Chapter Text
Kirishima thought finding time to talk to Bakugou after the fight in Kamino would be easy. Turns out- he seemed to be avoiding everyone. And it wasn’t like he knew where he lived either so he couldn’t just show up there and demand to know what’s up.
This isn't something you did over text either but- it wasn't something he was going to wimp out on. So when he found out everyone was going to be staying at the dorms from now on- Kirishima jumped for joy. That was his in.
But then there he was- face to face with Katsuki- Denki wandering around in the background like an idiot with two brain cells and all he could do was stare.
He couldn’t even thank him for the money he shoved into his chest before he was already walking away.
It didn't matter though because there was so much to do- and they needed to unpack their rooms- and get things organized and ready to go- and Kirishima had to work at breakneck pace to beat the rest of the class so he could manage to get some alone time with Bakugou before everyone else was hanging around him.
Two hours- that's all it took to set up his room and man was he exhausted but he slipped out his door and knocked on the one next to him waiting for a volatile response.
Instead the door swung inward into a dark space filled only with a bed- a single light- desk and a beanbag in the corner.
Katsuki looked at him- frowned but turned back towards his bed- leaving the door open in what Kirishima assumed was as close to what he was going to get as an invitation into the room.
Katsuki flicked the light on.
“Finally finished setting up your damn room ?” he asked- spite that usually lingered in his words not quite there.
Something had been off with him since the All Might fight- and Kirishima knew it was something he wouldn't want to discuss with anyone- there was a time and a place and maybe just maybe he could get him to tell him what it was but it wasn't something he could allow himself to get distracted by right now.
He had a mission.
He took a deep breath and steeled himself for what he was about to say.
“I like you.” he said- breath faltering only after the words slipped from his mouth but he stood- tall and strong as he could- all his convictions poured into that one short sentence because it was something that needed to be said.
There was really no going back now.
Katsuki’s face hasn't changed.
He sat there silently- staring at his own hands crossed in his lap from his place on the bed and Kirishima wanted more than anything for the silence to go away.
Maybe he was wrong.
Maybe all of this was wrong and he shouldn’t have said anything at all.
Katsuki remained silent.
Kirishima couldn't help but think that he had fucked everything up- but he wouldn't know- wouldn't know what Katsuki was thinking because he was sitting there silent.
“Say something-” he urged “ anything- hell say Kirishima you’re disgusting and I hate you- anything is better than just- silence.”
But he said nothing- couldn't even bring himself to make eye contact with the other boy and eventually Kirishima felt he had gotten the message loud and clear.
“Got it.” he said whipping around and turning the handle to walk back over to his own room.
When people ask what’s the worst that could happen, usually you imagine someone blowing up- telling you they want nothing to do with you anymore. That you suck and they hate you.
They forget to mention how they can pretend you didn't even say anything- pretend you’re not even there. You don't even register as a person to them.
You don't deserve a response.
That- that's the worst case scenario for Kirishima.
He makes his way back down the stairs after taking a few moments to beat the crap out of his punching bag from home- he thought it would help but everything seemed to keep his hands busy but his mind- that was free to roam around.
He needed a distraction and he hoped his classmates could provide him with that.
Turns out everyone was great and he didn't even think about bakugou once- except when people asked where he was and he told them he was sleeping- not untrue- he could be sleeping but frankly he didn't want Mina to break into Katsuki’s room and find out all about the embarrassing things that happened there earlier.
He didn't think about Katsuki at all- not once- not when he snickered at Todoroki’s room and turned to talk to his friend about how Japanese the whole thing was- who had that much time on their hands to redo the floor.
Not when they looked at Sero’s room and he felt suddenly super lame in comparison.
And definitely not when they got to Midoriya’s room and everything was floor to ceiling All Might and nobody could help but laugh.
And he didn't think about him at all while he laid in his bed staring at the ceiling of the dorm room- wishing for a moment that they were all back home and there was more than one wall separating him from the person who had rejected him so coldly.
Wishing that he could say something- say anything to make it go back to the way it was before. But he knew when he said those words there would be no going back.
No Kirishima didn't think about Katsuki at all he told himself- he wasn't going to anymore because that's what's best for everyone.
Sometime in the night he drifted off to sleep- wondering what Katsuki- what Bakugou was doing.
But that hardly mattered.
After all- Kirishima wasn’t even sure they were friends after this.
Fuck- he really messed this one up.