Chapter Text
There is something wrong with Kacchan, Izuku thinks.
It's very strange, the way his eyes are wide open and haunted with emotions Izuku never saw in Kacchan's eyes. The strangest of all is the way he looks at Izuku this morning. Like he is seeing a ghost. Like Izuku is about to disappear.
He doesn't sneer at Izuku, doesn't insult him, doesn't try to shove him away instead he turns and sits in his chair awfully tense through the whole day.
And when the teacher comments on Kacchan and Izuku trying for UA, the blond doesn't get angry and snaps like he usually would if anything, his shoulders only get stiffer.
The final bell of the day rings and Kacchan stand, chair dragging on the floor, looking ready to flee- and what an odd thing to see on him, he who always faced his troubles head first. It leaves Izuku with an unpleasant taste in his mouth.
But instead of fleeing, Kacchan turns to Izuku and approaches him.
"It's not easy, and it will never be. Being a hero." Kacchan says, his voice tight.
"Still, I am not giving up," Izuku replies back, digging his fingernails into his palms so he doesn't tremble.
And Kacchan looks at him, actually looks him in the eyes with no anger or hatred, red on green searching and Izuku feels like crying. Still, he stands his ground and doesn't look away, until Kacchan finds what is he looking for.
"Then you better do your goddamn best."
Then Kacchan swallows down, grasps the notebook out of Izuku's fingers, and in one motion throws it out the window, turns around and leaves.
Izuku almost reaches for him but Kacchan's shoulders are stiff and his two companions running after him so Izuku let his hand fall back to his side.
He takes the stairs to the fish pound behind the school and morns his ruined notebook.
.
All might lift his shirt and Izuku felt bile in the back of his throat and a pit in his stomach but he asks his question nevertheless.
"You can't be a hero," All Might says and Izuku feels the world crumbles around him and thinks, what may he be living for now.
.
The slug villain is right there, warped around Kacchan who is resisting him with all his power, and Izuku's heart twists in his chest. It was his fault that All Might got distracted and the villain got away. And now Kacchan is the victim when it should have been Izuku.
Kacchan screams and twists in the grip of the villain and Izuku meets his eyes, across the distance.
Kacchan looks like he is asking for help but no one is reaching out.
So Izuku runs forward.
.
Izuku doesn't really expect praise for what he did but still, all he got was a scolding from the Pro Heroes for his foolishness. He got in the way of All Might after all. So, he leaves the scene head down, wanting to go home.
But this day still has surprises for Izuku because Kacchan calls for him in a street far from the incident and Izuku doesn't know what to expect. Kacchan steps forward, mouth a straight line and shoulders hunched, and raises a hand. Izuku flinches and closes his eyes preparing for a blow that never comes. Instead, a rough hand caresses his hair, startlingly warm and gentle. He steps closer then presses his forehead to Izuku's, closes his eyes and gives a full-body shudder.
Kacchan takes a breath and forces his body to relax bit by bit. He opens his eyes and Izuku is startled by red so gentle that it almost looks alien in the blonde's eyes. Izuku can't remember a time those eyes looked at him like that. And they make him feel like crying but for another reason.
"Thank you, Izuku." It's said so softly that Izuku almost missed it at the moment and he trembles with too many emotions in his bones -Kacchan is not mad at Izuku -Kacchan thanked him -Kacchan called him by name.
"Go." Says Kacchan stepping backward not waiting for an answer, voice stronger and the fire in his eyes burning up in a challenge. "Go and be a hero." He turns around without another word and heads in the opposite direction.
Izuku doesn't linger for long and he turns feeling lighter than he has ever been in so long and like he has the world in the palms of his hands.
He walks forward and doesn't turn back.
All Might stops him and this time Izuku actually cries.
And as the sun falls down, his hope rises.
.