Author's Note:

The following chapters will take place before Shota arrived at the crime scene ((to avoid some confusion)) I will go onto the details to what happened before the incident. Please take note of the time to avoid getting lost in reading the next few chapters. Thank you so much! Happy Reading!

Chapter 14: Into Glassy Shards

6:00 AM

Sometime earlier…

Chiharu woke up in distress. Apparently, the loud coughs of her mother downstairs have startled her from her deep slumber. It was a barking cough. And at the end of each cough it had that whistling sound you get when the airways are closing up. She was hacking continuously for a while then taking in a sharp gasp of breath.

Adrenaline rushes through her veins as she jumped off of her bed, running downstairs with her rapid footsteps. The first thing she actually saw is her mother lying on the floor panting heavily. Seeing Taira's condition made her surprised, eventually running towards her with all her might. Kneeling down to pick her mother's fragile body, she began to call her name out, "Mom! Mom! Mom!"

"Chi…haru?"

"Wait Mom," slinging the older lady's arm to her shoulders, she tried to prop her mother up and guided her to the nearest couch she could find. When she made Taira sit comfortably, she pulled out any type of paper bag as well as her medicine and a glass of water, offering it to her. Gulping all the remaining contents, she exhaled deeply and looked at her daughter with those dark circles hanging her eyes. After a few breathes, her breathing calm down, flashing a tired smile to her.

"Sorry Chiharu for making you worry."

"Geez, mom what are you doing early in the morning?" She kneels in front of her, scratching the back of her head.

"I was trying to prepare for your breakfast." Taira huffed, pointing towards the pots that have been set within the kitchen table. Chiharu's eyes followed her finger, standing up from her position and continued what Taira is supposed to do.

"Mom, you know, you don't really have to do these things." She sighed, washing the vegetables onto the sink, preparing for their breakfast, "This is just my way to help you in your workload."

For a bit, Taira frowned to her sit; her hands clenching the hem of her clothes. She didn't like this way. It was supposed to be a mother's job to take good care of her daughter. It was supposed to be a mother's job to cook her daughter's breakfast, wake her up in the morning and wish her the best. But that wasn't the case, it was the other way around. Taira felt she's hopeless. Taira felt that she's a burden. And most of all she felt that…

She doesn't deserve to be a mother.

"Chiharu…" She called out to her weakly.

"Hm?" With a smile on her lips, she faced her mother while peeling the carrots within her grasps.

"Do you think… you're good without me?"

The peeler dropped from her hands with a loud 'clunk' that resounded all over the room. Chiharu's smile turned into something horrifying, gazing onto her mother who is on her verge of crying, "W-What are y-you saying, Mom?!" She exclaimed, chewing her lip in complete distress.

Don't…

"Because… I can't even do anything for you…" This time, Taira couldn't suppress her anguish about the things going all around her and let her tears stream down to her pale features. Cupping her palms to her face; not letting her daughter see her in this kind of state. Chiharu hurriedly placed the items in the kitchen table and jog towards her mother with wariness spreading to her chest, "Mom? What are you saying?!"

"I couldn't even be a good mother…" She hiccupped, "I couldn't even fulfil any simple duties a mother will do… A mother will cook her child's meal… But I couldn't even do it without getting attacked by my sickness. A mother will wish her daughter to have a good day in school… Instead, I will be heavily asleep within my paper works… A mother will take good care of her daughter but instead I let my daughter take good care of me…" She trailed for a bit, trying to stable out her breathing. Emotions swirled with the ice water circling the cold metal drain as streaks of fire burned his cheeks. Each new wave a hot trail of agony as slim, bare shoulders shook in each rake of emotion through his frame. And the next words she uttered completely crushed Chiharu into pieces, "Those simple things yet I couldn't even do anything…"

Don't… say that…

She could only watch her mother break down to her; crying with a mix of desolated sobs onto each breath. Despite seeing Taira like this, she couldn't utter a single word, as if her throat is completely drenched and dry. She tried to reassure her mother that it's not what she meant. This is not what she wants to show her mother…

Dad… help…me…

"Sorry for breaking down like that," Taira apologized, dusting herself as she stood up from the couch. Brushing off the tears from her eyes, she tried to smile to her fullest as she pats her daughter's head, "I got to prepare for work." With that being said, Taira head upstairs leaving Chiharu hanging.

"It's not what it looks like… I just want to…"

All she ever wanted is to see her mother smile again…

2:30PM

It's way past her school time. Actually, she didn't have any intention to go to school, not with the way her relationship is going with her mother. Currently, she's seating in front of Ryuuji's graveyard, hugging her knees as she buried her face onto it. Wearing her black sailor uniform, she really come across to the decision to be absent.

She didn't even contacted Katsuki about her whereabouts. Surely, he'll be really pissed about her hiding from him. The last thing that he doesn't want is to her being so coward in admitting her problems to him.

"Dad, what do I do?" She mumbled, sighing deeply to herself. Hearing the several notifications from her phone, she knew that it was Katsuki; bombarding her with several calls and threatening texts.

"Aragaki-san?"

She snapped out of her train of thoughts when a familiar calm voice called her out. Her eyes jolted onto the guy she's looking for a year already ever since the Cultural Festival. His trademark red and hair strands flashed to her twinkling eyes. On his hands is a bouquet of flowers, seemingly going to visit a certain graveyard as well. At the thought of seeing him once again left her lost in her own thoughts.

"Y-You're the nice person!" She exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

"Nice?" Shouto repeated, raising his eyebrow in pure confusion.

"Yes! Come and sit beside me for a while." She invited him. At first, he was a bit hesitant because she's sitting right in front of the graveyard that he's going to visit to and offer some flowers. But then again, it was always like this. He couldn't even say a single 'no' to her especially if she's smiling so endearing that makes him lost in thoughts.

"I've been searching for you for about a year." She told him.

"Search for me? Why?"

A grin made its way to her lips when he answered, "Because I've wanted to ask for your name! So, what's yours, by the way?"

Is it really alright? That's the question that swirled down to his thoughts when she asked him. His eyes glance over the grave, seemingly trying to plead some help from Ryuuji. Will she even like it if she ever knew about the person that caused her such grief? But a name won't hurt, won't it? He's also searching for her all this time.

"Todoroki… Shouto…"

"Todoroki?" She queried, pausing for a while. Where did she heard that name again? It was audibly familiar when she thinks of it. But oh well, she would want not to dwell over the memories right now as she has found the name of the nice person.

"Hey, Todoroki-kun?"

"Hm?"

"Can we be friends?"

In an instant, Shouto's world turned blur. His eyes widened by her sudden question as it felt his chest getting warm bit by bit. It was happiness that fuelled his emotions. But somehow, the happiness was replaced the guilt from his heart and it was too heart quenching for him. He hates this idea. Is it really alright? It was all because him that she was sitting right in front of her father's graveyard.

"Y-You don't want to?" She frowned to him, making his heart clenched by thought of seeing her sad. Every time he sees her crying or sad, somehow he'll have this drive to make her happy no matter how it takes.

"It's alright." He replied. Within those words, she felt her body moving at its own accord, wrapping her arms against him, burying her head against his chest; sobbing to his chest uncontrollably. At first, Shouto was shocked by the sudden change of emotion at one time she's happy and then in the next few seconds she'll cry her heart out.

"A-Aragaki-san?" He asked, surprised by the sudden act.

"Mom…"

"Huh?"

"Mom thinks that I am invalidating her efforts… I don't really intend to do that. I just want for her to smile… again…"

"I don't really know about an interaction within the family but," He lifts her head up from his chest, brushing away the tears from her eyes, "I think that you just have to make her realize that you love her because she's your mother, that's all." His heterochremia eyes reflected towards her purple orbs. Every time she look at those tantalizing eyes, she'll melt over his eyes and how beautiful it reflects to hers. With a large grin plastered to her lips, she replied, "Chiharu. Call me Chiharu, Sho-chan~"

The nickname 'Sho-chan' got him so worked up that he staggered backwards from his seat. It was his first time getting a nickname, and furthermore to the person he most least expected. Chiharu stood from her seat, dusting her skirt off, "Well then, I'm off. By the way, are you going to be a hero?"

"Yeah."

"You'll go to U.A?"

Upon hearing the school she wanted to go to, she smiled dearily to him, "I guess, we will be seeing each other in U.A! I'm off, Sho-chan~" She dashed off from him, leaving him so surprised by the sudden of turn of events. With the brand new information within him, he's glad that he'll be able to have lots of encounter with her. And he is also happy that he became friends with her. But then his gaze landed onto the graveyard beside him.

"Is it really alright, Ryuuji-san?"

3:00PM

Since she had enough time to drop by school, she decided to pick up Katsuki and Izuku, whom she knew that the explosive teen will never forgive her for ditching him. On the way towards their school, something caught her attention. Something burnt, dark— a notebook?— fall down from the second floor. Recognizing it as the Hero Analysis of Izuku, she hurriedly went to check their room.

She needs to clear her mind from the things that happened. She wanted her friends to relieve her and have some tad bits of fun before going home. Seeing her friend's face will only nestle her aching chest. Upon reaching the said floor, she heard some voices and recognized it as Katsuki and Izuku. A vibrant smile curved onto her plump lips, reaching towards the handle of the door. She's about to slid it open when she heard some interactions between the ash-blonde and the curly-green haired boy, seemingly serious about it. Eventually, the words from Katsuki left her speechless.

"If you wanna be a hero that badly, there's a quick way to do it. Believe thatyou'll be born with a quirk in your next life and take a last chance dive off the roof!"

Something snapped inside of her. His words engraving itself in her mind, and it was something that could never be forgotten. Her eyes narrowed, her pupils dilating with unhidden ire, a scoff escaping her lips. He is basically telling Izuku to kill himself. Suddenly, her mind flashes back to the memory when she's a child. Seeing Ryuuji trying to kill himself off because of how society deemed him to be quirkless and useless in the face of this world. That scene was horrible if anyone would ask. And there's no right for anyone to just bring someone down just because they don't have the powers that the people longed for.

And Katsuki just claimed himself to be part of that 'society'.

So, that's how he is to Izuku when she's not looking. She gets it that he has some problems with him but he should not settle it in telling a person to commit suicide. Katsuki didn't know how it costs Izuku. It costs her friend everything. Yet, does this ash-blonde even know how to control his words? Honestly, the mood right now isn't getting her good at all.

She's utterly enraged.

On the other side of the door, Katsuki is about to reach for the handle of the door and slid it open when…

The door blasted off from its current place, sending it flying towards the corner of the classroom. The chairs and desks ascended and cluttered horrendously from its places, some even hovered outside of the window because of its impact. Glass shards dances through the wind because of the massive power coming from the one and only psychic girl. From the tattered doorstep revealed Chiharu's devouring purple eyes, piercing every people within the room. Her

Everybody in the room stiffened. Luckily, they braced themselves from the impact or else they'll be caught by her quite enraging demeanour. Katsuki did not expect to see her, nor did he expect for her to hear his words. He had been so pissed since this morning because of Chiharu's whereabouts that he became unaware of his surroundings. The explosive teen's minions shrieked from their places, exchanging glances and cries on how terrifying the petite lady is. The petrol-blue haired girl was deemed to be an innocent lady but it seems that title will be long gone for what she did.

Her features were blank and fiery, though she never showed any signs of creating any objects ascend and whack their heads onto. Instead, she marched over Izuku, ignoring the presence of her best friend and the other people within the room.

On the other hand, Midoriya Izuku could not breathe properly at all. This was something he wanted to avoid. It was something he hoped would never happen. She pulled him from his sitting position, dragging him onto his wrist, whispering, "Let's go Izuku," with a deadpan. Hearing that unusual voice, he knew something is up; she heard everything. Izuku didn't mind the abusive words from Katsuki at all. He'll continue to turn deaf, he'll continue to be strong because he'll hold onto the words that Chiharu uttered when they're kids. Although sometimes that fire that ignites that hope continued to deplete day by day because of the ash-blonde's words. He knew how Chiharu can be a monster when it comes to these things. That's why he tried to keep it a secret—for Chiharu and Katsuki.

Dragging Izuku from the room, Chiharu is about to step out of the room when Katsuki pull them apart with such force, making Izuku stumble from his force.

"What the fucking hell are you doing, Haru!?" He screamed, gripping tightly onto her wrist. But instead, he got no replies from the utterly silent girl. Her head is levelled down, lips pursued tightly.

"You're marching all over here when you haven't even called me about your whereabouts!? Then, you're going to side with this fuck up nerd here? This quirkless little mutt!?"

"…"

"Answer me, freaking bitch! You are always siding with Deku here when you haven't even tried to fight for me! You're playing favorites here, damn it!"

"…"

"Deku should just go to hell and di—" Katsuki wasn't able to continue his statement when her hand found its way towards his cheeks, emitting a loud 'clasp'. The slap was as loud as a clap and stung his face. It had been an open-handed smack and it had left a red welt behind. Hurling away from his tight grasps, she exclaimed, "I don't need you to be worrying about me, dumbass!"

Her slap left Katsuki staring at her with broadened eyes.

When she turned at last to face him there was no trace of tears, not in her eyes or in track marks on her reddening face. Her eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold, hard. In that moment He knew she was already far breath hitched to a stop, hearing those words—it's as if she didn't need him at all—being spat out like venom. His heart constricted in pain, glancing back, he saw her eyes becoming dull, becoming cold.

"How fucked up are you in the head that you think that resorting to suicide would make his life better?!" Her voice, low and cold, was heart breaking to hear. Izuku heard his heart thumping so loudly in his chest. It certainly brought back memories she would rather forget.

"You said you're different from the others! Yet, you're just one of them! Do you even know how…" Between her words is the memory of Ryuuji's depressed state when he was getting bailed at by the people around him. All the remorse flooded onto her heart. It hurts to know that the one who will turn back against her is one of her best friends?

She felt betrayed.

Suddenly, her eyes clouded by tears; the feeling of anger and fiery stirred onto her head. Everything just seemed to be off. This day is off. From Morning up to Afternoon, only arguments and hurtful words are present within her hands.

"How…" She trailed, "Dad…" She sobbed by the memory of her precious dad, of all the people…

Why Bakugou Katsuki?

Katsuki's rage depleted for a moment. Seeing Chiharu breaking down to him takes a turn to his stomach up to his chest. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Izuku wanted to say. But he was frozen. Stiff. He couldn't form any words at all. Izuku trembled. His two friends are fighting because of him. He wanted to tell her.

It's alright, Chi-chan. I don't want you two to fight.

You two are my friends.

Don't break our friendship.

Don't break that promise!

"Haru…" Katsuki reached for her again but instead got the cold shoulder when snatches her wrist away from him.

"Don't you ever… Don't you ever touch me!" She shouted, glaring daggers to him, "You don't know what quirkless people have to live in… You don't know… You don't know because you're just a bloated ball of ego! You live reigning over the top that you stomp onto others!"

No. No! Izuku wanted to yell. Don't say that! He wanted to tell her. Everything will be resolved. It's alright. It's just the usual antics of Katsuki, that's all.

Don't fight!

Chi-chan!

Kacchan!

Please!

Katsuki felt silent, gritting his teeth furiously. In his situation, he knew that he really fucked up.

"Don't come near me again. I don't want to see you, Bakugou." Katsuki's breath hitched, hearing her call him by his last name made his world shutter. It was like some poison being spit out from her mouth. She never argued with her fists but her words packed a powerful punch. Carefully spoken, without drama, her words had an air of finality to them and no matter how hard he railed against them, nothing would change her mind.

Words flew from her mouth that she never thought she'd even think, let alone say out loud. She knew instantly from the look in his eyes that they'd hit their mark. In that instant their relationship shattered into glassy shards.

Nothing would ever be the same again.

With that, Izuku was dragged away by a pissed Chiharu. Izuku shivered, remembering the glare Katsuki was giving him.

It was his fault.

It was his fault why Chi-chan and Kacchan were fighting.

It was because he existed.

It was because he's born.

He really was a good-for-nothing worthless, quirkless boy.

I shouldn't have been born.

Author's Note:

I tried to update fast this time! Anyway, another dispute concerning Katsuki and Chiharu again. How will this turn out? Anyway, thank you for the feedbacks last time my dear readers. This just the start of our very own angst arc lol. Also, another appearance from our lil' Tododorki! Please comment down your thoughts!

Also, if I reach 100 followers in this account, I'll create a Twitter account to have a connection to you about this fanfic~ ((Will anyone even follow me omg)) Also, did anyone saw the similarities between Taira and Chiharu's naming taste? Hohohohoho.

In case you're confused, this happens before Shota learned about the incident. In order not to be so puzzled by the turn of events, please take note of the time! Thank you so much.