Bakugou caught Kirishima's arm as he tried to leave the bed that afternoon. He had already stayed past the time he was supposed to be home, and needed to hurry along.
But Bakugou looked so vulnerable there, eyes half lidded, mouth pouting.
"Don't go." He whimpered. "Please don't go again."
Kirishima bit his lip. He wanted to stay, but he couldn't. He had to go home. People were waiting for him.
"How long were you planning to stay up here?" He asked.
"At least a week." Bakugou muttered softly.
"I'll come by Saturday. Do you think you can wait until then?"
Bakugou's grip loosened on his arm.
"You promise?"
"Of course I promise! I'll come back and then we can talk. I'll make sure we have all night."
Bakugou still didn't look convinced but he also looked too tired to argue. Kirishima decided to ease some of the pain of parting with a kiss on the forehead. "Just two days, okay?"
"Fine. Whatever." Bakugou rolled over, suddenly cranky. Kirishima took this chance to grab his clothes and slip out.
If he was being honest, he felt guilty about this whole thing. He had led Bakugou to believe that the two of them even had a chance, when that was far from true. He had honestly believed for so long that seeing Bakugou again would change things, that it would mean they really had been meant to be, and that he could confess his feelings and everything would be fine. But life had changed so much since then. He honestly wasn't in a position to be with Bakugou anymore, no matter how much he wanted to be. There were barriers that couldn't be crossed and people that would be hurt. Besides, he doubted Bakugou would even understand why he had done what he'd done over the past few years, if he explained it.
He would explain it, however. He would have to. And Saturday would be the time to do it. Leading Bakugou on for any longer would be cruel, evil even. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he did.
And so, he decided that he would tell Bakugou everything, about being in love with him in high school, about everything that had happened since he dropped out, and about his big secret, which he dreaded speaking. And if Bakugou didn't understand, that would be fine. It would be easier for both of them that way. Kirishima could act as the bad guy if it meant sparing Bakugou's heartbreak.
But what if Bakugou DID understand? What if he was quick to forgive him? After all, he had seemed pretty lonely back there, and the desperation to keep Kirishima by his side was deafening. What if he was willing to accept everything just to be with him? That particular outcome was what he was dreading. If that was the case, he would have to crush Bakugou's heart, and the thought of that, in turn, crushed his.
The fact of the matter was, that he and Bakugou could never be together, no matter how much he wanted it.