~~~
After about another half an hour or so, the other girls finally decided to make an appearance.
"About time!" Kira calls, spinning on the sofa to face them.
"Yeah, what took you all so long?" Kirishima wonders.
"Well, we're gonna be staying here now!" Mina answers, rolling her eyes at the both of them. "It's gotta look like home."
Kira nods in understanding. Perhaps she should have spent longer fitting into her dorm room.
"Anyways!" She jumps on the spot. "Us girls have been talking and-"
"We have the best idea!" Toru interrupts.
Kira frowns - why wasn't she a part of this 'girl's idea'?
"Let's go around and see who has the coolest room!" Mina suggests.
Kira sighs, rubbing her neck. "I don't know, Mina. It's getting pretty late now. I mean, who knows what Mr Aizawa has in store for us tomorrow. We should be getting as much shut-eye as we can."
"Oh come on!" She practically pouts.
"It won't take that long," Toru insists.
"You mean checking out all twenty rooms?" She quips, glaring at the invisible girl. "Sure, it won't take long at all."
"It could be fun," Kirishima says with a half-hearted shrug.
Before anyone else can protest, the girls spin on their heels and make their way towards the first room. Grumbling, Kira stands up from the sofa - she was pretty curious to see what everyone's rooms looked like.
"Kira." She stops at the sound of her name and turns, spotting Kirishima staring at his phone. "Bak- uh... me... I need to talk to you... about something."
She blinks at him. "Is it important? Can't it wait until tomorrow?" The lift bell dings as her classmates load onto it.
"No," he replies bluntly, as his phone vibrates in his hand again.
The lift ascends with the others and Kira sighs heavily, rubbing her tired eyes. "Okay." She nods. "Okay."
However, instead of spilling his guts, he heads for the lift, pressing the button to summon it once more. Kira hesitantly stands next to him, waiting for that familiar ding to resonate. Whatever he wanted to talk about, it seemed serious.
They step inside the lift, as Kirishima presses the button for floor four. She frowns at his silence and he glances at his phone once more when it vibrates loudly in the confines of the metal box.
Kira sighs irritably, stepping over and jabbing the yellow button, stopping the lift halfway through their ascent. Kirishima places his phone by his side, ignoring the aggressive vibrating and instead focuses on the tired girl in front of him.
"What is it?" Kira blurts, crossing her arms over her chest.
She didn't mean to snap - she just wanted nothing more than to be wrapped up in her warm, new blankets. The last thing she ever wanted to do was take her frustration out on him.
Kirishima doesn't reply, as if his tongue is caught up in the millions of thoughts scattered around his mind. It's then she notices how distraught he appears: his brows are knotted together; the corner of his lips curling at the corners; his usual glimmer of excitement absent from his eyes. Kira has never seen Kirishima portray a quality besides undying charisma, but now as his phone screen flashes across his features, Kira's heart aches at being so utterly oblivious to how he must really be feeling.
"Kirishima." She steps forwards, reaching a hand out, but hesitating. "Something's wrong, isn't there?" He drops his phone to his side, still vibrating. "Wh- what is it?"
"It's nothing," he replies almost immediately, straining a smile.
Kira frowns at him. "We may have only known each other for four months Kirishima, but I can tell when you're being less than honest with me."
She waits for him to open up, wondering if she should apply more pressure or not, when she spots him eyeing her newfound scar.
"Does it hurt?"
"No," she says, her voice suddenly thick.
"It kills me that I-" He looks to the buttons on the lift, his eyes shimmering with sudden tears. "I couldn't do anything."
"Well, of course not," she scoffs, swinging an arm up in a poor attempt to lift the depressing atmosphere. "You weren't even there to begin with, Kirishima."
"Maybe I should have been." Kira opens her mouth to argue, when he cuts her off, his voice growing in anger and frustration. "How can I live up to my dream of being the next Crimson Riot, if I can't even save you?"
She blinks at his confession, as he forces his eyesight back to her. "Save me?" She mouths. "Last I remember, I was the one that decided to recklessly jump in after the League of Villains. That was a choice that I made, even if it may have been the wrong one. It was my fault."
A flicker of anger flashes across his features, but Kira can't tell if it's directed at her or himself. "If I had just passed that stupid final exam, then I could have been right there with you, beside you, fighting those damn villains."
"Maybe," Kira replies, her voice softer than before, trying to imagine if she were in his position. "There's no point dwelling on it though."
Kirishima doesn't seem to have a reply to that.
"Isn't that what you say?" She continues, nodding to get his attention as his head droops in what she can only guess is defeat. "All you can do is learn from it. Learn and get stronger. And then the both of us... together... can teach those dumb villains a lesson. Whadya say?"
Kirishima glances up slowly, that familiar knowing smirk returning and Kira just knows she said something convincing. It appears infectious, however, as she too returns the determination, a smile of her own forming across her lips.
Kira reflects back on her own words: she'll get stronger, get a hold of her powers and then she'll give Dabi what's coming to him. And that schoolgirl villain too.
"Hey, Kira?" She snaps her head from her vengeous intentions to face her classmate.
He steps forward, with slight hesitation, leaning over to press the yellow button, allowing the lift to finally continue its journey. They're now only a breath away from one another and Kira can still see the faint trace of salty tears etched onto his eyes.
It's true, it's only been about four months since they first met back at the entrance exam, but since then Kira hasn't been able to bond with anyone quite like Kirishima. His attitude towards the world and his sheer determination to be an all-round better human is unbearably contagious. His integrity is something Kira desires to own as one of her own qualities one of these days.
In those four months, he's the only person she's gotten close enough to want to spend time with outside of school and even though her own power frightens her to the point of feeling the need to isolate herself from others, he's been there, unafraid and wanting to be there for her. With her.
It's clear now. She's been an idiot.
Kira hasn't realised how long she's been staring up at him, detailing the perfection of his features until the familiar ding resonates and the doors slide open.
Kirishima steps out first, but Kira can't will her feet to move. He holds the door open with his palm, waiting for her to exit. Finally, her legs start obeying and she follows him out onto the fourth floor.
"There was a different reason why I wanted to come up here," he blurts suddenly, wincing guiltily.
She frowns at him as he releases the doors and the one person she least wanted to meet stood leaning against his door, an especially angry expression on his face.
"Kirishima..." She growls, turning her head to the red-head.
"What took you so damn long?" Bakugou says. He didn't shout, but he definitely didn't sound happy.
"As much as I enjoyed our enlightening conversation," Kirishima says to Kira, grinning at the both of their pissed off reactions. "There was an actual reason as to why we came up here."
Kira's eyes travel down to the phone in Kirishima's pocket and then to Bakugou, the pieces coming together. "You couldn't come find me yourself?" She says to the hot-head. "You had to use Kirishima like some kind of messenger pigeon?"
"No, no!" Kirishima waves his hands frantically in front of him. "I don't mind! It just proves that Bakugou is actually making an attempt to-"
"Shut up, shitty hair!" Bakugou snaps. "She has some explaining to do." The hot-head points at Kira, practically shaking with rage.
Kira grunts irritably. "Today's been a long day," she starts. "I'm sure whatever the hell you want to yell at me for this time, can wait until tomorrow."
Kirishima glances at his phone from his pocket. "Wow, it is pretty late, Bakugou," he murmurs.
"What are you even still doing here!?" He roars in response, advancing on the red-head.
"Would you calm down?" She frowns. "It's way too late to hear your voice right now." Kira grabs her friend by the arm, escorting him away from Bakugou. "We'll have plenty of time tomorrow for your problems."
She hears Bakugou fuming behind her as she leads Kirishima back to the lift - sanctuary from the murderous boy. She's sure that he'd want to join the other students in the hunt for the best dorm room.
"Hey! Don't walk away from me, you idiot!" She hears him behind her and she pauses. "I want some goddamn answers!"
Kira sighs heavily, before nodding to the red-head as he steps inside the lift, officially leaving her and Bakugou alone on the fourth floor. She might as well get this over with as she's here now.
"Answers?" She asks, watching the lights above the lift show its destination. Third floor, second floor, first floor.
He doesn't answer and Kira forces her feet to move, to turn and greet him.
"You're gonna tell me how the hell you did it," he orders, his voice low.
"Did what?"
"Don't be stupid," he snaps, meeting her eyes. "There's no way you can be alive right now. Not after what that damn villain did."
She frowns slightly. "You mean... Dabi?" He keeps silent. "It wasn't that bad," she scoffs. "He burnt me - that's all."
Bakugou stares at her, as if analysing her. "For two days," he says finally. "For two days, you were there."
"Yeah?" She raises her brows as if its no big deal. "And then All Might and the other pro's came and rescued us."
"They didn't-" Bakugou starts, but cuts himself off, tearing his eyes away from the girl for a second.
Kira takes the opportunity to sneak closer to the boy, hoping he doesn't kill her for even moving.
"What were you thinking?" He says quietly, glaring at a spot on the wall to the side of them.
"I guess... I wasn't," she admits.
"If it weren't for you," he adds, changing his tone. "Then I wouldn't have even needed All Might to come and get us out. I would have been able to blast them all to hell if you hadn't been so stupid and jumped in afterwards."
Kira straightens at his words, finding truth in them. "I would have done it for anyone."
Bakugou sighs irritably, bringing his attention back to her. "That's exactly the point," he grumbles.
"I'm not gonna lie," she tries to joke, hoping to relieve some of the tension piling on this conversation. "It didn't go exactly as I planned."
He narrows his eyes at her, clearly unimpressed with her attempt at a lighter conversation. She clamps her mouth shut at his reaction, wondering if he's going to yell at her again.
They stand outside his door, Bakugou's expression unreadable as he glares down at Kira before him. For a second, she could have sworn she notices his piercing red eyes flicker down to the scar on her neck, but it might have been a trick of the gloomy corridor light.
After all, what does Bakugou care about Kira and her unfortunate injuries?
"You were there again," he says plainly, causing Kira to tilt her head quizzically at the boy. "Did you plan that too?"
Could he be referring to her appearance when the villain stole Bakugou from the bar?
"You slipped through my fingers," she answers, refusing to break his gaze, remembering the haunting feeling as the black goo erupted from his mouth. "Even if All Might was there - the number one hero - it could never stop me from saving you - or anyone."
"Tch." Bakugou glances at his door beside him. "That was stupid."
Kira blinks up at him. Honestly, what did she expect from the hot-head - a thank you? He barely granted the pro heroes his gratitude, so what would he ever give to Kira? Besides, when she left the safety of Endeavor to go save Bakugou, she made the situation ten times worse. Her eyes widen as she remembers the small boy she saved... only to be murdered and she tears her eyes to the ground, hoping Bakugou doesn't notice her sudden attack of grief and sadness.
"I didn't need your help, or All Might's," Bakugou adds, uncaring who he hurts with his words. "You were just in the way."
"I get that," she whispers, her eyes still cast down until she regains control of her emotions. "It was written all over your face when we were taken by the League of Villains." She hears Bakugou shuffle in front of her, but she can't seem to force her concentration back to the boy again. "The look in your eyes..." She trails off, sniffing slightly as she straightens, finding the courage to face the hot-head once more.
His eyes are narrowed once more, but she can't place the emotion behind them. She opens her mouth to continue, but the lift bell dings and she glances over his shoulder to see the lights above the lift portraying someone's ascent. Could the others be done with their tour already? She shakes her head slightly - they haven't completed this floor yet. Second floor, third floor, fou-
The lift doors open with that telling, resonating ding and Kira's classmates pile out, Mina being the first one to notice her standing beside Bakugou next to his dorm door.
"There you are!" Mina rushes over.
Kira takes her eyes off Bakugou momentarily. "You done with the tour already, Mina?" She questions.
"Not quite." She offers a wink. "Just gotta do this floor next." Her eyes flicker over to Bakugou quickly, before landing back on Kira. "You coming?"
Kira glances up at Bakugou who has turned away from the others, staring up at the top of his doorframe. "In a bit." She offers a warm smile to her classmates as they venture down the corridor.
Kirishima hesitates in front of them for a second, noticing the hostility radiating off from Bakugou. Kira gives him a slight nod - there's still some unspoken worries between the two of them that they need to get off their chest. With a sigh, Kirishima jogs away to catch up with the others, as they enter Shoji's room to examine.
Once they're out of sight, Kira allows her eyes to linger back to Bakugou again. He appears... off, more than usual. He's tense, uneasy. As if he's confused. But Bakugou is always certain about everything, that's what makes him so arrogant and stubborn.
Another thing she's noticed is that Bakugou's never displayed an emotion such as grief, regret or sadness before, but peering up through his locks now, those emotions are definitely evident, no matter how hard he may try to conceal it. Perhaps that's why he's finding the top of the doorframe so interesting right now.
But, Kira isn't going to judge. The past couple of weeks have been difficult, stressful. Impacting and exhausting. They were kidnapped, tortured, both emotionally and physically. All Might is no longer number one - Bakugou's idol and hero.
Before she can even utter a single syllable, Bakugou finally lowers his head, glaring daggers at her, with bloodshot eyes. She's completely taken back by his reaction, his hands balled into fists by his sides, as he leans down to match her height.
"This wasn't my fault," he says plainly, tears welling up in his eyes.
All she can do is frown in reply. She hasn't the faintest what he's referring to: All Might's descent, them being captured? What? She wants to ask, but the shock at realising his distraught expression has her speechless. Not once has she noticed Bakugou portray these emotions, and not once did she expect him to.
"You hear me?" He adds, growing more irritated, but with her or himself, she'll never know. "This was your damn fault. "What did you think was gonna happen? You were gonna save me and it would all be happily ever after? Compared to those damn villains, you're weak!"
Kira's frown deepens, her own salty tears forming, blurring her vision, so that Bakugou looks like some kind of Bokeh painting.
She understands his rage and she finds herself being okay with allowing him to take it out on her, even if his words burn just as badly as Dabi's inflicted injury did.
Bakugou opens his mouth to vent some more when the door to Shoji's room opens and the students leap out into the corridor chatting and laughing to each other.
"Akira!" Toru calls out and Kira sniffs quickly, wiping her eyes quickly and turning to her friends. "We're going into Kirishima's room next."
"Yeah, you should join us," Mina adds, wiggling her brows.
Kira would laugh if she had the energy. "Okay." She nods instead. "I'll be right there."
"Hey, everything alright?" Kirishima approaches, his brows creased in concern.
Kira looks back up at Bakugou who has his head back down, hiding his unwanted emotions. His shoulders are shaking and his hands are still clenched tightly.
"Fine," she croaks out, sniffing again. "Just talking."
Kirishima doesn't look entirely convinced but he nods nevertheless. "You should come now," he replies, eyeing Bakugou's dishevelled frame.
He then proceeds to take Kira by the arm and leads her away from Bakugou.
"Hey," the blonde barks, still unmoving. She stops and glances back at him over her shoulder. "This conversation isn't over."
Kira nods again, her neck cramping from the excessive movement. "Okay," she mumbles her reply. "Whatever you say, Bakugou."
~~~