Chapter Text
In the blissful and beautiful spring of Aldera middle school, the collection of students almost all from the same neighborhood, everyone knew each other by name or at least familiar with one another, that or you'll be known for one thing and will be known with a label. Deku, the name? Nickname? Not many people knew her real name, but Izuku Midoriya also known as Deku, the label, it meant useless. Useless people like her at the bottom of the charts, those who should just work office jobs and call it a life, give up on passion that's out of reach. Deku however, seemed to be the persistent type.
"Kacchan!" A skinny timid looking girl, even in the small sized uniforms, her clothes were still pretty loose and flowed easily. She had unkempt curly green hair with eyes that always seemed to be dilated and wide "Did you want to walk home together?"
"Will you fuck off, Deku? You ask me almost everyday when are you giving it up?" The harsh toned girl, had a stern and broad stature, seemingly unwavering. She'd shoot a glance at her as if to challenge her to cling onto her. Their classmates that were surrounding around Bakugo laughed and chattered along with the insults.
"Haha you're right, sorry for asking, I'll just walk alone, okay?" Deku would say almost trembling as she'd fidget with the edge of the cuffs of her burned and damaged sleeves.
"Get out of my sight." Bakugo not giving her another glance back as she walked out the classroom
Deku would stand in place almost frozen from fear..? No, a smile would form when she's alone, her fidgeting became itching and painful when she pressed and caressed red burn marks across her arms and hands that's formed over the years. Yes, her best friend, her bully, the one who she admired still acknowledged her. "An insult rather than ignoring me, that's good, I'm noticing she insults me after 3 attempts. I want to know what happens when I actually walk home with her next.."
Bakugo walked out the school with their classmates following behind her as always. They seemed to be making plans she wasn't interested in until her ears perked from a familiar name
"Isn't that Deku over there?". Bakugo didn't even bother to turn her head, "Just ignore her will you? She's just being a weirdo as usual." She continues to walk away, she didn't care about what her classmates were planning to do for the day, she'd rather be at home where she's by herself.
Bakugo stops in her tracks when she hears pebbles being thrown and tumbling back on the concrete floor followed by amused laughter.
Deku moved her arms infront of her face out of instinct, just hoping none of the pebbles hit her face, but she also wanted to see Bakugos reaction, just as she was about to peek between the cracks of her fingers "You guys done? It's bad enough she's already quirkless you know, and if she's going to spend her life being a creep then might as well let her."
Their classmates would stop, turning back around followed by their scoffs "What, you're finally feeling some sympathy over her? Ha!" Bakugo would've laughed it off.. she stayed silent and kept walking away.. Was she serious?
"Sympathy for a freak? Hell no, but I dont know how you extras act like, as if you're any better than her when all of you are just the dirt underneath my shoes. You're all terrible, she's just a little worse " Bakugo would always put on an arrogant smirk when talking down to others, but she seemed irritated today, she was serious.
As much as Deku didn't like the fact her tortmentors all knew Bakugo since they were all kids, they also understood her habits over-time, it just meant they knew when she was serious or not, but Deku finds comfort in the fact they'll never know her like she does.
"What the hell Katsuki? All you gotta say is to leave her alone, you're always so harsh on us for what.."
"Grow a pair."
Deku didn't get to see her reaction, she almost wished they would've continued despite Bakugo's order to stop..
Bakugo continued to walk away not indulging into the conversation any longer, their two classmates talking to each other instead
Deku followed the three of them closely making sure she wouldn't get caught, though she was already aware one of them knew she was behind them.
They all lived in the same neighborhood, really one of the main reasons the other two were still around, they werent necessarily friends. When the other two walked off to their reserved homes, it was just her and her dearest friend left
"Useless Deku, following me around as per usual, fucking stalker."
"Oh.. N-no remember, we live in the same neighborhood, I don't mean t-"
"We just passed your apartment, we turned the corner. Don't tell me you're stupid too."
Deku didnt realize, she was so committed to following her around she didnt even recognize her own home. Bakugo was amazing.. she even made her forget her way home.. she couldnt help but admire the influence she had over her
"I..I mustve gotten lost... Sorry.. i'll be on my way now.." Deku stood still, as if waiting for Bakugo to chase her away first, she was grateful for the moment of confusion knowing bakugo can just assume her reddening face was just from embarrassment, but she also knew she wasnt that stupid
Bakugo stood silent, her expression had on her signature scowl
"Get lost. Seriously, when are you just going to quit following me around like a damn mutt."
"W-what? I'm not a dog.. I dont follow you around.. really it was all just a coincidence"
Deku always denied it, hoping bakugo would just take the bait, though they both knew her real intentions. They'd stand there in silence, she anticipated an insult, a punch, a mean pull to her hair, anything.
Then she realized this wasn't the path to Bakugos house either
"Deku just how stupid do you think I am, huh?"
"E-excuse me..? I dont think youre stupid.." Why was she saying that about herself? Shes not stupid.. It actually hurt her seeing Bakugo with a mean expression talking about herself
"D-d-did I stutter?" She'd walk over to her in powerful steps, knocking her head onto the concrete wall with a strong grip on her collar "Am I just a joke to you? Do you think I'm a FUCKING idiot?" Bakugo said through her teeth, not wanting to cause a huge commotion to those passing by, but by the looks of it she just wanted to punch her face in "Are you deaf? answer my goddamn question."
"Kacchan no! you arent an idiot, swear! I dont think youre an idiot, when have I lied to you?"
"Dont pull that fucking card, I know when people lie. Youre just insulting me if you do that. Just call me a damn idiot next time, Deku."
Deku dared to grab bakugos extended arm with both her hands
"I'm telling you! I dont think youre an idiot! seriously you have to believe me for this one thing!"
Bakugo snatched her arm back looking at her as if she despised her.
"Deku cant you wrap your head around the fact I dont want to be your friend anymore?! I dont want you to be leeching onto me, I dont want you to look at me as if I'm some kind of savior, I dont want you trying so hard to be around me 24/7 that you end up getting hurt! youre just useless Izuku, you dont mean anything to me anymore. Get over it, seriously just grow up.. for your own good too"
Deku didnt know what to feel, though Bakugo thought it probably wouldnt change a thing, internally it was just to lash out on her.
Bakugo hated her, she knew from the bottom of her heart but always clung onto the hope she'll give in, even now, to the strand she held onto for dear life. She tried to keep her expression from trembling, all for the reasons she was already aware of, confrontation wasnt the first either. Why was she about to cry? she cant cry infront of Kacchan.. Then she really wont be friends with her.
"Kacchan.. you dont mea-"
Her head slams into the wall again, with more force
"I DO! I do mean it."
She couldnt..
"i-its okay if you need space kacchan.. you can tell me.."
"Yeah, space. sure you can call it that"
She let her grip off of her collar, both of dekus hands lingering on her tense arm before dropping them to her sides
"Yeah..? you just needed space..? kacchan you couldve just said so.. you made me nervous.."
Her bitter expression came back
"Tch. Leave me alone, Im serious."
"Kacchan.. Are you okay?" reaching a hand out as soon as she turned away
a sudden right hook to her cheek, and suddenly deku was facing the concrete wall, bringing her hand back to soothe the pain on her cheek
"I-I'm sorry! I'll just.. leave you alone.."
She still cracked a smile after getting punched on the cheek.
"..Whatever" turning away as her back faced deku as she turned the corner of the alleyway
Deku walked home with weight in her steps, did she do something wrong to provoke her? was it the constant bothering comments? was she bothering her? what did she do to make her angry? what can she do.. except for leaving her alone?
she patched the swollen mark on her face. She hoped it wouldnt cause any speculations, though it was pointless, nobody ever questioned her anyways.
She was determined to keep her act right, to win her friend back!