Fork In The Road [Chapter 4]

[Chapter 3]

Izuku knocked on the door quietly, crossing his fingers that it wouldn't somehow wake Katsuki and bring on his anger. It swung open on Masaru's wide smile, waving him inside before he'd even finished saying hello.

“Katsuki! Don't wake up at noon and start yelling!” Mitsuki demanded from the living room. “What the hell, brat?!”

“Sorry, is it a bad time?” Izuku asked sheepishly, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“No, not at all! It's good to see you, Izuku!” she beamed at him, waving him further inside, and gestured for him to sit down. “How's your school going? Have you made a bunch of friends? I'm surprised you still grace our brat with your presence at this point.”

“Kacchan has been my friend since we were toddlers, I could never replace him.”

“You're too kind, sweetie.”

Izuku laughed awkwardly, shaking his head, saved by the heavy footsteps on the staircase. He tipped his head to see Katsuki appear behind him, yawning as he headed for the kitchen.

“Good morning to you too, brat.”

“Shouldn't you be at work or some shit?”

“Well excuse meif I wanted to take a day to make sure my son was okay after his sports festival debut! Especially after that ce-”

“Morning Kacchan!” Izuku cut in quickly, refusing to let himself hear the words. “Did you sleep okay?”

Katsuki whirled around, glaring when he saw Izuku sitting in his living room, hands popping with frustrated sparks.

“Why the fuck are you not at school?”

“Relax! I went!” he insisted, tugging at his unform shirt pointedly. “We finished early today! I thought I'd come by on my way home and see how you were doing!”

“You fuckin' liar,” Katsuki growled, grabbing him by the collar and hauling him out of his seat. “What have I fuckin' told you? How am I gonna look if people find out I let my friend skip school, huh?”

“It's high school, Kacchan, it's not even compulsory,” Izuku pulled a face, ignoring the threatening hand on his collar. “Relax, would you? I told you, I went this morning, I'm done for the day.”

“Gonna fucking kill you if you're lying.”

“Maybe I should just drop out so you don't have to worry about me.”

For a moment they just stared at each other, the room tense, then Katsuki shoved him roughly, letting him fall back onto the cushions.

“Then I'd have no one to walk to the train with, selfish fucker. You want me to walk alone?”

“Good point, I'd better stay in school,” Izuku grinned. “Good thing I just have this afternoon off, then.”

“Fuck you.”

“You only-”

“Fuck. You.”

He stormed into the kitchen, and Izuku exchanged apologetic looks with Masaru over the back of the couch, before turning to face Mitsuki's wrath.

“Are you skipping school?” she hissed, leaning forward to stare at him. “What would your poor mother think, Izuku? Don't be one of those kids.”

“Really, it's fine, I swear,” he smiled awkwardly. “There was a class trip this afternoon that I opted out of, I'm not really skipping.”

“I've got my eyes on you, Izuku. Just remember that.”

“Understood, Ma'am. I'm on my best behavior, I promise.”

Katsuki returned from the kitchen with a scowl on his face, grabbing Izuku by the arm and dragging him up again.

“Those no food in this shitty house, we're getting lunch.”

“Oh! Okay!” Izuku agreed, wide-eyed as Katsuki yanked him toward the door. “Uh, thank you for having me! See you again soon!”

Mitsuki and Masaru waved goodbye, well-accustomed to the weird interactions the boys tended to share, and Izuku kicked his shoes on in a hurry to follow Katsuki out the door. He jammed his hands in his pockets as he walked, his arms bulging with tense muscles, dark singlet leaving nothing to the imagination. Izuku hurried to catch up, watching his back from two steps behind, and Katsuki grumbled something unintelligible to himself.

“What was that, Kacchan? I didn't catch it.”

“Tell me the truth,” he barked, louder this time. “Why aren't you at school?”

“I told you, I finished a little while ago, I just got back and came straight to your house.”

“But why did you leave early.”

“There was a class trip. It was optional. I chose not to go.”

“Why?”

“Because...” he trailed off, blushing faintly. “I had no interest in what they were doing, and I'd rather have the time to come check on you, after your day yesterday.”

“You can't keep doing this shit,” Katsuki insisted, turning to grab him again, shaking him roughly. “You're gonna fuck up your whole damn future because you're still trying to fuckin' live through me!”

“What else am I supposed to do, Kacchan?” Izuku asked quietly. “All I ever wanted was to be a hero. You're right here, so close to me, and you expect me not to live vicariously through you?”

“How do you expect to find a new dream if you don't even go to fucking school, huh?!” Katsuki demanded, shaking him again for good measure. “You want to helppeople, that's what you always said. Be a police officer or a doctor or a fuckin' teacher or some shit. What do you think happens to people with good quirks and shitty teachers, Deku? They become villains. Why not stop them before they fuckin' get there?”

“You think I should be a teacher?”

“Fuckin why not? You'd be...”

“What?”

“You'd be good at it,” Katsuki conceded, turning away. “You'd be good at a lot of things, if you gave them a shot.”

“I just feel empty sometimes.”

“Yeah, no shit, because you're busy lamenting the fact that you're not me instead of finding something fulfilling to do, asswipe.”

“Do you understand even a little bit what it's like, Kacchan? To spend your whole life being told you can't do the thing you want most? To spend years telling yourself you're gonna prove them wrong, only to prove them perfectly, one hundred percent correct?”

“No, I don't understand, and you know it, so that was fuckin' low.” Katsuki glared at him over his shoulder, contemplating for a moment. “But I know you, Deku. I've always known you.”

“Yeah.”

“And... Fuck, I admit it, okay? You'd be a good hero, I know that, and it's fucking stupid that you don't have a quirk to do that with, but you don't, and you're gonna get yourself killed if you keep doing this shit.”

“Skipping school?”

“Trying to be a martyr.”

“What? I'm not.”

“Trying to get yourself killed in some heroic accident so you'll be remembered as the quirkless kid who died a hero.”

Izuku's hands trembled when he clenched them into fists, and immediately Katsuki looked away again, taking a few long, deep breaths.

“Not to mention this shit,” he added, stepping closer and tugging at the hem of Izuku's shirt. “The fuck are you doing to yourself?”

“It's n-nothing, Kacchan!” Izuku insisted, slapping Katsuki's hand away and immediately regretting it when the offended hand grabbed his collar again. “Don't worry about it!”

“The fuck?” he demanded again, slamming Izuku against a building and pulling his arms above his head, scowling as the hem of his shirt rode up. “You fuckin' hurting yourself?”

“N-No! Nothing like th-that!” He flooded red, trying and failing to yank his arms from Katsuki's grip. “Leave it alone!”

“No fuckin' way.”

He shifted his grip to hold both Izuku's skinny wrists in one of his hands, and Izuku found himself infuriated when he tried again to pull away and failed miserably. The free hand went to Izuku's waist, yanking his trousers down a little lower and shoving white fabric up over his ribs.

“You fucking are, aren't you?” he demanded, touching the slashes a little more roughly than necessary. “What the fuck, nerd? You complain about me coming home beat up, then go and hurt yourself intentionally?”

“It's not like that.”

“Then what's it like, asshole?”

“C-Can you let go of me first?”

“What, so you can run your sorry ass home and refuse to talk to me?”

“You say that like you couldn't outrun me in three seconds flat.”

“Wouldn't take me three,” Katsuki snorted, but released his grip all the same. “Why the fuck would you do this?”

“It's complicated.”

“And you're a nerd who never stops babbling about nonsense, I'm sure you can figure out how to explain.”

Izuku fell silent, and for a brief moment, when Katsuki saw the look on his face, he felt bad for the insults.

“It's because of school, right?” he asked, with a surprising tenderness. “Because you didn't get into U.A. and you haven't made friends at your new school, despite it being so perfect for you on paper, because they're nerding about being doctors and scientists but you're nerding about being a hero.”

Izuku nodded slowly, a little stunned, but when he sneaked a glance at Katsuki's eyes, he knew those frustrated rubies saw right through him. And probably always would.

“Do you ever feel like you're... A ghost, or something? Like you're there but everyone just looks straight through you?”

Katsuki tilted his head slightly, contemplative, but didn't speak.

“It's like I forget I exist, or something,” he explained awkwardly. “I'm just... What's the word? A passive observer?”

“I think I get it.”

“Everyones eyes just... pass over me. It's like they don't see me, or hear me talk, like they could walk right through and never touch me.”

Katsuki's warm hands cradled his cheeks suddenly, making him flush bright red, and Izuku stumbled over words as he tried to ask.

“You're right here, stupid Deku,” he said softly. “I see you, I hear you, I'm touching you. Okay?”

“Yeah.”

“So cut the shit.”

“I'm sorry.”

“I didn't ask for an apology, nerd-ass. I said cut it out. You're not invisible, you're not a ghost, so stop it.”

“But it... It helps,” Izuku choked out, blushing again. “It's like...”

“Mmm?”

“Like a relief,” Izuku explained, cringing when Katsuki's scowl deepened. “Like I'm in control.”

“You know how you prove you're in control?” Katsuki demanded, squeezing a little tighter at Izuku's face. “By taking control, stupid. Eat better, work out, find a new hobby, make friends, do something that's actually gonna help instead of this weird venting shit. Fuck, if you need to vent, then talk or some shit. Don't take it out on yourself like this.”

“Oh yeah,” Izuku coughed out a dry laugh. “All these people who are so happy I quit my dream and went to such an academic school, they'll be so happy to hear it.”

“Then talk to me you fucker.”

“But you're happy about it too!” Izuku burst, his eyes filling with tears as he finally tore himself from Katsuki's grip, his cheeks immediately flooding cold without his touch. Katsuki didn't move, stayed rooted to his spot, and for a moment that surprised Izuku. “You said it yourself, Kacchan! The only reason we're even here now is because I gave up on my stupid pathetic dreams and accepted that I'm a loser and a failure and a useless Deku who can't do anything right!”

“Listen here you fucker,” Katsuki grabbed a fistful of white fabric, shoving him against the wall again and moving in close to keep him pinned. “I'm the only one who's allowed to say that shit. Would I be here if I thought those things?”

“What?”

“Why would I wait for you every damn morning if I thought you weren't worth the time?” Katsuki demanded. “Why would I wait for your train every day after school? Why would I spend so much fuckin' time with you, eating meals and talking about classes and trying to make you see that you have more to live for? You terrify me, stupid Deku. I told you to kill yourself once, in a fit of stupid rage, I know you remember it, and every fuckin' day when I see you so lost, all I can think is how I put that idea in your head, how it's been lingering there and rooting itself inside of you, and how if you actually do it's gonna be my fault. What kind of hero convinces their best friend to kill themself?! Yes, I fuckin' said it, I'm not gonna repeat myself.”

“I wouldn't,” Izuku said breathlessly, shaking his head. “I promise, Kacchan, I'll never do that. Not to you, not to my mother, I could never.”

“Then you need to stop this,” Katsuki scowled, prodding him in the silvery slashes that ran across his hipbone. “You're gonna talk if things get bad, alright shithead? Whatever time it is, wherever I am, you're gonna pick up your damn phone. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And now that the sports festival is done with, we're gonna start going to the gym like we talked about. I found one. And exercise is good for this depression shit.”

“Have you been researching this?”

“They talked about it in class,” he grumbled, cheeks dusting with pink. “About how students end up overworking themselves and get sick in the head. Most of it sounded stupid but then... Well, some of it sounded like you, too, so it made me wonder.”

“I'm sorry I worried you.”

“You're gonna stop, right?”

“Yeah, I promise.”

“Then it's fine. Now I'm seriously starving so let's find some shit to eat. I'm buying this time.”

“Really?”

“Mm, you bought twice yesterday, figured it's my turn.”

“Thanks, Kacchan.”

“Whatever, nerd.”

─

Sure enough, the next morning, Katsuki was at Izuku's house almost two hours early. Thankfully he had the decency to phone as he left home, leaving Izuku to scramble out of bed, and soon he was on the doorstep, letting himself in like he owned the place. Inko was still sound asleep, so Katsuki took charge of making breakfast, pointing Izuku to his bedroom.

“All your school stuff, uniform included, by the door. Go.”

Izuku didn't bother to argue, letting Katsuki fire up the stove and the rice cooker, heading to his room to grab the things he'd thankfully set out the night before.

“Bathroom,” Katsuki instructed next. “Two towels, one big and one small. And a bar of soap. Go.”

With a sigh Izuku went, brushing his teeth while he was there, dumping his towels and soap with his uniform.

“Clothes you can work out in. Wear them. Singlet or decent t-shirt, shorts or sweatpants, make sure there's a change of socks and underwear with your uniform.”

“Are you gonna do this every morning?”

“No, you're gonna remember this shit after today.”

“Okay, okay.”

Izuku went to his room one more time to get changed, returning to find a lunchbox and water bottle thrust into his hands.

“We'll eat breakfast after,” he explained, putting a second box in his own gym bag. “Alright, last thing.”

“Yeah?”

Katsuki reached into his near-empty bag, pulling something out and offering it to Izuku.

“What is it?”

“A gift.”

“Other than that.”

“Look at it, nerd.”

Izuku took it obediently, unfolding navy blue fabric, and paused for a second, frowning as he looked up.

“This is an official U.A. Gym bag from the school store, only accessible to students. As long as you're carrying it, people are gonna think that's where you're studying. So as long as you're carrying it, you're gonna pretend, and you're gonna work like a U.A. Student. Don't bring me shame by being a weak little bitch with my school merch, got it?”

Izuku swallowed hard, but nodded, hugging it to his chest.

“You got me merch.”

“I got you a fuckin motivator, get over yourself. Go take this to your mother.”

He held out a tray covered in food, and Izuku smiled, setting his bag down to accept it. He balanced it on one arm, knocking quietly and turning the handle, peeking inside to see Inko rubbing her eyes, sitting up slowly.

“Izuku?” she asked groggily. “What time is it?”

“It's still early,” he smiled apologetically. “Kacchan and I are heading out early, so here's breakfast for you. Relax this morning, okay?”

“You cooked?”

“No, don't worry, Kacchan did. It's safe.”

“Thank you, Katsuki!” she called. “It looks lovely!”

“Yeah, just eat it,” Katsuki grumbled, waving from the doorway. “We're leaving early, probably a lot from now on. Take it easy.”

“Okay! You boys have fun!”

Izuku leaned over to kiss her cheek, smiling as he waved goodbye, and shut the door behind himself. Katsuki handed him his bag again, this time with all the things he'd gathered stacked inside it, and Izuku nodded as he slung it over his shoulder, then pulled his backpack on too.

“Is this what you do? Carry two bags all the time?”

“I can leave most of my stuff at school,” he shrugged. “But yeah, sometimes.”

“It must be good weight training even on its own.”

Katzuki snorted, but it took a pointed look from Izuku for him to elaborate.

“This is gonna be fun, if you call that weight training.”

“I have a feeling I'm gonna die.”

“That's a wise feeling to have, dumb Deku. Smartest thing you've done all year.”

“Lovely.”

─

Katsuki removed all the dark plates from a metal bar, stacking them away on the rack, then gestured pointedly at Izuku with the bar itself. He stood where Katsuki pointed, holding out his hands, and Katsuki snorted.

“Like this,” he explained, holding the bar behind his head. “Hands up here.”

He laid the bar in Izuku's hands when he was satisfied, checking his grip, then pushing at Izuku's cheek to make him look straight ahead.

“Make sure it rests on your upper back, not just your arms. Can you feel it?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Feet a little wider, yeah, now you're gonna bend down until your ass is lower than your knees. Not all the way down, just past parallel. Take it slow.”

He nodded as Izuku squatted, his butt sticking out behind him awkwardly, and as he reached the bottom Katsuki put a hand on the bar behind his neck, just in case.

“Now back up, still slow, keep your chest up the whole way.”

Izuku followed his directions, waiting until his hips and knees were straight again before he looked over.

“Okay?”

“Good,” Katsuki nodded. “Do that nine more times on your own.”

To Izuku's surprise, Katsuki didn't disappear. He remained right at Izuku's side, watching carefully, and Izuku cracked a little smile when he got to eight and his thighs began to burn.

“Feeling it?” Katsuki asked knowingly.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, stop then.”

“What? You said ten.”

“It's fine, eight to twelve is all good. Here, gimme.”

He took the bar away and gestured toward a bench, waiting for Izuku to sit down.

“You never want to overdo it, especially not on the first set. You rest while I do my ten, then it's your turn again.”

“Oh.”

Katsuki took another bar from the shelf, since the gym was near-empty, and loaded a couple of the biggest plates onto it.

“Aren't you supposed to have someone who can help, when you do heavy stuff?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki snorted, “but this isn't heavy. Relax, nerd, I'm not gonna do anything you might have to bail me out of.”

“But what if you... I don't know, if you slip or pull a muscle or... or...”

Katsuki raised an eyebrow at him, taking the bar in one hand and hoisting it up, pushing it above his head like the tiny dumbells Izuku had already worked with earlier in the morning.

“Okay, point taken,” Izuku sighed. “Sorry, I won't question you again.”

“It's fine, nerd, I'm used to it,” he shrugged, hooking the bar into place and stepping a little wider. “It's the first day, question everything.”

“Thanks, Kacchan,” Izuku smiled, watching Katsuki power through like it was second nature. “I appreciate all of this.”

“Whatever.”

It took about forty-five minutes for Katsuki to decide their work out was over, and Izuku breathed a long sigh of relief at the words. Katsuki smirked, and Izuku returned it with a wobbly smile and wobblier legs.

“You'll get used to it,” he assured him, leading the way to the changing rooms. “Faster than you expect.”

“It's okay, I'm not gonna quit.”

He stopped in an open area before they reached the door, and Izuku halted, confused until he saw the bar running along the wall, the foam blocks and wooden wedges and rubber bands stacked in a corner.

“I'm not flexible, Kacchan.”

“Then that's something else to work on, isn't it?” he pointed out, dragging a out mat from the wall and laying it out. “Lie down, I'll even do the work for you today.”

“That's the most terrifying thing I've ever heard,” Izuku grumbled, dropping himself onto the mat reluctantly. “Please don't hurt me, I still have school to get through.”

“What do you think I am, an asshole?”

“Yes?”

Katsuki snorted, and Izuku couldn't resist a smile, closing his eyes as he lay back.

“Trusting you, Kacchan.”

“You better not be taking a nap on my watch.”

“Nope, just trying to relax so my muscles don't snap, isn't that how it works?”

“Use some of your nerd powers to research anatomy.”

He took Izuku by the ankle, lifting it up toward the roof, and as he began to push, Izuku cringed. The entire back of his leg pulled tight, resisting, but surprisingly Katsuki didn't push any further, holding it right at the point of discomfort without ever pushing it through to pain. He held it for a little while then changed legs, once again halting as soon as Izuku started to worry, never letting it actually hurt him.

“You're good at this, Kacchan,” Izuku informed him, as his friend manipulated him into different positions, gently working out the tension in his tired muscles. “You haven't even been at the school that long.”

“You think my first day in a gym was with U.A.?” Katsuki scoffed. “Idiot.”

“Oh. Yeah. I guess you did this right through middle school, to prepare, huh?”

“Not to prepare,” Katsuki corrected him, pushing his stomach toward the ground. “Needed it to deal with my quirk.”

“What do you mean?”

“My arms,” he explained, shrugging. “Recoil and stuff, had to learn to take it.”

“I didn't know that,” Izuku mumbled, wishing he had a pen on him. “So if you didn't build up your arm strength, it would hurt you to use?”

“Not just my arms, but yeah. We'll talk about it later, nerd, you can write it all down.”

“Thanks, Kacchan.”

He helped Izuku up and tossed him a spray bottle, leaving him to wipe down the mat as he dragged out another to stretch himself out. Izuku watched for a moment, watched the toned muscles flex beneath his skin, before he quickly cleaned up and stacked his mat away.

“Let me help,” he offered, when Katsuki pulled his leg back toward his chest, just like he'd done to Izuku. “Tell me when to stop.”

Izuku gently pushed on Katsuki's calf, surprised when the young man didn't protest or yell at him, letting his leg come back until his foot almost reached his face. Izuku hadn't realised Katsuki was so flexible, not like this. It was kind of amazing, in a way. Such a powerful body, all raw strength and anger, and yet he could move every piece of it beyond normal limits.

“Other side.”

Izuku let the leg down gently and switched, unable to resist a squawk when his toes went beyond his face, almost touching the floor beside his ear.

“Is your leg broken?!”

“This is my good leg,” Katsuki laughed, a strangely bright and carefree sound compared to his usual cackles. “I'm working on the other.”

“You're amazing, Kacchan.”

“If you want to be the best, you have to work harder than everyone else. I'm not gonna be the top hero just because I have a good quirk, I have to put the effort in too.”

“So amazing.”

“Idiot.”

Katsuki rocked back onto his hands, pushing his body up into a bridge to stretch his back, and Izuku smiled when his singlet rode up, showing off sharp hipbones and abs with deep grooves between them, almost scarily defined.

“Haven't eaten yet,” Katsuki said knowingly, when he caught Izuku staring. “They always look better first thing in the morning.”

“I didn't know you cared about looking good.”

“Of course I do. The way I look is just one more way to be the best. I have an image to maintain.”

“Huge arms, tiny waist, scruffy punk-ish clothes that cost more than anyone would ever guess?”

“You know it.”

Katsuki walked his hands in a little closer and pushed himself up to his feet, smirking when Izuku gawked at him. Katsuki had always been athletic, sure, but something about the effortlessness of it all was mesmerising.

“Shower and school,” Katsuki directed, cleaning off his mat and throwing it on the stack. “You have ten minutes.”

“Until the train?!” Izuku panicked, whirling around to look for a clock. “Kacchan!”

“Until we need to leave the building, asshole, do you have no faith in me?”

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief, giving him a vaguely apologetic look.

“Ten minutes for shower and clothes, five to walk to the station, and around ten to eat breakfast before the train leaves.”

“Okay,” he nodded. “That sounds much better.”

In the changing rooms, Katsuki picked up his bag, taking it with him to the little shower stalls, so Izuku followed suit. He hung his uniform on the back of the door, draped his towel over the top, and dug out his bar of soap, setting it on the little shelf beneath the shower head. Katsuki's water was already running, well-practiced at this kind of thing, and Izuku hurried to catch up. He was halfway through cleaning off the sweat when he heard it, pausing to listen and smiling to himself softly. It had been a long time, but he'd know that sound anywhere.

He closed his eyes as he finished showering, listening to the quiet hums from the next stall over, finally shutting the water off to get dry and dressed. To his surprise, Katsuki was only just turning the water off when Izuku opened his stall door, rubbing at his hair with his towel as he stared in the mirror above a set of sinks.

When Katsuki emerged his hair was dripping wet, floppy over his face, and Izuku couldn't quite stifle his giggles.

“Shut up,” Katsuki muttered knowingly. “Had to wash it.”

“You look so soft.”

“I said shut up.”

Izuku closed his mouth obediently, but struggled to keep his grin at bay, resulting in a stupidly wobbly smile with his lips clamped shut. Katsuki sighed at him, retrieving a hair dryer from the wall and turning it on his head, eyes narrowed as he shot Izuku a warning look out the corner of his eye.

“Did you see the chick with the crazy inventions?” Katsuki asked, as Izuku left to shove his sweaty clothes in his new gym bag. “At the festival?”

“Yeah! They were kind of insane, but they were amazing!”

“One day she might be able to make tech for quirkless nerds,” Katsuki suggested, his voice strangely soft. “Don't rely on it too heavily, but maybe one day you'll get your chance.”

“I never thought of it like that.”

“Bullshit, that was the first thing you thought when you saw her.”

“It wasn't,” Izuku shook his head, staring into his bag. “Even if she, or someone else, creates something amazing, they'll give it to an existing hero who can make use of it, not to a nobody.”

“I'll get it for you, then.”

“Huh?”

“When I'm the number one hero, when I've brutally kicked All Might out of the top spot, when they're all clamouring for my business, I'll hold a competition to see who can design the best quirk replacement, for my idiot childhood friend.”

“That sounds great, Kacchan,” Izuku smiled faintly. “I'll be looking forward to it.”

“Yeah. Make sure you last that long.”

“I told you, I'm not going to-”

“I don't care if it's self-inflicted or stupidity or... or disease or a car accident or some shit, just keep yourself safe until that day comes. And make sure your fuckin' body is prepared for it, giving you any tech right now would probably make you explode. Tear your limbs from your body or some shit.”

“I'll do my best.”

“Yeah.” Katsuki set the hairdryer away, reaching for his matching bag. “Come on, nerd, you have school.”

“I'm ready, you're the one who had to wash his hair!”

“Shut up.”

Together they scanned their new membership cards at the exit, letting themselves out the front doors, and made the short walk to the train station. It was certainly convenient, Katsuki had managed to find not only the one gym in town open early enough for them to use, but within minutes of the station to get to school in time. Izuku couldn't help but wonder how much time he'd spent researching the area.

They sat in near-silence as they pulled out their breakfast boxes, on their usual wooden bench off to one side of the station, directly between the platform that would lead to U.A., and the one that would lead to Izuku's prestigious private school. Katsuki glanced at his watch as they finished, packing his dishes away, then nodded toward the gate.

“Train in five,” he pointed out. “Should probably head over.”

“Yeah. Thanks for this morning, Kacchan.”

“I'm coming with you, idiot.”

“Huh?! What?! Why?!”

“Haven't seen this nerdy-ass school of yours yet, may as well since I have the day off. Relax, I won't yell at any prissy little nerd-kids. Not unless they piss me off, anyway.”

“O-Okay, um, sure! Let's go!”

“Gonna make sure you actually go, too,” Katsuki grumbled, thumping him in the shoulder. “No skipping out on class this time.”

“I told you, Kacchan, it was-”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Save the bleating. Come on, hurry your ass up.”

Izuku shoved his empty box away, nodding, and quickly slung his bags on his back to leave. It felt weird to walk to his platform with Katsuki beside him, he hadn't really noticed how much he stood out. His blond hair with its messy spikes, his low-slung pants and skull t-shirt, and, well... He was far more... Built, than the other students hanging around. Izuku was no exception. He could see people eyeing them, whispering about them, but Katsuki didn't even seem to notice. He was used to it, Izuku supposed, after the sludge villain and USJ and now the sports festival.

He walked onto the train with no hesitation when it pulled in, leaving Izuku to hurry after him, leaning against a wall as the car quickly became crowded. Izuku winced when someone bumped into him particularly hard, but quickly shook his head when Katsuki straightened up, reaching out a hand toward the offending third year.

“Kacchan, it's fine, don't-!”

“Here.”

Izuku was dumbfounded, letting Katsuki push him onto the wall with no resistance, and he gaped at his friend for a moment as he fought for words.

“I'm not gonna get my ass kicked by someone bumping me,” Katsuki taunted, folding his arms. “You might get crushed by a firm breeze.”

Izuku cracked a tiny smile, nodding firmly, and Katsuki looked away stubbornly.

“Thanks, Kacchan.”

“Whatever.”

[To Be Continued]