A Shared Delusion || Kacchako

Chapter Twenty-two: Old Invitations

I have no frickin idea who created this awesome art piece. I see their style everywhere but can never find a name. Please if you know message me I'll give 'em the credit they deserve!

Days go by and Uraraka is managing to keep on getting her work done, but she feels the sadness making its home inside her. She has been depressed before and knows what the beginning feels like. Every vibrant color is dulled, nothing tastes as good as it used to, and worst of all no one fucking notices. It is next to impossible for her to get out of bed in the morning. The only thing that really motivates her is the thought that by attending each day, she is one day closer to being able to provide for her family... and one day closer to being able to see Bakugou and Midoriya. Today is Monday, the day that they come back to school. As Uraraka makes her way to school she feels butterflies in her stomach, but they aren't the same ones she used to know. These are more like snakes, wriggling around in her stomach making her sick. She is quite early to school and knows no one will probably be in class but even still she needs to stop before the door and get herself together. She places her hand on the doorknob and pushes the door open, and he's there. He's just sitting there in the desk that had been empty for so long. Uraraka's heart feels as if it has stopped. She can't move. It is all she can do to just stare at him. Bakugou hears the door open and looks in it's direction. His expression softens and a deep sadness shows in his eyes. They stand there for what seems like eternity, just looking at each other. Uraraka opens her mouth to speak and is immediately bumped out of the doorway by an ecstatic Ashido.

"Uraraka!! How was your weekend??"

She hugs Uraraka with both arms and Uraraka hangs limply.

"It was uh..."

Ashido can tell something is wrong and looks at her.

"Oh no are you okay?? You look like you've seen a ghost."

She follows Uraraka's gaze and sees Bakugou at his desk. And almost inaudible, "oh", comes out of her mouth. She may act like an airhead but Ashido is quite emotionally intelligent. She walks in front of Uraraka to block her view of the boy and starts guiding her to the back of the class while talking in her usually peppy tone about meaningless things, as if nothing was wrong. Uraraka sits in her normal spot at the back of the class and Ashido sits right on top of her desk to once again block her view. She continues talking about mundane things until students fill the classroom. All the guys run up to Bakugou and shout the normalities, "Bro! We've missed you!", "How've you been??" etc. The only thing Uraraka can hear is the sound of her heart. Beating so hard and slow she feels as though she could fall out of her chair. She just watches the flow of students into class. One by one, by one, until... a green haired boy walks hesitantly into the room. Her eyes widen and he quickly finds her in the room. They had been texting over his suspension and gotten closer than ever. He knows about her recent moods and knows that she must be having a horrible time seeing Bakugou again. He looks at Ashido and gives her a smile that lets her know "I've got it from here". She then looks at Uraraka to make sure this is okay and Uraraka gives a nod. Ashido skips off to her desk and Midoriya and Uraraka are left in an awkward position. He looks at her and sees that she is trying to conceal the intense shaking of her hands. He sees the paleness of her fingers and reaches out and grabs them. They are ice. He gets down on his knees and hugs her. At first, she just sits in her chair but eventually reaches out and embraces him.

"He is so warm," she thinks to herself. "...But Bakugou was warmer..."

This thought makes her squeeze her eyes tight and hug him harder, almost trying to will Midoriya to be Bakugou. They stand there in the back of the classroom holding each other just like back in the hospital room. No one really sees this except Bakugou. The surge of jealousy fills him and attaches itself inside him. He knew that with him gone Midoriya would move in toward Uraraka. He saw as much in the hospital room when he snuck back and saw them sleeping in the same bed holding each other. But Bakugou kept telling himself that he could handle it and it was what was best for her. But as the school days continue on and he is forced to see them together, talking, laughing... touching. He can't help but become enraged and uses it to not deal with his true feelings. In reality, Bakugou is utterly heartbroken. But to the outside world, he doesn't just make a point to act like he has no remaining connection with Uraraka, but it is as if she never existed to his perception, and he does so convincingly. With this, Uraraka begins to break. As weeks go by she sinks deeper into her depression. The only brightness in her life is Midoriya, and they only see each other at school. Eventually, her superficial bubbly personality starts to morph into another act. Uraraka has become less happy-go-lucky, and more "done". She doesn't skip through the hallways like an excited puppy, she just walks. Not smiling, but not frowning either. To simply put it, she no longer gives a fuck. The heartbreak and depression has taken a peculiar hold on her. She seems more confident to her peers, when in reality it is just her indifference showing through. More mindless days go by and Uraraka feels a bit more "reckless" than usual. She keeps seeing him at school laughing with his friends, and it sparks something in her. Not infatuation, but rage. One night as she lays in bed her thought bombard her with torturous thoughts. "He fucking used me. He made me believe he loved me, and now I look like a fucking fool." The more she thinks about what happened the more angry she gets. "He used me and now I want to use him." A plan forms in Uraraka's mind. "I've been bored and I kinda want some action." She can't deny how gorgeous he is and in some way if she "gets with him" one more time, she believes she'll somehow get the closure she needs to begin moving on, and she'll feel even. He used her for her body, and now she is gonna use his. "Perfect!" she thinks to herself, "I guess I gotta "seduce" him?" The word makes her laugh, something she hasn't really done in a while. She starts to think about how she's gonna go about it, and the plan completes itself in her mind. Uraraka goes to sleep excited for what the next day could bring.