Bakugo POV:

"Dammit!" I yell, slamming my fist into the table.

"Your Majesty, please. We have to think ahead here."

"I know- And I'm sorry, I just-"

"It's quite understandable. I'll give you space." The steward bowed before exiting.

Yet another one of our allies had been attacked, the Maijima Kingdom. Nothing but fire and rubble left, the kingdom had been left to shambles, alike the many kingdoms before.

The strikes had been following a circular pattern, starting at the Ishiyama Kingdom. And if the attackers kept following the pattern, two more attacks and we'd be toast.

My kingdom was weak already, much weaker than the Ishiyama kingdom. Known for their defense and building techniques. If we were attacked, my people wouldn't stand a chance..

It's been three years since we left him, and there hasn't been one day that he left my mind. I can't walk in the gardens anymore, all the flowers remind me of him.

And even though I receive frequent letters from her, I still hate the day Jiro told me she wanted to go back to Momo. Not like I could blame her, she was in love.. Something I wanted so desperately.

I still remember the exact carriage Momo came in to pick her up. It was black with white framing, grey stained windows. And I remember being envious of how she got to hold Jiro, like I wanted to hold-

"Bakugo? The steward sent me. She said you needed some cheering up."

"No, I don't." I said, turning away.

"Whatcha looking at here?" She asked, hopping up on my desk. "Oh, you're worrying about the attacks again aren't you? Bakugo, you can't dwell on this."

"I know, Mina! You've told me! Several times!" I yell, raising my fingertips to my temples.

"You sir need to tone it down. Don't talk to me with that attitude!" Mina snarked, "You best be calming down and clearing your head, because you are getting disrespectful."

"Shut up! Just shut up!" I slam my fist on the table once more, knocking off my quill.

Mina stays silent, sitting and staring at me for a moment. A paper falls to the floor in the midst of our silence, adding to my frustration.

"If you want to be like that, fine. And if you decide to be nicer, then you can come talk to me. But until then, you'll be by yourself." She said, hopping off my desk and walking out with a slam of the door.

And I was alone again.. I was always alone..

~time skip~

"Please don't tell me-"

"They did, and it was exactly the same. Only fires and rubble left Your Majesty."

"And the attackers?"

"Not a trace. The only witnesses are in critical condition or dead." The steward admitted, fiddling with her fingers.

"How is our weaponry going? Or our defenses?" I ask, trying to stay under control.

"Weaponry is still slow, and not much resources or funding is left. And our defenses are getting better, mainly in walls and only few of the houses. Overall there has been barely any improvements." She explained, not helping my growing worry.

"If we don't prepare we are all dead. Go tell the others to work harder and faster. We need more support!" I yell, swiping a hand through my unkept hair.

"Yes at once, Your Majesty." The steward bowed again, leaving me to myself.

It had been two days since the last attack. And the attackers had only grown stronger, going faster and doing more damage. Yet, nobody knows who they are. They haven't left any trace or clue behind of their true identities.

Which made it that more frustrating that we couldn't track down these fuckers and kill them. They've caused enough damage, and now they had to pay for it.

My door opened again, but I kept my eyes on the documents before me. It was most likely just the steward with some more terrible news.

"Get off your ass and let's go."

"Eh?" I say, surprised by the tone of voice. Looking up, I see that it was Mina, of course it was her.

"You heard me, get off your ass!" She ordered, and I was not about to get beaten so I obeyed. "Now come on, we're going."

Following Mina out the door, she doesn't say another word as we walk down the halls. But as soon as we take a particular turn, I know exact where she was taking me. I stop in my tracks.

"No. I'm not going." Crossing my arms, I watch as she whips her head around.

"Yes. You are!" She snatches my arm and tugs me forwards.

"Oi!" I yell, trying to take my arm back but with no success. "Let me go you psychotic woman!"

"No! It's about time you man up and talk about your feelings!" She yells back, continuing to drag me down the hall.

Without further protest, I allow her to take me further down the hall. And letting her pull me outside into the gardens, I don't like it here.

"You are going to sit on this bench and tell me what's going on! You've been cooped up in that castle for way too long, it's about time you come out and talk to me! It's what I'm here for!" Mina says, pushing me onto a bench as she sits on the ground in front of my feet.

"Don't you want to sit up he-"

"No. Get talking. I'm tired of the steward coming and fetching me to come help you only to be yelled at in return. So start talking." She glared, crossing her arms.

"But-"

"Talk!"

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. Giving Mina a look, only to be returned with a threatening glare.

"Mina, I really don't want to."

"And you think I want to be yelled at with a terrible attitude almost everyday but guess what!" She does a sarcastic jazz hands with a frown. "I do. Now talk before I make you."

"Fine. I'm worried about the attacks, because if the Shiretoko get attacked then we're next. And I know for a fact that they won't stop them because of how weak that kingdom is. Not to mention the overwhelming stress of our own funding. Which is very very low. Did you know that our main source of income is from wood? Wood, Mina! And the steward has mentioned marriage, several times. I know making an alliance with betrothal is our best chance, but we have very limited time here if the attack happens. And not to mention if I did get married, which I don't want to because.. well I've already told you, it would have to be to a wealthy kingdom. Which we don't have connections to and I'm not about to marry into the Todoroki, Yaoyorozu, or Yamada and Aizawa Kingdoms." I blurt out, I said way too much..

"Okay.. First of all, the attacks are a probably, not a definitely. And marriage isn't that big of a deal, you'd be fine. What you do need to do is breathe, get some air flow. But don't you feel better getting that all out?" She smiles, putting a hand on my knee.

"I guess.."

"Yes! I did help, and look! We're in the garden, and you survived." She jokes, elbowing my leg.

"I'm just not looking at the fl- plants. That's the only reason I'm still alive, butthead." I argue.

"Mhm, okay buddy." She nods, scooting forwards a tad.

"It's true!"

"It's true my ass-"

"Your Majesty?" A maid interrupts, I didn't even notice her come outside.

"Yes?" I ask, curious as to what she has to say.

"The Shiretoko Kingdom has been attacked.."

here's a midday chapter because i got bored. but don't worry! there'll be another tonight, bc i want to.

also, does anyone recognize the kingdom names? they are all proheroes..

-1290 words-

~tragedy out <3 <3