Aka's Tale

A Change of Thoughts

One month. One week. Three days.

That's how long it's been since Aka Wren enrolled in UA. And by GOD it was tiring. He'd ended up having to quit his job because Aizawa Sensei had given him training tasks that absolutely WRECKED his schedule. He didn't complain, because personally he didn't care, but he missed his job. He missed his job a lot more than he'd like to admit.

The cafe was a safe place for him during his insomniac episodes or when his intrusive thoughts kicked his rear end. And he had to quit it.

But it didn't matter. He was a hero. What hero did a job like that? A cafe job? No. Heroes only work as lawful jobs! Like police, firefighters! Heroes saved people's lives, not dish out mocha lattes with cat designs! Heroes got praised for their bravery and courage, not for their baked goods quality!

Heroes were important and necessary in every day lives... not cafe workers. Who goes out of their way to make sure cafe workers are okay? Nobody. Because-

"OI! Extra, are you awake in there?!"

Aka flung himself out of his bed and hit his head. Hard. Right on the corner of his dresser. Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark... or maybe it'll cut him. His head throbbed and he felt... dizzy as the crimson flowed down the side of his face.

It's fine. He's fine. Heroes have gone through worse. Heroes deal with worse. If he's going to be a hero he can't let this stupid little minor "injury" stop him from anwering the door for his cru- er- classmate! Classmate. Not "crush." Definitely not a crush. Why would he have a crush, haha, heroes don't have time for romance!

Besides, why would he have a crush on the jerk who almost exploded his face off?? The blond... with ruby red eyes... fair skin... fiery determination... sparking boldness... calloused hands from working hard... and amazing ab-

"Ey rip-off! I'm talkin' to ya! Open the door!"

Door. Door. Open- open the door. It's fine, just open the door. Just gotta... get up. Just gotta get up and get to the door. Simple task. Easy. Easy. It's so easy. He could do this with his eyes closed and-

THUD

Ow... his.. Everything. He's never going to be a hero, he's such a patheti-

"I'm not fucking waitin' anymore, I'm comin' in."

The door on Aka's dorm swung open and there stood the tall, spikey haired teen. His eyes narrowed and his eyebrow raised a bit as he saw the writhing shifter. His pathetic, scrawny body writhed in pain, blood running down his face as slight bruises seemed to start forming.

"Jeez, you still can't walk? How old are you? Three?" Bakugou snaps. But no response. Only... a sob.

"I'm never... never going to make it... I can't be a hero, I can't.. I can't even open the stupid... stupid door... for a classmate... How am I going to save people's lives if I can't even walk correctly..." Aka cried out, barely breathing as he degraded himself.

Bakugou froze up and tensed. Is this really Aka? The... happy-go-lucky extra who was always chatting it up with the nerd and with half-and-half? The little worming transfer who was always saying how much he admired All-Might and Eraserhead like there was no tomorrow? No way! This is just an act. He'll get up and say he's joking in the next ten seconds!

One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.

Nothing. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even a peep. Not even that stupidly adorable giggle. Adorable? No. Not adorable. Annoying. That stupidly annoying giggle. Nothing about the runt was adorable. He was only ever annoying.