Chapter Text
The air crackled with tension as Katsuki stared into the distance, the weight of his past pressing on his shoulders. He watched me, the daughter of All For One, caught between two worlds—one of friendship and shadows. My brother, Tomura, was free, and whispers of a darker threat lingered.
“Why don’t you just come clean?” Katsuki snapped, his frustration bubbling. He ran a hand through his spiky hair, the red of his eyes softening as they met mine. “You’re not him. You’re not like your father or your brother."
Those words soothed me, but guilt was still gnawing at my insides.
"They’ll never see it that way," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.
"Then we’ll make them see it. We’ll train harder, fight harder. No matter what comes, we’re in this together."
His resolve wrapped around me like a warm blanket, pushing the shadows back, if only for a moment.
With a determined nod, I stepped closer to him, feeling the pulse of shared purpose radiate between us. “There’s still so much at stake, Katsuki. I can’t let my family’s legacy dictate who I am.”
His expression hardened again, the flames of his spirit reigniting. “Then let’s build our own legacy. We’ll show them we’re not scared.”
As I looked into his fierce eyes, a flicker of hope ignited within me, yet the darker thoughts whispered beneath. What if Tomura’s imminent return shattered everything? What if the world couldn’t accept a heroine born of villainy?
Katsuki’s hand reached for mine, grounding me. “Whatever happens, I’ve got your back. Just trust me.”
I took a shaky breath, my heart racing at the prospect of facing my brother. “But what if he’s not the same? What if he’s worse?” I asked, the fear creeping back in.
Katsuki held my gaze, unwavering. “We’ll prepare for anything. You’re not alone in this.” His conviction lit a fire inside me.
Just as I was about to respond, a distant explosion echoed in the skyline. Our heads snapped toward the sound, a reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond the horizon. The media had already stirred panic; we couldn’t afford any more chaos.
I squeezed Katsuki’s hand tighter, hoping it was enough to tether my spiraling thoughts. “We need to find a way to keep the school safe.”
Katsuki nodded, his expression turning serious. "You’re right. We can’t let that monster ruin what we’ve built here." He pulled out his phone, quickly typing a message to the others.
"I’ll get our classmates together. If there’s an attack, we’ll be ready to fight back. We’re a team, whatever happens,” he said, determination igniting in his eyes.
The thought of bringing everyone together warmed my heart. The chaos around us felt distant, even with the earlier explosion still ringing in my ears. “And what about the media?” I questioned, my voice betraying some unease.
Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Let them talk. We’ll show them who we really are. They can’t break us.”
Guilt continued to boil beneath the surface of our conversation. The media, with their sharp tongues, would never stop coming for me. I could already imagine the headlines. My breath caught in my throat as I contemplated my family's legacy. “Maybe I could give an interview,” I suggested, trying to sound brave.
Katsuki’s brow furrowed. “Are you nuts? You’re putting yourself at risk. Do you really want them tearing you apart?”
“It might help!” I retorted, feeling frustration bubble. “It’ll help people understand I’m not like them.” The looming threat of Tomura’s return buzzed ominously around us, and I knew if he resurfaced, I’d be painted with the same brush. I didn’t want to face him alone. “I just want to prove I’m better.”
Katsuki’s eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped to a serious tone. "You don’t need their approval to prove you’re better. You’ve already done that just by surviving. You are not your father or your brother, stop trying to be their shadow."
I wanted to argue, but deep down I knew he was right. I had always lived in the wake of their darkness. “What if the interview backfires? What if they twist my words?”
Katsuki stepped closer, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Then we’ll fix it. Like I said, we face everything together. Their judgment means nothing. You’ve got our back, and we’ve got yours.”
His conviction pushed away my doubts, if only for a moment, but the thoughts of Tomura loomed larger than ever, a dark shadow creeping closer. “We should focus on training, too. We need to be prepared for whatever he’s planning.”
I downcast my eyes for a moment "he's still my brother, he hesitated in that war to even hurt me katsuki, I owe it to him to give him a chance, hear him out...but..."
I clenched my fists, the weight of his reminder pressing heavily on my conscience. "I haven’t seen him properly in years, not including the war; what if he approaches me with the intent to hurt? I won’t be able to handle that right now."
Katsuki stepped back, a spark of understanding crossing his face. "Then we’ll learn what we need together. No one faces their fears alone, especially not against a brother," he reassured, his eyes blazing with that familiar intensity that inspired me to fight back.
“You’re right,” I relented, knowing this was about more than just physical strength. “I need to understand him, too. But how do I shut off this anger? He chose to follow our father. It’s like he’s inescapable.”
Katsuki took a deep breath, scrutinizing me. “It’s part of you, but it doesn’t define you. You’ve got to get past the anger. Focus on who you want to be—someone strong, not just another villain's heir.”
His words lingered, settling over me like a protective shield. As we began to formulate a plan, the weight of the world seemed a little lighter, if only for now.
Katsuki clenched his fists, the fire in his eyes reigniting. “Alright, we’ll train every day after class. We’ll prepare physically and mentally for whatever he throws at us. You’ll face him head-on, and I’ll be right beside you.” His determination was contagious, and a small part of me felt that maybe, just maybe, I could confront Tomura without losing myself.
“But we also need to talk to Aizawa. He’ll know the best strategies for this kind of situation,” I suggested, feeling a newfound resolve. Katsuki nodded, determination radiating off him, as we began mapping out our plan, propelled by a determination to reshape our destinies.
The air buzzed with a blend of anxiety and excitement as we approached Aizawa’s office. The walls, once a source of comfort, now felt constricting under the pressure of our mission. I knocked hesitantly, my heart thumping in my chest.
Aizawa’s tired eyes met ours as he opened the door. “What’s going on?” he asked, sensing the gravity of the moment without us having to say a word. I exchanged a glance with Katsuki, both understanding that this meeting was crucial to forging our path forward.
Katsuki took a step forward, his voice steady. “We need your guidance. With Tomura out there, we want to prepare ourselves for anything.”
Aizawa studied us for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Training alone won’t be enough. You’ll need a strategy—something they can’t undermine. We need to anticipate his moves. Keep your friends close. This isn’t just a physical battle, it’s psychological too."
His words settled heavily in the room, reminding me of the stakes at hand. I knew in my heart that our preparation was only beginning, but I also felt a thread of dread weaving through my resolve.
“I think I need to go through with the interview,” I announced, my determination rising despite Katsuki’s and Aizawa's furrowed brows. “I can’t keep hiding in the shadows. I have to own my story.”
Katsuki sighed deeply, crossing his arms. “You’re seriously gonna do this? You know what the media’s like—they’ll twist your words no matter what.”
"Bakugou is right, Y/N if you want to do this..not all public opinion will be on your side." Aizawa adds sincerely and with a hint of worry.
“I need to face that fire if I'm ever going to rise above it. I want people to see me as I am, not as who I was born from,” I insisted, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and resolve.
“Just promise me you'll be careful. I won’t always be around to pull you from the flames,” Katsuki relented, worry etched in his features as he regarded me.
“I promise,” I assured him, though uncertainty gnawed at my insides.
The next day, I stood in front of the camera, the bright lights blinding but the resolve within me shining brighter. I needed to face the world, to embrace my truth.
The interviewer smiled, but I could see the curiosity behind their gaze. “So, tell us, what is it like being the daughter of All For One?”
I inhaled deeply, ready to redefine my narrative, but the specter of my family’s legacy loomed large, threatening to swallow me whole.
Words hung in the air as I steadied myself. “I’m here to talk about my journey, not my lineage. I want to show everyone that I am not my father's daughter; I am my own person.”
The interviewer nodded, skepticism flickering in their eyes, as if they were waiting for the moment I faltered. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from behind the studio. Panic surged through me, and the lights blurred together as they swung toward the sound. Was it my brother? Had he come for me? Fear engulfed every thought.