Holy crap. 

It's DEKU. 

IT'S FREAKING DEKU.

He's that same, timid, powerless kid that he knew for basically his whole life.

But he also ISN'T. This is NOT what happens to a kid who has gone missing for over a year and miraculously turns up again. No, someone held him either captive, or hopefully-but unfortunately unlikely-kept him safe. 

Can we go back to the fact his lungs might be too small? Or maybe air just doesn't exist, maybe that's why breathing seems impossible.

"Deku?" Bakugo asks warily. There. Vocabulary seems to work. 

Now for the rest of him to catch up. 

"Oh, you remember! That makes this even MORE better!" He exclaims happily. "What-HOW?! HOW are you ALIVE?! HOW did you stay hidden without a trace for SO long? What happened? Where have you-" Bakugo cuts himself off as he tries to understand this apparent revelation that has decided to drop itself on his head. "Well, it's not like that exactly matters. Didn't care enough to ACTUALLY find me." Deku waves a hand. "Deku-we ALL cared! Your mom-she DIED going out to look for you!" Bakugo says. "Oh, she died? What a pity." Tsks Deku.

As if he just doesn't care.

"Don't you CARE, man?" Kirishima asks. "No, not really." Deku shrugs indifferently. 

But is it just Bakugo's imagination, or did his hand shake a little, and/or his mouth curve down slightly, his eyes dimming-both literally and figuratively-for a second?

"I DO have something more important to care about. In fact, I have a mission I should be focusing on." Deku continues. "A mission? To do what?" Bakugo inquires. "And who told you to?" Kirishima adds. "All I can say is this: First, Bakugo. You were right-I will never be a hero." Deku begins.

That line hits him as if another dagger had been thrown directly into his chest. And then it sends a cold chill down his back as he suspects what this means. 

"And two, my mission.." He flicks his hand, revealing two daggers in it. 

"..Is killing you."