Lifeline

HAGAKURE

Hagakure's vision is still blurry when she hears a shrill ding noise that shakes her from her sleep. Half in a daze, her hand reaches for it and at the sight of Akira's name, she smiles giddily with sleepy eyes.

Akira Lora

Akira Lora
Good morning sweetheart! I'm about to go do my workout so my phone would be off, but it would be wrong without sending a good morning message. I hope your morning is as wonderful as you!! <333

Toru Hagakure
You're so cute!! It is now because I was woken up to a message from you >.<

Akira Lora
Sorry I didnt mean to wake you! 

Toru Hagakure
It's fine!! It's definitely started my morning on a positive note, and seeing as im up so early, I can get some extra homework done

Akira Lora
If you say sooooo, from now on i will make sure not to message you as early so you can get some well deserved sleep

My friends are getting impatient with me ;-;

*big hugs and kisses*/talk to you later love 

Toru's eyes finally glance up at the time to see a big 5:24 flashing at her from alarm clock. She groans dramatically, knowing she wont be able to get back to sleep now that she's taken the time to actually wake up. Her frown slowly dissipates back into a goofy smile.

It was totally worth it.

-------

"The fuck are you doing up?"

Hagakure squeaks slightly, her mind still foggy with sleep so she didn't notice the large blonde sitting patiently at the kitchen bench.

"Uh, turns out Akira got up earlier than usual this morning to work out so-" her sentence is cut in half by a quick yawn, and Bakugo sees the sleeve to her long sleeve pyjamas move up as if she's covering her mouth, "-so her good morning message woke me up. I'm so tiredddd!"

The teen makes an annoyed scoffing sound, his face morphing into the familiar scowl. "Stupid Akira, now she's fucking up my mornings too..." 

As he goes off into his angry mumbling Toru frowns. "Don't speak about her like that Bakugo, just because you haven't given her a chance doesn't mean you can trash talk her!" The leg of her loose, cow print pants flares as she stomps her foot. "Akira is amazing, it's your fault for not engaging with her when she makes an effort. She's done nothing for you to speak in such a tone and-" all the words get caught up in her throat. She knows what she wants to say but her mouth cant keep up with the angry spur of her mind, so her lips just part and close and part and close, though of course Bakugo could see none of that. Frustrated at both herself and her classmate she just huffs and stamps her foot one more time before rushing to grab a banana, and storming up the stairs. 

Katsuki watches her leave, his red eyes boring into the fabric of her shirt as she rushes up the stairs. He bites the inside of his cheek silently, quickly going back to gulping down his shake. Was he being cold? He just wanted to become the number one hero and he'll be damned if he let anyone slow him down. Akira just seemed like a bad idea to him. A partner? He didn't have time. She'd just hold him back.

Or are you just scared? Insecure perhaps?

Bakugo slams down his cup, angry at his own thoughts as he swiftly throws on his jacket, not even wanting to entertain the thoughts. 

You ended All Might, don't be so high and mighty.

Opening the door, he starts sprinting, trying to focus on the beating of his heart and his breathing.

Bakugo Katsuki.
Insecure?
Never.

------

Hagakure munches on her banana furiously, watching with angry and squinted eyes at her classmate who runs out the dorm building with incredible speed. She almost wills him to run slower, just so she would have more time to glare at him- but alas, he disappears into the trees and she sighs deeply.

She didn't understand how he could say such things. Akira, messing things up? He spoke as if she was ruining his life. He sounded like he really hated her.

The mere thought had Toru biting at her lip, how could his voice hold such distastefulness towards someone like Akira. (It wasn't towards Akira, it was towards himself. But how could Hagakure know that? Katsuki himself didn't even know yet.) Akira had known them for a grand total of two weeks, and already she was making changes in the class.

Everyone could see how Shoji was that little more talkative. Kamianri was focusing more in his studies, and so was Kirishima. And with their study sessions, their grades were already improving, even after such a short time. Ojiro was that tiny bit more confident and the buzzing energy of excitement was all throughout the class every day. Plus, she didn't even know where to start on how they've helped her.

Hagakure struggled her whole entire life with thoughts about a partner, she pushed down any thoughts about romance because- after all- how could you love someone you couldn't see? How could you be even remotely attracted to someone you couldn't look at? Her lover would never be able to look into her eyes or watch her lips, they wont be able to see what her body looks like in any way shape or form. 

Thoughts like these plagued her mind every day. She was a teenage girl, of course she wanted to find someone to like. Of course she wanted to date someone, fall in love with someone. But who would be interested in someone who was literally invisible?

She hadn't even brought it up with Akira, but somehow they made her feel less meaningless every time they spoke. And it hadn't been too long but Toru noticed the way her thoughts twisted. Akira didn't call her beautiful or gorgeous or anything like that; compliments Hagakure used to pine and wish for. They called her sweet and kind and loving and smart. They said she was strong and talented and attractive. And even in such a short time-span of talking, Hagakure's thought pattern changed; and slowly she was starting to see a reality where she could see herself as those things too.

Was she still scared? God yes, she still hated herself. And although she didn't know what Akira looked like she didn't care, she already knew they were godly. And Toru didn't see herself as worthy. She didn't trust herself to be good enough for them, but already she trusted them to see her as good enough. And that something Hagakure would have laughed at the thought of, merely weeks prior.

"She's amazing," the girl grumbled to herself, looking down at the sweet good morning message, "I don't understand how he can think otherwise."