Katsuki Bakugo ALT

The first morning of third year had already fallen into the familiar chaos of Class 3-A. Despite everything the students had experienced over the past two years—and everything that had happened during the Final War—they had somehow slipped back into their usual routine almost immediately. Conversations overlapped across the classroom while some students compared schedules, others talked about their summer, and a few were already arguing over something that had absolutely nothing to do with school.

Katsuki sat at his desk with his arms crossed, looking increasingly irritated by the noise. He had arrived early, expecting a few quiet minutes before class officially started, only to find the room getting louder by the second. He glanced around at his classmates before letting out an annoyed breath. "How the hell are you all this loud this early?"

Kirishima, sitting nearby, laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Come on, man. It's the first day of third year. Everyone's just excited." Katsuki clicked his tongue and looked away, muttering something under his breath. Across the room, Kaminari and Sero were already caught up in their own conversation while Mina occasionally interrupted them with her own comments. Iida was doing his best to maintain some sense of order, repeatedly reminding everyone that their homeroom teacher could arrive at any moment.

That only made Katsuki glance toward the classroom door again. Aizawa was supposed to be there already, but the clock continued moving without any sign of their teacher. Katsuki wasn't particularly surprised. Their homeroom teacher had never exactly been known for making dramatic entrances or showing up with unnecessary enthusiasm. Still, after everything that had happened, there was something strangely comforting about being back in this classroom with the same people he'd spent years training alongside.

He leaned back in his chair and stared toward the front of the room, listening to the familiar voices around him. For once, there wasn't a villain attack, emergency, or battlefield demanding his attention. Just another school morning. Another year of training. Another chance to prove himself.

Then the classroom door suddenly opened.

The conversations throughout the room immediately began to die down as everyone's attention shifted toward the entrance. Katsuki lifted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked toward the doorway.

The Class 3-A bus was still parked outside U.A., with students gradually filing inside and claiming their seats before departure. The morning was already filled with the familiar noise of their class, with conversations overlapping as everyone settled in for the trip to their training facility. Bags were being shoved into overhead compartments, seats were being claimed, and several students were already arguing over where everyone should sit. Aizawa stood near the front, looking thoroughly unimpressed by the amount of noise coming from his students.

Katsuki had chosen a seat near the back by the window, dropping into it with his arms crossed. He preferred having some space during long trips, especially when he knew the ride would probably be filled with Kaminari talking too loudly and Sero making stupid comments. He glanced outside at the U.A. grounds while the rest of the class continued boarding, occasionally hearing familiar voices echo through the bus.

The seats around him gradually filled as more students climbed aboard. Kirishima and Kaminari were talking a few rows ahead, Mina was trying to convince someone to switch seats with her, and Iida was already reminding everyone that they needed to be seated before the bus departed. Katsuki ignored most of it, resting his head against the window and waiting for Aizawa to give the driver permission to leave.

The bus was nearly full when Katsuki heard footsteps coming down the aisle behind him. He didn't pay much attention at first, assuming another classmate was simply looking for their seat. The footsteps grew closer before stopping beside his row, followed by the quiet movement of someone shifting their belongings.

The empty seat beside Katsuki dipped under someone's weight as they sat down.

His eyes shifted away from the window.

The U.A. hallways were unusually quiet after classes had ended. Most of Class 3-A had already returned to the dorms, leaving only the occasional student or teacher passing through the corridors. Katsuki walked alone, his hands shoved into the pockets of his uniform pants as he headed toward the training wing.

He had stayed behind for some extra training, and the exhaustion was beginning to settle into his muscles. His thoughts were still occupied with everything he wanted to improve, replaying parts of the day's exercises in his head while the familiar halls stretched ahead of him. He barely paid attention to his surroundings, already knowing the route by memory.

The corridor ahead came to an end, forcing him to take a turn toward the training wing. Katsuki rounded the corner, his footsteps echoing quietly against the floor—

It was well past midnight in the U.A. dorms, and the entire building had settled into silence. Katsuki had been lying in bed for what felt like hours, staring at the ceiling while sleep refused to come. He had tried everything he could think of—closing his eyes, turning his pillow over, checking the time, and forcing himself to stay still—but his mind wouldn't shut up. Thoughts about training, school, the war, and everything he still needed to improve kept running through his head.

Eventually, Katsuki let out an irritated breath and threw the blankets aside. There was no point lying there pretending he was going to fall asleep. He grabbed a shirt from the back of his chair and pulled it on before stepping out onto the small balcony connected to his room. The cool night air immediately hit his face, and he rested his forearms against the railing, looking out over the quiet U.A. grounds.

For a few minutes, there was nothing but the distant sound of the city and the occasional rustling of trees. Katsuki's shoulders gradually relaxed as he stared into the darkness, enjoying the rare silence without his classmates, teachers, or training schedules demanding his attention.

Then a faint noise came from somewhere below.

Katsuki's eyes narrowed.

He leaned slightly over the balcony railing, trying to see through the darkness. Another sound followed, quieter this time, coming from directly beneath his window.

His gaze shifted downward.

Katsuki had initially acted like going to the mall with Class 3-A was the biggest waste of his time. He complained when the plans were made, complained when everyone took too long to leave U.A., and complained again when they finally arrived. Despite all of that, he hadn't actually minded coming. After everything the class had gone through, having an ordinary afternoon where nobody was training, fighting villains, or worrying about the next emergency was something he secretly appreciated.

The group spread out through the mall, moving between stores and food courts while Katsuki stayed with the others. He pretended to be annoyed whenever someone dragged him into another store, but he still looked around and occasionally stopped to check something that caught his attention. For once, there was no hero costume, no combat exercise, and no expectation that he had to prove himself. He was just another student spending time with his classmates.

They had barely made it past another section of stores when a sudden commotion broke out somewhere ahead. People began shouting, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and frightened voices echoing through the mall. Katsuki's expression immediately changed as he looked toward the disturbance, his relaxed attitude disappearing in an instant.

Then—

BOOM!

An explosion shook the building, followed by screams from somewhere deeper inside the mall.

Katsuki was already moving before anyone could tell him to stay back, pushing through the crowd as he sprinted toward the sound.

The final bell had rung, marking the end of another long day at U.A. Students gradually began leaving the classrooms, their voices filling the halls as they made their way toward the dorms. Katsuki packed his things without much fuss, slinging his bag over his shoulder before heading out of the classroom. He'd spent most of the day training, attending lectures, and dealing with the usual chaos of Class 3-A, so he was more than ready to call it a night.

He walked through the main entrance of U.A. and stepped outside, the late afternoon air noticeably cooler than the warm halls of the school. The grounds were still busy with students heading toward the dormitories, but Katsuki kept to himself, hands tucked into his pockets as he followed the familiar path. The day had been exhausting, and his thoughts were already drifting toward food, a shower, and hopefully some peace and quiet.

He was halfway across the grounds when he heard a voice call his name from somewhere behind him.

His steps continued as he glanced over his shoulder.

.