**Facing the Fallout**

As we walked towards Bakugo's house, the tension between us was palpable. Ochaco's determination was evident in her stride, while I lagged behind, my anxiety growing with each step. I couldn't help but wonder how Bakugo would react to our visit. Would he be defensive, or would he finally listen to reason? When we arrived at his house, Ochaco knocked on the door with a firm hand. The door swung open, and Bakugo's scowling face greeted us. His eyes narrowed as he took in our somber expressions. "What do you want?" he growled, his voice low and menacing. Ochaco stood her ground, her eyes locked on Bakugo's. "We need to talk," she said, her voice firm but calm. Bakugo snorted, but he stepped aside, allowing us to enter. We walked into the living room, where the remnants of a lazy afternoon were scattered about. Bakugo flopped down on the couch, his eyes fixed on the floor. Ochaco and I exchanged a glance, and I took a deep breath before speaking. "Bakugo, I know you're upset, and I get it. But what you did was not okay. You lashed out at me, and it could have ended much worse." Bakugo's face twisted in a scowl, but he didn't look up. "I was just defending myself," he muttered. Ochaco's expression turned stern. "Defending yourself? Vesper was trying to help you and Kaminari. She was trying to stop the fight." Bakugo's eyes snapped up, a flash of anger in his gaze. "You don't know what happened," he spat. I took a step forward, my voice shaking. "I do know what happened, Bakugo. I was there. And I know that you didn't have to lash out at me. You could have walked away." The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the three of us. Bakugo's face went red, and for a moment, I thought he might explode. But then, something shifted, and his expression crumpled. For a moment, I saw a glimmer of the boy I had known before, the one who had been my friend. But it was quickly replaced by a mask of defiance. "Whatever," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think I'm some kind of monster now?" Ochaco's eyes never left Bakugo's face. "We're not here to judge you, Bakugo. We're here to help you. You need to learn to control your temper, and you need to apologize to Vesper." Bakugo's face went white, and for a moment, I thought he might actually listen. But then, his jaw clenched, and he looked away. "I won't apologize for something that wasn't my fault," he said, his voice cold. The air in the room seemed to grow thicker, the tension between us almost unbearable. I felt a pang of sadness, knowing that Bakugo was still a long way from confronting his demons. But I also knew that I couldn't give up on him, not yet. Ochaco's eyes met mine, and I saw a spark of determination there. We would get through this, together. But for now, it seemed that Bakugo was not ready to face the consequences of his actions.