"Bakugou...It's been a week. You need to come out."
Kirishima stood on the other side of the door that blocked him from Katsuki. "Everyone's worried. I'm worried." He was met without a reply.
"Bakugou. I'm coming in." Kirishima jiggled the door knob, realizing it's locked. He activated his quirk, successfully banging off the knob and entering the room.
Kirishima finally entered the room, being met by Katsuki who sat upright in his bed.
"You haven't eaten since you came back Bakugou. Come down and eat. You're ruining yourself."
Katsuki ignored him once again, his gaze being fixated on the foot of his bead.
Kirishima became annoyed. He walked up on Katsuki's bedside.
"Bakugou I've said it once and I'll say it a thousand times more. This whole situation...It would out of your control. They've already finalized that the man you were with had been injecting Izuku with drugs. You couldn't have known. What was it...Ventillian? It makes whoever takes it lose almost all their senses of morals. You can't blame yourself for this."
Katsuki refused to look at Kirishima. "He told me that Vin was going to kill him."
Kirishima looked up, finally hearing Katsuki speak for the first time.
"He said it over and over again. And I...ignored him. He pleaded with me. And I called him crazy."
Katsuki finally looked up, locking eyes with Kirishima. Tears now falling from his face. "How could it not be my fault?"
Katsuki sobbed by Kirishima. Kirishima's eyes began to swell with tears as well.
"Bakugou... All of UA lost a friend. We're all grieving with you. Just please share your pain with us. You're only ruining yourself staying in this room."
Katsuki sniffed, finally wiping the tears from his face. He gave Kirishima a slight nod.
Kirishima helped Katsuki out of his bed. The blond boy stumbled when he finally stood up. He hadn't left bed for the whole week and took time to finally find his balance.
Kirishima gave Katsuki a weak smile and sighed. "C'mon. I made something to eat."
Katsuki held onto Kirishima by his wrist. Kirishima noticed, but chose to disregard it. When they finally exited the room, Bakugou was met with his other friends waiting outside. Mina, Sero, and Kaminari all stood in the hallway, each of them giving a weak smiling to Katsuki. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't return their warm smile.
Kirishima led Katsuki down the hall, the rest of his friends quietly walking behind him.
"And...Why do we have to stay quiet?" Sero questioned.
Mina elbowed Sero. "Because we can't overwhelm him. He...We lost an important person, and he felt it the most. He was there. Do you know how horrible that is?"
Sero clenched his fists. "Yeah...Sorry.."
The group finally made it down to the main area. There, they were met with the rest of Class 1-A. At first glance, they seemed to just be doing their own every day things. But the mood of the room was dark. The students mopped, sadness expressed on each of their faces. When Katsuki made it to the room, all the students stopped and stared.
Katsuki felt the eyes pierce through him. He stepped back as if their eyes were physically pushing him away. Kirishima held onto him though, continuing to lead him to the kitchen.
The room was quiet, not like it was any noisier before they arrived.
Soon, the room filled with tiny whispers.
"He came out?"
"What an awful situation."
"I hope he knows he isn't at fault.."
"He's like a sad child"
Katsuki bit his bottom lip, hoping the pain would distract him from the whispers around him. The walk of shame finally ended when they made it to the kitchen. Kirishima plastered a smile across his face. "Alright Bakubro. How does spicy ramen sound?"
Katsuki sat in his seat silently, not responding to Kirishima.
"Yeah, I'm not a manly cook so ramen is the best I could do. Please eat it." He poured the noodles into two bowls, one for Katsuki and one for himself. "I added lots of peppers and hot sauce!" He slid Katsuki his bowl and made his way to sit beside him.
Katsuki looked at the food. It was his favorite. But could it really be enjoyable now? Nonetheless, the poor guy was starving. Rejecting the food felt like a suicide mission. After hesitating, Katsuki picked up the bowl and began to eat. His first real meal in 2 weeks. Kirishima smiled and began to eat along with him. The two sat together, eating in the quiet. Words that couldn't be said were exchanged.
"Ochako please, we understand what you're going through but-"
"Get OFF ME! Get off! You don't understand!"
The eyes in the room quickly shifted to the commotion on the other side of the living quarters. Ochako, accompanied with Tsuyu and Iida came in with an outburst.
Mina eyes widened. She made her way to Kirishima and whispered to him.
Kirishima nodded Mina away. "Bakubro, let's go somewhere else real quick."
Katsuki looked up in confusion. Before he could even react, he felt Ochako's eyes burning into him.
"Ochako really you need to rest!"
Ochako tore from the hands that held her hostage and made her way to Katsuki. She paced with strong steps, each rumbling louder than the other. Finally, she was directly in front of Katsuki, face to face.
"You killed him, didn't you?"
The room fell silent. Everybody knew this would happened. They felt stupid for even trying to prevent it.
Kirishima finally spoke up. "Uraraka that isn't okay to-"
"I'm not talking to you. I'm asking him. Did you kill him?"
Katsuki kept his head down, trying his hardest to avoid her eyes.
"DID YOU KILL DEKU?"
"Uraraka he didn't-"
"Yes."
The student's eyes widened at this sudden confession.
Mina finally stood between the two. "Bakugo didn't kill him! It was explained to you as well as all of us exactly what happened. And it's so selfish to blame him for such a thing that he couldn't prevent! It was inevitable!"
Inevitable? Katsuki thought of the word. It could've been prevented in many ways. If he hadn't stupidly gone out at night. If he was easier to work with and stopped fighting Izuku over every little thing. If he had listened to him while he was begging Katsuki to help him. And through all this, was it really inevitable?
Katsuki stood, gently pushing Mina out the way. Katsuki finally picks his head up, facing Ochako. "I killed him. It was my fault. If you have any frustration, put it on me."
Ochako froze, not knowing how to react to Katsuki. The room became dead silent. Katsuki spread his arms wide, leaving himself vulnerable. "Do what you want."
Ochako hands shook, tears slowly filling her eyes. In a sudden burst of rage, Ochako took the bowl of noodled that was sitting on the counter and crashed it to the floor, the broth splashing across Katsuki's clothes.
"I'm sorry.."
Ochako fell into her tears, unable to contain herself. "I know...You didn't do it... I'm so sorry."
Katsuki lowered his hands, looking down on Ochako as she cried.
"I... I loved Deku. So much. And I never told him. I don't know.... Just knowing I'll never get to know the answer... ruins me."
Katsuki took a deep breath, kneeling beside Ochako. He placed his hand on her head, in an attempt to comfort her. "I'm pretty sure he liked you back." he whispered. Ochako's eyes lit up, quickly looking up at Katsuki.
"The way he spoke to you, the way he looked at you, and the way he listened to you. I had never seen it before. He always has this armor up, as if protecting himself from something. But when he's with you, it's as if he lowers his armor. Just so he can hear you just a little more clearer. I know it's not as good as a confession from him, but I hope it helps."
As Katsuki finished, Ochako's tears had dried. She was lost in his words. Maybe it was the words she needed to hear then. Just closure, even if it wasn't completely official, seemed to heal her heart in a way.
Ochako sniffed, lifting from the floor without a second word. She clenched her fist. "I apologize for the mess." She swiftly turned from him, making her way back to Tsuyu and Iida, who were quietly waiting for her. With a nod, the three of them left the room as they came.
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(Big timeskip)
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It's been 7 months since Izuku's death. Since then, the class had finished their first year, now working through their second year. Katsuki sat in class, watching the clock tick closer and closer. 5 minutes....3 minutes....1 minute. As soon as the bell rang, Katsuki made his way to the door.
"Bakubro! Where're you off too?"
"None of your business. I'm meeting with somebody."
Katsuki headed from the UA building, marching down the street. On his way, he stopped by a tiny shop.
"Ahhh Katsuki!" The clerk chimed. "I would say long time no see, but you come pretty often, don't ya?"
"I can't talk, I've got someone waiting for me. I need a dozen tulips."
"Tulips seem to be your favorite huh?" The clerk laughed as he headed to put the flowers together.
"Not mine. His."
"Yes yes, of course."
After Katsuki received his flowers, he made his way down the street, checking his watch every three seconds to make sure he wasn't late. Finally he made it to his destination. The local graveyard.
He walked through the graves, slowly stopping to read the random stones that were scattered about. It became his new habit. He loved to read about the lives that others lived. He felt like they needed to be recognized in a way. To acknowledge the fact that they lived.
"Katsuki dear! You're late!" Katsuki looked up, disrupted from his grave readings. "Hi Auntie Inko."
Inko smiled largely. "I'm so happy you invited me out today! I haven't seen you in ages!"
Katsuki nodded, embarrassed to return the greeting. "Let's go."
The two made their way, being careful to not step on the many flowers that laid in their path. Soon, they stopped in front of Izuku's grave.
"My, it's much cleaner then I last saw it!"
Katsuki kneeled beside the grave. "I come often to clean it. I don't want it dirty."
Inko smiled, small tears forming in her eyes. "I see. Thank you sweetie."
The two sat beside each other, paying their respects. The sun burned Katsuki's cheek. Inko laughed softly. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it? Remember, you have to enjoy everyday like it's you're last Katsuki. Izuku might get angry if he finds out you're not enjoying yourself these days."
Katsuki scoffed. "It's worst that he actually would be mad."
Inko picked herself up. "I'll have to be on my way sweetie. Will you be staying here?"
Katsuki nodded. "I'll see you later Auntie Inko."
Inko gave one last smile before walking off, leaving Katsuki alone. He spent his time arranging the flowers around Izuku's grave. "Never knew what you saw in tulips. So plain in simple."
Katsuki head the tulips in his hand. Somehow, they reminded him of Izuku. Plain and simple, just like him. Izuku wasn't extraordinary or special. He wasn't a big shot or super confident. He was just...Deku. So plain and simple. Yet a beautiful existence. Katsuki placed the tulip down, finally rising to his feet.
"Don't worry Deku."
Katsuki reached into his bag, bringing out a tiny box. "Luckily, someone was reselling. Spent a crazy ton on this."
He slowly opened it, placing the figure beside the grave.
"I went and got that All Might figurine for you."
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END.