Drown in my ocean of black box dye

Chapter 9

Was the light supposed to be this bright? He couldn't keep his eyes open.

***

The neon lights blinded Bakugou, putting his hand up to the fluorescent bulbs. He tried to blink the white from his eyes, still sat uncomfortably in the booth with his classmates. Sero and Denki flipped through the pages of the songbook with Tokoyami, trying to find him a dark enough tune. Ochako and Tsuyu were tearing through snacks, and Deku was singing very badly on the stage, Jirou, Shoji, and Iida cheering him all.

Bakugou hadn't moved since he got to the bar, thinking hard over the last interaction he had with Kirishima. He had seemed happy, but was it weird to say he was too happy? Before Bakugou left, they'd eaten on the couch, Bakugou in Kirishima's lap as he played Breath of the Wild.

He knew that Kirishima was excitable, but he had made a point to cheer Bakugou on no matter what he was doing. It didn't seem right, that once constant bound of energy resurfacing in one night. Fiddling with his straw, he burned holes into the tiles.

Kirishima had been talking funny too, making all these cryptic statements and refusing to return promises. It made Bakugou feel seasick, like the floor was shifting around him, moving side-to-side.

His phone buzzed on the other side of the table and he reached for it, only for it to be pulled away. Ochako held it up, shaking her head, "No phone. Kirishima's orders."

Sighing, Bakugou sunk back into the leather, scowling harshly. Mina grabbed the phone from Ochako's hand, earning her a nasty glance. "Speaking of Kirishima," she sighed, holding the phone up, "he's the one that called."

Worrying his lip, Bakugou ripped it from her grasp, looking at it.

1 Missed Call: Kirishima

Staring at the screen again, Bakugou watched as another notification popped up.

1 Voicemail: Kirishima

Bakugou pushed out of the booth, waving off the group protests.

"I have to piss," he snarled, the words a thin excuse. No one said anything.

He stalked off towards the door, pushing through it and into the cold bathroom. Shutting and locking himself in the stall, Bakugou sat on the toilet. He opened the phone app and went to voicemails.

His box was almost full, stuffed to the brim with missed calls from his mom and dad, along with a couple from Best Jeanist. However, the newest and oldest voicemails were from the same person.

The first voicemail had never pierced his ears, refusing to put himself through the pain of the past so he could move forward. Now, it seemed to be calling his name. It had been sitting there since the third week of summer, a time that Bakugou now realized lined up with Kirishima's first attempt. He was struck with cold terror.

He put the phone up to his ear, the play button pressed. His knees were locked together, shaking under the tension.

Hey, Bakugou.

It's... been a while since we spoke. Which sucks. I miss you, like, a lot.

Haha... maybe that's weird. I heard from the news you're working with Miruko this summer. That's really exciting! I'm proud of you.

...

I don't think I'm coming back to UA. Uh, I just don't think I'm cut out for all of this... stuff if you know what I mean.

Do you want me to come back? Like, would you miss me if I wasn't there?

I just don't really think you would care. I don't think anyone would care if I didn't come back actually.