By Your Side 2 (Bakugou x Midoriya)

Chapter 5- Change of Heart

Midoriya's Pov

I've lost the count of days since I last saw Kaachan. That day we fought he didn't come home. Neither on the next day or the day after. And he didn't show up to work either. I started asking questions and found out that he filled in a leave of absence and went back to our hometown. But when I went there to visit him and try to straighten things up he wasn't there anymore. In fact, his parents didn't even know that he had been in town. I looked wherever I could but eventually gave up. It's been three months, give or take, and if he doesn't want to be found then I just know he won't.

In the meantime I moved to a smaller apartment. He left all of his things behind. It's funny... Because of that I thought that he wouldn't go far, that he'd come back for something and I'd get a chance to see him. I couldn't take it any longer. It was like he never left and yet he was nowhere to be seen.

I packed everything and moved on. Now I'm more focused on my job and people are actually placing their hopes in me. Our agency has arrested Shigaraki and the League has been quiet for a while. I'm finally thinking I can do this. I can carry All Might's legacy.

But there's something missing.

Kirishima was in front of my desk looking at me and waiting so I figured  he had said something which I didn't listen to.

"Sorry, could you say that again?"

"I was wondering if you could replace me on tonight's patrol."

"Yeah sure."

"Oh, thanks man. You see, today's our third anniversary and I thought I should do something with Deki. You know, someth..." The doorbell rang. I'd picked up a bad habit of looking right away at who's coming. It was just Uraraka. I don't know why I still look... Do I want him to come back? "And since you'd probably stay late anyway I thought I'd ask you."

"Alright, uhm, have fun."

He grinned and left. They all left except for Uraraka who was also on duty tonight. 

Who have I been trying to trick? Me? The others? Kaachan broke me when he left. And I can't get that part back. If things stay this way at least I'll be able to focus on my career. I don't think he should come back. I won't accept him back. He always messed things up. Look at what he did to me? I sleep in the agency most of the nights because even in the new apartment I feel like I'm being haunted.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes and went to the bathroom. When I looked at the mirror I almost didn't recognize myself. I'd cut my hair short and my face was sickly pale. Except for the dark circles under my eyes. Even my freckles had faded a little. I didn't have that glow anymore. Around my neck was still that stupid chain with a ring that he gave me once, a long time again. I don't even remember why he gave it to me. We probably fought again and this was his way of making up. It was never an healthy relation. I knew that. I just chose to ignore it while I was happy.

I plucked the necklace and threw it on the garbage can. And I walked away.

"Uraraka, shall we go?"

She looked at me from her desk and I smiled. I tried at least.

"Deku-kun... Did something happen?"

I hid the fact that I'd fought with Kaachan when he left. For everyone else he had just taken a trip to visit some family on the other side of the country and stayed there on vacation. But I wasn't dumb enough to think they wouldn't wonder why he left so suddenly. I still got startled every time someone questioned me.

"W-what?"

"Kirishima. He should be the one patrolling with me." She talked fast, they way she used to do when we where kids