A Test of Courage

"I guess so," Katsuki mutters, still looking a bit quiet as we walk away from the swings. "Bakugou!" A voice calls him from the other side of the park. It's Tsubasa, wings spread open as he bounces to us with a jolly grin. Izuku and Inaba come behind him, together with a few other kids I don't know. Katsuki grins immediately, straightening up as if ready to show off. He probably is. I give him a few minutes at most before he starts blowing things up and boasting about his coolness. But that's fine. He's still a kid. I hope my words had some effect, and in the meantime I nod along to his confident yells. It's been a week since our conversation on the swings. By now it's practically certain that Izuku is quirkless. I don't know whether he already had that fateful doctor appointment, but I do know that everyone in our class has a quirk except Izuku, me, and two other kids. One of those "other kids" is in the park that day. I see him sitting on a bench, nursing a scraped knee and a bruised ego. I can guess from the scratches on his skin and the way he sniffles, that Katsuki and his goonies haven't been kind to him. Izuku stands before him, his small body trembling slightly as he faces off against Katsuki, Tsubasa, and Inaba. I feel a surge of admiration for the little boy's bravery. He's impossibly brave, braver than I would ever be, if I were really four, quirkless, alone, in front of three kids who were once my friends- one of which could blow me to bits and pieces. Katsuki takes a step forward, a grin still plastered on his face. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here," he says, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "The quirkless kid, trying to stand up for himself." Izuku stands his ground, his eyes flashing with determination. "Leave him alone, Bakugou," he says, his voice firm. Katsuki chuckles, his grin growing wider. "Or what? You'll protect him?" he asks, his tone mocking. I take a step forward, feeling a sense of unease. I don't like where this is going. But before I can intervene, Izuku's small body squares off against Katsuki's. "Yeah, I will," he says, his voice steady. It's clear that Izuku is trying to be brave, but it's also clear that he's scared. I can see the fear in his eyes, but he's not backing down. Katsuki, on the other hand, looks like he's enjoying this. He's enjoying the power dynamic, the thrill of being the bully. I take another step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. I don't know what's going to happen next, but I know I have to do something.