Chapter Text
With the very last of his strength, Izuku aimed his weapon towards the figure across the battlefield. Smoke and debri swirled around them, a brutal display of devastation.
His opponent shifted in the distance, mirroring the combative stance, and Izuku took a deep breath.
“Whatever happens, I’m happy that you are the one to finish it Kachaan.”
The dust cleared to reveal Katsuki Bakugou, armed and ready.
“Likewise, Nerd.”
No more words were spoken as the two ran towards each other and engaged in a merciless fight. Izuku fainted left before delivering a blow to Katsuki’s right side as he moved to block a hit that never came. Bakugo returned it by flipping Izuku over his shoulder and pinning him before he knocked himself free, sending them both to the ground.
They continued like this for several minutes, engaged in a dangerous dance that only two people who had known each other for a very long time could pull off, predicting their counterparts moves before they had even begun to enact them.
In an unlucky twist of fate, Izuku managed to knock Katsuki down to the ground and hold him there, rendering him unable to move. They both took a moment to breathe and Izuku, too pleased with his outcome, failed to notice the knee come up to his side and knock him sideways.
Katsuki reversed their positions and all Izuku could do was lay there, staring up at the boy he had known his whole life and preparing for what they both knew had to come next. Izuku let out a soft sigh and stopped his struggle. The fight was over.
There was a moment of silence before Katsuki raised his hands and delivered one last devastating blow and Izuku was killed.
“Aw man, I really thought I had that one,” Izuku pouted as he tossed his controller to the ground. He turned in his beanbag to deliver a glare to his childhood best friend. “Why do you always have to go for such dirty moves?”
Katsuki’s face was formed into a wicked grin as he watched the TV screen announce him as the winner for the 7th game in a row. “It’s not my fault you’re just not as good as me,” he shot back.
“At least I have morals,” Izuku sighed, eyes narrowed as he glared at the floor.
“Oh Yeah? Tell that to the time you tried to rub sand in my eyes for no reason,” Katsuki grumbled.
“I was five! And you were hogging the good swing, it was perfectly justified!”
“Take that back Nerd!”
“Never!” Izuku shouted as he tried to move away, only to stumble a few feet away before being grabbed around the ankle and yanked backwards.
Izuku let out a high pitched shriek and he fell onto his friend and they became a tangle of wrestling limbs. Izuku was almost subdued until he playfully bit Katsukis arm who in turn let out a bellowing “Yuck!” before he was thrown onto his back. Izuku crouched above him and smiled softly.
“I win.”
Katsukis cheeks reddened ever so softly and Izuku couldn’t help but notice how fond his eyes looked as he frowned. “In your dreams Nerd.”
The air between them sat charged like a livewire until Izuku glanced up at the clock and saw that it was nearly five pm. His shoulders slumped and he gently crawled off Katsuki, effectively breaking whatever moment had just occurred.
“I, uh, should probably get going,” he said apologetically. “I’m due for dinner soon and you know how my Dad gets.”
Katsuki huffed and waved him off. “Yeah, yeah, it’s whatever. I’ll walk you to the bus stop.”
The refusal was at the tip of his tongue but seeing the hopeful glint in his friend's eye, Izuku relented and began to gather his things.
After saying their goodbyes to the eldest Bakugos, the two began the trek towards the closest bus stop.
The sun was low in the sky causing the streetlamps to turn on, one by one as they walked down the sidewalk. They continued in silence for the first few blocks, arms brushing every few steps. Izuku felt a shiver run through him despite the warm spring air. He tentatively rested his arm against Katsuki’s again, this time lingering longer than the other casual brushes. Katsuki huffed but didn’t pull away until they were forced to part and allow a woman and her stroller to pass them. Neither closed the barrier a second time. The night felt charged, as bright and electric as the golden sun on the horizon.
Katsuki reached up to scratch his ear when they were about halfway. He almost seems nervous… Izuku thought before immediately brushing the thought aside. This was not the time nor the place.
“So, school starts tomorrow,” Katsuki began, letting his arm drop.
Izuku’s stomach warred with a mixture of excitement, dread and something burning hot that he couldn’t quite name. Fear maybe.
You see, this was the first year they would be going to separate schools for their entire lives. Fifteen years of shared classrooms, lunch periods and studying. And now they were going to be separate.
Katsuki was about to start his first year training as a hero. Izuku was excited for him obviously, he knew his best friend would make an amazing hero. But he also was about to watch the one person he cared about most in the world go off to become something great while Izuku… Well, it was complicated.
Izuku stuffed his worries down and turned to his friend with the blinding smile he deserved. “Yeah, I bet you can’t wait to start training.”
Izuku watched as Katsuki’s chest puffed up with pride, no doubt about to go on a tirade on how he was the best and ‘all those other extras had better watch out.’
He tilted his head and let his eyes shine with mischief. “How long do you think it will take for your new classmates to see you’re not as big and scary as you try to be.”
Katsuki’s face contorted in frustration and he lunged at Izuku, only to miss when he neatly stepped to the side.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” he giggled, giving his friend a light pat on the arm. They locked eyes and Izuku could see the self doubt that warred in Katsuki’s eyes. The side of himself he tried to lock deep inside. “I know you’re going to be an amazing hero and everyone else will too.”
After a moment Katsuki sighed again and looked away. “Yeah yeah, no need to get all emotional about it. Just do me a favor and don’t let those extras at your new school push you around. You deserve better than that shit.”
Izuku looked down at the ground. He knew Katsuki was worried about him starting at the local highschool near his Dad’s house and honestly he was too. While Izuku was well capable of taking care of himself, he was still the ‘quirkless loser’ that everyone bullied back at Aldera Middle. Why should Isamu be any different? It’s not like he could really fight back because… it was complicated.
Izuku forced another grin and looked back up at Kastuki’s concerned expression. “Don’t worry about me Kachaan, I’ll be fine.” Katsuki didn’t look convinced but let it go to Izuku’s relief. He didn’t want their last moment of freedom for a while to be plagued with sour fear.
Changing the topic, Izuku rattled off about the latest hero debut until they arrived and it was time to say goodbye. Both friends were reluctant to leave, knowing that things were about to get busy and they might not see each other as regularly after school started.
“Well, this is me,” Izuku said, shuffling his weight a little and getting his bus pass out of his pocket. Katsuki nodded and reached out for a halfhearted fist bump.
“Good luck Nerd. Text me how it goes”
“Likewise Kachaan. You’re gonna do great.”
And with that, Izuku was sitting on the bus, watching out the window as his oldest friend became nothing but a small blur in the distance. He couldn’t help but feel that everything was about to change.
– - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Izuku let out a deep breath and stepped into his house, already dreading what was to come. His Father never liked it when he went to Katsuki’s, and didn't really approve of their friendship in general. He never spoke outwardly about it save for a few snide remarks but it made things tense nonetheless. Displeasing his Dad was never an enjoyable experience but this was one of the few things he refused to budge on.
Not hearing anyone moving around, Izuku took off his shoes and began to make his way towards the stairwell. He had almost made it when a deep voice called from the dining room.
“Izuku, please come here for a moment.”
Wincing, Izuku made his way through the dark hallway and towards his Father who was sitting at the dining table, a couple of papers spread before him and a manilla folder set to the side. Let the psychological warfare begin , he thought bitterly, eyes trained on the table before him.
“Yes Father?”
A moment of silence followed and then, “Izuku. Look up at me.”
Izuku forced himself to lift his gaze and meet the eyes of All For One head on. A wicked glint could be seen across his face, an expression that had sent greater men running for their lives.
“Sit down. We have much to discuss.”