~2 years later~

Katsuki Bakugo lived in a boring village, filled with boring people.

Everyone there were either stuck up, tedious or stupid. Some were passable but the ash blonde would never admit it.

He shook away his thoughts as he looked through the window from his bed, watching everyone wake up and say good morning to eachother. 

"Tch, people are so fake."

Katsuki could easily read through those fake smiles. He didn't want to be like everyone else so as far as he could remember, he tried acting the exact opposite of everyone, and it eventually grew on him.

"Katsuki" his mother called out to him. "I'm out to the market, come with me."

"Don't wanna" he shouted lazily. "People stink." 

"It wasn't a question!" His mother shouted back. "Get your ass down here!" Bakugo rolled his eyes before getting up from his bed and walking down the stairs. 

"What do you old hags want" he snarled. "We want you to shut your mouth and go to the market, little shit" Mitsuki Bakugo—his mother— retorted.

The lady had the same ash blonde hair and red eyes as her son's. They shared about the same character, and it wasn't really surprising...

Katsuki's father, Masaru, had brown eyes and hair. He was a tall man, calm and reserved.

"Carry these" Mitsuki said as she plopped three rags of cloth into Katsuki's arms. He had gotten used to it, but it was still annoying. "Tch, you can't even say please."

"You wouldn't have said you're welcome" she retorted. 

Bakugo rolled his eyes and walked out the door. "I'm leaving these in the shop" he called out to his parents. He had the extra shop key in his pocket at all times anyway.

Katsuki walked down the steep steps of his home and outside garden, opened the gate and  headed toward the family shop.

"Morning" someone greeted. He ignored them along with many others. 

When finally, a mint green shop with red and white roses came into view, Katsuki let out a relieved sigh; he could finally yeet these things inside and head to the library.

He opened the door and put the rags on a bench that was near the entrance. He turned around to leave but someone blocked him in his paths.

He recognised black hair and scars before realising it was Touya 'Dabi' Todoroki, behind him Himiko Toga.

"Get out my way dumbass, shop's closed" he growled as he pushed him outside.

"Woah woah woah, is that any way to treat a customer?" Dabi laughed.  "Come one Katsuki, why're you so cold?"

"Like I said..." Katsuki closed the door of the shop. "Shop. Is. Closed."

He walked away, walking towards the library. Of course, he knew that bastard would wait for him outside of the library, or even enter behind him but that was less likely since...

Katsuki entered the library doors and was greeted with a small 'hello' from a white and red haired boy who was busy writing something on parchment paper.

"Oi half and half, do you have anything interesting I could read" Katsuki called out. 

Shoto Todoroki looked up from what he was doing. "Yes, there's still a few novels you haven't read yet."

He got out from behind the counter and walked over to one of the shelves. He didn't need to reach far as it wasn't that high, and pulled out A Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare.

"You haven't read that one yet" Shoto said. "Some people say it's better than Romeo and Juliette."

Katsuki observed the book for a moment, tracing its outlines. "What would you say about it?"

Shoto shrugged. "I just started it too. But so far I find it quite interesting, especially something you would like, romantic and tragic."

Katsuki eyes the bi haired boy. "Tch, I'll take it." Shoto walked over to the counter. "To buy or to borrow?"

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "Buy, obviously. You should know this by now" the ash blonde looked around. "And where's Hagakure?"

"Day off, she won't be coming" Shoto informed. "2 gold coins please."

Katsuki handed him the money, and left the library.

Dabi was waiting for him outside as expected. "How's my little brother?" He asked as he swung an arm around Katsuki's shoulder. 

Katsuki shrugged him off. "Go in there and ask him yourself."

Dabi laughed, shaking his head. "You know very well he hates my guts, why would I go in there?"

"It's more like you hate his guts Dabi" Toga pointed out from beside them.

The scared boy turned to look at Toga. "You're not wrong, actually. Not wrong at all".

Katsuki used this moment of distraction to walk away quickly. He was just down the narrow steps before he felt a hand pull on his collar.

"Escaping already? That's no fun" Dabi whined. "Come one, Bakugo. Just a few minutes."

"Get lost" the ash blonde snarled. "Why are you so obsessed with me anyways?"

Dabi let go of him. "I don't know. You kind of remind me of someone I used to like..." he trailed off. Who did he remind him of again? He couldn't remember...

"I'm not into boys" Katsuki growled. "Go find yourself someone who has the same liking."

He stormed off, walked into his house and slammed the door shut. "What in the world was that for?" Masaru questioned, utterly confused. The brown haired man's glasses rested on the bridge of his nose as he drew sketches of new clothes he imagined—yeah, Katsuki's parents were designers.

"Dabi was pestering me" he answered with a shrug. 

"Oh, the scums?" Masaru stopped looking at his son and continued what he was doing. "Try to stay away from those guys."

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "Knew that already."

He walked up the stairs and opened his room door to find his mother rummaging through his library.

"What the heck?!" He exclaimed. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM."

"DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME" Mitsuki yelled back. "I was searching for a novel that might be interesting to read while in the road."

Katsuki's anger calmed down when he realised what his mother had said. "What do you mean 'for the road'?" he questioned.

Mitsuki sighed, hands on hips. "We told you ten times already but of course you didn't care. There's a fare in the north, and we're going to make a little more money."

There was a small silence as neither had something to say for once. "Can you bring back something for me?" Katsuki finally asked.

Mitsuki smiled as she kissed his forehead. "Sure, I'll bring back marigolds."

Katsuki wiped his forehead. "Thanks mom."

Before leaving, his mother took out a random book from the shelf. "This'll do" she shrugged as she walked off.

Katsuki immediately checked his library to see what book she had taken, and was relieved to find that it was only Romeo and Juliette.

Having nothing else to do, Katsuki layed on his bed and started reading A Winter's Tale. It was absolute shit. 

How could someone abandon their child like that? He thought the king was disgusting.

Halfway through the book, he heard his father call him. "Katsuki! We're leaving!"

Groaning, the ash blonde groaned as he got out of bed and went down the stairs. 

At the entrance he saw his mother and father on the wagon behind the horse.

He advanced towards them. "Don't die" he warned. "You're the least boring people here."

Mitsuki rolled her eyes. "It's only 5 PM. And we love you too."

"Don't destroy my book" Katsuki added as his father whipped the harness of the horse, telling him to start walking. 

Katsuki watched his family go and finally, when they were past the gates he went back to his room.

It was getting late so he decided to make soup for dinner. He took out a pot and placed it on the stove, poured in some water and while waiting for it to boil got out three potatoes, two carrots and started washing them before peeling, chopping and throwing the ingredients in the pot.

He waited for a while before making a taste test. It tasted fine but it needed salt and pepper—obviously.

He poured water into the fire, turning it off.

Katsuki took the pot off the stove and placed it on the table. He served himself some soup in a bowl and sat down, eating in silence.

He felt like something was off. Like something wasn't going right... or that something was going to happen.

~Mitsuki and Masaru~

Something wasn't right. The atmosphere felt odd.

It had started to rain all of a sudden and Masaru and Mitsuki had to put on their caps. "Don't you think something's off?" she asked her husband.

He cocked his brow. "Off? No. What is there?"

Mitsuki shook her head. "Nothing, never mind."

They continued down the road but all of a sudden a tree got struck by lightning, crashing in the path they were supposed to take. "Shit" Mitsuki cursed. "We need to move the tree." 

"But it's still on fire" Masaru pointed out. "We should wait for it to stop and then cool down before moving it." "Won't it be hard to move it by two?" Mitsuki asked. "Isn't there another way?" 

The blonde woman looked around before spotting another path. 

"Or let's just take this one." She pointed to one which was on the right, hidden by plants and shadows. "Are you sure it's fine? It doesn't look very safe..." Masaru hesitated. "Does it even lead to our destination?"

Mitsuki shrugged. "It's either that or we get drenched in rain." She checked her watch in her hand. "Plus it's nearly 7 PM, we need to find someplace to sleep."

Masaru sighed. "Ok."

He changed direction, heading for the path on the right. 

All seemed fine at first, but as they continued their way, it seemed to get colder and soon, it started to snow. 

"What the..." Masaru let out, awestruck.

"It's winter..?" Mitsuki exclaimed, unbelieved. "How-" she didn't have time to finish as they heard a howl and saw silhouettes of what seemed like wolves.

Masaru urged the horse on, as more wolves seemed to chase them. One jumped at them but Mitski hit it in the jaw with her foot, making it yelp in pain as it stopped it's chase.

The other wolves continued pursuing them, clawing and snapping their jaws at the couple.

In the distance, Masaru saw a palace not far away. "Mitsuki!" he called over the rumbling of thunder and howls of wolves. "There's a palace, if we get there in time we might be safe from danger!"

"Just go!" she yelled back.

The closer they got to the palace, the less wolves were chasing them. When they finally arrived infront of the gate, —which was open— Mitsuki got off. "You tie the horse, I'll go see if someone's inside" she said as she walked towards the palace.

It was huge; the outside was dark and unwelcoming, especially with the sort of griffin and lion statues that were looming over the two huge doors.

Once she entered, Mitsuki removed her coat, hanging it on a coat hanger nearby. She then spotted in the room she was in that there was a fire crackling. She walked towards it in a hurry, warming herself up. "Nice lounge..." she muttered to herself.

"Do you think she's the one?"

The sudden whisper surprised Mitsuki as she looked around, wondering if she had imagined it. Not hearing any noise anymore, she turned back to the fire.

"She looks a bit older than the prince" a new voice answered.

"But does that really matter?" the first voice answered. "She's very beautiful."

"That is not-"

"Who's there?" Mitsuki questioned. The voices immediately stopped. "I said, who's there?" She repeated, but there was still no answer. 

The door to the entrance opened, startling the blonde woman but it was only Masaru. He also hung his coat before walking towards the fireplace.

"Is there anyone here?" he asked. 

Mitsuki shook her head. "So far I've seen no one." She added, leaning closer in a whisper; "I've only heard voices."

Masaru frowned. "Voices? Mitsuki, are you sure it's not due to the fact that we were chased by wolves?"

"What is that supposed to do with the wolves?" she said, making a face. "They were having a whole conversation about me. And about some prince..."

Masaru took his wife in his arms. "Let's forget it now, what matters is that we need shelter, heat, and nourishment."

Mitsuki nodded in agreement but that was when she heard them again, the voices.

"She's taken? Oh well. Tell Rikido and the rest to start preparing food" the first voice said.

"You do it yourself, I'm the prince's butler not yours" the second voice retorted.

Mitsuki widened her eyes at Masaru, with a look that said; 'see? I'm not crazy.'

The lady got out of her husband's arms and sat on a footrest nearby, too tired to get up and sit on the armchair.

"Mhhmm yes, you feel so nice on me~."

Mitsuki got up in horror as she felt the footrest she was sitting on talk. She looked down to find the object moving. By itself.

She yelled in horror and Masaru quickly grabbed her by her side, running to grab their coats.

"I guess you can cancel the dinner then" the first voice sighed.

Mitsuki and Masaru quickly put their coats on and ran outside towards the horse and chariot. As they exited the doors of the palace, Mitsuki saw a garden and spotted a few marigolds.

Her mind instantly went to her son. "Masaru" she said, halting to a stop. "Give up the wagon, we'll go back with only a horse and a marigold."

She jogged towards the garden and Masaru did as he was told, getting the horse ready as quickly as properly.

Mitsuki walked through the garden, in search of the marigolds she had seen earlier. This part of the castle was better entertained than what she had seen so far.

She finally saw a beautiful marigold and walked towards it. "Wow, you're a pretty one" she whispered to the flower. "I know Katsuki will love you."

"Mitsuki!" Masaru called. "Are you done?"

"Almost!" She answered. As she was about to pick the flower, she felt a mighty presence but shrugged it off, it was probably due to the way the palace looked so hostile.

Mitsuki picked the flower, and immediately after she felt something heavy fall on her as she let out a scream. "Ah! Masaru!"

She didn't let go of the flower as she screamed again. "Go! Go don't wait for me! Leave me!"

"Mitsuki-" Masaru called out.

The ash blonde woman started to feel the thing on top of her get even heavier, slowly suffocating her. 

"GO" she yelled with all the force she could muster before passing out, clutching the marigold in her hand.