Started re-writing in August 19 2022

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"Yamada, help with these books will you." Iruka got up from her seat. She glanced at Izuku and Katsuki, surprised either of them had come today. Not like she was one to talk.

It's been 3 days since the slime incident and Iruka finally convinced her parents to let her go to school. The incident was all over the news. They saw the heroes' incompetence. They saw Katsuki being the victim. Saw Izuku trying to help. Most of all, they saw Iruka involved. There was scolding and hugs tears and a very well-needed bath.

Her parents had convinced her to stay home and rest. It was only the knowledge that Inko was making Izuku stay home as well that kept her home. Iruka knew how the bullies were. The second Iruka was out of sight they'd go after Izuku. Whenever Izuku didn't go to school the bullying would get worse. From the whispers that had been going around school that morning, Katsuki hadn't been to school either. She was glad she managed to convince her parents to let her go today, especially when she returned to class.

"What the hell is your problem? You didn't have a problem saying this shit yesterday." Iruka walked in on Izuku on the floor with Katsuki and Hatsushi glaring at each other.

"That was yesterday and today is fucking today dumbass!"

"What's going on?"

"Looks like your bodyguard is here Deku." Hatsushi sneered as he walked back to his seat. Iruka never understood that title. She never understood why no one ever bullied her despite always being by Izuku's side since kindergarten.

"Get up Deku," Katsuki held out his hand. Izuku blinked at him confused. Despite the silence and the way the class stared at him in disgust, disappointment, and even confusion, he continued to hold out his hand.

And Izuku took it.

"You alright Izu?"

"Fine,"

Katsuki looked them over once before returning to his seat without another word. He'd been like that all day. Never saying a word to them. He looked their way at best. Iruka wasn't sure how she felt about that.

==========

"I'm really sorry Iruka. I told All- uh my family friend I would train with him."

"Training? Already? We were involved in a villain attack and you're already training?"

"It's nothing serious Iruka honestly. Just got some planning and discussing. The entrance exams are just 10 months away Iru. I have to pass them."

"I mean I guess," Iruka mumbled, not sure what to say.

"Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow Iruka, bye!"

Iruka waved Izuku goodbye as he headed to the train station before making her own journey home alone, or so she thought.

"Oi Whiskers, you going home without Deku?" Iruka turned to see Katsuki walking up to her, none of his lackeys in sight. He didn't look angry. Well, he did but it wasn't paired with his manic grin or arrogance. If Iruka paid enough attention she'd be able to see fear.

"Ya he's busy, why?" She narrowed her eyes trying to figure out Katsuki's motive. She isn't as good at reading him as Izuku is but she tries anyway.

Katsuki has approached her in the past, always trying to convince her to stay away from Izuku and join him instead. He stopped trying in their first year of middle school. She wonders if he's trying now.

"Come on I'll walk you home." Katsuki starts walking away. Iruka blue-screened. Katsuki usually convinced her Izuku wasn't worth her time or someone with her kind of quirk shouldn't be hanging out with some shitty quirkless. Was this a different approach to being her friend? Being nice when Izuku wasn't around.

"Oi Whiskers! You coming or not?" Maybe nice was a bit of a stretch. Maybe she could see this through though.

"Uh ya, I'm coming."

==========

They'd been silent the entire walk. Iruka had thought of starting a conversation. She wants to know why Katsuki keeps trying to get close to her despite always hating her best friend. Despite the burning questions, she's kept quiet. There is one thing she refuses to let go.

"What did you say to Izuku yesterday?" Katsuki looked like he got slapped by a truck.

"Don't worry about it," His voice was strained.

"Kacchan what did you say to him?"

"I told you don't worry about it."

"He is my best friend. Of course, I'd be worried about him. Worried about what you say to him. So what did you say to him?"

"I told him to take a swan dive off the roof and pray he gets a quirk in his next life ok?!" Neither of them moved. Iruka heard nothing over the rush of blood. "But I didn't mean it. I didn't mean any of it I swear,"

"You told him to kill himself?" Iruka didn't hear what Katsuki had said. She didn't want to hear what he had to say. "You told my best friend to kill himself? Bakugou Katsuki what the fuck were you thinking?! Why the fuck do you think you should be anywhere near us for saying something like that? After telling Izuku to fucking kill himself!" Iruka isn't sure why she's getting heated now. This isn't the first suicide threat Izuku has gotten. No matter how hard Izuku hides that fact, it isn't exactly easy. She's seen the threats. The spider lilies. Maybe it's because this is Bakugou Katsuki. Someone both she and Izuku admire. Admired. She doesn't understand how she had ever looked up to the boy before her.

"Deku saved me yesterday. You both did. He saved me even after what I had said."

"Ya because Izuku has a heart of gold."

"I fucking know that alright!"

"Then apologise to him! Apologise for what you did to him. Apologise for what you said to him. All of it. I don't want you anywhere near us until you do Bakugou Katsuki because suicide baiting might just be your one-way ticket out of UA." She turned on her heel and left Katsuki behind. They weren't far from her home but fortunately, her parents weren't home to see what went down. Iruka wasn't sure how she could handle the look on anyone's face had they heard a conversation like that.

==========

For once in their lives, Katsuki was late to school. He was always first if not one of the first. This time though he came in just before homeroom started. Iruka could feel the way his eyes lingered on her but she paid it no mind. She refused to acknowledge him.

He's sick. How dare he hurt Izuku! The voice in her head hissed. She let it run rampant. Does he have any idea what he could've done? I hope he learns that mistake the hard way.

No. Iruka hissed back. That's too cruel.

Let him learn.

"Midoriya stop your incessant mumbling." Their teacher snapped.

"Sorry," Izuku whispered.

"What did I just say-"

"You're being more of a distraction than De- he is," Katsuki called out, pointing towards Izuku.

"Excuse me?"

"I said you're making a big deal out of fucking nothing. He said he was sorry just get back to teaching already," Katsuki had an almost lazy look, ignoring the utter shock on his teacher's face. He didn't say another word though and instead went back to teaching.

Adults are wrapped around his finger. He'll cause damage.

He needs to learn.

We can teach him.

Iruka knew what that implied and snuffed the thought away before it became too much. Katsuki just needs to learn. Everyone needs to learn.

==========

Slowly little things started to pile up. Katsuki would steer his "underlings" away from Izuku. He would call out the students and teachers alike. He slowly ran his own name through the dirt. No longer was his name said with pride, but instead spoken about as though he was a disappointment, a failure. Two things Iruka knew Katsuki despised and yet he never stopped. He never stopped defending Izuku (even if it didn't sound like it).

"Can I walk with you?" Izuku and Iruka turned to see the blond behind them. Iruka looked to Izuku. It was his choice. It was him that Katsuki had wronged.

"Sure Kacchan," Katsuki's mouth twitched at the nickname but he kept quiet.

Silence followed them. Tension in the air was thick enough to cut.

"There was a hero I saw yesterday," Izuku started.

"Ooo who was it?"

"Death Arms. I'm surprised he's in the area although I guess his quirk is versatile enough to be used pretty much everywhere-" He continued on. Neither Iruka nor Katsuki interjected until he was finished.

"You should try incorporating some of those things in your own training. I mean you don't have a strength quirk but humans didn't need those before so why not right?"

"You're training?" Izuku gave Katsuki a kind smile.

"I've been training a while, I've just been taking it up a notch. UA isn't easy to get into after all."

"You're still aiming for UA?" It wasn't accusatory, nor was it brash and angry. Iruka may not have picked up Katsuki's genuine curiosity.

"Of course he is. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing.... Nothing, that's good." Iruka tried to find the hidden motive and was frustrated when she couldn't find one. Frustration turned into confusion upon seeing her house come into view.

"Oh, I was going to walk you home,"

"Your house is the closest. This just makes sense."

"But-"

"We'll be fine Iru. Our houses is just a few blocks away." Iruka looked between Katsuki and Izuku. The latter looked insistent that he walks alone with the blond.

"Ok. Text me when you get home though,"

"Course I will. See you tomorrow," The two waved goodbye and it wasn't until they were out of view did Iruka walk back into the house.

She left the windows open just to keep an ear out for anything.

==========

Izuku let Katsuki think about what he wanted to say. It was obvious he had something to talk about. They stopped by the park.

"D-Izuku, I'm sorry." He wasn't expecting that of all things.

"Sorry for what Kacchan?"

"Are you kidding? I was a shitty person to you just because you didn't have a quirk. I bullied you, burned you, hurt you. I made the whole fucking school turn against you. I've tormented you and Whi- Yamada for years." Katsuki carded his hand through his hair, "Fuck I told you to kill yourself not even a month ago and despite that you still want to be a hero. You still let me get close to you."

"Kacchan...."

"You're such a nice fucking person and I don't get how you can still do it." Both boys felt defeated. Izuku closed the gap between the two with just a few steps.

"I don't know how I do it either Kacchan." Izuku wrapped his arms around the blond, Katsuki made no move to escape his touch, "I'm just as surprised as you are but you know we're both here and we can both be better, right?"

"Tch why do you need to be better?"

"Everyone can be better Kacchan." Katsuki lifts his hands to hug Izuku, but he drops them instead.

They stay like that for a while. Neither one was willing to move. When they did eventually pull away, Izuku made sure he didn't look at Katsuki as the blond wiped away a stray tear.

"You better get inside De-Izuku."

"I don't mind it if you call me Deku you know. Just like how I still call you Kacchan."

"If you say so nerd."

"See you tomorrow Kacchan!" Katsuki had already turned on his heel but lifted a hand to wave nonetheless.