Bakugou scowls as he closes in on Nezu's office, his stomach feeling as if there is a massive stone in it after that conversation with Ashido. He told the truth, at least. He can't forgive her yet, but that's because he cares about her, and he knows she cares about him as well. He just needs some time to think and get past it like any other big issue he's faced.

He looks up at the doors in front of him as he reaches the office and waits for a moment before entering, looking around the room and seeing Nezu at his desk with Aizawa standing next to him and Detective Tsukauchi sitting in the chair in front of his desk. The Detective turns towards him and offers a smile as everyone sees him enter. Nezu grins. "Bakugou, please sit," he says, waving a paw towards the chair a few feet to the right of the detective's.

Bakugou raises an eyebrow in question at the hyper-intelligent creature but moves towards the chair and takes a seat spread-eagled with a neutral expression and crossed arms as he slouches into the cushioning. "Bakugou-kun." Bakugou looks over towards the detective, who had spoken his name. The man's eyes soften as he continues, "We've got intel on where the criminals are."

Bakugou's jaw drops and his eyes widen slightly, crossed arms going lax and landing in his lap. His mind is blank for a moment until it accelerates and feels like it is going a mile a minute processing information. They have intel? On all of them? One? What do they know? Do they know where they are? Are they.... Can they catch them? His brain can barely process the simple sentence. Instead of the many questions on the tip of his tongue, all that Bakugou can force past his vocal cords is an intelligent, "Huh?" with a dumb expression on his face.

Tsukauchi smiles and turns himself more towards Bakugou, his arm on the armrest of his chair and body turned towards it. "We know who they all are. All four. They are a small gang of wannabe-yakuza, just the four of them, and we have their identities and frequently visited places. They don't seem to be the smartest group, so we should be able to bring them in easily." It all feels unreal to Bakugou. After all this time.... After all this time, and those people are finally being brought in.

He averts his eyes, looking down at the slightly trembling hands in his lap, his fingers almost vibrating while he tries to clench them together to stop their motion. The appendages seem to be starting to blur.

Oh. I'm crying.

He bites at his lower lip as his chin wrinkles upwards, and he nods, unable to speak. It's finally happening.

Aizawa closes his eyes and leans back on the wall beside Nezu's desk, head tilting back with a soft smile on his face as his dark eyes draw upwards towards the ceiling. "We'll have them locked up soon, kid."

"Mm," Bakugou chokes out in agreement. It is silent in the room besides quiet sniffles as Bakugou gathers himself. He looks up after a bigger sniffle, and his serious and sharp—though puffy—red eyes pierce those of the adults around him. "Thank you," he says genuinely.

Aizawa blinks in surprise for a moment at the straightforward appreciation. Nezu smiles at Bakugou and folds his paws together relaxedly on his large desk as Tsukauchi smiles widely at the boy. "Of course," the detective says with crinkled eyes. His smile becomes a bit neutral, though still happy, as he continues, "I do, however, have something else to tell you that comes with this news, Bakugou-kun." Bakugou raises an eyebrow over his slightly puffy red eyes in irritation and Aizawa smirks from where he stands, turning away slightly as Nezu gives him a reprimanding look and scary smile. "Because of the nature of this investigation and the likelihood that this will be brought to court, we need to involve your parents," Tsukauchi explains.

After a glint of surprise crosses his expression, Bakugou scowls dangerously, head tilting downward to glare up at them. "We didn't before now," he growls. He doesn't want them to know. Maybe even more than he doesn't want the school to know.

Tsukauchi nods. "Although we already intended to bring this to court, there was no certainty, so there was no real reason to involve them yet. Principal Nezu and Eraserhead assumed that that would be what you would prefer, and I see that they were correct."

Bakugou sneers and looks away, crossing his arms again obstinately. "The old man and hag don't need to get involved."

"Yes they do, Bakugou-kun," Nezu chips in. "Usually they would have been told from the beginning of operations like this, but we have been allowing you some special...privileges...because we know you fairly well." Bakugou growls under his breath and bares his teeth at the principal. "Do not worry," he says, holding his paws up placatingly. "I have decided that your teacher Eraserhead, Detective Tsukauchi, and I should be the people to at least break the news to your family if that is what you prefer. However, I am certain they will wish to see you, so you will likely be brought in later."

Bakugou grumbles, but he knows he can't argue with this decision. He isn't as ridiculous and naïve as Deku. "Fine," he spats. "We'll go with that shitty plan of yours." Nezu nods at him with a grin. "We done here?" Bakugou asks, turning away from Nezu with a pout.

"If the detective does not have anything further to say to you," Nezu responds as he looks towards the detective, who shakes his head in the negative. "Great!" Nezu says happily. "You may go get lunch now, Bakugou-kun, this meeting was luckily fairly quick, so there is plenty of time left. I apologize for taking up your break time."

Bakugou scoffs and catches Aizawa's raised eyebrow. "What?" he snarls at the teacher.

"Just surprised that you said thank you earlier," Aizawa says as he hides a smile behind his capture weapon, but Bakugou sees part of it, and it looks suspiciously like a smirk to him.

"Fuck you," he spats as he stands from his chair and stomps towards the door and out of the room, slamming the door closed behind him.

Aizawa's smile lessens into one of contentment. It feels like the kid is finally opening up, and it makes everything they are going through seem at least somewhat less terrible.

The door slams open again. "I AM HE—"

All Might's mouth is covered by the capture weapon immediately as he screams the phrase, arms up in his signature pose.

Aizawa sighs, still smiling. "Not now, All Might."

Said man blinks and deflates into his scrawny stick form as the capture weapon recedes from around his face. "Eraser, are you smiling?" his voice booms in question.

Aizawa scowls in response and the others in the room laugh, Nezu grinning devilishly.

•••

Bakugou, down the hall as he nears the cafeteria, breathes out a deep breath. Everything is starting to finally seem okay. He grins slightly before schooling his expression into a neutral one and opening the cafeteria doors.

——————————————————————

Uhhh so I may have made the chapter after this one first before even last chapter cuz I had an idea.... When I have a good idea I'm excited about its not good for characters btw. *manic laughter ensues* It'll be up soon lol just gonna proofread

-Angry
Word Count: 1225