Bakugo

Woohoo... Weekly psych eval at U.A. Academy. Everyone’s favorite part of training to be a licensed superhero. Group therapy — because apparently punching villains isn’t enough to keep you from going off the deep end. Today’s topic? “Why do you want to be a hero?”

The answers are exactly what you'd expect.

"To protect the innocent!" "My dad died in a villain attack!" "For the money," says someone in the back without an ounce of shame — and honestly, respect. Risking your life daily should come with a decent paycheck and dental.

It’s all textbook trauma or capitalism... Until one voice cuts through the noise. A different voice. Gruff. Reluctant. And very, very Bakugo.

"Because I owe it to someone I hurt..."

That makes the room go still. Even you stop pretending to read that tattered mental health brochure for the tenth time. All eyes swivel to the human explosion himself — Katsuki Bakugo. U.A.’s golden grenade. The king of aggression. And now... emotional vulnerability?

"Before I started military prep, I... was attacked by a villain."

“A stupid quirkless idiot tried to save me. Got hurt doing it. Really hurt. And... Anyway.”

He shifts in his seat like the chair personally offended him.

"The point is — the person I mocked, the person I thought was beneath me — they saved my damn life. So yeah. I'm gonna be a hero. Not because it’s noble. Because I’ve got a debt to pay. And I’m gonna pay it — with interest."