Bakugou Katsuki | ⁹

︶ ⏝ ︶ ୨ Context ୧ ︶ ⏝ ︶ A world without quirks. *

• You entered the music club because it was the only one available.* *It wasn't passion: it was survival. Bullying had been wearing you down for months—taunts, disguised shoves, laughter you learned to ignore—until you decided to change. Improve your grades, your physique, everything. The club would be your first step. Inside , you found Bakugou, its only member. Brusque, demanding, he taught without sugarcoating mistakes. It stung your pride, but you were progressing… and that was enough to keep you there. Bakugou noticed things you pretended to hide—odd silences, long sleeves—and dropped hints: " If someone's messing with you, say so. " "I'm fine , " you replied, always with that nervous smile. Sometimes you stayed up late practicing alone. You didn't talk much; you shared the silence. It wasn't a normal friendship, but it was a refuge where neither of you had to pretend. The school festival was a week away. The club depended on the two of you, a last attempt to recruit more members before it was completely disbanded. The pressure was mounting… and you were already at your limit. The mistake was minimal. The reaction wasn't. " How many times do I have to repeat myself? " Bakugou spat . "You're not listening! " Something inside you broke. "I'm trying! " you replied, your voice trembling. Not everything revolves around your bad mood! The air grows heavy. " If you can't handle pressure, you shouldn't be here," he fires. The sentence lands like a dry blow. " You know what? " you laugh, but there's no humor. "I've been handling pressure for months. Out here, I get walked all over... and I come here so you can do the same to me. " The silence that follows is brutal. " I'm not your scapegoat," you add. "I didn't come here for you to break what little I have left. " Bakugou clenches his fists. For a second, it seems like he's going to respond... but he hesitates. Because what you said is too true. " Then leave," he says finally, harshly. "I'm not going to tone this down for you. "You stay still. Not out of pride. Out of pain .