Chapter 5: Premature contact
Hey guys, this chapter was supposed to be out two days ago, but unfortunately... my laptop broke at the worst possible time. Because of that, I'm releasing this chapter from my phone, which has been a really terrible writing experience.
If there are more grammar errors than usual or continuity issues, please bear with me. If necessary, I'll re-release the chapter with the proper corrections.
***
In the analysis room, the teachers were gathered, observing the results of the practical exam. All eyes were focused on the impressive score of the first-place candidate, Katsuki Bakugo, who had racked up 117 villain points and 60 rescue points, totaling 177 points.
"It's been a while since we've seen a genius like this."
"Indeed. To think he managed to surpass Endeavor's record..."
On the screen, multiple images of Bakugo during the exam were displayed. Without the distraction of monitoring multiple candidates at once, the teachers could now analyze every detail of his movements. Each explosion he created seemed stronger than the last, and his efficiency and combat strategy were simply impeccable.
"It's rare to see someone with such a perfect balance between raw power and decision-making."
"Did you see how he destroyed the zero-pointer?" another added, gesturing toward the footage of Bakugo obliterating the giant robot. "I believe Katsuki Bakugo was holding back during the exam."
"I agree. His combat skills are already on a professional level," a third teacher remarked.
At the back of the room, a man with long, dark hair and tired eyes silently watched the footage of Bakugo rescuing Uraraka. 'Problematic...'
"Hey, we can't forget about third place," one of the teachers interrupted, momentarily shifting the focus from Bakugo to Izuku Midoriya, who had scored 9 villain points and 70 rescue points.
"The kid who broke his arm?"
"Yeah. He spent most of the exam helping others, prioritizing rescue over combat. And when he finally used his quirk… he ended up severely injuring himself."
"Hmm... it's as if his quirk isn't suited for his body."
'...Even more problematic.'
***
"I can't believe we have two students from our school enrolled at U.A.!" The principal of Aldera Junior High School exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he looked at Bakugo and Izuku with pride. "This is a historic milestone for our institution!"
He then turned to Izuku, who was visibly nervous, shifting in place and avoiding direct eye contact. "It's truly an incredible achievement that you made it, Midoriya. Congratulations!"
"Th-thank you," Izuku replied, trying to stand firm.
"And you, Bakugo," the principal turned to him, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "We always knew you would go far, but breaking Endeavor's record? That's extraordinary! The whole country is watching you now."
"Tsk."
The principal, either ignoring or not noticing Bakugo's lack of interest, continued, now with a tone that was almost pleading: "We hope you won't forget to mention our school when talking to the media, right? And who knows, maybe you could make a special appearance here in the future?"
"Go fuck yourself."
Izuku's mouth dropped open, shocked by Bakugo's blunt and vulgar response. He quickly glanced at the principal, who was visibly stunned, unsure of how to react to his student's brutal reply.
***
"K-Kacchan, I-I don't think talking to the principal like that was right," Izuku said, trying to keep up with Bakugo's fast pace as they left the school.
"And did I ask what you think?" Bakugo shot back without looking over his shoulder.
"N-no," Izuku murmured, staring at the ground.
After a few minutes of silence, Bakugo abruptly stopped and turned to face Izuku, his expression filled with frustration. "How long are you gonna keep following me?!"
"S-sorry, Kacchan!" Izuku quickly said. "I just wanted to thank you. If it weren't for your tip… I wouldn't have passed."
Bakugo remained silent for a moment, but his expression darkened even further. 'This… is bad', he thought, clenching his fists.
The exam was supposed to be Izuku's first real victory with One For All, a crucial moment in his journey to becoming a hero. The moment he would use his power for the first time and enter U.A. through his own merit, his own courage, and his sacrifice to help others.
But instead of building the confidence he would need in the future, Bakugo saw Izuku giving all the credit for his success to him. 'Shit, this isn't how it's supposed to be!' A knot formed in his stomach, frustration growing at himself for letting things reach this point.
Thinking fast, Bakugo stepped forward and grabbed Izuku by the collar, yanking him close with force. "Listen here, you damn nerd. I didn't help you. I just wanted to use that brain of yours, the only thing worthwhile about you, to clear things up for me. You don't owe me shit, got it?"
With a rough shove, he pushed Izuku backward, sending him crashing to the ground with a dull thud. "I don't know how a Quirkless extra managed to get into U.A. I don't even care. Just don't put your little trial on my tab."
Izuku sat on the ground, listening to Bakugo's words. "K-Kacchan…" he muttered weakly. 'That's a lie. I know you're just too proud to admit you helped me.'
Taking a deep breath, Izuku stood up, swallowing his fear. "Kacchan, I followed you because I wanted to thank you."
"Hã?!"
"BUT MORE THAN THAT!" Izuku shouted, his fists clenched and tears streaming down his face. "I wanted to tell you that someone believed in me and said I could become a hero! That's why… that's why…" He inhaled deeply, his voice growing even louder. "One day, I'm going to prove to you that I can be a hero! Not because you or anyone else helped me, but because I'll become strong enough to reach that dream on my own—JUST LIKE YOU!"
Bakugo stood still, staring at Izuku with an expression caught between surprise and irritation. 'Tsk, making me worry over nothing.'
Without a word, he turned around and started walking away, leaving the green-haired boy behind.
***
Across Japan, the name of the boy who broke the current No. 2 Hero's record in U.A.'s entrance exam echoed through digital media and newspapers. Katsuki Bakugo was no longer just a student with a powerful Quirk—he was someone who, even before donning the uniform of the country's most prestigious hero academy, had already captured national attention.
"Who is Katsuki Bakugo? The Prodigy of the New Generation" was the headline plastered across the front pages of newspapers and websites. Some even revisited the sludge villain incident, where Bakugo was rescued by All Might, to craft a narrative of a boy born destined for greatness.
***
While the public and the media debated about him, Bakugo sat in his room, focused on sketching his hero costume to submit to U.A.
'Should I keep this? Hmm… no.'
He was essentially designing his winter uniform, maximizing his sweat production. Bakugo decided to forgo his Grenadier Bracers. They'll just get in the way of my agility and reduce the strain on my arms, which will only slow down the strengthening of my body.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
"KATSUKI!"
Mitsuki Bakugo stormed in like a hurricane, causing Bakugo to flinch and drag his pencil across the paper, leaving a massive scribble in the middle of his design.
"Shit! No! I've been working on this for 50 minutes!"
"Your fame is already testing my patience! Just today, THREE news stations stopped me on the street asking for interviews with you. YOU, brat!" Mitsuki continued, completely ignoring her son's outburst.
"Patience?!..." he repeated slowly. "I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD SUCH A THING!"
"I'M A VERY CALM AND RATIONAL WOMAN!" she yelled, jabbing a finger in his face. "I should start charging a fee for being your mother! Do you think it's easy dealing with the stupid questions they ask me? 'What was it like raising him?' 'Did you always know he'd be a prodigy?' Oh, if only they knew..."
"Knew what?!" Bakugo crossed his arms in defiance.
"That you were a crybaby brat who blew up anything when you didn't get your way!"
"I WAS A KID!"
"YOU STILL ARE!"
The argument would've probably gone on forever if Masaru hadn't appeared at the door, looking alarmed. "Is everything okay in here?"
"WE'RE GREAT!" they both shouted in unison.
"R-right… because there's a woman downstairs. S-she says she's a reporter," Masaru said, glancing nervously between them.
Mitsuki, already visibly annoyed with the entire situation, just clicked her tongue in frustration and turned to Bakugo, grabbing him by the back of the neck with enough force to lift him from his chair. "You deal with it," she said, shoving him toward the door.
"Fine, just let go of me!"
Mitsuki released him with a light push. "And don't blow anything up, brat."
Bakugo straightened up, adjusted his collar, and headed downstairs. When he reached the living room, he saw a woman with long, light-purple hair parted to the right, full lips, and light-blue skin.
She was dressed formally and had a gentle smile on her face, which widened upon seeing him. "Bakugo Katsuki, correct?" The woman walked up to him and extended her hand. "I'm Kizuki Chitose, executive director of Shoowaysha Publishing. I'd like to have a few words with you."
Bakugo stared at her hand for a few seconds before accepting the handshake with a firm grip. "Fine by me."
Chitose smiled, clearly pleased. "I promise I won't take up too much of your time."
As soon as they separated, Bakugo felt a strange warmth rise through his fingers, only for it to dissipate as it passed through his sweat glands. What did that woman just try to do?
Chitose lost her smile for a brief moment but quickly regained her composure. "Shall we sit?" she suggested, motioning toward the living room.
Bakugo didn't respond, silently walking to an armchair, watching her every move with sharp eyes. He sat down, crossing his arms, while Chitose settled onto the sofa in front of him.
"I'll just turn on the recorder, and we can begin," she announced, placing a small device on the coffee table and pressing a button. A red light blinked, signaling that it was recording.
"Now," she began, "first of all, I'd like to congratulate you on breaking Endeavor's record in U.A.'s entrance exam. It's an incredible achievement, especially considering that he was already exceptional at that time."
Bakugo leaned slightly forward, closing his eyes for a second. 'Looks like it's finally time to use our training, old man.'
When he opened them again, the familiar sharp glint in his red eyes was gone.
"Thank you very much. I'm truly honored to have reached such a milestone," he replied smoothly, his voice eloquent and his smile gentle.
"I'm glad to hear that, Bakugo-kun. It's always inspiring to see young talents acknowledging the importance of their achievements. But tell me, what does this mean to you personally? Do you feel any pressure, being the hottest topic in the country right now?"
Bakugo maintained his smile as he responded. "Surpassing Endeavor is, without a doubt, something that carries a lot of weight. He's a phenomenal hero and a model of hard work and perseverance. For me, this is just the beginning—one step in a long journey to becoming the number one hero."
Chitose leaned forward slightly, intrigued by his words. "Number one hero? Those are some big words, Bakugo-kun."
Bakugo kept his confident posture, his gaze unwavering. "Big words for those who don't have the guts to back them up. For me, it's just a goal."
"So you believe you're already on the right path to that goal so early on? Even with experienced heroes like Endeavor, Hawks, and All Might himself setting such high standards?"
"All Might is the only one that matters on that list. He defined what it means to be number one, and that's what I want to surpass. It's not about disrespecting the others, but about aiming for the true top. Hawks and Endeavor are great, but they're still in the shadow of first place. I won't be."
"Ambitious and determined. Those qualities can take you far, but they can also create enemies along the way. Are you prepared to deal with that?"
"I'm not gonna waste time trying to please everyone. Heroes exist to protect, not to make friends."
The reporter let out a quiet chuckle. "You certainly don't mince words, do you? And since we're on the topic, tell me, Bakugo-kun—what does being a hero mean to you?"
Bakugo remained silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Being a hero means being in the right place at the right time, ready to do what no one else can. It means carrying the weight of protecting people whose names you don't even know and facing what everyone else is afraid of. It's not about fame or recognition. It's about being the strongest, the most reliable… and the first to show up when everything falls apart."
Chitose pressed her lips together. "That's a very pragmatic view—almost cold, I'd say. And yet, very honest." Bringing her hand to the recorder, she stopped the recording. "I think that's enough for today. I'd love to ask more questions, but unfortunately, my time is limited."
"No problem. I really enjoyed the interview," Bakugo replied, keeping his tone polite and controlled. He stood up from the armchair naturally and gestured toward the door. "I'll walk you out."
Chitose raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised by the gesture. "Oh? Quite the gentleman, Bakugo-kun." She stood up, adjusting her blazer, and followed him to the entrance of the house.
As they walked, Chitose's voice took on a sharper, less gentle tone. "I have to admit, I did some research on you before coming for this interview. I must say, I expected something different."
Bakugo glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Like what?"
"Well, for someone with a reputation for being explosive, aggressive, and, let's say, not very diplomatic… you were surprisingly composed."
He scoffed. "If you thought I was gonna scream and throw sparks in your face, sorry to disappoint. I'm not that simple."
"Not at all," Chitose replied. "You showed an interesting side today, something most people wouldn't expect."
Bakugo shrugged, opening the front door for her. "People think whatever they want."
"Thank you for the interview, Bakugo-kun." She stopped at the doorway, turning slightly to face him. "Before I leave, I'd like to ask you a personal question."
Bakugo raised an eyebrow, not expecting her to have anything else to say. "Go ahead."
"Your answer about what it means to be a hero," Chitose resumed. "Some might argue that being a hero isn't just about being the strongest or the most reliable. It's about freeing people from dependency. Inspiring them to solve their own problems, to not need others to protect them."
Bakugo frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
Chitose smirked slightly, as if she had anticipated the question. "You see, Bakugo-kun, you have ambition and focus, which are admirable. But imagine a world where everyone shares that same determination. Where every person is capable of standing up, fighting for themselves, and not needing heroes to protect them. Wouldn't that be a stronger, more united society?"
He remained silent, processing her words. Before he could respond, Chitose continued, cutting off any thoughts he might have voiced. "You don't have to give me an answer now. Think about it until our next meeting."
With an enigmatic smile, she turned around, walking calmly toward the gate. As she neared the exit, she cast one last glance over her shoulder. "I'm sure your path will be as unpredictable as you are, Bakugo-kun. Good luck at U.A."
Without waiting for a reaction, she walked away, the sound of her heels tapping against the ground fading into the distance.
Bakugo remained standing in place, staring after her. After a few minutes, a grave expression took over his face as his brain connected the dots.
'Shit… she's part of the Meta Liberation Army!'
***
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fictional.