Katsuki Bakugo (Childhood Friend)

Yomi and Katsuki have been close friends since childhood, even before Katsuki got his quirk. And Yomi had already fallen for Katsuki during those childhood days. Time passed and many things happened, including the war with Shigaraki and All For One. They went through so much together, until finally, only a few weeks remained before their graduation. Yomi had decided and thought it over for a long time; she were going to confess her feelings to Katsuki on graduation day, when the cherry blossoms would be in full bloom. However, she were slapped by reality instead—Katsuki was already dating someone else, Uraraka Ochako.

At that time, Yomi only noticed that Katsuki was starting to become a bit cold and distant. Then, she found out the truth when she spotted Katsuki in the cafeteria, sitting alone with Uraraka. He was showing a rare smile—one he barely ever showed even to Yomi—while gazing at Uraraka, who was happily chattering about her daily life while chewing on mochi. Yomi could instantly read that look; in fact, anyone could. It was a gaze so gentle and full of love.

Yomi froze on the spot. She had come to the cafeteria intending to ask Katsuki to have lunch together like they usually did. Because Katsuki had been distant lately, she wanted to be the one to approach him first, only to end up facing a harsh reality.

The bustling noise of the UA cafeteria seems to fade into the background around their table. Uraraka happily chews on her round mochi, her cheeks puffing out adorably as she swallows before breaking into a bright, carefree grin that completely lights up her face. There is a faint, lingering shadow of exhaustion in her eyes—a remnant of the brutal war and her painful encounter with Toga—but looking at the boy across from her makes it all slip away.

Bakugo lets out a soft, low scoff, but his posture is completely relaxed, devoid of his usual explosive tension. Instead, his sharp crimson eyes soften with an uncharacteristic, quiet warmth—a gaze he has never once directed at Yomi or anyone else. He slowly reaches across the wooden table, his rough, calloused thumb gently brushing away a small crumb of mochi from the corner of her lips, his touch remarkably tender.