MHA Paragon 2.0 Chapter 54: Internship Pt. 3

"GOD MOTHERFUCKING DAMNIT!"

Bakugo cursed viciously as her boot slipped on the steep, uneven terrain. At the last second, she snatched onto a nearby pine tree, gripping the rough bark for support.

"Stupid goddamn rabbit… and her stupid fucking hike."

I chuckled, shifting the weight of my duffle bag higher onto my back.

"You know I was joking about her being able to hear us, right?"

Bakugo’s head snapped toward me, sweat plastered to her forehead, her gaze alight with barely restrained fury.

"Shut up before I kick your ass down this goddamn hill and send you rolling back to the bottom!"

Her roar echoed through the dense cluster of pines, startling birds from their perches, their wings fluttering in panic. Without another word, she turned back around, her movements aggressive but determined as she trudged up the incline.

I trailed a few feet behind, trying to focus on the natural sounds of the forest—the rustling branches, the occasional chirping of unseen birds—but it wasn’t enough to drown out my own labored breathing.

'Alright… let’s see if I can crack this nut.'

"So, when did Mirko offer you an internship?" I asked, breaking the silence.

For a long moment, Bakugo didn’t respond.

Then, finally—

"The day after we came up with our hero names."

Her voice wasn’t sharp this time, but quieter, like she was half-lost in thought.

"Wasn't expecting it, but when I saw her ranking… and some videos of her fighting, I knew she was the real deal."

She exhaled sharply, her pace steady despite the rough incline.

"She’s also one of the few female heroes who doesn’t use her body as a selling point."

I nodded, even though I knew she couldn’t see me.

"Yeah, I checked her out myself. She’s strong… and I bet those videos of her weren’t even her going all out."

Bakugo let out a noncommittal grunt, her breathing still even, though frustrated.

"That’s the only reason I’m tolerating this bullshit." She adjusted her grip on her bag, her hands clenching into fists for a moment. "If I’m not throwing nukes by the end of this internship, I’m going to sue her."

I snorted.

"Pretty sure that’s against the contract you signed," I teased with a grin, watching as her shoulders stiffened slightly.

"But," I added, "I’m also pretty sure you knew that."

Bakugo’s head tilted slightly, but she didn’t stop walking.

Then, she glanced over her shoulder, her red eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"What the hell are you implying?"

I met her gaze, keeping my expression neutral.

"That I think, underneath all that anger, you’re a lot smarter than most people—including me—give you credit for." I shrugged. "Underneath all that anger, of course."

For a moment, she stared at me.

Then—

"Thanks, I’m flattered," she grunted, rolling her eyes as she turned away.

A brief pause, before she added dryly—

"And if you tell me I would be better off being more cutesy or docile, I will break both your legs and leave you out here for whatever scavengers are lurking in this overgrown hellhole."

I laughed, shaking my head.

"Wouldn’t dream of it, Firecracker."

Bakugo stiffened, then snapped her head toward me again, her expression cutting like a blade.

"Why the hell do you keep calling me that?!" she demanded, her voice sharp enough to slice through the air. "I should’ve let you drop during the entrance exam!"

I raised a brow, pretending to ponder that.

"Oh yeah, you did kind of save my life, didn’t you?" I said offhandedly, watching as she whipped her head forward—but not before I caught the faint flush creeping up her face.

I grinned.

‘And the plot thickens.’

Time to press the advantage.

"So," I mused, keeping my voice casual, "why did you become a hero, Firecracker? I have to say, you don’t exactly strike me as the self-sacrificing type."

Bakugo didn’t respond immediately.

I saw the slight twitch of her fingers, the way her jaw clenched, the way she glanced slightly to the side—as if she were debating whether or not to answer.

Then—

"Tch."

She clicked her tongue, her expression unreadable as she kept walking, her steps heavy against the dirt trail.

For a second, I thought she was ignoring me.

Then she spoke.

"Why the hell did you?"

A sharp pivot.

I blinked, caught off guard.

Bakugo didn’t look at me, but her shoulders were tense, her pace slightly quicker, as if daring me to answer.

Huh.

Interesting.

"I asked you first."

"And I don’t care," she shot back, gruff but not dismissive. "Answer the question, dumbass."

I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders.

"Fine," I said, grinning despite myself. "But only if you promise not to cry when I tell you."

Bakugo snorted.

"You’re already on thin fucking ice. Keep digging."

I chuckled, rolling my neck as I glanced up at the long climb ahead.

"Alright, Firecracker. You want a story?"

I adjusted my bag, letting my grin fade just slightly.

"I’ll tell you one."

"So there’s this world, just like this one, but believe it or not, quirks don’t exist," I started, diving back into memories I hadn’t touched in what felt like forever.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Bakugo muttered, glancing at me warily.

"I’m being straight with you: Quirks don’t exist in this world. They’re fictions—just like superheroes; they’re only a thing in movies and comics," I continued, the world around me falling away. "So in this plain, ordinary world, there’s this guy… He isn’t rich or famous. All he wants to do is build and create things with his hands and imagination—things that will outlast him, things that will remain standing after he’s gone. That’s what gives his life purpose. It’s all he ever wanted—to live his dream..."

I trailed off, my vision clouded by memories of a life that no longer existed.

"Well… what happened to him?" Bakugo asked, her voice soft for the first time.

"His parents died," I muttered, exhaling through my nose. "Life never felt the same after that. He forgot his dream. And with it, life… lost its purpose."

"He killed himself?" she asked, hesitant.

"Not technically," I repeated, staring ahead at the steep incline before us. "But there’s a difference between being alive… and actually living."

Bakugo clicked her tongue.

"Tch. Sounds like bullshit."

I huffed a laugh, shaking my head.

"Yeah… I guess it does."

The conversation lapsed into silence, broken only by the occasional crunch of dirt beneath our boots. I thought that was the end of it—Bakugo wasn’t exactly the type to dwell on other people’s sob stories—but then, out of nowhere—

"So, what? You became a hero because of some depressing shit that happened to someone else in a fictional story?"

Her tone wasn’t mocking or disrespectful—just curious.

I could tell she was actually trying to understand me.

"Not exactly," I admitted.

I let my gaze wander, taking in the trees swaying above, the cool mountain breeze cutting through the dense pines.

"It’s not just about saving a person, Firecracker," I said, rolling my shoulders. "It’s about saving everything they carry with them—their dreams, their contributions, the things they leave behind that make the world better."

I glanced at her.

"You ever think about that? That saving one person doesn’t just mean saving them—it means saving everyone who relies and cares about them in the present or woud in the future?"

Bakugo frowned, kicking a loose stone down the hill.

"I guess. Never thought about it like that."

"Yeah, most people don’t."

I sighed, shifting the weight of my duffle bag as we continued climbing.

"That’s why I’m a hero. Because if I can prevent someone from losing themselves—if I can keep them from… giving up—and keep their dream alive...then I’ve done my job."

Bakugo was quiet again, but I could see the way she was grinding her teeth, the way she was thinking.

Then she asked the one question I hoped she wouldn’t.

"Then what about you?" Bakugo scoffed, shoving her hands in her pockets.

"I heard your speech during the tournament," she said bluntly. "You said you’d sacrifice yourself in a heartbeat to save a single person. So what happens if you die? Who’s gonna mourn your dumbass? Whose dreams get ruined then?"

I hesitated.

Bakugo didn’t.

"You ever think about that, dumbass?"

I opened my mouth—then closed it.

For the first time in a long time, I didn’t know how to answer without sounding like an insane person. 

Bakugo must’ve sensed my hesitation because she let out a low, frustrated breath.

"Figures."

She didn’t push.

She just kept walking, the incline getting steeper, the trees thinning as we got closer to the peak.

I exhaled, forcing my mind back into the present.

"I can't explain why," I finally said, my voice quieter than before. "But this life of mine… it’s not worth much."

Bakugo snapped her head toward me, her red eyes sharp.

"What the hell kind of bullshit is that?"

"It’s not bullshit," I replied, grinning slightly, though I could tell it didn’t reach my eyes. "I like living. I really do. But… that’s not my purpose anymore."

Bakugo snorted, shaking her head.

"You’re talking like a goddamn robot."

"Sorry," I chuckled, breaking the heavy mood. "Still flesh and blood."

I then glanced down at my hand and the hidden flux nerves beneth, 'For now at least.' 

Bakugo didn’t say anything at first, but as we continued forward, I saw the way her hands clenched at her sides.

Eventually, she sighed, shaking her head.

"You’re a fucking idiot."

"So I’ve been told."

"I mean it."

"I know."