E P I S O D E
40

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Saotome Ako was two different things for Bakugo Katsuki, she was a powerful enigma that he wants to overcome and someone he wants to protect. He doesn't understand what he was feeling because of his pride; but he became certain at one point.

Is it that time when she said that he'll become stronger because he had someone that he considered a rival now, or is it when he came to know how powerful the girl was when the villains attacked USJ?

He wasn't sure when his feelings started, it just suddenly bloomed as if it was spring.

Her straightforward personality that matched his, she who hides her kindness but is very sincere about everything; her wide grin that seemed taunting but was actually her way of saying 'I'm the best, so work hard to catch up to me!'

Her whole presence was like his other half.

So when he heard of Ako's comatose state after the Sport's Festival came to an end, he was enraged; who was he mad at? Was it the teachers because they couldn't do a better job, or was it himself?

He doesn't know where to put the blame, but he realizes that he was the only one who's in reach of Ako that day. Why did he even walked away?

Why didn't he asked for her well-being? Sure, she was powerful. But everyone has limitation, Ako must've passed that line - resulting to be in that state.

Was what he originally thought.

"What do you mean all three of them were put into a comatose? What happened?" Uraraka asked Aizawa who informed them of the three princesses' state.

Bakugo silently sucked a breath as he intensely stared at Aizawa, waiting for his next words.

Aizawa who felt everyone's burning stare, sighed - giving up.

"It's not my place to say this," he uttered, making Bakugo who was already hanging on a thin thread suddenly snap.

"And why the hell was it not your place to say it?! You have the fucking information about them, I deserve to know what really happened!" Aizawa immediately wrapped Bakugo in his scarf and covered his mouth.

"MMMRFF!" Bakugo struggled to get out of the the cloth but to no avail.

The whole class was worried too, especially Momo, Todoroki, Midoriya, and Kirishima. They didn't even know what happened until Aizawa informed them and the only one who seemed to be aware of the situation was Bakugo.

"And that is why I decided to bring Todou's vessels here, so they would be the one to answer your questions." Aizawa opened the door; revealing two tall figures. One had platinum blonde hair whilst the other one was a contrast of the bright guy beside him.

Everyone stared at them in wonder, "This is Elluka," Aizawa pointed at the dark haired guy.

"And this is Zero." He politely smiled.

Shortly after introducing the two, Momo immediately raised her hand and asked a question that was bothering her for awhile now after hearing the news from their teacher.

"Are they alright?"

Zero lightly bowed his head in gratitude for asking for the three princesses' well-being. "They are not in a life threatening situation, but there's a high possibility that they would not wake up for a long time."

Momo dejectedly lowered her hand when she heard of the bad news. They are fine but they would be sleeping for a long time, it was like waiting for death at this point.

Midoriya was the next one to question them, "Uhm, why are they in a coma? Did something happened?"

Elluka was the one to answer his question, "Basically, their life was connected to the life of the world. That's why they are not okay at the moment." The sound of his apathetic tone somewhat made the already raging Bakugo - whose still wrapped in Aizawa's scarf - to get even more furious.

Bakugo was struggling so hard in Aizawa's hold, so he could do nothing but to temporarily release him. Surely, he's had so many questions at the moment since he's beside Ako when she collapsed.

Upon his release, he didn't hesitate to stomp towards the dark haired guy and snatch his collar. Bakugo's furious expression welcoming Elluka's cold ones

"Are you playing a joke on me!? Their life was connected to the world, do you think we're stupid or something!? Tell us the truth, or else I'll kill you!"

"Bakugo," Aizawa's warning tone was like a slap on the face; Bakugo scoffed then harshly let go of Elluka's colllar.

Elluka adjusted his collar, momentarily glaring at Bakugo. Zero decided to explain to them because he knows how much Elluka was restraining himself to lash out in worry for Yurika.

"The three of them are princesses. Just like you heroes who have something to protect to keep the peace, they too are protecting the core to maintain the life of the world."

Zero explained everything to them about the curse that has been sucking their life force dry, about the existence of another dimension completely different from them, and the fact that they do not belong in this world.

It was a big fat slap in their face after knowing the truth. The difference between them suddenly came to light.

Ako's mysterious abilities.

Koharu's secretive personality.

And Yurika's sudden appearance on that one accident of USJ.

First, the reaction was that of disbelief then astonishment. Completely accepting the secret that the princesses hid, understanding the circumstances that led them into living under the shadows for their safety.

However, there was one that's not happy about the sudden revelation. Bakugo's expression turned grim and dark before morphing into his usual scowling face.

He returned home with a hidden turmoil growing wild inside his chest; he still can't forget how powerful Ako was - it probably wasn't even half of her strength. But the simple thought of that difference between their strength was infuriating.

He wants to be stronger than anyone so that he could prove he's the best, to prove that Ako belongs to him.

The day ended with that same thought mulling over his mind that night

...

The next day, Bakugou went to the hospital to visit Ako with a bouquet of red tulips on his hands. He's not expecting anything when he arrives there, he just wants to see if she's doing fine even if she's sleeping. It was a wonder what love can do to you.

But, perhaps he really was expecting to see her bright cyan eyes once he visited there. He wants to be the one waiting by her side once she woke up.

He make his way towards Ako's room then opened the door, dual colored tones of hair welcomed his sight immediately - his mood plummeted down to the ground as soon as he realized that Todoroki was here as well.

"What the hell are you doing here?" His gruffed voice managed to snap Todoroki out of his thought; he turned his head towards Bakugo, standing still on the door holding a bouquet.

"I have every right to be here. You're not the only one who's worried about her." Todoroki answered his question and ignored him right after. His hands caressed Ako's cold ones.

Bakugo gritted his teeth at the sight but he refrained from causing a scene. Setting the flowers to the side he also sat beside Ako. "Damn it."

Bakugo felt really jealous of his affection towards Ako, he should be only one for her. Yet this guy is fighting for that position as well.

"Why the hell are you acting like her goddamn boyfriend?" Glaring daggers at the side of his face beside him, he didn't hide his growing agitation.

"I'm not. I just feel like showing what I feel. And why are you here, I thought you wouldn't care?" He asked, his tone of voice getting an octave lower than usual.

"Ha?" Bakugo felt offended of what just came out of Todoroki's mouth.

"I asked you why you're here. I thought you didn't care."

In a split of second, Todoroki was grabbed by the collar; Bakugo's aggravated, furious expression coming face to face with his equally glaring one.

"Are you even listening to what you're saying?" Bakugo was so close to punching him. He was the first one to care for Ako, the first one to notice her. He was there when she collapsed.

And hearing such an insult from this guy who didn't even know anything from the start made him mad.

"You two are rivals, right? You want to beat her more than anything."

"That's two different things, you half'n half bastard!" He tightened his hold on his collar, "I was there when she collapsed, i was there the fucking whole time and you're not! Don't you dare assume of what I feel, you don't know anything!"

Bakugo's voice gradually became louder with every words coming out of his mouth that a nurse came in and warned them to be quiet.

Bakugo harshly let go of Todoroki's collar and scoffed. While the scarred boy sullenly watched over Ako's sleeping figure. He sure was frustrated as well. Because he was not the person beside her that time. He could've done so much better.

The guilt was eating him up, even though it's not his fault it just felt like a part of him was.

"I like Saotome," He confessed, turning his head to Bakugo. "I won't lose to you."

Bakugo felt like he's asking for his permission. It felt very shitty. He too, likes Ako very much. And he is the type of person who gets competitive, and he will make sure he'll win Ako's heart.

He scoffed, a large smirk creeping up to his expression.

"Oh, so do you think I would let you win? Bring it on. Saotome would choose me, and I would make sure of that."

| ᴜɴᴇᴅɪᴛᴇᴅ |

𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝

Aaaah. As a person without any romantic experience, i'm sorry if I made you cringe :')