"…what if things are different here?"

Katsuki regretted the question the moment it left his mouth. He knew exactly how he would react if someone had suggested the idea to him while he was in a mood, and it wouldn't be favorably. Katsuki knew he was about to sound like an idiot if he doubled down, or a coward if he backed off. It was too late to save face, and as much as he wanted to believe his own words, he already didn't... to an extent.

"Huh?" Juzo asked as he stopped and set his box down just before the door to 1-A's floor.

Katsuki stopped alongside him, put down his load, and closed his eyes in some vain hope that it would somehow make the impending conversation less painful.

"Here. At U.A.," Katsuki continued. "We're here. We're heroes. That's supposed to mean something, isn't it? Earning a spot in this group of 20, and especially keeping it after whatever initial tests we're subjected to, should be a guarantee that we're at least decent people in any well-run hero academy. Maybe the others are on to something? Maybe expecting the worst from our classmates is… shitty of us?"

A harsh, rattling, angry sounding breath left Juzo's mask as he stared Katsuki down.

"Or maybe you're just compromised right now because a group of us didn't stab you in the back and make your life hell in front of your mother like a bunch of high school drama queens. Listen. A lot of things should be, and they aren't. A lot of things shouldn't be, but they are. We're here to fix those mistakes on a societal level… but I think there have already been one or two big mistakes in the composition of our classes. Believe what you want, but I think some people shouldn't be here. I can think of one in particular already."

Katsuki finally opened his eyes once again and met Juzo's, seeing a very familiar expression on the other boy's face. It didn't look good on Juzo… and Katsuki rapidly came to the conclusion that it probably didn't look good on him, either. The sight filled him with an uncomfortable thought- was that how he looked to other people most of the time?

"Look- I think you're right, alright?" Katsuki admitted, already exasperated and unsure why he had even bothered to present an alternate viewpoint to begin with. "I think some of these people probably shouldn't be here either… but maybe we should just trust the process? Maybe they were put here to be weeded out this coming week as examples. Temporary chaff to be thrown away as a threat to take this more seriously. Look at Aizawa's reputation- do you really think he'd let some total fuckhead into 1-A? It's gotta be either to make an example of the ones that lag behind, or because he sees something we don't."

"I think total trust or faith in anyone is a bad move, professors included," Juzo spat. "It's shortsighted, naïve, and you're setting yourself up for disappointment."

"Yeah? And what about when you become a pro?" Katsuki dared to ask. "What about me? You think we're already both unworthy of trust? Is it really such a great idea to just be suspicious of everyone, no matter what they do? I worked myself up over nothing. Up until I got here, life was just like that. Maybe now it can be different… even if only sometimes."

"I stand by what I said," Juzo shot back immediately. "I know I've got personal limits that I don't expect other people to understand. I know there are situations I wouldn't touch and things I wouldn't do, even if I was supposed to as a hero. I bet you've got a few of those, too. I bet most of us do."

Katsuki had to stop and think about the suggestion for a moment. It wasn't one he had ever considered- being a hero was being a hero. It was as simple as that.

"…I… don't know?" Katsuki said, letting his confusion show unashamedly. "Things like what?"

It was Juzo's turn to look away as he turned his attention to the door. He let out a weary sigh through his mask, the filters whistling a bit as he shook his head.

"…no. Not yet. You want to start trusting the process, believing people are just naturally good, and that everything's gonna work out? Fine. You do that and let me know how it goes. I'll stick to my philosophy, and… keep you all at arm's length. I won't be an asshole, but I'm also not about to just go along with some big group hug."

"Maybe I will," Katsuki accepted defiantly. "Maybe I'll trust the others, I mean… until I've got a reason not to. What the fuck happened between moving in and tonight? You were all shy, unassuming, and just… helpful with Tsu. Where's this all suddenly coming from?"

Juzo spared a look back at Katsuki, and even he could tell that the boy's eyes were full of something other than just anger, even if he couldn't figure out just what it was.

"Reality started setting in tonight," Juzo said vaguely as he picked up his box once again. "I thought maybe you were like me. Looks like you're not. Tell the others something came up. I'll… see you tomorrow, alright?"

Katsuki reached out and forced the door closed with his palm as Juzo tried to open it. The anger in Juzo's eyes came back immediately.

"Why'd you come with the rest of the group to the parking lot if you're suddenly going to turn cynical?" Katsuki demanded. "I had to go, no matter what I thought of the situation. You didn't. I don't buy all this shit coming from you out of nowhere."

"Why do you suddenly care?" Juzo countered. "After the way you've acted until just now, I figured you didn't actually like any of us. Even when the others are nice to you, you're antagonistic and abrasive by default and uncaring at best. Let me through so I can drop this off."

"You don't know me," Katsuki growled. "I don't even know me anymore… and I don't think I'm the only one."

"Profound," Juzo seethed. "Whatever this is right now, I'm not interested."

"You've been asking a lot of questions for someone who doesn't give a shit," Katsuki pointed out. "I've had one-on-one talks with Jiro and Aki, and I put Mineta in his place on Tsu's behalf. I do care, but I don't like broadcasting it. If you've got some shit to say, then… come to me if you need to, alright? Maybe you and I do have some shit in common. Offer's on the table. That's all I'm saying. You did alright by me, so I owe you one."

"Let me make this perfectly clear- I don't trust you," Juzo hissed as he shifted his grip upon the box. "And it's getting worse by the second while you keep me here. Cover me with the others, and maybe you'll win some of it back."

"Then talk to someone," Katsuki suggested. "Holding it all in leads to dumb shit, and I'm seeing that more and more. Go to Kan, if you don't want to talk to me. She's been nothing but helpful."

Juzo watched as Katsuki removed his hand from the door.

"Yeah… maybe. Maybe I'm just…"

Katsuki waited as patiently as he could, though the silence did grate on his nerves.

"…an asshole."

"Jury's still out on that," Katsuki offered. "Do whatever it is you need to do. I'll cover you."

"Thanks," Juzo said tersely. "Good luck with your… phase."

Katsuki let Juzo enter the door first. The boy hastily began making his way toward Katsuki's dorm to drop off the box. A moment passed before Katsuki bothered to enter and start walking toward Daisuke's dorm instead, carrying his own box along with him.

"Tch… maybe it is a phase," Katsuki mumbled to himself. "Maybe I'm an idiot… or maybe every day isn't supposed to feel like a chore anymore."

With an exhausted sigh, Katsuki set his box down temporarily outside of Daisuke's door. A steady, muffled beat resounded from within the walls, though it sounded less like a song and more like background noise. Katsuki broke the rhythm by knocking harshly upon the door and making a mental note never to let his friend choose anything to do with music.

Unfortunately for Katsuki, it was Minoru Mineta who answered the door and let the music spill into the hallway. Predictably, the boy was shirtless, showing off his sparse green chest hair that matched the curly dark bed of short hairs that formed a crown around the much larger, purple, gooey masses upon his head. The boy was wearing what appeared to be black harem pants, and oddly enough, he looked completely exhausted. Minoru leaned his head against the side of the doorframe as he looked up at Katsuki with glassy eyes.

"'sup?"

Katsuki took a long, deep breath, doing his best not to judge the other boy too harshly at the outset. After all- he had a point to prove, whether it was to himself or Juzo.

"…Aki in there?" Katsuki asked. "And what the hell are you listening to?"

"Just a lo-fi stream," Minoru answered with a yawn. "Helps with studying. Dai's in the kitchen."

"What's up?" the unseen hero-to-be called from deeper in the room. "I was just about to start cooking if you want to stay."

"About that," Katsuki called a bit louder before hesitating. He eyed up Minoru for a moment before running a hand through his hair and scratching at his scalp. "A bunch of us are headed down to the food hall together. I guess if both of you want to come, you're invited…"

"Oh, thank god," Daisuke called through the wall. "I really don't feel like dealing with this tonight, what with classes starting in two days. Count me in."

"I'll…" Minoru considered for a moment before looking down at the hallway carpet. "…I think I'll stay."

"Suit yourself," Katsuki said quickly, only for a disappointed Daisuke to appear behind his roommate.

"What? Come on, man. It's probably most of the floor. Join us!"

"I think it's better for one of us to stay behind," Minoru said icily. "You know. To watch our stuff."

It was Daisuke's turn to let out a heavy sigh.

"You're just not going to let it go, are you?" Daisuke asked rhetorically. "Fine. Next time, then?"

"Next time," Minoru confirmed. "Once the cameras come in, it'll be fine. Until then, I don't feel like going anywhere. Really hope we get them before classes start."

"Guess we'll have to wait and see," Daisuke said with a shrug as he turned sideways to slip around Minoru and enter the hallway. "I'll bring you back something."

"Cool," Minoru said with a wave as he turned and moved back into the dormitory. "You guys have fun. I'll watch our stuff and get some more studying done."

The door closed without any more ceremony, and Katsuki was left feeling as though he was missing something.

"What was that all about?" the boy asked as he picked up his box once again. "I need to drop this off, and then we can go."

"It's probably nothing," Daisuke reassured with a wave of his hand as they began to walk in time. "He's convinced that something in our dorm was moved while neither of us were in. I think he either forgot, it wasn't stable, or he didn't remember where he put it to begin with. He's installing cameras in the dorm, just in case… and I hope they're only temporary."

"Giving Mineta access to cameras anywhere in the building sounds like a bad call," Katsuki said only half-jokingly. In truth, he was concerned about something else entirely. "But… he might be on to something. We should make a stop at Juzo's room before we head down."

"If you say so," Daisuke replied with a shrug. "Is he coming?"

"He isn't… but now I need to ask Iida something," Katsuki let on. "Something that might be important later..."

Author's Note:

What ever could it be.

-RD