~BNHA~ Everything That I Am

Chapter 5

"So, what were you doing when all this happened?"

Chieko was the curious type. She had asked them everything from the mundane, favorite color to the more complicated thoughts on what would happen to their future. But Izuku had the suspicion it was a nervous habit to fill in the dead space when she wasn't asking questions than because of her genuine want to ask them.

"Uhh....I..I was f.finishing m.my training for the U.A. Exams." He said.

Izuku did his best to answer her, but some of her questions brought up memories that he wasn't ready to bring to the surface.

"Oh you were going to apply to U.A.? What course?" She asked.

In all honesty, Izuku didn't know how to react to the girl. She was nice enough, but he didn't have that much experience talking to the opposite sex, and although he wanted to treat her no different than he would anyone else, he found every time she looked his way, his face would grow hot, and his words would stutter.

It didn't help that Kacchan seemed on edge, staring him down every time his face went red.

"The Hero Course." He replied.

"What about you Kacchan?" Chieko asked.

Izuku cringed; Kacchan didn't give him much in regards to lee-way. After the fall of their friendship as kids, it had only gotten worst over the years, excluding recent events, but if there was one thing that only Izuku could get away with its calling him Kacchan. Even all these years later, even when Kacchan had become his middle school bully, no one, and he means no one had the right to use that name.

Except for Izuku.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Kacchan yelled.

Chieko startled, jumping forward and away from Kacchan, who had been standing right behind them. The movement caused her to run into a passing group, and she instantly apologized, although they didn't even acknowledge them as they kept moving.

She gave Kacchan the side-eye, half in a glare at scaring her and half in curiosity at his reaction. "You let Midoriya call you that."

"That's different." He muttered but didn't elaborate as he pushed past them to stay a few steps ahead of them. There was a pink tinge to his ears as he slumped forward as if to hide it. Izuku smiled at his friend; he wouldn't deny that some part of him was happy that only he had the right to use his childhood nickname. Even if their bond had been strained over the years, it was never wholly broken between them.

He had to admit Kacchan had been nicer to him, although whether it was permanent or only temporary had yet to be determined; Izuku wanted to hope this was a sign that Kacchan was turning around though.

Izuku shrugged when she looked at him for answers; there was an awkward chuckle that escaped him when she didn't let up, so he did his best to explain.

"Kacchan is my childhood friend." He said.

She didn't seem satisfied with his answer, but she didn't push any further. They had been walking for a few hours now, vigilant of their surrounding.

The destruction from the first attacks could be seen all around them, only getting worst the more they moved into the city. Holes on the side of buildings, some of them smoking from the possible fires that had been recently stopped. The streets were covered in chunks of concrete and steel beans, cars stuck in a permanent traffic jam after being abandoned.

But with all the mess it did seem the closer they got to the center of the city where the safety area was, the more things seemed to calm and pick up at the same time.