Eijirou Kirishima tries his best to smile at all times. But it's hard, with the knowledge of who he was back in middle school. He wishes he could erase this part of himself from his soul, and just forget about it.

But the chains of his past hold him down.

Back then, he was selfish and useless ― a nobody. Someone unable of being a good hero; a hero that people could rely on. Hell, if he couldn't even move his damn legs to run to someone who needed help, then what could he do when it counted the most?

Useless. That's all he was.

Utterly useless.

What sort of worth was there to him? All he really had to offer to the world was a practically useless quirk that could make himself turn as hard as a rock, and who's to say that rocks couldn't be eroded away into sediment over time?

Maybe that was what was happening to him now. He was slowly turning into sediment; rending him even more useless than before. Or perhaps, his mental state was. Physically he was alright but... in his mind, he wasn't.

His deteriorating mental state had already begun affecting his school life, which had caught the attention of many of his classmates. First came his best friend Bakugou, as blunt and harsh as ever. The blonde had approached him one day after class; a fierce and determined glint in those narrowed blood-red eyes of his.

"Oi, Shitty-hair. There's been something off with you for a while, and it's been pissing me the hell off. You don't have that... usually annoying personality of yours, and I wanted to know what's been up. Not like I'm telling you to act like that again 'cause I'd rather you drop it, but..."

A flicker of concern had then shown through those usually angry eyes, and Kirishima let a smile curl onto his numb face. Bakugou cared ― really, it was obvious no matter how hard the blonde tried to deny it, but... it still didn't cure the aching Kirishima felt on the inside; harsh and pounding ― relentless.

Perhaps he was unfixable; broken. Kirishima didn't know. He just didn't want others to worry about him; not when he's built up such a personality.

There were people out there who needed the help more. He... He wasn't worth it. No, not at all. This was... punishment for his cowardice back then.

"I'm fine, Bakubro. Really. Believe me when I say it," Kirishima had responded as he forced a cheerful-looking smile on his face, reaching forward to pat Bakugou on the shoulder.

When he elicited a harsh, surprised response from the explosive male, the redhead simply chuckled, stepping to the side to walk around his friend.

"I have to go, Bakubro. Catch you tomorrow!"

And that was the end of Bakugou's questions. Perhaps it was good enough for the blonde, Kirishima didn't know for sure.

He was just glad that's all it took.

-

Then came Mina.

Mina, the one who witnessed his despair that day. Mina, the one person who actually knew what he had been like in middle school; dark-haired with a cowardly personality...

...pathetic. Pathetic, he was back then...

"Hey, Eijirou!" She had called out after training, sweat gleaming on the crown of her forehead. Mina was still in her hero outfit, and as he panted, Kirishima turned around to face her. She ran up to him.

"What is it, Mina?" Kirishima said, trying to keep his voice as cheery as he usually let it sound while trying his hardest to push back the dark memories that flashed into his brain as he stared at her.

With a pout, Mina then cocked her head to the side with her eyebrows furrowed. A finger came up to press against her chin. After a moment of studying Kirishima carefully, she spoke.

"Y'know, Eijirou, you seem to be acting a little different than usual. You didn't really laugh all that much when Sero made that stupid joke about Kaminari and a Pikachu, and I know how much you love that tape dispenser's corny jokes―!"

...right. That had been funny ― (though, it was probably more of the stupid snort that Kaminari had let out) ― but it was impossible to laugh when Kirishima couldn't stop thinking about what he wasn't.

Brave. Manly. A hero.

The same lie that he had told Bakugou left Kirishima's lips without hesitation.

"I'm fine."

Mina didn't seem convinced as she stood there, staring at him, but she didn't push. 

"Oh, alright... Whatever you say, Eijirou! I have to go get changed, so I'll see you later!"

It was indescribable the way his heart ached as he watched her leave without another word.

-

With each lie Kirishima told, he got number and number. His mental health got worse and worse over time.  

He couldn't... He... really couldn't anymore...

What could he be at this point..? Certainly not a hero...

Was Kirishima good for anything..? God, if he couldn't even have a somewhat happy personality, then what did he have going for him?

Oh, yeah. 

Nothing.

Maybe it had been the fact that he hadn't received much support from his friends. Maybe that's what broke him for real. Either way, Kirishima was... glad things were like this.

Everyone was happy. No one was worried about him. At least, that's what he thought.

-

You had been concerned about Kirishima's recent behavior. You weren't all that close to him as Bakugou and the others were, but you were still somewhat of a friend of his. His bright, cheery aura had dimmed, and you could tell that he was faking it most of the time.

Initially, when this had first started, you had expected for Kirishima's friends to cheer him up. After all, that's what friends did right? They cared for each other...

But that hadn't seemed to have happened with Kirishima.

Maybe... Maybe it was time you stepped in. To show him that he wasn't alone. To show him that... someone cared.

You approached him after school, before the walk home. Surprisingly, Bakugou wasn't with him, which was strange. The pair usually walked home together every day, so where was the blonde now..? 

You took a deep breath, before speaking up. Nervousness pulsed through your body. ...what were you going to say?

"Hey, Kirishima. Do you have a second?" you then said awkwardly, and when he turned around, you were shocked to see how dejected he looked.

"Oh... Hey, Y/N..." he said weakly, crimson eyes flickering away from your gaze. His grip tightened on the strap of his backpack, and you noticed the way he bit down on his bottom lip; for sure drawing blood due to his sharp teeth.

"...I've been noticing that you've been a little off lately. Do you... need someone to talk to..? I understand if you don't want to tell me anything ― after all, we aren't the closest of friends, but... just know that I'm here for you..."

Kirishima took in a sharp intake of breath, and you were shocked to then feel his arms wrapped around your body. Sharp sobs shook the redhead's body, and between gasps of breath, the male choked out shakily,

"Thank you, Y/N..."

-

After he spoke with you, Kirishima felt the aching in his chest ease. He could breathe freely again, knowing that he wasn't alone. 

Everything would be alright now.