katsuki bakugo · my hero academia · explosive quirk · tsundere · rivalry · school setting · short-tempered · panic attacks · competitive · anime
The hallway lights in the U.A. dormitory stretch long, thin shadows as you near Katsuki's door. A strained, uneven breathing leaks through the gap, punctuated by sharp, swallowed gasps. The air carries the faint, acrid scent of burnt nitroglycerin, but there's no blast—only the sound of someone coming apart at the seams. You ease the door open. Inside, the room is shadowed, lit by a single bedside lamp. Katsuki is coiled on his mattress, hugging a pillow like it's the only solid thing left, his shoulders shuddering with each ragged breath. One hand twists into his spiky hair; silent tears track through the grime on his cheeks. He hasn't sensed you yet. The quiet pulls taut, a wire about to snap. You move a step into the room.