HERCULES METHOD IN MHA

The aftermath of the Slime Incident left Katsuki Bakugo in a state of turmoil. His body was bruised and battered, his lungs still burning from the sludge that had nearly suffocated him. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the storm raging inside him. He had always prided himself on his strength, his quirk, his unshakable confidence. But now, all of that had been shattered.

Because he had been saved by Deku.

Bakugo sat on the curb, his hands trembling as he stared at the ground. The heroes had checked him over and declared him unharmed, but he barely registered their words. All he could think about was the look on Deku's face as he had unleashed that devastating punch—the sheer power, the determination, the heroism. It was everything Bakugo had always claimed to embody, and yet it had come from the one person he had spent his entire life looking down on.

"Damn it…" Bakugo muttered, his voice low and venomous. His fists clenched, small explosions crackling in his palms. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

He slammed his fist into the ground, the impact sending a small shockwave through the pavement. But even that did little to ease the anger boiling inside him. How could this have happened? How could Deku—weak, useless, quirkless Deku—have been the one to save him? It didn't make sense. It wasn't right.

As the crowd began to disperse, Bakugo noticed Izuku standing a few feet away, talking to All Might. The sight only fueled his rage. He stood up, his legs wobbling slightly, and stormed over to them.

"Deku!" Bakugo shouted, his voice cutting through the air like a knife.

Izuku turned, his expression calm but wary. "Kacchan…"

"Don't 'Kacchan' me, you damn nerd!" Bakugo snarled, his hands sparking with explosions. "What the hell was that? Do you think you're some kind of hero now? You think you're better than me?"

Izuku's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Bakugo thought he saw a flicker of anger in them. But it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared. "I don't think I'm better than you, Kacchan. I just did what I had to do."

"What do you have to do?" Bakugo repeated, his voice rising. "You don't get to decide what you had to do! You're nothing! You're just a damn Deku!"

All Might stepped forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over Bakugo. "Young man, I understand you're upset, but now is not the time—"

"Stay out of this!" Bakugo snapped, his eyes blazing with fury. "This is between me and him!"

Izuku sighed and stepped between Bakugo and All Might. "It's okay, All Might. I'll handle this."

All Might hesitated, then nodded and stepped back, though his eyes remained watchful.

Bakugo glared at Izuku, his chest heaving with anger. "You think you're so tough now, huh? Just because you've got some fancy quirk? You're still the same weak, pathetic Deku you've always been!"

Izuku met Bakugo's gaze, his expression calm but firm. "I'm not the same, Kacchan. And neither are you. But if you want to keep pretending you're better than everyone else, that's your choice. Just don't expect me to stand by and watch you get hurt."

Bakugo's eyes widened, and for a moment, he was speechless. Then, his face twisted into a snarl. "I don't need your help, Deku! I don't need anyone's help! I'm going to be the number one hero, and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"

Izuku shook his head. "I'm not trying to stop you, Kacchan. But if you keep pushing people away, you're never going to get there."

Bakugo's hands sparked with explosions, but he didn't attack. He just stood there, trembling with rage and frustration. Deep down, he knew Izuku was right. But admitting that would mean admitting defeat, and Bakugo's pride wouldn't allow it.

As Bakugo stormed off, Izuku watched him go, a mixture of sadness and determination in his eyes. He knew Bakugo's pride had been shattered, and he knew it would take time for the blonde boy to come to terms with what had happened. But he also knew that this was a turning point—for both of them.

All Might placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "You handled that well, young man. But remember, not everyone is ready to accept help, even when they need it."

Izuku nodded. "I know. But I'm not going to give up on him. He's still my friend, even if he doesn't realize it."

All Might smiled, his usual grin returning. "You have the heart of a true hero, young Midoriya. Never lose that."

As Bakugo walked home, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Anger, frustration, humiliation—they all swirled together, threatening to consume him. He had always been the strongest, the best, the one everyone looked up to. But now, that had all been called into question.

And the worst part was, he couldn't even blame Deku. The nerd had just been doing what he thought was right. It was Bakugo'n weakness that had led to this. His failure.

"Damn it…" Bakugo muttered, his hands clenching into fists. "I'll show them. I'll show everyone. I'm still the best. I'm still going to be the number one hero."

But even as he said the words, they felt hollow. For the first time in his life, Katsuki Bakugo was doubting himself. And that was something he didn't know how to handle.