Summer Vacation passed by the pair like a windstorm. They spent their time studying, doing their summer homework, and Kirishima worked to earn enough money to pay for his final year of high school. He had until April to save, and things weren't too bad at the convenience store he managed to find employment at, but it meant that he couldn't spend the days with his best friend.
He had to remind himself that this wasn't a vacation, and that he'd have plenty of time for his friends when he got back to school.
Which would be soon.
Time had flown by so quickly since the first time they went out to town, probably because the fluffy relaxing times were coming to an end. Kirishima HAD to get those scholarships, he HAD to save his money, and he HAD to figure out what the hell he was going to do about winter break.
"I mean...I think I'd be fine up here for a week or two." Kirishima responded when Bakugou brought it up a few days after their trip to town.
"You'd have to collect fire wood before you go back to school. Two weeks is a long time." Bakugou had answered. "And I doubt you'll be able to get down from here very often, if at all."
"It's fine. Everything will be fine."
"Kirishima, don't you think you should consider asking somebody else for help?" Bakugou's voice cracked unusually for him. Kirishima didn't know what emotion was happening inside him at the moment.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..." Bakugou was unusually...flustered? Was he flustered right now? No. That would be ridiculous. "I mean you could have gone to Mina, or those other two idiots. They could probably help you out a lot more than I ever could."
"The things I need the most come from you."
"What the fuck am I doing that you can't get from anybody else?"
"I'll let you know when I figure it out."
But the truth was, he knew what Bakugou was giving him, and it wasn't something he wanted to bring up. Because if Bakugou knew Kirishima was in love with him, who knew how he'd react? He didn't want to say anything unless he knew for sure.
"You're sincerely the biggest idiot I know." After that, Bakugou had dropped the conversation and things had quieted for the next few days.
That was, until Bakugou brought up the one thing Kirishima had been dreading talking about.
"Why the hell were you kicked out anyway?"
"Uh...I don't really wanna talk about it."
"It's been weeks. You've gotta tell me eventually."
"I don't." Kirishima felt so guilty for hiding the truth from Bakugou, but this wasn't something he could just casually say. He had to work the courage up, and for once, he just couldn't manage to find enough.
This wasn't like him. Normally he would just come out and say what was on his mind. He wasn't the type to hide things, especially not from his friends. But things were different now. Telling his parents was what had gotten him kicked out. He wasn't about to make that mistake again.
"Please tell me, Eijirou. Whatever's happening is tearing you apart. Even I can tell."
Kirishima swallowed. Bakugou usually wasn't this gentle, not even with him. He wanted to say something but he couldn't. Once Bakugou knew what had happened, it was all over for him. He would never be able to take it back. Once Bakugou knew Kirishima had feelings for him, their friendship would never be the same.