Little Stars

Chapter 9

Silence hung all around him, like a thick and impenetrable cloak. How long it lasted, he couldn't tell. It might have been only seconds or maybe hours, he didn't know. His thoughts always breathe a life of their own in the silence; twisting and turning on each other as enemies unto themselves.

He knew that he must stop what he was doing, but he couldn't—

It was his fault, if he could have saved him before the building collapsed on him, if he—

You were busy fighting— Hizashi's voice said in his mind, but Aizawa shook his head.

Stupid.

He couldn't save his best friend. He watched him, dying in front of him and did nothing.

If only he was—

"Hey, Oboro," Aizawa's voice cracked, and he choked on a breath that turned into a sob. It ripped out of his throat, and he couldn't control it. Couldn't control himself. It hurt too much.

He was looking at the dark blue sky, vision blurry and the damn tears didn't want to stop flowing. He thought after all these years, he would be over his death but his grief for Oboro never truly ended. Some days it's softer, more gentle and some days it feel sharp— the days nearer to Oboro's anniversary were the sharp ones

Pathetic— a voice sneered in his mind.

"I missed you," Shouta didn't like to show emotions, it had all died after Oboro's death— but today was Oboro's anniversary, he didn't want to visit the empty grave with Hizashi and Nemuri, instead he found himself sitting alone in a hidden place in the P.E ground at 5:30, doing nothing except gazing at the dark sky.

He hoped that none of the students would see him, it would be embarrassing watching their Sensei crying.

And on top of Oboro's Anniversary, a week had passed, meaning that Keigo and Touya would age a year. He knew he should return back to their dorm, to see what would happen to them, but he wanted to sit alone, talking to the blue sky as if Oboro would hear him.

Could Oboro return like how Touya Todoroki returned? — he desperately thought, but he knew it wouldn't be true.

Oboro had really died even though they didn't find his corpse.

Oboro had died and he didn't do anything to save him — the underground hero thought angrily.

"I wish you were still here," A sob caught in his throat, escaping in a strangled cry.

But of course, there was no response— just Aizawa's sound in the darkness of the night.

"I hope you are happy and safe wherever you are," I hope you are not suffering— Aizawa thought.

His friend was so young, how could he be taken from them this early? It wasn't fair.

Aizawa sat in silence for a minute, and looked at the goggles in his hands; the only reminder from his friend —

"I will lend you my goggles," Oboro said excitedly. "With these, you can protect your eyes as you get in close."

"You don't have—" he began to say, but his words were cut off by Oboro.

"Now we match!" His tone still held the same excitement as before.

Why did he leave?

"I am sorry, Oboro," he said, softly, still looking at the goggles. "I am sorry," the tears had already dried, no more left to fall.

He was aware that he should leave to go to Keigo and Touya's dorm, but instead, he kept sitting. Thinking about the what if — would they have opened their own agency? Would Oboro teach with them at U.A.? Would Oboro be a pro hero or would he prefer to be an underground one like Aizawa?