Chapter Text
Bass
“No. Absolutely not.”
“The hell do you mean ‘no’!?” Kota quipped, throwing his hands up.
“You’re not playing in a band with him.” Izuku replied, pointing at Katsuki.
“Ex-fucking-cuse me?” The blond retorted, face twisted in disgust.
“Why not?” Kota asked, annoyed.
“Because I said so.”
“Oh, fuck off.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “That’s a shitty ass excuse.”
Kota raised his eyebrows and tilted his head towards Izuku. The freckled boy scoffed and crossed his arms above his chest.
“No.”
“You’re impossible!” Kota snapped.
Katsuki let out an audible sigh and tossed his head back, earning a disapproving look from Izuku. Jirou stepped forward and pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head.
“Look– what’s your name again?” She asked, looking at Izuku.
“Izuku.” He replied simply.
“Look, Izuku. Your brother can play and we need a bassist. Frankly, I don’t give a fuck about whatever weird beef you have with that one,” She said, motioning to Katsuki, who sneered at her. “Kota’s good.”
Izuku shook his head and sighed.
“What’s your deal anyway?” The purple haired girl added.
“My ‘deal’,” He started, putting air quotes up with his fingers. “Is my little brother doesn’t need to be in a band with a stoner who likes to punch people for no reason.” He spat, cutting his eyes toward Katsuki.
The blond scoffed again and slammed his drum sticks down across his snare drum.
“Kami, let that shit go.” Katsuki huffed. “And that’s fucking rich coming from you Deku.”
Everyone in the room looked confused by the nickname, but Katsuki and Izuku ignored them. This definitely wasn’t about the band anymore. The blond walked over to him and stood in front of him, towering over him slightly.
“Whatever issue you have with me has nothing to do with anyone else.” The blond said, voice stern.
“You’re the one with the issue.” Izuku retorted, reeling his head back and furrowing his eyebrows.
“What the hell?” Denki mumbled, but no one acknowledged him.
Izuku pushed Katsuki away and turned around.
“Let's go, Kota.”
“No.” Kota said, leaving no room for argument.
Izuku looked over his shoulder and blinked at his brother, who was clearly agitated.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Izuku muttered to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Neither of them moved, they stayed planted where they were for a long minute.
“You know what? Fine. I’m not doing this.” Izuku rolled his eyes.
He didn’t spare anyone a glance as he and Eri walked away. If Kota really wanted to be like that, so fucking be it.
That evening, when Kota came home, he stank of weed. The earthy scent lingered on him and Izuku swore he could’ve broken Katsuki’s bones with his bare hands. Pure anger bubbled in his chest.
“Are you serious, Kota?” He snapped.
“What?” Kota asked, flexing his eyebrows in confusion.
“I can smell it on you. Did they pressure you? Did they make you smoke with them?” Izuku asked, going full on protective mode.
Kota rolled his eyes. “No and no. I didn’t smoke, it was just that Denki guy and Katsuki.” He replied, honest.
Izuku exhaled and relaxed. “Okay.” He nodded.
Kota waved his hand dismissively and made his way upstairs. Once Izuku heard the bedroom door click shut, he stormed out the front door. He marched over to the Bakugou household and walked right into the garage. Jirou and Denki looked at him, bewildered, as he walked over to the couch Katsuki was sitting on. He grabbed the blond’s collar and pulled him upright.
“Are you fucking kidding me!?”
“What the fuck is your problem?” Katsuki asked quickly.
“You’re smoking in here with my brother!”
The room grew tense as he stared into Katsuki, waiting for a response. Denki scooted closer to Jirou on the couch, leaving a few feet between him and Katsuki.
“He didn’t even smoke if that’s what you’re worried about.” Katsuki said flatly. Izuku couldn’t help but notice the aggression in his voice was practically non-existent.
The greenette looked him up and down, rage still swirling in his chest.
“If you get him into drugs, I’ll beat your ass. If you get him into trouble, I’ll beat your ass.” He said firmly, leaving no room for argument. “And if you hurt him, I’ll kill you.” He added before snatching his hand away.
Katsuki flicked his eyes up and down. His expression was practically unreadable. The blond worked his jaw briefly before nodding.
“Okay.”
Izuku narrowed his eyes before turning around, heading back home.
Despite the anger still swirling in his chest, Izuku still felt a strange sense of curiosity when it came to Katsuki. He couldn’t shake it, even if he tried.
That night while he sat in his window nook, he scrolled through photos of him and his friends back home. Itsuka’s bright smile practically lit up the screen. This photo in particular was one of his favorites, it was a selfie they took together under one of the cherry trees just a few months ago. The two of them were mid laugh and in the background, Sen and Kosei were hanging from a tree branch together. Izuku smiled fondly at the photo then scrolled to the next one.
His smile was whipped off his face. The picture was of him and Kosei, they were sitting on a bench under one of the cherry trees. The brunette leaned over and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek right when Izuku took the photo. He frowned and tried to scroll away before the memories came flooding in, but it was useless. The next photo was similar to the last, but this time Izuku was the one kissing Kosei’s cheek. His frown deepened as he flicked through more photos of the two of them.
When his eyes began to sting, he turned his phone off and tossed it over to his bed with more force than he intended. The device ricocheted off the mattress and landed on the floor, face down. He scoffed before averting his attention back to the window. Across the way, Katsuki was sitting at his desk, back to the window. It looked like he was writing something down, but Izuku couldn’t tell from this angle. The freckled boy shrugged it off and went back to reading his book.
Eventually, his eyes began to feel heavy until they shut and he was swept under by sleep. His head lolled to the side, leaning against his shoulder and his mouth hung open, just slightly. That night, he had vague dreams of blond hair and red eyes.
The next week went on without incident. Kota went to band practice a couple times, no longer smelling like weed, and Ochaco had invited him to come hang out again. This time, they went to an arcade with Shoto, who was surprisingly into video games. Izuku got to know the boy better and found out he’s actually very nice, despite his stoic face and tendency to take things very literally. He learned Shoto’s father was the police chief of Yaizu, he was apparently very strict. Which was surprising, considering they just went to one of the loudest house parties ever.
Shoto was pretty quiet at first, but seemed to open up throughout the day. Izuku was like that too, so he did his best to lead the duo haired boy out of his shell. Ochaco went on a ramble about U.A and everything he needed to know before school started. She told him that U.A students threw parties every chance they got, even the dorm students. Usually they were as big as the Kirishima’s, but some were smaller, like the ones in the dorms. Then she explained the bell schedule and the school layout, which made absolutely no sense. Shoto chimed in here and there, adding small details Ochaoc forgot about. She assured him he’d fit right in and said he was ‘very likeable’, he took that as a compliment.
The three of them played games until they were out of credits, and money, then made their way back home. Shoto dropped him off first and he bid his goodbyes, thanking them for inviting him out. As he walked up the driveway, he saw a familiar head of blond spikes walking down the path between their houses. Kami knows why, but Izuku decided to follow him. He rushed over and wandered down the path, keeping a few feet of distance between them.
Katsuki walked about halfway down the trail before turning into the woods where he normally was. Izuku thought about turning back, but something urged him to keep going. The blond seemed to lack his usual confident stride, he was dragging his feet and slightly hunched over. When he found a tree with low hanging branches, he boosted himself up onto one, just a few feet off the ground. He swung his legs and pulled something out of his pocket. Izuku could see the bright orange lighter in his hands.
The blond lit up and took a long drag. When he exhaled, he looked right towards Izuku, who was leaning behind a tree.
“Come out, Nerd.” Katsuki called, tone dry.
Izuku tensed up and his cheeks flushed as he stepped out from behind the tree.
“I don’t even wanna know.” The blond replied, rolling his eyes as he took another hit.
“Uh, sorry. I’ll, uhm, go.” Izuku replied awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“You don’t wanna get caught hanging out with a ‘stoner’?” Katsuki questioned, raising his eyebrows.
The freckled boy sighed and adjusted his glasses.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Yeah, because you’re a ‘stoner’ too. And who even says that anymore?” Katsuki quipped, almost playfully.
Izuku let out a soft chuckle. “I just don’t want Kota getting into that stuff.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
He dared to wander closer to the tree Katsuki was in, and the blond didn’t seem to mind. When Izuku was at the base of the tree, his neighbor motioned the joint toward him, offering it up. He gladly accepted and pulled himself onto the tree branch. Once he was seated, he took the cigarette between his fingers and took a long drag, the smoke hit the back of his throat and he stifled a cough. He wondered why Katsuki treated him differently every time they were together. It was strange.
“Uh, sorry for punching you. Or whatever.” Katsuki mumbled.
“Wow, what a heartfelt apology, Kacchan.” Izuku said flatly.
“Oh fuck off.” The blond quipped, almost chuckling.
A soft smile graced the ruby eyed boy's face, replacing his usual scowl.
“It’s fine.” Izuku shrugged, offering a faint smile back.
Honestly, it was. Izuku didn’t hold grudges like that. People do stupid things under the influence, plus he was kinda egging him on. There was a beat of silence between them as he passed the joint back to the blond.
“Y’know,” Katsuki spoke up, clearing his throat a bit. “Kota’s really good. Almost as good as our old bassist.”
Izuku perked up slightly and glanced over at Katsuki. “Really?”
The blond nodded. “Yeah, he’s got talent.”
The freckled boy couldn’t help but smile wide. He was so proud of his little brother, even if he was playing in Katsuki’s band. The two of them drifted back into a surprisingly comfortable silence as they smoked, swinging their legs with the breeze. It was strange how they could sit in silence without feeling awkward, even after all these years and their recent discourse. Izuku dared to wonder if they could ever be friends again.
When his eyes started to feel a bit heavier, he started crawling out of his shell and worked up the courage to speak again.
“So, what happened to your old bassist?”
Katsuki glanced at him for a moment, then looked away. He blew out a cloud of smoke before answering.
“She moved away when summer break started.” He said simply.
Izuku hummed, nodding. Before he could say anything else, Katsuki asked him a rather complicated question.
“Why’d you move back here after all this time? Yaizu fucking sucks.”
The greenette grew quiet as he thought about how to answer. Parents divorce. A shitty breakup. His moms new job. Practically getting kicked out of school. He didn’t exactly feel like explaining the last year and a half of his life to anyone, so he opted for a short, but explanatory answer.
“My parents got a divorce last year and my mom got a new job, just so happened to be in Yaizu.” He replied, taking a long drag afterwards.
“Damn. I’m sorry about your parents.” Katsuki said. His tone lacked the usual condensation and attitude, he sounded genuine.
Izuku shrugged dismissively. “It’s fine. Long time coming, I guess.”
The blond pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded solemnly. Izuku sniffled as he passed the joint back to Katsuki and leaned against the trunk of the tree.
“What’s your deal?”
“What?” Katsuki asked, turning to look at him.
“What’re your parents like? They seem pretty chill.”
The blond shrugged. “I guess.”
Izuku quirked an eyebrow, confused by the vague answer. Katsuki spared him a single glance, but didn’t elaborate. If he didn’t know any better, he would’ve pressed the matter, but he didn’t. The ruby eyed boy cleared his throat and turned to look at him again.
“I’m gonna go.”
“Oh, alright.” The freckled boy nodded.
Without another word, they both hopped down, planting their feet on the ground. They walked back down the dirt path until they made it to Katsuki’s back gate. The blond turned to push the gate open, but paused and looked at Izuku. Green and red eyes met, holding eye contact for a moment.
“I’ll, uh, see you later.” Katsuki muttered, nodding once.
“Yeah.” Izuku nodded. “See ya’.”
The two went their separate ways again, leaving Izuku alone, again. He kicked his heel against the concrete as he walked and thought about his estranged friend, if he could even call him that. Katsuki was so… odd. But, Izuku was still curious about him.
The next day, Izuku and Eri tagged along to band practice. Kota asked them to come watch them play and Izuku didn’t have anything better to do. Plus, he’d been sort of curious to see how they all flowed together. The three of them walked over to their neighbors house and went straight for the garage, which was surprisingly closed. Izuku leaned in to knock on it, but paused when he heard distant shouting. He couldn’t quite make out the words, but he could tell it was Katsuki and a woman, probably that purple haired girl.
He knocked on the metal door, which shuttered slightly. The shouting subsided and he heard people shuffling around inside. Then, the door cranked open, revealing the makeshift studio. Denki and Jirou were standing off to the side, wearing matching expressions Izuku couldn’t quite read. Katsuki was standing by the automatic button for the garage door and Izuku immediately noticed the red mark on the blond’s cheek. He furrowed his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak, but Denki shot him a serious look and waved his hand in front of his neck.
As confused as he was, he took the hint and shut his mouth, offering a sweet smile as they walked inside. He and Eri plopped down on the couch as the band set up, turning their equipment towards them as if they were playing a concert. They started with a cover of “Pink Triangle by Weezer”. The four of them played so well together, Izuku was pleasantly surprised. He watched as Jirou sang each lyric from memory, Kota and Denki seemed to be in sync and moved with the beat of the song.
When his eyes drifted to Katsuki, it was like seeing a whole new person. He’d never seen the blond playing up close, only from his window. But now, he was right in front of him. His eyes were squeezed shut as he bobbed his head to the beat, even with his eyes closed, he played perfectly with no mistakes. Izuku hadn’t realized how much Katsuki grew into his features. The drummer always had spikey hair, but as he got older, it grew to frame his face nicely. His features were sharp, from his deep, ruby eyes, to his straight nose, to his defined jawline.
It sorta felt nice to see his childhood friend all grown up.
When the song ended, Jirou took one step back and caught her breath. He and Eri clapped for them with soft smiles. The band played a few more songs, which turned out to be songs they made together. Izuku’s heart swelled watching his little brother look so happy. Kota seemed to get along with the three of them and his wide smile never left his lips. He’d never say it out loud, but he was worried his siblings wouldn’t cope with the move well, but they seemed to be adjusting just fine. Kota had his new band and Eri said she met a few girls in the neighborhood. As long as they were happy, Izuku didn’t mind Yaizu as much.
After practice, Denki asked Izuku to stay and smoke with them, which earned a disapproving look from his siblings, but they left him there anyway. He was hesitant, but Denki insisted, so he stayed. With every hit, his walls came down and he was really getting along with Katsuki and his friends. He got to know Denki and Jirou a bit better. The canary blond was quite energetic and sort of an airhead at times, but he was very funny. Jirou was on the quieter side, but she was very assertive. From their first impression, Izuku wondered if the two of them were dating, but decided not to ask.
Katsuki was rather quiet, the blond didn’t talk much, or even look at them. There was something off. The way he occasionally rubbed his cheek and worked his jaw as he stared off at nothing felt slightly unsettling. Izuku contemplated asking if he was alright, but Katsuki seemed like the kind of person who didn’t like to open up much, so he left him be.
Izuku found he really enjoyed being around Denki and Jirou, it was nice to just relax like this with people his age. He hadn’t laughed this hard in months.
He tagged along to band practice a couple more times, staying after to hangout with them. Katsuki seemed to be a bit more talkative, but still kept his distance. Izuku didn’t take it to heart, he probably had his reasons.
August slipped away quicker than he thought. Between hanging out with Volt and his new friends, the time passed by. He and Katsuki didn't have anymore tiffs, Izuku thought maybe they’d become friends again.
He was wrong.
That morning, he woke up early, eyes still heavy from sleep, and let out an exasperated groan as he turned off his alarm. It was his first day at their new school. He pulled himself out of bed and stretched his body, letting out a sigh. The morning glow was shining in through his window, casting golden rays all over his room. Izuku rubbed his eyes and stumbled out into the hall, making his way to the stairs. He could already hear the faint voice of his family in the kitchen.
Inko greeted him with a warm smile as he sat at the table with Eri. Their mother placed down a plate of pancakes with sausage in front of each of them. He smiled and thanked her before cutting into one of the pancakes with the side of his fork. As he ate, he thought about his new school, wondering what it would be like. Would he make more friends? Would he fit in? His brain spewed out questions and his chest felt slightly heavier.
Today he would go to school, instead of seeing Itsuka and Sen and Kosei, he would see hundreds of strange faces. He would meet all his new teachers and classmates as he found his way around the building. He tried to tell himself a fresh start would be good, but he didn’t believe it. No matter what happened in Hamamatsu, he would always think of it as his home. Yaizu was just a town he lived in. His heart felt heavy as he ate his breakfast in silence.
When his phone chimed, he snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the device. On the screen was a notification from Ochaco.
Ochaco:
“Heyy! Want me to pick u up for school??”
Izuku:
“I wish you could but I have to take my
brother and sister”
Ochaco:
“Ah gotcha”
“Okay, see ya later!”
Izuku:
“See ya :)”
When he was done eating, he dragged his feet up the stairs back to his room. Izuku closed the bathroom door and turned the shower on, making sure the water would be as hot as possible. “How’s It Going to Be by Third Eye Blind” played through his speaker as he pulled his t-shirt over his head. The freckled boy slipped off the rest of his clothes and pulled the shower curtain to the side, allowing him to step inside.
Izuku hummed along to the tune of the song as the hot water trickled down his chest. Steam stirred through the room, fogging up his senses. He turned around and tilted his head back, letting the water run through his curls. The warmth sent a shiver up his spine and his shoulders dropped. His curls fell, sticking to his forehead. Izuku let out a heavy breath before grabbing a bottle of shampoo.
After his shower, he dried his body and changed into a pair of medium wash jorts that hung right below his knees, and a black, graphic tee. He grabbed his glasses off his nightstand and slipped them onto his face. He blinked a few times, readjusting to the lenses. The greenette ran a towel through his hair, drying it as much as possible, before gathering his things. His black backpack laid limp on the floor, completely empty.
Izuku picked it up by the hook loop and tossed it on his bed. Beside his bookshelf, there was a small box he still hadn’t unpacked. He peeled back the cardboard flaps, revealing his plethora of notebooks and miscellaneous school supplies. He grabbed what he deemed necessary and slipped it into his bag.
The sound of their mothers voice echoed up the stairwell, calling them down. Izuku slung the bag over one of his shoulders and made his way downstairs. Eri and Kota followed behind him, wearing their new school clothes. The four of them went out to the car, arguing over who was riding in the front.
“I’m older, you two sit in the back.” Izuku said.
“No fair! You always sit up front!” Eri retorted.
Inko chuckled softly and shook her head. “Izuku gets the front seat, now lets get going.”
Kota and Eri groaned in unison but climbed in the backseat. Izuku playfully stuck his tongue out at them, earning twin snarls from the two of them. Inko shook her head again and swatted his arm playfully.
When they got to U.A the three of them climbed out of the car and made their way to the front doors together. Izuku looked over and saw his sister fidgeting with her fingers anxiously. He placed his hand on top of hers and she looked up at him.
“Don’t stress it.” He smiled. “You’ll fit right in.”
Eri shot him a soft smile and nodded, seeming more confident. His heart squeezed as he watched his younger siblings wander off to their homeroom class. He looked down at the paper in his hands, a print out of his new schedule, and looked around for Class 3-A. As he mindlessly wandered the halls, he bumped against someone. His head shot up and immediately recognized the pair of ruby eyes.
“Oh, sorry, Kacchan.” Izuku said sweetly.
Katsuki looked him up and down before letting out a subtle ‘tsk’. The blond rolled his eyes and walked off, not giving him the time of day. Izuku frowned.
“Hey! Izuku!” Ochaco shouted.
He whirled around and saw the brunette waving at him as she walked over. The freckled boy smiled and returned the wave.
“Hey!”
“Are you looking for your class?” Ochaco asked, grabbing the paper out of his hands.
“Yeah, this place is huge.” He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Oh, I know!” The brunette replied. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you, we have like five classes together.” She shrugged, waving her hand.
She grabbed his wrist and pulled him through the hallway, stopping at the end. Right above the door, was a sign that read ‘3-A’ in bold, white letters.
“Here’s our homeroom, it’s Mr. Aizawa’s class.” She said.
He nodded. “Alright.”
The duo walked into the classroom, multiple heads turned to look at who had walked inside. Izuku recognized a few faces, Denki, Jirou and Katsuki were in the back corner, the Kirishimas were standing next to a pink haired girl and Shoto.
“Hey, Midoriya!” Denki shouted, waving his arm high in the air.
“Hey!” Izuku smiled, waving subtly.
“No way! You’re in this class too?” Tetsu asked.
The greenette nodded, turning to the silver haired boy.
Before anyone else could say hello, a tall man with shoulder length, black hair walked in the door. He was wearing an all black outfit and had his hands shoved in his pockets.
“Settle down.” The man spoke, looking around the room. His eyes landed on Izuku and he walked over to him. “You must be our new student.”
Izuku nodded. “I’m Midoriya Izuku.”
The man, who Izuku assumed was Mr. Aizawa, nodded and turned to face the class. “Everyone, this is Izuku, he just transferred here. Everyone give him a warm welcome.” Aizawa’s voice was monotone.
The room erupted in ‘hello’s and ‘welcome’s from his new classmates and they smiled kindly at him. Some of the people he didn’t know introduced themselves to him. He recognized the pink haired girl as someone he met at the party, her name was Mina. Another girl named Toru sweetly introduced herself, her hair was dyed a pastel rainbow and her smile practically beamed. Two guys named Rikidou and Mashirou briefly said hello to him before taking their seats.
He noticed how Katsuki stared at him, but didn’t move from his seat. Izuku offered the blond a smile, but he scoffed and looked away. The greenette brushed it off and took his seat, which happened to be right in front of his estranged friend.
Throughout the day, Ochaco showed him around the school, walking him from class to class. He appreciated having someone to show him around, she made him feel less lonely. By the end of the day, he was starting to remember the layout. He liked most of his classes so far, some of his new acquaintances were in them too. Katsuki was in two of his classes besides homeroom, but the blond ignored him for the rest of the day.
“How was school, kiddos?” Inko asked sweetly as they climbed in the car.
“Good!” Eri smiled.
“It was fine.” Kota shrugged.
“Ah, good. I’m glad you two are liking it!” Their mother nodded.
The woman turned towards Izuku and raised her eyebrows, urging him to respond. Izuku shrugged slightly.
“It was fine.”
Even though he had people to talk to and show him around, it didn’t feel like Hamamatsu. There were no meet ups with his friends before school, no designated lunch table. No Itsuka and Yui or Kosei and Sen. Being away from everyone he grew up with felt weird.
Inko’s expression faltered slightly, but she didn’t say anything. His mother nodded softly and turned to look back at the road.
During the ride home, Eri told them all about her first day and her new friends she made. Kota chimed in every now and then. Apparently, the two of them already made lots of new friends, just like Izuku thought they would, and they had quite a few classes with each other. Izuku’s chest loosened as his siblings talked about their first day, it was reassuring to know they were doing good here. In the same beat, his heart twisted. He seemed to be the only one who wasn’t adjusting well.
Everyone seemed to just move on so easily, as if their whole life hadn’t been uprooted less than two months ago. Everything he knew was pulled out right from under him. He missed his home, his friends, his family. It was like everyone forgot about their dad, like he never existed. They didn’t talk about him, let alone the divorce. Pain spiked through his chest and tears stung his eyes as he thought about his old life in Hamamatsu.
As soon as they got home, he went upstairs and shut himself in his room. The house was quiet, aside from the faint voices of his family downstairs. Izuku leaned his back against his door and sucked in a deep breath, willing away his tears. He squeezed his eyes shut, only to be met with bittersweet memories. Moments of his life played before his eyes, the good and the bad ones. He snapped his eyes open when he saw his father smiling at him and the tears fell like a rainstorm.
He slid down to the floor, sobbing quietly, as he gave into his pent up emotions. With every tear, there was another pull in his heart, begging him to go home. The freckled boy sobbed quietly, resting his head on his knees. Every emotion he’d pushed down for the last two weeks came pouring out. He sniffled and leaned his head back against his door, letting out a shaky breath. As he wiped his tears, he realized he had no one — he only had himself. No one was going to come comfort him anymore. No one was going to wipe his tears, stroke his hair, whisper in his ear. Sure, he had new ‘friends’, if he could even call them that, but they weren’t really his friends.
These people don’t know him. They see him as the new boy they met at the mall. None of them know anything about him. Homesickness settled in, Izuku’s heart pulled again, urging him to go back to Hamamatsu, and part of him was really considering it. Just then, as if he had some kind of epiphany, his tears stopped falling — he could go back home.
It’d be simple, he could pack up and catch a train, then go crash at Itsuka’s house or something. Surely she’d let him. Without thinking it through, he reached for his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He clicked on Itsuka’s and held it up to his ear, listening to the line ring. He prayed to Kami that his friend would answer. With every ring, an eternity passed and his heart raced.
It rang once. Twice. Four times. Six. Then—
“Izuku?”
After a quick phone call, his plan was set. On Saturday night, he would sneak out and catch the latest train to Hamamatsu. When he got there, Itsuka would be there to pick him up and take him to her house. After that he really had no idea what he would do, but that didn’t matter. All he wanted was to go home. Izuku thanked his friend and bid his goodbyes before ending the call. He held his phone close to his chest and let out a relaxed sigh.
Just five more days.
The pain in his chest subsided as he thought about reuniting with his friends again. Nothing else mattered in that moment.
The next day, Izuku was unusually quiet. It went mostly unnoticed since most people probably assumed that was just his personality. In class he kept his head down, not bothering to ask questions. During lunch, he just nodded as he listened to Ochaco and Tsu talk about their history teacher. When he got home, he went right up to his room.
The greenette grabbed a book off of his shelf and settled into his little nook as per usual. He opened to the first page and let himself dive right in. This specific manga was one he hadn’t read yet, he got it for his birthday. It was pretty interesting, the main character wasn’t born with a superpower, but when he met his favorite hero, he was gifted an amzing power. By the time he finished the first volume, the sun had started glowing like gold. Izuku looked out the window, admiring the way the light casted over the neighborhood — then, something caught his eye.
He looked over and saw Katsuki standing by his window, waving his arm. Izuku tilted his head and quirked an eyebrow. The blond held something up between his fingers and pointed down to the path between their houses. He narrowed his eyes and shrugged, which earned an exasperated look from the blond as he facepalmed. Katsuki turned around and walked away, leaving Izuku confused, but before he could think anything of it, his phone chimed.
Unknown:
“Idiot. Do you want to smoke?”
Deku:
“How’d you get my number??”
Unknown:
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Yes or no?”
Deku:
“Stalker”
“Sure”
The greenette set his phone down and looked out the window again. He saw Katsuki standing there, phone in hand. If Izuku didn’t know any better, he’d say the boy was smiling. He chuckled to himself and stood up, stretching his back before heading downstairs.
Inko was at work and Eri and Kota were listening to music upstairs, so Izuku walked out the front door. When he got to the path, Katsuki was already there, leaning against his fence. The blond ran a hand through his hair and stood up straight, Izuku offered him a smile before they headed down the trail. Katsuki didn’t say anything as he lit up and handed the half burnt joint to Izuku. He took a quick hit and passed it back.
“What was up with you today?” The blond asked, tone even.
Izuku was slightly taken aback by the question. Usually Katsuki didn’t start conversations.
“What do you mean?” The greenette asked.
“You were really quiet, normally you’re like — muttering or some shit.”
Izuku blinked twice, comprehending what he was being asked. Was Katsuki paying attention?
“Uh, I guess.” He shrugged.
“So what’s up?”
He shrugged again and took another drag.
Katsuki ‘tsk’ed at his lack of response and rolled his eyes.
“Whatever, Nerd.”
The two of them walked down the path and eventually wandered into the woods, looking for a spot to sit. Eventually, they just sat on the ground at the base of a large oak tree. Neither of them spoke, resting in the comfortable silence, until Izuku pulled out his phone and earbuds. He passed one of the earbuds to Katsuki, who took it happily and put it in his ear. The freckled boy shuffled his playlist and “The Boy by The Smashing Pumpkins” played through the earbuds.
Izuku took another long hit, inhaling deeply and shut his eyes, leaning his head back. When he passed the joint back, Katsuki’s finger gently brushed against his — the blond’s skin was surprisingly soft. He opened his eyes and looked toward his estranged friend, who actually returned the look for once. Something in his heart told him he should say goodbye this time.
“I’m, uhm,” He paused, swallowing dry. “I’m going back to Hamamatsu.”
Katsuki blinked onec, then twice, then just looked at him blankly.
“Already? You guys just moved in.” The blond asked, raising an eyebrow.
Izuku shook his head. “No, just me.”
The flame in Katsuki’s crimson eyes flickered and his expression faltered so slightly, Izuku was sure he almost missed it.
“Oh.” Katsuki nodded slowly. “When?”
“Saturday night.”
“Why?”
Izuku paused again, partially wondering why Katsuki was so curious. The blond never seemed so interested in him before, he barely even acknowledged him in public. He swallowed the lump in his throat and spoke.
“I don’t belong here.” He said simply, holding back a frown.
Izuku took another hit to distract himself.
Katsuki nearly frowned as his eyes examined Izuku’s face. There was something hiding in those ruby irises that Izuku couldn’t quite find.
“Oh.” The blond replied, pressing his lips into a thin line, as if he wanted to say something more, but didn’t.
They sat in silence again, avoiding eye contact. Izuku kept trying to piece Katsuki together like a puzzle, but it was fruitless. He couldn’t figure the ruby eyed boy out, no matter how hard he tried. Katsuki was a mystery.
Suddenly, Katsuki passed back his earbud and stood up, Izuku could’ve sworn he heard a sniffle. The blond brushed off his pants and looked down at the freckled boy.
“I’m gonna go,” Katsuki said flatly. “You can keep the joint.”
Izuku opened his mouth to reply, but the boy had already walked off, leaving him alone again. The freckled boy knitted his eyebrows together in confusion, questioning what the hell just happened. He came back to the same conclusion — Katsuki was a mystery. He thought about skuffing out the cigarette and going home, but he ended up smoking the rest of it, against his better judgement. By the time he was finished, his eyes were heavy and no doubt bloodshot.
He let out a sigh and stood up, stumbling slightly before gaining his balance. The greenette made his way out of the woods and down the trail until he made it home. Izuku opened the front door and b lined to the stairs, but the sound of his mothers voice made him stop in his tracks.
“Izuku.” She said firmly.
The boy looked over and saw his mother standing in the foyer, arms crossed. Her face was contorted into a disapproving frown.
“Oh, hey mom.” He said, offering a plastic smile.
“Don’t ‘hey mom’ me.” She quipped, turning her nose up. “Where have you been?”
“I was just on a walk.” Izuku replied, lying through his teeth.
“Did you get sprayed by a skunk on your way home?” His mother snapped back, clearly frustrated.
Izuku felt his heart drop and he squeezed his eyes shut, biting his cheek.
“Are you kidding me, Izuku?” Inko sighed.
He looked down at his shoes, not daring to speak.
“I was being serious when I said this is supposed to be a fresh start.” His mother continued. “I expect better from you.”
There it was. The five words echoed in his head, like a song on full blast. They repeated over and over, drowning out the silence in the room.
“Now you can’t even bother to respond to me. Great.”
Tears pushed against the edges of his eyes while anger bubbled in his chest. He sniffled as the two emotions clashed together, both begging to be let out. His mothers words echoed in his head again, infuriating him further. Izuku’s emotions fought for dominance, but they seemed to both win. His tears fell as he spoke up.
“Maybe if you’d quit ‘exprecting better’ from me you wouldn’t be let down all the time.” He scoffed. “And I’m fucking sorry for being upset after my whole life was ripped away from me!”
His mother reeled her head back ever so slightly as he bordered on yelling.
“You brought me here without considering how I’d feel and assumed I wanted a ‘fresh start’. I didn’t choose this, I don’t belong here, mom!” Izuku nearly shouted, choking back a sob.
All his words spilled out as he blinked away tears, hands shaking. His mother stood there and took it all.
“I hate it here, I hate it so much. I hate Yaizu, I hate this house, my school, everything.” He continued. “Why’d you take me away from home?” Izuku sobbed, anger turning into sadness. “Why’d you take me from him?” He choked.
When he was done talking, he blinked and looked at his mother, who was looking at him apologetically, lips pressed into a thin line. Without a word, she pulled him into a warm embrace and stroked his hair.
“Oh, ‘zuku.” She whispered.
The two of them sat on the bottom step and his mother comforted him like a little kid. She ran her hand through his curls and shushed him sweetly. Her embrace was as warm and affectionate as it always was. Izuku’s tears died as he calmed down, coming down from his high. Evnentually, Inko walked him up to his room and tucked him in, letting him rest. Izuku shut his eyes and let sleep pull him under.
The next two days went by without incident. He and his mother hadn’t talked much, quite franky, it felt awkward. And school was the same, he kept to himself. Katsuki was acting the same towards him, practically ignoring his entire existence. That was until he texted him again that evening.
Katsuki:
“How are you getting to Hamamatsu?”
Deku:
“The train”
“Why?”
Katsuki:
“Do you have a ride to the station?”
Izuku raised his eyebrow and stared at the screen.
Deku:
“I’ll walk”
Katsuki:
“Let me take you.”
If he wasn’t confused before, he definitely was now.
Deku:
“I’m taking the last train, I’ll walk”
Katsuki:
“I’ll take you.”
“11:30 work?”
Deku:
“???”
“I guess?”
Katsuki:
“Okay.”
Izuku set his phone down and ran both of his hands down his face. What the hell?
On Saturday night, after everyone went to sleep, Izuku packed his bags. He shoved all the clothes he could fit into his duffle bag and dumped all of his school supplies onto the floor. Once his backpack was empty, he packed some necessities and all the money he could find. It was nearly eleven-thirty by the time he was done, and he was still trying to wrap his brain around Katsuki’s offer. Nonetheless, he gathered his things, getting ready to go.
He placed the white letter he wrote for his mother on his bed, folded nicely with her name written on it. When his phone chimed, he knew it was time. Izuku opened his bathroom window and climbed on top of the toilet. He tossed his duffle bag out, praying it wouldn’t wake anyone up, and it landed quietly in one of their bushes. He silently thanked every entity as he boosted himself up.
The greenette swung his leg out onto the trellis, steadying himself on one of the pegs. He carefully climbed down the wooden structure, making his way down to the ground. When he was only a few feet off the ground, he let go and jumped backwards, planting his feet on the ground. He let out a shaky breath and grabbed his duffle bag out of the shrub before making his way to the front of the house.
Waiting for him on the street was Katsuki, sitting in his red Audi with all the lights off. Izuku hurried over to the car, backpack bouncing slightly with each rushed step. He opened the car door and plopped down in the passenger seat, the faint, earthy scent of weed and cologne invading his senses. Katsuki glanced over at him with an unreadable look, but didn’t say anything.
“Thanks. For taking me, I mean.” Izuku said softly.
The blond nodded. “Don’t mention it.”
They exchanged soft, barely there smiles before Katsuki put the car in drive.
The drive to the station was quiet. Izuku fidgeted with his fingers in his lap as he listened to the soft hum of the radio, which was playing a late 90’s station. Katsuki seemed slightly on edge, but Izuku chalked it up to nothing.
“When are you coming back?” Katsuki finally spoke, breaking the silence.
“I don’t know.” Izuku shrugged.
The blond let out a low hum and nodded, not pressing more. As they drove through Yaizu, Izuku realized he hadn’t seen much of the town since he was little. Some of the buildings were a bit rundown, others were brand new. From where they were, he could see the ocean stretching on forever out into the moonlit night. Anyone else would think this was a beautiful sight, which it was, but all Izuku could think about was going home.
When they got to the station, he had about ten minutes to spare. Katsuki pulled up to the front and put the car in park, looking over at Izuku. The two of them held eye contact, red and green irises boring into each other.
“I should go.” Izuku said softly.
Katsuki cleared his throat and nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
They stared just a moment longer before Izuku opened the door. He stepped out and leaned down to grab his bags. First, he slung his backpack over his shoulders, then grabbed his duffle bag.
“Bye, Kacchan.” The freckled boy said softly.
“Bye, Deku.” The ruby eyed boy replied, offering a soft smile.
Izuku returned the look for a moment before shutting the door and walking away. His heart twisted as he stepped closer and closer to home. He spared a single look back and saw the red car sitting there for a second before Katsuki slowly drove off. Izuku let out a breath and went inside.
He purchased his ticket just a few minutes before the train arrived. When it pulled into the station, the doors opened and people shuffled on and off. Izuku found a seat in the back of one of the cars and plopped down, letting out a relaxed sigh. He took out his phone and texted Itsuka, letting her know he was on the train now. In just over an hour, he’d be back home with his best friends.
As the train pulled out of the station, his body jerked lightly from the movement. The greenette settled down in his seat and tilted his head back against the car wall, shutting his eyes. He was almost there.