I care about you… But I love him.
It was those words that ended it all. Tsuyu walked aimlessly, she was on patrol, but it was the furthest thing away from her mind. She'd spent years together with him, shared laughs, troubles, all sorts of moments. But for it to all end like this? She was a bit bitter, but she knew it was for the best. Neither of them were really happy in the same way they'd seen their engaged classmates. It wasn't that they were at odds all the time, but the feelings they shared ended up being more mutually supportive more than anything. They felt like friends who entered a relationship because it was convenient.
At least that's how she rationalized it.
Honestly, they did at one point, love each other. The heat between them rose when in proximity. Their conversations held a certain energy within them. Sidelong glances made their hearts skip a beat. And the feeling of her lips on his beak once left chills surging through her. But that wasn't where they were anymore. They'd cooled off months ago, maybe it was when they semi officially moved into her apartment, maybe it was their schedules leaving no time for them to be together. But somewhere along the line she knew that they both felt it wasn't working.
I'll be out of here by tonight. I'm… I'm sorry.
His words echoed in her mind. He wasn't going to be there by the time she got home and she knew it wasn't a joke. She saw how his hands seemed to tremble in his lover's, she could see how small he looked, how he shrank in some form of guilt and shame. It almost hurt more to see him so distressed about this, than it was for her to be broken up with. He'd probably spent months thinking things over. Whether or not it was worth destroying his relationship with Tsuyu. If he was truly in love with Shoji, it was an on the job incident that snapped something in him. Shoji had risked several limbs once again to protect Tokoyami from a villain's stray attack. The night patrols, gave them all the alone time they needed to rekindle their friendship. But the small moments between the two ignited their romance. She could see it in Shoji's eyes as well. The two were serious, it was the same eyes Midoriya had when he was with Uraraka, it was the same eyes Momo had when with Todoroki. Those eyes she lost some time ago.
I understand. All I want is for you to be happy Fumi.
Her only words that entire conversation. She'd known that fighting here would be the least useful thing for any of them. Shoji was still a mutual friend, a good one at that. His maturity, his serene nature, it all made him someone reliable to any situation. But those eyes were something she never saw from the man until now. The way he clutched Tokoyami's hand so protective and caring. His arm gingerly wrapped around his lover's shoulder pulling him close. It was something she couldn't stand to hurt now. She agreed despite her self. She wished she had seen it sooner. Maybe then they could have fixed their relationship, maybe this could have been avoided. None of them were the type to betray so this was obviously a calculated decision by all parties.
Thank you, Tsuyu. I love you.
His last words to her. But it wasn't the same kind of statement as it was the first time he'd said it. It held no fire. It held a different warmth, one more platonic than anything he'd ever shown for anyone. All she could do was nod as he walked away with two boxes filled with most of his sutff. She clenched her fist seeing the pair disappear beyond the gate. She turned back, now wasn't the time to sulk. Her shift started an hour later. She quickly left home not caring how messy her hair looked.
She was shattered.
A small part of Tsuyu had always made plans for her life. She'd be a pro hero loved by children across the nation, she'd get married some day, she'd have children of her own and one day they'd grow and carry on her legacy. She's always been attached to her way of doing things, she was willing to adjust but she wholly believed in her own ideals before all else. Now she wasn't so sure, she used to be assured that she'd one day marry Tokoyami, and look where that ended up. She was left high and dry. He already knew who he'd be with next, she had no idea. But the worst part of it all, she wasn't going to fight it. She knew it was for the best, but her heart still begged for her to fight it. She denied herself any kind of hatred on either of them, it wasn't their fault.
It wasn't anyone's fault. But why did she still feel like blaming someone?
Her stupor was broken at the alarm of her phone ringing. It was Katsuki, she hadn't spoken to him for weeks. She hadn't seen him in person in just as long. Yet he was still in the news, still on magazines. He probably loved being single. Maybe he'd have some good advice on her new life. But she wavered, she didn't want to see him right now. She didn't want to have him be the first person from their class to know about this. Much less was she sure that he wouldn't be dismissive of her new situation.
She probably should have taken the call.
No longer than 10 minutes later an explosion would be heard around the city. 30 minutes later she'd get a call from his office asking if she would visit him in the hospital. Two hours later she was clocking out ready to go visit him.
The hospital was cold, his ward was nearly empty, with the sounds of a live hospital distant. The world felt sterile as her footsteps were the only thing ringing at this hour. She entered his room without announcement. Peeking her head around the corner. He was in better condition than she thought he'd be. A cut here, a bruise there. It wasn't unfamiliar to what she'd be admitted for. Though something did stand out.
His right hand was shattered.
"So they sent you." he groaned lazily his head tilted.
She nodded pulling up a seat next to his bed. On his right hand side, she looks at the bandages, bare and white as the driven snow.
"Oh? Was I the first visitor?" she asked sarcastically. Eyes transfixed on his face, he rolled his own sighing. "What do you think?" he grunts dispassionately.
"I'm not too sure, tabloids state you're quite popular, Bakugo."
"Those rags ain't worth the paper they're printed on."
"I'd have to agree." the pair shared no other words, sitting in an uncomfortable silence.
"This is bullshit."
"Excuse Me!?" she got defensive. Who the hell did he think he was, insulting the only person willing to visit him? She had half a mind to tell him off.
"I can't even go home, that old bat's got me in her for the night." to her surprise, he was sharing his frustration.
"You shattered your hand. You're lucky Recovery Girl was even in town today." She was right, the kind of fracture he had when he was admitted would take months to heal regularly. Even then, it could spell the end of a career for some people, Katsuki was blessed to get such good treatment so soon.
"The rest of me is fine. I can go home now if they'd let me." He stubbornly argued venting on to her.
"I hate hospitals. They're always so damned… blank." Katsuki sighed. He had always been a man of action, it would be needless to say, somewhere so sedentary would be frustrating. She looked on, his face looked tired, his eyes lacked their luster, his body looked limp.
"You know. Seeing you like this makes me a little nostalgic." Tsuyu closed her eyes, reminiscing.
"What the hell are you implying, Asui?" Katsuki looked at her with a weak attempt at a glare.
"Midoriya used to be bandaged up like this all the time." She recalled, an odd memory to think of fondly. "You look just like him."
"Shut it..." He drifted, making a fruitless attempt at swinging his bandaged arm at her. She caught it, laughing softly.
"Oh relax, you grump. You'll be out of here in no time. We'll go out for a drink sometime, first rounds on me." She assured him, setting his arm down to his side. Delicately brushing her fingers along his toned arms, she patted his shoulder.
"What's your angle?" He looked at her his eyebrow inquisitively raised.
"I just thought it'd be nice to chat." she pulled away, raising the plastic bag of groceries she bought. "Here, a little get well gift." She set the bag on her seat ready to leave.
"Why didn't you answer my call." He asked coldly.
"Hmm?" she turned back, almost out the door.
"You heard me."
"I… It's not important."
"The hell it is, you know why I bother calling you." He was right. Phone calls from him always meant one thing, heroics. She was only ever called in the case of a criminal making their way towards her post. The bit of trust he placed in her actually did wonder's for her ranking, and it pushed him a bit higher as well. They made an unexpected dynamic duo.
"I just. I had a lot on my mind." She was almost ashamed to look at him. Letting her personal life i on her disrupt her professional one was a rookie mistake and she knew it.
"Well, leave it home or get it out." He was a bit miffed at getting ignored, and his response was an invitation to spill the beans, albeit a gruff one.
"It's silly..."
"You think I care?"
She looked down taking into consideration the possible results of what she'd say next. She concluded that she could trust him enough. She let it out, her break up, her loneliness, her lack of drive as of the past week or so. She felt so wound up, so pent up with emotion, that just saying it all out loud was cathartic. Not that she imagined he'd have anything positive to say. This is stupid or pointless was the first thing that came to her mind as a response he'd make.
"Look." He started going over his own thoughts. "The single life isn't all that hard." he gave assuring words to her shock.
"It takes time to get used to. But knowing you, you'll do just fine." He nodded to himself.
Coming from someone who had no pleasure in mincing words, Katsuki's statement felt genuine. A part of her felt comforted by his innocuous comment. She agreed with him, feeling a bit better.
"Yeah. Maybe it is time for a change. Thank you, Katsuki. I'll see you later." she bowed, picking herself up and exiting. She left the man alone to his thoughts, all he did was let out a simple grunt.
"Don't think, I've ever seen her smile like that." he said aloud slumping down into a comfortable position to get some rest.
After a morning check up he was back to it, his arm made a full recovery, though it's usage would need some rehab as the large scar across his ring knuckled down to his wrist wouldn't go away. Yes it seemed to him that it was also time for him to make a couple changes of his own. Katsuki with a spare change of clothes left the hospital that day, taking the rest of the day to recoup before coming back. He assured himself that some time soon. Things would change.