Itzuki: "Just this once, Dad? Please? We really want to hang out with them..."

Izuku: [Sighs softly, offering a sympathetic but firm look] "I get it, Itzuki. As the older brother, I know you want to look out for your friends, but look at the clock—it's almost 10 PM. Villain activity has been spiking in that district lately. It's just not safe. You can both go first thing tomorrow morning, okay?"

Itzuki: [Pleading, tugging slightly at his sleeve] "Pleeease, Dad...? Just for an hour? I promise I'll keep Katzuko safe."

Izuku: "No, Itzuki. You're fourteen, but you're still not ready to handle a villain spike alone. Your safety comes first. I need you to understa—" Katzuko: "Tch... Just stop it already, Dad!"

The words burst out of me, sharp and bitter. I was sick of the endless lectures, the constant protective bubble, the same repetitive answers. My fists clenched tight at my sides.

I whipped around to face my older brother, my voice dripping with irritation.

"Told you he wouldn’t let us, Itzuki. Total waste of time. He's always like this. So annoying."

Before the echo of my words could even fade, Itzuki’s face drained of color. His eyes widened in absolute panic, and he took a sudden, frantic step back from me, trying to grab my shoulder to pull me back.

Itzuki: [Whispering, terrified] "Katzuko... shut up! You do know Daddy's already home, right?" My heart dropped straight into my stomach.

I turned my head stiffly. Standing right there in the entryway was Bakugo. His arms were crossed over his chest, his crimson eyes locked onto me with an intense glare, a vein visibly throbbing in his temple. The faint smell of burnt caramel and ozone filled the room.

I froze, the air caught in my throat. Izuku’s eyes widened, and he immediately threw himself into action, grabbing Bakugo tightly by the wrist just as the older hero made a move forward.

Izuku: [Straining, trying to hold him back] "Kacchan, wait! Don't—he's only twelve, he didn't mean it like that, please just let me talk to him!"

Seeing Izuku hold him back gave me a sudden surge of defensive adrenaline. I forced down the instinctual fear rising in my chest, masking it with a scowl, and crossed my arms over my chest to look bigger than I felt. Katzuko: "Oh, great. Of course he's already home. Just what I needed..."

I rolled my eyes dramatically, taking a cautious step back while maintaining my glare.

Katzuko: "You two act like I just committed a crime or something! Itzuki is old enough to watch us anyway! You're always treating us like we're totally helpless little kids!"