When the rest of the class return to the dorms, they throw questions at the two boys.

"Why are you here?"

"What happened this morning?"

"Did you explode the desks?"

"Why is Todoroki here?"

"Did bakugou explode your face?"

"What was the video we saw earlier?"

"That must have been traumatic, Todoroki."

"Shut up!" Bakugou shouts. The sound evaporates. "You're being noisy and it's annoying."

A whispered comment and a giggle.

He rolls his eyes and walks off. Like always, Kirishima stays by his side.

"How was it?" he asks.

"Like a kid in a theme park," he jokes with a straight face.

"Bakubro!" he begs.

"It was...boring," his voice is strained. He'd never admit that Todoroki's quietness was what he needed. He didn't try to press into his homelife or his feelings, probably understanding how horrible it is to feel that.

Kirishima laughs. "Not surprised."

Katsuki pushes through the doors and starts climbing the stairs to his room.

"Wanna play a boardgame?"

"That's a waste of time." He scoffs.

"Please!"

"No."

"Yes."

"no."

"Yes."

"No."

"No."

"Yes."

"Yes! I'll go grab Monopoly or something," Kirishima says, running away from the other before he can argue.

Bakugou groans and unlocks his door. He slams it shut behind him and falls onto his bed. He takes deep calming breaths, the sound enough to keep him grounded. His fatigue urges him to sleep but he can't.

He doesn't want any more of those horrible nightmares that wake him up with force, leave his throat trapped, stomach sinking, lungs full of concrete, his brain firing away.

The afternoon sun seeps through the gaps of the blinds, creating streaks along the floorboards. Clothes hang out of the small wooden chest of draws and the bin overflows with thrown away essay ideas. His black bed sheets half hang off the bed, but he doesn't care. Cleaning things is a waste of time.

But you are too.

It's honestly beyond him how anyone believes in his ability to become a hero.

His phone rings. He grabs it off his bedside table and glances at the caller ID. It's the Old Hag. His stomach fills with sticky black goo that washes around it. His hands begin to grow clammy. He answers the call, immediately met with screaming.

"You shatter the mirror yesterday and now you've scorched the desks, too!? Not only, but your teacher thinks you need psychiatric help! What kind of prank did you pull!"

"I didn't pull shit," he replies, voice low and shaky.

"Heroes don't get traumatised. They're strong and get through everything. Oh wait, you haven't even gotten your provisional license yet. Why do you still try! Why am I still paying your school fees if you aren't even doing anything right."

He would remind her that the first year is for free but that would only dig him a bigger hole so he situates himself on the bed so his back is against the head rest and waits till she hangs out. It's always the same. She screams at him, threatens him then hangs up. But at home, he can't read what the situation might be. He doesn't know if she's hitting angry, yelling angry, or I'm going to end you angry. And her mood can change in an instant. One second she's playfully scolding him, and the next she's screaming at him for something totally unrelated.

"Do you understand!?" Mitsuki screams.

Realising he'd blocked out everything he heard, he tells her yes. No way would Katsuki tell his own mother he didn't know what she said. That would be stupid.

She hangs up. Bakugou lets out a shaky breath, putting his phone back on the nightstand. He can't wait to go home on Saturday, note the sarcasm.

It's just a little screaming. Stop being so over-dramatic. Kirishima's mom does it too, I bet.

Kirishima knocks on his door and Katsuki flinches. He takes another deep breath as if that'll stop the goo from sticking to his insides. He stands up, cursing his legs for already shaking and opens the door.

"Sorry it took me awhile, couldn't find Monopoly," Kirishima apologises.

"Whatever," Bakugou mumbles.

He sits down on the bed, Kirishima joining him on the other side. As the two set up the game, Bakugou can't help but ask, "What's your mom like?"

Kirishima looks up from the money with a hint of surprise. "Well, she's really nice. She always listens to me and helps me whenever I need it. She inspires me with her kindness. She always puts my needs first, above anyone elses. I love her a lot and miss not being able to see her."

Go on, ask.

"Does she ever get... mad?" he asks cautiously, not daring to look up at the boy.

"Mad? Well, I guess so. Sometimes she does but she never means it."

"I'm sorry Katsuki. I should've never screamed at you like that."

"How about yours?"

Bakugou looks up and bites his lip.

Annoying, always up my ass, mean.

"She's fine, I guess."

Mum is just hasher than other parents. How else would she keep you in check.

They begin the game, Bakugou as the dog and Kirishima as the boot.

It gets heated and Bakugou's worries flush away. He's consumed with the game.

"Yes! I won!" Kirishima shouts. Jumping up, managing to knock the board over.

"Again. I will not lose to the likes of you," Bakugou orders.

"Sorry, I can't. Aizawa wants to speak to me," Kirishima says meekly.

Bakugou looks up, confused.

"I snapped at him for what he did earlier to you."

The scratchy fabric draws his limbs close to his body.

"I didn't expect that from you."

"Yeah. He had a meeting, but he wants me to go to his office now. Sorry bro. Maybe after?"

"Yeah, whatever," he grumbles.

"If you rest up, I won't tell Miss. Bakugou about anything that happened today."

Fucking liar.

Bakugou helps Kirishima pack the game away and watches as he leaves his dorm

How could you let him do that? You let him get the better of you. You should have known. He was letting you off the hook too quickly and trying to bribe you. he didn't want you to have another fit during class and ruin it for everyone.

This is why you don't let anyone in!

Now the Old Hag knows. You're fucked. What's she going to do when you get home? You're going to get it worse than ever.