I'll Be There (KIRIBAKU)

33

   The following months passed quickly, and Kirishima found himself simply doing way more amateur matches, while Fatgum struggled to find more professional matches. He had apologised countless times for not being able to, and the only one he found he could sign up Kirishima to was after summer, so they had a very long wait.

   He got really nervous about it, wondering if he should cancel his summer plans to go to Bakugou and the others, and whilst Bakugou had told him that would be the best idea to ensure he wins, Kirishima knows they'd both be disappointed if they aren't together during the summer. Thankfully, Fatgum offered to help Kirishima train more after and before summer, so that he'd be all ready for his upcoming match that would be in October. They have a while, but time passes fast when you are having fun.

   His amateur matches didn't stop at all, however. He often had to drop by at Fatgum's gym to spar against Amajiki or others who also need training like him, and they all improved a lot, even though they don't quite realise it, as they all improve at the same rate most of the time. Fatgum is really proud of them, and Kirishima is glad he got him as his manager. Often times, they would all go out for food together after training, and whilst none of them really became close friends you would hang out with during the weekend, they were all close acquaintances, and were willing to meet up during the gym to go over feedback that Fatgum gave them. 

   Ashido had complained a lot about Kirishima's matches taking up all of her storage on his phone, and he apologised many times, and he even told her his phone's password so that she can instead record the fights on his phone, but she mostly just recorded with Sero's phone, while Sero video called Bakugou just before the match, so that Bakugou can watched it at the same time as them. Most people didn't realise he was doing that, since Bakugou was left on mute. Kirishima usually didn't realise he was watching too, until he sends the video, and Bakugou says that he already saw it, but will watch it again. It is a bit flattering to have Bakugou so passionate about watching and praising Kirishima's matches, but he is definitely not complaining. After all, he is probably just doing more matches than usual just to get Bakugou's attention and praises, even though he can easily get them without all that effort. Perhaps it is just... rewarding to have Bakugou praise him after all that hard work.

   It was something he didn't realise until after his professional match ended, but he had won quite a lot of money. Amateur fights are just fighting for the love of boxing, but professional matches are much more different. Professional matches can also be fought for the love of boxing, but it is also fought for money. Kirishima hadn't realised, even though he did know, but if the professional matches just kept coming through, he'd probably already be quite rich. He had thought quite a lot about it, and the realisation that he didn't really need his daycare job came when he was helping some of the children with some easy maths additions. 

   He won't need his job as much as he did at first, especially if he gets more money with the matches, but now that he has this job to rely on, he doesn't even know if he wants to leave it just because he had enough money now. He has friends there, and he likes working with children on good days. He likes spending time with Hagakure and Kouda, and when would he meet up with them if it isn't at work? Would he be able to continue hanging out with them if they aren't as close as the others in general? He likes having Hagakure do his makeup to cover his matches' evidence, and they usually laugh about the children's comments together, recalling most of them at the end of the day. He wouldn't be able to do that if he quits his job. What about Kouda, too? Kouda has been so kind to him, worrying about his wellbeing, and also caring about whether or not he's in the mood to deal with the older children's energetic needs to play ball games outside. Sure, Kirishima can just watch them from the side, but everyone knows that they'll pout if he doesn't join them if he isn't doing anything else. Kouda doesn't text much in general too, and he gets way too nervous on phone calls. Kirishima doesn't want them to not be close if he leaves. He wants to still hang out with them, and he wants to stay around them, like a high school kid would want to stay with his friends at school, and not part ways.