"Why? Who is he to you?" Kirishima was examining the coat a bit more thoroughly now. His eyebrows were pushed together, and his nose was crunched up in that way that made him look confused.

Bakugou contemplates just keeping the information to himself. Telling shitty-hair wouldn't help anyone. It would only result in more people knowing a secret they shouldn't. Besides, Katsuki knew without a shadow of a doubt that his best friend would help him without knowing anything. He was just that type of person. Absolute faith in the people he cared about.

Maybe that's why... Maybe that simple fact of utter trust his friend had in him – Maybe that's why Katsuki decided to tell the truth.

"I think Whirlpool knows something about the uniform freak," he said slowly; body locked in place, but eyes examining everything around him except for the shocked look on Kirishima's face.

"Hold up," the redhead exclaims. "Are you saying that he might have a clue about where Best jeanist is? The hell dude, we should tell Aizawa-sensei now!"

"No."

Bakugou can't fully sit up, or move really, but he puts enough force behind his words, that it stops Kirishima momentarily in his tracks. His friend looks back at him; worry lining his mouth, but also a demand for answers. "Why not?" he asks; frowning slightly. "What are you not telling me dude?"

"..."

"Bakubro, please talk to me man."

Sighing, Katsuki turns a bit, just enough so he can meet the pair of red eyes staring back at him with concern.

Fuck, how could he keep this from shitty-hair. He didn't want the uniform freak to get into trouble. Didn't want to reveal a secret the man probably spent years hiding, but – but, it was eating him inside. Burning away at him like a dark twisted secret crawling its way out of his body.

This was Kirishima. If he couldn't trust the one person in the world who'd never let him down, then who the fuck could he trust? Shitty-hair wouldn't, he wouldn't just blab to anyone-

"I think Tsunagu-san used to be a villain," he breaths, finally; voice no louder than the traitorous whispers running through his head. "The villains that attacked the hospital were specifically aiming for him.

Blinking, stunned, his best friend shook his head in denial. "No way dude," he said; volume bit higher than necessary. "If he used to be a villain, everyone would know man, it's not possible."

Katsuki glares. It's not like he wanted this either. It's not like he wanted to believe it, but-

"The leader, he knew him."

"So," Shitty-hair says; skepticism clear in his eyes. "Tons of people know Best Jeanist. He used to be the number four hero man."

Why the fuck was Kirishima making this so fucking hard. "That's not what I meant," he snaps. He didn't want this to be true either. "He called him by a different name ok!" He didn't want Tsunagu-san to get in trouble. "And Jeanist knew him too!" He didn't want to ruin his career. "His name was Robert and he told Jeanist they wanted him back." But how could he save him if he didn't talk? "They called him Nicolas shitty-hair, and Tsunagu-san recognized them from his past." He just wanted to fucking save the man. "I think he was a villain Eijirou. I really think he was." His voice broke, and he coughed to hide it.

It didn't go unnoticed though. Kirishima gaze was boring into his skull, but more than that, scarred fingers clutched his own again, and when he looked, his best friend was smiling at him, teeth and all. "Ok," he said; tightening his grip around Katsuki's hand. "I believe you man. Sorry for doubting you."

Swallowing thickly, Katsuki blinked furiously, and looked away from those too understanding red lights. "Good," he said; voice hoarse. "I didn't fucking want to hit you over the head with it."

Kirishima laughs, and Bakugou cracks a smile.

They were good. They were always good.

"So, you want me to help you find Whirlpool," Shitty-hair finally asks; still not letting go of his hand. Somewhere deep down, Katsuki appreciates that, but – Shaking his fingers out of the comforting grip, he glares at Eijirou in warning; his best friend only laughs.

Idiot.

"Yeah," he answers. "The quicker we find him, the faster we might know about those fucking villains and what they want with the uniform freak."

"Stop calling him that man."

"Fuck you."

Kirishima only sighs in defeat, getting back to their current conversation. "You think we can find him?"

Bakugou shrugs as best as he can. "I don't think Jeanist would have left that clue with me, if he thought we couldn't."

That the hero might have wanted them to involve the older heroes and the police remained unsaid, but still lingered in the air as a tense unspoken weight on their shoulders.

Leaning back into his wheelchair again, the redhead fumbled clumsily in his pocked, before dragging out his phone with a bit of a challenge. "I'll look him up," he said in answer to Bakugou's questioning eyebrow.

It didn't take Kirishima long at all to track the retired hero down. "Wow," he said; fingers tapping away at his phone. "Should people just know heroes' homes like this? It feels kinda risky."

"They can probably protect themselves," Bakugou thinks out loud. "And messing with retired heroes is like a big no, right? Probably gonna have the wrath of the entire hero community come down on you. Besides," here he shrugs. "It doesn't really gain fuckers anything."

His best friend didn't look all that convinced, but he elected to drop the topic for now. "I guess," he said; staring at his phone. "Either way, I found where he lives."

"Where?"

Bakugou tried not to sound too eager.

"He lives in Toyohashi."

"That's," Katsuki starts.

"I know," the redhead interrupts him. "It's pretty close to Musutafu. In fact," more typing. "It's only 33km from the city. And if we take the express train," a pause. "It's about 15 minutes. That's actually pretty good, right?"

Bakugou didn't answer. For the first time, since this morning, since the attack, the kids, the fight, the loss, the sacrifice... Something, finally something – It was looking up for him. He; biting his lip, his chest expanded to take in the much-needed air.

Luck, fucking luck was on his side this time.

Finally.

"Let's go see him," he says; not looking at his best friend. "Tomorrow, let's go see Kaoru-san."

A second of silence and then-

"How about, no."

The answer was so unexpected, Bakugou's head snapped up. "The fuck, shitty-hair?"

The redhead just glared back. "I said no man," he says. "It's crazy talk. We are both super injured and how the hell are we gonna even get out of the hospital to find this man? It's just stupid. Besides," he looks concerned. "You could get expelled for this."

But Bakugou was done listening. His blood was boiling, and his teeth were gritting so hard, he wouldn't be surprised if he gritted them to dust, right then and there. "I will be expelled anyways," he snapped. "I didn't have a hero license when I disobeyed Aizawa-sensei. I'll be expelled anyways Kirishima!" Tears, fucking tears were brimming his eyes again. "Might as well go out knowing I've done something right!"

Eijirou's resolve wavered slightly, but – It was clear he wasn't about to budge on this. "I'm sorry man," he said. "Recovery Girl will be here tomorrow and the police too and all these extra securities. We can't go. And Aizawa-sensei won't have you expelled. He'll do something. You know that, so please-" His eyes were glassy. "Please don't do anything stupid. You don't have a license man. And even with Recovery Girl's help, you won't be hundred percent. Please Katsuki?"

It was as if he'd been hit in the stomach. He couldn't think. Had shitty-hair been worried? This much? All this time, and he – He hadn't even fucking thought about it, let himself consider all the worry, all the sacrifice everyone else- He... How fucking selfish.

"I,"

Still, Best Jeanist – The heroes were looking for him, if they found him and found out... Would they want him back? With no evidence, no proof? The hero world wasn't that forgiving, not that kind, so-

"I'm sorry," he whispered; water droplets hitting his bed. "I can't Eijirou. I'm sorry."

The crestfallen look on shitty-hair's face almost made Bakugou want to take it all back, but he couldn't. He wouldn't. He had to go. No one would let him help if he didn't. And Best Jeanist, he could be jailed. For past crimes, so – But... Maybe, maybe he could compromise?

"We can take Ghost face-senpai," he blurted out; just desperate to erase that look from his best friend's face. "He is a full-fledged hero, right? He was assigned to this mission already, so if he goes with us, we won't be breaking the rules."

Kirishima didn't look happy about the idea, but at the same time he didn't look unhappy either. "Not just Tamaki-senpai," the redhead said eventually. "We'll take Midoriya too. I don't want to put any of them in danger, but it's better that we are more."

The blonde wanted to protest, but shitty-hair lifted a hand to stop him. "The only reason why I'm helping you is cuz I know you'll just go without me, and this visit probably doesn't include combat." Here he glared. "But we won't go there without sufficient backup, and whether you like it or not, Midoriya is strong and he'll help me stop you if things go too far."

"Anything else?" Sarcasm was practically dripping from Katsuki's voice, but still-

Shitty-hair hadn't said no. Of course, at the end of the day, he knew the redhead wouldn't. It was wrong to use their friendship like that, but Bakugou would definitely be expelled soon, and he wanted to do something right, before then. He wanted to help save Best Jeanist.

"Yes, there is something else," his best friend huffed. "We won't go till after Recovery Girl heals us, and even then, only after at least three days have passed." He bulldozed through Bakugou's protest. "And," he said loudly. "We're taking at least two more heroes with us. Since you can't fight, we need more people who can."

This was all crazy, and Bakugou would rather leave everyone behind, but shitty-hair was speaking sense, and it's not like he wanted to experience the same unfortunate incident of yesterday, so-

"Fine," he grumbled.

"I'm not finished."

Fucking hell. "What more do you want fucking shitty-hair!"

Kirishima frowned. "Promise me if we do this, we won't go to try and save Best Jeanist. I know it's hypocritical of me to ask, but promise me Katsuki."

He opened his mouth.

He didn't want to. He wanted to save the man. Wanted to do his fucking part. Wanted not to fail, but Aizawa-sensei and Tamaki-senpai and Deku and now, shitty-hair, he couldn't fail them too, and-

"I won't. And whatever we find out. I'll tell Aizawa-sensei first."

Tsunagu-san, he wouldn't want him to either. He didn't know why, but deep down, in his very core, he knew. Knew the older hero wouldn't want him to rush after him recklessly, but this, he could do this much to save him. "Will you help me then Eijirou?"

"Yeah man, this is really a bad idea, but I got your back."

Bakugou grinned; tears long dried. "I know."

Kirishima shook his head, but a similar grin also painted his face. "You're so bad for me dude," he says with a fond look in his eyes.

They didn't get an opportunity to hash anything else out though, for in the next minute, voice from outside broke the quiet in their room, and not before long, Aizawa-sensei walked through the door; ghost face-senpai hot on his heels.

"Looks like you're up," his teacher said; hands stuffed in his pockets, and a small folder tucked under his arm. "Good morning Bakugou, Kirishima."

"Morning sensei!" the redhead grins, and Katsuki only nods back in greeting. Sighing, their teacher steps aside for Tamaki-senpai; the younger shuffling past him and over to the two of them.

"Time to go," he mutters to the teenager in the wheelchair; absentmindedly reaching out to ruffle his hair; something the younger doesn't seem to mind. But when Tamaki tries to do the same to the blonde, he gets a vicious snarl back.

It doesn't stop Tamaki though. Lightning quick, his arm is past his face and in his hair. "I'm glad to see you doing well," he says; a ghost of a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Get the fuck off me," is all he gets as a reply.

Suneater doesn't seem to mind. Smile only widening, before he turns around and takes a hold of the wheelchair. "Let's go Kirishima," he says. "Aizawa-sensei needs to talk to Bakugou."

The redhead agrees easily, waving at both the other occupants of the room as he is pushed out of the room; his easy chatter being heard till the door falls shut behind them.

Bakugou rolls his eyes, but his shoulders have relaxed, and he would be lying if he said he didn't feel just the slightest bit better seeing his teacher and ghost face-senpai again.

Aizawa-sensei doesn't waste any time in meaningless pleasantries after the other two have left; electing to drag one of the uncomfortable hospital chairs over to the bed and sinking into it. "We don't have much time," he begins.

"What? Did something else happen?" Dread starts clawing its way back into blonde's lungs, but the shake of Aizawa-sensei's head dispels that somewhat.

"No," his teacher says. "Nothing has happened yet, and we have much to talk about later about your recklessness and self-endangerment yesterday, but the police will be here any minute now, and if I don't tell you this, you might very well be expelled Bakugou."

Katsuki's gaze flitters back to his lap. "I already know I'll get expelled Aizawa-sensei; you don't have to sugarcoat it for me."

A folder is thrown into his line of sight then. "That might not necessarily be true."

"Huh?"

Sighing, Aizawa-sensei leans over and slowly, yet carefully opens the folder, bringing out-

Bakugou's breath catches.

"Is that – That looks like... The fuck?"

His teacher flicks him on the forehead lightly. "Don't curse kid. But yes, this is a provisional hero license, more specifically," he looks Katsuki in the eyes. "Your provisional hero license."

"What?"

Running tired fingers over his eyes, Aizawa-sensei sighs again. "Look kid. There is no way around the fact that if the police find out what you did, we will be forced to expel you. Since they already know and I can't do anything about that, but-" here he swings the tiny card around. "I could pull some strings. I did pull some strings."

Dropping the card back in Katsuki's lap, he folds his arms over his chest and stares the teenager down. "I owe Gang Orca a couple of favors now, and you better thank your fellow exam re-takers for being willing to lie for you, but as far as anyone will know. You got your license two days ago but was told to keep it under wraps till it was made official next week. So, by all account, you were a licensed hero when you did what you did."

The hell? How? Why would Aizawa-sensei... Why would he lie for him? He'd been so prepared, tried to steal himself for the expulsion, had accepted his faith and now-

"How will anyone-"

"Believe this?" Aizawa-sensei interrupts him. Bakugou nods; mouth dry.

His teacher shrugs. "You all passed your last exam already, so we didn't really have to do anything about that, we just had to speed up the process of getting the license and to pretend you all already had it on you but weren't allowed to talk about it. None of this would have worked if Utsushimi-san, Yoarashi-san and Todoroki hadn't agreed to lie for you. So please thank them after you get out."

He... They... Why?

'You're not worth it,' his thoughts whispered. 'They shouldn't have to cover for your failures. No one should stick their necks out for you. You're not worth it'

He swallows, fingers twitching.

"Will they get in trouble, if they are found out, I mean?"

Aizawa shakes his head. "They already passed the exam. So, no. Only Kugo and I could potentially face punishment if we're found out, but the chances of that happening are rather slim, so don't worry about it."

Why

"Why?" he asks; words only a whisper. He doesn't understand. Doesn't get it. Why would anyone?

This time Aizawa-sensei cracks the tiniest bits of a smile. "I always scold Toshinori for his blatant favoritism, and here I go doing the same."

Bakugou couldn't breathe. He - He was, important? To Aizawa-sensei, he-

His fingers feebly reached out; scratching at the duvet desperately.

For what Katsuki wasn't sure, but-

Aizawa-sensei lifted the card and placed it gently between his fingers; his own curling around Bakugou's shaking fists. "Congrats kid." A smile; tiny, but proud. "You're a hero now."

Katsuki's lips trembled.

He cried.

"Thank you." A sob. "Thank you."

Aizawa-sensei never let go.

Couple of things I wanna go over here. This chapter is much longer than usual because there were a lot of material I needed to cover. Too many questions I needed to answer.

First the whole location and traveling thing. Apparently UA is located in Musutafu. A place that doesn't exist, but with some research I found out that it's Hamamatsu, or where Hamamatsu would have been in that world, so let's just go with it. Toyohashi is the closest city just 33km away, and I thought that would be the most ideal solution. If they take express train (let's say there is an express train) it will take them about 14 minutes or so to get to the city, so with that, I hope it sorta make sense.

Next part, Kirishima is kinda managing to talk some sense into Bakugou. He's also reckless himself, so it's not like he isn't going to be dragged along, but at least he talked him down to some degree, and with Tamaki, they are at least not fully endangering themselves. Now I'm sorry I took the whole running off to rescue jeanist by themselves of the table, but there is no way in hell I could let these stupid kids do that. Tamaki wouldn't allow it, and Bakugou at least trusts the heroes to do their job and save jeanist. Plus, where would they even go? So this was a better compromise for me. They will try to clear his name and find somethings out and hand it over to the heroes that will be the once saving jeanist.

As for the last part. Surprise! Bakugou gets his license. When I sent him on his reckless, dumb mission I knew there was no way he wouldn't get expelled. Like? He fought without a license, fought a freaking crew of villains and disobeyed Aizawa, so no way he wouldn't face punishment, buuuuut I also couldn't let that happen, so I found a loophole. Aizawa plays favoritism just as much as All Might does, whether he likes to admit it or not, so him pulling favors to give Bakugou his license so he doesn't get expelled makes sense to me. And Katsuki better thank Todoroki for his kindness as well as the other two. They really stepped up f