B E G I N N I N G S

A N D

B O U N D S

Kaya had a lot of reasons to live.

Amongst all of those, one particularly stuck to her mind.

Herself.

Actually, she owes herself the biggest debt. For giving up when she still could've held on, for dodging her problems when instead she could've faced them and for everything that could've went right if only she had made the right choices. If only she wasn't as incompetent as she was before, as she still is.

There wasn't really a legitimate reason for her to wish for her demise, and she wasn't looking for one. Although all of that were said and done, she knew there was something inside of her crawling, wanting to hold her down and keep her still.

Unfortunately for that, she wasn't done holding on. Although she really wanted to.

- - -

Yoake was mourning.

None of the employees passed away, no. Nobody actually died.

But there Amira was, holding a can of beer drinking her sense out in a recluse at the at the staff room. No one tried to bother. She needed time to cope, so everyone respected that. After all, it wasn't everyday your only relative left would suddenly leave you behind.

Her brother had left her. As to why, it was still a mystery for all.

She seldom held alcohol. Amira never felt the need to let the burning liquid touch her throat. It was painful, in a way. But right now, she understood why those broken took refuge under liquor. All this time she thought those who had addictions were masochists. She wouldn't hide the fact that she thinks Kaya is a masochist. Although it seemed so different now.

Yes; alcohol felt like fire running down her thorax. But at the same time alcohol felt like anesthesia entering her system. Piercing at first taste yet numbing after.

Yes, it will hurt but everything eventually goes dull. Liquor could pass as an anesthetic device, per se.

"Y'know, that beer's 85 percent alcohol."

Amira smiled.

"I'm aware."

"Yeah, that's why I'm curious," Kaya shrugged, "You were never the type to drink."

Chuckling, she took another swig, "I thought so too, Kaya-chan. It seems that alcochol's glorious."

"Careful, Ami," Kaya ducked her head, "Once you start there's no going back."

To that, Amira only gave a hollow sigh.

"Whoever said I was gonna get addicted?"

"I didn't say anything about being addicted."

"You didn't?"

Kaya gave a humorless smile.

"I believe so."

Silence reigned the room for a little while. The peaceful yet tense lull between the two stayed in a truce. Neither was gleeful about the situation. Though they weren't equally broken, they were still at least, in a way, not shattered — for now.

"Ah, Kaya-chan. You really sound older than you look."

"I've actually been told I was rather childish."

"Some occasions, probably."

Her lavender locks fell into her face smoothly whilst turning her heel to leave the grieving woman alone.

"Just.. please," she felt her heart constrict, "Don't end up like me."

- - -

Pogako ran.

That's all he ever did.

Run.

Ran from everything he couldn't face. He was weak like that. He was everything they thought he wasn't. Others look at him and promptly thinks he could take on the world with his calm and collected gaze. Few knew that under those irises a storm was constantly brewing — one that never seemed to cease.

Right now, he was running.

But for a completely different reason this time. Someone of importance needed him this very moment.

"Where are you off to?"

Halting, Pogako found Katou leaving from the back door of a café. He looked like he just finished his shift, with unruly aphotic blue hair sticking out at every end. His white polo shirt was slightly crumpled and his trousers seemed just a little loose.

"Yoake's."

Katou rose an eyebrow.

"Just at Yoake? Why the hurry?" It was a fitting question. Pogako looked like him at the moment; worn out. Pogako was only slightly worse. Panting and all.

"Amira.. she — her.."

So it's about her.

"brother.. left.."

Oh.

He gave a toothless smile at Pogako.

"I must be delaying you, then. You can go. I hope everything goes well."

And with a blink, Pogako was gone.

Again. Just like that.

- - -

Katou took in the lingering scent Pogako left behind.

Always the musty smell of old books.

Ah.

He really was whipped.

He tugged the sleeves of his polo shirt and went straight for Yoake. A good can of soda or two wouldn't hurt.

He arrived at the store only to be met with a sign indicating 'closed' at their usually vivid double doors. Kaya was outside, a cigarette in hand. She looked so much older, sitting on that bench, looking far beyond ahead. Apart her eyes were an unlit fire with a mission; it felt undone. It felt incomplete — like there was something she still needed to do.

Deep in her thoughts, it seemed. She didn't even notice Katou arrived from the looks of it.

"Looking horrible."

She took notice of him with a small jolt, tightening her grip around the cigarette.

She exhaled the smoke, "I could say the same for you."

"I thought you were okay with them together, Katou-san?"

"Being okay with it doesn't mean I couldn't get hurt."

"You sure you're really okay with everything?"

A sigh escaped Katou's lips as he pondered over the things he felt. Sure, he was okay with it. That doesn't give him immunity to pain brought by this little charade. Nothing did.

"That's the only option I have left," he shrugged, "I don't have a sob story like Amira."

"Last time I checked a sob story wasn't a requirement."

"Check again, Kaya-chan."

She waved him off as she blew her smoke, "The door's open. Staff room. Unlocked too."

"Hm. Thanks."

He didn't even last five minutes inside.

Pogako's arms around Amira's was truly a sight to see. Unfortunately, he didn't look forward to more of it soon.

All he needed was to smell the ever lingering musty scent of old books after all.

- - -

Katsuki cursed.

Stronger.

He needed to get stronger. He has to prove them that he was not a good-for-nothing arrogant twat circling around owning the place. He has something to back up his confidence, his arrogance, whatever they may call it. His quirk is his pride.

What's wrong about wanting to be as good as everybody else?

The tournament's up soon.

His time is coming.

He's going to win it. He's gonna be recognized as somebody who toppled over all his classmates like the shitbags they are. Because he deserved it.

What's wrong about wanting your rightfully earned place in the world?

"Bakugou my boy! For when there's a wall before your eyes, you laugh!"

And so he did.

- - -

Like Katou, Katsuki arrived at Yoake with the double doors closed.

"You're such a fucking emo."

Kaya cackled.

"Shut up, I am being sentimental."

"Same thing."

"There's just.. a lot of things happening."

"My tournament's coming in a week. You're going to watch me."

It wasn't a question.

"Of course."

All of them were never equally broken. One struggled to find a reason to not hold on whilst one found a reason to give up, another wanted to stop running, someone needed an excuse to keep loving and a person wanted something to show the world.

But at the end of the day, they were all just humans in pursuit of hope.