Scars That Mend - Kiribaku Emergency Services AU

UA High School: Second Year (Summer)

BAKUGO
MEET ME IN THE LOCKER ROOM AFTER SCHOOL

KIRISHIMA
OK...
WHY THOUGH?

BAKUGO
DONT FUCKING QUESTION ME

I threw my phone down on my bed as I got ready for school. It was my first day back after dyeing my hair, and I was starting to get nervous about showing up with such a different look. I told myself that I wanted people to notice the change, but I was still worried about people thinking it looked bad. 

I tried to shake off the jitters, grabbing myself some breakfast from the kitchen before heading out. My Mom was already at work, so I didn't have to go through another argument over my new look, which would probably end with me feeling even more nervous than I already did. I jogged all the way to the school, arriving a little earlier than usual. 

People crowded around the gates as I arrived, encircling some kind of scuffle. I saw a flash of blonde and rushed to the front of the crowd, sighing in relief when I saw a different blonde fighting with a third year. I skirted away from the crowd, catching the eye of Denki who stood near one of the school building entrances with Mina and the usual gang. 

"Look at you!" He yelled, waving energetically as I approached. "You're making me want to dye my hair, dude!"

"Thanks!" I laughed, smiling at my best friend to his right. "Wouldn't have been possible without Mina."

"Oh, stop." She gushed. "I love how you styled it!"

"The red really suits you, Kirishima-kun!" Ochako added.

"Tres magnifique!" Aoyama insisted. I still hadn't asked him what his deal was with speaking French. The five of us headed towards our homeroom class - Denki splitting off eventually to talk to a couple of third year girls - and took our seats in the classroom before most people arrived. I was chatting casually with Mina and our classmate Tsuyu when a shadow appeared over my desk. I looked up and saw Katsuki paused in front of Denki's desk, observing me with a strange look on his face.

"Hi, Bakugo." I offered, shifting under his gaze. 

"Tch." He scoffed, huffing away towards his own desk. He cast a few glances back at me during the period, intense crimson eyes burning, but didn't say another word until we met in the locker room after school had ended. I was waiting on the bench when he entered, hands buried in his pockets. 

"You came." He grumbled, sitting on the other end of the bench. 

"Of course I did." I replied. "Why did you invite me here?"

The blonde hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees. His crimson eyes were unreadable, his jaw clenched. It was a long moment before he spoke. "You said it's not too late for me to change."

"Yeah." I breathed. I froze in place, worried that if I moved I'd spook him. 

"Well..." He grumbled. "Fucking teach me how to be a good person, or something."

"...What?"

The blonde sat up straight, his eyes furious. "Fuck! Forget it. Fuck off."

"No, wait!" I insisted, shifting on the bench so I faced him, one leg either side of the seat. "I just...this seems like it's coming out of nowhere."

"You said I need to be better with people if I wanna be Captain." He huffed, fists clenching handfuls of his pants. "So teach me."

"It's not that simple..." I chuckled, but the blonde looked at me with earnest crimson eyes, lips sightly parted in what could only be described as a pout. He really wanted to change. I knew it wouldn't be an easy road, if even possible at all, but something about the unmasked, genuine look on Katsuki's face made me realise I couldn't say no, even if I wanted to. I sighed. "Okay, I'll help you."