Before And After ||BNHA Kiribaku||

Chapter 37- Eradicate

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Kirishima had done some pondering after the dream about Ashido. He'd been thinking of Bakugo against his other friends, and he'd been thinking of the memories of happiness. He thought of Bakugo's sadness against his own.

He thought of the previous Kirishima's feelings against his own. He thought and thought and thought about those feelings... the emotions he felt in his dreams or the sudden feelings he'd get when he saw Bakugo were there but they clashed with the new doubts he had.

Kirishima liked Bakugo. He didn't know who wouldn't like Bakugo, being as caring as he was. But his past actions made Kirishima wary, after his paroxysm of despairing confusion, his doubt just became too much. 

Why did Bakugo faint? Why didn't he say what happened? Why didn't he want Kirishima in on the plan? Why did he just seem to different than Kaminari or Ashido or Midoriya or Sero, who pitied Kirishima but didn't seem to have that sadness Bakugo had?

Kirishima wanted answers, and he wanted them badly. But he also didn't want to think about it. It made him mad, hot, like he was going to have another outburst again. 

Just thinking about it made him want to leave the room, burn off some energy. Somewhere like the garden, where it was open and the air was fresh. But when he stood at the the door to get out, he paused.

It occurred to him that he'd never actually been to the garden alone before. He hesitated, retracting his hand just a bit, wondering if he should wait for one of his friends to come, then remembered it was the raid day. Nobody was going to come.

Kirishima let his hand waver at the doorknob, before letting it lightly fall to his side. He couldn't do it. Waiting seemed fine. Once everyone returned, they would be able to go to the garden with him.

He turned around. Then he turned around again, cursing at himself. "Why are you such a coward?" the voice would ask him, and he wouldn't have a response to give it.

He didn't want to be a coward. Kirishima could do this. He could reach out to the door, and he could turn the latch. His fingers stretched out, but then faltered at the door. He just stood there.

What if he had another breakdown, and no nurse or doctor would notice? What if the collar started burning up again, despite having not gone off in such a long time? What if he disappeared again?

'No.' he eventually thought. What reason did he have to be scared anymore? The people he knew were brave. They were heroes, fighting almost every single day of their lives. Even the weird but nice rat he'd befriended was at the raid, sneaking through vents all for his safety and happiness. How could they be out there, when Kirishima couldn't even open a door?

He wondered what the previous Kirishima would think of him, if they saw him now. Would they be surprised that he turned out like that? His lips quivered, before breaking into a sad smile.

So, taking a deep breath, Kirishima opened the door. It was as easy as that. He watched it swing on its hinges, wondering why he ever felt so scared in the first place. He stepped out, and quietly started walking towards the garden.

A few nurses and some doctors noticed him, clearly surprised to see him out. But they smiled, waving, some greeting him as he passed. Nobody asked questions.

He exited the hospital, staring far ahead into the parking lot. Red and orange burned over the peaks of the buildings ahead. Come to think of it, the city was almost unfamiliar to him. He'd barely paid attention to it when he'd woken up in the alley, and he'd only ever remembered a grocery store the other times.

Kirishima slowly headed towards the streets, stopping just before completely exiting the parking lot. He could've easily stepped out. Kirishima wondered why there wasn't a gate blocking him from leaving, but he was also glad for it, because then it would've seemed like a prison.

The roads were pretty busy, with cars zooming past at every second. Kirishima didn't want to risk heading out, so he just sat next to a wall, watching more and more cars go by with the sunset painting the background. 

Kirishima wouldn't dare go out into the city anytime soon, after all the past experiences he'd had, but he felt proud enough just going outside alone, with no reason other than getting fresh air.

He leaned against the edge of the brick wall. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there until a staff worker approached him, joining him in the scenery.

"Kirishima, we were wondering where you'd gone," he said, hands in his pockets. Kirishima recognized him as a secretary. "You weren't in the garden. You're not gonna run off on us?"

The redhead pouted and crossed his arms, like he was insulted. "No."

"Good thing," the secretary grinned. "Even doing this isn't part of my job description. But seeing as I was worried about you, why not? So do you want to come back inside? Dinner is gonna be ready."

Kirishima shook his head. "I want to k-eep watching."

"I see," the worker said. "Mind if I stay out here with you?"

Kirishima shook his head. He was aware they were only there to monitor him, but company was nice enough.

As the sun was fully setting, Kirishima's ears caught the sound of... something. Large, ringing... alarms. His eyes caught red flashing on an ambulance that zoomed past the street, fast, like a blink.

At first, Kirishima didn't think to much of it, but a familiar face caught him. Iida ran full speed ahead towards him, startling both the hardening-quirk user and the secretary.

"Oh, Kirishima, good, you're already out here," Iida gasped. "Everybody nominated for me to spread the message so I have arr-"

"What's going on?!" the secretary demanded.

"Right, excuse me," Iida coughed. "Bakugo sustained an injury, and we thought it'd be good to tell you, Kirishima, in case he won't be able to visit you-"

Kirishima shot up like a missile. "W-here?!"

"C-Currently in an ambulance but being transported to a h-"

Kirishima whipped his head towards the secretary, a pleading but hard look all at the same time. He wouldn't go without seeing Bakugo, and if the blond were to be bedridden he would go straight over to that hospital with all his worry and anger all in one.

"I don't want you to worry, Kirishima, it's not a big injury," Iida said quickly. "Bakugo will be fine."

Kirishima shook his head. It wasn't about that. He already knew Bakugo would be fine, because he was Bakugo. He would go over there so Bakugo would know that he knew about the injury and he was part of the mission. He would get all the answers he wanted.

"...I'll get everything ready." the secretary said, turning around.

Iida's eyes widened. "Wait, don't tell me-"

"Come on, Kirishima, we're going!"

The redhead followed immediately, with a reluctant Iida soon chasing their tail.

Kirishima didn't even remember the ride there. All he could think of was everything Bakugo said, worried for the redhead's safety while he went and got injured. It was terrible he got hurt, Kirishima knew, but with all the trust he had, he knew the blond would be fine.

The city was big and grand outside the general hospital, but Kirishima disregarded it and went straight in. Up the steps and down hallways, he followed Iida until they reached a room, closed, but glass peeking through the walls. Bakugo was in there, getting operated by doctors.

Kirishima's stomach dropped. Pressing his fingers against the thick glass pane, he waited as more emergency beds rolled by him.

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1320 words

A/N- holy bajeezes i almost forgot to updates my stories