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The stupid nerd had been missing way too long.
Of course, it was expected that Deku would be in the hospital longer than anyone else. Bakugou had seen him with his own eyes. The fucker had looked dead.
Nonetheless, he should be awake by now. Even if not, they should have received some kind of update on the nerd's condition.
Bakugou was getting tired of his class worrying over Deku. They were causing too much ruckus even though they knew Deku was stronger than this. Bakugou knew the fucker had to be awake by now. He had even asked Jeans about Deku, but the asshole refused to say anything. If Deku wasn't back yet it was because he had chosen not to return.
Katsuki's suspicions were proven right when the class received letters from Deku. They all basically said the same thing; Deku used to be quirkless, he got his power from All Might, he has to defeat All for one, and he isn't returning to UA.
Bakugou didn't even bother reading the letter. He took one glance at it and tore it up.
"He's definitely with Endeavor's group. That damn nerd!"
As the others discussed the notes and the fact that All Might hadn't returned either, Bakugou spoke up. "The nerd says he's too scared to return to UA. Who else could have delivered the letters, then? All Might. Those two are working together."
"Well, we just need to find a way to contact them. Right?" Kirishima asked, looking as concerned as the rest of the class.
"Endeavor is a UA alumni. We just need to be a little pushy," Uraraka spoke, determined to find Deku.
Everyone agreed and got to work. Bakugou decided the extras seemed to know what they were doing, so with nothing to do, he headed back to his room.
However, it turned out he didn't have anything to do in general. He had already trained for the day and there wasn't any schoolwork for him to do. He tried distracting himself on his phone, but all be saw was more news about the disaster Japan had become.
Sighing, Katsuki set down his phone and simply laid in bed. As he stared at the wall, he couldn't help but let his mind drift off to Deku.
And he felt useless.
He wondered what the nerd was doing. Saving people, obviously. But was he taking care of himself? For how much the nerd talked about self-preservation, he seemed to not have any for himself.
Deku had been like that their whole life...right?
Yes. He had. It's what made him so annoying to Katsuki. The nerd was selfless, smart, and strong. The perfect fucking hero.
Bakugou knew he smart and strong as well. His problem, however, was the lack of spirit that Deku had. Even his reason to be a hero was selfish. To be the number one hero. What a fucking joke. Even the nerd had better reasons.
Don't get him wrong, Katsuki was still aiming for the top. He would become the number one hero by beating everyone else. Deku included. The nerd had to live so that Bakugou could prove he was the strongest. Katsuki would refuse to call himself number one if he gained the title only after the nerd died.
But Deku would live, right? He was smart and strong. However, like Katsuki had previously said, he was selfless. Selfless and destructive. Deku would gladly sacrifice food and sleep just so he could save others.
That would be his downfall. Deku cared too much for others. Why waste time sleeping when he could be saving people instead? Well, that would cost him when he grew too weak to defend even himself.
Sometimes Bakugou wondered if he was to blame for how self-destructive Deku had turned out. The nerd would always continue chasing after Katsuki no matter how many times he got hurt.
It's like the nerd had seemed to know Bakugou would give in. He always chased after Katsuki as if he knew it would eventually work out.
And he had been right. In the end, despite all the shit Katsuki did, Deku still considered him a friend and they had gotten better at working together.
Izuku had known from the start it would be them. It just took a while until Katsuki knew that too.
When the time came to drag Deku back home, would he listen?
Probably not.
What could Katsuki even do if the nerd refused? The nerd had easily become the strongest in his class no matter how sick it made Katsuki to admit it. Could Bakugou try to talk to him? Did he even have the right to do that?
Would the nerd even bother listening? Many times Deku had tried to talk some sense into Katsuki, and rarely did Bakugou ever listen. As the years passed Deku seemed to grow smarter and now rarely did he try to talk Bakugou into things unless it was absolutely necessary.
Most of the time Deku just let him do whatever, the exception being when Katsuki was injured or in danger. In those rare cases, despite acting annoyed, he couldn't help the small relief he felt that the nerd still cared.
Perhaps Deku didn't care anymore.
No, he does care, Katsuki reminded himself. I'm just not a priority.
Now Deku had bigger things to worry about. All for one being his biggest concern. Even when the nerd wasn't worrying about that, he was worrying about his friends. People who actually showed they cared. Friends who never hurt him on purpose.
Kacchan was no longer as important.
Katsuki wouldn't say it didn't upset him. It did. It was weird. Despite this, he understood. He doesn't blame Deku that they're no longer as close.
If Deku wanted to bury Katsuki in the back his memory, he wouldn't blame him.
In reality, Katsuki can't blame him for anything. It was all Bakugou's fault. He wasn't the friend he had ought to be. He should be grateful that Deku hadn't told anyone about their younger years.
In contrast, when people asked Deku what he saw in Katsuki and why he even bothered, the nerd always told them what he saw in Katsuki. He told people how caring Katsuki was. He told them everything he saw in Katsuki. Everything except the truth of what he had actually been like.
Sometimes Bakugou can't even explain why he hated Deku so much. Perhaps because he's always known how far the nerd would go.
There had been times in which Bakugou had considered just leaving the nerd alone. However, somehow, the weird rage he felt is what kept him going. Being angry and explosive just came naturally. Everyone thought it made Bakugou cool, so he continued acting that way. Eventually Deku figured out that it was the only way Katsuki had learned to express himself.
Being loud and angry wasn't always what Katsuki wanted to be. Sometimes he wanted to be more relaxed and able to hide when something upset him. Like icyhot did.
But anger was just what he knew best so it's what he resorted to. This had messed up many things for him, his friendship with Deku being the main one.
Lucky for him, Deku could see past all his anger and excused his actions even when they had no excuse.
Groaning, Bakugou got up and decided he might as well train again. He had spent too much time thinking when he could have been letting stronger. If he couldn't talk Deku into returning to UA, he would drag the nerd back by force.
He couldn’t let the fucker he loved had to beat die. Not yet.
. . .
"Bastard!" Bakugou yelled, blasting Dictator over the head. After doing so, the civilians began cheering, now free from Dictator's control.
"I found him," Katsuki called out, staring at Deku. He didn't even look like Deku. His costume looked...wrong. Like a villain.
"Criminal secured. Good job, Bakugou-san," Momo gave him a thumbs up.
"IT'S GREAT EXPLOSION MURDER GOD DYNAMITE! GET IT RIGHT!"
"MY BAD!" Momo instantly apologized.
"Tch," Bakugou rolled his eyes, glancing to Deku who was speaking to round cheeks.
"Why...why did everyone come? I'm fine...don't worry about me," Deku reassured them, his voice faint and shaky. He didn't sound as fine as he claimed to be. "Just leave me alone!"
Bakugou walked towards Deku, clapping his hands as he grinned, "Well, that's great to hear. As expected of his majesty, the successor of One-for-All who can do it all!" He laughed, pointing his thumb towards himself, "But after all this, can you still keep smiling? I know I am."
Katsuki couldn't see the nerd's face, but he could feel the determination radiating from Deku. Determination to escape.
"To allow myself to smile...for people to live in peace like they once did...I must keep moving," Deku spoke, taking small pauses to breathe in between words, "but for that...I need you all to move and get out of my way!"
"JUST TRY AND GET RID OF US!" Katsuki yelled, grinning, "you fucking All Might wannabe. Even now you want to be like him so bad."
Iida sighed, realizing this wouldn't be easy. "He won't change his mind. Let's go get him, guys!"
Deku gritted his teeth (despite the fact that no one could see), "You're all very kind for coming, but I'm fine."
Deku used smokescreen, hoping to escape while his classmates were basically blind. Katsuki had expected this, however, and quickly used an explosion to get rid of the smoke.
"Stupid Deku, you didn't even tell us when you left!" Bakugou growled, glaring at Deku as the smoke cleared. "I guess now that you can do everything by yourself, everyone else is just an extra, huh?"
Deku didn't respond, resuming his attempt of fleeing the scene. This was when all hell broke loose. Everyone in class 1-A, close friends with Deku or not, made an attempt at convincing Midoriya to return to UA.
"Nezu said you can return now! It's safe!"
"During the cultural festival you taught me how to organize notes. It may not have seemed important, but it made me really happy!"
"During the sports festival you fought Shinso for me! I'll never forget that!"
"Midoriya, you might be powerful now, but our feelings are still the same!"
"Our mission is to secure your safety."
"I know OFA is important, but your safety is more important right now! Close friend or not I will force you to get some rest!"
"You're the one who said that by our side even All Might himself wasn't scary!"
"It's dark here. Perfect for dark shadow. Weren't you the one who helped us?"
"Are we just more people you have to protect?!"
"Oh lord, please let's go take a bath!"
"What's with that look, Midoriya? Your burden doesn't let you cry, right? Let us all share your burden together."
"We won't let you be alone!"
"Let us fight with you!"
"Please stop," Izuku cried, overwhelmed by his friend's words and attacks. Why wouldn't they leave him alone? "This is a fight between One for All and All for one. You guys have no business here. You cannot keep up."
Stupid stubborn ass nerd, Bakugou scowled, watching Deku run away from the people attempting to help him. If his closest friends couldn't get through him, Bakugou stood little to no chance.
Yet he had so many things he wanted to say. Too many things he had to say. Deku was going too fast, however. The only person capable of reaching and withstand the same speed was four eyes. So instead of insisting he could do it himself, Bakugou blasted Iida to help him reach Deku.
Bakugou watched as Iida was able to grab Midoriya. They fell back to the ground but were caught by Kirishima who happened to show up at the perfect time.
"Midoriya, please just come back to UA. Let's go back to just being students," Mina insisted. Deku simply shook his head, though rather weakly.
"I-...I want to. But I can't. There are too many people in UA that I would put in risk...I can't. Can't go back to my old life now," Deku spoke, sounding exhausted. He seemed in pain, whether emotionally or physically they had no clue.
"Deku," Katsuki called out, despite being unsure if he would make any more difference than the rest of the class had. "Remember what I said after getting stabbed by Shigaraki?"
Deku shook his head, "N-No...I don't."
"Don't even think about winning this alone," Bakugou repeated from memory, that moment having replayed through his mind many times. "After that it was like my body moved on its own, and even though I had been stabbed, I knew I had to tell you that. Our whole life I looked down on you because you didn't have a quirk. Despite being so far behind, it still felt like you were ahead. Like you knew what you were doing while I was clueless. I hated that. I hated having to admit it. It's why I made it my mission to push you down and make sure you stayed at the bottom. I tried so hard to break your spirit, but you always came back stronger. Once we both entered UA this feeling got worse. I tried to figure out your weaknesses and strengths. I tried so hard to figure you out like you figured me out. It might not mean anything..."
Katsuki finally looked up at Deku, staring into his wide eyes. "I'm sorry, Izuku. For everything. You've been doing a great job as All Might's successor. You did exactly what All Might would have done. However, this isn't a game like when we were kids. You can barely stand on your own. But that's why we're here. I... the class loves you. We're here in case you need help. To surpass All Might you must let us protect Japan together. This is the only way, Izuku."
Midoriya continued to stare at Bakugou with wide eyes that began tearing up. "I'm sorry...for saying this wasn't your place. For saying you guys couldn't keep up. I'm sorry Kacchan and the rest," Izuku trembled, looking like the weight he had been carrying the past few days had finally been lifted off his shoulders.
"I know," Katsuki reassured him, quickly catching Izuku as he collapsed.
. . .
"You look like you've lost at least 15 fucking pounds. Your face doesn't look as squish-..." he paused, "-able," Katsuki corrected himself, turning around to face away from Deku.
"But I ate the lunches that All Might gave me?"
"That man looks like he barely eats himself," Katsuki huffed, "No wonder you've been starving. I made you Katsudon so you're going to fucking eat it, Dek- Izuku."
Midoriya smiled, "You don't have to keep calling me by my name. Deku is fine. And thank you, Kacchan. I really appreciate it."
"You better," Bakugou huffed, but he left it at that. He grabbed his own plate and went to sit beside Deku to make sure he actually ate. The rest of the class had decided to eat at the same time so that Deku wouldn't feel lonely. They mostly left him alone, however.
After having given Deku a bath and making sure he took a nap, class 1A had relaxed. Midoriya looked like himself again. Maybe he wasn't himself, he was quiet and seemingly alert. It was good enough for the class, however. At least he was safe.
"These extras also made dessert for you. A funky looking All Might cake that says, 'welcome home'," Katsuki commented. Izuku nodded and kept eating in silence.
Ever since they had returned to Heights Alliance, Deku seemed to be staying close to Bakugou. They barely talked, yet that seemed to be just what Midoriya needed.
The rest of the class let them be, opting to watch Midoriya from a distance to make sure he was doing alright. Nobody wanted to upset Izuku. Even Bakugou was trying to tone it down. The class could really tell just how much their friendship and improved.
The remainder of the day was calm and quiet. Everyone's priority was making sure Midoriya was comfortable. They still remained cautious, however. Midoriya could easily escape at any second. This is why at nighttime it was suggested someone at least slept in the same room as Midoriya.
Izuku didn't argue, too tired to put up a fight. He did glance at Katsuki, however. Noticing this, Bakugou sighed, "I'll make sure the nerd doesn't run away. Let's go, Deku."
Midoriya nodded and followed behind. Once they were in Izuku's room, he spoke up, "Thank you, Kacchan. For everything."
Bakugou raised an eyebrow, "You're talking like you're going to fucking die. It's nothing, nerd. Someone has to make sure you're taking care of yourself properly," he grumbled, locking Deku's window.
Izuku smiled and nodded, "Sure, Kacchan. Thank you."
They grew silent again, Midoriya staring up at the ceiling as Bakugou scrolled through his phone. After a few minutes Izuku mumbled, "I can't sleep."
"Why not?" Bakugo asked, glancing up from his phone.
"Thinking. About the class. And about you."
Katsuki scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, "What about me?"
Izuku sat up and shrugged, "Not much. Just us. I've been thinking about us."
"What about us?" Bakugou asked, confused at what Deku was trying to get at.
"Our childhood and our teenage years. I've been thinking about what you said and how it makes much more sense than what I had assumed."
"Well, what the hell had you assumed?"
Deku looked away, shaking his head, "Nah uh. I'm not telling you."
"What? Why the hell not?!" Katsuki demanded, now waiting to know what Deku had thought was the reason behind Bakugou's actions all these years.
"Because no. I think I rather tell you when things are back to normal. When this nightmare is over, I will tell you. No matter how long it takes."
Bakugou rolled his eyes and sighed, "Fine. Take your sweet ass time, then. With all of us by your side, however, I'll be hearing the truth in less than a month. Just make sure you don't fucking die before that."
Izuku laughed, his eyes holding the same spark they once did.
"Of course, Kacchan. I promise it will be us in the end."
☆ ☆ ☆
"Damn it. I wanted to do All Might's victory pose," Bakugou murmured, finally letting himself collapse now that All For One had been defeated.
With the last of his strength, Katsuki lifted his fist in the air and smiled, Do your best, Izuku.
And that was exactly what Izuku did.
So many had died in the last few months. Too many people. Deku made sure to remember them all in the final battle between All For One and One For All.
Despite how selfish it sounded though, Kacchan plagued his mind the most. Midoriya had absolutely lost it when he saw Kacchan dead on the ground. Kacchan told Deku not to die and died first instead. How ironic.
Even now that Kacchan was once again alive, Deku couldn't help but worry. He was alive but for how long?
"I could ask the same about you, ninth. Focus. Now that Shigaraki has Danger Sense, you can't let your mind wander," Kudo scolded. "Now that you know the plan, we must at least try, right?"
Izuku nodded, once again concentrating on the fight. He really didn't want to give up One For All. However, he had to trust the second user.
He just had to hope that it would all go well.
Using the quirks he still had, Deku attempted to create the perfect opportunity to launch Kudo at Shigaraki. Since Shigaraki was able to see the previous holders of OFA, Deku hoped that Danger Sense would identify Kudo's ghost as Midoriya since they now shared the same DNA.
It seemed to have worked when Shigaraki turned to defend himself from Midoriya's attack, only to be met with a light. Midoriya took advantage of Shigaraki's momentary confusion to attack him. This seemed to trigger Shigaraki's body to re-enter absolute defense in hopes of avoiding what was coming as he knew he couldn't afford taking another strong hit. Before Shigaraki could do anything, however, Deku took the chance to fully transfer Gearshift and Kudo to Shigaraki.
"Don't worry, ninth. I was only really a ghost. Don't overthink it, yeah?" Were the last words spoken to him by Kudo before he was consumed by Shigaraki.
Seconds later, Izuku blinked in confusion as he stared at Dabi and toga asking to join the League of Villains. He was even more confused when he was once again face to face with Todoroki in their battle during the sports festival.
What...? What the hell was happening?
"Your memories are blending together. Since All for One and One for All have been resonating with each other, Kudo's transfer hit a critical point," Yoichi observed. "It's not enough yet but if we continue like this then we can widen the mental crack within Shigaraki."
Deku nodded, thinking of a way to transfer the rest of the vestiges. Once he found an opening, he took it, transferring more of the vestiges. Although En had been the only one who made it as Shigaraki had rejected the rest. The other vestiges returned to him.
"We lost Smokescreen. You'll have to manage with just float and Blackwhip!" Nana warned, though Izuku didn't process it as he was hit by more of Shigaraki's memories.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" Shigaraki snarled, clutching his head. "I don't want to know about your goddamn childhood crush! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
Izuku's eyes widened as he spotted little Tenko making it near the edge of the crack, holding someone's hand. Just a little more and Tenko would be free.
"Tenko, I know you're in there still. Even if you claim any remainders of the old you are gone, I know you're still just a frightened little boy deep down. Just let me help you!"
Shigaraki gritted his teeth, launching himself at at Deku, "I hate stupid people like you. Just accept you can't save everyone! I am destruction. There is nothing left for you to save, and if you keep trying to play hero who can fix it all, I'll destroy all of Japan like I destroyed that smiling boy you claim you'll save."
Midoriya dodged the attack, using float to put distance between them and blackwhip as defense.
"Izuku, I think you should just get rid of him once and for all," Nana frowned, placing a reassuring hand on Deku's shoulder.
"I can't. I know what I saw. Kudo and the others sacrificed themselves for this. Tenko is almost free. I never gave up on Kacchan, nor Todoroki, nor anyone else. I'm not giving up on the person who needs me the most right now."
Nana stared at Izuku and nodded, smiling as tears seemed to gather in her eyes. "I knew Toshi had chosen you well. Fine. I'll be the next to go. We just have to make sure Banjo is the last to leave so he can protect you, alright?"
Izuku nodded, determined to finish this once and for all.
"This has to be some sort of unusual fucking punishment," Shigaraki growled, seeming to be mentally fighting off the memories and flashbacks that belonged to Midoriya. "This is your plan to defeat me. Showing me your years of pining after a dumb blonde?"
Deku scowled, dodging another attack aimed at his head. "Kacchan is not a dumb blonde! He's really smart, just so you know!"
He just needed one more hit. One more hit to get Nana across. This had to be the last one. If it wasn't over once he lost float, he was done. All he would have would be blackwhip.
"Nana, thank you for how supportive you've been all this time," Izuku whispered, making sure his goodbye would only reach the ears of the person they were meant for.
"You were one hell of a successor. Definitely gave Toshi a run for his money," Nana laughed, preparing herself to be transferred to Shigaraki as Izuku's bleeding fist made contact with the single injury on Shigaraki's chest that had yet to heal.
Nana had hit the right spot! Tenko was stepping over the line of light and about to enter a dark area, spreading the little light left within Shigaraki.
"STUPID HERO, DON'T YOU GET IT? That kid is gone, gone, gone, GONE. HE'S GONE."
As Deku descended to the ground after losing float, he saw Tenko shoved back into the light, preventing him from widening the mental crack within Shigaraki.
Shigaraki was fighting back. Nana had failed and now only Yoichi and Banjo remained.
Blackwhip quickly shot out to prevent Izuku from hitting the ground. Shigaraki launched himself in Deku's direction, realizing this would be the perfect chance to finally kill him.
Izuku was left with just seconds to think about what he would do. If he sent Banjo, he lost Blackwhip. If he sent Yoichi, wouldn't he lose OFA all together?
. . .
"WHERE IS THE GODDAMN NERD?"
"Young Bakugou, please calm down. We don't want you to open any wou-"
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK. Where is he? I've searched this whole fucking hospital, and he isn't here!"
"Well, that's because he isn't here, Bakugou. We don't know where he is," Aizawa spoke, closing the door to Bakugo's room. Toshinori glared at Aizawa for how straight forward he was.
"What? So, I've been out a whole fucking week, and you still don't know where the stupid nerd is?!"
"Young Bakugou, I promise we've been doing our best but it's like he just...vanished," Toshinori gulped, seemingly still having a hard time admitting that. "We have Tenko Shimura currently getting treated. He's seemingly quirkless now but we're still keeping him under high supervision."
"When the hell did I ask about hand job? I want to know where Deku is. Why haven't you found him?!"
"We looked everywhere after the fight, but we couldn't find his body. We tried asking Shigaraki, but it seems his memory was wiped alongside his quirk," Aizawa explained, attempting to sound professional but Bakugou could tell he was deeply upset by the fact that he had once again lost a student.
"For fucks sake, can't All Might use his weird ghost connection to see if the fucker is still alive at least?"
Toshinori stared at the ground, apparently unable to look Bakugou in the eyes. "I don't feel One For All anymore. I think that's gone too..."
"You've got to be shitting me."
"Bakugou, I promise UA and everyone else is doing what they can to find Midoriya. He saved not only Japan but the rest of the world too. Search parties have been looking for him everywhere," Aizawa tried to reassure him. Having had lost a friend once too, he knew what it felt like. He knew how useless he seemed right now to Bakugou. A teacher who had failed at his job of protecting his students. "I know what you might be thinking but just stay put for now. Listen to me when I say there's not much you can do but trust us right now."
Bakugou gritted his teeth and glared at the ground, refusing to look at his teachers in the eye.
After a few seconds Aizawa sighed and opened the door to leave, "Just remember we're all here if you need to talk to someone. This wasn't your fault. You're just a kid. It was us adults who failed him."
"Young Bakugou, please just remain here until you're fully healed. It's what Izuku would have wanted," Toshinori nodded, leaving the room with Aizawa and closing the door behind him.
Why were they talking about Deku as if he were dead? There's no way the nerd was gone. Not yet. They just weren't looking hard enough.
Bakugou reached out for his phone and texted the class 1-A group chat.
Bakugou: I'm awake fuckers. What do we know about Deku?
He received responses right away. Nothing useful, though. They all basically said the same crap, "Glad you're awake and we know nothing."
Useless fucks.
Bakugou looked up the news from that day. He found what had been a live broadcast of the fight, but if the heroes didn't find anything useful, what could Bakugou possibly find?
He contemplated not watching it. He didn't want to watch the video of his friend dying. Realizing he was stuck in a room without being able to do anything else, however, he decided he might as well. He at least had to know what had happened before he broke out of the hospital to go searching for Deku.
Katsuki was anxious every second of the video. Through-out the whole fight it seemed like Deku was one hit away from collapsing and losing it all. Deku kept losing power while Shigaraki was still going strong.
They had Shigaraki now, though, so that means at some point Deku beats him, right?
Bakugou continued watching the video, still anxious. He had to remind himself whatever he saw in the video had already happened. There wasn't anything he could do now.
No fucking wonder, Bakugou thought, watching the video cut off as Deku crashed into the ground. Of course the heroes had no way of knowing what happened after.
Katsuki set down his phone. The heroes had definitely searched where the fight had taken place. If Deku wasn't there, where the hell was he?
He could easily go out and search for Deku. The problem was that he didn't know where to start. Where the fight had taken place? Around the area?
Katsuki wasn't sure. Although he was sure about going out to find Deku himself. He would have to go at night as his teachers were still guarding the hospital. At night they should have gone home.
For the rest of the day he couldn’t think about anything but Deku's fight and where he could possibly be. A few moments replayed in his mind, like when Shigaraki got mad over Deku's memories of him pining over a dumb blonde. And why Deku then said Katsuki wasn't a dumb blonde.
It didn't matter how long it took. Bakugou would find Deku, drag his ass back to UA, and demand an explanation.
He couldn't find out his crush liked him back only after the fucker died.
. . .
Knock knock knock
Katsiki whipped around, staring with wide eyes at the door of his hospital room. Why were his teachers still here?
He quickly shoved his backpack under the bed, hoping he wouldn't be caught before he even left the hospital.
Knock Knock Knock
"Who the hell is it? Just come in, damn it!"
Knock Knock Knock
"Oh my fucking God," Bakugo hissed, getting up to open the door. When he opened it, there was no one there. He looked around in confusion before rolling his eyes and slamming the door shut.
Knock Knock Knock
"WHO THE-" He shut his mouth when his eyes landed on the window of his hospital room. Deku.
Bakugou rushed to open the window, completely forgetting the possibility that it could have been Toga or any other villain.
"Hi, Kacchan," Izuku smiled, climbing inside the room.
"What the fuck? Hi Kacchan?" Katsuki repeated in disbelief. "I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD, DUMBASS!"
Izuku glanced at the door nervously and pressed a finger over his lips, "Hush, Kacchan. I can't get caught here. Calm down or I'm leaving."
Bakugou's eye twitched, clenching his fist but nodding, "Fine. I'll shut up. Where the fuck have you been? These fuckers have been acting like you died!"
Laughing nervously, Midoriya shrugged, "Busy. My fight isn't done yet. It's best they think I died, or at least until I finish my job."
"What the fuck are you talking about? All For One is dead and Shigaraki can't do shit."
Deku nodded, "Yes, that's right. All For One, the person, is dead. His power is still alive, however. I have it. All For One and One For All are both in my possession. My job isn't done until they're destroyed."
Katsuki scrunched his eyebrows, confused on how this even happened and what it meant for Deku. "I thought One For All was gone? All Might said so. And what the fuck do you mean by your job isn't done until they're destroyed? You're not going to pull some self-sacrificial shit and kill yourself, right?"
Shaking his head, Izuku smiled. "No, they're still here. After I passed Yoichi to Shigaraki, Yoichi took care of the rest and took all of Shigaraki's power somehow. The vestiges and their quirks have all returned. They all agree that I must destroy All For One and be the last successor of One For All."
"You didn't answer the rest of my fucking question. You're not going to sacrifice yourself, right?" Bakugou demanded, noticing the way Deku glanced away and refused to meet his eyes. "Right?"
Izuku frowned, "I'm not sure. We think we've figured out a way to destroy All For One. We're not 100% sure it will work though."
"Then why the fuck even bother? Just come home. The whole damn class has already told you before that we can figure this out together," Katsuki scowled. Why was the nerd always so insistent on figuring things out on his own?!
"I can't. This isn't like it was before. It's no longer a physical fight between OFA and AFO. We're not even sure what it is at this point. All we know is that others should no longer be involved."
Katsuki was growing frustrated. Why the hell was Deku putting so much trust in those damn ghosts?
"If you've got the whole damn thing figured out, why the hell did you come bother me then?!"
"Nana told me to come. She knew you were going out to look for me tonight," Izuku smiled warmly. "She also knew that if someone would be able to find me, it would be you. This is why I decided to come let you know that I am still alive. Just make sure no one else knows, okay?"
Bakugou huffed. Stupid old lady spoiling his plans. "Fine. I won't let those extras know you're still breathing. Hurry the fuck up, though. I don't know how long I'll be able to put up with all their fucking crying."
"Okay, Kacchan. I'll try to hurry," Izuku giggled. This almost felt like when they kept secrets as kids.
"Wait, before you fucking disappear again, we have to talk."
Deku grimaced. "This isn't about my fight with Shigaraki, is it?"
"It's exactly about that. What fucking memories was he yapping about?"
"Nah uh."
"What the fuck do you mean 'nah uh'?"
Biting his lip, Deku shook his head. "Can't tell you. I said I'd do it once this was all over, didn't I? Well, I still have things to do."
Katsuki's eye twitched. He took a deep breath and shrugged, "Fine. Now you have to return, fucker. You can't keep running from this talk forever. Even if you die, I'll contact you through a goddamn Ouija board."
"Pfft. Okay, Kacchan. I'll come back; I swear. Take care of the others while I'm gone, okay?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever. Get the hell out of my room before the nurses come check up on me. And don't fucking die."
"Of course. See you later, Kacchan," Izuku smiled, leaving the same way he entered.
. . .
"G-Good morning, young Bakugou," Toshinori stuttered, surprised to have found Katsuki still in the hospital. "I didn't expect you to be here."
"What? Am I not allowed to rest or something?!"
"N-No, that's not what I meant! I just thought...never mind. I'm glad you listened to what I said yesterday."
Bakugou hummed. The rest of All Might's visit was mostly quiet. He seemed to have been waiting for Bakugou to ask about Deku, yet the questions never came.
Everyone else seemed the same way. When Bakugou returned to UA, his class had been ready to answer any questions he had. Except he never asked any.
Everyone assumed something different.
"Maybe he has faith in Deku like we do!"
"I think this is just his way of grieving."
"He's probably still in denial."
"Bakugou just doesn't care."
Katsuki really didn't care what the extras thought. It was upsetting when they assumed he didn't care, though. Of course he cared. Every day he waited for Deku's return. He remained strong, resuming his studies and his training. Deku would come back eventually.
Soon a week had passed. Then two, then three. Bakugou lost track of time until four months had passed and Auntie Inko was finally organizing a funeral for Deku.
Searches for Deku had been called off. Plans of making a statue where he had "died" were in progress. Japan was mourning the death of the hero Deku.
"That fucker isn't dead," Bakugou grumbled, watching another video about how selfless and heroic Deku was for sacrificing himself. Although Katsuki wasn't so sure anymore.
The stupid nerd had been missing way too long.
What was he supposed to think now that the nerd had been gone for months? Maybe he should have tried to stop him. Perhaps even followed him. Should he tell his teachers? Would they even believe him? Even if they did, what if it was too late already?
The rest of the class seemed to be just as confused on what to think. Though many didn't want to believe Deku was gone, after so much time had passed, they couldn't help but have their doubts. Others kept believing in Deku like Bakugou did. As they noticed Bakugou's hope begin to waver, however, so did theirs.
Deku's funeral had been the worst event class 2-A ever had to attend. Not only was their friend dead, but they didn't even have a body to bury.
5 months, 6 months, 7 months passed. Nothing. At the 8-month mark, Bakugou decided he had to tell someone what he had seen that night in the hospital.
Before he did, though, he began wondering if he actually should. Had it even been real? Had he actually seen the nerd?
It had looked real. But had he been? Katsuki hadn't even bothered to reach out and touch Izuku. What if it had just been Bakugou's mind playing tricks on him? Maybe it had been one of the drugs they had given him at the hospital.
Maybe he had just been in denial. Maybe it really had been his way of coping.
9 months had passed and Bakugou had yet to tell anyone.
10, 11, 12 months. A year. A year since Katsuki had last seen (or at least he thought he had) Deku.
"Damn it," Bakugo cursed as he woke up. Why did that night keep replaying in his head? Why couldn't he just forget his mistake?
"Fucking Deku. I'll kill you. NEXT TIME I SEE YOU I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!"
Bakugou kept cursing Deku. The fucker who lied to him just so Katsuki wouldn't ruin his suicide plans.
Just as he was about to begin blasting things in his fit of rage, an alarm rang. The same damn alarm that hadn't rang in almost a year since Deku fought Shigaraki.
"BAKUBRO! Come on, we have to get out!" Kirishima banged on his door. "Someone decayed UA's gate!"
Katsuki's eyes widened. He cursed as he hurried to put his shoes on.
BANG BANG BANG
"DAMN IT, SHITTY HAIR! I HEARD!"
"Sorry bro!" Kirishima quickly apologized, "please just hurry up!"
Fuck, where did he leave his other shoe? Katsuki cursed himself for not cleaning his room earlier. Now he had no clue where his shit was.
BANG BANG BANG
"Shut the hell up! I'm trying!"
Bakugou felt another presence in the room. Turning around, he was face to face with his "deceased" friend.
"Well, damn Kacchan. Thats not a very nice way to greet someone. Where's my 'welcome home' crappy All Might cake like last time?" Deku raised an eyebrow as he fully climbed in through the window. "Sorry for the noise but I needed you to hurry up. Since you took forever, I just disintegrated it."
Bakugou blinked at Deku. Had his dream really fucked him up this bad that he was hallucinating?
"Oh, also, I destroyed the gate. Sorry. My student ID didn't work, and I had no other way to get in and I was getting chased-" he paused to catch his breath, "-anyways, you don't have to worry about your other shoe. My bad."
Maybe he had finally gone insane. Or perhaps Deku was haunting him. That was the only logical explanation.
"Oh, come on, Kacchan! I even brought you a gift!" Deku huffed, annoyed by Katsuki's silence. He took off his backpack and pulled out a wonky looking All Might figurine. "This nice old guy I stayed with taught me how to make things. I made gifts for the whole class as an apology for, uhm, dying for a year. But I made yours the biggest!"
"You're not real," Bakugou whispered in disbelief, though Deku seemed to have heard it even through the loud school alarms.
"Kacchan, you shouldn't say things like that. What if I had depersonalization-derealization disorder?"
Katsuki scowled, "Quit fucking messing around, Deku! What the fuck?! You've been gone a whole fucking year! I attended your goddamn funeral!"
Izuku frowned, no longer in a teasing mood. "I know...I'm sorry. I really didn’t think it would take this long. My first plan didn’t work, so then I killed myself, but then these people who apparently didn't know who I am brought me back to life. I was out for a good two months after. It took another month for me to be back to normal and then two more months for me to get the courage to come back and-"
"We all thought you were gone, Deku. Your own mom-"
"I already visited my mom," Deku interrupted. "I was with her for a week before she talked me into returning to UA."
"That's not my point," Bakugo gritted his teeth, "your own mom thought you were dead. My mom helped her organize your funeral. All Might barely teaches. The whole damn class refuses to speak of your death. No one is allowed in your fucking seat. Would it have killed you to send some sort of sign that you were still fucking alive?!"
"Kacchan, I couldn't. Yoichi said it was too-"
"I don't care. I don't fucking care what those ghosts had to say. Do you know how worried everyone was? Do you know how many people cried for you, Izuku?"
Tears gathered in Deku's eyes, "I know. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to everyone. I didn't want to be away so long. I had no choice."
"You could have easily told other heroes about your problem."
"But they wouldn't have understood!"
"This whole fucking class chased just down just because weren't taking care of yourself. They would have gladly helped your dumbass!"
"There wasn't anything they could do. The only solution there was, was for me to die. I didn't want to hurt them. I didn't want to give them hope when I didn't know if I would be able to live," Deku choked back a sob. "I know I was wrong. I'm sorry, Katsuki. I thought I could do it by myself and... I did. I did but I upset so many people."
Bakugou stared at Deku, unsure what to do. He wasn't good at comforting people. "Stop crying. You fucked up but these extras won't care. They'll just be glad you're back."
"But Kacchan, what if they hate me now?"
"Are you stupid? How many times did you fucking hit your head in the last year? Those idiots-"
"Bakugou! Did you not hear the alarm?" Todoroki banged on the door, "Aizawa wants us all in the common room right now!"
"Shut your trap, Icyhot! I'm busy!"
Todoroki burned down the door, not having the time nor patience to argue with Bakugou. Before he could say anything, however, his eyes landed on Izuku.
"Midoriya?" Todoroki whispered, afraid that if he spoke too loud, Deku would disappear.
"Todoroki. Hello," Izuku waved, attempting to smile despite his tears. "I brought you a gift...you do still like soba, right?"
"I... yeah. I'm glad you're back," Todoroki smiled, though his shaky voice gave away the fact that he was about to cry.
"Damn it, Bakugou. I shouldn't have to send your classmates to..." Aizawa trailed off. "...problem child?"
Izuku nodded, "I'm sorry for destroying the gate. I couldn't find another way to get in. I made you a cat...as an apology..." he mumbled the last part, slightly ashamed.
"It's fine, Midoriya. Just...just stay right here. Don't move," Aizawa ordered, pulling out his phone to call Nezu. Despite the fact that the rat probably already knew.
. . .
"It's weird. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming despite the fact that I tricked them."
"These fuckers thought you died. No shit they're going to be so nice, their friend just came back from the dead," Bakugou rolled his eyes. This was the 10th time they had this conversation this week.
The same conversation was better than no conversation ever again.
"Well, it's still...not what I expected. I'm glad it's like this, though. I'm glad they can live in peace now that this is all over," Izuku smiled, glancing outside of Bakugou's window and catching a glimpse of his friends.
Katsuki gasped, Midoriya's words seemingly making him remember something. "You fucking promised! Were you trying to distract me so I would forget?!"
"W-What? Kacchan, what are you talking about?"
"You said when you came back you would explain to me what you said during your fight. And also what you thought the reason was for me being an asshole!"
Midoriya yelped, seemingly remembering now too. "Oh, come on! I just got back, Kacchan! Can't you wait...?"
"Nah uh," Bakugo mocked Izuku's tone from the last two times. "You've been here a week, and you had a whole year to prepare. I want to hear this now."
Izuku groaned, "Kacchan, please! I'll literally give you whatever you want from my merch if you drop it."
"Nah uh."
"You're the worst," Midoriya grumbled, covering his face with his hands.
"I waited a whole fucking year, nerd. Hurry up."
Deku bit his lip. Kacchan would kill him for this.
"When my memories blended with Shigaraki's he...he started seeing my memories from when we were younger, which was when I had the biggest crush on you. He was complaining about that. And the other part was that I thought you knew I liked you and were so grossed out that you started hating me. So, uhm, yeah. That's it."
Bakugou stared at Deku in disbelief. "That's it?"
"Well, yeah. I'm really sorry if you do hate me now. I swear I don't-"
"No, that's not what I meant, stupid. You just...you say it like it's nothing. It's not nothing, nerd. And here thought I was fucking crazy."
Izuku frowned, "What do you mean, Kacchan?"
"There were times I thought you liked me. The old hag called me delusional, but I knew you didn't chase me around for so long just for shits and giggles."
"Was I that obvious?!"
"Nah," Katsuki shook his head, "It's just that when you like someone you're actively looking for signs they like you back. Never would have fucking guessed otherwise."
Midoriya froze, processing what Bakugou said. "Wait, what? What does that mean?"
"Nah uh."
"Kacchan!" Midoriya whined. "You can't use my own words against me."
"I just fucking did. You have a brain, don't you? Put it to use and figure it out, nerd."
"There's no way you're saying what I think you are. Just tell me what you mean!"
Bakugou rolled his eyes, looking away. "I ain't saying it."
"Kacchan."
"For fucks sake, Deku. You know what I mean."
"But you have to say it!" Deku insisted. "Please Kacchan. I need you to say it."
"Goddammit, Deku. Fine. I'm in love with you. Fucking happy?"
Izuku nodded, looking away to hide the fact he was about to cry. "Y-Yeah...that's great."
"What the hell do you mean 'that's great' ?!"
"I didn't think you'd actually say it!"
"You fucking told me to!"
"But I thought you'd say something like crush or like. I didn't think you'd say love!"
Bakugou frowned, realizing maybe he should have said it differently, "Is that word too strong?"
Midoriya looked conflicted, "N-No... I don't think so?" He hesitated, "I feel the same, I just didn't think you would ever love me that way. Are you sure you meant love?"
Katsuki huffed, attempting to hide his relief that Deku admitted loving him too. "I fucking mean it, nerd. Wouldn't say shit I don't mean. I realized it before we went out to drag you back to UA during your batman era."
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Deku gasped. "I could have died thinking it was one-sided this whole time!"
"It clearly wasn't a good time, stupid. I planned on telling you after Shigaraki was gone but then you decided to fucking disappear for a year."
Izuku knew Kacchan was right. Despite this he groaned, "But still! I thought I would have to come back and beg you to give me a chance!"
"You've basically done that your whole damn life, idiot. Kept coming back even when I was a piece of shit," Katsuki frowned, once again thinking about their younger years. "Why did you keep chasing me?"
Deku shrugged, "I don't even know, if I'm honest. It was just a feeling that no matter what, we'd still work out. And I was right. In the end, it really did end up being us...right?"
Katsuki's lips curled into a small smile, "Yeah. Despite all the shit that happened...we're here."
Izuku smiled as well, his cheeks slightly pink as he spoke up, "so, uhm...what are we? Or like, what do you want to be?"
Bakugou thought about it. "Well, the old hag said it's never official until you go out on a date. Auntie said the same crap."
"Kacchan, are you asking me out on a date?"
"I didn't ask shit."
Deku rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Fine. Kacchan, will you go out on a date with me?"
Katsuki stared at Izuku. Then he crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head, "Nah uh."
"Oh, come on!" Deku cried, "will you please let me live that down?"
"No way," Bakugou grinned. "But I guess I'll go out with you, Deku."