BNHA: God of Explosions

'How... how did this happen?' Bakugo kept asking himself as he stared at the candidate card, the big "B" engraved on it seeming to mock him with every passing second.

'What could have changed for them to put us in different battle centers?' His mind worked quickly, connecting possibilities until forming a plausible hypothesis. 'It must have been the registration day. In this timeline, that damn Deku must have signed up before me.'

Bakugo gritted his teeth, feeling his irritation grow as he grasped the enormous implications of this change. First, Izuku wouldn't meet Iida and Uraraka during the exam. Second, he'd be in a completely different battlefield, where anything could happen.

'He could be disqualified because of some stupid accident—' Bakugo cut off his train of thought as he remembered the main factor that ensured Izuku's success in the original timeline. 'Izuku only passed because he destroyed the Zero Pointer to save Uraraka. Which means...'

Bakugo took a deep breath, the weight of the realization sinking heavily into his chest. 'It means he's not going to pass.'

He glanced again at Izuku, who was now being scolded by Iida for speaking during the explanation. Actually, Bakugo had also been reprimanded, but he'd been so focused on finding a solution that he hadn't even noticed.

"Thank you very much! I apologize for the interruption!" Iida concluded with a bow before sitting back down.

Taking advantage of the moment, Bakugo leaned toward Izuku. "Hey, damn nerd, don't you think it's weird that U.A. only gives points for destroyed robots?"

Izuku blinked, turning to face him. "Huh? Well, I… I figured it was because the exam evaluates our combat skills, right?" His voice came out uncertain, as if he hadn't stopped to think about it until now. "But now that you mention it..."

Izuku placed a hand on his chin. "Why would they include a Zero Pointer robot, then?" he murmured to himself, furrowing his brow. "Why spend so much time and resources building a giant machine that only serves to get in the way? No, there must be a bigger purpose. Maybe they want to see how we react. If we'll run or try to protect the city? But… Present Mic advised us to run as soon as the Zero Pointer appeared, which could be a way of leading us not to act..."

Izuku paused for a second, his eyes shining with a new realization. "In other words… they might be evaluating us on more than just combat. It could be about judgment, strategy, or… altruism!-"

"Now, folks, good luck with this suffering!" Present Mic finished explaining the exam, dismissing the participants to head to their respective battle centers.

Bakugo wasted no time and stood up. There was nothing more he could do for now; he could only trust that Izuku would be smart enough to rack up enough rescue points to pass.

"K-Kacchan!"

Stopping mid-step, Bakugo looked over his shoulder, meeting Izuku's tear-filled eyes. "T-thank you."

"Tsk." Without saying anything, Bakugo kept walking, leaving the boy behind.

***

'Kacchan…'

Wiping away the tears that threatened to fall, Izuku looked down, trying to process what had just happened. He had no more doubts—his childhood friend was trying to help him.

The reason for this change? He had no idea. After years of mockery, aggression, and what seemed like unshakable disdain, something had shifted. Maybe it was because of the sludge villain incident, or maybe Bakugo had finally realized that his behavior wasn't that of a hero.

But at that moment, that didn't matter. What mattered was that, even in his rough and abrasive way, Kacchan was reaching out to him.

Izuku clenched his fists, feeling a new wave of determination surge through him. 'All Might believed in me, Mom trusted me, and Kacchan.... is supporting me. I can't let them down!'

"Why are you crying, kero?"

"Ah!"

***

Stepping off the bus, Bakugo shoved his hands into his pockets and walked straight to the gate leading to the battle center, positioning himself at the front of the group.

He wore a black shirt paired with gray training pants. On his feet, black running shoes, and to complete the look, a pair of thick gloves in the same color.

'Uh, I didn't remember Aoyama being in this group.' Bakugo cast a quick glance at the blond boy who seemed to shine. 'What would All For One do if he didn't pass? ... Tsk, it annoys me just thinking about it.'

Turning his gaze back to the gate in front of him, he let out a resigned sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. 'Sorry, Aoyama. You'll have to keep being a pawn until everything falls into place.'

After all, Yuga Aoyama was a key piece in Bakugo's plan.

***

"Hey, isn't that Bakugo up front?"

"The one from the sludge villain incident?"

"That's him!"

"Ugh! If it is, we're screwed."

"Just our luck, being in the same group as someone strong..."

The murmurs among the candidates began to grow. Every glance seemed to inevitably land on Bakugo, the spiky-haired boy who, even while standing silent, dominated the group's attention.

In the middle of the whispers, Ochako Uraraka opened her eyes, breaking her attempt to meditate and focus. She tried to block out the noise, but it was impossible. It seemed like half the group was obsessed with talking about the "infamous Bakugo."

Curious, she stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck to try and get a better look at the boy who was the center of so much attention. All she could make out at first was an imposing silhouette and hair that looked like an explosion of spikes.

'Wow, he really does have a scary aura...' Uraraka took a deep breath, trying to push away the anxiety that threatened to bubble up inside her. "He may be strong, but that doesn't mean I don't have a chance."

Suddenly, Bakugo turned slightly, as if he could feel the weight of the stares on his back. His eyes scanned the group briefly, and for a moment, they locked onto Uraraka's.

She froze instantly. 'Why did I just feel a chill?!' Uraraka thought as her heart skipped a beat.

Before the moment could stretch out any longer, a loud voice rang out. "Everyone, calm down!" Iida raised a hand in a disciplinary gesture. "Your murmurs are distracting those who wish to focus!"

Iida's firm tone cut through the tension in the air. Some candidates stopped whispering, clearly unsettled, while others simply looked away in embarrassment.

[Let's begin!!!]

***

Watching the gates open, Bakugo didn't hesitate.. He pointed his hands back, unleashing small explosions that propelled him forward like a rocket, leaving the rest of the candidates eating his dust before they even realized the exam had started.

As soon as he entered the battlefield, his sharp vision caught sight of the first robots. There were two one-point models and three two-point models approaching an intersection. Bakugo adjusted his trajectory mid-air with another explosion, landing right in the middle of the group of machines. 

"Out of my way!" Without giving the robots a chance to react, he spun his body, using centrifugal force to unleash a series of precise explosions that struck the joints and main circuits of the machines. 

A larger three-point robot tried to approach from behind, its blades ready to cut Bakugo, who only smiled as he sensed the movement.

'Compared to that monster, you guys are way too slow.' He jumped at the last second, twisting in the air and aiming directly at the robot's head. With a concentrated blast, the machine's metal skull was obliterated, crashing to the ground in smoldering pieces. 

The impact sent Bakugo flying backward. He used the momentum to land on top of another robot, crushing the machine's head with a kick before blasting it away.

Landing smoothly on the ground, he scanned his surroundings, searching for more targets. 

Noticing more robots approaching, now in even greater numbers, Bakugo's grin widened. He rushed toward the group, aimed his hands at the ground, and unleashed another explosion that launched him into the air above them. 

"AP Shot: Auto-Cannon!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

***

"Th-that guy is a monster!" A boy stammered, feeling the ground tremble beneath his feet from Bakugo's constant explosions.

"We need to... WE NEED TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE!" Another shouted, his voice tinged with desperation as he watched nearly every robot being destroyed before they even got close.

"YES! IF NOT, WE WON'T GET ANY POINTS!" A girl yelled, already sprinting in the opposite direction of Bakugo, dragging a few other candidates along with her.

Meanwhile, a few meters away, "R-release!" Uraraka brought her fingers together, causing two robots to crash to the ground.

"Haah... That makes 10 points," she murmured, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Uraraka knew she needed a lot more to secure her approval, but with so many robots being destroyed by Bakugo, her options were rapidly dwindling.

'I need to go deeper,' Uraraka bit her lip, swallowing her unease. Clenching her fists, she ran further into the mock city.

***

At the same moment, Bakugo landed on a pile of debris. 'hat should be enough for first place.' Raising a hand and wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, he looked around, noting the countless destroyed robots. 'Maybe I got a little carried away.'

Thinking for a moment, he quickly dismissed the small pang of concern as he wondered if his actions might have affected his three classmates. 'Nah... They're strong; I don't need to worry.'

***

In Battle Center A, Izuku had already lost count of how many people he had helped. Every scream or panicked expression pulled him like a magnet, his focus on helping rather than trying to use the Quirk All Might had given him.

He had already dragged a boy trapped under a pile of rubble to safety. Another time, he held a girl by the shoulders while she trembled in fear, unable to move her legs as a robot approached.

"You can do it! Plus Ultra, remember?!" he encouraged, his trembling smile trying to hide the fear he felt himself.

The robots kept appearing, more aggressive and numerous by the minute. Izuku dodged as best he could, jumping back or rolling to avoid the attacks, but never stopped moving toward those who needed help.

"Okay... okay... breathe..." he muttered to himself, sweating and with his legs nearly giving out. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his jacket and looked around, searching for another place where he could be useful.

Then he heard another scream. Turning quickly, he saw a boy frozen in place, surrounded by three three-point robots.

"No, no, no..." Izuku whispered, sprinting toward the boy. 'I won't make it in time!' Without thinking, Izuku grabbed a rock from the ground and hurled it with all his strength at one of the robots.

"HEY! Look at me!!"

The rock hit the robot's head, causing only a superficial scratch but enough to catch its attention. The robot's glowing eyes turned to Izuku, and he felt the weight of his decision.

"That's... that's right... come here," he said, less confident now.

The other two robots also turned, giving the boy an opening to escape.

"Run! Now!" Izuku shouted, gesturing frantically.

The boy finally reacted, stumbling backward before fleeing. Izuku let out a sigh, realizing a second too late that he was now the target of all three robots.

"Okay... NOW I NEED HELP." He turned and ran desperately, hearing the robots chasing him.

***

"Haah... haah... haah..." Uraraka panted, leaning against a broken wall as she pressed her hand to her stomach. The nausea caused by the constant use of her Quirk had reached its limit, making her feel extremely dizzy.

Even so, there was a small smile on her face. "A-at least I scored quite a few points," she murmured, pleased she had taken the risk to go deeper into the city, where she found several robots.

But her brief pause was interrupted by a deafening sound.

BAAAMMM!

Uraraka's eyes widened as she looked up, just in time to see a massive piece of debris falling toward her.

"Ahh!" she screamed, jumping to the side at the last second.

The debris crashed into the wall behind her with a loud bang, shattering into a rain of rubble that collapsed onto her.

Unfortunately, Uraraka didn't have time to react. The fragments of rock and concrete fell heavily on her, striking her legs and back.

"Argh..." she groaned in pain, feeling the weight pressing the air out of her. "S-someone, help me," Uraraka pleaded with difficulty, trying to free herself from the debris that pinned her down.

But her exhausted body and the pain in her ribs and legs made the effort seem futile.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The sound of something massive and immense approaching made Uraraka's heart race. She looked up and saw the enormous shadow of the Zero Pointer towering against the sky, its huge arms moving closer with heavy steps. Panic gripped her instantly.

"PLEASE, SOMEBODY HELP ME!" Desperate and with tears streaming from her eyes, Uraraka feared for her life for the first time. But this couldn't be happening, right? It was just a test!

'But the pain is too real!' she thought, frantically looking around, seeing no one coming to help. 'Where is everyone? Why is no one helping me?! Aren't we all trying to be heroes?!'

That's when she heard a voice, calm but with an irritated tone. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?!"

She slowly turned her head, not quite understanding how someone had approached without her noticing, and saw Bakugo crouched beside her. He was just standing there, with that unbothered look, exactly as he had when he took down dozens of robots at the start of the test.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Bakugo repeated, this time with palpable impatience.

BAM!

She blinked, unsure of how to respond, still dazed. "Y-you need to run, that thing is—"

"What are you doing?!" Bakugo interrupted her, his tone of frustration almost comical, as if she were doing something completely idiotic.

Uraraka closed her mouth in shock. Did this boy not see the giant robot approaching? More importantly, did he not see she was trapped? "I-I'm trapped. I think I broke a leg or a rib—"

Bakugo let out a huff that sounded almost like he was disappointed with her answer. "That's why I'm asking what you're doing." He moved closer and grabbed her wrist.

BAM!

'What is he doing?!' Uraraka thought, feeling her cheeks heat up from his touch. 'Wait! Why am I blushing in this situation? Why is this... why am I—?'

"You want to be a hero, right?" Bakugo guided her hand to the rubble, making her fingers touch the concrete. "Heroes can't solve everything on their own. That's why there's no problem in asking for help.

The large piece of concrete began to float gently, relieving the pressure on Uraraka. Her nausea returned, but she barely noticed, too lost in looking at and listening to the boy.

"But before asking for help, we have to give it our all. Fight until the last second, until our last breath. Because even when the pain is unbearable, even when we're on the brink of collapse... when everything seems lost and the world tries to knock us down—we are the ones who stand." Bakugo said, his crimson eyes locking with hers. "That's this school's motto, isn't it? Plus Ultra."

BAM!

For a moment, Uraraka felt the world around her disappear. The deafening sound of the robot, the throbbing pain in her body—all of it vanished. Her mind focused solely on Bakugo's eyes, which seemed to steal the air from her lungs.

And there was something about the way he spoke—a mix of raw strength and unshakable conviction—that left her unable to look away. It was as if, for a brief instant, all the gravity around her had vanished, and the only fixed point was him.

Uraraka couldn't quite explain what she felt at that moment, but her heart seemed to beat harder, pushing her to react, to fight, to be better.

And even as Bakugo walked away to face the giant robot, she couldn't take her eyes off him, as if he were a flame... a beacon she needed in the storm.

***

'Hmm, I'm not sure if I expressed myself well,' Bakugo thought, turning to face the Zero Pointer. 'Tsk, it's so hard to communicate without telling everyone to go to hell.'

Slowly raising his hand, he cracked a small smile. 'This one's on you, Todoroki.'

"Inferno Blastwave!"

BOOOOOMMM!!!!!!

***

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fictional.