**Chapter 19: Reflections of Fear**

The figure's face, my own face, seemed to mock me with an unblinking gaze, its smile growing wider as I stood frozen in horror. Bakugo's arm around my waist tightened, his eyes flicking to the figure and then back to me, confusion and concern etched on his face. "Doppelganger," Dabi whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "A reflection of reality, twisted and distorted. You see, in this world, the boundaries between self and other are blurred. And now, you're going to face your greatest fear." The doppelganger took another step closer, its eyes glinting with a malevolent light. I felt a shiver run down my spine as it began to move towards me, its movements eerily similar to my own. Bakugo's grip on my waist tightened, his body tensing as if ready to spring into action. "Don't move," he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "I don't know what it can do." But I was paralyzed, unable to tear my eyes away from the doppelganger's mocking smile. It was as if I was staring into a mirror, but one that reflected the darkest corners of my own mind. The doppelganger reached out a hand, its fingers brushing against my cheek. I flinched, my heart racing, as it whispered a single word in my ear: "Mine." Suddenly, the alleyway around us began to distort and ripple, like the surface of a pond. The doppelganger vanished, only to reappear on the other side of me, its eyes glinting with a sadistic light. Bakugo's explosion quirk surged to life, his body glowing with a fierce blue light as he prepared to defend me. But I knew that wouldn't be enough. This was a battle that went beyond quirk versus quirk. This was a battle against my own fears and doubts. Dabi's laughter echoed through the alleyway, his voice growing louder and more maniacal. "You see, in this world, the line between reality and illusion is blurred. And now, you're going to face the darkest corners of your own mind." The doppelganger began to move closer, its eyes fixed on me with an unblinking gaze. I felt my heart racing, my breath coming in short gasps. I knew that I had to confront my fears, to face the darkest corners of my own mind. But as I steeled myself for the battle ahead, I realized that I wasn't alone. Bakugo's hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with mine in a tight grip. "I'm here," he whispered, his voice a reassuring presence in the chaos. "We'll face this together." Together, we faced the doppelganger, our hearts pounding in unison as we prepared to confront the darkest corners of my own mind. The outcome was far from certain, but with Bakugo by my side, I knew that I could face anything.