Work Text:
It had started out simple. He saw Deku every day after school. He was the same annoying nerd that he always was. Always chasing after him and insisting they hang out and talk. everything seemed normal. He didn't seem to notice the difference. He didn't notice How different Deku looked, how he seemed to be more hollow. How he seemed to act different when certain topics were brought up. Everything was normal, or at least he thought it was. He was a student at U.A now, He was thriving in class, one of the top students. Though there was one question that struck his mind as he walked home from school, Deku at his side like always at this time of day. "Hey, Nerd?" he questioned, glancing at the boy beside him. "Hm?" Deku stopped whatever he was currently rambling about to look up at Katsuki. Bakugou thought over his words before speaking up. "What about your dream of U.A? Finally decide to give up on that dream?" he chuckled. He meant it as a joke really, but it was odd. Deku wasn't one to give up on something like this, no matter what. He did catch the way Deku tensed up though. Deku's gaze shifted away from him, and he shrugged a bit, shaking his head. "I-It's uh.... it's complicated. Something came up" he offered a nervous smile, rubbing the back of his neck. Bakugou opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself. Deku was always nervous. This was normal, right? They talked for a few hours before Bakugou finally made it home and he unlocked his door, turning to wave Deku off, but he was gone. He wasn't going crazy right? Deku probably just ran off once Bakugou went to open the door. This wasn't weird at all.
_
He never thought he'd say this, but Bakugou was actually beginning to enjoy their conversations. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone, let alone Deku. But it was almost like it was before everything went wrong. Before Deku was diagnosed quirkless and Bakugou let his ego get the best of him. Before he started Bullying Deku. Deku was walking next to him after school, as always and excitedly rambling about U.A, asking him anything and everything he could think of. "How are you doing in class? I bet being at U.A is so cool! I heard pro heroes are teaching the classes! What type of heroes are they? Underground, Spotlight? a mix of both?" he rambled excited. Bakugou hid a small chuckle as he shook his head, shoving his hands into his pockets as he continued to walk as he answered. "What do you mean how am I doing nerd I'm one of the top of the class, as I should be. It's a mix of both underground and spotlight. our homeroom teach is an underground hero." he then stopped and smirked. "Our combat training is taught by All MIght" He turned to Deku to gauge his reaction but was surprised by what he saw. He was expecting Deku to blow up with excitement, maybe start rambling about how cool that was or something. But instead, Deku had tensed up again, his gaze shifting away from Katsuki, and the most surprising, he was silent. He blinked and narrowed his eyes at Deku. "what's with the weird silence Deku? All MIght is one our favorite heroes. I'm surprised you're not talking my ear off right now. Deku glanced up at Katsuki, putting on a smile. "It's nothing! just lost in thought. that's so cool kachan!" Deku said more excitedly this time. Katsuki didn't catch the fact that his smile was nervous and forced one. "Tch. You bet it is, bet you're jealous" he smirked. Though a few hours later he was gone again, almost as if he had disappeared. He hadn't disappeared right? That would be crazy. that was a stupid thought, right?
_
As time passed, they started to get closer. It was like they were friends again. Like they were back to the times where they were best friends, before Bakugou started bullying Deku and they stopped being friends. It was like they were friends again. "Remember when we both wanted to be the heroes so we forced our mothers to be the villains and we teamed up against them?" Deku chuckled softly at the memory. They were sitting on the floor in Katsuki's bedroom, his parents not home as they were working late. Bakugou never thought they'd be here like this, acting like friends again and laughing about the memories of their past like nothing ever happened between them. Like Bakugou had never bullied him, Which Katsuki regretted, though he hadn't told Deku that. Bakugou chuckled softly. "Yeah, I remember us doing that. Our moms so let us win though, but it was funny watching them pretend." he laughed softly. Deku chuckled softly. "Yea... It was great until middle school." Deku whispered softly, though Katsuki caught the sad smile on his face. Deku seemed to pause before glancing up at Katsuki. "Kachan, I took that jump." Bakugou had been in the middle of still laughing at the memory, and he didn't immediately catch what Deku had said. "Yea it-" he cut himself off though as it finally registered and he snapped his head up, his eyes wide. "You what?" but as he looked up, he was shocked at what he saw. Deku was gone. He looked around his room, where Deku had just been. "Izuku?!" he called out, only to receive no response in return.
_
This couldn't be happening. He was actually going insane. But the more he thought about it, the more the realization hit him. The memories where crashing back into him. How could he forget? He remembered Deku's mom showing up to their house in hysterics, saying that Deku had died. That he had jumped off the roof of the school building shortly after school. He Remembered the damn funeral! how could he forget something like this? It was like his mind had seen Deku and made him believe Deku wasn't dead. That he was actually alive. he was actually crazy! no, no, no, this couldn't be happening. He hated it. It all made sense now. The way Deku seemed to find him at the same time every day, the way Deku seemed to just be gone after a few hours every day. He had to be going crazy to actually believe that he was alive. He felt the hot tears run down his face, but he didn't care. He didn't pay any attention to it. He needed to get out of here, needed to clear his mind. He couldn't just sit here after what just happened. Deku had been right there! laughing and talking with him like nothing was wrong! How could he not realize he was talking to a ghost? He slipped his shoes on, running out the door. He needed some fresh air. He needed to think. He went out on a run until his legs burned, not returning home until later that night. At his parent's questions he just mumbled that he had been out for a run, before finally crashing in his bed.
_
The next day was the last time he had ever seen Deku. Instead of going straight home he had went to the park, his mind still on what had happened yesterday. It took longer for Deku to appear, and Katsuki began to worry Deku was never returning. But as he sat under a tree, trying to clear his mind, Deku had appeared next to him. Katsuki couldn't help the slight relief he had felt. Was it weird to be relieved at the fact that the ghost that had been haunting you all this time was still there? He didn't know. Deku offered a sad smile as he sat next to Katsuki. "Hey, Kachan....I'm sorry for yesterday." Deku said softly. "I just couldn't stand hiding it anymore." Katsuki shook his head. "don't apologize you stupid nerd...." He bit his lip before continuing. "I should be the one apologizing." Deku went to object, but Katsuki cut him off. "I bullied you...told you to kill yourself....and you actually did it." the tears began to return, and he hated it. He hated crying in front of people. "I'm sorry for everything I ever did. I never meant what I said. I never meant to tell you to....to jump." he swallowed thickly. "I was a stupid kid that was too worried about my ego and I'm sorry" He finally got out. There was a long pause of silence and for a moment Katsuki had thought Deku disappeared again. He wouldn't blame him if he did. "Thank you, Kachan." Deku's voice came softly after a bit, Katsuki looking up to see a genuine smile on his face. "But I never blamed you. It wasn't solely your fault." he continued softly. Deku felt himself finally be able to relax and he knew this time was different. He was quiet for a bit longer before looking at Katsuki. "Kachan....This will be the last time you see me" he said softly. Katsuki swallowed thickly and he glanced up at Deku with wide eyes. "W-What...? so that's it? You can't just disappear on me again nerd I-" he stopped himself and swallowed thickly. As much as he didn't want to let go he knew he needed to. Deku had been haunting him the same time of day for a year now. He deserved his peace. Deku gave a sad smile. "Goodbye, Kachan" he said softly. and just like that, Deku was gone.