He always pictured you and him going out for cold soba when you were older. He would be a pro hero one day, as he wanted, as he trained to be. One of the best.
And he liked to imagine that every Monday or Tuesday or whatever day you and him both had off- he'd treat you to some cold soba at that restaurant in Masutufu that he loved. You'd sit together, talk about your lives, read next to one another maybe, bask in a gentle silence of your siblinghood.
He imagined you'd have a family of your own by then, maybe he'd have one of his. Once the afternoon reached its end he'd go with you. Pick up you and Bakugo's children. One would probably have your hair, the other your eyes.
He imagined going back to your home, having dinner with you and your family- the family he was proud to be a part of. Fuyumi, Natsuo, even Rei, and even his father could come too.
Laughter and smiles and teasing and beautiful conversations stretched out over a beautiful life the two of you deftly deserved.
Because even if you weren't bound by blood, you were his sister. The little girl who'd walked into his home and chose to love him despite not truly having to. Ten years. And after all your growth together, he'd never felt more sure that the future he imagined was in safe hands.
The moment Midoriya, Iida, Kirishima, and Yaoyorozu were at Shoto's side and he watched a bullet make its way into your body he stared, his arms limp at his side as his knees gave out from under him.
He couldn't keep his promise.
And the cost of that was the beautiful future that so suddenly shattered and fell into the rubble with his tears.
***
Atomic felt helpless when he heard your breath hitch. When he saw your eyes go wide through Bakugo's. He heard the eerie sharpness of metal pierce skin, bone, and flesh alike. Saw the fear in you.
Because when people die, the last thing they will ever be is afraid.
No matter whose arms they're in.
And the fact that Atomic couldn't do a thing to alleviate that fear in your final moments. Couldn't do a thing to comfort the boy he needed to protect now.
All he could do was grieve as he reached for you. Only he couldn't reach anymore. Instead, it was like putting his hand against glass as he cried in mourning for the girl he would never again be a part of.
The pressure knocked you forward the moment of impact. It was all so quick Bakugo wasn't sure what happened until you were pushed further into his body.
He didn't understand.
His expression was just confused.
It remained that way when your hands that'd been holding him so tight slowly fell.
Even as your eyes still seeping tears shut closed, your face buried in his chest. Even when your legs gave out. Even as all your muscles went limp. Even as he felt the heat of your blood stain his hands against your back.
Even when your heart stopped beating.
He didn't understand.
Bakugo's breath was slow, but erratic, like- like he was just trying to wrap his head around what just happened.
He kneeled to the ground, still holding your body, his left arm now cradling your shoulders and head, his right keeping your side against him.
He was just so confused, his mind just couldn't comprehend why there was red all over his hands. Why you didn't feel very warm anymore. Why you fell so suddenly.
