Vs. Hero Killer, Troubled Couple

After a billion haggling - which is quite unprofessional for a police officer to have, Tsuragamae stood there, mulling it over for a beat before giving a slow nod. "We'll need an official meeting to lock this down, but if U.A.'s willing to take the heat, we can pause Himiko Toga's arrest warrant for now. One condition: she's confined to U.A. grounds and under strict watch if she steps out."

"That...it?" I rasped, voice rough from the pain. "

Tsuragamae fixed me with a hard stare, then shook his head. "That's it for now, Onodera Ryuga. Don't think you're dodging the fallout forever, though. We're still digging."

"Whatever..."

He nodded, turned, and marched out with some of the cops trailing. The heroes followed - Endeavor throwing me a look like he'd stepped in dog shit - then Izuku and Tenya bailed too.

All Might lingered, eyes heavy with thought. I knew he had a ton to unload, but he just sighed and dropped a weak, "Rest up, Ryuga."

"..."

The throbbing from my half-healed wound kept sleep at bay, but at least I had a rare breather - no cops, no heroes crowding me, no one grilling me for answers.

Toga's off the hook for now. That's something. Giving her a shot at a better life than before? Big damn pivot.

"Wonder what she'll look like in a U.A. uniform…" I mused, exhaling, only to catch Aizawa-sensei's stare from the corner. Guy'd been silent the whole time - didn't even clock him there. Made him creepier than I'd pegged.

"I thought you left with those bastards too?" Himiko snorted. "If you're gonna watch your injured student, at least bring a clipboard or popcorn to look legit."

"No need," Aizawa said, turned to ask me with a flat voice. "Just wondering… do I actually know anything about you, Onodera Ryuga?"

I eyed him, then laughed - wincing as my chest twinged. "Huh..."

He went quiet for a few seconds.

"All Might filled me in on some things a few days back," he finally said.

I raised a brow, faking surprise even though I'd set this ball rolling.

"About your deal with him," Aizawa went on, tone steady. "How you know things that you shouldn't know - and how you got All Might, a guy who'd never spill his guts or ask for help, to rope me and others in, like you knew the U.S.J attack was coming."

I shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. "Who knows?"

Aizawa's gaze didn't waver. "What'd you tell him?"

I smirked. "Try to guess...?"

"You've never flat-out lied," he said, "but you've never spilled the full truth either."

I snapped my fingers - grimacing at the jolt of pain. "Yeah..."

Aizawa didn't flinch or snap. Just watched me, careful. "Onodera, what're you hiding?"

I let the question hang, pretending to chew on it - though I'd known my play from the jump.

"Nothing," I said slow. "Just… can't let Sir Nighteye...know."

Aizawa didn't bite right away, but I caught a flicker in his eyes - small, but there.

"You know Sir Nighteye?"

"Yeah..." I shrugged. "Bet he'd have a lot to chat with me."

Aizawa stewed on that, piecing it together, trying to crack what I was hinting at.

No clear answer from me, though - obviously.

Finally, he sighed, rubbing his temple. "…You're a big thorn in the eye."

I chuckled. "Same..."

He shook his head, lips twitching - not quite a smile, not quite pissed.

"I'll make sure the U.A. board knows you're on a tight leash," he said to Himiko. "You too, Ryuga. Don't think I'm not watching."

I grinned. "Fine..."

He didn't reply, just gave me one last look and walked out. Door clicked shut, leaving me and Toga - who was now sporting a what-the-fuck face - alone in the quiet hospital room, both knowing damn well we'd probably end up messing around in here.

Toga, leaning on the window, arms crossed, looked like she'd wait for a suitable answer from me.

"I'm...sorry..."

She, who seemed to still be angry with me but didn't want to make me feel awkward, just sighed and said to me with a wry smile. "You're a pain in the ass, Ryuga. Right up there with me."

I smirked. "We're a matching set...of headaches."

She didn't argue, flashing a playful grin - though her eyes turned serious.

"You know," she murmured, "back in the day, I wouldn't have sat still for this. Cops, heroes, tossing conditions like they're doing me a favor. Those smug bastards think they're above everyone else?"

I stayed quiet, watching her, thinking.

She wasn't wrong. Original timeline - hell, even before I met her - Toga was an outcast, treated like a monster 'cause her Quirk's brutal and dangerous if twisted wrong. I'd shifted that, sure, but the way the big shots talked - like they were "graciously" handing her a chance, like she didn't deserve a normal life without their mercy - pissing her off made sense.

I sighed, used a text-to-speech app on my phone to say a long sentence straight out.. "They'll need time to swallow this and ditch their old biases. I know you hate it, but you've gotta grit through it a bit longer. Not as some pushover - just to make 'em recognize you."

Toga went silent, then let out a soft laugh - not all joy.

"You always sound good, Ryuga," she whispered. "Talking's easy - doing's the bitch. You really think this world'll take me?"

I locked eyes, unflinching. "No. Doesn't have to. Just be you - that's enough."

Her gaze flickered.

"…You're such a pain," she repeated, softer this time.

I grinned, reached out, tugged her close, and laid on the cheesy vibe. "I know. But I'm stuck loving a troublemaker too. What's the harm?"

She blinked, giggled, and pressed her forehead to mine. "Yeah, trouble alright."

We stayed like that, soaking in the quiet warmth.

Then the door banged open, and a familiar pissed-off voice cut through. "Can't fucking believe I hauled ass here just to see this shit…"

I rolled my eyes - Bakugo, arms crossed, face screaming disgust like a single prick on Christmas.

Toga, unfazed, grinned wide. "Oh, fireworks! Visiting Ryuga? That's some bromance…"

Bakugo's fists clenched, glaring like she'd just puked on his shoes. "Shut your crazy mouth!"

I shook my head, continued to use the text-to-speech app on my phone to help communicate what I need to say. "Spit it out quick, Bakugo, or get lost."

He scowled, stepped in, slammed the door. The way he moved said this wasn't just him being a dick.

"…Got something to say," he muttered, voice lower.

I raised a brow, clocking the shift. "Seriously...?"

He nodded, eyes dodging mine. He was antsy - hated this - but somehow kept it together.

I glanced at Toga. She got it, pouting but stretching as she stood. "Fine, fine, I'll step out."

Door shut behind her, leaving me solo with Bakugo - his scowl and icy stare now laced with something heavy. He stood there, arms crossed, lips tight, wrestling whatever was eating him.

I sighed, propped my head on the pillow, waiting for his act. "Alright, what's so big you dragged your ass here all serious?"

He stewed, then sucked in a breath and dropped a bomb. "…I fucked up."

"Fucked up...what?"

My casual tone lit a fuse - his fists balled, eyes darkening like he'd deck me, but somehow he reined it in. "Thought… thought if I got stronger, never backed down, I'd always be right. But - " He bit his lip, struggling. " - guess I was too shallow, thinking shit's that simple."

I squinted, sizing him up. This wasn't the Bakugo I knew from the original run - not even close. Guy'd never admit a screw-up, let alone cough it up like this.

"For a long time, i hadn't see how shitty I was to Deku all those years," he went on, voice fading. "Or you..."

I arched a brow higher. "Me?"

He snapped his head my way, red eyes a mess of feelings. "I don't know what game you're playing or if I went too hard that moment, Ryuga. I know I fucked you up at the Sports Festival," he said, restless. "Real fight or not, you're no wimp, but… maybe I crossed a line."

I shrugged, half-shocked, half-teasing, digging at my ear. "Either the doc slipped me some trippy shit, or I just heard you apologize, Bakugo."

His jaw clenched, eyes hitting peak rage, teeth grinding. "I'm fucking serious - don't make this harder!"

Now I was legit thrown. No hallucination.

Bakugo Katsuki - arrogant, cocky, always the top dog - had principles and heart buried under that loudmouth crap. Just rare as hell to see.

"What's done's done - don't sweat it. I'm not holding grudges; goldfish memory here. But someone else might deserve that sorry more."

Didn't name-drop, but his eyes shifted - like I'd socked him.

He knew who.

"…Not your business," he growled.

"Just do it. Might lighten your load."

He went dark, fists tight, battling himself.

"…I'll think about it," he muttered, storming out without a glance back.

Door slammed, leaving me alone in the quiet.

I sighed, hand to forehead, wondering what the hell's off here.

Bakugo Katsuki apologizing? Actually mulling it over?

This world's really flipping upside down.