A Shift in Accountability

I took a deep breath, my voice shaking as I spoke. "You know what, no, it was my fault. I was the one that let that happen, not him." Bakugo's eyes widened in surprise, his scowl softening for a moment. He looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time, like he couldn't believe what I was saying. Ochaco's eyes flicked to mine, a mixture of confusion and concern etched on her face. She opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. "It's fine, don't apologize," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "And Ochaco, let's just drop this, please." I turned to Ochaco, and together we walked out of the room, leaving Bakugo standing alone. As we stepped out into the hallway, I felt a lump form in my throat. I was trying to hold it together, but it was no use. I started to cry, the tears streaming down my face. Bakugo's eyes followed me, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of realization, of understanding. He looked crushed, like he had been punched in the gut. But I didn't turn back, I just kept walking with Ochaco, leaving him to process what had just happened. As we walked down the stairs, Ochaco put a comforting arm around my shoulders. "Hey, it's okay," she said softly. "You're not to blame for what happened." But I knew that I was. I was the one who had let my anxiety get the better of me, who had let Bakugo's behavior slide for too long. And now, I was the one who was trying to take the fall for it. We reached the front door, and Ochaco opened it for me. I stepped out into the cool evening air, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. But as I looked back at the house, I saw Bakugo standing in the doorway, his eyes fixed on me. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the only sound the quiet rustling of the trees in the wind. And then, Bakugo's eyes dropped, and he disappeared back into the house, leaving me feeling both relieved and heartbroken.