I dreamed a dream in times gone by

[gothard]

[The holidays came slowly and went by too fast. It seemed that everyone was excited to go home for Christmas time to spend it with their families, especially since the mandatory dorm system meant that they couldn't see them through the normal school year. All of the students of 1-A had enjoyed a Christmas party together as they chatted excitedly about their plans for Christmas. When Izuku had been asked, he had said that he and his mother usually kept Christmas simple...they'd make sweets together and have hotpot on Christmas Eve before opening presents in the morning. He was eager for the quiet and peace of time spent with her more than anything.

That night was the last that anyone heard from Izuku throughout the rest of wintr break. Of course his closer friends, like Iida and Ochako, had immediately been wondering why he wasn't returning calls or texts, until eventually they got a single response from him. Only one, and only to them. It stated that he'd gotten sick and probably wouldn't be responding until school started back. It was a weak cover, but they believed it. It was the best that Toshinori could think of in a pinch without coming up with a worse lie. He couldn't tell even his best friends for fear of the young boy's own safety.

The news of why he really never called or texted hit the first morning everyone returned to classes, and the entire campus was alight with mutterings about it. Izuku wasn't at school at all, of course...and the specifics of the news were left rather vague, probably to protect him further. When Kirishima had heard, he couldn't even believe it until he saw the news report on TV in the common room and realized...it was true.

Kirishima had been trying to unpack his things like everyone else on the first day back since classes wouldn't start until the next day, but he hadn't seen Bakugou come in yet. So when he finally does, Kirishima comes running up to him before any of the others can, breathless.]

Bakugou!

Comments

[mightdoriya]

[For the time being, the main thing Izuku is concerned about is making sure Bakugou actually eats. He's doing a lot better than he did the first day, in which he foregoed food and water for almost two days straight. He can guess that this will be all he has all day, too, but it's better than nothing. So he eats his own meal in silence, keeping his head down so Bakugou won't be able to see how glassy his eyes still are. It's hard to say whether it's from sympathy or how close this all is hitting to home right now.]

[bakucchan]

[The two of them eat in silence for the rest of the night, neither looking at each other and both unsure of what to say. By the time Bakugo's finished his rice, he sets his chopsticks on top of them and leans back in his chair, waiting for Deku to finish eating because he knows if he got up and left the other boy would be likely to follow, and he doesn't want to rush him.

He's not sure what to do with himself, anymore. Honestly. He's just tired and feels numb inside, and he knows the grief will come in waves as it did for Deku and he doesn't look forward to that. He doesn't look forward to having to go back to his dorm eventually as well whether it's just to get clothes to change into or to try sleeping in there or what. He just... doesn't look forward to anything.

At least he'll have class to distract himself with. That's something he actually does look forward to, busying himself with focusing on tests or combat training or whatever. He's not going to let this bring him down as much as his heart wants it to. If anything, it just sparks his desire to be the greatest Hero inside of him even more.]