Chapter Text
2 YEARS 4 MONTHS
Some kids have left the kindergarten. It leaves Keigo feeling sad, the last time it happened was so long ago. He just knows that the recent kids who left, that he won't be seeing them again. Anytime he tries to bring the topic up with the adults, there’s always an excuse.
‘They were transferred.’
He doesn't know where or when it happens it always just happens. So far the only real constant that he has is the sleeping boy, it leaves him feeling attached more than he should. They may be the two oldest kids there whenever he wakes up. Keigo wonders if he should start writing to him like the other kids, instead of rambling on like the others do.
Keeping his feelings he has for the white-haired boy inside makes him feel so secretive, when he’s always been so open and accepting of the other kids. It makes him feel like he can’t trust the adults if he attempts to express himself. Given how upset the doctor gets, all he understands and cares about is science.
If it doesn't have anything to do with the other kids' quirks or well being, he doesn't seem to care that much for feelings. Leaving Mr.Happy Sunflower man the adult most of the kids can get genuine happiness from.
Keigo has seen how adults can be however, first his dad, mom, then the doctor.
The adults make things feel so complicated in the kindergarten, All For One may have had them brought here. But he never reveals where the kids who leave go off to. The kids were so much easier to understand, always so honest and curious about everything.
He’s sure Mr.Sleepy Head would be quite annoyed by the adults, Keigo wouldn't blame him if he did. It’s okay though Keigo would be there to hopefully go off on tangents together about the grown-ups.
2 YEARS 7 MONTHS
He feels so embarrassed, he actually did it.
All the kids were writing cards to each other for Valentine's day, including Keigo. He knows the white haired boy wouldn't be waking up for it, if he did Keigo would be off the moon ecstatic but at the same time die of embarrassment.
The kids were decorating their hearts and stars they had made for one another, while Keigo had gone simple. He’d just decided to write him a letter on a pink card, plain looking but when he finally added some glitter and drew a heart at the end.
His heart couldn't help but speed up, as he placed it under Mr.Sleepy Heads pillow.
Dear Mr.Sleepy Head,
Well that's what we call you, if I knew your name I would call you by it! I have some guesses on what your name might be though, I bet it's something pretty after a flower maybe? Or even a star!
I don't know but I think about you a lot, more than I should. It just makes me feel happy and gives me the heebie-jeebies in the best way when I'm with you! But it’s hard not to because you're super cute and have been growing a lot since you got here. I’m sure you're going to be a very handsome man someday!
I’m sorry I talk so much or rather write? I thought this would all be easier to say on paper than it is in person when I talk to you, but it seems the same. My name is Keigo! I don’t get called my last name anymore around here, my parents weren't the best. I saw the scars left behind on your arms, I hope you're not hurting anymore. No one deserves to get hurt, especially you, you seem kind to be hurt.
I’m very sorry if you were, if you want to talk about it when you wake up I'm all ears and feathers! I have wings that can listen and feel things. If that was confusing, I can show you when you wake up!
Or if? I don't know when you'll wake up, I hope you do soon! I have so many things I want to talk about and do with you. The point of this letter was to tell you how I feel, and it became a diary, how embarrassing!
It’s Valentine's day and that was the point of this! Will you be my Valentine?
We can do whatever you want when you wake up! Since I'm asking you I’ll also get you chocolates and flowers when you wake up as a present! I don't have them now but I will! Do you like chocolate and flowers? It's okay if you don't, I'll find a way to get you whatever you want! It’ll be your day! :)
Sincerely, Keigo!
3 YEARS
This isn't how he expected their first real meeting to go.
The white-haired boy awake and clumsily on top of him, as he had fallen running a corner in the hallway. Keigo was left as stunned and wide eyed as the others, and suddenly he had no idea what he wanted to say.
“H-Hi-!” He smiles sitting up, as the other boy weakly gets to his feet and runs away.
‘What?’ His mind goes blank.
Keigo quickly realizes that the boy is actually trying to leave, he catches up to the other flying over. Seeing the other in a panic state, no one is ever like that and it leaves Keigo to wonder what happened while he was away. Did someone say or do something?
“Woah! H-Hey! What happened?”
The other just looks at him shaking his head, uneven breathing. “I-I have to go home.”
His voice was deeper than he expected. “-but, this is you're home now.”
It seems to trigger the boy, as he’s back to running towards the exit. Keigo feels his stomach knot up, and he acts instead of think rushing after him. “Okay! Wait!” He shoves himself in front of the other with his hands up in defeat. “Let me help you-! Where’s home?”
“I-I was at Sekato Peak- the fire….” He drifts off finally looking up at Keigo, playing with his hands. “I didn't mean to, I’m not supposed to be here.”
Keigo’s heart couldn't help but crack for the boy, he was so lost and confused. Three years had passed and his body had aged while his mind hadn't.
“Okay, let's get you home.” Keigo sadly smiled, he wanted the other to stay. But he couldn't force that, but he needs to be around people he knew from before. Somewhere familiar, it pains Keigo that he can’t be someone there for him. Considering he’s been by his bedside for years, but it isn't about him.
“Where am I?” Keigo doesn't actually know what city or town the kindergarten is in. He remembers the trip for him was long when he was brought in.
“Let’s go for a walk, see what you can remember.”
“Okay.”
They make it outside and being lost in the city is a new experience for the both of them, Keigo having to resist the urge to fly alongside the boy or even hover. He knew that quirks weren’t allowed to be used even if you were a mutant without a license. He allowed Touya to lead the way as he seemed to take charge quickly, looking around at the street signs and names.
After a few minutes of silence Keigo finally decided to break it. “I like your hair” He compliments watching the boy for any reaction he may give, with the time they had he could finally put his thoughts in order and remember all the questions he had and things he’s been wanting to say.
“It wasn’t always white.”
“Really? I think it looks cool! Did you dye it?” The question makes the boy's face twist in a disgusted sort of look.
“No.”
“Oh, well I like it anyways. Makes you look soft and cuddly like a cat or rabbit.” That comment gets an awkward laugh mixed with a huff out of the other boy, and Keigo smiles at himself. It’s the only reaction he’s seen out of him that isn’t fear, confusion, or pain. “Can I ask your name?”
“Touya.”
“T-o-u-y-a.” He tests the name out. “Tou- ya.” He adds a skip in his step laughing.
Keigo thinks to himself, his name means light. How ironic that he’s kept Keigo’s mind so occupied for so long and how his presence just brightens his days.
“Who were you?” His voice strains, looking at him cautiously.
“Keigo! I’ve been helping watch over you- not in a weird way! Sometimes the other kids and I would read to you- I heard it’s healthy and very mindful to talk and read to others when they’re hurt, and you were so…” He shrugs, smiling awkwardly, looking for any reaction Touya may give him.
But he keeps the same cold look, he only hums in response.
Maybe he should tell him about the cute nickname they gave him, or all the compliments the girls would give him. He shoots down all the ideas, he feels he’s stuck his foot in his mouth enough already.
He can’t help but wonder. “How old were you?”
He sees the gears turning in Touya’s head as he looks ahead thinking. “I was…” Touya brings his hands to feel his throat where his bandages are still wrapped. “-I’m fifteen now…”
Touya had been with them for three years…
He was twelve years old!
“-so, your voice is new to you.” Keigo had read about puberty when he’d turned to discovering more about himself. It’s different for girls and boys. “You didn’t sound like this before did you?”
Touya’s voice didn’t sound like the other kids that were in the kindergarten, his was scratchy and rough. He can listen to him talk all day if Touya would let him.
“No…” He can hear a hint of pain in his voice.
“It’s okay.” He affirms. “What's happened to you is completely normal, you were asleep for all of it. But you’ve healed even if you don’t think you have, we were all there for you with the doctor.”
“Thanks.”
The sun had already begun to set and Keigo was about to recommend they go back and look for him home tomorrow. However, right when he was about to speak up he sees Touya pick up his pace, they’d walked out of the district the kindergarten had been in. Keigo hadn’t seen this part of the city from his view outside the windows of his home.
It was familiar enough for Touya to where he would make sharp turns and lead them down less clustered areas of the city, into residential streets with big houses, gates, and sidewalks.
They made it to a large stone fenced off area, which Keigo would assume was some park by how far it seemed the brick wall went. However he could see long walls and a roof peeking over the wall.
“Help me up.” The boy instructs, and Keigo uses all his strength he can and wings for support. Quickly helps him up and over the wall, even both their heights combined proved to be a struggle.
“Are you coming back?” Keigo asks nervously, he’s unsure as to why. This felt wrong, watching the older boy lower himself to the side with a small ‘oof’ hearing grass crunch with his landing followed by it fading away. “Touya?”
He never gets an answer.
Regardless he waits, anxiously walking along the wall. Concentrating on the sounds around him so he can hear when Touya returned, as the orange glow of the sky quickly faded away to night. He hears quiet footsteps along the sidewalk, peaking around the corner he sees Touya still in his white clothes walking the opposite way which they came.
“W-where are you going?” Keigo panics quickly runs over next to the other, his head hung lower than before and he looked upset.
“Get away from me!” He demands his pace speeding up, but Keigo is quick and can keep up.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
Why didn’t you stay?
He wants to ask but some part of him is glad he didn’t, some part of Touya must be as well given his current state. “Are you okay-?”
“Leave me alone- I don’t know you-!”
“Touya- what’s wrong?” He stops himself in front of the older boy and flares his wings out bringing him to a stop. Surprised by how big the avian's wings seemed to be, but surprise quickly switched to annoyance. “I’m sorry for whatever happened, what can I do to help you?”
“I want to be alone.”
“W-well- let’s go back to the kindergarten.” Keigo grabs the others wrist like he would any of the other children, turning them around to retrace their steps that brought them to Touya’s destination. “ Once we’re home-.”
“That’s not my home!” Keigo feels heat emit from the others hand as it's yanked from his grasp. “Screw those adults! Screw that place!” Touya isn't like the other kids, he’s missed out on parts of his own life, while experiencing more hardship than the kids at the kindergarten. “I’m not going back to die, you can't make me.”
He can't let Touya wander out and about on his own, he isn't like the other kids that need someone to take care of them. But that doesn't stop Keigo's altruistic desire to want to be with him, by his side as he’s been the past 3 years. He can't just let the person he’s become dependent on disappear.
“Take me with you?” The tone of his voice makes it come out as a question, regardless of the others answer he would most likely just keep following him. Even if he didn't want him there, how else would he be safe? Keigo has seen how cruel the world can be in his father, and how neglectful and easily turned against you in his mother.
“Why?” Touya questions staring him down. Keigo could tell the look was meant to be menacing, if it were towards anyone else it would most likely have worked. But he liked looking at Touya’s face too much to be intimidated by it.
“I-.”
I don't want you to leave.
I want to stay by your side.
I don't belong there anymore.
Did he really think that last one? Had he outgrown the kindergarten, he never got answers to his questions. The adults may have had ulterior motives he wasn't aware of, but they always cared and looked out for all the kids.
Right?
Why had he not ever been allowed to leave before?
“I don't want to go back…” He admits out loud without thinking, had he truly grown so suspicious of the others there that he no longer trusted them?
What would happen if Keigo had actually convinced Touya to go back with him? Would he disappear like the other kids had?
“Fine.”
Touya immediately starts walking down the sidewalk again, Keigo rushing to catch up. He’s realized that it most definitely will take time for Touya to answer all the questions Keigo has for him, but as long as he can stay with him he knows they'll have time.