Work Text:
For a year Hitoshi worked for this. The halls of U.A. were filled with fellow students rushing to get to class, no one wanted to be late the first day. As the sounds quieted around him he stood frozen along the wall facing his classroom door. The large 2A on the door seemed to mock him. Behind him he knew the cherry blossoms could be seen drifting in the wind through the window. The peaceful atmosphere at odds with the chaos of his thoughts.
If he closed his eyes he could imagine the look on his face, those green eyes shining with joy at the thought of him joining the class.
This is not how Hitoshi imagined it, getting into the hero course after working all year for it.
Not like this. He thought as he slid to the floor, tears threatening to spill. He was supposed to be here, he wasn't supposed to take his place. His breathing became erratic as he lowered his head onto his upraised knees, trying to calm himself.
He heard the bell ring overhead, signaling the start of class, but he remained on the floor. He heard footsteps coming down the hall towards him, but still he stayed. He watched as the shoes moved past him, turning towards the door, but then they paused. Then they were in front of him.
Hitoshi heard someone click their tongue and the shoes disappeared, and he flinched as someone slid to the floor next to him. “In through your nose for four seconds, hold it for seven, out your mouth for eight.” He was too shocked by the person giving him the instructions that he didn’t fight it.
“You worked for this,” the person next to him began as he continued to breathe. “Everyone in there knows that, they don't think you're replacing him.”
Hitoshi looked up and into a pair of fiery red eyes, eyes filled with determination that was at odds with the sadness on his face, in his voice as well.
Bakugou stood up and offered his hand to help Hitoshi up. “Time to show everyone how you earned your place in this class, so when that damn nerd gets back we can both kick his ass.”