Chapter Text
First Movement
Lively, with brightness
You could hear it from across the huge house. "It" being two voices in harmony, one explosive and high-pitched (as a child's voice often is around the age of five) but still tuneful and catchy, the second more subtle, as if following the lead of the first, but nonetheless just as passionate and mesmerizing. The vocals belong to one Katsuki Bakugou and one Izuku Midoriya. These two friends are singing the latest hit from their favorite rock superstar, All Might, using Bakugou's newest karaoke kit, and they are having the time of their bright young lives.
Caught up in the moment, Bakugou impulsively "stage dives" off his bed as the song reaches its loudest point.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya instinctively yells out in concern.
Bakugou's athletic leap to the ground smoothly transitions into a rock-star knee-slide with the reckless abandon of a wild-child with no regard for body-joints or leg-burns. Midoriya follows suit - and flops to the floor face first.
"Stupid Deku..."
The freckled faceplanter looks up and sees a proud hand outstretched, offering help. Bakugou's other hand, however, still grips the wireless karaoke mic while he finishes the song, not missing a beat.
Midoriya accepts the free hand and pulls himself back up. The duo look at each other for a moment - and begin to laugh as the karaoke outro fades out.
Then they play it again.
The small youth have big dreams of lighting up the night, all night, with songs of their own in front of a packed crowd of music lovers. Bakugou's room where they act out their aural ambitions is tidily filled with All Might albums, music merch and pitch-perfect posters. Midoriya, sometimes called tone-deaf "Deku" by Bakugou when the fluff-haired boy sings out of tune (and also, apparently, when he stumbles during "stage dives"), has an even more impressive All Might collection, albeit located in more cramped quarters, and he knows all All Might songs by heart and rhythmic soul.
Eventually the boys tire (though they are full of energy so it is a long "eventually") and look out Bakugou's room window to take note of their current audience - only the stars; sparks blinking in the new night sky.
"One day, we'll be on a real stage, playing our own hits, and there will be as many people listening to us as there are stars in the sky" Bakugou states in a matter-of-fact tone. He isn't wishing on a star when he says this, he isn't wondering. He declares that dream as simple truth, inevitable fact. Midoriya nods and in this moment the only star he sees is Bakugou.
Second Movement
In winter of the following year, a school Christmas Concert is held. During their class performance, a shy Midoriya suffers stage fright and freezes up. He's used to singing along with his Kacchan, but not used to an audience of blinking human eyes (if it were stars, no problem). The notes are stuck in his throat, his lips sealed. Bakugou, side by side with Midoriya in the lineup, looks onward and sees the gathered crowd of parents and relatives but hears only the absence of Midoriya's voice in the choir. Without glancing at his friend, not missing a beat, Bakugou grips Midoriya's hand and squeezes it tight as if to say in a silent way:
It's fine now. Why? Because I am here.
Bakugou wishes at this moment he could utter a "Deku" to his foolish friend, but instead his powerful vocals soar during the song's refrain. The warmth from Bakugou's fiery hand thaws Midoriya's frozen voice and gives him the courage to sing along with the other children in front of the crowd, adding a sound soft and sweet.
A young student journalist for the school gazette writes that the musical production was a resounding success and takes particular note of Bakugou's performance, describing it as "dynamic", the first words printed in the press - but certainly not the last - concerning the blonde boy's charisma and musical prowess.
Third Movement
Exhilarated and encouraged by that first performance in front of a crowd, the duet begin to perform in school talent shows together during elementary and into middle school. They study instruments in earnest and expand their musical horizons, though All Might remains their favorite performer. One year, Bakugou's parents gift him a signed All Might album cd. All Might's signature is quite rare, as he is known to leave concerts quickly and covertly and lives a reclusive lifestyle. Midoriya congratulates Kacchan for acquiring a legit All Might signature, something even he doesn't have in his collection, while not-so slyly trying to touch it with his, as Bakugou calls them, "grubby mitts". Bakugou holds Deku's head back at arm's length while taunting him with the out-of-reach collector's item.
However, with each new performance by the prodigious pair, the stakes grow, at least in Bakugou's mind. Now there is an expectation of success. After each talent show, students and staff alike whisper and wonder how the duo (though usually the talk is focused around Bakugou, as at this point Midoriya is more known as "the other one") can possibly top their latest performance. This is a source of pride for Bakugou, but also brings about a competitiveness, a perfectionist mentality in him previously only seen in brief flashes.
During a particularly tense practice, the day before an important show, a stressed Bakugou erupts at a seemingly carefree Midoriya for missing cues.
"Deku!" Bakugou yells with a slam of his guitar.
"Maybe we should take a break, Kacchan..." Midoriya suggests.
"Huh? A break?"
"It's just a talent show..."
"Are you joking? Our performance tomorrow has to better than ever! We have a reputation to uphold..."
"Kacchan, I'm tired. It's no fun if..."
"Fun? What are you talking about? This is serious."
"You look tired too, let's just -"
"Do you want to be a rock superstar or not?! How worthless can you be, Deku?!"
Midoriya puts his head down.
"I..."
Midoriya composes himself and then lifts his head. He looks Bakugou in the eyes with a serious expression.
"Let's take a break, Bakugou."
It is not a suggestion.
At this moment, Bakugou realizes he has gone too far. For Midoriya to call him Bakugou rather than Kacchan...is serious. His outbursts effect Midoriya more than he ever knew. For the rest of their middle school days, Bakugou stops calling Midoriya "Deku" and decides to treat him better.
The two reconcile with a handshake that turns into a hug and the next day they put on a great show. While on stage Bakugou, in an improvised act, asks Midoriya to perform a solo. Midoriya is briefly taken aback, but does as his friend requests so as to not miss the beat, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. Students begin to chant their names and the duet are sent back out for an encore. Bakugou and Midoriya look out into the crowd and see a multitude of enraptured eyes that seem like sparkling stars, and hear ears hungry for more.
Bakugou continues to gain accolades, but now the spotlight also begins to shine on Midoriya. Once hidden in Bakugou's shadow, he is brought out to stand side-by-side his friend as an equal.
Fourth Movement
Finale
As the last year of middle school approaches, the two practice to apply for U.A., the prestigious boarding school for talents. They study and sing and practice and play in anticipation for the exams. Both are excited, but in a bit of bad luck Midoriya contracts a cough and starts to lose his voice. Not wanting to stress out his friend during the study period, he keeps it a secret from Bakugou. Besides, he thinks, it's just a cold, right? It will pass.
They cannot take the exam together, so both agree to study on their own time and during this period they see each other less and less. Bakugou is so wrapped up in his studies, not missing a beat, he mostly keeps to himself in his room, the room the boys used to sing so raucously in as children, and he figures Midoriya is doing the same in his own abode, his "All Might shrine".
Only, Midoriya isn't. Instead of studying, he is dealing with vocal nodules. He can strain to speak, but weakly. Singing is out of the question, but questions are indeed coming fast as the exam date approaches. A doctor opines that Midoriya will not be singing any time soon, the recovery period will take months, if he recovers naturally at all. If he doesn't, surgery is an option, but a costly one and even if it works, its recovery period is also one of months, months Midoriya does not have to spare. If it even works...
Midoriya is tired. Losing his singing voice has hurt him deeply. He remembers what Bakugou told him earlier: That they will pass the test together, even though they have to take it apart, and then they will reform their duet in U.A. and take the music world by a sonic storm. A terrifying thought flashes in his head: What if Bakugou refuses to take the exam if he learns I cannot? Would he do such a thing? Surely not. But...
Though he enjoys being by Bakugou's side, Midoriya tells himself he is content just to be in his shadow, because a shadow exists as long as what casts it does - and he wants Bakugou, the dynamite rock star, to exist. No, not just exist, but to thrive and grow. What Midoriya has never told anyone, is that while music is his passion, there is something he loves just as much, if not more: to see Kacchan perform. To see his best friend enjoy himself up on that grand stage, to watch him release his pent-up energy into something soaring, soothing - a dynamite explosion that once ignited brings Kacchan to a state of tranquility. Only the music performance brings him to such a state. And even if being on that stage with him, seeing him perform up close, is no longer an option, Midoriya doesn't want the curtain to close on Kacchan's entire performance. Is it possible? That Bakugou would miss his chance because of me? For Bakugou's promising music career to be put into jeopardy, Midoriya will not, cannot allow. And so, Midoriya keeps his sickness a secret. In time, perhaps his voice will heal, and maybe he will sing again. But he knows it will not be at Kacchan's side.
Or at least, this is the rationale Midoriya uses to justify his decision.
He remembers when they were five years old, his friend fearlessly diving off the bed like a shooting star, while he fell like a falling one, and fills with resolve.
"Please don't hate me, Kacchan. You carry on the dream."
Unaware of his friend's hardships, Bakugou passes the exam. He visits Midoriya's home under the pretense of gloating, but actually because he is sure his friend has also passed - even if only by the skin of his teeth - and wishes to celebrate together. He plans to invite Midoriya to his place for karaoke just like the old days, and in one hand holds a graduation present - his cherished signed All Might album from a shining, simpler time, that he now wants to gift to his friend who he feels deserves it more. He rings the doorbell and the sound it makes...is strangely off beat.
Midoriya answers the door, still in his pajamas, hair tangled as if he just woke up. Bakugou is taken aback.
"H-hey, Kacchan." Midoriya says in a hoarse whisper.
Bakugou's eyes widen in shock.
"What's the deal here? Did you just wake up?" Bakugou asks.
"...um..."
"The exam. You passed, right?"
"I..."
Bakugou's smile retreats and his eyes narrow. He feels heat rising to his face.
"You passed."
It is not a question. It is a demand.
"I...overslept haha."
Bakugou grabs Midoriya's shirt collar with the hand not holding the album and pulls his friend close.
Midoriya begins to cough violently and grasps his own neck. Seeing his friends discomfort, Bakugou releases his hold and backs up.
Midoriya rubs his neck.
"I'm just, under the weather...I'm *cough* sorry."
Bakugou feels a sensation almost like vertigo. Sound from passing vehicles, barking dogs, children's voices at play all jumble into cacophony. The world seems to turn against him. Inside, he is reeling. Outside, his chest heaves up and down like he is about to explode.
"This doesn't make sense...you didn't show up over a little cold? What, you were scared to take the test?"
"Kind of, haha..."
His friend's seemingly glib response sets Bakugou off.
Bakugou's grip on the All Might album cracks the case. With the other hand, he points a shaking finger at Midoriya accusingly.
"Do I always have to hold your hand? What is this!?"
Midoriya puts his head down, ready for a verbal lashing, and maybe more.
"I...I'm not a performer like you. I...I just can't do it."
Bakugou motions his hand in a sweeping arc.
"What? You...were never serious about this? About us? Was it all a waste of time?!"
Bakugou waits a few seconds before storming forth one more phrase.
"Why didn't you tell me?" - his voice pitches and crackles a bit out of tune, a rare thing to happen.
Bakugou's expression is angry, confused, searching, as if trying to find logic behind Midoriya's betrayal.
"I... I didn't tell you because you might not have taken it either if you knew..." - a lie.
Midoriya has been lying to his friend, but also to his own self. In truth, he knew pretty well even if he explained why he couldn't take the test Bakugou would still take it. That was the reality he didn't want to face up to yet, the fact that he is just Bakugou's shadow - and Bakugou does not need his shadow to keep going. While the shadow, Deku, needs Bakugou, to exist.
"Huh?! If you think I would have given up on our...my dream just because you gave up on yours, then you don't understand me at all... you worthless Deku!"
The CD falls with a clink.
Bakugou storms off, disoriented, disgusted.
Across the street, he stops. And speaks.
"You may have given up on our dream, Deku. But not me. Never. Watch...and listen!"
Bakugou walks away...
...and out of Midoriya's life.
"Kacchan..."
Midoriya lifts his head up and holds his throat. His eyes burn, his cheeks burns, his ears burn, his throat burns.
Straining to get any words out, his voice turned against him for so long, he speaks in an almost imperceptible whisper to his Kacchan who cannot hear him now and may never hear him again.
"I will watch you. I will be listening. For your debut. Even if you can't hear me, I will hear you. Always."
Midoriya, Deku, stupid, worthless Deku, looks down again and sees the cracked case of the All Might album, abandoned.
"I'm so sorry."
His tears drop onto the case with a steady rhythm, one soft and sweet and sad.
End of Chapter One.
Next Chapter: Bakugou enters U.A.