Horizon: An extra long chapter and a shout out to everyone that leaves reviews because those always make my day! Um. Also TW: obsession friendship?
"Kumori-chan, is something wrong? You've barely touched your food. You don't like it, do you? It's alright. I'll order something else for you. Let's find something you'll like." Iida skimmed the menu before glancing toward her, frowning. "You are hungry, aren't you? Either way, you need to eat something."
"I'm fine." Picking up her chopsticks again and lifting a bite of food to her lips. Trying to placate her friend while giving herself more time to mull over what needed to be said. After that morning's interaction at breakfast, it was clear that something needed to be done. A statement had to be made so he would draw away from her, even just a little.
Iida had been close with her for so many years. Always at her side with little to no prompting. Watching over her, catering to her whenever he thought she needed something. Chasing away all of the people he deemed bad for her. Speaking for her when he thought she was too weak. Treating her like she was an antique glass doll that he was trying to preserve.
When it began, Kumori was glad to have a friend. Having someone there to rely on and seek comfort from. As the years passed, it began to slowly wear on her. Boys she had liked were told not to speak to her. Friends she tried to make were too afraid of Iida to get close to Kumori. Now it was beginning to feel like she was gradually being smothered to death.
Chewing, stealing a glance at her friend as his smile returned, seeing the relief in his eyes as he pushed his glasses up. "You wanted to talk about Sunday?"
"That's right. Kumori-chan, the grave visit is on this Sunday, isn't it? Your father told me about it over the phone the other day, but I wanted to make sure that you feel up to visiting. If you want to go, we can pick up some flowers on our way home tonight."
Nodding, but frowning. Guilt jabbing her in the stomach. "I want to go," she replied. Her throat felt like it was tightening up. Knowing what she had to do, what she had to say. Dreading it beyond measure.
"Alright. I think there's a good florist in this area so we can go for a walk once we've finished eating. Ah. You need to make sure you eat all of the vegetables, Kumori-chan. Here." He used his own chopsticks to pick up a chunk of carrot and leaned across the table, offering to feed it to her.
You treat me this way. You've always treated me this way. Why do you do this? Is it really so important to be like your brother? Kumori's hand grabbed the chopsticks from him, averting her gaze. What exactly am I to you?
The meal tasted good and the weather was beautiful when they left the restaurant. However, Kumori felt like there was a weighted blanket draped over her. Heavy with guilt as she walked alongside her friend and listened to him talk about what kind of flowers her mother would want them to leave on the grave. So sure that Kumori's mother would want white lilies, despite having never met her.
Iida was paying for the lilies as Kumori looked at the other flowers. Speaking to the florist as if the flowers were for his own family member. The girl paused in front of a display of rose bouquets. Red roses the same shade as fresh blood; wrapped in paper and tied with ribbons. A smile curving her lips as she thought that the color of the roses was so similar to the color of Bakugou's eyes.
"Do you want to get your girlfriend a bouquet, too?" the florist inquired.
"Oh, I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. We're not a couple."
"Oh? No, no! I'm sorry for just assuming!"
Kumori glanced back as Iida approached her with the lilies and offered him a half-smile. "That was funny, Tenya-kun."
"No, it was not. Honestly, I don't understand how someone could just assume that about us. It's perfectly natural for friends to walk together!" He took a deep breath and pushed up his glasses again. "I suppose now is the best time to talk about it, since we're already on the subject."
"What do you mean?" She held out her hands to take the flowers from him, but Iida held onto them with a stern frown.
"I'll carry these for you. I was referring to your relationship with Bakugou. Kumori-chan, I understand that you're dating him now. I wanted to talk to you about this before you made any rash decisions. Didn't I warn you-?"
"But nothing bad happened," she interrupted. "Tenya-kun, I like him. A lot. He isn't forcing me to do anything; I want to date him. I know that you're going to say he bullied me into it-"
"I can only assume that he pressured you to agree to it. You've only spoken to him a few times! You barely know him!"
"I know him well enough!" Kumori raised her voice, her hands curling into fists at her sides as she narrowed her eyes at her friend. "And he knows me well enough without…being as pushy as you are sometimes! I can make my own choices! I'm not stupid! I won't do something that's going to hurt me!"
He drew back a little, startled that she was shouting at him. Iida's eyes narrowed as well and he frowned deeply. "Well, I'm just trying to protect you! I only want what's best for you!"
"You say that…you always say that! But you never let me do anything! Even when he saved me, you wouldn't let me tell people about it! You took what happened to me and you made yourself the storyteller! You wouldn't even let me explain!"
A hand gripped her shoulder and he leaned down. "Listen to me. I didn't invite you out so we could argue, Kumori-chan. I wanted to speak to you because I'm worried about you. Ever since you started talking to him, you've been pulling away from me. I feel like we're drifting apart. I don't want that to happen to us. You're my dearest friend so please reconsider what you're doing."
Bristling. Trying to shake off his hand and gritting her teeth as his fingertips dug into her shoulder. "So what would you want me to do?" she asked in a dark tone. "You…keep saying you want what's best for me. What do you think is best for me, Tenya-kun?"
His arm wrapped around her in a hug that trapped her in place. "Leave Bakugou," he started, his voice quiet yet reflecting his confidence. So sure that he knew what was right. That she would see things his way. "You and I both know that Midoriya has feelings for you. He would treat you so much better than Bakugou ever will. We both know Midoriya; he's a good man. I trust that he would take good care of you."
Staring blankly at the setting sun in the distance as he hugged her. Listening to him talk. She felt like she had been stuffed into a box and each word that fell from his lips made the box get a little smaller. Suffocating her slowly. He mentioned getting her to finish her work study at the same agency as him so when they graduate, they could work there together.
Kumori's arms lifted, hands clutching at the back of his shirt. Letting him talk as she bit into the inside of her cheek. Trying so hard to keep herself from screaming, but it felt like she was being crushed. "I'm scared," she finally blurted out. Standing there, her stomach in knots and feeling her heart race.
"It's okay. You don't need to be afraid." He stepped back, holding her shoulder again and smiling. Looking so relieved, so pleased. "I vowed to take care of you the day we met. Just leave everything to me."
"No." She took a step away from him, yellow eyes widening. In her panic, her quirk was starting to make the shadows beneath her on the sidewalk squirm and sway. Shapes taking form and bubbling on the cement as they struggled to lift from the smooth surface. "Just…no."
"What do you mean? I don't understand. K-?" Iida tried to take a step toward her, but a shadowy tendril lifted from the sidewalk and coiled around his leg. Eyebrows furrowed, he looked from the tendril back to Kumori. "Why are you doing this? Let me go so I can comfort you." Instead of her obeying, a second smoky appendage lifted from the dark mass on the sidewalk and coiled up his other leg to keep him rooted in place. "Kumori-chan, stop this right now!"
"Tenya-kun, you're…the reason why I feel scared." The girl stumbled back another step, letting the shadowy tentacles tighten around his legs. She saw the desperation in his face and it made her heart feel heavy. She knew what would come next. Turning away from him, running as fast as she could and keeping him held in place for as long as possible before he used his quirk to tear himself free.
Shift P.O.V
Like red roses. Splashes of blood on the alley walls, on the ground beneath his feet. The mess of a corpse sitting slumped over in the corner. The head reduced to a gooey pile of viscera that leaked from bone fragment that no longer passed for a skull.
Panting, glaring down at the body as he slammed the bottom of his shoe into its chest. Stupid! So fucking stupid! What the hell was the point of this?! He tried to wipe blood from his cheek, but only succeeded in smearing it like macabre makeup. Whatever. I got it done. Bastard shouldn't have messed with the League. What kind of dumbass attacks a League member and thinks they can get away with it, huh?!
Bakugou sank down into a crouch, closing his eyes. It was fun. It was always fun chasing down prey like this shabby excuse for a villain and taking them out. Seeing just how much of a mess he could make without anyone getting drawn to the area. Now that the fun was over, he was left with frustration.
That damn four eyes. He thinks he's gonna make her change her mind, doesn't he? He's gonna tell her to dump me. He opened his eyes and stared at the corpse, his lips pulling into a vicious grin. Let's see him try it! She's not going anywhere! Kumori's so damn in love with me that she's gonna tear his head off if he tries to say anything bad about me!
He straightened up and dug in his pocket for his phone. Calling Kurogiri to tell him the coordinates of the mess that needed cleaned up. A warp gate would be open soon and he could just shove the body into it before heading back to the dorms. With any luck, he would be able to get there before Kumori and surprise her in her room this time.
Imagining the look Midoriya would have if he opened her door and found Bakugou there. He smirked and put his phone away as the warp gate opened. The shock, the disappointment that the green-haired boy would feel knowing that he had lost his chance with Kumori.
The corpse was nudged through the warp gate and tumbled into an unknown location. Bakugou never questioned where the bodies went; all that mattered was that they were no longer his problem. No body, no crime. That was what Shigaraki had told him so he was inclined to just go with it.
He managed to wipe the blood off of his face, using his sleeve. The blood was hard to spot on his dark clothes. A quick change, a quick wash, and he would be ready to surprise her. His girlfriend. It still gave him such a boost to know she was his now. Her smile, her laughter, that admiring gaze. All for him.
Emerging into the warm glow of the setting sun. Acting casual. Not a shred of guilt or remorse; just feeling a little hungry and wanting to get back to the dorms. The thought of food reminded him of just where Kumori was at that moment and it put a damper on his good mood.
I bet she's bored. I bet he planned everything for her and ordered for her. That damn four eyes. Who the hell does he think he is?! He acts like he's her dad or something! That damn creep! Seething, eyes narrowing into a glare that he lowered to the ground.
Damn it! I was in a good mood and just thinking about that bastard is pissing me off! Can't wait until I can just go all out and destroy him! Pisses me off the way he's always touching her and he makes her follow him around! Does he seriously think she wants to be with him all the time?!
Huffing. Scowling deeply and running his fingers through his messy blond hair. Failing to calm down and just wanting to slam his hand into someone's face and let his quirk decimate them. Bakugou was distracted by his blood-splattered daydream and failed to notice the swiftly approaching footsteps from around the corner.
Someone slammed into his chest and he prepared to snarl something at them, but immediately recognized her. Watery catlike eyes lifted to meet his red gaze and her hands gripped the front of his shirt. Kumori pulled him close to her and hid her face, but he had already seen how pink her cheeks were.
Surprising, but not unwelcome. Bakugou put an arm across her lower back, pinning her against him, and smirked. "Tch. Just couldn't keep away, huh, cat eyes? How long were you looking for me?"
"Please. I just…don't want to do this right now. I didn't want to hurt him, but he won't listen to me," she whimpered.
"Huh? What're you talking about?" His hold tightened as Iida appeared around the corner. Damn it! What the hell did he do to her?!
"Kumori-chan, our conversation isn't over! You can't just run away when-!" Iida's frown deepened as he made eye contact with Bakugou. "I'm sorry, but this is a discussion between friends. Release Kumori-chan so we can resolve this."
He glanced from Iida to Kumori and smirked. "I don't think so. She doesn't wanna talk to you right now. She wants me. Save yourself the trouble and leave us alone."