My hero academia:Am I worthy?

Left alone without the honest friends who surrounded him, Katsuki walked home once again after school, seeing his childhood best friend, who rightly spat in his face with his words. He expected nothing less from his friend, in Katsuki's opinion. Izuku still remained the same, but after he was publicly condemned, he hadn't appeared at school for a week, which troubled Katsuki. However, due to his ego, he didn't bother to check on him or find out how he was doing. He was worried not out of concern for Izuku but because he feared that he might die after following his advice about his quirk. Katsuki closed himself off but understood why Izuku decided not to attend school for an entire week.

Still, he feared that Izuku had gone to his mother, leaving Mitsuki in grief over what she had seen.

"He has changed; he has become colder than before. The Deku who once feared to glance in my direction now openly mocks me, showing off his strength," Katsuki muttered to himself as he left the school. He watched as Deku walked without fearing someone would sneak up from behind and try to use their quirk on him. Recently, he realized that he would soon become an older brother. Mitsuki had decided to visit Izuku, but due to work, she kept postponing it.

Katsuki didn't want to go to Izuku's house after what he had done to him. The remnants of his conscience told him that it would be the biggest mistake of his life. He had hurt him, making him cry on the ground. He remembered how every harsh word made Deku ready to burst into tears. He recalled kicking him, hitting him with his hands, and even using his quirk on him, trying to inflict maximum pain. He remembered how he openly mocked his dreams, comparing him to filth and taunting him each time, saying he could never be someone in this society, thus destroying Izuku's last hope for a normal self-esteem.

Katsuki stopped in the middle of the street, staring into emptiness. Memories surged over him like a wave, causing his heart to clench. Every cruel act, every insult, every tear from Izuku came alive in his mind, like an open wound. He couldn't understand why it surfaced now. Why did it bother him at all? His explosive hair blew in the wind, but as he walked on, the feeling of guilt for all his sins against him lingered. Piece by piece, he remembered how he first used his quirk on him, causing him pain that pleased him deep down. Sometimes, Deku complained to his mother, which infuriated him even more; he promised to be a hero but cried like a girl under his mother's skirt.

Once, Deku complained to Inko that one of the bullies who tormented him was Katsuki, and later that evening, after hearing a two-hour lecture from his parents in harsh tones, Katsuki learned nothing from it, but instead, it fueled his hatred for Izuku. Later, he lost his mother, and hearing his mother sob from the loss of her best friend did not touch Katsuki; instead, it became a stronger push for him to bully Izuku. But every time, with every blow, Deku stood up again. Katsuki was impressed, but he didn't know how to express his admiration; he just hit him harder, using violence as a method.

Despite lacking a quirk, Izuku showed his determination and desire to become a hero like ALLMIGHT. Bakugo felt threatened, as he understood that Izuku could surpass him despite all his talents. But like all children, he grew up, realizing that in his youth, he had been a freak who asserted himself at the expense of others. However, a brief but impactful conversation with his father left him puzzled when Deku was shown on television in a less-than-favorable light.

Masaru was an extremely quiet and balanced member of the family, unlike his son and wife, who often staged scenes in the house, especially before dinner. Katsuki considered him weak for his calmness and compassion; he saw in him a more adult version of Deku, who had achieved nothing in his life, remaining a failure walking under Mitsuki's heel. Although Masaru displayed caution and gentleness, he was not that weak. Katsuki viewed his father's kindness as a weakness that embarrassed his ego, and he couldn't believe that such a loser as Masaru could be his father. As he grew older, Katsuki began to notice that some of his character traits were starting to manifest in him, which annoyed him.

One evening, when they were left alone together, they had to have dinner like father and son. They often communicated, but from Katsuki's tone, he clearly understood that his own son was ashamed to have a father like him.

Sitting at the table, Katsuki slowly chewed his food, looking at his plate filled with various vegetables, rice, and salmon adorning it. But he didn't like the taste of the fish and garnish, and he wanted to spit the food on the floor.

"Old man, where's the hot sauce?" he grumbled, glancing at Masaru, who was quietly eating his food, looking at Katsuki, who was more tense than ever. He often showed his disdain for Mitsuki, but in front of Masaru, he oddly fell silent, as if forgetting how to talk.

"The hot sauce is in the fridge, on the bottom shelf," Masaru replied with a warm smile at his son, but in response, he received a negative growl through gritted teeth and a hostile look from his son, who hunched over and went to get the hot sauce from the fridge.

"Katsuki, I wanted to know how your school is going?" Masaru asked in a gentle tone, to which Katsuki, grabbing the sauce, slammed the fridge door shut with force, expressing his ill intentions and tone.

"What do you want, old man? School is fine, the studies aren't hard, and there are these damn statistics everywhere, circling around me asking to sort out their problems," he huffed irritably, forcefully squeezing the sauce onto his dish, looking at his father's kind face, which reminded him of Izuku, from whom he wanted to escape as quickly as possible.

"That's amazing, Katsuki, that you are putting in effort for your studies," Masaru replied, smiling warmly at him, but in return, he was met with absolute silence from Katsuki, who quietly chewed his food.

"I haven't visited him in a long time, but how is Izuku Midoriya doing? I hope he's okay?" Upon hearing about Deku, Katsuki's face twisted at the thought of the green-haired pest who knew how to cry and complain to everyone. Katsuki abruptly placed his chopsticks on the table, hitting the wooden surface loudly. His teeth were clenched, and anger flared in his eyes. His father's words about Deku struck a nerve. He felt a wave of rage rising within him, leaving no room for reason.

"Why are you asking about him?" he snapped sharply without looking at Masaru.

"He's more important to you than your own son? Do you even understand who he is now? He's just quirkless," Masaru maintained his calmness, although his gaze became slightly more serious. He moved his plate aside and looked at Katsuki with concern, but also firmness. He was displeased that he had called his dead mother's son pathetic and useless, judging by his tone.

"I'm just worried about you, Katsuki. And about him too. You grew up together; you're friends. And despite everything that happened between you, he's still important to you, even if you won't admit it." The words about Deku's importance in his life caused beads of sweat to form on Katsuki's palms, making him involuntarily want to explode the table he was sitting at. But no matter how much he considered his father a loser, he couldn't allow himself to do that.

"Don't speak for me!" Katsuki shouted in fury, jumping up from his chair, nearly overturning it. His fists clenched to the point of whitening, and his breath became heavy as thoughts of Deku filled his mind with disgust.

"You know nothing about how I feel! You've always been a weakling like him, who can only smile like an idiot!" Masaru remained seated at the table, calmly meeting the rage of his son, which spilled over like an overflowing cup. Sometimes he caught himself thinking that he was following in his mother's footsteps, completely unaware that he would take the best from both parents.

"Strength is not the ability to be rude, Katsuki. True strength lies in forgiveness. In taking responsibility for your mistakes." These words only further enraged Katsuki. He could no longer tolerate this conversation. Turning around, he quickly made his way to the door, unwilling to stay with a loser like him any longer.

"I'm fed up with this," he spat as he opened the door with such force that it slammed against the wall.

"Stop telling me how I should be! As if it's my job to support the weak when they should be falling underfoot!" And with those words, he left, leaving Masaru alone at the table. The father remained sitting in silence, tiredly gazing at the half-eaten plate that Katsuki had left untouched. His face expressed not only sadness but hope.

"One day you will understand, Katsuki," he said quietly, watching his son leave.

"But I just hope that by that time, you won't lose those who are important to you." Outside, Katsuki was already racing away from home, unable to stop the chaos of thoughts in his head. He wanted to forget everything: his father, Deku, school... But Masaru's voice continued to echo in his head, reminding him of what he didn't want to acknowledge.

Why should someone like him care and pay attention to such a worthless and pathetic idiot, wasting all his free time on heroes, studying their stupid techniques that wouldn't help him in life at all?

Not expecting that his father's words would play a cruel joke on him like Chekhov's gun, Masaru was right; he had forever lost his friend who had been honest with him, and he, like a beast, hadn't even bothered to stand by his side when he needed support the most after losing his closest person. Even now, watching Izuku's receding figure, Bakugo followed him with a sympathetic gaze. Walking towards home amidst the noise of cars and the sun setting on the horizon, he was lost in thought about how he would act and how much of an idiot he would be if he repeated Deku's fate with his future younger brother and sister.

As he passed through the alleyways between buildings, he heard someone tearfully pleading for help. Out of curiosity, Katsuki went searching for the person and saw upperclassmen kicking a younger student on the ground. The boy, lying on the ground, tried to do something with his hands, but all his attempts were like a drop in the ocean, and, lying there, he cried, unable to fight back.

Three upperclassmen were mocking him, showing their disdain, showing no mercy. Their feet continued to rain blows down on his chest and head. Seeing this, Katsuki involuntarily recalled himself and Deku, who had been similarly bullied. He was a hero; he should help him, but the memories still wouldn't leave him. His breathing became uneven, and all past confidence disappeared, forcing him to watch as the boy was beaten until he lost consciousness.

"Do you think he's dead?" one of them asked, approaching him closer.

"Nah, I didn't hit him hard; he just lost consciousness," he said, brushing his hand as he approached the leader standing in the center of the group.

"This will teach him not to approach other people's girls." Spitting on him, all three left the scene, abandoning the boy alone in the alley. Bakugo, watching the boy being beaten, didn't dare to approach out of his cowardice, which he had shown. Upset by his own actions, he asked himself a question that made him feel ashamed, nearly vomiting from the school food he had eaten that day.

"What would Deku do?" he asked himself, lowering his head and heading home. He would definitely have intervened, saying that it was unfair, but would have still received a few kicks like that boy, but his idiotic heroic nature would have manifested itself in that situation, and Katsuki would have admired him, even though he hated him with all his heart.

On his way home, Katsuki walked like a shadow. Thoughts about what had happened and a dull sense of guilt tormented him. He couldn't forget the beaten boy left without help. His pride resisted acknowledging his mistakes, but deep down, something stirred, causing him irritation and anxiety.

The sun was almost hidden behind the horizon, and the alleyways were bathed in soft evening light. The air was filled with coolness. Passing by the trash cans, Katsuki heard a quiet sob. Stopping, he saw a figure hunched against the wall. The boy was sitting, covering his face with his hands. His shoulders shook from suppressed sobs.

"Hey," Katsuki said, approaching the boy, who, like Izuku, hugged himself, trying to appear smaller than his actual size.

"If this is Deku, then maybe this is the punishment I have to atone for," he thought to himself, seeing how the boy was still crying without even looking his way.

"Why are you sniveling here? Get up and tell me what happened!" With his cynical tone, Bakugo looked at the boy, who, like Deku, annoyed him just as much with his weakness of whining and crying at every opportunity. The boy slowly raised his head. His red hair was tangled, and a fresh bruise was visible under one eye. He looked roughly the same age as Katsuki. The boy's face expressed a mix of fear and exhaustion.

"Go away if you came to laugh," he hoarsely shot back, trying not to meet Bakugo's gaze. Katsuki clenched his fists, hearing those words. Something in them struck a nerve. He remembered how Izuku had said almost the same thing when Katsuki had bullied him. The memory stirred a sense of shame within him, burning him from the inside like molten metal.

"Listen, you, dirt-haired loser, you're going to tell me what happened, or I'll leave another bruise, but this time under your other eye," he threatened, but the boy sensed that it would be even worse if he remained silent. Gritting his teeth, he finally answered, not wanting to receive another blow when he had already suffered enough at the hands of all the bullies. The boy hesitated for a long time, clearly contemplating whether to trust him. Then he sighed and, not looking at Katsuki, whispered:

"Upperclassmen. The same ones as always. I told them I wouldn't let them bully others... And now, here's the result." Bakugo tensed his jaw. Those words painfully reminded him of Deku's idiotic heroism. He always jumped into problems, trying to protect others even when he couldn't protect himself. Then he received punishment from others for his foolish selflessness.

"You're just like them, aren't you? Rude, strong, and you don't care about anyone, right?" he muttered quietly while Katsuki processed everything he had said.

"You idiot!!" he shouted, startling the boy, but his tone was much different: not malice but a strange respect he should have shown but couldn't. And now, after the conversation with Masaru and Fuyumi, he could change for the better, if not for himself, then perhaps for his future as a hero.

"You're an idiot who pokes his nose where it doesn't belong, and instead of ignoring it, you decided to just intervene and take hits instead of living peacefully. You're just as much of an idiot as he is!!" In a fit of rage, Bakugo grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, piercing him with his fiery red eyes, causing the boy's tears to flow even more.

"I wanted to protect those guys; they did nothing to him. I want to be a hero like the Crimson Riot, but I..." Not finishing his sentence, his shirt became loose, allowing him to feel relief.

"Why are you, idiot, complicating life for yourself and others? Oh, come on, what did you expect? That you would intervene, chase off the bullies, and all the girls in your class would drop their skirts for you?" At that question, a slight blush appeared on his face, but out of embarrassment, and summoning all his courage, he stood up from the ground, pointing a finger at Bakugo.

"I didn't want all the girls to throw themselves at me, but I stand for justice, even though I don't have the strongest quirk; I want to become a hero." From the broken person, his words became more resolute, and the resemblance to Deku manifested even stronger in him. Maybe if Deku had a quirk, he would be like this?

"This is nonsense," Bakugo replied to himself, looking at Kirishima, who was pointing at him but hadn't dared to be rude in his manner as he had with Deku.

"If you want to be a hero who cries in alleyways, then you don't belong in their ranks. Shut your mouth and finally grow stronger and, for heaven's sake, grow some balls!" Bakugo shouted, igniting Kirishima's inner fire even more. His words inspired the boy, but he still decided to go along with him.

"Um... Thanks, my name is Eijiro Kirishima, nice to meet you." He extended his hand for a handshake, and not used to expressing and showing emotions, Katsuki merely placed his hands in his pockets and clicked his tongue in response to the boy's gratitude.

"I was going home, not to meet some losers who cry like babies," he replied, turning away from him, but Kirishima's persistence knew no bounds.

"Hey, wait."

"What do you want?" he replied with irritation when Kirishima touched his shoulder.

"I don't even know your name. Honestly, you're very brave." The sadness disappeared from Kirishima's face, giving way to curiosity, and a silly smile, like Deku's, appeared.

"Bakugo Katsuki, satisfied?" he said, clenching his fists upon hearing that. The boy's words, so familiar and bitter, cut into his nerves. He remembered how Izuku had once looked at him with the same eyes, filled with fear and pain, but hiding the hope that someone would come to help.

"I'm not here to make friends," he said, trying to suppress the irritation in his voice. This was a strange feeling for Katsuki; he wasn't used to saying things like that, not used to showing compassion. But something inside him urged him to take this step. The boy fell silent, evaluating Katsuki with a look, as if trying to decide if he could trust him. The silence dragged on as the wind softly rustled outside the alley.

"Why do you want to know? You won't do anything anyway," he challenged, trying to appear tougher than he actually felt. Katsuki gritted his teeth to avoid lashing out. He understood that mocking and bullying wouldn't help here. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.

"Maybe I used to be a complete jerk, but I'm learning from my mistakes," Katsuki said with unexpected honesty.

"I want to help. If you don't mind—" The red-haired boy hesitated but eventually nodded slightly. His shoulders slumped, and his gaze dulled with exhaustion. Katsuki extended his hand, and after a few seconds of hesitation, the boy finally took it.

"They've just had enough of me..." the boy said dully, smiling.

"They think they can do whatever they want because I have a weak quirk." Kirishima's quirk didn't stand out for its strength but had the potential for a heroic future that Bakugo didn't yet know about, but the determination he showed, like Deku, meant he would either become his rival or create a new friend ready to stand by him.

"You know what? I don't care what your quirk is," Katsuki said unexpectedly for himself, realizing the internal conflict he faced before responding.

"If anyone bothers you, come to me. We'll deal with it." Kirishima looked at him, still with distrust, but something in Katsuki's eyes made him nod.

"Are you heading home? I'll walk you." The boy nodded again, and they headed toward the alley's exit. For Katsuki, this small step felt huge. Inside, doubts and fears still bubbled, but for the first time in a long time, he felt a glimmer of something new—a desire to change himself. Even if just a little. Unexpectedly, he felt good about his action, and as he accompanied Kirishima home, Bakugo felt the old Katsuki he remembered slightly crumble, but his character remained unchanged.

Listening to Kirishima's enthusiastic stories about bravery, Bakugo recalled how Deku had told him about heroes in a similar way, but back then, instead of listening to him, he had just pushed him away, and now this was a new chance to start over, not by destroying but by creating something unique.

"You know, Bakugo-san, I think we could become good friends," Kirishima extended his hand, which Katsuki didn't dare to shake, and with annoyance, he brushed his hand away with the back of his palm, indicating that he couldn't accept this gesture.

Finally, their paths diverged, and Katsuki headed home as the sun set behind the horizon. Too many similarities and memories had tormented him more than ever in recent times. Understanding all his sins that he had committed and how unfairly he had treated the people who had been kind to him, he refused to accept it, fearing it would show weakness towards himself, and for that, the few who held a grudge against him would stab him in the back.

Upon entering the house, Katsuki was struck by the enticing smell of baked goods that attracted him. The aroma was extremely appealing in every sense of the word. Cinnamon with apple filling permeated the entire house, and it was his mother who was joyfully humming to herself while bustling around the kitchen. She seemed strangely happy today, which made him uneasy. Perhaps it meant that the world didn't revolve around him? But he wouldn't let anxious thoughts or doubts break him.

"Hey, old witch, what are you cooking?" Bakugo asked in his usual manner, catching his mother's attention, who shot him a menacing look.

"When will you finally learn to call me 'Mom,' you spawn of the devil?" In a cartoonish manner, veins appeared at her temples, and her eyes turned white with sharp edges as she showed Katsuki her fist.

"Pff, as if I'd call you Mom! The world would have to turn upside down for that to happen," Bakugo scoffed, feeling his mother's unfriendly gaze on him.

"You still don't have the balls to talk to me like that," Mitzuki said, grabbing a piece of dough and throwing it at him, but she missed.

"Damn, you've lost it, witch. Why are you baking this damn pie on a Monday?" Bakugo asked, outraged at the piece of dough thrown at him.

"This pie isn't for you; it's for Izuku. I haven't visited him in a long time, and after recently being at the cemetery with Inko, I want to talk to him personally." The mention of Deku sent a shiver down Katsuki's spine, but considering his still-living conscience, he didn't dare to go there. He knew how he had treated Izuku and that he would never let him into his home. This house still belonged to Aunt Inko, and remembering how he had insulted both Deku's feelings and the deceased woman with hurtful words, Katsuki wouldn't have dared to go there, even if he had the audacity of the whole world.

"Tell me, son of Satan, how is Izuku doing? Is he alright? You haven't bullied him since the last time Inko complained to me, have you?" Mitzuki's questions remained open, and knowing what he had done to him over the past few years, his heart skipped a beat, causing his palms to sweat involuntarily from stress.

"He's fine, he goes to school, still being a nerd." Mitzuki snorted, squinting.

"Well, well, he goes to school, nerd… Katsuki, you know I'm not stupid. If you've done something, better say it now. I don't want to hear it from Izuku." Katsuki felt his throat dry up. He averted his gaze, trying to appear indifferent, but there was still anxiety in his voice.

"Why are you coming down on me? I haven't touched him in a long time." It was an obvious lie that Katsuki cleverly concealed, but no matter how selfish he was, he still felt guilt for what he had done.

"Uh-huh, sure," Mitzuki shot him a skeptical glance.

"Alright, enough excuses. You're coming with me. No 'no'." She said with a tone that sent shivers down Katsuki's spine.

"I'm not going anywhere, especially not with you." Katsuki tried to defend himself, but sensing her son's nervousness, she decided to play on his emotions.

"Pff, is our brave, sweaty-palmed boy afraid to visit his old friend?" She laughed, causing memories of his bullying Izuku to flash before him and how he had become now.

"Enough games, Katsuki, do you hear me? You're going with me, or for the next week, you'll be cleaning toilets." Katsuki snorted upon hearing his mother's threat, but inside, everything was boiling. He knew that resisting was useless; Mitzuki was a woman of her word, and her threats were never empty.

"I'd rather clean toilets than go to him." He retorted loudly, causing Mitzuki to groan in annoyance as she pulled the pie out of the oven.

"Well, go clean the damn toilet. Katsuki, this is just a visit to your friend; do you really think it could turn into a disaster?" Waving him off, Mitzuki shrugged her shoulders, unaware of how much their relationship had deteriorated.

"I said no, so no. Leave me alone." Finally, rising to the stairs, he vanished from her view, going to his room and slamming the door loudly behind him.

"What a stubborn mule. Fine, if you don't want to, I won't force you," she grumbled, blowing on the freshly baked pie. Izuku had no idea about Mitzuki's recent pregnancy; she hadn't visited him for almost a year, and during that time, a lot had changed.

****

"Apart from that, we have other tasks besides toppling criminal families," he said thoughtfully, jotting down future goals while talking to Venom. The alliance had become so strong that Izuku hardly saw a better conversational partner than him in his life.

"We dealt a minor but quite significant blow to the Miyamoto family, but that's still not enough. In a month, they'll recover their strength, and they will bounce back from our strike," Izuku mumbled as he rapidly wrote everything in a notebook, sketching various schemes. He couldn't jump any further with his head, as due to his negative media presence in the eyes of society, he would now have to go on night patrols less frequently to avoid becoming food for bigger fish.

"But before making such a big step forward, we need to get rid of the dead weight on our leg. For instance, Kaiber is still alive; we haven't avenged him yet, and Bakugo is still our enemy. We need to strike the most painful spot," Venom interrupted Izuku's mumbling. Although Andy was right, he agreed with him, as that thought was still in his mind, and Venom simply voiced it, not making him repeat this thought like a scratched record.

"I don't know where Kaiber is, and even the shadow broker who can find anyone confirmed that he doesn't know where he is," Izuku countered, causing Venom to snort in an attempt to push his host toward more radical measures to free himself from his shackles.

"But Bakugo is openly mocking us. We taught Katsuki a lesson, but he won't back off while we continue to kick the air," Izuku stopped writing and looked at Venom through the reflection in the window. His eyes were tired but burned with determination. With each passing day, morality faded into the background, and with cold calculation, it was hard to argue because it led to better results than wasting time on compassion and paying attention to protecting civilians.

"I know," he finally said.

"Bakugo is too stubborn to leave everything in the past. Even if we are enemies, that won't stop him."

"Then make a move. Let's strike at the very heart. Let's destroy him from within," Venom grinned, showing his white, sharp teeth as he wrapped his tentacles around his host, who was currently gazing at his reflection in the mirror, understanding the meaning of Andy's words.

"Give him what he fears. Show him that you are no longer the weakling he thinks you are. We are stronger than him, we are smarter. We don't need him. Bakugo's family is not needed," Venom whispered sinisterly, his words echoing around the room even if his voice was unheard by anyone.

"It's not that simple," Izuku slowly rubbed his temples, to which Venom snorted, hiding his irritation while showing only goodwill. Venom snorted once more, but continuing to voice Izuku's hidden desires, he pushed him toward more confident actions.

"Fear has always been your enemy, Izuku. You fear losing control, you fear destroying the lives of others. But who among them cares about you besides Fuyumi? Has anyone among these people ever valued your kindness?"

"Even under the guise of Silent Phantom, we are still considered villains when we save their lives," Izuku removed the tentacles from himself, looking out the window where evening had fallen.

The arguments were undeniable, and for the first time in a long while, Izuku gave in to his desires, which overpowered his rationality. Venom was unconditionally pleased with this, as Izuku finally stopped resisting his true feelings and accepted them.

"Knowing that we are being hunted not only by heroes but also by the Hero Commission, I think we need an upgrade," Izuku said, pulling out a folder containing various equipment he had managed to borrow from heroes interacting with quirks.

"Hm, interesting. This could enhance our powers," Venom remarked, watching as Izuku flipped through pages describing numerous pieces of armor and weapons used by heroes.

"You said that swords are ineffective, but perhaps hidden claws could be a formidable weapon if we catch the enemy off guard," Venom smiled contentedly, realizing this would increase their chances of victory against armored opponents or those with strong quirks.

"This is a close-combat element, but we shouldn't forget about defense. For example, a mask that filters gases," Izuku continued, flipping through the section dedicated to heroes who cover their faces for various reasons. "Though it's hard to deny the existence of heroes who release gases from different parts of their bodies."

"Hm, that's not a bad idea, but I can handle that too. My tendrils won't let gases enter the airways," Venom declared, and Izuku's face was instantly covered by a symbiotic mask.

"I understand, but that consumes extra calories, which increases hunger. We won't be able to stay in that state for long, especially in a fire or in a room filled with sleeping gas," Izuku countered, continuing to flip through the folder.

"We have pretty good regeneration, but every time I get pierced or hit, I feel pain in my tendons and organs. I won't even mention the recovering organs," Izuku added, hearing Venom's dissatisfied grumbling as it spread its tendrils in different directions.

Disputes and discussions about various types of equipment continued, but the suit had to remain the same—this was insisted upon by Venom, who disliked any colors other than black and white.

The further discussion was interrupted by a ring at the intercom, breaking their concentration. Sensing danger, Venom instantly vanished into the host's body, irritated by the sound. Izuku slowly got up from the chair and approached the door, assessing the situation before opening it.

"Who do you think it is?" Venom asked, ready to unleash its tendrils at any moment.

"I don't know, but we shouldn't attack our guest right away," Izuku replied, unlocking the door and turning the handle. A sharp scent of women's perfume hit his nose. Standing before him was a well-groomed middle-aged woman who had maintained her figure. Her short golden-wheat hair and stylish clothing completed the image. She held a pie in her hands.

"Oh, Izuku, my baby!" she exclaimed loudly, seeing almost her second son, who had grown even cuter than before.

"Mitsuki?" he asked coldly, but she paid no attention to it. Kneeling down, she embraced him, but Izuku was not pleased. She had always supported her son, encouraging his bullying. All these years, she hadn't lifted a finger to improve the situation.

"How happy I am to see you, sunshine! Look at you, what an attractive young man you've grown into!" she said joyfully, causing Izuku's blood to boil. Thoughts and desires consumed him from within, openly expressing hatred towards her.

"Worthless mother..."

"She's not our friend..."

"Useless..."

"She doesn't deserve our attention..."

"She laughs at us..."

"She's useless..."

"Disappointment..."

"She's not our mother..."

The words echoed in his mind until the awkward silence was broken by Mitsuki's voice, trying to encourage her nephew.

"And I'm not glad," Izuku replied, his voice growing colder.

"Oh come on, Izuku, you're not very good at joking," she continued to look at him with an encouraging smile, unaware of the depth of the problem, while inside Izuku was boiling.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited you all this time. I'm sorry I wasn't there during your tough times."

"Sorry?" Izuku coldly repeated, his gaze burning through Mitsuki like fire. The look made her shiver. "You have no idea how many times I waited for at least the slightest intervention. How many times I hoped you would come and tell your son to stop. How many times I went home, battered, covered in bruises and scrapes, begging for mercy that no one wanted to give."

He stepped closer to her, his gaze incinerating her illusion of care. He hated her, seeing in her eyes the red eyes of Katsuki, whom he loathed with all his heart. Even the rebuffs Izuku had given him didn't work on him, and now it was time for Izuku to inflict pain on Katsuki.

"But do you know what you did instead of helping? You simply ignored it, closing your eyes to your son's behavior."

"Look at what your upbringing has done to me," he tore off his shirt, revealing a body scarred with wounds. Each scar was a testament to the pain and suffering inflicted by Bakugo. Scars of various shapes—from burns, cuts, and bruises that never faded—stretched along his arms, chest, and back. Venom inside him fell silent, allowing its host full freedom to unleash all the accumulated rage.

"Look closely, Mitsuki. This is what your neglect has done to me. And this is what you're teaching Katsuki. You're teaching him to beat the weak, aren't you?" He grabbed her by her clothes, forcefully pinning her against the wall. She was shocked by his words. Inside, everything tightened with pain, and tears welled up in her eyes, seeing how the small, kind Izuku was disappearing, burning to ashes. Now, instead of him stood an embittered teenager who wanted to settle scores.

"Look at this! This is your masterpiece. This is the result of your upbringing, your 'care'! This is what I carried with me every damn day! And you, Mitsuki, didn't even bother to ask how I was."

Mitsuki's eyes filled with tears, but Izuku showed no sign of pity. He didn't care about her feelings. He hated her as much as he hated Bakugo, even more, because she could befriend and care for such a wretch as him. She was still trying to break free from his grip, but he held her tightly, not letting go and burning her with his gaze. Inside, everything was on fire, and the air around them grew heavier.

"Izuku, I... I'm sorry. I didn't know…"

"You didn't know?" Izuku laughed, but there was not a trace of joy in his laughter, only bitterness and rage. Everything he had endured while returning home with bruises and new injuries surged forth with renewed force.

"You didn't know? You lived in the same house with him, saw him return home with bruises on his fists, heard him brag about his 'feats'. You couldn't not know, Mitsuki. You just didn't want to know. You preferred to close your eyes because it was more convenient for you."

Mitsuki trembled, her breath becoming ragged, and her eyes filled with tears. She tried to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. Izuku released her, and she staggered to the floor, wrapping her arms around herself.

"You... you're right," she whispered, looking at the floor. "I... I was blind. I thought it was just childish mischief, that he would grow up and everything would change. But I... I didn't realize how serious it was."

"Childish mischief?" Izuku laughed again, but this time his voice trembled with anger. "You call this mischief? When he burned my skin, when he broke my bones, when he made me feel like a worthless piece of crap? This wasn't mischief, Mitsuki. This was torture. And you let it continue."

Mitsuki covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Izuku looked at her, but there was no pity or compassion in his eyes. Only cold, merciless truth.

"What did my mother find in such a wretch like you?" he whispered, but she heard everything, understanding what he meant. She had lost him when she promised to care for him, and now she couldn't even respond or look him in the eye. She still didn't reply, continuing to cry, which disgusted Izuku. He was repulsed to see her trying to elicit pity from him.

"Leave, Mitsuki. And take your pie with you. Never come back to this house," Izuku took the pie from her hands, his fingers slightly trembling with the rising anger. He looked at her, his eyes burning with determination and hatred. "Take this. Give it to Katsuki. Let him choke on it just like I choked on his bullying all these years."

He threw the pie at her feet. The plate hit the floor, shattering into several pieces, the pieces of pie scattering across the floor, symbolizing the end of the relationship between the Bakugo and Midoriya families. Mitsuki stood at the door, trembling with shock and shame, unable to move. But Izuku had already turned away; his attention was again consumed by the night city outside the window. He wouldn't allow himself to be weak again.

"Tell Katsuki to go to hell with his advice about quirks," Izuku said with anger, spitting on the ground and on the pie she had specially made for him.

Slamming the door in front of her, Mitsuki's knees trembled with stress. She couldn't get up and finally understood why he hadn't visited them and why Katsuki didn't want to come to this house. Covering her face with her hands, she cried in the hallway before the Midoriya residence, which had rejected her. Gathering the last remnants and pieces of the pie, she quietly sobbed, unable to even speak from the overwhelming emotions. As she cleaned the floor, all she could whisper was:

"Forgive me, Inko. I beg you, forgive me…"

**To be continued...**