"kacchan"

photo

"uh, sir...?" a student speaks.
the teacher looks up.

"i heard about this a while ago in my neighbourhood, about a um... suicide...?"

my chest tightens. deku got into this school...?

"what about it?" the teacher answers.

"i'm pretty sure it was this student... is his name midoriya izuku?"

the teacher looks down at the roll, and frowns.
"right..."

tears flood my eyes uncontrollably.
i try my hardest to quieten the sobs, but it's no use.
i can feel everyone's eyes on me now, but i don't care anymore.
deku would have gotten into his dream school.
he would have been so happy...

... of course i took that chance from him.

"katsuki?" kirishima whispers.
he strokes my hair and wipes my tears, trying to calm me down.
the bell rings for end of home room.

"everyone is dismissed" the teacher says, while students exchange looks to each other.

it feels as though my whole life is crashing.
this isn't like any other breakdown i've had.

this time it actually feels like i could die from all the guilt and sadness piled on top of me.

the teacher crouches down, and asks me,
"do you want to go to your dorm for today?"
i nod.
he glances at kirishima, and tells him to stay with me.

kirishima helps me up, and puts his arm around my shoulder.
"katsuki..."

so much for not crying...
weak.
the whole class knows your secret now.
how are you gonna live with this?

huh? katsuki?

"...katsuki?"

i snap back into reality.
kirishima is sitting across from me on my bed, in my dorm.

kirishima POV

"hey, katsuki... it's okay if you don't wanna talk about it now, but you know you can talk to me whenever, right?" i give him a supportive smile.

"yeah... i know." he says.
katsuki's staring at the floor, eyes wide and his palms facing up.

i guess i'm not that trustworthy enough to talk to...
but i get an idea of how i can get his mind off it.

"wanna model your room?" i ask, pointing to the delivered furniture in the middle of the room.

katsuki's face lights up.
"yeah..." he answers.

——————

"no...katsuki! you've gotta push!" i laugh, as i watch him struggling on the other side of the dresser.

"i... am... PUSHING! you've gotta pull more, kirishima!"

i grab a hold of both sides of the dresser, and pull as hard as i can,
until my hands slip, causing me to go flying backwards.

"it's no use, katsuki!!" i yell while tumbling.

katsuki runs up to me, his face red, with his hands covering his mouth.

"are ya phh...okay, kirish..."
he tries to keep his laughter in, but eventually it bursts out loudly.
i smile.
i've finally got him to laugh.

i get up and start pulling the dresser again, while katsuki is still on the floor, howling.

"oi! don't be slacking off, katsuki!"

"okay... okay" he answers, wiping the tears of laughter away.

. . .

"wouldn't it be easier if we both pushed?"

——————

after hours of arguing, pushing and laughter, we finally got the job done.

"your stuff are in here, right?" i ask, pointing at the duffel bag.

katsuki nods.

i open it up, and see clothes, mangas, and posters.
the normal stuff, but one thing catches my eye.

i pick it up.
it's a picture in a frame of a slightly younger katsuki with another happy looking boy with fluffy green hair and freckles.
katsuki just looks annoyed in the photo.

i wonder if he's a friend from a different school?

"hey, katsuki, who's this?" i ask.
his face goes blank.

i look at him worriedly.
he slowly cracks a small smile, with tears falling down his face.

"k-katsuki?"

he silently takes the photo out of my hand, and says,
"this was my best friend."

as i come to a realisation, i cover my mouth with my hands.

"oh... katsuki, i'm so sorry i didn't mean to-..."

"it's fine! it's fine..." he assures, as he takes a deep breath and pauses.

"you two would have gotten along..." he says with pure sorrow.