From the Shadows || Katsuki Bakugou x OC

Chapter Twenty-six

A.N.- The next couple of chapters are probably going to be fairly short, mainly because I started writing these chapters during the school year and I have to not fail. Thanks for understanding!

"Looks like this is going to be another long match." I sighed to myself, with quirks so similar, it's hard to say whether Kiri or Tetsutetsu will win. "I'm going on another walk." Katsuki gently squeezed my hand before letting go of it. Wait, how did I not realize he was holding my hand?

With a minimal amount of heat reaching my cheeks, I made my way over to the waiting area where Ochako is. Tenya came along, there's no doubt he's also worried for her. I mean, she is going against Katsuki in the next round.

Once we got there, Tenya opened the door and Ochako greeted us. "Hi Tenya, Keiko. You two did great in your matches."

"Thanks, Ura- ugh! What's with that face?" Tenya exclaimed. Her face does look a little odd to say the least. But maybe don't be so obvious?

"My face?" Her facial expression went from whatever it was doing to a more relaxed and slightly nervous expression. "Oh! It's nothing! I guess I'm not great at hiding how nervous I am."

The two of us walked into the room, Tenya nodding, "I get that, you are up against Bakugou, after all. Not exactly an easy match."

Ochako quietly giggled, letting her head drop down, "Yeah, I'm kinda scared. But you know, after seeing your match I feel a little better."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means she thinks you looked ridiculous during your match." I responded nonchalantly.

While Ochako and I were laughing our asses off and Tenya was saying that was a rude thing to say, the door clicked open and Izuku came in.

"Uraraka."

"Uh- Deku? Why aren't you out there watching the matches."

I jokingly raised my hand, "Oh, I know the answer!"

Izuku and Ochako chuckled at me while Tenya just looked confused.

"Is your answer that most of the matched turned out how I expected. And that Kirishima's match is probably going to take a while."

"Spot on."

Izuku redirected his attention to Ochako. "She's right, that's why I'm here."

"But either way, since your match is next, I think you'll be alright. There's no way Bakugou would use his full explosions on a girl." Tenya confidently stated.

"No, he would." Ochako let out a small panicked whimper. "And besides, everyone's going to try and get the top spot, even if she wasn't fighting Kacchan, I don't think anyone would hold back."

I walked up beside Ochako and grabbed her shoulders, looking directly into her eyes. "It means he sees you as a tough opponent. He knows you're strong." She still seems tense. "I would know, I was sitting right next to him, and he tried to get me to help him think of a strategy to beat you. Of course, I refused since that wouldn't be fair because he knows I'm friends with you."

"But, what does a strategy have to do with him thinking I'm tough?"

"Because if he thought you were weak, he wouldn't even bother making a strategy, he would rely on his ego." I chuckled thinking of the conversation we had during Tokoyami and Yaoyorozu's match. "He even said 'Are you helping the enemy or something? I'll blow you to smithereens.' As in, he's worried that if I am helping you, he could lose." I let go of her shoulders and backed up a bit, allowing the others to cheer her on.

"She's right Uraraka. Which is why I want to help you. You've helped me so much, so I want to repay you." He grabbed his notebook and started flipping through the pages, "I've got a plan for how you can use your quirk against Kacchan. It's not much but I did my best."

"Hey! All right! This is perfect!" Tenya smiled and gave thumbs up to everyone.

Ochako softly smiled at us all, "Thank you so much for doing that. But I can't accept this."