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“Y’know if you want to be a hero that badly there might actually be another way, just pray that you’ll be born with a quirk in your next life-” The words flowed off Bakugou’s tongue before his thoughts could tell him otherwise. “-and take a swan dive off of the roof of the building.” Deku’s fists clenched, and his shoulders rose to ear level, whole body shaking in rage as he swung around to meet Bakugou’s gaze. Anger flared in the Deku’s eyes as they locked onto Bakugou’s. The glare was filled with deep, building resentment, so it coming from Deku of all people caught him off guard.
He brushed it off, hiding his surprise by returning the nerd’s glare with one of his own and simultaneously raising his hand, letting a few warning sparks fly. “Something wrong?” Katsuki asked as the quirkless boy seemed to lose all the steam he held just moment ago, returning to his usual cowardly self, shaking from fear this time as he stared at Bakugou. His fists were no longer clenched, instead his hands hung at his side; his shoulders were still tense, but that was to be expected.
☆*:.｡. ___ . ｡.:*☆
By the time they reached the shoe lockers, the extras had started talking about something Bakugou wasn’t paying attention to, too busy trying to deal with his own words playing in his mind on repeat. If he hadn’t spent years practicing his poker face, then a look that was a mixture of wanting to puke and wanting to scream would’ve decorated it. Instead, a look of annoyance painted his face as Extra 1 brought up the topic of crushes. Memories of the green-haired boy began to flash through his mind, and his heart started to ache.
Bakugou stopped, mere inches away from exiting the building, choosing to instead turn around. He could’ve given a lame excuse, say that he was supposed to go grocery shopping and left the list the old hag gave him in his desk, instead he left without a word, not even sparing a glance at them. The two extras called after him, making noises of complaint as they settled on waiting for him, but their voices quickly faded as he took the stairs two at a time. “This is stupid, Deku wouldn’t...” He mumbled and yet he continued his hurried stomp towards the roof.
☆*:.｡. ___ . ｡.:*☆
The roof door swung open, and Bakugou’s eyes searched for the same boy they always did. The boy that lingered in his mind out of disgust, hatred, pity or whatever else he thought would fit the moment when asked. Though truthfully it was something he dared not name, lest it be something that reveals how truly weak he is and compromises his goals. Relief flooded his bones in a way he hadn’t thought was possible as he confirmed Deku wasn’t on the roof.
This feeling was short lived as he instinctively peered over the edge at the sound of familiar footsteps on the ground. He watched as the Koi nipped at the book Katsuki had carelessly tossed out the window earlier. His eyes lingered on the nerd’s every movement, from the way his fingers delicately picked up the damaged notebook to the way his shoulders hunched, and he lowered his head slightly. Guilt, shame, and the other feelings he avoided all flooded him, becoming stronger the longer he stared at Deku. The quirkless boy left and Katsuki was quick to do the same.
☆*:.｡. ___ . ｡.:*☆
Bakugou pondered to himself, wondering why he felt the need to check the roof. It wasn’t as though he cared for the other boy; those days were long past him. A time that left a bitter taste in his mouth whenever he thought back to it. It was just in case, that’s what he settled on. If Deku really did kill himself then it could’ve been traced back to Katsuki and affect his chances of becoming a hero. It was a precaution, a form of reassurance that his future was safe.
It was for Bakugou’s sake, not Deku’s. He repeated it in his head thousands of times, hoping to eventually convince himself that it was something he actually believed. “Deku would never...” he muttered, though he didn’t let his mind wander to what he would’ve done if he had found Deku on the roof, or if Deku did kill himself before he even got there. “Deku would never...” He mumbled out a final time as he neared the final steps, mentally preparing himself to meet back up with the extras.