Bakugou hadn't even made it down the steps before he was caught. "Kacchan?" He grumbled, the lights from inside pouring out into the night as the door opened. It shut behind him, a small voice speaking out to him.
"Where are you going?" "None of your fucking business." Bakugou hadn't attempted to continue down the stairs, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His sweaty fingers fidgeted, trying to think of what else to say to his classmate. "You leave every night. You never tell us where you're going either." The voice was coming closer, concern softening his tone. The same kind of tone as that day. "And...? You're point?"
Midoriya stepped up beside his friend, taking a peek at his unexpectedly calm face. "We're worried. You haven't been yourself since you came back last night." Midoriya ran his hand through his green curls. "You barely spoke at all. That's definitely not like you." Bakugou sighed. He hadn't told anybody about his nightly visits. He couldn't make himself admit to it. Y/N would be upset with him for being such a coward about it, or maybe that was just his own mind speaking.
"I have a girlfriend." It took a moment to process. Midoriya's eyes widened, a blush painting his cheeks. "O-oh!" "Or...uh—I don't know," Bakugou felt his face flush as he tried to hide it with his hands, "I don't know what we are." "Do you go see her, then?" "Yeah. I'm worried about her. I feel bad about it though." Bakugou sat down on the steps, hiding his head in his arms. Midoriya joined his side once more, scooting closer. "Feel bad?"
"I assume she can't handle herself. I hate it. It's my fault that she's sad. It's my fault she hates herself." Midoriya peered around, clearing his throat, "I don't understand?" Bakugou's fists shook, pressing against his temples. "She's quirkless, Deku!" Bakugou lifted his face, tears streaming down his cheeks, "And it's because of people like me that she's in pain! That's not who I'm supposed to be! That's not what a hero is supposed to be!" He tried to wipe his face with his sleeves, rubbing his skin until it turned red. "I always thought she needed people like us to protect her. But all I've ever done is hurt her."
Bakugou covered his watering eyes, his throat sore as he coughed, "She never needed me, I needed her!" Midoriya, with uncertain hands, reached out, placing them atop his friend's back. "Kacchan..." he tried to calm him down. Bakugou felt the blanket of guilt being pulled away, finally the cold, bittersweet truth latched on. Y/N had been right. This feeling, letting go, becoming someone new, was strange. Now, however, the feeling of her departing hand still lingering on his skin, guilt continued to hold on. "I don't know where she is," Bakugou mumbled through his sobs, "She could be in danger." "Danger?" Bakugou continued to dry his face, "people were chasing her last night. She didn't want me to fight them, but I have no idea how she can do it herself." "Did they have quirks?" "I don't know! I don't know anything! I'm the worst!"
Midoriya trembled, hovering his hands over Bakugou who started to cry again. "Kacchan, it'll be okay." "I'm so sorry!" He faced Midoriya, bowing his head, "I'm sorry for what I've done to you! I was wrong...and-and stupid!" Midoriya grimaced, awkwardly laughing as he took Bakugou's shoulders, "Hey, hey, it's fine. It's fine, Kacchan, I promise!" Bakugou reached out his hand to his friend as if he was sitting in a stream, slowly being pulled further down. He was drowning in the low tide, desperate to be pulled out from it.
Midoriya smiled, his freckles stretching across his cheeks as he took Bakugou's hand, "It's alright, Kacchan. I've already forgiven you for that." Bakugou's tears continued to fall, the waters died down and he took a full breath of fresh air. "Kacchan...you can stop crying." He lifted his shoulders, patting Bakugou for reassurance. "I'm sure your girlfriend is alright. If you think she's strong then she must be." Light shone on their faces as the dorm's door reopened, three heads popping out. "Girlfriend?! Bakugou had a girlfriend?!" Kaminari giggled to himself, "is she deaf and blind?" "Shut up!" Bakugou shouted, standing up. Midoriya took a sigh of relief.
Kirishima and Mina laughed, surrounding him as he boiled in anger. "What's her name!" "What's her quirk?" "Is she hot?" Midoriya stood up, looking out into the night as the wind gripped hold of him. He was silently thankful to whoever had reached his friend. Bakugou was different, even if no one else noticed. "Quirkless? Oh, Kirishima, I think our Bakugou has been replaced." Midoriya joined his classmates, laughing with them as they poked fun. "She's really cool and she thinks I'm really cool, so you can fuck off!" "Wait, are we sure she's real?" "I'll kill you!"
Bakugou hadn't gotten any quieter, but he had discovered who he wanted to be.
———
I know it's very short, but I realized that these chapters were supposed to be short and my dumb dumb brain made them extra long along the way. It's also short because the next chapter is the last one, so I'm working my way to it. I'm still getting used to writing endings lol, so please bear with me! Thanks! -May
