From The Sidelines.

The Track Field.

There has always been an unreachable space between the two of them. Izuku pondered that thought as he stands on the other side of a chain-linked fence separating the track field and the sidewalk.

Katsuki was always high in the sky, touching the stars every time he jumped, while Izuku made his place on the ground, and the distance between them forever a constant.

There was nothing wrong with the ground. Izuku liked how the grass feels between his toes, how the page of a book flips through his fingers as he lays against a tree, all of the sort. But there was something about watching Katsuki as he pole vaults: running up to the line, then jumping, so high into the sky that Izuku wonders if he had wings.

It was only on the field that Katsuki had a calm demeanor on him. The concentration in those ruby eyes were evident, as was the intentionality of every movement. No ounce of energy was wasted in any unnecessary action. It was one of the few times where Katsuki was quiet.

In order to get home, Izuku had to walk past the track field every day, and Izuku found solace in the fact that it was one of the rare moments that he could look at the explosive male and not have it turn into an argument. He could even stand there and watch for a few minutes, and nothing would happen. He thinks: he's probably been watching Katsuki like this for a few minutes every day since they were 11. That was 6 years after their friendship dissipated. And 7 years ago from today, as they were now both 18 in their final year of high school.

In a city as quiet as Ise, someone like Katsuki was a huge deal. The blonde, ever since he laid his hands on a pole, had been indestructible when it came to the sport. At first, it was light hearted praise: the young 11 year old who could get 14 feet of air on a pole vault and swept local competitions. He was a child prodigy, but people expected him to reach his peak soon enough. After all, small-town boy from a small school district: what's the most that could happen.

And then, as Katsuki's 15th birthday approached, and he was now taking a monopoly on regional competitions, the talk around town became a little more serious. He was unbeatable, a talent that was truly blessed to few in the world. He was bred for this.

And now, as Bakugo Katsuki is 18 years old, he was in the top five in the entire country in the youth division to be recruited for pros at a personal record of 17.6 feet. Some even say in about three years, he'll represent the nation in the Olympic League.

In a town that doesn't seem to offer much, Ise's extremely well put-together pole vault team, and its star Bakugou Katsuki, was the city's pride and joy, minus the blonde's reputation. To the rest of the world, pole vault isn't as popular of a sport as soccer, football, baseball, or the like; however, to Ise, everyone and their mother's cousin's dog knew of it. And if they knew of pole vault, then they knew of Bakugo Katsuki. Although there are 44 types of track-and-field events, it was the only one that really mattered here.

Izuku had never taken his eyes off of his former friend, no matter how much he wanted to. Katsuki was mesmerizing to watch. And if the blonde's teammates on the team noticed him there, they haven't said much, probably knowing what kind of relationship or lack thereof they had.

Once upon a time, they might have been childhood friends, but Izuku could barely remember the last time Katsuki gave a smile rather than a sneer his way. At some point when they were both 5 years old, Katsuki's personality just flipped on him. Suddenly, the blonde became a lot harsher, with his words and his actions.

Izuku couldn't even pinpoint what incited it, and he didn't bother asking. Katsuki probably wouldn't tell him. Middle school was especially bad, but as they entered high school, something was different. Izuku gained a bit more confidence, and gained new friends: Ochaco, Iida, Shoto, and the bunch. And Katsuki, who previously was surrounded by assholes, was slowly integrated into his group of friends who were much better influences on him: Kirishima, Denki, Mina, Hanta. All of whom were also part of the high school pole vault team.