From Distant Lands - Juro's Return

Chapter Nineteen

By the time Shoto and I track down Deku and Kirishima, it's already early evening and the sun is beginning to set over the city. When the four of us arrive outside of Bakugo's apartment building, a wave of vague nostalgia washes over me and I have to shake my head to clear the fog... for some reason... I absently touch my fingertips to my lips, wondering what this feeling is. The thought vanishes as soon as it appeared though and I follow my friends into the building, taking the elevator almost all the way up.

"So... you really haven't heard from Kaa-chan recently?" Deku asks Kirishima and for a second, his eyes flit up towards me, an awkward expression on his face.

"No... not in a few days at least. He hasn't talked to any of us since..." he stops himself, face flaming with embarrassment.

"I-I mean..." he stammers and I have to look away, shame burning through me.

"It's fine, Kiri" I tell him, trying not to pay attention to it. By now, everyone knows what happened between me and Bakugo and most of them know it wasn't by choice either, still, every time someone looks at me like that... I grit my teeth. I knew this was a bad idea.

"Let's go" Shoto says calmly, silencing the rest of us and prompting us to follow him down the hall towards Bakugo's apartment. Once we get there, he knocks quickly and the four of us wait in anxious silence. What does it mean if he's not here? Is he... really a suspect?

"What if...?" my voice cuts off as the door opens into the dark apartment and Bakugo steps halfway into the light of the hallway, looking like hell.

"What?" he snaps and I have to fight to keep my face completely emotionless. He looks exhausted... he has bags under his eyes, his clothes are barely on the right way, and it seems like he hardly even notices I'm here. The difference in his appearance is so drastic that I immediately feel on edge... this... isn't like him. I don't know how I know that, but something inside me is sounding off an alarm. Something's not right.

"Kaa-chan..." Deku begins and I know he can sense it too. Bakugo glares at him, a murderous look in his eyes that's hardly familiar.

"What do you want?" he growls darkly, clearly in no mood to be bothered.

"Hey, man... we're coming to check on ya. You haven't been getting back to me so..." Kirishima's sheepish explanation trails off when Bakugo looks first at him and then finally, at me. I swallow, noting the way the hatred in his gaze almost seems to grow. What the hell?

"You? Here to check on me?" he scoffs, shoving open the door and turning on his heel to stalk back into his apartment. I look between the other three guys and I can sense the collective tension and air of urgency. We all follow Bakugo anyway, each of us on edge and prepared for anything. If Bakugo really has gone crazy, it'll take all of us to take him down.

"Bakugo?" Shoto calls as we get into the main area of the apartment. He's got a nice place; open floor plan, windows facing the city, and all clean surfaces and simple designs. It's strangely familiar though I can't remember ever being here before. I look around suspiciously... wherever Bakugo went, I can't see him anymore.

"Shoto?" I say, a warning note to my voice. This doesn't seem right somehow...

"Don't act so uptight, I'm right here, dumbass" Bakugo mutters, coming out of the bedroom and walking past us towards the fridge. The rest of us visibly relax, but...

"Kaa-chan... what's going on? Where have you been?" Deku demands, earning another withering stare.

"Where else would I be?" he snaps and Shoto and I both look at each other tensely. Shoto's expression urges me to step up, but I hesitate, not wanting to make the situation worse. What if Bakugo really is off the rails? And what if it's because of me? I try to convey that with just a look, but Shoto doesn't budge. In fact, he only glares at me, making me want to curse.