Bakugo's breath misted as he walked on the sidewalk, carrying groceries.
Every step he took was a reminder — SCREAMING that he could use his Quirk through the soles of his feet.
They itched, his soles.
Just like his palms used to itch constantly.
Years of training with his Quirk, firing millions of explosions through his palms, had abated that itch over time.
But the itch in his soles?
Not only was it stronger, but fresher, like a phantom pain becoming reality.
In one night, Bakugo's entire fate had changed, but he didn't think so. In his opinion, this was something meant to happen sooner or later. That it happened now was only a statement of his strength, not luck.
His Quirk had evolved.
He was stronger and faster.
Bakugo suddenly remembered Luke, Midoriya, and Todoroki huddled in a corner, working on a training program. A wide grin appeared on his face, making the passersby inch away from him in fear and confusion.
Deku, you nerd! Bakugo cursed, his palms and soles getting hot, both itching. You damn birdshit! And you half-half!! Hahaha… Now, we will see…
"All Might's ass!" a voice penetrated Bakugo's ears. "How are you even walking?! And what's with that look?!! Don't tell me you are already thinking of fighting again?!!!"
Stunned, Bakugo looked to his left and saw a tall boy with a cane.
He had a headful of tousled, black hair, as if he had just badly attempted to sort them out. His eyes were grey, almost black. From the black fur coat on him, he exuded the air of a rich ass, coming out to the streets for the first time.
Bakugo didn't recognize him.
The boy waved at him and then pointed down.
Frowning, Bakugo looked down and cursed. "Shit!"
The light sheet of snow under his feet had melted, despite the thick layer of leather between it and his feet. Moreover, the strips of the grocery bag in his hands had burned at some point as well, all the items spilling out and getting wet.
Bakugo hurriedly checked his shoes, hoping not to find any burn mark, or his mother would kill him.
There was no smell of burned leather, but it was indeed hot.
Letting out a sigh, Bakugo began picking up the items, the boy joining him.
"Oi!" Bakugo pushed the boy away. "What are you doing?!!"
The boy looked at him with a gobsmacked expression. "… You can't be serious… Don't you recognize me?"
Bakugo frowned. If he was being honest, then he could feel some familiarity when he looked at the boy's face, but he couldn't recall where he had seen this rich ass before.
Sensing the hotness in his soles, Bakugo suddenly recalled Luke, his entire face scrunching in disgust. "You… You are that birdshit's brother, aren't you? What the hell do you want?! A fight?!!"
Yes.
He was none other than Rikuya Saionji.
But Rikuya hadn't expected that Bakugo would relate him to Luke first, and not to…
"Sigh!" he shook his head, laughing wryly. "You sure are something… How can you maintain this shitty personality even in dreams?"
The grocery bag slipped out of Bakugo's hands.
Mechanically, he lifted his face and again looked at Rikuya, the image of the person from his dreams overlapping with the one in front of him.
"… Dream Wal…"
"Shhh…" Rikuya put a finger on his mouth. "… So. Wanna grab a bite?"
…
Bakugo took a seat in a café, and, opposite him, Rikuya stumbled to the chair, putting his cane away.
"You went to fight again?!" Bakugo asked, shocked.
"…" Rikuya looked as if someone had cursed him. "No…"
And Bakugo realized what Rikuya had meant with his questions earlier. "… You are weak."
Rikuya closed his eyes and drank the rising hotness in his chest. He wasn't here to put this boy in his place, he told himself. He was here for a chat. To guide the lost soul. Yes, an angry, butt-hurt, lost soul…
"Phew!" Rikuya let out a breath, shaking it off. "Did She contact you after that day?"
Bakugo frowned, knowing well who Rikuya was mentioning. He had heard Her words that night, but he didn't know anything about Her, or that blue hole, other than the fact that it was Her who had evolved his Quirk.
Singularity.
Bakugo shook his head. "Why are you here?" he asked. "I will not be someone's pawn…"
Rikuya raised his hand. "If you want to leave, just leave," he said, bringing the authority of the son of a tycoon in his voice. "No need to waste your time and mine."
Bakugo's mouth flattened into a thin line.
"We are criminals," Rikuya said, shocking Bakugo. "Not some random ones, either. International criminals."
This was not the reality Bakugo had thought he would be facing, sitting in a five-star restaurant.
"Free use of Quirks without having a license…" Rikuya began. "Going to a foreign nation and wreaking havoc. Hiding our identities. Causing damage to property, and threatening innocents' lives…"
"But…" Bakugo's face gained a red tinge.
He had been fighting Villains! He had been fighting Shigaraki!! He had been making sure that Stain and Shigaraki wouldn't hurt…
"We…" Rikuya said, "… are America's Dr. Blessed."
Bakugo's heart skipped a beat. The itch that had been worsening his life since that night suddenly vanished, a coldness seeping into his heart.
"I am Dream Walker, the Radiant of Dreams," Rikuya introduced. "I serve no one. She gives me a platform to be more than what I could be without Her. To serve common people. To stand for something greater than myself. But in the eyes of the same people, I might never become a Hero. And… that's fine with me. Tell me, who are you? Katsuki Bakugo the Hero or… the Radiant of Explosions? Because, if you think you can be both, then…"
All the thoughts of putting Luke, Midoriya, and Todoroki in their place with his evolved Quirk suddenly rushed out of Bakugo's mind, his fingers balling his fists under the table.
"I…" Bakugo said, closing his eyes. "… Sigh! Can you tell me more about what we are fighting against?"
Rikuya's eyes glowed blue, a bright smile appearing on his face. "… That's why I am here…"
********************
Note: Original Image of Bakugo and Rikuya seated in the restaurant is available
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