Deku has been missing for over a year, now.

Bakugo hates it.

At first, he didn't even care-he's probably too scared to come back, he said.

If only he had known how much he would come to hate himself for that.

His worry manifested once it was very clear that something was wrong-NOBODY could find the powerless boy. Not even after three months. Depending on where and who you asked, you could catch fragments of a story where someone watched a plain-looking boy walk under a bridge, and then suddenly scream for help. But when they went to investigate, nobody was there. Just a big, yellow backpack and a charred notebook. His mother searched harder than the police did-Bakugo believes to this day that she did. His worry was replaced by pure concern AND worry as month four started to unfold. He began to wonder if it was because of HIM that Deku was gone and could very well be dead, because in all truth, if he were put up against an actual villain, he would be dead. Absolutely dead. Or actually worse, kidnapped for god knows what reason.

And then his mom died.

It made everything WAY worse.

Police claimed to have discovered her body in an abandoned apartment building three days AFTER she had died, but Bakugo SWEARS there was something else the police wouldn't say.

Come months five, six, seven, and eight, he went through a change.

His typical anger and temper got worse as he started to shut out the world around him, worrying that he could-and WOULD-cause more people pain like he's undoubtedly, most likely caused Deku at this point. This attitude continued all the way up until he got into U.A., where he would stay separate from his classmates in more ways than one. Because he would release some of his bottled-up emotions during a fight, he quickly earned a reputation for being almost TOO strong for everyone except Todoroki. This caused many people to avoid him, wary of his sharp, prickly personality, and immense power. All except Kirishima, Ashido, Kaminari, and Sero. They decided to take it upon themselves to be his friend, and withstand his fierce behavior. Kirishima, namely, was the first to do so. Ever since that day they fought together during the USJ attack, he's always tried to team up with him. And literally ALWAYS succeeded. So he has ended up slowly whittling down those heavily guarded walls, and to be honest, he's starting to grow on him.

Which brings him to where they are now.

That being an alley, on their way to a spot they like to hang out at a lot. "So, Ashido, Kaminari, Sero, and I are gonna go to the arcade later. You're coming." Kirishima announces. "Am I now?" Bakugo replies, raising an eyebrow. "Yep." Kirishima says, and he sounds so sure of himself it makes Bakugo smile for a second. "Well, I don't have to listen to you. You don't get to give me orders." He challenges. "And yet, you listen so well to them." Kirishima remarks.

He ducks a mock blow to the back of his head, laughing.

"You're coming." He repeats, grinning. "I'm coming." Bakugo sighs. His smile swiftly becomes a frown as he narrows his eyes. They widen as he sees a flash of metal, and he shoves his friend out of the way before he gets stabbed in the shoulder with a dagger. It's in almost to the hilt-whoever threw it has deadly accuracy and power. "Bakugo?!" Kirishima exclaims as he looks at his now-injured friend. "Ow.." He groans. He can't take it out-he'd bleed more than he's comfortable with, and besides, he hears footsteps. 

Standing partially in front of Kirishima, he looks ahead of them. A plain-faced boy with glowing green eyes, curly dark green hair, and freckles, although other dark spots dot his face as well. He..almost looks like..

It can't be him. 

For one, he never wore this fancy stuff-never wore a black blazer-vest thing over a white-collared shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up and cuffed just above the elbow; never wore these fancy pants. 

And then he speaks.

"Hey, there, Kacchan. Long time no see, huh?"