"You've gotta be kidding me..." Katsuki mutters upon hearing the man's words.

He grits his teeth to contain his anger that's been boiling dangerously for some time now. As much as he wants to lash out and get ready for a fight, Katsuki maintains to be rational and steady. He reminds himself that it won't solve their problem with that method. Inko, on the other hand, sees this opportunity to have her turn to assure her son, Izuku, that she's there to support until the end. She takes the stunned boy's hand into her grasp and say no word.

Wataru proceeds on continuing his discussion.

"We still do not know her full capabilitiesi. Though she's known to have no quirk but we can't say for sure. She must be hiding it the whole time because when I looked up in her personal data, it says that her quirk is unknown and not labelled as 'none'." he says.

"I'm honestly surprised that she's this... psychotic creature while in a very low profile for a long time now." Wataru chooses a term he could describe his once-assistant but it seem that he has something worse than that in mind.

"First up, we've got to compile what we know about her for preparation." Erisa speaks up right beside him. "About the facility where we found our daughter, as we had observed, it was hidden within a mountain where barely heroes and civilians go into. Of course, with the help of a hero with a tracking quirk, we found Emilia sooner." She says. "We also cannot assume that she'll take Izuku at the same location."

"And after the letter was given to me yesterday, Anri disappeared without a warning. Quite wise of her to do so, I say." Wataru comments. "So, for now, we'll collect more information before Erisa and I announce to you everything else. Then we'll prepare a plan."

After that, Wataru dismisses them and their meeting ended without any last words coming from neither Midoriya nor Bakugo.

Each family would go on their separate ways to have some time to let the information sink in their mind fully. But Mitsuki stops Inko before they could even go to where they are headed to. Izuku's mother makes a questioning look at her friend with a raised eyebrow from her call but the other only wears a neutral face.

"Let's talk for a sec." Mitsuki utters.

"Sure..." Inko says and before she could speak another word, Mitsuki quickly adds: "Only the two of us, I mean."

Almost instantly, Inko's face becomes bothered. She still does not want to leave her Izuku by himself now that she knows there is a greater problem that threatens his life. The fear in her stays and in an alarming seconds she grows paranoid.

A hand then is placed on top of her shoulder, dragging her out of her own thoughts. Inko glances up to Mitsuki then she is pulled aside from their sons.

"Inko," Mitsuki starts with soft eyes.

"I know you love Izuku and you care very much of him. I, too, love that idiot son of mine." she pauses then speaks again. "But please... Give Katsuki a chance. I know very well you don't trust him because of happened to Izuku. However, I can read Katsuki like an open book and clearly know that he'll do - not try - his best to support Izuku from now on."

Inko unconsciously chew her lower lip. Her chest tightens just imagining not being there to watch Izuku's every actions while they are separated even for a minute. A lot of bad possibilities come flooding into her mind. Her disappointment to herself of not being able to help Izuku much on his state as his mother made her feelings more messy. But she forces herself to follow what her long time friend said. She has to trust once again Katsuki if she wanted to ensure Izuku's safety.

Inko brings up her gaze to Mitsuki and looks hard at her. "If Izuku gets harmed and Katsuki isn't able to do his responsibility to protect him, he'll never be allowed to touch or see Izuku ever again."

Mitsuki sighs from her nose as she stretch a tiny smile from her response. She decides that her answer was more than enough and didn't say another word that might change her mind. She transfers her attention to their sons who are uncomfortably standing a few feet away from each other, looking at them expectantly to remove the tension surrounding them. Mitsuki grins at the two while a hand on her waist.

"You boys go have a stroll. Inko and I will chat for long while." she makes shooing motions on her other hand as she emphasize the term 'long'.

And before they could even give their comments, Mitsuki pulls Inko away from them making their run for it, leaving Katsuki and Izuku stun on their spots. They reluctantly look at each other at the same time making them avert it immediately. They stand there for some moments of suffocating awkwardness before Katsuki finally speaks up.

"Let's go out."

"What?" Izuku exclaims as he whips his head to Katsuki in disbelief, face burning with red hue.

"I mean outside, you shitty nerd!" He scowls with his own cheeks turning pink.

"Oh... s-sure. Yeah."

Katsuki and Izuku walk awkwardly side by side to outside of the house to the garden of the Yanase's. The sun will set in a few hours but Izuku keeps a small smile intact on his face just to savor the moment secretly, awkward or not. They continue on their pace while waist height hedges guide their path.

From his view, he could see the spot where he stood earlier and when he told his childhood friend's mother about his chances of survival. This put bitterness in his mouth but he is relieve that it happened. If that did not happened then he wouldn't have the courage to tell his own mother about his situation.

Averting his gaze from it, he takes a small sneaky peek on Katsuki. His smile stays. Izuku is glad that Katsuki is willing to help him more than he expected. He could actually feel some of his burden slowly lifting off from his shoulders when Katsuki declared that he'll protect him. Though he isn't sure if he'll take the responsibility of being a young parent with Izuku.

Who is Izuku kidding? Didn't he already forgiven Katsuki when they were at the hospital yesterday? He could even recall that Katsuki said that he didn't dislike the idea of them having twins and all. Izuku grows slightly confused. He doesn't know what Katsuki thinks of him. He wants to ask him but Izuku becomes hesitant. And definitely he doesn't want to force Katsuki to take responsibility of him.

"Deku..." Izuku quickly brings up his gaze upon hearing his name being called.

"Yes, Kacchan?"

Katsuki stares at him for a moment before gesturing for them to sit down on a bench nearby. Izuku agrees and both sit on the wooden bench, a short space to distance themselves from each other. Izuku fears that they'll return back to awkwardness but opposite was the outcome when Katsuki speaks.

"I called you thrice and you only looked to me on my fourth call." Izuku sees that Katsuki said this while looking on the grassy ground.

He thinks if what Katsuki had said was true or Izuku really was just too focused in his thoughts that's why. Katsuki then lifts his gaze and makes a full eye contact to Izuku.

"Tell me what's bothering you." His crimson eyes look like drilling into Izuku's green ones for answers.

Still hesitant, Izuku instinctively breaks his eye contact to look on the ground this time. He hears a small grumble from Katsuki's throat. He returns his gaze back at him in question.

"It's me, isn't?" Izuku's eyes shows shock that he's caught red handed. Katsuki rolls his eyes as he lets out a sigh. "Easy to read as always." He comments. "Well, go ahead and ask. I ain't getting mad I assure you."

Even if Katsuki had said that, Izuku is still uncertain whether he should ask or not. He isn't sure if it is even necessary in the first place to bring up such thing that Katsuki himself is offering his hand and asides his pride away now.

Izuku, at that, smiles. "Nothing. It's not really important."

Katsuki frowns at his response. He obviously wasn't satisfied, or near it, but he did not push further. He leans back and bring his eyes up on the afternoon sky.

"Kacchan?" Izuku calls out softly and Katsuki looks at him from the corner of his vision to let Izuku know that he's got his attention rather than verbal response.

"Could I ask a different thing?" With Katsuki raising an eyebrow, this gives Izuku the cue to speak further.

"H-how did you know about... this?"

Katsuki slowly returns his eyes on the sky when he knows what Izuku means by it. He lets out a soft sigh and closes his eyes, as if to relax. He isn't sure if he could tell this to Izuku but not that it matters to him anymore anyway. Izuku will know at some point so why not tell now?

"Some shits kept persisting me about it." Katsuki begins. "Even chased me out of Yuuei just to drill into my head about your situation. Got to the mall with old hag when I told her about it then I saw it for myself." He says then a light snicker escapes his mouth, as if to laugh away from his stupid mistakes.

He fixes his sitting position and looks directly at Izuku. "Yeah, I saw it for myself. The results of my mindless actions."

He takes Izuku's hand and fondly caress it with his thumb, his eyes focused on it. Katsuki does not see the pink dust scattering on Izuku's cheeks but he can feel how tense his body right now. So he continues to talk.

"I thought that... if I hadn't seen you with that girl, Emilia or whatever her name was, at that coffee shop that day then I would not have become pissed as fuck that I took out... my anger at you." Katsuki slightly tightens his grasp on Izuku's hand. Izuku does not flinch nor give a reaction to let Katsuki continue.

Katsuki is grinding his teeth when he paused. "Fuck, I felt more than terrible! If there's a word for it then that definitely describes how I felt all those months of not realizing my true feelings all this time until yesterday. I couldn't fucking get a decent sleep and those shitheads began to keep their distance when I became violent for no reason. I keep messing things up causing my routine to crumble. All in all, I was blinded by my anger, jealously, and worry. I don't know how hard you've gone through without me with all this shits. But now that I'm here..."

His eyes shifts up to meet those expectant and at the same time understanding green eyes of Izuku. Katsuki's old guilt suddenly chews him like sharp razor teeth of a dozen shark at the same time. How can Izuku show those kind eyes to him when Katsuki had mostly ruined his life that his dream of becoming a hero gets delayed and a life threatening situation behold to him?

Izuku should be angry at him. No. He should be furious. Not only he'll take away his chance of becoming a hero but also gave him a poor chance of survival if he wants to save the twins. Katsuki feels completely shit. He knows he does not deserve a bit of it. And yet... why?

"Please... give me a chance to compensate for my faults, Deku." His grip tightens more around Izuku's hand. His eyes sting. "I still can't f-fucking forgive myself no matter what. Please, l-let me at le-east pay for it."

His voice cracks and a single hic sounds in his throat. Katsuki couldn't hold it any longer as his vision becomes blurry and hot tears come rolling down from his eyes to his jaws, dripping onto his lap.

Izuku feels heaviness in his chest just witnessing his childhood friend throwing away his pride just to apologize once again. He sighs, which came out heavy, as he boldly reaches for Katsuki's face to wipe away those tears.

No matter how tattered or ruined his life now, as long as Katsuki is willing to give them a hand and putting his pride aside and all, then Izuku will forgive. Besides, he can't stay angry at someone who's sincerely apologizing in front of him. Especially if this person is a special someone who is rarely honest all his life.

Izuku forms a gentle smile. "Kacchan..." he says. "I already told you. I forgive you."

"I clearly fucking know that, idiot." Katsuki retorts in low tone while trying to stop himself from shedding more tears.

"If you know it then you should forgive yourself next. You're just being hard to yourself." Izuku says half-sternly and continues to wipe away those tears.

He then dares himself by pulling Katsuki into his embrace, which surprised him so much that he actually openly accepted his kind gesture. His forehead is resting on Izuku's shoulder while their hands are still intact. Izuku rubs his trembling back as his way to calm Katsuki from crying.

"I don't fucking know why you keep being so damn nice to me when all I did was make your life miserable!"

When Katsuki said this, Izuku's smile becomes sad. A soft sigh escapes his lips as he leans on Katsuki's side head while his hand stops on rubbing his back momentarily. He begins to recall all those experience with Katsuki; from their childhood to middle school then to the present.

Izuku is not going to deny everything what Katsuki had done to him even if the bad ones were more than the good ones. But he simply cannot hate him for that, his heart wouldn't allow it. He knows Katsuki fully like his own brother - even if he never had one. Ever since then, Izuku had made him his goal. A goal to not only surpass but to stand by his side when the time comes they are professional heroes. He had already accepted that his long admiration would come unnoticed forever and just be satisfied to be at the same level as Katsuki's.

The thing is, that goal drastically changed. Izuku can't actually tell whether it's a good thing or a bad thing- maybe both? - because if this incident had not happened to him then he wouldn't be so close to Katsuki that he'd witness him looking this vulnerable than him. Izuku is not amused from finally seeing Katsuki's weak side. But actually feeling glad and sad at the same time, in a good way if possible.

"Kacchan..." he says and even without hearing the other's response he continues. "I love you."

He feels Katsuki's body abruptly freeze upon hearing those three words especially beside his ear. His sobbing is stopped and pushes himself away slowly from Izuku as he sits back to look at him with bewildered eyes. Katsuki knows he couldn't misheard those words. He wanted to say something but he remains speechless with his jaw slightly agape.

Izuku only giggles lightly. "Kacchan, your reaction is so funny."

At that, Katsuki's tear-stained cheeks goes flushed with redness. He bares his teeth and feels a vein popped in his temple, completely forgetting that he just cried shamelessly.

"Bastard, you're not taking me seriously!" He tightens his grip on Izuku's hand, which is still in his grasp the whole time.

Izuku jolts from the pain but still lets out a small laugh.

"Ouch! Kacchan, I am taking you seriously!" Then Katsuki loosens his grip while remaining his gaze right at Izuku's, as if to burn a hole from being caught off guard.

"Isn't it obvious? I love you that's why no matter how many times you hurt me or push me away, I will be stubborn and keep loving you." He says.

The redness on Katsuki's cheeks spreads all over his face and neck. Just seeing his blush is also affecting Izuku. His own face puffs with blush at the realization of the words he just confessed.

"You're an idiot." Katsuki comments.

Izuku raises his eyebrows then stretches a grin. "Yeah, an idiot for loving you, Kacchan."

"Knock those cheesy lines already, Deku. It's weird as fuck!" Katsuki complains as he gives a punch on Izuku's shoulder,being considerate that it's not too hard to hurt him.

Izuku just gives out a wholehearted laugh. Katsuki looks at him and couldn't hold himself as he joins Izuku's carefree fit. It cease after some moments and they slowly become calm. Smiles are plastered on their faces. No one spoke a word as they enjoy the quietness around them, nor realizing that their hands are still holding.

Until a vibrating noise sounds causing their peace to be disturbed.

Izuku sees Katsuki making a curious look while fishing his hand into his pant pocket, pulling out his phone. He gets concerned when Katsuki's eyes goes wide. Katsuki shows the screen to Izuku making him pale when he sees who's name is the caller.

"Aizawa-sensei?!" Izuku gasps, hand covering his mouth.

"Should I answer it?" Katsuki mutters with furrowed eyebrows.

"Answer it. He'll get mad if you drop it."

Katsuki clicks the answer button and sets this to loud speaker so both of them could hear what their teacher's got to say.

"Bakugo, my boy!" Both flinch from hearing a different voice.

"All Might?" Katsuki says.

From the other line, they could hear the arguments of All Might and their teacher and some other voices they couldn't tell who - maybe the other faculty staff, they assume.

"Bakugo, " Aizawa speaks. "I heard you got into a villain fight at the mall nearby yesterday." It wasn't a question but a statement.

Katsuki sweat dropped. He and Izuku knew that if a student gets involved into a villain fight and is not yet licensed or is not given a permission of a professional hero then they'd definitely get in trouble for disobeying the laws. But they did not expect for the news to actually to reach this quickly to them. And them knowing that Katsuki was involved did not shock them.

"It wasn't on purpose." Katsuki tries reasoning out.

"Even though. Whether it is on purpose or not, you still did it without neither a license or a hero's permission. And the fact that you are recently unable to control your anger for some reason, I can't trust your words anymore." Aizawa flatly says.

Izuku could see the disbelief in Katsuki's expression. He knows that he's slowly getting agitated. That Izuku cannot allow.

"Aizawa-sensei!" Izuku talks. He could tell that their teacher is surprised based on his tone when he said Izuku's name, not expecting to be with Katsuki at all. "Kacchan did it to protect me. He saved me from those villains because they tried kidnapping me. I am their target and Kacchan saved me. If you won't believe him at least believe to what I'm saying!"

"Midoriya..." Aizawa says then a scrambling noise from the other line sounds.

"Midoriya, my boy! You're alright!" All Might's voice speaks. "Sorry I wasn't able to visit you this month."

Izuku smiles in relief. All Might was actually visiting him personally at least twice a month when he can or gets the free time to do so to assure that Izuku is safe and some other stuff to talk about. Aizawa also knows this and the two professional heroes kept this a secret.

"It's fine, All Might." Izuku says.

"Is it true you were also involved to yesterday's incident?" The number one hero clarifies.

"Yes." Izuku answers. "Their intention is me solely..." Izuku's expression darkens when he remembers those possibilities of him getting caught by them.

He unconsciously chews his lower lip. Even before his near-forgotten fear grows, Katsuki takes his hand off from Izuku's grasp and puts this around his shoulder to pull him closer. Izuku looks at him and smiles. He gains the small courage to explain everything they have just discussed earlier to their hero teachers.

Katsuki supports Izuku by filling up some missed information he forgot to mention while keeping close to him. He is secretly happy that he gets to support Izuku this way.

"So, that practically sums it all." Katsuki says when they finished explaining.

"That woman is insane." Aizawa comments from the other line. His tone hints venom.

"The chances of her victims are not as low as anyone would expect. This person is clearly dangerous." All Might says.

Katsuki and Izuku feel less stress now that they have told their teacher about the current situation. However, late realization almost knock their heads off. Both grow bothered if they should have really told those to them in the first place. Weren't Izuku's problem a confidential one?

Katsuki's face beams upon an idea entering his mind.

"All Might! Aizawa-sensei!" Katsuki accidentally exclaims to get their attention. Izuku looks at him in curiosity.

"Could you do us a big favor? Search for this Kumo Anri in the list of villains and her current whatever shit. We need some leads to where her possible hideouts to conduct those activities." Katsuki blurts out.

"Sure!" All Might says. "If it's to help Young Midoriya, I'll ask a friend of mine to help us with it."

"Within this month, if possible." Katsuki adds.

Silence filled the other line. Humming of All Might is heard, as his way of deciding.

"Okay. We'll do our best to help. She wants Young Midoriya within or before three months, correct?"

"Correct."

"Then that's settled. The earlier the better."

Katsuki grins. Now that some people they trust are going to give them a hand in their plan put relief in both of their chests. And taking this opportunity to ask them right at this perfect moment makes it all sweet for Katsuki. Finally they could track and be prepared for whatever Kumo Anri's plan for them.

He puts his hand from Izuku's shoulder to the side of his head to pull him close and place his lips onto Izuku's temple. The other is taken aback but did not pull away - keeping quiet and just appreciating how Katsuki is becoming affectionate.

"Everything's going to be okay now, Deku." Katsuki assures in whisper, low enough for the people in the call not to hear.

Izuku just gives Katsuki a sweet thankful smile.

"So... keep Young Midoriya safe and wait for our response 'till then. Okay, Young Bakugo?"

Katsuki chuckles. "No need to inform. On it."

"Now that it's done..." Aizawa grumbles. "You knuckleheads go have your turn now."

Katsuki and Izuku raise each an eyebrow in curiosity. They aren't sure what Aizawa meant by that until they hear a soft thud from the other line and familiar voices speak on the phone.

"Deku!" Uraraka cries out, not sure if she's literally crying or not based from her tone.

"Midoriya! Bakugo!" Iida and Kirishima exclaim in unison.

"Guys!" Izuku says in pure shock and utter disbelief. A trembling smile makes its way on his face once again.

"Deeekuuu!" His female friend now does sound crying. "We miss you! So baaadd!"

"Were you there the whole time?" Izuku asks. Curious what were they doing in Yuuei when it's Saturday.

"Well, yeah. Aizawa-sensei warped us in his scarf when we heard they are planning to call Bakugo from the outside of the faculty and barged in." Kirishima makes a small chuckle. "We just came back to get some stuf-"

"Midoriya! How are you? Are you eating well? Are you in trouble? Are you hurt? When are you going to return back here? How's-"

"Midoriya, is Bakugo being nice to you?" Kirishima interrupts Iida from his flood of questions, worry hinting in his tone. Iida complains that he also wants to talk to Izuku but Kirishima continues with a snicker. "I made sure to punch him real hard to get his senses back!"

Izuku hears an irk coming from Katsuki.

"Shut the fuck up, hair-for-brains! I'll murder you if you keep talking!" he roars and baring his teeth as if planning to destroy his phone to make Kirishima stop from speaking.

Their classmates only give out a fit of giggles. Izuku joins in and Katsuki remains his glare at the poor innocent screen of his phone.

◘•◘•◘•◘

Aizawa and All Might let their students have their chance to at least talk to Izuku after so long of not having contact with him. They keep raining Izuku with questions and Katsuki scolds them with his usual threatening tone from the other line to ask one by one. The teachers hear Izuku laugh and just give his response as best as he can to them.

The heroes distance themselves from the trio on their back. All Might sees the bothered expression on his friend's face, arms crossed on his chest. Even before he ask why, Aizawa speaks in low voice so his students wouldn't hear them.

"I know her. One of the first villains I've fought back then."

The number one hero's sunken eyes goes wide like saucer plates.

"She literally screams danger. That villain." Aizawa's eyebrows furrows and his black irises sharpens. "I've dealt with that villain and she wasn't that known to public as she's rarely caught in doing such acts and limited witnesses. My encounter with her was a mere coincidence and a dreading one." he says.

"What do you mean she's rarely caught?" All Might asks, also in low tone.

"Kumo Anri wears an unusual mask when in action. She also change her name a lot of times whenever she moves to one place to another, based from her past history. However, on that encounter, on that exact moment of my spying, she revealed her true name. I didn't expect that she'd really use publicly and appear now. And she has a lot of grunts, which I have no idea how she's getting them, and she does not stay in one hideout for too long, is what I'm positive." Aizawa explains.

"A complicated villain, indeed. But..." All Might puts the side of his index finger onto his chin and his thumb underneath. "What do you mean with the 'dreading one'?"

The atmosphere around the two of them becomes heavy. All Might observes Aizawa show grudge and resentment in his face, hands balling into hard fists.

"It's about her quirk. Her quirk is called Disembody. Just remembering how weak I was of not being able to help my team, seeing a part of their body being plucked like feathers with no effort, makes my stomach churn in fury. I can't believe Midoriya got involved into her plot. Makes it all more worse."

Literally, All Might feels harsh goosebumps all over his body. Just hearing those coming from Aizawa cause a cold sweat to roll down from his temple to his jaw. His own fists curl to contain his anger. He didn't actually expect that his fellow hero friend would have experience such terrible thing on his first years of being a professional hero. Anyone with poor resolve would have back out from then but on the other hand...

"That's why..." Aizawa says then makes a full eye contact to All Might. "I'm gonna help out that troublesome student of mine with whatever I can."

◘•◘•◘•◘

A/N: I should have published this last week! I'm terribly sorry! And this is a little bit shorter than the previous chapter so I apologize again. (Sheesh, I apologize alot. Meph.) I have not thoroughly checked if there were errors or typos up there even if I reread this for more than five times. ?

Omg, I finally revealed Kumo Anri's quirk. And it's funny how from Chapter 7 up to this damned Chapter 13 happened only in damn 2 days! ? ﾟﾘﾂ?