Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was easy for Izuku.

All of it.

"Izuku..."

"I-izuku......"

 

"Izuku!" the moment that name struck right through his head. Izuku Midoriya finally woke up from his sudden nap during lunchtime at UA, inside the classroom while marking grades. Teaching students to become the next new hero generations

"Huh! Oh uh what's happening." Izuku said searching around to see Katsuki in front of him standing, waking him up from his restless sleep. "Wait what k-kacchan! Why didn't u tell me beforehand u came here to visit.." Ramblings from izuku…began spilling out, eyes wide, hair tousled from the desk nap.

Katsuki crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. “You were dead asleep, dumbass. I wasn’t gonna shout across the whole damn school.”

Izuku blinked, still dazed. “Oh… right. Sorry. I must’ve dozed off while grading their mock battle reports…”

“Yeah, no shit,” Katsuki muttered, then softened just barely. “You looked exhausted.”

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Guess being a teacher’s harder than I thought.”

"What are you doing here today kacchan, you could have just texted me."

izuku said looking at him, catching katsuki's ear tense up by the sudden question. He quickly started to change the topic not letting out the truth. "How are the kids, huh? I know they've been fucking messing with you about the new hero suit."

" Yes, they asked a bunch of questions even myself couldn't comprehend it sometimes...thank you again kacchan, for the suit it really means so much to me. " Izuku huffed out with a tainted of pinkish red appear on his cheeks. Those admirable eyes of his.

"It's whatever, izuku.. You deserve it." Katsuki said.

Katsuki was prepared to leave the classroom, before he could step out of it, izuku grabbed his hands. "Wait kacchan! Are u going to be there for the reunion party?"

Out of sudden those words came out of his own mouth.

Katsuki paused at the door, his hand still gripped by Izuku’s.

His back stiffened just slightly. He didn’t turn around right away. “…Didn’t think you’d ask me that.”

Izuku’s grip loosened a little, unsure. “I-I mean, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. I just thought maybe…”

Katsuki finally turned, eyes narrowing just slightly hesitation but not in anger. More like hesitation.

“Tch… Of course I’ll be there,” he muttered. “Not gonna let those extras hog the spotlight.”

Izuku blinked. “Wait, really?”

Katsuki rolled his eyes.

The air between them shifted, a quiet, unspoken warmth settling in.

Izuku looked down at their still connected hands. “Then… I’ll save you a seat next to me.”

Katsuki snorted, but didn’t let go. “Better.”

Everything was fine..everyone was cheering, everyone was happy except for one.

Something came up to the table, that weird, eerie aura. He can feel it, day by day. That feelings everything was going to crash between him and the light. That precious light he shouldn't let go.

There he is on the ground bleeding. Fighting for his own lives..that suicide incident. War happened a few years ago but izuku seems like he couldn't let go of it. He was too late, not fast enough, and left kacchan alone.

Blackwhip uncontrollably quirked up, his entire body felt numb. That day was a nightmare for izuku.

"Deku..it's your fault."

 

"It was supposed to be you on the ground."

 

Izuku jolted upright, chest heaving, drenched in sweat. The room was dark silent, too silent. His breath caught in his throat as the last echo of the nightmare clung to him like static.

Tears and sweat mixing pouring down his face, izuku takes a deep breath and starts to control his breathing heavily, his heart pounding non stop.

"Kacchan."

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck "shit, should have gone to the therapist.. " Izuku said while searching up katsuki's contact, this might be the worst decision he ever made but he couldn't care less, izuku needs to hear his voice.

Ringing from his phone echoing the same bedroom he sleeps in, All might merchandise scattered around.

"Hello, izuku?"

Katsuki’s voice came through low and slightly hoarse, like he’d just woken up. Izuku froze for a second, staring at the screen even though the call was already active. His lips trembled.

“I-sorry. I shouldn’t have called. I just…” his voice cracked, and Katsuki immediately sat up on his end.

"Are you fucking okay Izuku?" Katsuki on the other line. With a hint of worried voice.

"Yes! Y-yes I'm fine just wanted to check on you."

"Well if you say so." Katsuki said.

"I'm really sorry to bother with your sleep kacchan, goodnight. " izuku quickly shifted from his bed standing walking towards the bathroom, the light shined the entire room. Izuku ended the call without any worrisome in his clouded head.

He takes a few deep breaths before washing his face with cold waters from the sink, looking at himself in front of the mirror. That scar, representing the symbol he stands for.

the scar that scattered around his arm, his hard work, his passion disappears just like that.

"I just really need to get this going." Izuku said while putting on new clothes to fall asleep again.

Next morning was as casual as he remembered, everything was the same, he made his own breakfast, well just baked toast Izuku considered it as breakfast. Shower with cold waters every morning to prepare and start his usual day going to UA to teach.

the same tie everyday, it was all the same.

But something felt off.

Izuku stood in front of the mirror, adjusting that same navy tie for the third time. His fingers trembled slightly, and he forced them still. The reflection stared back at him, messy curls tamed just enough, dark circles barely concealed, and that familiar scar peeking beneath the edge of his sleeve.

It was routine. Automatic. But it didn’t feel right. Izuku is happy with being a teacher just something is wrong about it.

The call with Katsuki last night kept echoing in his mind. Not the words though those mattered but the tone. The way Katsuki's worried voice echoes in his head made him feels butterflies in his stomach. His best friend.

 

And that terrified Izuku more than the nightmare itself.

“Get it together,” he muttered under his breath, grabbing his worn messenger bag off the chair and heading out the door.

The walk to UA was quiet. Too quiet. It used to buzz with excitement young heroes in training, new dreams, new chances. Now, it was just another part of the cycle. Teach. Smile.

In the teacher’s lounge, Aizawa gave him a nod, holding a cup of steaming coffee, as unreadable as always.

“Rough night?” he asked without looking.

Izuku gave a small smile. “Something like that.”

And then he went to class, like always.

The classroom greeted him with the usual chatter, chairs scraping, students bickering softly before settling in. Faces he’d grown familiar with. Hopeful. Bright. Just like his had once been.

But even as he began the lecture something about rescue tactics and environmental hazards his voice felt detached. His mind wasn’t there.

It was with

Katsuki.

He caught himself staring at his own handwriting on the whiteboard, zoning out mid-sentence.

“Sensei?”

A student’s voice pulled him back. Izuku blinked, offered a small apology, and carried on. But the distraction lingered like a shadow.

"Shit."

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, gripping the marker tighter than necessary. His heart was racing again, He glanced at the class. They didn’t notice. Or at least, they pretended not to. He cleared his throat.

“Right… where were we?”

He pushed through the rest of the lesson mechanically, words spilling out of habit, not thought. Diagrams. Warnings. Procedures. But his chest still felt tight, like he was wearing a suit two sizes too small.

When the bell rang, he dismissed the class with a weak smile.

As the students filed out, his hand found his phone again. Screen dark. No messages.

He sighed.

What did he really expect exactly, he should have known, why would kacchan text him, checking on him?

He quickly kept all his paperworks and students homework sheets into his yellow backpack he has been wearing since middle school. Something about Izuku is so simple and plain. But his plain appearance made him who he is.

Izuku walked out of the UA as casual.

As he went by the road he noticed some young hero striking to fight, they were running to catch a thief? Villain? Yeah he doesn't really know what it is.

Izuku always makes an appearance whenever there is a villain attack but the second he comes in someone else already done the job.

He really is grateful to have amazing ex classmates, they bought the suit for him. Kacchan put all his hardwork into it. But he never uses it. Well he can't say never. He does use it, it's just not the same without One For All.

He loves his new life, teaching. He loves the look of his students excited to fight like a warrior.

Izuku gave away a small chuckle. And continue his walk home.

Suddenly he bumped into someone accidentally.

"Arg! I'm so sorry, I really should have looked my way" He says, sweats can be seen on his forehead.

"Wait, Izuku?"

Before he knew it he bumped into kacchan

Katsuki’s voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

Izuku froze, eyes wide, his breath caught somewhere between his lungs and throat.

“Ah-K-Kacchan,” he stammered, instinctively stepping back, his hands gripping the strap of his backpack like a lifeline. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention-”

Katsuki raised a brow, arms crossed, eyes scanning Izuku like he was trying to read between the lines. He looked tired, maybe even more than Izuku did, but his voice was sharp. “The hell are you doing walking around like a zombie?”

“I was just heading home,” Izuku said, quickly averting his gaze. “Didn’t think I’d see you again so soon.”

Katsuki’s expression didn’t change, but his stance shifted slightly, like he’d been caught off guard too. “You didn’t answer my text.”

Izuku blinked. “Text?”

Katsuki pulled out his phone, flicked the screen, then held it up. A single unread message glared at Izuku:

-Let me know if you're okay.

Sent at 1:43 p.m.

Izuku’s heart sank. “I-I didn’t see it. I’m sorry.”

Katsuki clicked his tongue. “Figures. You always get stuck in your damn head.”

Izuku gave a nervous laugh "haha yeah..right were you handling the mess that got attacked here?"

Izuku questioned him.

"Yeah no shit, it was a fucking thief robbing a shop, really thought no one could beat his ass."
Katsuki smiles as he averted his gaze to izuku.

"And you did it of course! U caught him, that's very kacchan like." Izuku says.

"Alright, alright why didn't you join in?" Katsuki question him now.

Izuku scratched the back of his neck, eyes falling to the pavement. “I was… around. But by the time I noticed, you’d already handled it.”

There was a beat of silence.

Katsuki narrowed his eyes. “You saw it and didn’t jump in?”

Izuku shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t think I needed to. You were already there and you were handling” he hesitated, then shrugged. "Don't want to steal your spotlight haha.."

That clearly didn’t sit right with Katsuki. "Since when do I give a shit if you steal my spotlight?”

Izuku winced. “That’s not what I meant.”

Katsuki took a step closer, his voice quiet but pointed. “Then what the hell’s going on with you?”

The question hit too close. Izuku looked up at him, green eyes shadowed. “I don’t know.”

Katsuki stared, his frown deepening, frustration giving way to something else, something softer, something like concern.

“Tch.” Katsuki rubbed his neck. "I bought you that suit. So you earned it."

Katsuki snapped, stepping closer again, now close enough that their arms nearly brushed. "Now how about we go somewhere else to talk."

They walked in silence for a few minutes, the city lights flickering against the sidewalk as the evening settled in. Izuku trailed just a step behind Katsuki, eyes occasionally flicking up to watch the set of his shoulders, the casual confidence in his stride, the way he always looked like he belonged anywhere he went.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” Izuku finally said, breaking the quiet.

Katsuki huffed. “Tch. I’m not about to let you starve yourself into a mental breakdown.”

Izuku smiled faintly. “That’s… oddly sweet of you.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

They reached Katsuki’s apartment not long after familiar, a bit messy, but warm in its own way. As soon as they were inside, Katsuki tossed his boots and gauntlet onto the couch and pointed toward the kitchen.

“Sit. I’m cooking.”

Izuku obeyed without protest, sinking into a seat at the small dining table. He watched as Katsuki moved around the kitchen, grabbing ingredients, tossing things into a pan without hesitation. It was strange, this domestic version of Kacchan. Quiet, focused, not yelling. Still rough around the edges, but softer.

Comfortable.

“...I really thought you’d be mad at me,” Izuku said after a moment.

Katsuki glanced over. “Why?”

"Well you know last night? Yeah I was expecting you to be mad at me for calling so late." Izuku says.

Katsuki didn’t answer right away. The sizzle of oil in the pan filled the silence, the smell of garlic and something savory beginning to fill the apartment. Izuku waited, fingers fidgeting on the table.

Then Katsuki spoke, "Why would I be mad? There's no reason to be mad over a small thing. Yes you do woke me up at literally 1AM at the moment. So tell me Izuku, what happened."

Izuku’s heart begging racing whether he should tell him or not.

"It was really nothing."

"What do you mean?" Katsuki said furrowing his eyebrows, katsuki turned off the stove and walked towards where Izuku was seated.

"I really don't want to talk about it. I was lost last night, I didn't know what I was thinking." He says hoping that katsuki would catch up on it.

Unfortunately it did not.

"What the fuck, you gon make me believe that bullshit you made up?" Katsuki said raising his voice.

"I don't want to talk anymore." Izuku shrugged the question and prepared to walk away so he could give room to his clouded head.

"Oh so you gon just leave." Katsuki snapped.

"Yes."

Chapter Text

Leaving.

Izuku shouldn't have done that, leaving alone kacchan without any explanation but what can he say? He already did.

It has been over a week since the last time they talked to each other.

The silence between them had stretched so long, it almost became normal. Almost.

Izuku sat curled up on his couch, still in his work clothes, untouched dinner on the coffee table, phone clutched loosely in his hand. The screen was dark, no new messages. Not from him.

He didn’t blame Katsuki. Not really.

He blamed himself.

"I should apologize, he must have been worried like crazy. Well maybe not crazy that's who kacchan is. "He chuckled at the little joke to himself.

The phone's ringing echoing in his head, a few minutes passed, getting no hope since katsuki wouldn't pick up the phone.

" Knew it."

Izuku was about to hang up before someone on the other hand picked up the call.

"I-i, hey kacchan!"

There was a pause on the other end, just long enough to make Izuku’s heart stumble in his chest.

"...Took you long enough, nerd."

Katsuki’s voice was gruff, tired, and unmistakably real. Izuku’s breath hitched in relief.

“I… I wasn’t sure if you’d answer,” he admitted, curling his knees tighter to his chest.

“You think I wouldn’t?” Katsuki snapped, but there was no heat behind it. “You disappear for days, don’t answer my texts, sound like shit over the phone, what the hell am I supposed to do?”

Izuku lowered his voice. “I didn’t mean to push you away. I just… didn’t know how to explain it"

"Then explain it."

"Well, I have been getting nightmares of you. It was about the war."

The line went quiet again, but this time it was heavier, like the weight of what Izuku just said hung between them.

“…The war, huh,” Katsuki finally muttered, his voice low and strained.

Izuku nodded even though Katsuki couldn’t see him. “Yeah. Everything. The pain, the blood… you...𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 hurt. I know it’s not real, but it feels real. Every time I close my eyes, I’m back there. Watching you on the ground. And I can’t do anything about it.”

Katsuki exhaled sharply through his nose, a sound somewhere between a sigh and a quiet curse. “Dumbass…”

Izuku let out a shaky breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. “I guess I didn’t call sooner because I thought maybe it was stupid. Like I should’ve moved on already.”

“It’s not stupid,” Katsuki said flatly. “That shit doesn’t just go away, Izuku. You think I don’t remember it every damn day?”

Izuku swallowed. “Do you still have nightmares?”

“…Sometimes.” A beat. "Izuku, all of us who got included in the war have their own nightmares."

Izuku’s breath caught again, his eyes wide.

Katsuki’s voice softened. “You think you’re the only one? Well no. Izuku you're not alone here so stop acting like it. You have us."

Izuku's breath hitch, his eyes start to watering

Katsuki continued, his voice low but firm grounding. “You’re not weak for feeling it. You’re human. You think being a hero means brushing that shit off like it didn’t happen? No. It means living with it. Surviving it. And not letting it eat you alive.”

Izuku wiped at his face again, his lips trembling. “I-I know. I just… I guess I needed to hear it from you.”

“Then I’ll say it again,” Katsuki muttered. “You’re not alone. Not now, not ever.”

Silence settled between them, not awkward, not tense, just… full. Full of everything that hadn’t been said before. Of years and scars and the ache of trying to be strong all the time.

Izuku let out a soft laugh through his tears, voice hoarse. “Kacchan… thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Katsuki grumbled. “Now drink some damn water and try to sleep. I’m not coming all the way over there just to drag your tired ass to bed.”

Izuku sniffled. "Alright, alright thank you, kacchan. "

Katsuki muttered "Don't get too sappy with me. "

Katsuki is the one who ended the call first, after the first time in izuku's world he was finally able to fall asleep without any nightmares going on.

They got closer by the time passes, Katsuki just bought a car and he's taking Izuku to everywhere. He would always say, "it's such a hassle to drive Izuku anywhere" But deep down he doesn't really care, no matter what happens izuku would end up be seated on the back seat

And the day has finally come, the reunion party, Izuku was excited to meet everyone there, of course like usual Katsuki drives him and Kirishima there.

"Thank you again kacchan for driving me here!" Izuku said with a big happy smile on his face.

"Whatever, I'm not your goddamn driver!" Katsuki shouted, that's just how he is.

"The back seat is really squishy!" Izuku commented katsuki's car with a little excitement in his voice.

"It's for fucking safety what else." Katsuki replied to him back.

Kirishima started to catch up in the conversation, "Man, katsuki sure does think about safety first"

Izuku let out a laughter and so do kirishima syncing their laughter together.

"Shut up!" Katsuki furrowed his eyebrows.

 

Special?

 

The roar of the engine was steady, cutting through the soft hum of city lights as Katsuki drove them through quiet back streets. Izuku sat in the backseat, leaning against the window, watching the world blur past in orange and gray.

Kirishima was up front, asking Katsuki something about soundproofing the ride, but Izuku’s attention was half-distracted, his mind replaying their conversation from earlier, the stuff about sidekicks and special treatment. Katsuki’s words still weighed on him.

It was all going great. But these questions confused him. What does it mean. Kacchan.

 

Fortunately, the night passed and the reunion party came to an end. Now, he understood what Kacchan meant, someone he should be giving special treatment to.

Uraraka-san.

She is so pretty.

 

Time slipped by, and before they knew it, months had gone.

The quiet returned. Routine set in. But the world never stayed still for long.

"Deku, we need you in section C. Chargebolt is there to guide you." Said Pro Hero Rocklock on the other line of the phone call. His voice was clipped and urgent.

Izuku straightened up from his desk, the pencil in his hand falling onto scattered hero reports. "On my way," he replied without hesitation, already grabbing his gear.

The city never really gave them a break, but Izuku didn’t mind, not anymore. Not when he felt stable. Not when he already has someone by his side, it has been a few months now since uraraka ask to be her boyfriend. How could he not accept it? He loves her.

"I'm here!" Izuku called out, landing on the cracked pavement beside Chargebolt, sparks still flickering from the other hero’s fingertips.

"About time, man," Kaminari grinned, relief in his voice. "Villain's got some kind of mobility quirk, fast, but not too powerful. Been leading us on a damn chase."

Izuku's eyes scanned the surroundings, already analyzing the damage, the movement trails, and the possible escape routes. His expression shifted, focused, and sharp. The kind of determination that had only grown stronger with time.

"Alright. I’ll try to cut them off from the east-"

Before he could finish, a blur darted across the rooftop two buildings ahead. Izuku’s eyes locked on. “Got them.”

"Woah man! You've gotten faster these days." Chargebolt surprises said with the sudden movements from Deku.

"Haha, it's nothing really Chargebolt you did your best too!" Izuku replied with a compliment to get the conversation going between both of them.

"Thanks bro, by the wayyy I heard you've been dating Uravity heh? " Chargebolt exclaimed.

Izuku nearly stumbled mid-step, his face heating up instantly. “W-What? How did you-”

Chargebolt grinned, wagging his brows. “Dude, you’re not exactly subtle. You walked her to her agency three times this week holding hands. And let’s not forget the bento incident. Adorable, by the way.”

Izuku covered his face with one gloved hand, groaning. “That was supposed to be private…”

“Hah! Sorry, man, but the hero world talks Besides, I think it’s great. You both deserve something good especially after, y’know… everything.”

Izuku’s shoulders relaxed, his embarrassment easing into something warmer. “Thanks, Kaminari. Really. She… she makes things feel lighter.”

"No problem dude. Also have you known what happened to Bakugo? He is always pissed off and doesn't even try to communicate with us!" Kaminari whines loudly, trying to get answers from Izuku.

Izuku blinked at the sudden shift in topic, his steps faltering just slightly.

“Kacchan…?” he echoed, glancing at Kaminari, then back toward the rooftops ahead.

“Yeah, man,” Kaminari huffed. “He's been acting weird. More explosive than usual which, y’know, says a lot. Snapped at Kirishima last week for just asking if he wanted lunch.”

Izuku’s gaze softened, a flicker of concern crossing his features. “He hasn’t said anything to me, either. Not really. We’ve… kind of fallen out of sync lately.”

Kaminari raised a brow. “Thought you two were getting close again.”

“Yeah,” Izuku muttered. “He might be going thru something."

He didn’t say it, but the memory of the last real conversation he had with Katsuki lingered in his mind. The way Katsuki had looked at him then was normal. Nothing happens.So why now?

“You think he’s going through something?” Kaminari asked, more gently this time.

“…Probably,” Izuku answered. “But if I push too hard, he’ll just shut down more. That’s how he is.”

Kaminari let out a sigh. “Man. Y’all are complicated.”

Izuku chuckled softly. “Yeah… we always have been.”

Before either of them could say more, the comms crackled again.

"Get back to section A the villain has been captured and secured by the police. Good job Deku and Chargebolt."

Izuku gave a smile, proud of himself for managing the hero work once again. He feels completely full. He could never ask for anything more.

"Deku-kun!"

Izuku looked at his left side glancing at whoever just called him out, there she is.

"Uraraka-san, you were around here?" Izuku asked.

Uraraka gave him a warm smile. "Ah yes, I saw you nearby here, I guess you took care of the job, you're amazing as usual."

"Thank you, but sorry uraraka I have somewhere else to be, we'll talk back home alright? " Izuku said giving her a kiss on the cheeks before fleeing away from the current place.

A sudden thought struck izuku's head. Kacchan.

Sure it has been a long time since the last time they had a proper talk. Usually Katsuki would text him whenever he is teaching during class or after the patrol.

just a simple gesture made him happy.

His head is pondering with thoughts, he must have told me if something is wrong? Right? He should have. I'm his best friend.

His habits of muttering quickly took a toll on him. It has been that way since middle school.

"Maybe I should ask." Izuku said underneath his breath. Wait. No what the hell is he thinking? Kacchan would not like that at all... But he's changed. They've gone through so much together.

 

Oh. How dumb is he.

 

Here he stands tall in front of the silver katsuki's door apartment, he really shouldn't have done this. He didn't text him. This is awful.

Just as Izuku reached the doorknob, the door swung open right from the inside. Revealing Katsuki with a black hoodie covering his body. His emotions quickly turned him confused.

Neither of them said anything.

"What the fuck are you doing here." Katsuki said with a hint of anger in his tone.

"Uh- Hey kacchan! I was about to ring the door, I'm sor-"

"Why are you here, izuku." Katsuki finally spoke.

"I'm worried about you, that's why I'm here." Izuku said tilted his face to face katsuki.

For a second, silence, the tension thickens.

Izuku took a better look at him, Katsuki’s face looked more hollow than usual. Faint shadows hung under his eyes, and his cheekbones seemed more prominent, like he hadn’t been eating properly.

His hoodie looked too big on him.

“You look tired…” Izuku said softly, concern leaking into every syllable.

"I don't need you to be worrying about me." Katsuki’s words were sharp, but they lacked their usual fire. They didn’t land like they used to, like he was trying to convince himself more than Izuku.

Izuku didn’t back down. He stepped closer, brows furrowed. “Well, too bad. I'm deadass worried.”

Katsuki’s jaw clenched. His eyes flicked away, somewhere over Izuku’s shoulder, avoiding the weight of his stare. “I’ve got shit to do. I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not,” Izuku said quietly. “You’re not even trying to hide it.”

Silence again. The kind that hurt more than yelling.

Izuku hesitated, then reached out his arm, but katsuki shoved it away.

Izuku’s hand fell to his side after Katsuki shoved it away, but this time his brows furrowed.

“You’re seriously pushing me away?” he snapped.

Katsuki’s glare returned full force. “I didn’t ask you to show up.”

“No, you didn’t. But clearly you needed someone to."

“I don’t need anything from you,” Katsuki growled, his voice sharp.

Izuku scoffed. “Bullshit! Look at you when’s the last time you even slept?”

Katsuki’s fist clenched at his side. “Stay out of my damn business, Deku.”

“No,” Izuku barked, stepping closer. “Not this time. You’ve been shutting everyone out for weeks. "

“You think I owe anyone anything?” Katsuki’s voice rose, his eyes burning now.

"Where did that come from?" Izuku said with a harsh voice.

"Look, Izuku I'm tired."

Katsuki scoffed under his breath, the weight in his eyes barely hidden. “I said I’m tired, Izuku. Just… go home.”

And with that, he moved to close the door, sharp and final, like he was cutting a cord.

But before it could shut, Izuku’s hand shot out, catching it just in time. The door jerked against the resistance, Katsuki’s eyes narrowing as they landed on the hand gripping the edge.

“No,” Izuku said, voice low and steady. “You don’t get to shut me out like this.”

Katsuki stared at him, something unreadable flashing across his face. “Let go.”

“No.” Izuku tightened his grip, green eyes burning. “We can talk about this!"

“You don’t know what I’m dealing with,” Katsuki growled.

“Then tell me!” Izuku shouted. “Stop making me guess!”

Katsuki shoved the door harder, like he could force the space between them wider but Izuku didn’t budge.

"Like you would understand."

There was a pause.

"What?"

Katsuki’s glare hardened as he gripped the edge of the door again. “I said go home Izuku.”

He shoved the door forward with finality, but Izuku’s hand caught it firm, steady.

Katsuki growled, stepping into the doorway, his voice low and venomous. “Why the hell won’t you ever listen?”

Izuku met his eyes, jaw clenched. “Because you’re full of shit.”

That made Katsuki pause.

"I'm done, get lost." Katsuki said with the final decision to shut the door in front of him.

Izuku stood there staring at the closed door, breath caught in his throat.

His fingers slowly curled into a fist, still hovering near the doorknob. That familiar sting of rejection burned in his chest, but so did something else, frustration, helplessness, something deeper.

He hadn’t come all this way just to be turned away.

Maybe he should give him space to figure it out.

 

Last conversation between them is not the easiest, they got into an argument, Izuku frustrated. Katsuki have completely ignore him, not like they always met on patrol or anything.

 

Nonetheless he had to move on and continue his life.

 

Next day was like casual.

 

Izuku walked the UA hallway going to his class. He is the homeroom teacher for class 1A after all.

Chattering can be heard from outside the class. It's louder than usual.

"Oh my god! Don't you think Dynamight is- " That one girl with a ponytail accidentally talks loudly.

"Dynamight is what?" Izuku said with a curious tone. Walking up to her back without her noticing.

"Sensei! There's nothing haha..." She said quickly before brushing off to her seated place.

Izuku raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. He glanced toward the classroom door, where the usual buzz of students filled the hallway.

As he stepped inside, the chatter hushed instantly. All eyes were on him, but his mind was elsewhere still tangled in thoughts of Kacchan, what were they talking about him? "

He shook his head slightly, forcing focus.

Taking a deep breath, he smiled gently. “Alright, everyone. Let’s settle down.”

 

The class ended, all of the students prepared to get back home, packing their bags.

"Uh Hinako! Could you please come here? " Izuku said to talk with the girl earlier in class.

"Yes sensei...?" Hinako walked up to him.

"I hope I'm not getting into trouble for talking or....more likely gossiping about older people. I'm sorry! "

"Oh no, no it's okay! You're not in trouble.. I might want to get included in the gossiping, if that's fine hah!" Izuku said with a quick smile.

"Oh, is it fine sensei?"

"Of course! I won't tell anybody. "

 

"Alright if you say so....this is the latest news about Dynamight and his new sidekick? I think he just make an appearance after fighting off that last week villain, and there's a rumour whether Dynamight is...uhm." Hinako nervously said.

Finally, Izuku spoke with curiosity.

"What is it?"

The girl quietly said as she look away from him. "He might be homosexuals..?"

Izuku blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected rumor. He cleared his throat, trying to mask his surprise with a calm tone.

Kacchan is gay?

“well… rumors are always going to float around, especially about public figures,” he said carefully. “What really matters is who they are as a person, not what others say.”

Hinako nodded, seeming relieved by his response. “Yeah, I guess you’re right, Sensei. I just thought it was interesting since it’s not something people talk about much.”

Izuku smiled softly. “It’s important to be open minded and supportive, no matter what. People deserve to be themselves.”

As Hinako turned to leave, Izuku’s thoughts drifted to Kacchan. Why did the rumour came up? Is it because of the sidekick?

Right. It might actually makes sense. Kacchan never really does talk with girls. Since middle school. They were afraid of him, of course.

He sighed quietly and gathered his things, ready to face whatever came next.

Izuku is not really the type to indulge in these types of rumours about pro heroes.

But this time. For the first time, izuku face stucked reading the article about it. The rumour about Kacchan.

The sidekick.

there's a video of him and Kacchan, beating the humongous villain together. There are clips.

Both of them are holding hands, while taking out the villain.

Holding hands.

For some reason, Izuku felt a rush of irritation by looking at the clips. Sure the sidekick is handsome, he can say that. Dark hair. Taller than both of them. He could beat Izuku in heights.

But.. He is not the fit for Kacchan.

What's his name again...?

 

right.

 

Renji.

Chapter Text

That day.

The day the war ended.

Blood still on their skin. Ash in the air. The battlefield was silent, for once, and everything felt… unbearably heavy.

In the hospital there izuku laid on the hospital bed, bandages all over his face, With All might in the room talking about the embers. Ofa. "It's really gone huh." He thought while smiling.

And there he was. Kacchan. Break down there besides him, those tears dropping from his face, his eyes shut down. He survived the war, his heartbeat. Auntie Mitsuki there on the front door, trying to drag him out of the room. But they couldn't stop it. How could they?

If their son was crying because of someone. And that someone is him.

𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.

Izuku remembered how his heart swelled at those words. Not with pride. With something deeper. Something that hurt.

Because Katsuki had smiled then. Not the cocky, smug smirk the world knew. But a real, soft smile. The kind that came once in a lifetime.

And then he cried.

Not sobbed. Not broke down.

But tears fell-silently. Freely.

Only Izuku saw them.

Only Izuku ever had.

That's when he thought. Kacchan only cried in front of him. No one else has ever seen him like this.

It was like a fever dream.

"Deku-kun!"

That name hits him to reality, Uraraka calling him out with a bit of confusion on her face, she has probably called him out more than twice. They're going on a date together, this is not his best behavior ever to act in front of his girlfriend.

"Uraraka, I'm sorry what were you saying?" Izuku said with his crackled voice, his nervous system quickly raise up.

Uraraka sighed. "We were talking about moving in together, Remember izuku?" She said with a tone of anger in her voice.

"Right....!" Izuku said nervously.

"Deku-kun, if there's something on your mind, tell me I'm right here for you alright?"

Izuku's throat tightened. He gave her a small, apologetic smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I know,” he said softly. “You’ve always been here for me.”

But that was the problem, wasn’t it?

Uraraka watched him closely, concern etched into her expression. “Is it about the agency? Work? Bakugo?”

He flinched at the last word.

Just slightly—but enough.

Uraraka’s eyes softened. She wasn’t angry anymore. Just… tired. “Izuku,” she said quietly, “I can tell when something’s pulling you away.”

He looked down at his hands, clenched tightly in his lap. “It’s not fair to you.”

“What isn’t?”

“That I keep thinking about him.”

The words hung between them, raw and unpolished.

Uraraka didn’t respond right away. Her silence was kind—but heavy.

Izuku exhaled slowly, trembling just a little. “I don’t even know why. We’re not even… close. Not anymore.”

“You still care,” she said. “That’s not something you can turn off.”

He looked up at her, and for the first time that evening, his eyes were honest.

“Yeah,” he whispered. “I do.”

Uraraka’s lips parted like she wanted to say something—but no words came out.

She just stared at him, eyes wide, expression unreadable. Then finally, quietly, she asked. “Is it about the sidekick?”

Izuku froze.

His breath caught. His heart dropped.

“I…” he started, but nothing followed. No excuses. No denial.

She nodded slowly, her gaze drifting to the half-empty glass of water on the table between them. “I think I’ve known for a while.”

The silence between them was louder than anything either of them could’ve said.

Izuku swallowed hard, the weight of her words, of his own truth, pressing on his chest. "I was just lost.. You know? Kacchan has never picked a sidekick before but why now?"

Uraraka’s expression softened, but the hurt was still there subtle, lingering.

“Izuku,” she said gently, “do you really think this is about some sidekick? Or is it because it’s him...and not you?”

That question cut deeper than he expected.

His fingers tightened around the glass. He didn’t answer, because the truth was obvious. The ache in his chest had nothing to do with a sidekick. It was the fact that someone else was by Katsuki’s side now, closer, chosen.

“He’s changed,” Izuku muttered, barely above a whisper. “I thought… I thought we were finding our way back to each other. But now I don’t even know what we are.”

Uraraka tilted her head slightly, voice low. “Have you asked him? Or are you just hoping he’ll read your silence like you’re reading his?”

Izuku looked up at her, caught off guard.

“You’re hurting,” she added, “but you’re not the only one. And you can’t keep dragging yourself through this without talking to him. Not if you want answers. Not if you want peace.

A long pause stretched between them.

Finally, Izuku whispered, “I don’t think I want peace if he’s not in it.”

Uraraka smiled sadly, her heart breaking a little more. “Then go tell him that.”

"Thank you Uraraka, you've helped me every time I needed you." Izuku said turning his sad puppy face earlier into a big warm smile.

"Of course, I'm your girlfriend." Uraraka said gently while caressing izuku's hand full of scars.

Oh boy.

 

Here he is.

 

Standing right in front of kacchan's agency. He didn't try to inform him beforehand. Again.

Izuku couldn't care less about it, he has to talk to kacchan, now is the right time izuku looked over his hand watch, the clock hits 4:31pm, Now must be the time where katsuki takes a break from patrolling and doing paperworks.

Izuku without any care, walked into the agency, the window illuminating the tinted orange colour sun rise, brightening the whole room.

Before izuku could get inside the elevator, taking levels to get up to katsuki's room. He could feel someone's hand resting on his shoulder. Stopping him from going up.

“Midoriya, right?”

The voice behind him was low — calm, but firm. Izuku turned his head and immediately recognized him.

Renji.

Katsuki’s sidekick.

Up close, the man looked even taller than he remembered. Broad shoulders beneath a fitted black uniform, dark hair slightly tousled, golden skin catching the fading sunlight. There was a sharpness in his eyes, like he was always assessing, always reading between the lines.

Izuku stiffened. “I need to talk to Kacchan.”

Renji didn’t move his hand. “He’s not taking visitors right now.”

Izuku’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not a visitor. I’m—”

“You’re not on the schedule,” Renji cut in, still calm, still polite, but with an edge of finality. “And he asked not to be disturbed today.”

Izuku’s jaw clenched. “Since when does he hide behind schedules?”

Renji finally dropped his hand, but stepped between Izuku and the elevator. “Since he started needing space. He’s not avoiding you, Midoriya. But maybe you need to ask yourself why he doesn’t want to see you right now.”

That hit deeper than Izuku wanted to admit.

The air between them thickened.

“I’m not here to fight,” Izuku said tightly. “I just… I need to talk to him.”

Renji studied him for a beat. “You need to talk, Well guess what he said...he wanted some space before deciding to talk with someone so clueless...and dumb! ”

Izuku’s breath caught.

Renji stepped aside, finally. “If you’re going to push through, I might have to grab you outside myself. ”

Izuku stared at him for the last time, eyes squinting, he gripped his his own hands. This fucking..guy.

As izuku was about to head out from the agency. "Mr. Deku!"

Izuku looked at him in the eyes.

"Have a nice day. " Renji said smirking, with that devilish face of his.

Izuku could feel his blood running through his head. He almost put a hand on him.

 

The next day came quicker than usual, izuku still remember how that Renji smiles like he own the place. Like he own Kacchan.

 

The day started as anger flowing inside of Izuku's body, Last night there was a new case going on, before he knew it. Izuku got called into the meeting room.

Kacchan hasn't really been active in the hero community. Izuku noticed that kacchan declined all of the missions that included him in it. How is he supposed to talk to him like this?

The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly above as the heroes filed into the briefing room. Aizawa stood at the front, arms crossed, face unreadable as always. Beside him stood Chief Inspector Tsukauchi, stacks of files laid across the metal table.

Izuku took a seat beside Momo, while Katsuki slouched into a chair a few rows back, arms folded tight, scowl already in place.

Aizawa spoke up. “We’ve received intel on a string of assassinations targeting Yakuza leaders across the city. Clean kills. No survivors. This isn’t just gang rivalry, it’s surgery.”

He clicked the remote. The screen behind him lit up with blurry surveillance footage, a masked figure disappearing across rooftops. Blood in his wake. A timestamp showed the last hit was just 48 hours ago.

“The assassin has no confirmed identity. No known quirk registration. But based on the aftermath… he's extremely skilled.”

Murmurs rippled through the room.

Tsukauchi cleared his throat. “We’re forming a tactical unit. The assassin’s moving fast, eliminating power structures. It’s only a matter of time before he targets civilians or heroes.”

Aizawa stepped forward. “That’s why we’re assigning our best field-compatible pros.”

Izuku straightened in his seat, notebook ready.

“You four will handle this operation,” Aizawa continued. “Yaoyorozu, Kendo, Bakugo, and Midoriya.”

Silence.

Izuku blinked. This is the chance.

“Is that clear? ” Aizawa asked flatly, already knowing the answer.

Katsuki stay silence and nodded.

“This mission is in our life I hope four of you all have a plan to conquer this.” Aizawa said sharply. “This mission requires coordination and restraint."

The weight of the words dropped heavily.

Izuku glanced back at Katsuki, who didn’t return the look. His jaw was set, eyes fixed on the screen like he could burn a hole through it.

Kendo leaned over to whisper to Momo. “This’ll be interesting…”

Aizawa continued, unbothered. “You leave tomorrow. Gear up. No unnecessary risks. Stay sharp.”

As the meeting adjourned, Katsuki stood abruptly, brushing past Izuku with a stiff shoulder check.

Izuku didn’t flinch. He exhaled, as katsuki exited the meeting room, Izuku grabbed his shoulder.

"Kacchan. We need to talk."

There was a pause, Katsuki quickly turned to face him.

"What do you want to talk about, 𝘋𝘦𝘬𝘶."

"You've been avoiding me lately." Izuku said in a respectful tone.

Katsuki's eyes squint. "Oh yeah? I don't think I'm avoiding you. "

"You-"

"Is that all? If that is leave me the fuck alone."

Before Izuku could open his mouth to talk, he noticed someone's running towards both of them. They got closer and closer.

"Bakugo-san! There you are..."

Renji.

Dark hair colour, tall and muscular, and his eyes. Almond, soft brown, scanning both men with a mixture of urgency and something unreadable.

Izuku took an instinctive step back, unsure why his stomach twisted the way it did.

The man stopped just short of Katsuki, slightly winded but still composed. “You left before I could return your notes, also, the Captain said he’s waiting on your final report for the west sector patrol.”

Katsuki didn’t answer right away. His expression remained hard to read, but his eyes flicked briefly toward Izuku, then back to the sidekick. “I’ll send it, when I get to my office.”

The sidekick nodded, hesitating. “You alright? You haven’t been answering my messages, Bakugo-san."

Katsuki scowled. “Why the hell wouldn’t I be?”

The sidekick raised his hands in surrender. “Just checking. Didn’t mean to-” His eyes slid briefly to Izuku again. “Didn’t realize you were with someone.”

Katsuki’s silence hung heavy between them.

Izuku forced a polite smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I was just leaving.”

He turned without waiting for a response, heart thudding with something he didn’t want to name.

Behind him, Katsuki still hadn’t said a word.

What is this feeling. That sidekick of his. Really did pissed him off at anyway. Kacchan accepted someone to be his sidekick? He is not like that.

There must be something's wrong.

Izuku tried to push the feeling down, the tight coil in his chest every time he saw Katsuki talking with his new sidekick. Every laugh, every sharp instruction Katsuki barked that wasn't aimed at him, twisted something in Izuku’s stomach.

He shouldn't feel this way. Not when he was the one who declined Katsuki’s offer to work together again. Not when he said it was better to keep things professional. Still, watching someone else stand where he...used to beside him. felt like being replaced in a chapter of his own story.

He shook his head and zipped his bag shut.

This is stupid, Izuku thought, hoisting the strap over his shoulder. "Focus on the mission, That’s what matters."

And soon enough, the day came.

Inside the operations van, the air was tense. Blueprints and surveillance stills littered the table. Aizawa stood at the front, arms crossed, going over last-minute details while the rest of the team listened intently.

“The target has moved locations twice in the past 48 hours. This confirms they’re expecting an attack,” Aizawa said, eyes flickering toward the group. “Which is why you four will be going in undercover tonight.”

Izuku glanced across the van. Momo was checking her communicator. Kendou adjusted the wire hidden behind her ear. Katsuki, sitting across from him, tapped his boot against the floor, his gaze sharp and unreadable.

They hadn't spoken much since the last argument.

Izuku forced his attention forward.

Aizawa continued. “Bakugo and Midoriya you’ll be posing as private security. Yaoyorozu and Kendou will be working the floor to keep tabs on movement. The target is expected at 22:00 hours.”

No one spoke for a moment. Then Katsuki clicked his tongue.

“Tch. Let’s get this over with.”

Izuku clenched his jaw. He wanted to say something anything, to fix the rift between them. But the words felt heavy, stuck behind pride and guilt.

Instead, they all nodded, grabbed their gear, and headed out.

Tonight, it wouldn’t matter how they felt.

They had a job to do.

The air inside the brothel,turned, undercover mission site was thick. with perfume, tension, and something unspoken that hung between them.

Izuku adjusted the collar of his guard uniform, trying to stay focused. On the surface, they looked like hired security, arms crossed at either side of the lounge entrance. Kendou and Momo were inside, posing as staff members to keep an eye on the target. the last remaining Yakuza boss in the district.

Katsuki hadn't said a word since they took position.

Izuku risked a glance. “Kacchan-”

“Don’t talk to me while we’re on this job,” Katsuki muttered, jaw tight.

Izuku sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right..."

Just then, the loud crack of shattering glass tore through the air. A single bullet pierced through the tinted window, and with terrifying precision, embedded itself between the Yakuza boss's eyes.

Screams erupted inside the building.

Momo immediately pulled Kendou to the ground, shouting, “Down!”

“Shit-” Katsuki bolted toward the VIP section, glancing back only once. “Stay the hell here, Deku.”

“I can help-!”

“I said stay, damn it!" Katsuki barked without looking.

But Izuku's feet moved instinctively, trailing after him.

Then, a slam at the front door.

Both of them froze.

The heavy entrance creaked open, revealing a silhouette backlit by moonlight. They couldn’t make out their faces, but something about the stance was wrong, far too calm for someone who just wandered into a murder scene.

Katsuki’s muscles tensed instantly.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath. Then, louder. “Deku, get back!”

“I’m not leaving you!” Izuku stepped forward, fists clenched.

“I’m not gonna argue with you right now-”

But the figure took a single step inside.

A gun gleamed in their hand.

Katsuki didn’t hesitate.

In one swift motion, he yanked Izuku by the arm, shoving him behind a thick marble column near the entryway.

“Stay down!” he barked, eyes locked on the intruder. His tone wasn’t angry it was protective, sharp with urgency.

Izuku gritted his teeth but ducked behind the cover, peeking just enough to assess the threat. His heart pounded.

The figure in the doorway didn’t flinch. Their gun remained steady, trained directly toward the Yakuza leader’s corpse sprawled across the floor.

Too steady.

Professional.

This wasn’t just a random assassin. This was a message.

Katsuki’s voice cut through the silence. “Put it down. Now.”

The figure tilted their head amused, almost. Their voice came out smooth and detached.

“You’re late.”

Before Katsuki could respond, the lights cut out.

A split-second of darkness.

 

A flash. A bullet hit katsuki right through his chest.

Screaming can be heard.

“Go around!” he shouted toward Izuku. "Pin them in, Izuku! ”

Izuku's breath caught in his throat the moment the shot rang out.

“Kacchan-!” he shouted, pure panic exploding in his chest.

Katsuki staggered backward, the force of the bullet slamming into him. He clutched his side, teeth bared in pain, but he didn’t fall.

“Go! ” Katsuki roared again, his voice raw.

Izuku hesitated just a second but it felt like forever. He wanted to run to him. He needed to check that he was okay. But the glint in Katsuki’s eyes, the command in his voice, was unshakable.

So Izuku moved.

He darted left, weaving through overturned furniture and fleeing patrons, heart hammering against his ribs. His eyes adjusted to the dim red emergency lights that flickered to life. He circled toward the back, trying to cut off the assassin’s exit route, every step fueled by adrenaline and fury.

The gunman moved swiftly, retreating toward a rear hallway, slipping through the shadows like they belonged in them.

Not this time.

Izuku gritted his teeth, muscles surging with power. He wasn’t going to let this bastard vanish like the last time.

From the comms, static cracked.

“Deku- Watch out he brings his alliances too!"

Right before the sentences finished, Izuku swung himself back, ready to find the gun swing right through his face.

He caught the attacker’s wrist mid-swing, the force reverberating up his arm. His grip tightened, bones grinding beneath his fingers as his expression darkened.

“You shouldn’t have touched him,” Izuku growled, his voice low, trembling not from fear but from rage.

The masked assailant tried to twist away, but Izuku's foot slammed into their knee, forcing them down with a cry of pain. In a blur of movement, he pinned them to the floor, his knuckles glowing faintly with power.

One punch.

That’s all it took.

The floor beneath them shattered the impact echoing like thunder through the halls. But the intruder manage to run away, the attack just now was supposed to distract him.

Izuku stood over there clenching his fist out of anger.

But the moment the silence fell again, it was drowned out by the sound of one thing

Kacchan.

He was still out there. Still bleeding.

Izuku bolted, sprinting back the way he came. The world blurred around him. He didn’t care who else was in the building. He didn’t care about protocol or clean-up.

He needed to get to him.

He needed him to be okay.

His boots slammed against the marble floor, heart pounding louder than the echo of his steps.

“Kacchan—!”

Izuku’s voice cracked as he rounded the corner, eyes scanning frantically until he found him—slumped against the blood-smeared wall, his chest rising shallowly, eyes half-lidded.

“Kacchan,” Izuku breathed, dropping to his knees beside him, panic clawing its way up his throat. Katsuki’s hoodie was soaked in red, and Izuku could see the bullet entry point through the fabric right below the ribs.

Katsuki turned his head slowly, gaze unfocused. “You… really suck at following orders."

Izuku’s hands shook as he pressed his palms to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. “Thank god kacchan, you're still talking.” he whispered, more to himself than anything.

Katsuki winced, his mouth twitching "You let him get away?"

Izuku didn’t answer at first. His jaw clenched. “He wasn’t the point.”

There was silence between them. Izuku held his hands clamping it together.

Katsuki is having a battle with his consciousness to keep him awake.

"Kacchan! please stay with me."

he lost to it.

Katsuki’s head slumped forward.

“No,no, no, no- Kacchan!”Izuku’s voice cracked, hands tightening on Katsuki’s blood-soaked hoodie as if he could physically keep him tethered to the world.

His breath hitched. The pressure in his chest felt unbearable.

Izuku leaned in close, his forehead pressing to Katsuki’s. “Please… don’t do this. Don’t you dare leave me.”

He could feel it Katsuki’s, pulse slowing beneath his palm. Shallow. Weak.

Izuku’s mind raced. He had to stop the bleeding. He had to call backup. He had to do something.

But all he could think about was that moment the war, when he’d watched Katsuki collapse under rubble and smoke, and how helpless he’d felt then. It was happening again. The same fear. The same rage.

“I’m not ready.” he whispered, voice trembling. “You can’t leave me, Kacchan. We’re not done yet. You promised…”

He fumbled for the comm in his ear. “We need medical now! Agent down, Dynamight critical condition!”

He didn’t even hear the response. The world faded to static, to panic, to the sound of his own heartbeat crashing in his ears.

Izuku looked down at Katsuki again, his throat tightening.

 

Ambulance, the police, pro heroes came in.

Screeching tires. Flashing red lights. The ambulance skidded to a halt outside.

Medics burst in.

“Critical down , Dynamight!”
“Entry wound, low ribs, pulse fading!”
“Get the stretcher!”

Izuku barely heard them.

He stayed frozen, crouched beside Katsuki, blood on his hands, heart pounding like a war drum.

“Sir, we need to move him-”

“I’m coming with you,” Izuku muttered, his voice rough. He didn’t wait for permission.

They loaded Katsuki into the back of the ambulance, oxygen mask strapped on, machines already beeping, fighting to keep him stable.

Izuku climbed in after them, never letting go of Katsuki’s arm.

Doors slammed.

Siren wailed.

The ambulance tore off into the night straight to Musutafu General.

 

He could never sleep that night. When he come back home.

 

Tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Guilt was never a feeling that makes someone with a right mind feel better. It's natural to feel guilty about something humans have done.

Survivor guilt.

 

Someone.

 

"Midoriya..are you feeling distress these days?"

Mrs.Anne, his therapist decided to start the conversation between izuku with a question that got him off guard.

Izuku blinked, his hands tightening slightly around the hem of his sleeves. He hadn’t expected her to cut straight to it but that was always Mrs. Anne’s way. Gentle, but sharp enough to leave nowhere to hide.

“I...” he hesitated, voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if ‘distress’ is the right word.”

Mrs. Anne tilted her head, her pen poised over the notepad resting on her knee. “Then what word would you use?”

Izuku stared down at the carpet beneath his feet. The silence stretched, heavy with things he didn’t know how to say out loud.

“Useless..” he finally whispered. “I feel…useless..”

She didn’t flinch. “Why?”

His voice cracked this time.

"It's frustrating me when I could not save the people in need..my friends.. I'm amazed because of how they're competing for the charts."

 

Mrs. Anne’s brows furrowed slightly. “But everyone considered you as The world greatest hero. Deku. That name you brought yourself."

"I'm honored to get called the greatest but.."

"You actually miss doing hero works."

Mrs. Anne watched him quietly for a moment.

She set the pen down gently, folding her hands in her lap. “You miss the field. The chaos. The clarity of knowing what needs to be done… and doing it.”

Izuku nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the floor. “It’s not just that. I miss… feeling like I’m needed.”
His voice was fragile now, cracking under the weight of something he’s tried too long to carry alone.
“When I’m not out there, when I see people getting hurt and I’m not the one helping, It eats me alive.”

Mrs. Anne leaned forward just slightly. “And do you think that being out of the field means you're not helping anyone?”

He looked up, finally. Eyes rimmed red, lips pressed tight.

“I know it logically. That mentoring, building structure, improving hero society all of that matters. But I can’t help it. I feel useless. Especially when I see them..my friends, they’re all out there.”

That lingered in the air heavier than the rest.

"Do you have anyone you love?"

Izuku’s breath hitched barely, but it was there.

His gaze darted away again, down to his clenched fists in his lap. The question wasn’t sharp. It wasn’t intrusive. But it dug somewhere deeper than he expected.

Mrs. Anne waited patiently.

“I don't know.” he finally said, but even to his own ears, it sounded like a lie.

She didn’t push. Just let the silence settle.

“…I mean, I do” he admitted after a moment. “I think it was just me that was late for this.”

Mrs. Anne’s voice was quiet. “And does this person love you back? ”

Izuku exhaled through his nose, almost a scoff. “Well yes..We've been dating now."

Izuku’s lips trembled for a moment, then he smiled bitterly. “Isn’t it stupid? How am I only realizing this now?"

“Why?”

He swallowed. “Because she has been crushing on me since UA. "
Izuku blinked hard.

"Midoriya.. I'm going to ask you again.. Is she really the one that you love?"

 

"Huh."

 

That lingered in izuku's memory ever since their last therapy went on.

 

What does that even mean.

 

Izuku’s boots slammed against the pavement, the world around him a blur of streetlights and shadow. His breath came in ragged gasps, sweat clinging to his forehead, dripping down his neck.

His heart thundered in his chest louder than the pounding of his steps, every second a scream in his ears. His bag bounced violently against his side, the straps digging into his shoulder not that he cared.

People turned as he rushed past, but he didn’t register them.

His legs burned. His vision blurred. But he didn’t stop.

Couldn’t stop.

Not when the thought kept racing in his head.

Kacchan.

Izuku quickly got inside the hospital rushing to the registration "Which room is Dynamight staying!"

The nurse behind the counter jolted at his sudden outburst, eyes wide.

“Sir please, calm down-”

Izuku barked, leaning over the counter, eyes wild. “Katsuki Bakugo. Dynamight. He was brought in, where is he?!”

She typed hurriedly into her system, fingers trembling under the pressure of his stare. “Room 504. Fifth floor. But sir, visiting hours are- ”

Izuku was already gone.

He bolted toward the elevator, slamming the button with the side of his fist. It was taking too long. Every second felt like it was dragging him under water.

The ding of the doors opening barely registered before he was inside, punching the button for the fifth floor again and again like it would make the damn thing move faster.

As the elevator doors opened, Izuku shot out like lightning, his breath sharp, his vision shaking.

He didn’t even knock when he reached the door.

He threw it open.

Izuku silently watched as someone with a dark haired man inside the room jolted with the sudden noise.

Renji.

He was already there.

His face quickly turned into an annoyed from the sudden shocks.

Renji’s hand was casually resting over Katsuki’s, his fingers lightly tracing along the edge of his palm, almost possessive. Katsuki lay still, eyes still close, his breathing shallow but steady.

But Renji did.

The sidekick looked up slowly, his smirk subtle, lazy smug.

“Oh,” he said, voice low. “Didn’t know they were letting visitors in this late.”

Izuku didn’t speak. He couldn’t. His hands were clenched so tightly at his sides his knuckles had gone white.

The air in the room changed. Thick. Heavy.

“What the hell do you think you're doing.” Izuku asked, voice tight and low, barely holding it together.

Renji’s brow lifted. “Making sure my superior’s doing okay. What does it look like?”

Izuku took a step forward, jaw tight. “Get your hand off him.”

Renji didn’t move at first. He just stared, then slowly, deliberately, lifted his hand from Katsuki’s.

“You always this territorial, Midoriya?” he said, rising to his feet.

Izuku's chest rose and fell with each breath, fury swirling behind his eyes.

Katsuki stirred at the tension, groaning faintly.

Slowly waking up from the small arguments he made with renji.

Katsuki's eyes are scanning both men, eyes widened, instantly removing his hands from Renji's care.

"Kacchan! You're awake."

Katsuki blinked hard, groggy from sleep and painkillers, but the weight in the room was unmistakable.

His eyes flicked from Izuku, tense, jaw clenched, practically shaking—to Renji, standing far too close with a look Katsuki didn’t like. His brows furrowed.

“What the hell’s going on?” he rasped, voice hoarse.

Renji stepped back half a pace, just enough to appear respectful but not without another glance toward Izuku, like he knew exactly what he was doing. “Midoriya just dropped in,” he said casually “Thought it was cute how worried he looked.”

Katsuki groaned softly and dragged a hand down his face. “For fuck’s sake…”

Izuku took a sharp breath and stepped closer to the bed. “Kacchan, I-I came as soon as I heard you're waking up.” His voice cracked, the frustration in his throat giving way to something rawer, quieter.

Katsuki looked at him, really looked at him. Even in his dazed state, he could see it. guilt, panic, jealousy. All twisted into Izuku’s eyes.

“Tch…” Katsuki leaned back against the pillows. “Go back I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."

He didn’t say it harshly. If anything, there was something almost…painful in his throat.

Renji watched silently, the shift in Katsuki’s tone not lost on him.

Izuku flinched.

He knew Katsuki’s words weren’t meant to cut but they did.

“I do worry about you,” Izuku said, his voice trembling, too quiet, too vulnerable. “Even when I don’t have the right to.”

The silence that followed made the walls feel smaller.

Katsuki looked away for a moment, jaw tight, like he was swallowing something he didn’t want to say.

Renji let out a breath, amused. “Well, this is touching. I’ll give you two some space,” he muttered, turning to leave but not before brushing past Izuku with the faintest smirk. “Try not to fight. He’s still healing.”

The door shut behind him.

Izuku didn’t move. He just stood there, eyes on Katsuki, fists clenched again at his sides like he was trying to keep from shaking.

“Why’d you come, really?” Katsuki asked finally, not looking at him. “To check if I’m alive? Is that it? You thought I'm weak or sumn? ”

Izuku’s heart stopped.

“I-” he hesitated, then sighed, defeated.

Katsuki finally turned to look at him again. Tired. Worn. But beneath it something sharp. “You’re a damn coward, you know that?”

Izuku blinked. “What?”

Katsuki’s eyes narrowed, and the bitter edge in his voice cut deeper than any wound. “You heard me.”

Izuku opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

“You only show up when it’s convenient.” Katsuki continued, voice rough with more than just exhaustion. “When things are breaking. When I’m bleeding. But never when it actually matters.”

“That’s not fair-” Izuku started, stepping closer.

“Isn’t it?” Katsuki snapped. “You think I didn’t notice? The way you look at me and then run the other damn direction? You won’t talk to me unless I’m half-dead in a hospital bed.”

“I don’t know how to talk to you anymore!” Izuku burst, voice cracking. “I don't know where we stand, Kacchan! one second you're pushing me away, the next you're letting someone like him touching you like you're-"

“Like I’m what?” Katsuki challenged.

Izuku’s chest heaved. He looked away, ashamed of how much emotion was pouring out. “Like you're his boyfriend.”

Silence.

Katsuki’s breath caught.

"What the fuck are you talking about??" Katsuki said with anger in his tone.

Katsuki stared, jaw slack, something unreadable flickering behind his gaze

Katsuki’s fists clenched around the blanket, knuckles white. “I'm not his fucking boyfriend for fuck's sakes Izuku!"

Izuku didn’t answer right away. His throat was tight, chest burning. “I don’t know what to think anymore,” he muttered. “You don’t tell me anything. You don’t talk to me. You just… keep letting me go.”

“That’s because every time I try, you back off like I’m some damn plague!” Katsuki barked, trying to sit up straighter despite the pain.

Izuku’s hands trembled.

"Well then, let me talk to you this time!"

Katsuki froze mid-motion, the tension in his arms still visible under the thin hospital blanket. His sharp breath hitched, eyes locking on Izuku with something between disbelief and challenge.

The silence was thick but Izuku didn’t back down this time.

His fists were clenched at his sides, voice shaking but firm. “Let me talk to you. Let me try, Kacchan."

Katsuki’s lips parted slightly, but no words came. His eyes flicked across Izuku’s face—searching. Like he didn’t trust what he was hearing.

“I’m sorry” Izuku whispered.

Katsuki blinked, slow and unreadable.

Izuku swallowed hard. Then stepped closer.

Right before izuku could say anything, his phone rang right in his left pocket.

Uraraka.

"Go back to your girlfriend, Izuku."

Izuku flinched like he’d been slapped.

His hand hovered over his pocket, but he didn’t move to answer it. The ringing kept going, shrill and relentless, but all he could hear was Katsuki’s voice—flat, bitter, guarded.

“She’s not-” Izuku started, but Katsuki turned his face away, jaw clenched.

“Pick up her phone." Katsuki’s voice was quiet, but it carried a weight heavier than any explosion. “You don’t get to stand there and say all that while she’s calling you.”

“I didn’t come here because of her. I came here because of you. ” Izuku's voice cracked, stepping closer.

Katsuki scoffed, eyes still fixed on the far wall.

Izuku accepted defeat and answered her call like casual. "Yes uraraka?"

Katsuki’s eyes shut tight the second he heard her name leave Izuku’s mouth.

Even though Izuku’s tone was flat—casual, emotionless—it didn’t matter. It still hurt. Something.

Izuku turned slightly away, hand over the phone, speaking low. “Yeah, I’m… still out. Something came up.”

Katsuki bit the inside of his cheek, hard. The way Izuku’s voice changed—so careful, so polite—it wasn’t the same voice he used with him. It never was.

He didn’t want to hear this.

Izuku hung up after a few short words. He turned back slowly, but Katsuki didn’t look at him.

"Kacchan I've gotta go, I'm sorry.."

Katsuki stared at him back, "Whatever." He immediately changed his position in bed facing towards the curtain.

Izuku hesitated at the door, hand hovering near the handle, torn between guilt and something deeper regret.

He glanced back one last time, catching only the outline of Katsuki’s back under the hospital blanket, tense and unmoving.

“Kacchan…” he whispered, voice barely audible. No answer. Just silence.

The kind that fills your chest and makes it harder to breathe.

He didn’t know what he expected. A plea to stay?

But this was Kacchan. And this time, Izuku had been the one to walk in and shatter whatever fragile thread still tied them together.

He stepped out quietly, closing the door behind him.

There in front of the door Renji stands tall, with his arms crossed, with a slight of small smile appears on his face.

Izuku froze, his heart pounding even harder.

Renji’s eyes met his, calm but unreadable.

“Leaving so soon?” Renji’s voice was low, almost amused, but there was an edge like he was testing him.

Izuku swallowed, trying to steady himself. He doesn't answer him.

Renji stepped aside, blocking the way, his tall frame casting a shadow over Izuku.

“You really care about him, huh?”

Izuku’s breath hitched. He didn’t answer.

Renji’s smirk softened just a fraction. “Good. Maybe that’s enough to hold onto.”

Izuku looked down, conflicted. The fight wasn’t over inside or out.

Izuku shoves past him without any worry about how he feels or anything

Renji didn’t stop him.

He let Izuku brush past, his smirk fading into something unreadable as he watched him go—shoulders tense, fists clenched, walking like the world was hanging on every step.

The hallway echoed with the sound of Izuku’s boots against the tile. He didn’t look back.

Didn’t want to see Renji’s face.

Didn’t want to feel the weight of the hospital door he’d left behind.

All he could hear now was Katsuki’s voice.

"Whatever."

Why is he pissed off at him.

Izuku trying to remember all the time izuku has ever pushed him away or snapped at him but nothing popped out in his head.

What did he actually do?

Izuku’s steps slowed the farther he got from the room, until he finally stopped, hands pressed against the cold wall of the corridor.

His breath trembled.

He racked his brain, eyes stinging. Every moment, every fight, every silence, every look Katsuki had given him lately—it all ran through his head like a blur of static. But nothing stood out. Nothing sharp enough to justify this.

He had pushed him away at times….but when was it?

But only because he didn’t know how to be close without wanting more. Without crossing lines they never agreed to cross. Without breaking what little was left of their bond.

Maybe Katsuki was right.

Maybe he only showed up when it hurt—when it was too late.

But Izuku didn’t mean to.

He never wanted to make Katsuki feel like an afterthought. Never wanted to see that closed-off look in his eyes again. Not directed at him.

And yet…

That’s exactly what he saw.

...

The agency.

Is it because he rejected him?

The thought made his stomach twist.

Izuku chuckled slightly, while walking towards the exit of the hospital, slowly leaving. He thought. "Kacchan is not like that. He doesn't take it to heart."

Maybe the explanation is right in front of his but he couldn't manage to break it down.

He really is a clueless 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 nerd.

The stress Izuku built up in his body slowly taking advantage of him. Beer..

Bar.

Izuku was never really the type of person who drinks out or even drinks casually on the day off. He is a teacher, that is very much expected from a respected person that he is.

The bar really isn't that long from the hospital.

The bar’s dim lights buzzed overhead as Izuku stepped inside, the heavy scent of alcohol and cheap perfume clinging to the air. The moment the door closed behind him, the outside world fell away—its expectations, its weight, him.

No fans.

No students.

No fucking Renji.

Just space.

He didn’t even take off his jacket. Just moved straight to the counter and muttered, “Beer. Coldest you have.”

The bartender raised a brow but didn’t ask questions. Within seconds, a sweating bottle slid across the wood.

Izuku stared at it.

Kacchan.

He remembered the look in his eyes—the one just before he turned his back, like Izuku had dropped him off a cliff one too many times. Like he’d stopped expecting to be caught.
"Go back to your girlfriend, Izuku."

Why did kacchan say it like that, it was as if he was mocking izuku, having to obey orders from his own girlfriend.

He took a long sip. The bitterness hit his tongue hard. Burned down his throat.

Good.

He wanted to feel something that wasn’t this awful, stretched-out silence between him and the one person he.

He didn’t let the word form in his mind.

Izuku closed his eyes, leaning forward on the bar, letting the low music drown him out. One drink turned two.

Suddenly voices slowly approached in his ears.

It was slow but-

"Hey Midoriya!"

A familiar voice.

Izuku spins his back to see the person who just approaches him in the middle of his drinking.

There standing tall, Kirishima, big muscles and everything with Kaminari besides him standing with big grins.

"Hey guys, I wasn't expecting you guys here!"

Kirishima’s grin widened as he clapped a heavy hand on Izuku’s shoulder, nearly making him spill his drink. “Yeah? You don’t exactly scream ‘bar guy,’ you know.”

Kaminari slid into the seat beside him, already flagging the bartender down. “Dude, what’s the occasion? You look like you just fought ten villains and lost.”

Izuku chuckled dryly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Something like that.”

Kirishima eyed him for a beat, his smile dimming just slightly. “You alright, man?”

Izuku nodded, too quickly. “Just… needed to clear my head.”

Kaminari leaned on the counter, tapping the wood. “Let me guess. This has something to do with Dynamight?”

Izuku stiffened.

Kirishima let out a low whistle. “Damn. That obvious, huh?”

Kaminari exchanged a look with Kirishima, then glanced back at Izuku. “He’s not doing great either, y’know.”

Izuku looked up sharply.

Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck. “He was already banged up when he got brought in, but ever since… whatever the hell happened between you two, he’s been in a worse mood than usual. And trust me, that’s saying something.”

Izuku’s grip on the bottle tightened.

Kaminari gave a half-smile, softer this time. “You two are complicated. But maybe it’s time to stop pretending it’s just that.”

Izuku looked down, jaw clenched.

"Kirishima, can I ask you something?"

Kirishima blinked, then nodded, his tone immediately more serious. “Of course, man. Anything.”

Izuku hesitated, fingers tracing the condensation on his bottle. His voice came out quieter this time, almost uncertain.
“Has kacchan told you anything that might solve the problem where he is always pissed off at me."

Kaminari's brow furrowed slightly, surprised by the question.

Kirishima didn’t answer right away. He leaned back in his seat, arms folded over his chest, thoughtful. "He has." he said eventually. “But it's not my place to say this to you, man."

"You've gotta figured out yourself. You hurt him a lot, I can tell ya that."

Izuku’s chest tightened.

"What do you mean? I hurt him? When the fuck did I actually do that."

Izuku eyebrows furrowed instantly, he stands up from his chair trying to get kirishima to talk.

"Man, I don't want to fight, this all has nothing to do with me, I'm his best friend.What did u expect me to say." Kirishima said it confidently straight up serious.

Kirishima held Izuku’s stare, no longer smiling. “I’m saying he’s been hurting, man. And whether you meant to or not, you’re part of why.”

Izuku’s throat dried, his fists clenching at his sides.

“What the hell did I do that was so bad?” he asked, voice low, almost desperate. “I’ve always been there- ”

“No,” Kirishima cut in gently but firmly. “You’ve always been around. But you haven’t been there. Not really. Not when it counted.”

Izuku flinched.

Kaminari finally spoke, his tone softer than usual. “He talks like he’s disposable to you, Deku. Like you only show up when you need something.”

That hit harder than it should’ve.

Izuku stepped back, fist clenching.

"This is all a mess you made yourself." Kirishima said.

The words sank deep.

Izuku didn’t say anything else.

His alcohol tolerance is never that bad, but at this moment he could never imagine what was bound to happen.

Izuku ran towards Kirishima and punched him in the face using his full strength. He might be quirkless but his body remembers all of his hardwork training.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Kirishima shouted loudly while everyone in the bar looked at both of them directly.

Izuku was about to hit another punch but he forgot that Kirishima could literally use his hardrock to prevent him from getting hurt.

Kirishima hugs his body and slams his body towards the counter bar. Izuku coughs up his saliva, everywhere is messy.

Izuku doesn't even know what's going on with him right now.

Their petty little conversation escalated quickly into an argument they have never been in one before.

The fight go on for a little longer until the police came to surveillance the place. Someone must've called the police.

The bar was a mess of noise, chairs knocked over, glasses shattered on the ground, and the heavy sound of fists hitting flesh echoing louder than the music.

Izuku stood there, chest heaving, knuckles scraped and bloodied. Kirishima was on the floor, not badly hurt but staring up at him with a mix of disbelief and disappointment.

Kaminari had been the one to yell for them to stop. He hadn't stepped in—couldn’t, not with how fast it all exploded—but the second the sirens pierced the distance, he’d scrambled to pull Kirishima up.

Izuku’s vision blurred with adrenaline, guilt, and alcohol. He didn’t even register the cold air hitting his skin as the bar door burst open and officers poured in.

“Everyone freeze! Hands where we can see them!”

Izuku lifted his hands slowly, heart hammering in his chest. What the hell did he just do?

Kirishima was already getting to his feet, wiping his mouth, jaw tight. He looked at Izuku but didn’t say a word.

The silence between them hurt more than any punch.

“Midoriya Izuku?” one officer asked, glancing at his ID.

Izuku didn’t answer. He just nodded.

“You’re coming with us.”

Izuku’s knees felt weak as the officers moved toward him. The weight of everything crashing down all at once—his failure with Katsuki, the fight with Kirishima, the mess he’d made of himself—was suffocating.

Kaminari stayed close, eyes full of concern but unsure what to say.

As they led Izuku out of the bar, the low murmur of patrons watching in silence was deafening. The street outside was cold, the night harsh and unforgiving.

Izuku swallowed hard, the bitter taste of regret sharper than any alcohol burning in his throat.

Somewhere deep inside, a small voice whispered that maybe this was exactly what he needed—a wake-up call.

But for now, all he could do was follow, shoulders heavy, heart heavier.

 

Inside the police station, there is everyone giving him an eye that only the same thing would happen if he was a celebrity.

Oh. He is the greatest hero in the world.

Izuku felt every gaze like a spotlight burning into his skin—whispers trailing behind him, eyes wide with disbelief or curiosity. Even here, in this cold, sterile place, he couldn’t escape the weight of his reputation.

“The greatest hero in the world,” someone muttered under their breath, loud enough for him to hear.

He clenched his jaw, the irony almost unbearable.

How did he go from inspiring so many to standing here, arrested for a bar fight?

The officers led him to an interrogation room, the door closing with a final, echoing click.

Izuku sank into the chair, head bowed, the silence pressing in.

Maybe this was the breaking point.

Maybe this was where he finally had to face everything he’d been running from.

Izuku had to sit there for a little longer until someone came in.

"Izuku!"

Izuku looked up from his lap, to see the one and only uraraka running towards him with her worried face, sweats forming on her face as she gently caresses izuku's bloody face.

Izuku blinked, momentarily stunned by Uraraka’s sudden presence. Her touch was gentle but grounding, and for a split second, the chaos inside him quieted.

“What happened? ” Uraraka whispered, voice trembling. “I came quickly when kaminari called me earlier.”

Izuku swallowed hard, the weight in his chest shifting—not just guilt, but something like relief.

“Uraraka…” His voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.

She squeezed his hand gently. “You don’t have to face this alone, Izuku.”

For the first time that night, Izuku felt a flicker of hope amid the mess. Maybe this wasn’t the end. Maybe it was the beginning of something else.

Izuku looked up, meeting Uraraka’s eyes, so full of concern and warmth. He nodded slowly, voice still fragile.

She gave a small,encouraging smile.

The door opened again, footsteps approaching—an officer, then Kirishima, his face tight but calmer than before.

Izuku’s chest tightened as their eyes met. No words were needed.

Uraraka squeezed his hand once more, a silent promise, You’re not alone.

Kirishima stepped further into the room, crossing his arms, eyes flicking briefly to Uraraka’s hand in Izuku’s before settling on Izuku himself.

“…You good to talk?” he asked, his voice low, no heat just weariness.

Izuku stood slowly, letting Uraraka’s hand slip from his. “Yeah.”

Kirishima nodded and motioned for the officer to give them a minute. The door closed softly behind them.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then

“I shouldn’t have hit you.” Izuku said first, voice tight with shame. “I lost control. I was drunk and- no excuse. I’m sorry.”

Kirishima nodded once. “Thanks. I shouldn’t have pushed you either, man. We both let it go too far.”

Another pause.

"Kacchan is going to be pissed off right..?" Izuku finally asked

Kirishima let out a short, tired breath — somewhere between a scoff and a sigh. "I don't really know..buf I'm pretty sure if he finds out..he'll be pretty mad."

He leaned against the wall, arms still crossed, eyes steady on Izuku. "I know everyone keep on saying this to you but... You should talk to him man."

Izuku frowned slightly.

He didn't answer right away.

Izuku sank back into the chair, head in his hands.

The apartment was quiet when they got back. Too quiet.

Izuku sat at the edge of the bed, shirt off, blood dried around the edges of his cuts. Uraraka knelt in front of him with the first-aid kit, dabbing gently at a gash near his brow. The sting made him flinch, but he didn’t pull away.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Uraraka broke the silence first. “You actually went all out because of Bakugo right?"

Izuku looked down. "I really don't know what crosses my mind at that moment.."

She nodded, soaking another pad with antiseptic. “So… how long?”

He hesitated. Izuku faces her as she dab alcohol consumption of cotton on his face.

"How long...what?"

Uraraka kept cleaning in silence. Her movements were slow, focused, controlled.

"How long have you been trying to fix your relationship with Bakugo?"

Izuku stayed silence.

Uraraka finally spoke something out.

"You're ruining this for us. " she said softly. "I'm mad but sometimes we can't handle the situation ourselves."

His breath hitched. “I never meant to hurt-"

“I know you didn’t.” She met his eyes. “But you still did. Not with your words, but with everything else. You’re different when he’s in the room.”

Izuku’s throat tightened.

She sat back on her heels, pressing a final bandage to his cheek. “I love you, Izuku.” she said. “And I love all my friends including Bakugo. You have to stop this behavior."

Izuku's eyes widened slightly as she put on a small hopeless smile.

He 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱.

Uraraka stood, placing the used cotton and wrappings back into the kit with quiet care. She didn’t look at him as she spoke next.

“I’ve been trying to pretend it’s fine. That maybe it’ll pass. That maybe you’ll come back to your senses fully." She turned then, just enough to meet his eyes. “But nothing has changed.. You've been avoiding me, my messages, call and everything."

He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. The sting on his cheek was nothing compared to the weight in his chest.

“If you want us to go back to normal, leave him. Do it for my sake.” she continued, her voice steady but full of tiredness. “I think a part of me always knew. It just hurts that I kept waiting for something you couldn't give."

Izuku reached out, as if to say something, to pull it back, to stop the damage but she gently stepped away.

“You need to figure out what you have done without hurting everyone who loves you in the process.”

She gave him one last look-tired, sad, but still kind and walked out of the room, the door clicking quietly behind her.

Izuku sat alone, bandaged and broken, and for the first time in a long time, he let the silence crush him.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Izuku sat motionless, his hand still half-raised in the air like he could rewind time, like maybe if he stayed still long enough, none of this would be real.

But it was.

Her words echoed in the room louder than any yell would’ve.

“𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦."

He buried his face in his hands.

He hadn’t meant to ruin everything. He hadn’t even realized how far he’d spiraled. But now? Now there was no pretending. No deflecting.

Uraraka was right.

He had been drifting toward a truth he refused to face, toward someone he couldn’t let go of even if he tried.

And in the process, he broke something that had once been gentle. Safe. Real.

Now he was left with nothing but the wreckage of his own choices. Bruised. Bleeding. Alone.

And all he could think about was Kacchan.

And how much he didn’t deserve him either.

Kacchan.

Even in this moment he still thinks about kacchan, how he has been doing ever since he left the hospital.

Did Renji take care of him?

Of course. He did.

That thought alone made Izuku’s stomach twist.

Renji.

Always there. Always close. Always touching Katsuki like it meant nothing-but it clearly did. Not to Renji. To Katsuki.

And Izuku had just walked out.

How stupid is he.

He gritted his teeth, pressing the heel of his palm to his eyes, but the sting behind them only worsened.

How many times had he done this?

Showed up too late. Said too little. Walked away when things got hard. And Katsuki—Katsuki had waited. Fought to stay in his life when anyone else would’ve given up.

And what had Izuku done in return?

Drifted. Lied to himself. Chosen silence over truth.

Now even Uraraka—who had stood by him through everything—was done waiting too.

He’d hurt her.
He’d hurt everyone.
But most of all?

He’d hurt the one person he never stopped thinking about.

"I'm such a fucking coward." he whispered, broken.

People always say that Deku. The greatest hero in the whole world always has a solution to everything.

Not everything.

The apartment was still. The kind of silence that creeps into your bones and stays there.

Izuku sat up slowly, wiping the corners of his eyes. His head throbbed from the alcohol and the weight of everything pressing down on him. And still one name surfaced through it all.

All Might.

The one person who had seen him through every rise, every fall. The man who had believed in him when he couldn’t believe in himself. A mentor, a guide…a father.

He didn’t think. Just moved.

Pulled on a hoodie, grabbed his phone, and stepped out into the cold night air, dialing the number with fingers that still trembled.

“Young Midoriya?” All Might’s voice came through, warm, surprised. “Is everything alright?”

Izuku’s breath hitched. “Can I come see you?”

“…Of course.”

 

It didn’t take long.

All Might opened the door to his modest home, already changed into his casual wear, hair slightly messier than usual. But his eyes those kind, familiar eyes immediately softened at the sight of Izuku’s bruised face.

“Goodness… come in, sit down.” He ushered him in gently. “Let me get you something warm.”

Izuku didn’t say much at first. Just sat on the couch, looking small in the oversized hoodie, hands clenched in his lap.

After a moment, All Might sat across from him with two mugs of tea and gave him a long, knowing look.

“Rough night?”

Izuku nodded. “I messed up everything..All might."

All Might didn’t press. Just listened.

Eventually, the words spilled.

"Kacchan have been avoiding me, I don't know what I did to him but he's pissed off... Ever since that rumour about him..."

All might listened to him. And suddenly, the words came out of his mouth.

"The rumour about young Bakugo?"

Izuku slightly change his position feeling uncomfortable not looking him in eyes.

"The one with Kacchan....being one of the homosexuals."

All might quirked his left eyebrows.

"Young Bakugo is gay? Is that it?"

 

"Well! Yes.. I don't know but it's still a rumour. It was actually pretty obvious if i thought about it." Izuku's face turning into a fully red tomato.

Izuku continue to ramble all might's ear off.

When he finished, there was silence. Then All Might leaned back, thoughtful.

“…Can I ask you something, young Midoriya?”

Izuku looked up slowly. “Yeah?”

A beat.

“Are you in love with Young Bakugo..?”

Izuku froze.

Then scoffed, laughing a little too fast. “What..? no. No way. That’s… that’s insane. He’s my best friend.”

All Might raised an eyebrow.

Izuku shook his head more aggressively. “I’m not even- ! I mean, I’m not gay! I don’t… how could I have feelings like that for him?”

All Might stayed quiet, his gaze calm but steady.

Izuku’s voice dropped. “He’s… Kacchan. That’s not-I wouldn’t… I mean-” he swallowed hard, eyes stinging again. “He’s always been there. That’s it. I just don’t want to lose him.”

All Might placed his tea down gently. “Sometimes, what we’re afraid to name is exactly what we need to confront.”

Izuku said nothing.

Because deep down, something had shifted in him.

"I'm not gay. This is insane."

All Might nodded slowly, not judging just watching him unravel.
“I understand, young Midoriya. It’s not about labels. It’s about truth. Yours.”

Izuku looked down, his fingers trembling slightly as they curled around the mug. “But I can’t… I don’t even know what this is. I get angry when I see him with someone else. I lose my mind when he pushes me away. And when he’s hurt... it kills me.”

All Might leaned forward, his voice softer now. “That sounds a lot like love, doesn't it?”

Izuku’s eyes flicked up, wet and confused. “But he’s Kacchan. We grew up together. I already have a perfect life with Uraraka."

“And yet,” All Might said gently, “Take your time to think about it young midoriya.."

Izuku swallowed hard, shame and fear warring inside him.

𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘜𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘢.