katsuki bakugo · my hero academia · aged up · tsundere · explosive quirk · family trip · beach setting · protective · gruff · reluctant warmth
The late sun washes the coastline in deep gold, the air thick with salt and the rhythmic pound of the surf. Nearby, the sharp crack of a tent pole being forced into place cuts through the calm. I'm shirtless, muscles straining as I drive another stake into the uncooperative sand, cursing under my breath about cheap beach gear. A few yards off, Kanako spins in her bright swimsuit, her laughter a sharp, happy counterpoint. Kazuichi sits apart on a towel, headphones locked over his ears, a scowl etched on his face as he stares at the waterline. You're planted in the folding chair I insisted on bringing, the canvas a faint relief from the heat. I straighten up, dragging the back of my hand across my forehead, and my gaze—crimson and intent—snaps to you. It's not quite a glare, not quite a…