Conflicted Hearts: A Hero's Battle for Love

Chapter 12: Truth's Sting

Narrator's POV:

The mysterious shadow slinked deeper into the dark alley, vanishing into the shadows that swallowed its form. It moved with an grace, as if blending seamlessly into the night. The air crackled with anticipation as the shadow ventured further, disappearing into the unknown.

Through a mystical portal, the shadow materialized before its boss, an imposing figure seated upon a regal throne. The boss exuded an air of authority, their gaze piercing the darkness to meet the shadow's sinister grin.

"Boss, I've got some new information," the shadow spoke, a wicked smile playing on their lips. The boss, surprised by the shadow's success, couldn't help but react. "Wow, you actually managed to gather intel?" they exclaimed, a mix of amusement and curiosity coloring their voice.

The shadow felt a tinge of irritation at the boss's comment. "First of all, that's rude," the shadow retorted, their voice tinged with annoyance. "And secondly, yes, I've got the information."

Leaning forward, the boss's eyes gleamed with excitement. "So, spill it. What did you find out?" they asked eagerly, their voice filled with intrigue.

The shadow paused, savoring the boss's undivided attention. "It seems our targets are dating," the shadow revealed, a malevolent satisfaction seeping into their words.

A wicked grin spread across the boss's face as they realized the implications. "Ah, this makes our job much easier," they exclaimed, rising from their throne and stepping into the light, casting away the shadows that surrounded them.

"Don't you think, Toga?" Shigaraki questioned, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Toga's smile echoed her boss's sinister demeanor. "Indeed, Shigaraki," Toga responded.

Meanwhile, with our heroes:

 Bakugo and Deku strolled down the hall towards their classroom. As they reached the entrance of Class 1A, a mischievous smile curled across Deku's face. In a swift, daring move, he pulled Bakugo towards him, planting a quick, unexpected kiss on his lips. The intensity of their connection was palpable, causing Bakugo's heart to skip a beat. Deku let go of bakugo and With a flicker of surprise, Bakugo opened the door, and together they entered the classroom.

Their classmates turned their heads, Bakugo could feel Uraraka's piercing glare directed at him, but he chose to ignore it. As the students settled into their seats, Sero broke the silence. "Do you guys know where Sensei Aizawa is?" he asked, searching for answers.

Deku and Bakugo exchanged a glance before turning their attention to Sero. "Sensei's not here?" Deku questioned, his voice laced with concern. "The last time we saw him was during detention," Bakugo chimed in, shrugging nonchalantly.

They made their way to their desks and took a seat, their minds filled with unanswered questions. Just as they settled in, their teacher Aizawa walked into the room, commanding attention. Before Kirishima could finish his sentence, Aizawa's serious voice cut him off. "Problem children and Mina, come with me," he declared.

Deku and Bakugo exchanged another glance, their curiosity now piqued by the unexpected summons. The three rose from their seats and followed Aizawa out of the classroom, their footsteps echoing down the hall. Eventually, they arrived at Nezu's office, where they were greeted by their parents and Jeremy, the young boy Bakugo had clashed with earlier, they sported a cast on his nose and arm, a result of their previous altercation.

Aizawa closed the door behind them, and they all took their seats, a tense atmosphere settling over the room. Nezu wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter. "So, what exactly happened?" he inquired, his eyes darting between the parties involved.

Jeremy, his face turning red with anger, erupted with accusations. "Well, this villain that you call a hero attacked me and broke my arm and nose!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with bitterness.

Bakugo, already irritated by the student's voice, couldn't help himself. "If you hadn't done what you did, you wouldn't have been beaten up extra," he retorted, his frustration evident.

Jeremy's dad, his face contorted with anger, addressed Bakugo directly. "What exactly did my son do to warrant not only a broken arm but a broken nose as well?" he demanded, his voice trembling with rage.

Bakugo didn't hold back. "Well, your son sexually harassed my friend, in case you're unaware," he shot back, his words cutting through the tension.

"My son would never do such a thing!" Jeremy's mom yelled in her son's defense, her voice filled with denial. "And even if he did, we'd be proud of him," Jeremy's dad added, his tone defiant.

Mitsuki, Bakugo's mother, couldn't contain her anger any longer. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" she shouted, her voice seething with fury.

Bakugo's frustration reached its peak, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "At least I'm not a villain like your son. Who gets kidnapped by the League of Villains? He was so weak that he couldn't even escape on his own. All Might had to save him. And he's not a hero; he's literally a villain. He's always yelling at people, and I've never seen him do one kind thing or heard him say one kind word to anyone. He has a bunch of stupid nicknames for everyone. You need to control your child. Now I see where he gets his attitude from," Jeremy spat out, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air.

As the tension escalated, Aizawa prepared himself to restrain Bakugo, preventing him from attacking Jeremy once again. Mina, sensing the impending conflict, was about to intervene and calm Bakugo down. Deku, understanding the pain Bakugo was feeling, felt powerless to do anything as he wasn't ready to reveal their relationship to everyone just yet.

Before anyone could react, Bakugo walked towards the door, opened it, and turned back to face Jeremy. "You know, Jeremy, if you truly knew how I felt, you wouldn't have said those things. But it doesn't matter. It looks like you're right. Eraserhead seemed ready to restrain me, and I could tell Mina was about to intervene as well," Bakugo revealed, his voice laced with vulnerability.

Jeremy, shocked by Bakugo's unexpected confession, was left speechless. Bakugo left and closed the door behind him, his emotions overwhelming him. As he walked away, the echoes of his mother's angry voice filled the hallway. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Control your stupid child! Did you see what he just did to my son?" she yelled.

"Well, it's not our son's fault that your son can't control his words. And our son is right. We can see where he gets that attitude from," Jeremy's mother retorted, her gaze sweeping over Bakugo's mother.

Bakugo, his heart heavy with hurt, felt tears streaming down his cheeks. He hadn't even realized he was crying until it was too late. He touched his cheek, wiping away the tears, and stared at his trembling hand for a moment. Then, without any further hesitation, he ran towards the bathroom, seeking solace in seclusion. He didn't want anyone to see him in such a vulnerable state.

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Word Count:1145

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