ᗪOᑎ'T TOᑌᑕᕼ ᗰY ᗩᒪᑭᕼᗩ

Tequilla

Katsuki Bakugou

"Happy Birthday, Katsuki!"

My parents both cooed at me with their hands behind their backs. I knew they were hiding a gift behind them as if I were still a child that didn't know about object permanency. But I humor them with a smile and rolled my eyes lightly.

I couldn't help but smile at them though, being thankful for the fact that I had great parents. Over the past few years, they had been really involved in my life when previously they were busier with work than they were with me.

The summer Izuku left for school had been when the change happened within our family. My father began to show just how much of an Alpha he could be when it came to his child. He only recently began giving me more freedom.

I was still pissed that Izuku left without at least saying goodbye to me. I thought we were closer than that. Worse than just leaving without seeing me first, he hadn't contacted me once. I have texted him a lot over the first six months before I gave up. It was too painful to be ignored like that.

In the past, I had run over to Izuku's family home just to see if he would be home around Christmas for Thanksgiving break. But he never was. I tried to get his mother to tell him to call me or text me, but she told me the same thing my parents did; he was at school somewhere that he had no phone access.

I then asked for his address so I could send a letter, but they wouldn't give it to me.

After that, I gave up. It has been 2 years and I officially hated him -- well --  I wanted to hate him, but I couldn't fully let go of all the good times we had together.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something just wasn't right and that everyone was hiding something from me. I knew deep down that Izuku would never willingly leave without telling me goodbye or coming to see me again over breaks. But I also understood that my parents probably had a role to play in his disappearance considering that night.

The past 2 summers I had kept an eye out on his house, trying to see if he would come home; he never did. It was like Izuku Midoriya never existed and was only in my head. But I knew that I had not imagined him over those four years.

"Thanks' guys." Smiling at my parents, I couldn't help but appreciate them for everything they have done for me. I was a terrible child before Izuku came along. Now that he was gone, I was afraid that things would go back to how they were all those years ago -- me being an angry tyrant and not having a life or friends.

As if knowing what I needed, my parents kept me busy with sports and hobbies. They pushed me to go see my friends and stay busy, and now that I turned 16, I would have more freedom. I had gotten my license this morning and now my parents had invited my friends over for dinner and cake.

"We are so proud of you, son. You are growing up into an amazing alpha and we want you to know that we have only ever tried to look out for you, but you're growing up now and we can't keep you around forever." I watched my parents as my good friends Kirishima, Jiro, and Denki sat on the sofa, stuffing their faces with pizza and chips. I had somehow managed to keep them as friends over the years and although I frequently joked about them being annoying, I really enjoyed having them in my life.