Bakugou stopped at the stairs and looked up. The sun was already up, so he was sure no one was asleep. It wasn't a long journey. He lived in the same area, so it took no more than five minutes. When had he last been here? Two years or more? He couldn't remember exactly and it didn't seem to matter. Ever since his relationship with Midoriya had become strained, he had found it difficult to come here. Maybe he felt guilty every time he saw how much Inko cared for her daughter. Or maybe he just didn't like the idea that Izuku, his Izuku, had a life of her own, unrelated to him.

Bakugou went up to the right floor and was about to knock on the door. But as soon as he did, the door swung open and Midoria stood before him. Her short, dishevelled hair was sticking out in all directions and her jacket was slipping off her shoulders. She seemed to be in a hurry to get out.

"Kacchan?" Midoriya exclaimed in surprise and stopped.

Bakugou was silent. His gaze went up to her hair and stopped. Instead of its usual length, which the girl had probably kept since she was a child, her head was now covered with short curls. They stuck out in all directions even more than usual. It was unexpected.

Yes, unexpected. For Bakugou, Midoriya had always been someone who had accompanied him throughout his life. Her admiring eyes always stared in his direction and served as a kind of amulet. Bakugou was sure that she would always be there for him, not because he needed it, but because Midoriya herself needed it. She had never had anyone but him and her mother.

"Oh, you noticed, didn't you?" Midoriya touched her hair embarrassedly when she noticed where his gaze was going. She seemed to have done so on the basis of a momentary feeling, which made her question her choice. - I just noticed that my hair had grown back and thought why not update it.

Actually, Midoriya herself didn't understand why she was standing here making excuses to Bakugou instead of rushing to the meeting she was supposed to go to. It was unnecessary, if only because it was purely her decision and had nothing to do with her friend.

"Kacchan, I get scared when you're so quiet," Midoriya hunched her shoulders slightly and looked at Bakugou, who seemed to be thinking about something. "It doesn't suit me, does it? I thought not. I probably shouldn't have done this at all."

Just changing her hair didn't seem to do much. Despite Midoriya's doubts, the change in appearance suited her, and it made her already large eyes seem even larger and brighter. Bakugou's reaction was for a completely different reason. Up until this moment, he had ignored an unpleasant thought that now only grew stronger in his mind. What a fool he had been to ignore Midoriya so easily. After all, youth was not infinite and they would not be together for long. Soon, she would be gone. Maybe forever.

Midoriya was everything to him. She was always there for him. It seemed that even when their relationship went completely wrong, during high school, she was still there, as if to support him. It was annoying, but true. Midoriya had her own life. Friends, her own hobbies, a life without Bakugou. And she was happy. And what did he have? He only had Midoriya.

Midoriya seemed to have unconsciously sensed these feelings, which was why she was now trying to justify herself.

Bakugou ran his fingers through his hair and let out a long sigh. Midoriya seemed to be completely overwhelmed by Katsuki's sudden silence and mumbled something that was almost incomprehensible to him.

"No, forget it," he finally took his eyes off her hair and said to Bakugou. "It's looking good."

Midoriya flashed happily. Her mother flashed behind her, listening to the conversation outside. Somehow, her presence embarrassed Izuka and made her look away. She was glad that Bakugou liked it. It was important to her.

"Ah," Midoriya looked at Bakugou again. "Well, thank you."

There was a silence. From the street came the happy cries of children and the chatter of their parents. Somewhere on the lower floor, a door slammed and then there were light shuffling steps towards the stairs.

"What did you want in the end?" Midoriya was the first to break the silence. She looked at her phone and checked the time remaining. "Sorry, I have to go to a meeting."

She moved slightly to the side to close the door and say goodbye to her mother.

Ha, a meeting indeed. Bakugou chuckled to himself. When he had originally decided to come here, he hadn't even thought that Midoriya might have her own business. Bakugou didn't even bother to ask if she had time to meet now. It was... unusual. It used to be commonplace for Bakugou to just come to this house, walk into a room and go about his business.

"Who cares? I'm not here to see you anyway."

Inko peeked out from behind her daughter. Bakugou said hello, pushed Midoria away slightly and stepped inside. As if mocking him, the new curtains caught his eye. It was ridiculous. Why only now, when it seemed years since they had parted, did his eyes widen. He felt Midoriya glance in his direction before the door separated them.

"How nice to see you, Katsuki!" Inko said as he hugged Bakugou. He leaned in slightly to make her more comfortable and went into the apartment. "You've grown so much. I remember you at the sports festival, your quirk..."

Inko took Bakugou into the kitchen and sat her down at the table. She rummaged around in the kitchen, pouring tea and saying something all the time.

"Speaking of which, I heard that you and Izuku and your classmate have an internship at the Endeavor. You guys are so good that..."

He looked around, noticing new things. Because Bakugou was too used to Midoriya always being around and not changing at all, it seemed to him that it would always be like that. What could change when everything had been the same for years. Now, however, it felt completely different.

A cup fell in front of Bakugou with a slight clatter, distracting him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Inko smiling at him.

"Katsuki, don't worry, I understand everything," Midoriya sat down across from Bakugou and squeezed his hand. "I know you didn't come to me."

Bakugou looked away. Maybe he didn't want to accept it himself. He understood, but it was difficult to accept the truth. And especially to understand.

"You are young and these feelings are completely normal. There is nothing wrong with you feeling them."

Bakugou looked at Inko in confusion. In his head, he had the feeling that she was talking about something completely different, but he did not interrupt her.

"I can understand your confusion. Maybe you thought we didn't know how you felt. But Mitsuki and I are mothers and we feel when our children need advice or help. Don't worry, I will always support you."

Inko lowered her head. The topic seemed important to her. She had probably thought about it more than once and to speak now, to reveal all her thoughts, was difficult. But it seemed necessary now.

"I dread the thought that Izuku will leave me soon. I can see her making new acquaintances, getting stronger and more distant. Besides, she's so mature now... time will pass and another person will be at her side. That was so hard for me to accept. And if she gets hurt, I don't want her to get hurt.

Bakugou froze as he listened to what the woman said. Maybe it wasn't comparable, after all, Inko was talking about maternal feelings, but that was how he understood her now. The thought of Midoriya not being there, of her leaving, being with someone else, it was unbearable.

"Anyway," Inko smiled softly. "If it's you, it makes it easier for me to think about it, you know? I've known you since you were a child. You've always been with Izuku, protecting her, helping her with everything. If you're there for her in the future, I'll support you. So you don't have to worry. I won't be against your relationship."

Bakugou said nothing. And when Inko talked about their hypothetical relationship and when they said goodbye and when he left. He was silent because he didn't know what to say.