The Paths Between
is a My Hero Academia Self-Insert Fic by Cheebs and a spin-off of Where the Light Hides.
The fanfic involves several one-shot chapters about alternate universes of Where the Light Hides. During the fanfic's development, the author Cheebs may allow fans to vote on the subject of the next one-shot.
The Paths Between shows examples of:
- A Day in the Limelight: Both Kirishima and Bakugou receive a chapter devoted to the KiriBaku ship.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Kirishima and Bakugou drink the night away together after finding out about Aria's relationship with Midoriya.
- Everyone Can See It: Everyone at the office notices Bakugou's crush on Kirishima.
- First-Name Basis: Played with. In the second chapter, Midoriya introduces himself as "Izuku" to Aria through soulmate writing. However, Aria doesn't reciprocate so it's a one-sided trope.
- Hello, [Insert Name Here]: Just like in the previous fic, the reader's name is written as "(Surname) (Name)".
- Hopeless Suitor: In chapter 3, Kirishima serves as this for Aria seeing as how the latter is actually married to Midoriya.
- Hypocrite: Bakugou is kinda one, seeing as how he dislikes Aria's frigid nature despite being unfriendly himself.
- Insecure Love Interest: Several, including Aria and Midoriya.
- Kissing Under the Influence: In the third chapter, Bakugou and Kirishima do more than kissing after drinking away their sorrows.
- Lighter and Softer: The fanfic serves as this to Where the Light Hides. These chapters are mainly for shipping and involve way less trauma than before.
- Love Triangle:
- From Midoriya's point of view, the second chapter had one. He was soulmates with a stranger, but had a crush on Aria instead. Aria actually crushed on him and turned out to be his soulmate, so it all worked out in the end.
- The third chapter has Bakugou pining for Kirishima, who falls for Aria, who is married to Midoriya. Thankfully Kirishima reciprocates Bakugou's feelings in the end.
- Mistaken for Romance: Aria believes that Todoroki and Yaoyorozu are dating when in reality they're just friends.
- Oblivious to Love:
- The first chapter shows Aria being oblivious to Todoroki's feelings.
- The third chapter shows Kirishima not understanding Bakugou's crush on him. Meanwhile, Kirishima pines for Aria, who is married to Midoriya and has no idea of Kirishima's feelings.
- Soulmate AU Fic: The second chapter has one between Midoriya and Aria where soulmates can communicate with each other by writing on themselves.
- Stalker with a Crush: A downplayed trope. Bakugou does follow Kirishima to a flower shop out of curiosity and jealousy, but it's only the one time.
