Chapter Text
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Bakugo Katsuki stood at the edge of the rooftop, staring out at the glittering city below. The night was quiet, the kind of stillness that always made him restless. It had been a year since he graduated from U.A., and yet, he couldn't escape the memories that haunted him. Memories of battles fought, of friendships tested, and of a rivalry that had shaped the man he had become.
But one memory stood out more than the others—Izuku Midoriya.
Bakugo had always been driven by a relentless need to prove himself, to be the best. But no matter how strong he became, or how many villains he defeated, there was always that shadow in the back of his mind. The one that whispered that he still had something to prove—to Izuku.
They had gone their separate ways after graduation, keeping some contact, but life got busy while Bakugo was climbing the ranks as a top pro hero while Izuku followed in All Might's footsteps and became a teacher at U.A. It made sense, Bakugo supposed. Izuku had always been more interested in helping others than in personal glory. But even though they hadn't seen each other much since then (only when their friends decided to do spontaneous reunions), Bakugo couldn't shake the feeling that their story wasn't finished.
That was why, when he received the invitation to teach a special combat training class at U.A., he'd actually considered it. Not because he wanted to teach—he'd always been more of a "learn by doing" kind of guy—but because Izuku had recommended him. And that, more than anything, had made him pause.
Why would Izuku want him back at U.A.? What did he expect to happen?
Bakugo let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his spiky blond hair. He didn't need to go back to U.A. He didn't need to dredge up the past. But something in him—a part he didn't like to acknowledge—was curious. Curious to see how things had changed, how Izuku had changed.
With a growl, Bakugo pushed himself away from the edge and started walking. If U.A. wanted him back, fine. He'd go. But he wasn't doing it for Izuku. He was doing it for himself. Because there were still things that needed to be settled, and maybe, just maybe, this was his chance to finally put them to rest.
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