Giving Courage

Katsuki let out a yawn as he opened his eyes. For a moment he didn't know why he had been in Recovery Girl's temporary office, until he saw his arms bandages and the IV stand by his side. It hadn't been long before he felt something warm by his side; from what he could tell it was a body. There he saw the familiar combination of aqua green and purple as she had been breathing softly.

Reina adjusted herself unconsciously, as Katsuki felt her shift herself closer to his body.

It soon came back to him as to how it ended up that way.

"Ah… That's right… We both fell asleep…"

Katsuki had soon been startled by a familiar voice.

"Reina-chan looks like a little baby, doesn't she?"

He turned and saw a familiar woman with wolf ears on her head as she had been sitting by the desk provided in the office. "It's always cute to see her like this." Shimizu said with a smile, "It seems like it was only yesterday when she was just a little girl."

"... How long have you been in here?" Katsuki asked her.

"Since you two fell asleep." Shimizu replied as she stepped over to his bedside, "I would have woken you both up, but I figured you've been through enough as it is."

"Thanks… I guess." Katsuki said awkwardly. He flinched slightly when she carefully removed the needle from his arm, and placed a bandage where it had been before.

"The good news is, the transfusion was a success." She told him, "You'll be fine for your match with Reina-chan."

Katsuki only nodded at this as he stayed silent. He looked over to Reina when she shifted slightly; unconsciously he felt her hand on his, causing him to flinch. Shimizu on the other hand smiled at this before she spoke again, "Your name is… Katsuki Bakugou, correct?"

"... Yeah." He replied looking at her, "What of it?"

"... Reina-chan's often told me about her adventures ever since they allowed her to enter a public middle school and met Midoriya-kun." Shimizu said, "She told me a lot of things about Aihara-san. But… I gotta be honest, out of the three of you… She spoke about you the most."

Katsuki looked to the doctor shocked, as his eyes widened slightly before he looked over to Reina again. He was surprised to hear this kind of thing; She talked about him more than Deku and the Halfbreed? It was just something he couldn't believe.

Though he couldn't help but feel curious about it.

"What kind of things does she say about me?" He asked.

Shimizu chuckled, "Does it really peak your interest?"

Katsuki once more stayed silent, though Shimizu seemed to answer. For a moment she gave it some thought, "... She tells me, that your stubborn, your angry all the time, and have a short temper--"

Katsuki gritted his teeth slightly at this, which Shimizu couldn't help but laugh at his expression before she continued, "--But… She tells me good things about you too. She tells me that you never back down from a challenge, you're honest with others, and that despite your tough nature, you're nice in your own way. I guess you can say that you've become one of her idols.

Katsuki's expression changed as he now looked embarrassed, despite the fact that he gave his usual look. "Did… She really say that about me?" He asked her.

Shimizu nodded, "There's something you should know, that even if Reina-chan was put into a different school, she wouldn't have made it as far as she did if you hadn't encouraged her the way you did. I'll admit she was never good at speaking for herself, but you gave her the push she needed to continue on."

Katsuki let out a sigh, "... It's not like I do much for her."

Shimizu still had a smile as she shook her head, "You really are as complicated as she described."

"LIKE HELL I AM!" Katsuki shouted before he quickly covered his mouth, sighing with relief when he saw he didn't wake Reina up.

"... Though to be serious for a moment…" Shimizu said to him, "... You really helped her to come out of her shell, in a way others never did before. I don't think Shota-kun was able to help her in a way you've done."

Katsuki merely huffed, "I doubt it."

Shimizu soon pondered a thought as her ears at the top of her head twitched slightly, "... I remember one summer, Reina-chan told me about the day she thought her world would come to end. It was in Aldera Junior High, they were having an annual cultural festival. Her class--Or rather your class I believe, had been putting on a play or was it… A music concert?"

Katsuki flinched slightly as he knew what she had been talking about; as he looked to the floor he replied with a mumble, "... It was a play."

Despite this, Shimizu had heard him, "A yes, that's right. The play I remember was the story of a lost princess, and Reina-chan ended up getting the role of a Princess, out of all the girls in your class."

"Yeah, I remember…" Katsuki said with a smile, "... They were really jealous."

"That's what she said too." Shimizu said, "Though she couldn't help but feel bad… Anyway she told me how hard she practiced. She memorized all of her lines, her cues, everything. She worked her hardest, even went as far as to practice with Midoriya-kun and Aihara-san. But when the day finally came--"

"--She hid." Katsuki finished for her, "She had gotten cold feet and just went to hide."

Shimizu looked at him, as her gaze softened, "... You remember that day, don't you?"

Katsuki nodded, "... I found her, hiding in the gym storage room. She was crying. She told me she couldn't do it. She was afraid she was going to let everyone down, and mess it all up. She wanted to give up her role to her understudy."

"But you didn't want her to go through with it, did you?" Shimizu asked him.

He shook his head, "... I told her not to think about anything else. I told her not to listen to anyone else, and just pretend it was just rehearsal. Like she was still standing at an empty stage."

"That's the kind of thing I'm talking about." Shimizu said to him, "If it hadn't been for you, she wouldn't have performed as well as she did in that play. Nor would she have made that speech at the beginning of this festival. You may not realize it, but you've done so much for her, and though she may not show it at times, she's thankful to have someone like you."

Katsuki couldn't help but turn his gaze from her as he thought of her words. He just couldn't understand why she would be grateful to have someone like him. He knows how he can be with people, and that he is hot headed… If anything she was one that was complicated.

"... You really like her, more than a friend don't you?" Shimizu said as he took him by surprise. Though Katsuki stayed silent, Shimizu read the expression on his face as if it had been red.

"...I've seen that look before with someone who was close to me." Shimizu explained, "Though she had trouble expressing it to the person she liked, like you I imagine. But you shouldn't worry yourself… If you're anything like what Reina-chan describe… You'll do the right thing."

"That's doubtful…" Katsuki mumbled.

Reina soon let out a yawn, drawing his and Shimizu's attention. She rubbed her eyes, as she looked at Katsuki, "... Hi…" She groaned, "... Do you feel better…?"

Katsuki seemed to get his composure back as he replied, "I am. Can't say much about the sleep though. Think you might've drooled on me."

Reina couldn't help but laugh sarcastically, "Very funny, Mr. Number One." Though Reina nearly jumped out of bed when she saw Shimizu had been in the room with them. "Shimizu-sensei!?" She exclaimed, "When did you get in here!?"

"Just a couple of hours ago." Shimizu replied, "And I have to say, you still look so cute when you sleep."

Reina soon eyed her suspiciously, "... You didn't take a picture did you…?"

"I can't confirm or deny it." Shimizu replied with a smile.

"Hey now…" Katsuki said as his eyes twitched.

Shimizu soon looked at the clock provided in the room, "Would you look at the time? You two had better get ready, your match starts soon."

Katsuki and Reina looked at each other before they nodded at Shimizu. The two of them made their way out of the nurses office as Shimizu waved to them, shutting the door behind them.

"Well…" Reina said, "... I guess this is the moment of truth."

"You better not back out Lollipop Head." Katsuki told her.

"Yeah, I know."

"Hey, I mean it. If you don't come to me with everything, I'll make sure you regret it later."

"I could say the same to you."

Reina soon held her hand out to him as she still had her smile, "Let's both do our best, alright?"

Katsuki smiled back as he took her hand before shaking it, "Hells yes!"

With one last hug, the two of them made their way to the player waiting area, to prepare themselves for what was to come.