"You're weird. Supposedly strong, right? Doesn't look like it."
Katsuki Bakugo shoved his hands into his pockets and tilted his chin up, eyes sharp with irritation. "And that quiet act of yours? It's seriously annoying."
Kurose Kuro lowered his head and kept walking, picking up his pace to get away.
Bakugo's Quirk, Explosion. Sweat like nitroglycerin, detonated at will. Kuro had never seen it firsthand, but the stories were everywhere. Teachers talked. Students exaggerated. And during the sludge villain incident, Bakugo had been praised across the board.
Unlike Izuku Midoriya, who drew mixed reactions, Bakugo received nothing but recognition.
A powerful Quirk. Relentless drive. Brutal endurance.
So why was someone like him going out of his way to pick a fight?
Kuro just wanted to leave. If he ignored him, maybe it would end there.
It didn't.
"Hey, asshole! You ignoring me?"
Bakugo had always believed he'd be the only one from this school to make it into U.A.'s Hero Course. That was how it was supposed to go. He would pass. He would stand alone. The school's pride. A flawless path forward.
He would surpass All Might and become the strongest hero alive.
That future didn't include competition.
And yet, first someone else showed up… and now this quiet nobody.
Why were people like this even standing on the same stage as him?
Kuro quickened his pace.
He didn't want to be here anymore.
"Stop!"
Bakugo grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back. Kuro lost his balance and hit the ground hard, pain shooting through him.
Bakugo looked down at him, eyes blazing. "I don't know what your deal is, but getting a U.A. recommendation means you've got something. So show it. That 'looking down on everyone' attitude? I hate it."
One hand clenched Kuro's collar. The other crackled with small, popping explosions.
So this was happening.
Kuro let out a quiet breath. Rumors had spread all over the grade. He'd tried to explain, but the more he spoke, the worse it got. No one listened. No one cared.
Damn it. What kind of recommendation was this?
Aside from being from a so-called hero family, everything else people said about him was completely wrong.
"My Quirk is damage replacement," Kuro said, trying to stay calm. "My family specializes in healing. I can't fight someone like you."
Bakugo scoffed. "Healing type? So that's your excuse? A useless face and a soft Quirk. Guess that's all your 'hero family' amounts to."
He leaned closer, voice sharp. "Fight me properly."
Kuro stared at him.
Was this guy serious?
Bakugo had already tossed his school bag aside, rolling his shoulders, ready.
Kuro could see it clearly. The top candidate from Aldera Junior High, the one everyone expected to pass U.A.'s exam, was standing right in front of him… and wanted a fight.
His body had only just started recovering. His first Quirk hadn't even stabilized. His second Quirk? Barely under control.
And this guy—praised by pro heroes—wanted to throw hands?
Did he look like he had a death wish?
"That's enough talking," Bakugo snapped. "I want to see what makes your trash worth recommending."
"…It's a misunderstanding."
Before Kuro could finish—
Boom.
An explosion roared beside his head. The shockwave slammed into him, leaving his ears ringing. Instinct took over. He shoved Bakugo back and scrambled to his feet.
Run.
Run.
This wasn't a bluff.
"You're running?" Bakugo grinned, explosions flaring in both hands. His expression twisted into something feral. "Use your Quirk! Let's see what kind of trash thinks it can stand above me!"
"I told you, it's a misunderstanding!"
Kuro grabbed his bag and bolted.
If he ever found out who started those rumors, he'd make sure they regretted it.
Bakugo moved faster than expected.
Boom—
A blast of air struck Kuro from behind. He threw up his arm to block it. His sleeve tore apart, skin stinging from the impact.
That wasn't even full power.
Kuro made the call instantly. This Quirk was dangerous. He'd spent months reading discussions on Quirks, analyzing their strengths. At least now, he wasn't completely clueless.
Back during the sludge incident, Bakugo's explosions had started fires, burned buildings. People online had broken it down in detail. Flashy. Powerful. Perfect for a hero.
If Bakugo wanted to, he could probably level the school on his own.
He was that strong.
No hesitation.
Kuro ran harder.
Five meters.
Three.
One—
"You didn't fight back," Bakugo said, crouching slightly, hands behind him. "You looking down on me?"
His voice dropped, heavy with anger. "I'm really not in the mood for that."
Explosions detonated behind him, launching him forward.
"Die!"
Kuro spun around, yanked his bag open, and hurled it straight at him.
Books and stationery burst into the air, pelting Bakugo mid-flight. His expression darkened. One hand fired backward to keep his momentum. The other came up to shield his face.
"Out of my way!"
He punched through the debris and closed the distance instantly.
The hit landed square on Kuro's face.
Pain exploded—
And something else answered.
His second Quirk activated.
Painful Memories.
Through contact, he transferred the pain he had endured to his opponent. The drawback was immediate. He relived it too.
Bakugo froze.
"You—!"
His voice cut off. His face twisted, muscles tightening as if something were tearing through him from the inside. He staggered, clutching himself.
"Ah—! What the hell—!"
Kuro dropped to one knee, breath shaking. He'd expected this.
But even prepared, it still hurt.
"…Didn't work?"
He'd thought the surprise would be enough to put Bakugo down.
Instead, it only made him angrier.
Explosions cracked again. Bakugo's eyes burned, body trembling but still standing.
He wasn't backing off.
Kuro forced himself up. His legs felt like they'd been sliced apart, barely holding him up.
Move.
He ran.
Out of the school.
Past the gates.
Toward the seaside park.
The salty air hit him like a wave. His clothes clung to him, damp with sweat. He staggered forward a few more steps, then collapsed to his knees.
Pain crept back in, slow and relentless.
Still hurts.
Figures. A Quirk that damages both sides equally.
He rested for a moment, then forced himself to move again, heading toward a spot he'd scouted earlier. Hidden. Quiet. A clear view of the area behind him.
From there, he could see if Bakugo followed.
And more importantly—
He didn't want to go back to Nekohoshi Orphanage like this.