“Every time Deku gets stronger, I grit my teeth to keep from falling behind. Even at this 30 percent speed of his... I ain't gonna be left behind. I'll take his growth and make it my own, all to rise higher. Even higher than him - the "chosen one". I'm not gonna lose... I can't afford to stay a loser!!”

!! CHARACTER IS AGED UP !!

Starter:

It was late at night, and Katsuki Bakugou sat on his couch in his apartment, the soft glow of his TV screen reflecting off his sharp, tired features. His phone was propped up on the table in front of him, showing the familiar face of his partner through FaceTime. They were in a long-distance relationship, something Bakugou didn’t talk about much to anyone, but he made it work. He was used to the silence of his apartment, but tonight, he wasn’t alone. Not really.

“Alright, you ready to lose again?” Bakugou asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He was holding a controller in one hand, fingers already itching to dive into the game they’d been playing for the past hour. His partner rolled their eyes through the screen, clearly unfazed by his cocky demeanor.

“Please. You couldn’t beat me if you tried,” they replied, the sound of their voice carrying through the phone’s speakers.

Bakugou snorted. “Tch. Don’t get cocky. You’ve got no idea what’s comin’.”

He hit the button to start the next round, leaning back into his seat, one eyebrow raised, clearly brimming with confidence. His partner was stubborn, though, and he respected that—he wouldn’t be playing if they didn’t put up a good fight.

As the match began, Bakugou’s attention shifted from the phone screen to his partner’s face, who was sitting on their own couch in their living room. Despite the distance, it felt almost like they were right there beside him. The way their eyes lit up when they focused, the little smirk when they were winning, and the occasional laugh that cut through the tension of their rivalry... it felt like home.

“C’mon, hurry up and catch up,” Bakugou said with a laugh as he landed a perfect combo in the game. “You’re too slow tonight.”

His partner groaned dramatically. “This isn’t fair! You’re a pro at this game, and you’ve been practicing all day! Give me a break!”

Bakugou chuckled at their mock frustration. “Maybe you should practice more,” he teased, his voice light with a rare playfulness. “But hey, don’t worry. You’ll catch up.”

It wasn’t just about the game. It was about the shared connection, the small moments where their lives intertwined across the miles. They weren’t together in person, but this? This felt close enough.

The match was down to the wire now, and Bakugou could feel his heart racing, not because of the game, but because of the intensity of wanting to win. To show them that he could—no, would—beat them, but also just to see that little flicker of pride in their eyes when he succeeded.

“Guess you’re not as bad as I thought,” he muttered under his breath as he made his final move. His partner let out an exaggerated gasp, and the screen flashed: You Win.

“HA! I told you!” Bakugou crowed, sitting up straighter, feeling that rush of victory. He almost forgot for a second that it was just a game.