"I don't know what the hell you expect me to say, Icy- hot," Bakugo growled, glaring at his classmate. "I told you, I knew your dumb ass had no idea what to do. You're the one that asked me to hang around." Shoto nodded.

"You're right, and I'm grateful you agreed. I'm just trying to understand the relationship between you two. Something t made you bring these things and stay to show me what to do. This isn't an accusation. I trust Izuku, but what-"

"We were friends once," Izuku replied. " At least that's what I thought. Kacchan was dragged into it because our moms were friends, so He tolerated me for a little while. After he got a quirk, everything changed, and He's been bullying me constantly since then. I don't mean anything to him. I was his punching bag for a while. He used to help me through the pain, then he ended up causing most of what I felt after that."

"The hell are you talking about?" Bakugo interrupted. "I didn't-"

You don't think any of it affected me?" Izuku replied. "Those times you beat me up, or called me names, or when you told me I should jump off the school's roof-"

"You said that to him?" Shoto spun around to face Bakugo,

"Yeah, I did. " Bakugo admitted, unable to look in Deku's direction. "Only because I knew he wouldn't even consider something- "

"What if I told you that you're wrong?" Izuku said, forcing himself to sit up, "What would you do if I told you I almost did?" Bakugo's heart sank upon hearing the words from his former friend. His red eyes were now locked on Izuku.

"You wouldn't-"

"I was late to class later that week, do you have any idea what I was doing? Maybe I was there, up on that roof thinking about everything that happened, the things you'd say and how much better off everyone would be if I took your advice. Did you think about it at all?" In truth, Bakugo had wondered, even briefly considered leaving class to check to check.

"Did you?" Bakugo asked in a tone that Izuku had never heard from his bully. It was almost concerned. Izuku leaned back.

"No. The problem with what you're saying, Kacchan, is that you never know. You might think you do, but you're not in my head. Everything I was going through and how hard you were on me. It could have happened. But you weren't as sure as you thought. I saw it in your eyes just now."

"You ever get it into your head to pull some crap like that, and I'll kick your ass!" Bakugo growled, the anger returning instantly.

"I won't. But the next person you say it to might." Bakugo scoffed.

"You don't know what you think you do, Nerd, "I did what I had to do," Bakugo grumbled, glaring at Izuku.

"You had to do those things to me, really? That doesn't even make sense, Kacchan." Izuku fired back.

"You followed me around like a lost puppy, Always getting in my way. You couldn't take the hint when I quit coming around your house that it was over. You-"

"I-"

"You will never understand, Deku. Knock it off before you get hurt." Bakugo warned, grabbed his bag, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Izuku let out a soft, painful groan, leaning into Shoto's chest.

"I'm sorry, Izuku," Shoto said, rubbing his back gently. "I didn't mean for it to go that way."

"It's not your fault. Kacchan's right, maybe that should've been my sign, and I was blind to it. He was the only friend I had at the time. I just couldn't let go. He was right when all those times he called me an idiot and-"

"No. Listen to me, Izuku. You are one of the strongest, bravest people I know. You're smart and kind. I love you." Shoto soothed.

"I love you too, Shoto. I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't be. Just take it easy now. We'll-" Izuku pulled away suddenly. He reached for the trash and retching into the object.
Shoto sat next to him, continuing to rub his back as Izuku became sick.

Izuku's body was shaking now. His stomach ached terribly as the episode lasted several minutes. Shoto used his bottle of water to soak a small cloth, lovingly wiping Izuku's sweaty face."

"S-Sorry, Shoto," The weak voice called with a hint of embarrassment.

"Just relax," Shoto instructed, tying up the mess.
It was only as he was standing that he noticed the crimson spot on Izuku's nightshirt.

"I want you to let me call Recovery Girl," Shoto said calmly. "This time, I'm not asking.

888

Bakugo slammed his door, dropping onto the edge of his bed. He pulled open the bedside drawer and removed his All Might card.

"Damn Deku, doesn't know what the hell he's talking about." He mumbled, removing the card from the sleeve and tossing it aside to reveal a photo.
A very young Bakugo was seated on the floor next to Izuku as the pair prepared to watch their favorite videos. Each one of the boys held their All Might figures close. It had been the very last photo of the two happy together. Days later, everything would change.

Bakugo wandered into the kitchen to find his mother on the phone as she prepared dinner. Her face fell as she listened.

"I'm sorry, Inko." Mitsuki said, "I know it must be hard on both of you." The boy moved closer to his mother.

"What's going on with Izuku?" He asked, only for Mitsuki to shoo him away. He growled angrily.

"Is he sick again?" He asked, nudging her harshly.

"Katsuki!" She shouted, "Go sit down."

"Tell me." He demanded.

"Wait, I'm on the phone." Katsuki continued to rage until finally, Mitsuki ended the call, and he was forced into a chair.

Mitsuki lowered herself onto the seat across from him.

"Izuku was taken to the doctor today," She began. "He's not sick, Inko just wanted to have him checked out. He doesn't have a quirk, Katsuki. It's a hard thing for him to hear." Katsuki cast his gaze downward.

"Ever?" He asked. Mitsuki shook her head.

"No. So I need you not to give him a hard time."

"But...he wanted to be just like All Might, what's he gonna do now? He wanted that more than anything."

"I know, Katsuki, but sometimes these things happen. Life's not always fair, kid." It was then that the terrible thought crept into his mind.

"W-what if he's outside someday and he's- if he can't protect himself from the bad guys and no one's around-"

"That's why we have heroes, Katsuki. I'm sure Izuku can think of something. He's a smart kid." The woman gave her son's shoulder a comforting squeeze before returning to her task, leaving Katsuki to his thoughts.