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Having a destructive quirk like Bakugou is very difficult. Because it is just that, destructive. Ever since his quirk came in, he has to constantly replace his stuff. Shoes, clothes, school supply, bedding, toys. Honestly, Bakugou is used to it at this point. It's the replacing part that has become more and more difficult over the years.
It started off small. He would accidentally blow up one of his toys but his parents would refuse to replace it.
“Honestly, Katsuki. You need to learn to be more careful with your quirk! You are getting too old for toys anyway.” They would say.
Bakugou would be upset of course, but learned that that is just the way it is. Eventually, he had no toys left. Then it became his school supplies.
“Katsuki! I just bought you school supplies! It's not my fault you damaged them. You will just have to make do with what you have until next year or ask a classmate to borrow theirs. But if you break theirs, it's coming out of your allowance.”
Slowly, it became more and more things that would not be fixed or replaced. Bakugou learned to save money at a young age and to just spend it on necessities. No one at school really wanted to lend any of their own belongings to him anyways. Once he got into middle school though, his parents started to lower his allowance money.
“It's not my fault you spend it on useless things. This might teach you to save better.”
They never would listen when he said that he tried saving but he needed to buy a toothbrush. He should just be grateful that they feed him. After blowing up his last pair of shoes, he found the amazing thing that is the school lost and found. Sure, most of it never fit, but they never ask for proof that any of it is his. It became his source of clothing and school supplies. But even that wasn’t enough. He needed new bed sheets and a bath towel. He needed to give in and do the thing he was hoping to avoid.
Get a job.
Because he is underage and in his first year of middle school, many places won’t hire him. He was able to find a small grocery store that would hire him for less than the usual rate under the table for night shift as a stocker. He would be an idiot to turn that away. Once he got his first paycheck, he immediately bought some fire proof gloves. He needed to stop his issue. He originally thought he would be able to train enough to stop the accidental explosions but his emotions were too out of control and in control of his quirk.
He can’t afford to be cocky about it anymore.
He mostly used gloves when he was working. There was no way that he would risk it by damaging any of the merchandise. His boss, the other workers, and most of the customers leave him alone. It was better this way. Less likely that he would lose control with less people around.
As time goes on, Bakugou gets used to the work at the store. He gets into the routine of school and work. School at 8am, get home at 4 pm and nap, go to work 11pm, get home at 5:30am and do homework till school starts. Rinse and repeat. Sure, he is sleep deprived all the time but it was really nice having warm clothes for the winter time.
A few years pass. He gets into class 1A in the UA hero’s course. Things become even harder than ever. Now with trying to hide his secret job from his school, he is exhausted everyday from the training that he slacks at his job. They haven’t noticed yet but once they do, they will fire him for sure.
Recently, an old skinny man has been coming around the store. He must be a perv because he keeps staring at Bakugou. He has even tried to come up and talk to him but he never gets any farther than some small talk. Weirdo.
But it is what it is. He is just grateful that the school hasn’t found out yet. They would most definitely make him choose between them too. He doesn’t know what he will do if it comes to that.
—
Bakugou got angry at Deku in class again today. He was mumbling again and it was annoying him. So he told him off. Only he accidentally threw out some sparks and it burned through his pants.
Lucky it was just the legs but it was enough for it to violate the dress code and Aizawa had to send him to the bathroom to change into his gym pants. Which he also accidentally destroyed because he was mad that he let Deku get to him like that.
A quick trip to the lost and found later, but all he could find was a skirt. Well, he guesses it doesn't technically violate the dress code. He took them. It was a bit cold, but he thought he looked really good.
After more digging, he even managed to find a pair of leggings to go along with it too. Hopefully this will be enough to keep him warm. He will have to keep an eye out at the lost and found for the next few weeks for pants. For now, he will have to make do with the skirt.
His classmates were a bit shocked when he came back into the room. Bakugou in a skirt? Sure they have seen weirder things but still.
—
It’s not too bad, most of the time. While he doesn’t have a lot of material items that last long, at least he has a warm house with a roof over his head and food on the table. Most of the time anyways. He may not have a lot of money but his parents do. It's just that they will spend a lot of time working and on business trips than at home with their son. So, sometimes the cabinets will go bare. Or the heat/water/electricity will be turned off. Bakugou has learned to live.
He has a small supply of emergency food and water stored in his room when funds run too low. He takes the utmost care not to ruin any of that. But he does have a bit of an income that he can spend towards that. Unfortunately not much saving as of yet.
This week, his parents are on a trip to Paris. They love that city so much. Bakugou wonders why they don’t just move there at this point. It's not like they are ever home anymore anyways. It just means he has the house to himself for a while. Except his key won't turn in the lock. It's been a cold few days, the lock has gotten a bit frozen up. Bakugou runs warm so he puts his hands on the key and the lock trying to unfreeze it. He slowly brings up the temperature in his hand.
A dog next door barks, startling Bakugou, making him lose focus.
Boom!
Crap. That was his last spare house key. How is he supposed to get inside now? He can’t afford a locksmith or a new key. It was only getting colder by the minute. Bakugou weighed his options.
Go to a friend, neighbor, or teacher and ask them to help him out.
Definitely not happening.
Find a public space to hang out until they kick him out or his shift starts at work
Embarrassing but doable.
Go to work early and hang out in the break area till his shift.
That might be his best bet. So that's what he did. He had to sneak around a bit more since people are starting to recognize him more as a UA hero student. He didn’t want anyone to report him for having a job. He made it to the back of his work building before he was recognized. Thankfully from his work and not UA.
“Ah, young man! What are you doing here so early? I don’t normally see you until the evenings.” Said the old man.
“Yeah, yeah. Got locked out of the house so I needed somewhere to stay till I could get the door open.” Bakugou may have thought the man was weird but he saw no need to lie to him. Shit happens.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry to hear that. Do you know how long it will take to get it open?”
“Naw, probably a few days if not a few weeks. I’ll have to see how much I can save up to get a locksmith. I can’t afford to break the door again.”
The old man’s frown just got deeper, “ then if you don’t? Where do you plan on staying until then? It's only supposed to get colder.”
Bakugou sighed, “I-I don’t know yet. I might see if there is a space open at the homeless shelter. Or I’ll just sleep in the back. Or at school somewhere.”
The man just hummed, “You know, I have a spare bedroom if you want to stay in there for now.”
Bakugou scuffed, “Really? I know better than to go home with strangers.”
The man looked embarrassed, “ Err, right. Well my name is Toshinori Yagi. I currently work at UA as a… teacher.”
Shit. Shit.
He works at UA. There is no way he doesn’t know who Bakugou is. He is just going to report to him now.
Bakugou isn’t one to beg but desperate times call for desperate measures. “Please, please, please, don’t say anything. UA is my dream, being a hero is my dream and I can’t get kicked out for my job! But I need this job! It's my only source of income! I-I… I can’t-” Bakugou was starting to hyperventilate and cry. He can’t lose his future just like that. He just can’t!
“Calm down, son! I’m not going to say anything.” The old man, Toshinori, tried to calm him down. “I have seen you here for months and I haven’t said anything yet, why would today be any different.”
Bakugou was starting to calm down from his hysteria. “Promise?” He felt like a kid for asking that but he needed to hear it.
“Promise.” Toshinori reassured him.
Bakugou just sniffed and wiped his eyes, embarrassed of his reaction.
“I'm sorry that me telling you where I work brought you so much distress. I only meant for it to reassure you that you have nothing to be fearful about staying in my house for a while. Forgive me for that oversight.” Toshinori bowed his head a little in remorse.
Bakugou sighed, the last bits of panic not completely faded yet. “Yeah, yeah. It’s whatever…” He sighed again, tempted with the offer. The man already knows of his predicament. It’s not like he can ruin any more of his reputation with him. Plus it's only for a few days. Maybe he would be able to save up some more with a roof over his head. And if he tries anything weird, he will just blast him.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah, Okay. I'll take you up on the room offer”
—
“So this is it! I know it's not much but if you need anything, just let me know and I'll see what I can do. Money isn’t too much of an issue with me.”
Bakugou took a few minutes to look around the spare room. There wasn’t much. A full size bed, a dresser, nightstand, some small decorations here and there. But it was more than what he has had in a while. He felt a small tear come to his eye.
“If I-... My quirk can be a bit destructive. So I’m sorry in advance if I break anything. I will pay you back for you kindness as soon as I have enough money-”
“That won’t be necessary, young man.” Toshinori interrupted. “I know all about destructive quirks and you have nothing to worry about. The bedding is already fireproof and I can get you any sort of thing that will help you with that. Plus, you are my guest. There is no need to pay me back for anything.”
“Thank you, you have no idea how much it means to me.” Bakugou swiped his sleeve across his eyes.
“I’ll leave you to rest. Let me know if you need anything.” Toshinori gave him one last look before he left the room, gently closing the door behind him.
Bakugou plopped on the bed, his skirt ruffing around his legs. Bakugou had to remind himself that this was only temporary. It was just till he could get his door open. A locksmith was sooo much cheaper than a door. Probably. He just needed a week.
—
A week was definitely not going to cut it. Now that he has a place to stay, he hasn’t been too focused on getting out of there. It was nice. Going downstairs and someone is waiting for you. Having someone care about when his last meal was or if he was warm enough. Someone to take him to school and work since it was ‘faster if they just drove and he was going there anyway’.
But good things never last. He can’t keep taking advantage of this old man’s generosity. Sure, he has no kids to take care of but Bakugou is not his kid. He is just a random street rat that happens to go to the same school as him. He probably doesn't even really care, just doesn’t want it on his conscience if Bakugou were to die in the cold.
The locksmith is going to cost more than he thought. It will be almost three weeks of full pay checks to get into the house again. That is, if his boss gives him the full amount and doesn't cheep him out. He had to tell Toshinori. He couldn't overstay his welcome.
“Toshinori…”
Toshinori looked up from where he was sitting in his recliner, reading the newspaper, “Yes, young Bakugou?”
He hesitated, “So I called the locksmith.”
Toshinori brightened up. “Ah, so you finally got it fixed?”
“Er, well, no…”
“Oh?”
“It’s going to cost more than I originally planned…” Bakugou wrung his hands together. “I just wanted you to know that I-”
“That’s okay!”
“What?” Bakugou was confused.
“You can stay here as long as you like! Whenever you can get the locksmith or if you just need a place to stay afterwards.”
“Really?” Bakugou asked in disbelief. He was so sure this man would be ready to get rid of him already.
Toshinori could see the look on his face and sighed, “Take a seat” he gestured to the couch, “Do you know why I asked you to stay here in the first place?”
Bakugou took a seat. Honestly he didn’t. He only suspected it but he never vocalized it. He shook his head.
“It's because I saw a young man, with so much potential, but with the world throwing him down. I could see the strength and determination in your eyes. I saw myself in you. I needed to make sure you were ok. I wanted to protect you. I didn’t understand why you had a job in the first place. I figured financial difficulties but we have scholarships for that. Then when I took you in, you never mentioned your parents. So I figured they either are not around, or they don’t support you.”
Bakugou hung his head. “I-I told you when I first started staying here that my quirk is destructive. There were only so many things that they would replace before they gave up. I still needed those things though so I had to get creative with how to get them. Getting a job was my last resort. They are away on a business trip now.”
Toshinori responded “ I know I have only known you for a short amount of time, but I never want you to feel that you have to work for your basic needs. I-I would like to provide that for you.”
“What?”
“I would like you to stay here. I will pay for a locksmith so you may get your things but I would like you to come back and live here.”
Bakugou looked at him in shock. He started this conversation with the thoughts of being kicked out, but now he is given a place to stay.
Toshinori continued, “ And if your parents are home, you can go back whenever you want, but stay here when they are not. I never had time for a wife, so I have no kids. I have no family. I am getting closer to retirement than I would like. I would like to spend that time providing for you. And not just because you are a student at UA but because I genuinely care about you.”
Bakugou’s eyes welled up, a lump in his throat forming. He was speechless. All he could do was nod his head.
—
In the end, they never did get a locksmith. Deciding that there was nothing inside that was worth it. He would just go over the next time his parents were home to grab it. Toshinori immediately took him on a small shopping trip. There was a store a few towns away that made clothing, bedding and other fabrics for people with fire based quirks. It was the best thing ever.
He was able to get at least three whole outfits, two pairs of shoes, a winter jacket and hat and gloves, and most importantly socks. Bakugou doesn't remember the last time he wore socks, he deemed them unnecessary and too expensive to waste after a while. He was also able to get some bath towels and the softest blanket ever. They were even able to order a set of his school uniform so he will be able to wear pants again. The skirt was growing on him though so he will hang onto it for now.
It was the best week of his life.
Bakugou was hesitant to quit his job. Still not fully convinced of the security that has been provided to him. They made a compromise. He will work there on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the rest of the week, he will help out around the house and will earn an allowance. This was the first time he has ever been able to accumulate savings.
Life was good. The months went by and he only returned home twice when his parents returned home and demanded him home for a family meal. He never stayed long.
Finally, near the end of the school year, the school hosted the sports festival.
—
Bakugou threw away the medal as soon as he got home. He didn’t feel like a winner. Toshinori was still at the school, helping with the last of the cleanup. Bakugou went into his room and cried.
That's where Toshinori found him, a few hours later, when he returned home.
Knock knock
“Katsuki? I’m home, wanna come down for some celebratory cake?” he asked from Bakugou's bedroom door.
“No! Leave me alone!”
Toshinori made his way to the bed, “What's wrong? You just won the sports festival! You should be happy!”
“Well I’m not! I feel like such a loser! And everyone saw!”
His guardian was confused, “What do you mean?”
“It was bad enough that the half and half bastard didn’t think I was worthy enough to fight him with his full power, but I had to embarrass myself in front of everyone too! I ruined everything! And they know it! They had to tie me down just so I would take the damn medal! I don’t even want that stupid thing!!” Bakugou sobbed.
“Oh Katsuki, this is all my fault. I should have stopped them. I-I was too blinded by everything I thought I was doing the right thing but now I can see that I did not.”
Bakugou sniffed, “what do you mean? You had something to do with that?”
Toshinori sighed, “I am ashamed to say that I did. I didn’t tie you up but I saw and did nothing. I acted like that was what was the right thing to do. I am deeply sorry.”
“It's fine, a lot of people didn’t do anything. They all thought it was the right thing. Guess that's just how they think I am. Too destructive. Too angry. No wonder my parents left me.”
Toshinori just slumped his shoulders forward. “There is something that I need to tell you. I really should have told you as soon as you started to live here but I didn’t want that to affect anything. I fear I let it go on for far too long.”
This was it, he was finally kicking him out.
“I don’t know how else to tell you than to show you.” And then he transformed. Into All Might.
Bakugou was shocked. What…
“Haha! I am here!”
“All Might?”
He transforms back into the old man he has always been, coughing up some blood. “ I am so sorry I never told you sooner. And I am so sorry for what I did to you today.” He got down on his knees and put his head on the floor. “Please forgive me!!”
Nothing. All thoughts just vanished from Bakugou's head. He couldn’t form a sentence. All he could do was laugh. He laughed so hard that he cried. Again. Until his laugh turned into a sob. Toshinori-All Might pulled him into a hug.
“This whole time, you knew. You knew everything… and you still decided to take me in?”
“Yes. And I would make that same decision every time.”
—
It was awkward between them for a while, neither quite sure where they stood anymore. After a while, they started to get back to the way they were. Not quite son and not quite father.
But still family.
They both seem to realize it even though they are not blood related.
It wasn’t until the training camp that everything got turned on their heads again.
—
All Might is gone…
He can’t be, Bakugou still needs him. It was weird watching him on screen, not as All Might, but as the man that has been caring for Bakugou for the last few months. He gave it all up. For Bakugou.
Bakugou thinks- no. He knows he will never deserve the sacrifice that Toshinori had done for him. Not just the end of his hero career, but for everything that he has done for him. House him. Clothes him. Feed him. Give him the affection that his own parents never would. All of it.
As everyone cheers for him, All Might looks through the screen and points. “Now, it's your turn.” And Bakugou looks over at Deku, the last piece of the puzzle finally clicks. All Might is not talking to him, or the villains or the rest of Japan. He is talking to Deku.
He knew that there was still something Toshinori was not telling him. Why he seemed to be losing his power. What he does on the nights Bakugou works. Why he has a good relationship with Deku during class but not Bakugou.
It's Deku. It's always Deku.
Bakugou goes into a state of shock. He keeps his head down and doesn’t talk. Even after they leave the crowd and make their way to the police station. He says nothing. He doesn’t respond when the others ask him if he is alright. He just… floats out of awareness. Letting his body take over for what his mind can’t seem to do.
He comes back when the door shuts to the interrogation room at the police station. He has been here for a while but he doesn't remember how. He thinks he has been asked questions already but he is pretty sure he still hasn’t spoken. He has a blanket wrapped around his shoulders too. He just wants to go home. His home with Toshinori.
More time passes. He still says nothing. He can’t find his voice anymore. His eyes are drooping with exhaustion. He can understand he can’t leave till his parents come to pick him up. They are in Brazil.
The door creaks open, and finally someone he knows is here. Toshinori. Still with his All Might get up and a halfway attempt to bandage him up. Blood is still drying on his face.
Bakugou chokes out a sob, “Toshi” He throws himself into his guardians arms.
“Oof. Alright kiddo? Let's get you out of here. Have they given you a check up yet?”
Bakugou just shakes his head. He can’t remember.
“Alright, let's take a trip down to the hospital and get us fixed up. I promise to stay by your side the whole time.”
Bakugou just nods.
—
Bakugou was cleared by the doctors. Some dehydration and malnourishment, and some mental health issues that will need to be addressed but he was free to leave once his guardian’s arrived.
Toshinori was not cleared to leave. He will have to stay a few nights. So Bakugou was not leaving until he was. The doctors tried to make him leave but he and Toshi gave them fits so they let him stay. Even gave him a small cot and some clothes to sleep in. As soon as he laid down he was out like a light.
A few days later, Toshi was released and they could finally return home at last.
Bakugou only spoke a few times in the last few days, and when he did it was to Toshinori. He was closed off and reserved. Toshinori knew that this would need to be addressed sooner rather than later or risk Bakugou's mental health.
“Katsuki.” Stated once they got settled into the couch together. “Do you want to tell me what's been on your mind?”
Bakugou looked up, debating in his head before he sighed. “Deku.”
“What?”
“Something has been going on between you and Deku. You have been keeping it from me. It has something to do with your quirks. He said on that first day of class that someone gave him his quirk. It was you wasn’t it?”
Toshinori sighed, “Yes. It was before we ever even met. Officially. I'm sure you remember the sludge villain. It's when I saw the potential he has. It was just like you when I saw you. I had the one thing that would be able to help him. Just like I had the thing to help you. It’s a very delicate thing, and I trust that you won’t talk about this to anyone.”
“Yeah, yeah. I'll keep your secret. Just like I have been keeping your second form a secret too.”
“Thank you, my boy. But I can tell that is not all you needed to say. Hmm?”
Bakugou took a moment to respond, “do you think that I could be a villain?”
“What? No, never! Not a chance! The first time I saw you at the store I knew you would be an amazing hero. I know you will be.”
“It's just that, everyone says that I should be a villain or that I act like one or… I'm destructive like one.”
“Katsuki, look at me,” Bakugou reluctantly looked up. Toshi scooted closer. “You are not defined by your quirk. You are not defined by your attitude. It's the way you choose to use those things that can decide who you are.”
“But I have done bad things in the past! I bullied Deku! I destroyed so many things! I caused this whole mess in the first place!”
“It was going to happen sooner or later. If it wasn’t you then it would have been another student. Maybe someone who is not as strong as you and would have given in. Or maybe they would have hurt them. But they didn’t do it because they actually wanted you. They wanted to get to me and the only way was to take a student they thought would turn on me. And you didn’t, you stayed so strong and I'm so proud of you for that.
“And look at how far you have come now! You have so many less quirk outburst since you moved in with me! You are down to less than one a week! And I know that there is something in your past with Deku, But I can already see that you are working it out. You will overcome this. You will be a hero!”
At that, Bakugou broke down and started crying. Toshinori gathered him up in his arms and held him. Both are a little broken. But not alone. Never alone.
Never again.
—
After that things needed to change. Bakugou was under lockdown for the rest of the summer. Because of that. No more jobs. He doesn't need it anymore, hasn’t in a while, but it was just for security in his life. But that is all over now. He knows how Toshinori feels and won’t kick him out. Plus, Bakugou is too recognizable anymore. Not with how his face has been plastered over the news for the last few weeks after the kidnapping and fall of All Might.
So for now, he is stuck at home.
Home. It is nice to be able to think of it like that. Bakugou never thought of his parents' place as a home, just a house where he slept. But with Toshinori, he feels safe enough to call it that.
Right now, Toshi is gone at work. The school was figuring out the next steps to take after…everything.
Bakugou had no phone with him. Toshi got him one as a gift for his birthday, blast proof of course, but it was lost after the chaos of the past week. He does have the landline for emergencies but no one remembers anyone's numbers anymore. So he is stuck home alone with no one but his thoughts to keep him company.
They weren’t too kind.
Everything that has led up to the kidnapping kept going on repeat in his mind. All the little things. Every detail.
Over and over.
It wasn’t until the doorbell rang that he came out of his head. He peaked out of the curtain, not supposed to open the door for any strangers, but it was four people he actually knew. His parents, Aizawa, and Toshi. Bakuogu went and opened the door. He stood there in silence, wondering what was going on. Why didn’t Toshi just open the door himself?
“Ah Katsuki! Sorry I made you come to the door, but I didn’t want to startle you” Toshi gave a quick jester at his parents.
“It's okay…” Bakugou was confused about what was going on, but let them in.
They all came in and settled on the couch before Aizawa started, “ All Might has already got us up to date with your current living arrangement. He didn’t say why, just that you have been living with him. He is asking you parents for legal custody of you. They have agreed.”
Bakugou looked at the man in shock.
“After… everything.” Toshi started, “I went to pick you up from the police station, they would not release you into my custody. I had to use my All Might status to get them to let me take you. The school has also decided to implement dorm rooms, with a guardian permission from the students. I realized that I can’t do that for you. These people who haven’t seen you in months can. So I would like to be your legal guardian.”
During Toshi’s speech, Bakugou started to tear up. Once he finished speaking, the tears started to fall. Bakugou looked up at the man that was giving him everything that he’s ever wanted. A home. A family. The feeling of being safe.
“I want it to be your decision in the end.”
Both of his parents looked at him. He can see it in their eyes. They want him to say yes. They can’t provide for him, they haven’t even tried in years. They are ready to officially sever the ties.
“Yes.”
—
The paperwork was quickly filled out and his parents gave him one last goodbye. They left and didn’t look back. Toshi and Bakugou sat next to each other on the couch while Aizawa sat in the chair in front of them.
“So, now that it is official. All Mi- Toshinori, will you allow Bakugou to continue to be schooled at UA and live in the dorm rooms?” Aizawa asked, with a small smirk.
“What do you think kiddo? Wanna go back? Live in the dorms? You can come back here anytime during the holidays and weekends.”
Bakugou looked up at his new guardian, heart full of happiness, “I would like that a lot.”
—
Bakugou has accumulated a good amount of stuff since he started staying with Toshi. Since he was getting better at controlling his quirk, he has been destroying less stuff. That, paired with all the fireproof things that Toshi had gotten him, means that he has more things to pack for moving into the new dorms.
He can’t remember the last time he has had so much stuff. They are even buying more new stuff to put in his dorm room so he can come back home and still have it there.
Home.
That was a nice thing to be able to think about. He will miss it like crazy, but he never had to experience the feeling of missing home. It's a scary feeling.
What is even scarier was having Toshi and him walk up the steps to the building he will be spending the next three years in, knowing that his classmates are just on the other side. They all will know. He has had his picture plastered on the news for the past few weeks, and has no contact with any of them. And everyone knows what all might look like now. They are going to be insatiable.
They were worse than that.
As soon as he took one step in, all heads turned towards him. He was all but tackled to the floor by the mass of students trying to give him a hug. Everyone was shouting his name and how glad that he is ok and that he is going back to classes. Ugh. He can feel his palms starting to get sweaty. If they don’t get off in the next few seconds, he will be blowing them up. He looks through the crowd, eyes looking for his guardian. Locking eyes, Toshi seems to understand immediately.
“All right. All right. Everyone let him up. Give him some space.”
They class seems to realize that they are hugging a bomb and back off.
“Sorry man! We were just so glad to see you!” said Kirishima, “You haven't been responding to any of our messages!”
Bakugou scuffed and looked down at the ground. “Yeah, I lost my phone. Hadn’t replaced it yet. Probably have to get a new number though…” he trailed off, no longer wanting to think of the reason why.
While, yes, the villain might have access to his number and they didn’t want them to use it to try and contact him again, it was also to prevent anyone else from contacting him too. After the sports festival, his number was leaked and he started to receive plenty of unwanted messages. He is just glad to be rid of that. He just knows it would be 10x worse if he still had it now.
He wanted a fresh start.
And he is getting that too. New home life. New school life. The world was changing fast, Bakugou better be a part of it.
The atmosphere in the room turned awkward. No one wanted to be the one to bring it up, so it just sat uncomfortably in the air until the next person walked through the door and their attention was now on them.
Bakugou breathed a sigh of relief. He motioned with his head to Toshi, which no one noticed was in the room too, to start heading towards the stairs. They followed the map that he was handed up to his new room.
It was silent between them as Bakugou unpacked. He was nervous. And not quite ready for him to leave yet. Sure, he will see the other in class every day, but that is different. He won’t be returning to their shared space anymore.
Despite being shoved into a building full of people, Bakugou can’t help but feel alone.
It wasn’t long before everything was put away. Bakugou was busy tidying things around, trying to prolong the other leaving.
Toshinori sighed and stood up from the bed.
“Alright kiddo, I think it might be time for me to head out. I got some paper’s to work on.”
Bakugou slowly turned around with a small pout on his face. He wasn’t ready for this.
“I-”
Toshi placed a hand on his shoulder. “It's alright. I won’t be far. They are working on getting some teachers dorms too. And here.” He passed Bakugou a box. “So you can call me anytime.”
It was a new phone.
“I already programmed my number and some of the teachers’ on it.” Toshi said sheepishly.
Bakugou looked up into his guardian's eyes. At this, he could not hold back anymore. Tears started to spill over. “I’m going to miss you.”
Toshi pulled him into a hug, “I know kid. I’m gonna miss you too.”
They stood like that for a few minutes before separating. Bakugou walked him downstairs and watched him leave from the front window.
He stood there for several more minutes before Kirishima pulled him into some activities.
—
He got used to it.
It took some time and a fight or two with Deku, but it did work out in the end. They had another talk about the ‘gave my quirk to Deku’ thing but Bakugou learned to work with it. Well, he is learning to work with it.
He gets to see his guardian everyday. And not just in classes either. Most of the time, Deku is there too, but they still find the time for it to be just one on one.
Eventually, the rest of the class came to learn about his living situation. Not how it came to be, just that it was. That All Might is his legal guardian. But they tried not to make it a big deal when they learned it. He did willingly share that with them, so the least they could do was respect him about it.
He still had quirk accidents, but they became less and less as more time passed. That and talking to a therapist helped too. He still is in contact with his parents but only once every few months, the same as before. But he has someone else there to fill that void now.
Bakugou took his past hardship in stride and learned to embrace it. That was what made him who he is. Who he still has yet to be.
A hero.