Izuku and Katsuki watched as Aki left.. and Liam followed? Eijiro had gotten up too, but first, "Izuku." Both heads swung back to him. He met eyes with Katsuki for the first time since arriving. Gulping, he pushed through, "Aki's Monoma's cousin."
"Did you know?" Aki asked Liam in front of the house.
"..."
"Birthday boy cornered me as soon as I came in, saying the three of you didn't know anything."
"I didn't know.. that it was okay." Liam added quietly.
Eijiro caught up but stayed at a distance behind Liam.
Aki wanted to pat him on the shoulder, only if he weren't so much taller. He hesitated anyways on touching him again. "I have a copying quirk.. they don't know that. For now they just think it was me."
"Why? I mean, thank you.. but, why?" Liam took a couple steps forward, hands up but not really knowing what to do with them.
"I feel responsible.. I know what it's like not being able to control it well."
Liam settled with rustling his head. "It's by touch, right? I bet you'd still know how to use it better than me."
Aki blushed, facing the ground then looking all the way up to see Liam's eyes.
"Is it water? The water in the beer.."
"I'm pretty sure just water, yeah."
Aki caught sight of Eijiro. Ah.. Liam followed his line of sight to see him too.
Eijiro walked up to them. "You don't have to leave like this.. or.. do you want me to go with you?"
"It's okay, you stay, I should head back and make sure I have everything ready."
"I might not see you again before you leave." Eijiro enveloped him in a bear hug. "Thank you for everything and good luck."
Flushed, Aki straightened up and nodded. "It was nice to meet you." He waved at both while getting into his car.
Liam stood awkwardly, not having been ready for the conversation to be over.. nor knowing what their relationship was.
Standing by Eijiro's side, he asked without looking, "They know it was me, right?"
"..Yes." Eijiro shuffled, not quite feeling guilty. "Aki going Germany, tomorrow." Eijiro gestured towards the car in the distance. He dug in his pocket for his phone, "You want chat him?" he displayed Aki's messenger info towards Liam.
"Oh.. okay, thank you.."
They walked back to where Izuku stood with Noah and Xander. Noah had been pouting but couldn't help his awe. "Do you really have super powers too?!"
Liam cringed. Eijiro patted him on the back like Welp, good luck. Liam fumbled a bit forward on the final pat, joining his friends. Eijiro was left alone by the table.
Ryusei still sat across from Katsuki, the rest of the gang had moved inside to play other games.
"Please don't, just.. please."
Eijiro froze behind Ryusei at those words. He hadn't caught the beginning since he hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but he stared at Ryusei's back while watching him chuckle off some joke with an unamused Katsuki.
Katsuki hadn't been looking at Ryusei since he was laughing at his idea to booby trap the backyard for intruders, but when he did, he noticed Eijiro too. Realization hit as Eijiro blinked out of it and all but ran back into the house.
Ryusei barely saw Eijiro in his peripheral before he was gone. Understanding, he nodded and lifted a hand, as in go ahead.
Katsuki stood up and rubbed the back of his neck. Looking at Izuku with his friends then at Ryusei with a look of concern. "It's something.. I said." He went after Eijiro.
***
