A Little Bit Quirky

Chapter 3: Worry

A.N: Hope you enjoy this chapter! Feedback is greatly appreciated.

Izuku's P.O.V:
I watch Kacchan leave, shoulders hunched and hands buried deep in the pockets of the pants hanging low on his waist.

Uraraka is talking to me, about how rude Katsuki is and how she could never understand how we were once friends, but, I'm only slightly listening.       
I can hear her words, I can see her mouth moving and her hands flailing from the corner of my eye but, it doesn't register. She still hasn't noticed that I'm not looking at her anymore.
My attention is captured by the extravagant exit from the cafeteria.

Iida has noticed. His eyes are on me and I can feel the weight of his confusion and slight judgement pressing down on me. I know why he's looking at me like that. I'm staring after the boy who hates my guts instead of paying attention to my friend after all. I mean, even I don't understand what I'm doing. I have a crush on Urakaka but, I'm ignoring her in favour of staring at the place my bully was a few seconds ago. He's not even there anymore, probably half-way down the corridor by now or already back in the classroom.
He looked furious.
Uraraka's still talking. She's telling me how stupid I am for not standing up to him. I think she means it as motivation but, I feel insulted. I don't think I'm stupid, I'm just not sure what will happen if I look Kacchan straight in the eye. He might kill me. He hates it when I make eye contact. I don't really get why. He probably thinks I'm trying to provoke him. I wonder what would happen if I did? I haven't looked long enough at his eyes to be sure but, are they still the same dusty scarlet I remember? Maybe.
He looked frustrated.
          
Iida's eyes pierce through my skull and Urakaka still hasn't noticed my unresponsive state. I didn't realise before but, she talks a lot. And she always has too much to say about Kacchan. I wonder if she has a crush on him. That seems unlikely, she's never had anything good to say about him. Then again the best thing she has to say about me is that I'm nice. What does that mean? Is it a compliment?
Iida nudges my leg under the table with his foot but, I can't take my eyes away from the exit. The image of Kacchan's back flashes in my mind and I notice his hands had been curled into tight balls in his pockets. Why was he so angry? Did Kirishima do something to annoy him? That can't be right. Everyone annoys Kacchan. Well, everyone but me. I infuriate him.

He looked confused.

That thought jars me. He did, didn't he? The way his brows were pulled together so, the bridge of his nose scrunched up slightly. His usual glare was replaced with an incomprehensible look. I nod, firmly.
Yeah, he's confused. About what? Kirishima? He doesn't seem like that confusing of a person. Admittedly, I don't know him that well but, still.
Iida nudges me harder. I ignore it.
          
He's confused. I can't think of anything that's ever confused Kacchan before. I'm sure he'll be fine. He's smart, he can figure it out. He doesn't need my help.
He doesn't want my help.
I don't look away from the exit. My eyes seem to be glued to the spot which is unfortunate, considering Uraraka finally realises I'm not listening.
"Deku?" She calls, worriedly, the name escaping her lips with an affectionate lilt. It sounds odd. Kacchan usually spits the word at me like he's trying to blind me with it. His voice is also deeper and the nickname comes out as a low rumble in his chest if he's not screaming it at me.
"Midoriya?" It's Iida this time. His voice is deep, maybe even deeper than Kacchan's. It doesn't have the same vicious rasp to it though, the one that makes it sound as if his throat is permanently damaged from a life of constant shouting.
Kacchan looked really strange. I tell myself and then shake my head. Doesn't matter. If it was something serious, Kirishima would have chased after him. He is his best friend after all. The thought is a stab at my mind and I wince. Right. I had almost forgotten. I'm not friends with Kacchan anymore. He hates me and I.....
I don't know how I feel.

I still care I think. Why else would I dislike the idea of Kirishima being his best friend? Why else would I be staring at an empty doorway as if it was a secret key to unlocking the true potentials of One For All? I should probably turn around and address my friends. They're still calling me, voices a little louder than before. I think they're angry.
Maybe, I should go after him.
Kacchan looked so strange. He wasn't just angry and I think....I think I might have seen a glimpse of the old Kacchan.
The one who was my best friend.
The one I cared for.
My Kacchan.

I blink in surprise. My Kacchan? That's weird. Why would I think that? He's not mine. We haven't had a normal conversation since we were kids. I'm not even his best friend anymore. I wonder if I ever was. No, I had to be. I wouldn't be able to handle it if my Kacchan was a lie. Oops, there I go again, saying "my". What does that even mean?
Before I realise what I'm doing I start to stand. I'm going after him. A hand stops me, gentle but firm on my shoulder. I turn to Uraraka and she raises a brow.
"Deku?" She pushes me back into my seat. I don't try to stop her. "Are you okay?" I realise she's touching me and her face is close to mine. I should be embarrassed. I like this girl. I've had a crush on her for a while now. She's beautiful.
But with Kacchan on my mind, I can't seem to care.
"I'm fine." I don't stutter, I don't hesitate and I don't blush. Iida seems shocked and so does Uraraka. I wonder if she knows I like her. That would be embarrassing.
Kacchan's probably sitting at his desk right now, feet kicked up on the table, leaning back so only two of the chairs legs are on the ground. I wonder if he still does that thing where he tugs on his hair when he's thinking deeply about something that he can't figure out. It wasn't something he did often when we were kids but, on a rare occasion when he let his guard down, I'd sometimes spot him tugging gently on his fringe with his eyes closed.
"Are you sure your okay?" I settle back down in my seat and nod in response to Iida's question. He still looks confused and Urakaka looks like I've grown a second head but I don't really mind. Instead, I think of five reasons why I shouldn't go after him:
1. He hates me.
2. I'm not his best friend.
3. He's probably just angry at something stupid Kirishima said.
4. If it was something important, he wouldn't want me to know about it.
5. I'm afraid to be alone with him.
             
Number five is a surprising but, true statement. He may have been my friend, and I may be a hero but, he also bullied me for years and despite how much I wish it was a lie, it really effected me. I still don't hate Kacchan but, I resent him.
I resent that he changed. I resent his quirk. I resent that he left me behind.
I fist my pants and stare at my tray of food. There's a half eaten sandwich that looks incredibly delicious but, I'm not very hungry anymore. Kacchan would say I'm wasting food and eat it. He'd especially enjoy my chocolate milk, considering it's one of his favourite drinks. I'm contemplating whether or not it was the truth when I said I wanted to become friends with him again when I finally make my decision.

I should go after him. And after a brief, glance at Urakaka who has begun talking with Iida........

I do.

A.N: I know that the story seems to be moving slowly but, I'm just setting up the characters and (trying) to show how they feel before everything that's going to happen. I think there might be one more chapter before there's some BakuDeku!!