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𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞

"God, why do you have to make a scene whenever a guy comes close to me?" You yell at your brother after he freaked out on your friends and kicked them out. "You said it was fine for them to come over! Why are you acting like this?"

"I said it was fine for them to come over. Not for them to get all touchy-feely with you in my fucking apartment." He hisses.

You groan in annoyance. "How many times do I have to tell you? They're just my friends! They were comforting me, nothing else!"

"You might believe that bullshit, but I was a teenage boy once too. I know how their stupid horny brains work and I know they're no good for you."

"What do you expect me to do, then? Just cut them off because they might like me? I can't. I won't. They're my only friends." You tell him.

"What? What do you mean? What about that Jirou chick? Aren't you guys best friends?" He asks. You shake your head, biting back tears. "Jirou left me a while ago. But it wasn't her fault, it was mine. I fucked everything up and she ditched me." 

His eyebrows furrow. "What do you mean she ditched you? I'm sure whatever happened can be fixed if you-"

"You don't get it, Naoki. She's gone as in not in this city going somewhere to explore herself kinda gone. I don't even know where she is. She won't tell me." You murmur.

"Well, I'm sure that's not your fault." He says, trying to comfort you when he realizes how upset you're getting.

You shake your head at him. "You just don't get it. I kissed her, and I did much more with her than I've ever done with Kirishima and Bakugou. And I liked her. I really did. So- it's not just boys you have to worry about."

"Wait, are you saying you're..." His eyes widen slightly as he realizes. You nod in response, growing much more afraid as you realize what you said. "Yeah...Are you mad? Whatever you do, please don't tell mom. She'll kill me."

"I won't tell Mom. I don't even talk to her anymore anyway, and I'm not mad. I love and support you no matter what. I just wish you told me sooner. Maybe I could've-"

"Why do I have to tell you everything? You never tell me what you're doing when you're out at work all the time or hanging out with your friends, and I never ask. I'm grown now, Naoki. I can take care of myself. If I need your help, I'll ask for it. But I trust Bakugou and Kirishima, and they're the only friends I have left and I'm not going to let them go."

—

Things have been tense ever since your argument with Naoki. He's been more irritable than usual, and less trusting, but you don't care. You set a boundary, and he's just going to have to suck it up and live with it.

In the meantime, you've decided to take a few days off from school for your mental health. Everything has been so overwhelming with sports, people, school, and now your injury. Not to mention you have surgery in a few weeks, which you're very nervous about. Your brother suggested that you go to school to get your mind off of things, but you don't feel like limping around the building on your crutches..or talking to your friends. You just want to have your alone time. You deserve a break, after all.

You spend the days going on your phone, scrolling through TikTok and social media, and binge-watching some shows. But you can only do so much of that before you get bored.

You wander around the apartment, before entering Naoki's office. In there, you find his Xbox. Man, it's been forever since you played on it. Probably not since middle school, when it was gifted to you by your stepdad. Of course, he said it was a gift for you two to share, but you always wound up fighting over it.

You switch it on, sitting in his gamer chair and putting on the headset. You're only online for a few minutes and you get five invites to a party, and reluctantly, you decide to join it.

"I thought you were at work today. Are you seriously skipping? Or did you lie?" A familiar voice asked.

The silence is loud, defining even. So, you decide to unmute your microphone and speak. "Uh, this isn't Naoki. It's (y/n), his sister. But you sound familiar, have I met you before?"

"Oh, yeah. It's Shigaraki." He murmurs, surprised to hear your voice before it changes into something else altogether. "Are you even allowed to be playing on his Xbox? Do you know what you're doing?"

"Uh yeah, we were supposed to share the Xbox originally. Naoki just hogged it. But it's mine too. And I know what I'm doing. I've played plenty of different games before." You remark, rolling your eyes at his condescension.

"Oh? So, you gonna get on Seige or what?" He asks. "Ewww no. Seige is lame and full of toxic assholes.
It's almost as bad as COD."

He sighs in annoyance. "You're wrong but whatever. What do you want to play then?"

You hum to yourself, before looking through the CDs on Naoki's desk, and then finding one you want. "Have you ever played Overwatch?"

—

You spend the next few hours revisiting your childhood game, playing countless matches with Shigaraki. He's fun to play with, even if he can be icky and incel-like at times. Whenever it gets too far, you correct his behavior, or do your best to. Sometimes he listens, sometimes he doesn't.

"Shit, I have to go. Naoki's gonna be home any minute now." You realize when you check the time. "Lameee. Just keep on playing."

"I can't. We've already been fighting enough, I don't need him getting mad at me for this stupid shit too." You reply.

He sighs dramatically. "Fine, can you at least give me your snap so I can know when you're getting on again?"

"Oh, sure. It was fun playing with you." You type it into the chat, letting him add you. "Yeah, you're not that bad. Even if you are a typical Mercy main."

"Yeah, whatever. You should be grateful I saved you all those times." You tell him, and before he can argue with you, you hear your brother outside the door, his keys jingling in his hands.

"Okay, I'll text you later, bye!"

"Bye."