STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 27 // Debts

I have a sneaking suspicion this chapter is going to rile up a lot of people 🌝
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Shinso was confused to say the least when you showed up on his doorstep at midnight, yet he still didn't question anything when you asked to be let inside after waving off Aizawa.

"Do I wanna know why you're here at midnight?" Shinso asked as you kicked off your shoes and tucked them into the nearby shoe rack.

"Can't I spend time with my best friend?" you questioned.

"You can," he replied, crossing his arms, "but usually I at least get a text."

"These last few days have been busy and tiring," you groaned. "Can we have one night where no one brainwashed, bleeding, crying, dying, or fighting?"

"Sensitive much?" Shinso joked, but one glare from you, whether it was playful or not, shut him right up. "Okay, Netflix or video games?"

"Hm," you thought for a moment, exaggerating your mental debate by tapping your finger against your chin. "How about whoever wins best out of three in Mario Cart gets to choose what movie we watch?"

"Deal," he grinned. "Sweet or salty snacks?"

"Both," you smiled. "I'll set up the game."

As Shinso headed to the kitchen to prepare the snacks, you made your way to the living room where you quietly set up the game, making sure you didn't accidentally wake his parents, who were no doubt asleep.

You soon found yourself sitting in front of the TV with your legs crossed and hands holding a controller, which you had designated as yours over the years. You even used stickers to spell out your name on it a few years prior.

You'd miss these nights, the ones where neither you nor Shinso could sleep, so you'd stay up together passing the time. Whether it was through TV, video games, board games, homework, or mindless talk, the two of you would keep yourselves entertained.

"The buffet has arrived."

Shinso's voice snapped you back to reality, and you looked up to find the boy entering the living room with numerous bags of candy, a platter of chips, and a container of dip.

"Ready to get your ass kicked?" he questioned with a cocky smirk as he set the snacks down on the coffee table before sitting beside you, grabbing his own controller.

"In your dreams, Toshi," you scoffed in amusement. "If I'm remembering correctly, the record is one hundred twenty-six to sixty-three."

"Well, it's about to be sixty-four," he stated.

You allowed yourself to forget about everything else, your health, the League of Villains, the fact that Bakugo was missing, the fact that your mother was missing, everything, and simply focused on Shinso, Hitoshi Shinso, the boy who had been with you through everything.

You ended up winning the first two rounds, which automatically made you the winner, and, as promised, you got to choose a movie for the two of you to watch to finish off the night.

You settled on The Man From Nowhere, an action/thriller, which of two of you moved to the couch to comfortably watch.

It didn't take long for you to get distracted, and you soon found yourself watching Shinso more than the movie. You just couldn't help yourself.

This could be one of your last times seeing him, and, under the light of the TV screen, he looked so peaceful, innocent. His eyes were lidded as sleep slowly began to overtake his body, and his hair was untamed as usual. His skin was like porcelain.