Chapter 30 - Stupid Girl

The doors to Ground Beta slid open with a loud metallic groan, and the first thing anyone saw was the cloud of dust and smoke billowing out from the battlefield. Then, through that haze, Bakugo emerged—his uniform scorched and his palms still faintly glowing from the aftermath of his last blast. In his arms, Yuuki hung limp and motionless, her head resting against his chest, her long hair covered in ash but still faintly glowing pink in the light. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable, but his grip on her was careful—steady and protective.

The moment the others saw them, the quiet around the observation area broke like a wave. "Yuuki!" Uraraka cried, sprinting forward with Mina right behind her. Her voice trembled with panic, her hands clutching the air as if she wanted to grab her but didn't know where to touch without hurting her. "Oh no, is she okay?"

Mina gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes wide with worry as she jogged to keep up beside Bakugo. "She's not waking up—Bakugo, what did you do?!"

Bakugo glared at her sharply but didn't slow down. "She's fine, damn it! Don't crowd me!" he barked, his voice low and harsh but tinged with something else—fear, frustration, guilt, maybe all three. He pushed forward, his boots crunching against the debris-strewn floor as the rest of the class parted to let him through.

Kirishima and Sero exchanged uneasy glances as Bakugo passed them. "Man," Sero muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "he didn't waste any time, huh? That match ended so fast."

"Yeah," Kirishima agreed, though his voice was quieter, more thoughtful. "He must've known she couldn't handle a drawn-out fight... that's just like him, I guess. Ending it quick."

Bakugo shot them both a deadly glare over his shoulder. "You idiots done talking about me like I'm not right here?! Move it!" he snapped, his voice echoing off the walls. Kirishima raised his hands defensively.

"Alright, alright, man! Chill! We're moving!"

But Bakugo didn't chill. He brushed past them roughly, still carrying Yuuki as if she were the most fragile thing in the world. Her breathing was shallow, but her chest rose and fell steadily. Every time her head shifted slightly against him, his eyes darted down instinctively to make sure she was okay.

Midoriya was already waiting near the hallway that led to the infirmary, worry all over his face. "Kacchan!" he called out, jogging to meet him halfway. "What happened out there? I saw the blast—she didn't—"

"She's fine," Bakugo cut him off sharply, his tone defensive and clipped. "Recovery Girl'll handle it. Move out of the damn way, Deku."

Midoriya frowned but stepped aside, keeping pace with him as they started down the corridor together. Behind them, Uraraka, Mina, and Todoroki followed closely, their footsteps echoing through the long hallway. The tension was thick in the air—nobody wanted to speak too loudly, afraid it might somehow make things worse.

Mina finally broke the silence, her voice small but trembling with concern. "Bakugo... you didn't have to go that hard. I mean, she's not used to fighting that way—she was just trying to hold her own."

Bakugo didn't answer at first. He just kept walking, eyes forward, his arms tightening slightly around Yuuki's small frame. His usual sharpness softened for just a second before he muttered, almost too quietly to hear, "I didn't want to hurt her. I was trying to end it before she did something stupid."

The others looked at him in surprise. Todoroki, walking silently at the back, narrowed his eyes but said nothing—he could tell there was more to that statement than Bakugo would ever admit.

When they reached Recovery Girl's office, Bakugo didn't wait for anyone to open the door. He kicked it open with his foot and strode inside, his movements brisk but careful. The old heroine looked up from her desk, startled. "Good heavens—what happened this time?"

"Training," Bakugo said shortly, kneeling down beside one of the beds. He set Yuuki down as gently as if she were made of glass, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face.

Recovery Girl huffed, though her eyes softened as she examined Yuuki. "You young people and your need to overdo everything," she muttered. "Step aside. I'll take it from here."

Bakugo obeyed but didn't leave. He stood off to the side, fists clenched, watching every movement as Recovery Girl began her work. Uraraka and Mina hovered nearby, whispering softly to each other, both still shaken. Midoriya lingered by the door, worry etched into every line of his face.

•••

Recovery Girl sighed as she finished her examination, pulling the blanket up to Yuuki's chin with practiced gentleness. Her wrinkled face softened into a small, approving smile as she looked back at the small crowd gathered near the door. "She'll be alright now," she said firmly, her voice calm but edged with that familiar authority only a veteran hero could carry. "Her energy output was unstable, but nothing permanent. The girl just needs plenty of rest and quiet."

Mina exhaled loudly in relief, her shoulders slumping. "Thank goodness," she said, pressing her hands together. "She really scared us there. I thought—well, I don't even want to say what I thought."

Uraraka nodded quickly, her eyes misting. "Same here. She looked so pale after that attack. It's crazy how strong Bakugo's explosions are up close..." Her voice trailed off when Bakugo shot her a sideways glare, the kind that could silence an entire room. She quickly put up her hands. "N-not blaming you, Bakugo! Just... saying."

Bakugo stood off to the side near the foot of the bed, his arms crossed but his body language tense. His jaw flexed as he watched Yuuki's slow, steady breathing. The faint rise and fall of her chest was enough to tell him she was okay, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her face. Her hair framed her cheeks softly, her lips parted slightly as she slept, and even though her skin still had traces of dust and ash, she looked peaceful—almost too peaceful after what had just happened.

Recovery Girl looked around at all of them, her expression exasperated but fond. "You can all relax now. She's safe, and she'll wake up soon enough. But she won't if you keep hovering like a flock of anxious hens," she said, waving her cane at them for emphasis. "Out. All of you. Let her rest properly."

She turned toward the door and gave a knowing glance at Bakugo before heading out of the room. "And you, young man—try not to break anything while I'm gone."

Once the door closed behind her, the room fell into a quiet stillness. The soft hum of medical equipment filled the silence. The others stood awkwardly, not quite knowing whether to stay or go. Midoriya was the first to speak, his voice hesitant. "Well... Recovery Girl's right. We should let her sleep. The next matches are starting soon anyway."

Todoroki nodded in agreement, looking down at his phone where the match schedule glowed on the screen. "Yeah. Aizawa will notice if we're missing. The next round is about to begin."

Uraraka looked over at Yuuki one last time, brushing a stray tear from her eye. "She'll be so mad when she wakes up and finds out she missed part of it," she said softly, managing a weak smile. Mina giggled faintly at that, though her laugh was subdued.

As the group started toward the door, Midoriya paused when he noticed Bakugo hadn't moved an inch. He turned back to him, brow furrowed. "Kacchan," he said gently, "we should head back. She's going to be okay now, and Recovery Girl said—"

"I said I'm staying."

The words came out sharp, like a crack of thunder, cutting Midoriya off mid-sentence. Bakugo's glare shot toward him instantly, his voice low but filled with the usual fiery conviction. "You can go back if you want, Deku. I'm not leaving her."

The room went still again. Uraraka and Mina exchanged glances, then looked at Midoriya. He looked like he wanted to argue—like he wanted to remind Bakugo that Aizawa wouldn't appreciate anyone missing out on the next round—but when he saw the expression on Bakugo's face, he stopped.

Mina smiled softly and nudged Uraraka toward the door. "Let's just... let him stay," she whispered. "He's clearly not going anywhere."

"Yeah," Uraraka agreed quietly. "I think Yuuki's in good hands."

As the others slipped out one by one, Bakugo stood rooted in place. When the door finally closed behind them, the only sound left was the faint ticking of the clock on the wall and Yuuki's soft breathing.

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair and muttering under his breath, "You're such a damn headache, you know that?" He looked down at her, his usual scowl softening as he crouched beside the bed. "Scared the hell outta everyone. Tch. Stupid girl."