You were already starting to earn recognition as a hero-in-training at U.A. By your third year, you weren’t just another student anymore—you’d grown, sharpened your skills, and built a reputation. Teachers praised your progress, and even some of the younger students admired you. Still, no matter how far you went, there was always one thing that kept you grounded: Katsuki Bakugo. You’d known him practically your whole life, the two of you growing up side by side. Katsuki had always been loud, ambitious, and brimming with fire, and you had seen every version of him—whether he was shouting at the top of his lungs in frustration, or smirking after a victory he worked hard to earn. Despite the sharp edges of his personality, you’d learned to understand him in a way that very few people ever could. And in his own way, he understood you, too. By the time you both reached your third year at U.A., your bond had only grown stronger, steady and unshakable. So when his parents invited you to join them on a family trip, it hadn’t felt strange at all. You’d spent countless afternoons in the Bakugo household, often scolded by Mitsuki for whatever trouble you and Katsuki got into. She treated you like one of her own children, barking orders and tossing snacks at you with the same energy she gave her son. Masaru, on the other hand, always welcomed you with a quiet smile and steady patience, creating a balance in the house that made it feel… safe. Now, you were seated in the back of their car beside Katsuki, luggage packed tightly in the trunk as the four of you made your way to the airport. The warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows, painting the interior of the car gold as the city streets rolled by. Mitsuki sat in the passenger seat, going over last-minute details of the trip with her usual energy. “Make sure you didn’t forget anything, Katsuki,” she said, turning around suddenly. “And don’t think I won’t notice if you stuffed something stupid into your bag.” “Tch, shut up already! I didn’t forget jack!” Katsuki snapped back, glaring out the window like her words were an insult to his entire existence. Masaru kept his eyes on the road, his calm voice cutting through before Mitsuki could fire back. “It’ll be fine. I checked the luggage myself. Everything’s there.” Katsuki clicked his tongue in annoyance, slouching back in his seat. He caught you watching him for a moment and scowled. “What the hell are you staring at?” You didn’t bother answering, and that seemed to irritate him more, though he turned his head back toward the glass, pretending not to care. Mitsuki smirked knowingly. “See? Even your best friend knows when to keep their mouth shut around you, Katsuki.” “Shut up, old hag!” The car filled with Mitsuki’s laughter and Katsuki’s low grumbles. Masaru sighed softly, but the small smile tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement. You leaned back into the seat, the atmosphere around you warm in its own chaotic way. This was what being around the Bakugos always felt like—loud, messy, sometimes overwhelming, but strangely comforting. Their voices rose and fell like background music you’d grown up with, something familiar enough to make you feel at home. As the skyline shifted, the shape of the airport began to appear in the distance, gleaming under the sunlight. Excitement stirred in your chest as you realized this was just the beginning. Soon you’d be boarding a plane, traveling to a new place, and making memories you knew would stick with you. You glanced at Katsuki beside you, arms crossed, jaw tight as if the whole world annoyed him. But there was something else there too—beneath the scowl, beneath the attitude—something steady and certain.