Chapter 2: Lets play

                                    

                                          

As I walked beside the green-haired boy, trying to keep up with the others, I couldn't help but notice how kind he seemed despite his nervousness. His eyes sparkled with an energy that felt reassuring, making me feel less out of place in this new and strange setting. I took a deep breath, my earlier nervousness fading a little with every step. A gentle smile appeared on my face.
"Y-your name is Deku, right?" I asked hesitantly, my voice still a bit shaky. "A-at least that's what I heard K-Kacchan call you... if that's his name?"
Deku flushed slightly at the question, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "A-ah... that's what Kacchan calls me..." he mumbled, glancing toward the boys ahead. "But my real name is Izuku Midoriya. You can call me Deku or Izuku, I-I don't mind either way. A-and Kacchan is just a nickname I gave B-Bakugo... H-his full name is Bakugo Katsuki."
I nodded, trying to remember the names: Deku-or Izuku-and Bakugo. As I processed this, we reached a more open area of the playground, where the other boys turned around to face us. All three of them had smirks on their faces, but it wasn't as reassuring as Deku's smile had been. Especially Bakugo, whose smirk held a sense of challenge and mischief.
"Hey, idiot! You said you were strong and fast, huh? Why don't you chase us in a game of tag? This way you can prove yourself!" Bakugo teased, his voice laced with a competitive edge. I maintained a smile, nodding in response.
"Okay! I'll count to ten, and then I'll come get you all!" I announced, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.
The two brown-haired boys exchanged smirks along with Bakugo, and I realized I still didn't know their names. I figured I'd ask them once I caught up in the game of tag. If I could manage that.
As the boys dashed away, I began counting to ten, my voice ringing through the playground. Once I reached ten, I took off after them. I wasn't the fastest, but I wasn't slow either.
Catching them wouldn't be my only challenge; finding them was another. They had spread out across the playground, and I focused hard on keeping them in sight, not wanting to lose them. Thankfully, I spotted a flash of green-I mean, Izuku-and I quickly darted toward him, successfully tagging him.
A wave of happiness surged through me at the catch.
With Izuku now on my side, I shifted my focus to the two brown-haired boys. I could see them running in circles around the swings, making it challenging for me to tag them. Izuku was seated on one of the swings, cheering me on, which spurred me on further. Eventually, I managed to catch one of the boys, leaving only one left.
The last boy, however, was quick on his feet and ran towards Bakugo. I followed closely, determined to catch them both. Bakugo seemed startled when I tagged the other boy, but instead of conceding, he stuck out his tongue and took off. He was fast-really fast.
Before I knew it, we had sprinted far away from the playground, up a small hill. I was so focused on catching Bakugo that I didn't notice how far we had gone.
With every passing moment, the distance between us widened, and I felt a sense of worry creeping in. I was tiring quickly and doubted how long I could keep this up. Just as I feared I might lose him, I heard a thud. After a quick search, I found Bakugo sitting on the grass, holding his ankle, which was bleeding.
"Tch..." he hissed, a pained expression on his face.
I rushed to his side and crouched down to his level, concern flooding through me.
"B-Bakugo-san! Let me help you... you look hurt!" I exclaimed, my smile disappearing as worry took over.
I rummaged through my small backpack, retrieving some bandages and a bottle of water.