See you tomorrow," Izumina called after him.
"'Till then, Aho," Bakugou responded, waving a hand over his shoulder.
Izumina smiled as she watched the boy's back until he rounded a corner. Pulling out her phone to check the time, Izumina realized it was already six o'clock. Teleporting to her home to save time, she rematerialized in her bedroom.
Dropping her bag against the foot of her desk, Izumina quickly changed into casual clothes and collapsed onto her bed.
'One hour to kill before Fleur and Charles arrive to celebrate their news--' Izumina thought as she opened her phone to class 1-A's group chat and proceeded to add her classmate's numbers to her contacts.
'--Whatever it is.'
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Author's Note:
Hope y'all fangirls enjoyed your Katzumina moments (cough* cough* you know who you are, Summer - EVERYONE should check out their books at animelover123p. Their BNHAxOC story 'A Hero's Journey' just recently passed 1k reads! Congrats girl, you're a fantastic fic writer and one of the best beta readers an author could ask for ❤️️)
I'll be getting into a main part of the plot soon so please stay tuned. If any of you lovely readers have suggestions or thoughts on the story please feel free to share, I'm always looking for notes to improve my writing. I tried to keep Bakugou in character for this chapter but I'll admit it was very hard. Let me know what you thought.
~ Author