STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 16 // Done

Aizawa kept his promise and allowed you to drive to school the next day, and, thankfully, the sudden change from being on the right to being on the left side of the road didn't shake your driving abilities, and the two of you made it to U.A. unscathed.

As you parked in the staff lot behind the building, a sudden wave of anxiety washed over you as reality finally set in.

You were about to return to U.A. You were about to see your classmates, your friends, your family, again after being away for months. You were about to be bombarded with questions, and you were expected to give answers.

Aizawa could clearly sense your worry, and you soon felt a calloused but warm hand against your shoulder.

"You'll be okay," he assured. "These are people you know, people who understand you."

"I know," you sighed, handing him his keys after having taken them out of the ignition.

"You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to, and you don't have to answer any questions you don't want to," he explained, "and, if the people inside that building are really on your side, they won't force you to."

You simply nodded in response, not feeling the need to carry on the conversation any further, and grabbed your bag from the backseat before getting out of the car.

Aizawa followed in suit, using his keys to lock the vehicle before the two of you entered the school via one of the back doors to avoid having to walk all the way around the building to the front doors.

U.A felt like an entirely different environment. You had adapted so much in America that switching back to a Japanese lifestyle was odd. You hadn't worn your uniform in so long. It almost felt uncomfortable now.

You managed to make it to Class 1-A without being bombarded, but that was mainly because you were using Aizawa as a shield the entire way there.

You continued to hide behind Aizawa even when he opened the door to the classroom, causing most of your friends' chatter to dissipate. However, he couldn't remain your shield forever.

As Aizawa headed over to his podium, you were revealed to the rest of the class, and you forced yourself to hold your head high instead of cowering beneath the shame weighing you down.

Your classmates' expression were what you expected: sympathetic, concerned, and somewhat pitiful. However, you found yourself dismissing their staring eyes when you noticed something off about the class.

Shinso was sitting at a desk, backpack hanging off the chair he sat in. He had a folder laying in front of him along with a couple pencils. He was comfortable, like it wasn't his first day inside the classroom.

However, the part that finally morphed your confusion into anger was that Shinso was sat in Bakugo's desk.

"Shinso's been attending homeroom here every other day in preparation for next year," Aizawa explained after noticing your staring.

Someone only tended to sit in another's seat if they weren't there, if they left. Bakugo was here, just not here. He was somewhere else, lost but not gone, so why did everyone seem to be forgetting him, looking at Shinso as if he was a substitute, a replacement?

"Did you put him in Bakugo's seat?" you asked, turning to face Aizawa, whose brows furrowed at your question.

"I told him to pick an empty seat," the hero replied shortly.

You averted your attention back to Shinso, and your best friend was now staring at you in clear confusion.

Walking over to his desk, Bakugo's desk, you said sorrowfully, "get up."

Shinso only grew more conflicted at your demand, but he didn't argue with you. He never did if he could avoid it.

He stood, grabbing his bag as you added, "sit in my seat."

"Where will you sit?" he questioned.

"I'll stand," you answered, staring mournfully at Bakugo's desk.

Shinso silently headed to the back of the class and sat down at your old desk, which would continue to remain your old desk.

You weren't going to be at U.A for your second year. You weren't going to make it that far. However, Bakugo was going to return. You were going to make sure of it. You were going to bring back your mother and Bakugo, and then you could rest.

Shinso could have your desk, Shinso could be the new you, because, after you saved your family and took down the League, you were done.

[EDITED]