Alright. The time has come. I have two more weeks left of school. All my AP exams are done. I have one more project to commit myself to, then this story is my number one priority. I plan to have it done by the end of summer (hopefully, Finger crossed) so expect there to be consistent chapter.

As always, don't forget to follow and favorite this story. Leave a review. I like reading you comments about my story. Someone said this story reminds them as High School of the Dead. As much as I love the anime, this story is more inspired by The Walking Dead than the anime. However, I love both equally and hope my story is as good as both works. That being said, have a good read.


Bakugou should've known better than to be hopeful. The moment he stepped foot into the house he knew they weren't there. It was too quiet and too cold. The house looked run through, important items gone and personal items, like photos, were taken too. He knew they were here at one point, but they were gone now. They never even came to get them…

"Kacchan," Midoriya said, pointing to a map on the floor. It was marked up, a big, red star over a city a few hours from his house. If his parents took his car, which he was sure they did because it was there, they'd be there in six to seven hours, and that was if they were taking the highway.

"Do you think that's where they went?" Bakugou asked, examining the map closer. Something in his chest flourished at the idea of his parents still having hopes they were alive. He didn't know what happened, but he knew where they were, and that was one more step closer to being reunited.

However, The trip would take a long time, let alone by foot. There was no telling how long it would take for them to get there. They'd need a vehicle themselves, but he had no guarantee they could get one. There was no car in the driveway when they approached his house, so his parents took the car. He'd been a delinquent all his life, sure, but he was never so misbehaved he hijacked a car. That was theft, and it crossed his own personal preference of misbehaving.

"Maybe," she said, handing him a piece of paper. "It's for you to decide." She left and made her way to the bathroom. He looked at the envelope he left for him, his heart stuttering in his chest when he read his name. It was his mother's handwriting. He opened it, unknowingly holding his breath as he read the world hastily scribbled across the page.

Katsuki,

I hope you're reading this. We tried to get to you, but the officers wouldn't let us into the school. We were told there were no survivors in the city, that anyone in the area of your school was dead or infected. We saw the front of the school, all the dead bodies, and blood. We also saw Izuki's backpack, the yellow one you got her for Christmas after you broke her last one. It was covered in blood too. We don't know if she's okay either, but if she's with you take care of her. She's a fragile girl, always has been. I know you like to pretend that you don't care for her much anymore, but I know you do on a level much deeper than friendship, so put aside your inability to understand empathy and take care of her. Inko worried sick for her, and I'm scared if we never see you two again she'd die from sorrow.

If you noticed this letter, then you noticed the map on the floor. We'd been evacuated out of the area by the military. While we rushed to get our things, I managed to find the city they were moving us to and marked it on the map for you. It's a long way on your feet, so think about getting the car if you want to find us. We're all safe and alive, and we'd love to see you again if you are too.

Please don't forget that we love you and that we wish things were different. I wish I had gotten to you and Izuki quicker and I wish you were here with us, but for now, all I can do is pray you'll find your way.

Your Mother.

PS, if Izuki is with you, now would be the perfect time to apologize for everything you'd done to her. You are all each other may have, don't let her slip away a second time.

He was crying, silently and by himself. He wiped the tears away, relief sinking deep in him. They had tried, and it meant the world to him. He was just happy he wasn't abandoned. And they had Midoriya's mom. That would make her happy, maybe then she'd smile. She hadn't smiled since it started…

He just wished the military scooped them up when they came for his parents. Then they wouldn't have to walk as far or hope that they're still there when they arrive. They didn't have a car, only their legs. It would take them weeks to cross that amount of land, and there was no way they'd be able to carry enough food…

He wanted to tell Midoriya the news, but he could hear her crying over the shower running, and it left him frozen in his place. His mother said now would be the time to repent, but he couldn't. He'd done so much to her, hurt her so many times, that he had to be the last person she wanted to be stuck with. His mother said she was fragile, but he knew that wasn't true. If she wanted to, she could leave him and make it just fine. That's why he was scared of messing up from that point forward, because if she left he'd be alone, and he was scared of that. He was scared of losing her.

It didn't matter though, because when he told her the news it was her decision to follow. She didn't want to leave the office before even though there was no food or water, just cold air, and hard floors to sleep on. She looked exhausted from the idea of going outside, much less fighting the infected. Though her mother might be there waiting for her, she doesn't want to risk her life to get there. So if she said no and left, he'd let her. It would hurt, it really would, but it wasn't his decision to make. He'd be surprised if she even decided to stay with him.

He looked over the map one more time, looking for any routes that would potentially be infected free before deciding to stay off the road altogether. They could make it to their destination through the forest, and it might be the quickest way anyway. The only problem was the impending winter. It would get cold, really cold, and if they didn't have the right jackets they could freeze.

He was sure everyone was in survival mode. The stores had to be run dry by now, maybe gun shops and sporting goods shops too. People would be boarded up in their homes, waiting for help to arrive, at least outside his neighborhood. Every house on his street was abandoned, fully stocked in food and supplies. If they needed anything, anything at all, they could always take from them. It wasn't the best idea, but it was all Bakugou had. The main streets of the city were flooded with infection, and his neighborhood streets were fairly spotless. Their safest bet would be looting.

The door to the bathroom opened and Midoriya's head popped out. Her hair was wet, eyes puffy and red as she looked down the hallway at him. She only had a towel on, the rest of her skin exposed. He always thought she had a nice figure no matter what the others said, and he was especially seeing it then. She might be a bit behind the other girls when it came to development, but she had more curves and an ass than any of them.

She started blushing when his stare moved to her breast, "K-Kacchan!"

"What?" he asked, looking away and back at the map. He wouldn't allow himself to acknowledge the blush that crept along his cheeks. He wouldn't acknowledge how it was night and dark in the house, yet he could still see every curve and bump that girl had, or how it was very appealing to him.

"Can I borrow some of your old clothes?" she asked quietly. He just grunted in response, pretending like he was doing something when really he was just trying not to be distracted by her beauty. He was also trying to figure out a plan, but that was on halt as long as she was in that towel. She was back quicker than he thought she would be, dressed in one of his smaller sweatpants and shirts from when he was younger. She looked good in his clothes.

"What did the letter say?" she asked, sitting across the table from him. Her eyes landed on the map, looking at the multiple marked areas before looking back at him. His hands messed with the paper, smudging the pencil markings and making the words thinner.

"They're alive, all of them. Even your mother," he said. Her eyes widened, bright and cheerful as she let out an airy laugh. Her hands covered her mouth, tears leaking from her eyes in pure Midoriya fashion before she revealed her bright smile. Bakugou almost smiled back. She wiped them away, clapping her hands in happiness.

"I'm happy. Where are they?" she asked. He pointed to the map and her expression dropped. "That's so far."

"I know," he said. "Old hag said the military picked them up and sent them to that location, so there's no doubt they'd be there." But there was, the silent nagging voice in the back of his head that screamed it wasn't worth it.

"We should wait," she said, looking over the letter. Her eyes froze on her mother's name, sadness taking over her features before she folded the letter closed. She coughed like there was a lump in her throat she was trying to ignore before she continued on. "If the military did pick them up then they have to come back for survivors right?"

"Maybe," he said. "We waited for a week and they never fucking come for us." He was angry at that, because if they had cared a little more, then he could be with his family, and she could be with hers. Her face dropped at his words.

"We should just wait, see how things play out," she said, but she didn't look convinced. "Maybe they'll come back for us."

"They're convinced we're dead," he stated. "They're not coming back for us." But he'd wait anyway because that's what she wanted. He knew where his parents were, that was all that mattered. It would take them a while to come up with a plan anyway and to prepare for the long journey.

"I just– I don't think it's best to leave now," she said, looking away and sounding small. He wondered if it was because she was talking to him. Back at the school, she wasn't as timid. If anything, she wouldn't take no for an answer, but now she couldn't even look him in the eyes. He didn't mean to have that effect on her, it just happened on its own. "It's up to you of course."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" he snapped because it was never just about him. He cared about what she thought no matter how many times he denied it out loud. He listened to her long rambles, even the ones that spanned out for minutes. He could tell her anything she ever said to him perfectly because he remembered every word and every detail. He just never had to, because she never asked.

"I just think you're better at this than I am," she explained, falling into herself. "Just forget it, Kacchan. I'm sorry I ticked you off." Then she left and made herself at home in the guest room. She didn't even bother to eat anything, which was concerning because all she had was an apple, and before that only half a bowl of rice before a migraine struck her. He didn't eat anything either, he wasn't hungry.

He went to his room, calling it a night for the day. The power still worked for whatever reason, so he was going to see if there was any news on the tv the next day. He'd fix breakfast for the two of them, and they could start to make a plan from that point forward. He'd try to take her thoughts into consideration because even though Midoriya thought she wasn't good at decision making, he knew she was.

He'd try to be more bearable around her. He just hoped his fear and anger towards the situation wouldn't push her away from him, because she was the only thing making it worth it.


The power went out three days after they settled in Bakugou's home. Midoriya had been brushing her teeth when the light cut off and the water cut off. She heard Bakugou cuss in the kitchen. He'd been making eggs, and they were about half done. Immediately Midoriya moved to the fridge to see what would spoil, which was about half their food. Eggs, meat, milk, and sauces had to be either cooked or thrown out before it all went bad.

She looked in the pantry, taking note of the number of nonperishables they had left. It could last them two weeks between the two of them, but after that, they'd have to go out and look for food.

Nothing had happened since they arrived at his house a few days ago. There was still no help, no military, no hope. Bakugou tried to talk to her about a plan, but she didn't want to think about it. She didn't want the reality of scavenging and roaming from place to become her world. She didn't want to travel a hundred miles north just to see her mother who might not even be there.

So they hadn't been talking. They'd been ignoring each other, or she'd been ignoring him. He actually seemed bothered by it, his gaze always lingering on her for a bit too long when he thought she wasn't looking. She had a feeling that she could no longer ignore him though because now they couldn't pretend they were just waiting for their parents to come back on a school night like it wasn't the end of the world. Winter was right around the corner, and without the AC to make the house warmer they could freeze to death.

"Okay," she said as she turned to him. He looked back at her confused, placing the pan of half-cooked eggs in the sink. He tried to turn the faucet on, but no water came out. So that was one less way for them to get water.

"Okay, what?"

"Let's talk about finding our parents," she said. "We can't stay here like this. We'll run out of food, we'll get cold, we can't even take a shower." She rubbed her hands against her forehead, sliding to sit on the floor as she finally let stress take over her. She had been ignoring it and it had been piling up in her for the past three days. She finally let it overflow in a big sigh. "So what are we gonna do, Kacchan. What have you planned?"

He looked at her, eyes looking dull and lost before he finally turned and pointed to the map. "It would take up to two weeks to walk to the location on the map. We can find food and supplies in the houses nearby, maybe even stop by your apartment before we head off. We should stay a little while longer, and plan for the worst-case scenario." Meaning if they didn't find their parents, they needed a plan to just live. Just them two, because who else would they trust when the world was in shambles?

"Okay," she said. "How much longer are we staying?" He started to fiddle with the pencil in his hands, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know. A week or two. Long enough to find warm jackets and pants, and some more food to last us the trip. Maybe a working car, some gas, some flashlights, and candles…" he trailed off. She sighed. There were a lot of things they needed to find. She continued to make a list in her head.

"When will we start?" she asked, dreading the answer with everything in her. The moment they stepped out of that house it was official. They were surviving. No help was coming, they had to fend for themselves.

"Tomorrow," he whispered, looking just as distraught as her. She stood up, walking past him and talking over her shoulder. She wanted to sleep, to ignore what her life was about to become. Any hopes and dreams she had were gone, never to be met. She had to face reality.

"Okay," she ignored the ever-growing feeling of doom that fell within the rooms as night approached.

The first night without the AC was torture. Midoriya was always prone to cold temperatures, so the moment the sun set and the cold, crisp air crept into the room she was shaking. Bakugou had started a fire in the fireplace to warm them, and to start a bowl of rice over the fire. She wasn't sitting close to him, yet somehow he managed to see her shaking. He took off the jacket he was wearing and wrapped it around her, not saying a word or looking in her direction when he did so.

The jacket smelt like him. Sweet like caramel, but somehow also spicy. It was warm too, the heat from his body enclosed in the thick material. She wrapped the jacket around herself tighter, unconsciously digging her nose into the material as she did so.

She knew she missed him in an odd way. She just missed sitting around him, reading him like a book. Bakugou was one of the most interesting people she knew because his actions always contradicted his words. He'd be mean and vicious in one fatal verbal slap, but gentle and soft as he wrapped a jacket around her. She chuckled quietly to herself, enjoying the heat her body stole from his jacket.

"Aren't you cold?" she asked, looking at him from the corner of his eyes. When he wasn't scowling or sneering at her, he was beautiful, almost etheric. His red eyes reflected the fire perfectly, and his hair seemed to darken from the shadows created by the light. His jaw was perfectly outlined, so were his nose and cheekbones. He honestly looked godly.

"I don't get cold easily," he said, but then twitched and scooted closer to the fire. She felt guilty, taking the jacket off and handing it back to him. He wouldn't take it back, snapping at her to put it back on before she decided the best way for both of them to get what they wanted was for her to scoot closer and wrap the jacket around the both of them.

They were both under the jacket together, silent as the rice cooked. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were glued to the fire. Bakugou seemed tense, grumbling to himself before he put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. She jumped, the action feeling intimate. He was warm, so much warmer than the fire, and the heat of her cheeks only added to her warmth. She'd gotten so lost in the action she hadn't realized their food was done. Not until Bakugou put it right in her face.

After they silently ate and washed the dishes, they both laid in front of the fire to fall asleep. Midoriya couldn't stop shaking, even with Bakugou's jacket around her. The fire was dimmer, the wood burning away into ash in front of her eyes, taunting the lack of wrath that was soon to come. After a few minutes of Midoriya trying to bring warmth back into her legs and arms, Bakugou wrapped his arm around her again, bringing her head to his chest as he growled in her ear.

"Stop fucking moving," He growled, sounding exhausting. She did as he said, tensing and stilling in an instant. She did note that he was still warm and that in his attempt to get her to stop moving, he was also providing her with the heat he had left. She was confused again, relaxing against his chest as she closed her eyes.

Did he care? Was her well-being valuable enough to him for him not to want her to freeze? Was he comfortable with her touching him like that, even if he did initiate it? He couldn't be, because he had spent years yelling at her that she wasn't good enough, but now she was. Bakugou didn't bother to try unless he cared enough.