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Yuga never understood why his parents insisted on making him change schools every year. It wouldn't make people any less likely to find out they were working with All For One. If anything, it would make it seem more obvious.
But he didn't argue. There was no point. He didn't have any reason to. It wasn't like he made friends anyways.
He didn't dare make friends. Not when he knew he would have to betray them, in one way or another.
That was until All For One had died. Officially. The Hero Commission had somehow discovered his location, and completely destroyed it, taking his life once and for all shortly after. Many heroes had perished, but it was over.
Yuga wasn't sure he even remembered how he used to be. Before receiving his quirk, what was he?
Yuga let out a sigh. There was no point in wondering. He couldn't make friends anyway. He'd put everyone in this country -no, world- in danger by supplying All For One information. Sure, it had been little things. There hadn't been much his family was even able to tell him.
But that hardly mattered. It was still something horrible. It didn't matter how minor it was. It had happened.
He tried to push these thoughts away, and just prepare for another first day in a new school. He should be used to this by now.
He never was.
When he walked into class on his first day, he hoped people wouldn't pay attention. He hoped he wasn't the only new kid for the year.
He could feel the eyes of kids on him. He tried to ignore them.
There were two kids in particular. A blonde boy with slate blue eyes. And a silver-haired girl with ice blue eyes. They were staring at him blankly. Yuga was certain they must have been judging him.
That was something he was used to. He didn't pay too much attention to it. He was sure they wouldn't be the only ones.
This class would tolerate him at best, hate him at worst in a few weeks. That was how it always went.
~~~
Neito couldn't understand the new kid. He was always acting so ridiculous and over-the-top, but then he was silent during class. Not once did that boy get in trouble for talking. What gave?
Reiko poked him. “Stop staring at him. You are being rude.” She scolded.
“. . . Hmph. Don't you think he'd want to be stared at? Haven't you seen how he acts?”
“Neito. We both know you think he is putting up a front. Stop pretending to be indignant of the obvious.”
“. . . Why do you know me so well?”
“Nine years of friendship will do that.”
“I mean. . . He might just be weird, I guess.”
“Correct.”
“But he doesn't have any friends.”
“From what you have observed.”
“Don't word it like that. It makes me sound like I'm stalking him.”
“You stare at him whenever you get the chance.” Reiko retorted.
“. . . Just because he confuses me.”
“Am I meant to believe that, or are you meant to believe that?”
“Obviously you.” Neito huffed.
Reiko gave him a stare that let him know she did not believe him. Not even a little bit.
Neito sometimes hated how much she understood him. But it was bound to happen. They had been the social outcasts of their school for the past nine years. It was only logical they would end up as friends.
Neito felt like they could at least try letting Aoyama join them. It was only fair. That was what Reiko had done for him, even when he tried to push all his classmates away so they didn't learn about his quirk.
Aoyama probably had a secret too. Every person did. It was just more serious for some people as to what it was.
Neito was jolted from his thoughts when the bell rang. His classmates filed out of the room. All except Aoyama.
Neito and Reiko walked over to him. He looked up at them, a slight glimmer of unease in his eyes. “Bonjour! Do you need something from moi?”
“Nah.” Neito answered simply. “We were just wondering why you always hang back here. Don't you get bored sitting in this room while everyone else goes to lunch?” Bluntness was his greatest strength and weakness all at the same time.
Aoyama shifted uncomfortably. “Ah, well I just don't think any of them can properly appreciate my sparkle!” He claimed.
“They all talk shit about you behind your back.” Neito stated.
Reiko facepalmed. Very loudly.
The ever-present smile on Aoyama's face tightened. “That is quite unfortunate.”
Neito flicked a stray strand of hair. “Wanna hang out with me and Reiko?” He offered.
Reiko sighed like a disappointed teacher.
“P-pardon?”
“You clearly aren't opposed to socializing. Maybe we can ‘correctement apprécier ton éclat’.” He added with a wink.
Aoyama's eyes lit up in a nonartificial way. “You speak French?!”
Neito tried to contain a smile at his excitement. “Why, qui, qui I do.”
Reiko shoved Neito in the shoulder lightly. “Would you like to join us?” She prompted, deciding her best friend was an absolute idiot and could not handle the simplest of tasks.
Aoyama stood up. “Qui! Merci!”
~~~
Yuga followed Monoma and Yanagi, unable to quell the terror and confusion tumbling about in his being.
People had approached him in a friendly -Or at least he thought that was what Monoma was trying to do- manner. Despite how he acted, despite the fact he tried to be as egocentric as possible, they were being *amiable.* This had never happened before.
He'd assumed Yanagi and Monoma were the least likely people to treat him decently. They were almost always staring at him-moreso Monoma then Yanagi- And yet. . . He'd picked up that they were social outcasts too.
But he didn't dare get his hopes up. Even the worst social outcasts wouldn't dare show him kindness if they knew what he had done.
He shouldn't be wishing they could be friends. He didn't deserve friendship.
Yuga had never actually been in this school's cafeteria. It was loud, as predicted. Most kids were a little too shameless about running around like they were half their age, also predicted.
Monoma and Yanagi rolled their eyes. Monoma glanced at Yuga. “I can't blame you for not wanting to come here. But at least we can suffer together. Yay.”
Yanagi shook her head. “You are ridiculous.” She muttered under her breath.
Yuga fidgeted in nervousness. “So. . , what should we talk about?”
Monoma huffed. “Oh. Right. You have to do the awkward smalltalk shit with new people. Sorry, I've never had to do that ‘cause Reiko just kind of attached herself to me when we were in kindergarten.”
Yanagi nodded. “That is barely an exaggeration.”
“Ah. . .” Yuga tried to keep his smile up. This was horribly awkward.
Yanagi tapped her hands on the table. “What's your favorite color?”
“. . . Purple.” Yuga never actually had a favorite color. But his eyes were purple, so he decided to choose it.
Monoma blinked. “Huh. Funny. My favorite color is the same color as my eyes, too.”
Yanagi gave him a quizzical look. “I thought your favorite color was green.”
“That was five years ago.”
“Ah.”
Monoma shoved her playfully. “How did you not notice such an obvious thing about me?”
“You are implying that you are like a chameleon. Your eyes did not change color because your favorite color changed.”
“Where the hell did you even manage to pull that comparison from?!”
They continued to bicker. Yuga was glad for it. It kept the attention off of him. He'd practically forgotten how to have normal conversations. It was incredibly difficult to keep himself from slipping into the narcissistic act he had put up for so many years.
He didn't want to do anything to hurt either of these two. They seemed so sweet. He would be glad to be their friend, but he knew he didn't deserve it.
***
Yuga couldn't fathom why Monoma kept talking to him. He never initiated conversation, but always found himself in them.
Today, Yanagi and Monoma had offered to walk home with him. His instinct was to decline, but he remembered that All For One was dead now, and he could say yes. He was reluctant, but did not want to disappoint. So he accepted.
He walked a little behind Yanagi and Monoma, they didn't seem to notice. They were engrossed in their own conversation. It was a common occurrence. Yuga made a point not to speak unless spoken to, for fear of saying something wrong.
Yanagi's home was surprisingly close to the school. It was a quaint little place with a cedar exterior and vibrant lawn decor. It didn't match Yanagi at all. Though Yuga had already discerned she was much different from her parents.
This left Yuga and Monoma alone.
Monoma turned to Yuga. “Oh, shit. We were ignoring you, weren't we? I'm so sorry!” He exclaimed.
Yuga offered a smile. “Non, non, it is perfectly okay.”
Monoma narrowed his eyes. “It's not though. You're our friend, we can't just neglect you.”
Yuga wanted to cry. God, he was terrible at handling basic kindness. Mainly because he knew he did not deserve it.
Monoma fell into step beside him. “Well, how was your day?”
“It was lovely.” Yuga couldn't decide between sounding sarcastic or faking being genuine. It culminated in some horrendous combination of the two that deserved its own name.
Monoma didn't seem to know what to do with his confusing little monstrosity. “What'd you get on the English test?”
“Ah, I got a ninety-seven percent.”
Monoma huffed. “How?”
Yuga was confused. He hadn't been faking having terrible skills this year. Why was his good grade inciting incredulity?
“I am absolutely horrible at English. Why are both of my friends so good at it?” He whined.
Oh. That was what this was. Yuga wasn't used to. . . Friendly complaining.
“Ah, I suppose it is just your luck, mon ami.”
Monoma shrugged. “Guess so.”
“. . . Thank you.”
Monoma raised a brow. “What?”
“Thank you.” Yuga repeated louder. “For always being so kind to me.”
Monoma still seemed completely baffled. “Um. . . Yeah? You're welcome? Why wouldn't I be kind to you?”
Yuga fell silent. He knew he should be honest. He knew Monoma would never treat him so well if he knew the truth. But he selfishly kept quiet.
Monoma didn't say anything else either, probably sensing the tension in the atmosphere.
The rest of Yuga's walk home was blissfully short. He waved goodbye to Monoma and headed inside.
“Yuga, good afternoon, how was school?” His mother greeted him.
“It was. . . Fine.” Yuga answered. “I walked home with Monoma and Yanagi.” He added.
Her eyes lit up. “Ah, those two. You mentioned them before. They are friends of yours, non?”
Yuga blinked blankly. “They are. I am finally able to effectively have friends.” He couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice.
His mother's face fell. “Yuga. . .”
“Non, don't. S'il te plaît.” Yuga cut her off. “It's. . . Not important anymore.” He headed to his room before she could say anything else.
~~~
Neito walked into his living room, being greeted by his family cat, Mr. Cheddar.
The house was too quiet. As it always was now. But Neito didn't notice it too much now. He was feeling too excited from his conversation with Aoyama.
It was so strange, considering how the conversation had gone. But it was the first time they had actually talked one on one. Yanagi was always hovering in the background, contributing with silent gestures, as she always did in group discussions.
Neito scooped his old ginger cat into his arms. “Hi, buddy.” He baby-talked the little fluffball. “I walked home with Aoyama today. Can you believe that? I've finally gotten another friend.”
He wished he had someone else who he could talk to so freely. Someone who could actually respond.
But Freza was gone. She'd been dead for seven months. And Neito felt more alone than ever.
His older sister had been the eleventh pro-hero. And she had given her life to kill All For One.
An honorable death, people said.
It didn't feel honorable.
She shouldn't have died. They'd had the upper hand on All For One. But someone had been in the location of one of the attacks, alerted All For One, and ruined the plan.
Freza died then. She went down saving a group of her fellow heroes.
Neito had literally passed out when told the news. The thought of his older sister, one of the youngest and strongest heroes, dying because of a traitor, had been unbelievable.
Then he was outraged.
He'd vowed that if he ever found out who that traitorous scum was, he would kill them.
Two wrongs didn't make a right. But he didn't care. They had ruined more lives than just Neito’s and his parents. They deserved it.
Neito didn't know this person, but he despised them with every fiber of his being. He would hate them till the day he died.
“I promise you,” he muttered aloud. “I will avenge you, dear sister. I will find them, and I will make them suffer as you had to. I swear on my life.”
~~~
Yuga's heart had dropped when his teacher had announced that they were doing a group project. But his fears were lessened slightly when she continued that they would get to choose their own partners.
He glanced back at Monoma and Yanagi, who had just done the ‘look’ at each other.
Their eyes then went to Yuga. Monoma smirked and winked.
After the teacher gave the go-ahead for them to form their groups, Yuga headed straight to the back of the room.
Monoma smiled so purely it caught Yuga off-guard. He was always smiling, just like Yuga, but now his smile seemed different. Honestly, it seemed smaller. And yet, he seemed happier. . . Weird.
Yanagi tapped her hands on her desk. “Who is excited for this project? Heh.” This seemed like her attempt at sarcasm.
Monoma laughed. “Hey, at least we know there won't be only one person doing all the work!” He pointed out.
“I debate that claim. Me and Aoyama will likely be the ones doing all the work. All you do is prettify things.” Yanagi had the faintest smirk on her face.
Monoma crossed his arms. “Nonsense. We've worked together before, is all I've done prettify things?”
“Yes.” Yanagi responded.
Monoma shot her a glare. “Maybe you're just projecting.”
Yanagi looked up at Yuga. “If he starts slacking off, call him a fluffy rat. It always works.”
Yuga blinked. “Oh. . . Um. . . I don't think that will be necessary.”
Monoma smirked. “See, he has faith in me.” He sounded quite proud of himself.
***
Yuga had been genuinely surprised that his parents agreed to let him go to Monoma's house to work on the group project.
Then he once again had to remind himself that All For One was dead. His parents didn't have to follow all those restrictions anymore.
And all their actions would go unpunished.
Yuga kept trying to selfishly tell himself that they hadn't done that much. That his family truly hadn't known enough to actually do anything.
But he knew it wasn't true. He knew exactly which heroes had died because of those seemingly miniscule scraps of information.
Duel Snake, Night Stride, and Wind Dart. Only one of them was even a prominent hero, but their names hung like storm clouds over Yuga. Ever present, always reminding him exactly why he didn't deserve to be happy.
A tap on his shoulder drew him out of his thoughts. Monoma was staring at him worriedly. “Hey, you okay?”
Yuga nodded. “Y-yeah. . . I'm fine.”
“Nervous?” Monoma guessed.
Partly. “Qui.”
Monoma gave him a reassuring smile. “Don't worry, my parents are pretty chill.”
Yuga was only slightly comforted by this.
~~~
Neito knocked a little aggressively on the door of his parents’ home. He glanced behind him at Aoyama, who was trembling ever so slightly, seeming to be lost in his own thoughts.
He was worried, but knew better than to press on the matter.
His father was the one to open the door, his hair frazzled as ever. “Afternoon, Reiko, Neito. And you must be Aoyama, pleasure to meet you.”
Aoyama nodded, unusually quiet. “Ravi de vous rencontrer.” He returned, seeming to default to French in his nervousness.
Charles beckoned the kids inside. Immediately, Mr. Cheddar pranced over to Neito, meowing loudly.
Neito scooped him up. He turned to his friends. “Aoyama, this is my cat. His name is Mr. Cheddar and he loves everyone except my grandmother.”
Aoyama hesitantly reached out and patted the orange tabby's soft forehead. “His name is Mr. Cheddar?” He asked with undisguised amusement.
“I was like three when I named him, give me a break.” Neito couldn't stop himself from grinning.
Aoyama jumped slightly when Mr. Cheddar leaned forward to sniff him.
Reiko tipped her head. “Have you never been around a cat?”
He shook his head. “Not really, no. My aunt has one, but I don't see her very often.”
Neito let Mr. Cheddar climb onto his shoulders, then clapped. “Alright, let's go do our fu-ricking project!”
~~~
A few hours in, Yanagi had to go home. This left Yuga alone with Monoma. It was. . . Strange. For some unknown reason.
Yuga couldn't explain it. His heart just kept speeding up whenever his friend glanced in his direction. What was wrong with him?
“Aoyama?”
Yuga snapped out of his thoughts. “Oh. . . Um. . . Sorry. Did you say something?”
Monoma's slate blue gaze bored into his soul. “Are you okay? You look sick.”
“Non, non, I'm perfectly alright! Merci for your concern.” Yuga lied.
Monoma crossed his arms. “You look like you're about to pass out.”
“. . . Well, I am not. So. . . Yeah.” Great going, Yuga. He's totally going to believe you now.
The other blonde scoffed. “You don't have to lie to me. I'm not going to judge you if you aren't okay. I've got plenty of issues myself.”
Yuga chuckled dryly. “I doubt they remotely compare to mine. . .”
Monoma scooted closer to him. “Well, it depends on the issue type. I mean, in terms of trauma, I have a dead sister. In terms of issues with myself, I apparently have depression and an inferiority complex. According to my therapist, anyway.”
“Yeah. You're much better than me.” Not that it took much.
“What's happened to you?”
“. . . I. . .” What could he say that wouldn't cause Monoma to hate him? “Put up a fake persona so people will like me.”
“Kind of already knew that. Is that supposed to be a major atrocity? You gotta do what you gotta do to fit in.”
“. . .” Yuga legitimately had no response to that. He expected a negative response, not support of any form.
“Though, like I said, almost everyone in our class still talks shit about you. I have to resist the urge to not fight them. My parents wouldn't approve. Well, they might. If I told them I was defending you. But I'd still get in trouble for being so violent.”
“. . . I know our classmates hate me. But they don't talk trash to my face. So it's fine.” It wasn't like he deserved people being nice to him anyway.
Monoma tipped his head, a habit he probably picked up from Yanagi. “It is not fine. People shouldn't be able to just talk about you like you don't mean anything. You're important. Maybe not in the grand scheme of things, or whatever. But in your immediate life, every little thing you do matters. What the hell makes you think otherwise?” This, coming from the same kid who had just admitted to having an inferiority complex, was deeply ironic.
Yuga laid his head in his hands. “I wish I could tell you. . . Really. But. . . It. . . I'm sorry.”
Monoma slowly moved his arm over Yuga's shoulders. Yuga's heart rate spiked again. “Don't be sorry.” He told him softly.
“. . . But-”
“No. If you don't want to or can't tell me, then don't. I don't mind. But if you ever can tell me, then please, *do*.”
Yuga sighed. “. . . I would. I swear.”
“Alright.” Monoma proceeded to move on like absolutely nothing had just happened. “So, what's your family like?”
Yuga was honestly grateful for the topic change. This was not a conversation he wanted to be having. He knew he was a horrible person, but he was too much of a coward to actually tell anyone why. He knew he shouldn't be so afraid of getting in trouble, he knew it was deserved. But he'd never be able to shake off the feeling that he'd ruined his parents’ lives in the process. If he'd just had a quirk to begin with, none of this would have happened.
What a stupid thought.
His parents were the ones who accepted help from a very suspicious man, and then agreed to commit crime for him. Sure, they'd have died if they declined. But people had died because they accepted.
Regardless. . . He still couldn't shake the feeling off.
He snapped back to the present. He'd been asked a question. Right. He needed to answer.
“I don't know about most of my family. My mother has a sister who I've seen maybe twenty times total. My grandparents all died before I was born, and I'm an only child.”
Monoma acted like Yuga hadn't taken an uncomfortably long time to respond. “Hm. Pretty much the same for me, actually. My mother has a brother, he's an asshole, though. I did have a sister but. . . She died. . . Last year. . . Against All For One. On the day he finally died, more specifically. Duel Snake, number eleven pro-hero.”
Yuga froze up. “Oh. . .”
This. . . Was his fault. This specifically. . . He had done. He knew how Duel Snake had died. And it was his fault.
He had killed one of his only friend's sister. . .
He really was a monster.
~~~
Neito noticed Aoyama had gone deathly quiet after he mentioned Freza. It was concerning. Had something happened to him that day as well? Was that what he couldn't talk about?
It was only an hour more before Aoyama had to leave as well.
Neito was inexplicably upset to see him go, but he tried to act nonchalant about it. “Welp, guess I'll see you on Monday, Yuga.”
He stared at him. “. . . See you Monday. . , Neito.”
Neito couldn't control his grin. He waved Yuga off, trying to keep himself from giggling like a stereotypical schoolgirl.
Come on, me, he's just your friend. Why are you so happy to be on a first name basis? It's not like you like him!
Neito paused. He cursed himself for having that thought. Because it made him realize it was a false statement.
“Fuck.”
~~~
Yuga couldn't get Neito out of his mind. For a plethora of reasons. The most important one being that he had killed his sister.
But then there was a smaller part. A smaller part of him that caused his heart to speed up and his face to flush whenever he thought of him.
This could not seriously be happening. What was wrong with him?! Why was he crushing on someone who he'd hurt so badly?! He didn't deserve anyone. Especially not Neito. Neito was perfect. And Yuga was a deplorable mess.
Yuga jolted from his thoughts when Yanagi tapped his shoulder. She never did that. He must have been spaced out for a concerning amount of time. “Qui?”
Yanagi blinked blankly. “Are you thinking about Neito?” She asked.
Yuga nodded. Their friend wasn't here today, he'd texted them saying he was sick and his parents had forced him to stay home.
Yanagi used her quirk on a pencil for no apparent reason. Yuga saw her doing that often, he assumed it was her way of fidgeting. “You seem quite fond of him, friend.” Oh dear. Where was she going with this? She'd never called him anything other than his name before. This couldn't be good.
“Well, of course I'm fond of him! I would say he's my best friend. No offense, of course.” He tried to hide his nervousness, not that it would have much effect. Yanagi was unnaturally good at reading people.
Yanagi narrowed her eyes. “It seems to me, that I would be your best friend if you had your thoughts in better order.”
Yuga was only partially feigning ignorance. “P-pardon?”
Yanagi let her pencil fall. “Your affections for Neito extend beyond platonic.”
Yuga flinched. “Y-That-I. . .” He stumbled.
Yanagi's gaze softened. “Yuga, listen, I have noticed that you think very lowly of yourself. You do not even consider yourself worthy of our friendship. But it isn't true. You may have made mistakes in your past, and I may never discover what they are. However, it is quite irrelevant. You are fifteen. You are a child. Whatever you have done, you can make up for it.”
Yuga shifted uncomfortably. She was entirely wrong. But she sounded so convincing, that he was tempted to agree. She didn't know he'd caused a death. It probably hadn't even crossed her mind.
“I. . . Appreciate the support.”
“No, you don't. You don't believe me.”
“I-”
“Do not apologize. It's not your fault you are unconvinced.” Why was it so easy for someone with such a soft and quiet voice to interrupt?
“. . . Right.”
“Talk to him.”
“What?”
“Apologies, let me clarify: Tell Neito how you feel. It is not right to be disingenuous with your emotions. Regardless of how he responds, you have to at least inform him of this development.”
Yuga's blood turned to ice. The very idea of this made him want to melt into the floor and become one with the earth. No. He couldn't do this. . .
But Yanagi was also right. He couldn't just hide this from Neito! It wasn't right either.
Damnit!
He couldn't just have a simple choice, could he? If he told Neito, what if he returned the feelings? Then what?! Yuga wouldn't be able to come up with a proper excuse as to why they couldn't get together.
He took a deep breath, trying futilely to calm down. He could handle this.
He. . . Would be honest. About everything. He would confess. . . Both things. . . That way there was no risk of Neito's heart being shattered any more than necessary.
Yuga had liked pretending that his life was normal for a couple of months. Alas, it was time for that delusion to end. Just like every small distraction he'd ever been provided.
“Thank you, Reiko.” Yuga said quietly, ending maybe the last pleasant conversation he would ever have with her.
~~~
Neito didn't know how he'd ended up in this position. Yuga told him they needed to talk about something important, they'd gone to Wisteria Park, and now Neito was standing beside Yuga who looked on the verge of tears.
What the actual fuck?
Had someone hurt Yuga? Neito would kill them if that was the case. Plain and simple. Was that the best course of action? Not according to laws or Reiko, but Neito didn't much care.
Yuga was upset. Neito didn't like it when Yuga was upset. He wanted someone to blame.
It was irrational. He knew it. Did he care enough to change it? Not really.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He needed to listen to what Yuga was going to say.
Yuga fidgeted anxiously.
Neito waited quietly. The silence was absolutely deafening,
Eventually, Neito could stand it no longer. “Yuga, we're still going to be friends, no matter what you tell me. I promise.”
Then Yuga started crying. Shit.
Neito was officially out of ideas on what the hell to do. “I- Yuga? What's wrong? You can tell me, I swear.”
Yuga wiped his face with his sleeve. “You won't still want to be my friend, Neito. Do not promise otherwise. . .”
“. . . Well um. . . What is it, then?” How amazing with words he was. Truly.
Yuga drew in a shaky breath. “I wasn't born with a quirk. . .”
Neito instinctively backed away. He saw where this was going. “Yuga. . . The only person ever documented to be able to give quirks was All For One.”
Yuga nodded. “Yes. . . That has not changed.”
Neito froze on the spot. “Go on.” His voice cooled to the temperature of ice.
“Before you say anything. . . Please listen to everything.” Neito forced himself to nod. Yuga took another breath before continuing. “My parents heard of a man who could give people quirks. They had their suspicions that he was All For One. . . But they still took the risk. And. . . It was. My parents were instructed to report anything they ever learned about the heroes to him. They did. It was small things. . . Things anyone could have learned. But. . . I-I ended up making a report during the final battle. . . Which led to Duel Snake dying.” His voice shook more and more with each word. “I tried to push past all that. I tried to move on and become a normal member of society. I didn't want anyone else to be hurt by me ever again. But. . . You and Reiko kept trying to befriend me. I went along with it. I didn't think it would matter. Then you told me Duel Snake had been your sister. . . And I knew I couldn't stay close with you. Not after. . . Not after I murdered her. I wouldn't have even told you this if Reiko didn't realize I. . . Liked you. Because I'm a coward. I'm a coward and a terrible person. I do not deserve your friendship, or anything in life.”
Neito felt numb. Then he felt like vomiting. Then he started crying. So many emotions spun around in his mind, so many things he felt and wanted to say.
It all culminated in one single thought.
~~~
Yuga tried to walk away after he saw Neito's reaction. It was cowardly, but it wasn't like that was a new development. He should just leave. It wasn't like staying would do anything to help.
Then Neito grabbed his hand. “Wait.” He rasped.
Yuga stopped, and Neito let go. “Yell if you want to.” Yuga mumbled. “I know I deserve it.”
“Yuga. . .” Neito suddenly swept him into a hug, and Yuga was too stunned to make any sort of response. “I'm not mad at you! Damnit! Why would I be mad at you for something your parents did?!”
Yuga felt tears burning in his eyes again. “N-Neito, I got her killed. Your sister! It's my fault she's dead. . .” he cried, unable to comprehend why Neito *wouldn't* be mad at him.
“No, your parents killed her. And fuck, how the hell am I supposed to fully blame them?! They're shit, and I will die on that hill, don't get me wrong. But. . . It's All For One’s fault. And he's already gone.” He sounded resigned. “I could avenge Freza by taking it out on your parents, but what would that do other than hurt you?”
“Neito-”
“I'm not done.” Neito hushed him softly. “Yuga, you are not a coward. You are not a monster. I mean it. I'm not changing what I have already told you, because it holds true.”
Yuga couldn't stop himself from continuing to cry. Why was Neito still being nice to him?! Why wasn't he mad at him?! This was all his fault! If he had just been normal, then none of this would have happened!
“Stop blaming yourself.”
“Why? It's my f-”
“It's not. It is not. Stop saying that it is. Please. Yuga. . . You didn't ask to be born without a quirk. You didn't ask for your stupid fucking parents to decide to seek out an extremely fucking suspicious individual. Why the hell do you think it's your fault? You were a child. You still are a child!” Neito sobbed, anger tussling with the raw despair in his voice.
Yuga was still too stunned to even respond. Why wasn't Neito blaming him? He would have preferred that Neito just blame him and never speak to him again. That would be so much simpler than having this jumble of emotions that he didn't know what to do with.
Neito finally released Yuga, and they stared at each other for a long minute. Dead silence enveloped them.
Neither of them dared to break it. They both had so many things to say, but neither wanted to shatter the thin veil of stability that had settled.
Eventually, Neito spoke. “I'm not going to tell you to turn your parents into the authorities. . . But you should.”
Yuga nodded reluctantly. He knew it was true. He knew his parents deserved to be punished for their crimes. But he couldn't lose them. They weren't the best, but he had no other family in the country. What else was he supposed to do?
“Neito. . . I can't just turn on them.”
“They caused your suffering.”
“I know. . . But. . . They never wanted to. I don't want to risk ending up with someone who won't support me at all.” Yuga crossed his arms, pressing them against his chest.
Neito sighed. “I know. . . It's scary. But it's the best course of action in the long run. My parents are really important in the foster care industry. They would make sure-”
“Neito. Nothing is ever guaranteed. I know what the right choice is. I'm choosing not to do it.” Yuga mumbled miserably.
Neito sighed. “I know. . . Just think about it, okay?”
“I will.” He wouldn't. No more than he already had, anyway. He'd already realized that his parents deserved to be punished for their actions, but he also knew how much it would affect him and so he pushed it aside.
Neito hugged him again. “Okay, I'll drop it. . .” He sounded like he would have preferred to do the opposite of that. “There's something else you have to discuss, right?”
He guided Yuga over to a tree, and they both sat down. Neito turned to Yuga, his gorgeous slate blue eyes glimmering anxiously.
“You. . . Said something about. . . Liking me? What um. . . Exactly do you mean by that? Like. . . We've been friends for a few months, so I'm fairly certain I can make the assumption that you don't mean platonically.”
Yuga's face burned. Wow. If the tonal-whiplash wasn't enough, having to face the consequences of his words was definitely going to kill him.
Considering his plan was to basically run away because Neito would now despise him, he had not prepared to have to actually discuss his feelings.
“I. . . Qui. . . Neito. . . Je t'aime bien. . . More than as an ami.” Oh, great. His nervousness was making him default into French. Good thing Neito understood it.
Neito smiled in an adorably pure way. “Oh, that's good. I was afraid I was going to get rejected if I ever confessed to you.”
Yuga was still so frazzled that he didn't process what Neito was telling him.
Neito started snickering. “You look so fucking cute when you're confused. . . Oh my God.” He borderline squealed.
“I- Thank you?”
Neito wrapped his arms around Yuga's shoulders, scooting closer to him. “I like you back, belle idiote.”
Yuga snapped from his daze of shock and confusion. “You do?” He didn't even register that he'd just been called a ‘beautiful idiot’.
Neito rested his head on Yuga's shoulder. “Yes. How could I not? You're adorable, smart, and quite possibly the sweetest person I know. Can you think of a reason I wouldn't like you?”
Yuga got the impression it was a rhetorical question. “So. . . Do you want to. . . Be my boyfriend?”
“I thought you'd never ask!” Neito exclaimed in exasperation. “Yes!”
~~~
The rest of the school year seemed to fly past. Soon enough, it was time to apply to high school.
Neito and Yuga both wanted to attend UA and become heroes, for varying reasons, but the core of which was wishing to be able to save people.
They both passed the entrance exam, however they had been placed in separate classes.
Yuga had joked that their combined brilliance would have been too much for one class to handle. Even though he was beyond disappointed to no longer share class with his boyfriend of almost six months.
And now here they stood, their first day of UA before them. Their hands clasped together as they gazed at their new school.
Neito turned to Yuga. “Nervous?” He guessed.
Yuga nodded. “Very much so.”
Neito smiled reassuringly. “Hey, even if we're not in the same class, I'll always be here for you. No matter what. I promise.”
Yuga smiled, his anxiety almost fully dissipating. Neito had been having that effect on him lately. “Right. No matter what happens, we'll still have each other. Always.”