Chapter Text
The fresh air ruffled his sweaty forehead as the rays of sunlight passed through his golden spike, offering an ounce of rivalry to this bright shade in the sky above his head.
The sun himself should find this offending, especially when the taller man’s presence was the center of attention and the source of many whispers on many lips. The blond’s name was well known on the campus for a few reasons, one of them being essentially centered on his particular job, but the taller man ignored their whispers. The only thing that mattered at this moment was the delicate rhythm crossing his ears with his headphones until his calloused hands rested against his eyebrow to cover this blinding sight. A slight grin crossed his lips as he authorized himself to skip guiding his shadow in the huge building.
The leaves that escaped their home earlier, decided to give the highlight to the impressive figure, letting the wind catch his groan and observing his fingers finding the card inside his pocket. Katsuki was sure he had left it in the right one before leaving the house, trusting his old habits, but he was probably distracted to forget such a detail. His crimson eyes stared at the taller figure in front of him, crossing his arms, checking each shadow crossing this entrance until the next shift. The golden-haired man recognized this face all too well, it was the same extra who followed him the entire time during his first visit to his new job, letting him know how a single mistake might erase the smirk on his face.
The lyrics of the song kept playing inside his ears, leaving one headphone on his sensitive skin, and the other free to any comment or extra background noises that might catch his attention. He might be stubborn, but he cared a lot about this job, which brought him an ounce of interest in this notion that was “life”. The taller figure put on his knees to expose the stuff he kept hidden inside his back, feeling the breeze against his sweaty skin until he found the secret spot of that precious card. A grin crossed the corner of his lips as he showed his ID and the small keys he kept in emergency cases, for emergencies, or some crazy shit like that.
The security guard simply nodded and opened the door, followed by the blond mumbling a light “Thanks”, following the last beat of the song. The calloused hands took his headphones away and put them back in his bag, keeping them safe while turning his phone off. After all, it’s not like he got an important call at the end of the day; it was just him and the bunch of extras who didn’t seem to be there yet. Perfect, this gave enough time to prepare his small comfort until the loud noises transformed this peace into a forgotten memory.
The sound of his slow footsteps echoed in the silent room, his fingers ruffling the interceptors to turn the light on and see a bunch of stuff from the last night. Katsuki rolled his eyes when he saw Pikachu and Ears’s cans on the side of the table, with a note apologizing for the mess. He shouldn’t be surprised; these two had been glued to each other. The blond was happy for them, but he got sick of these two idiots, especially when Shitty Hair and Pinky taught him how being in love could be annoying. Seriously, he didn’t need to have someone by his side and act all clingy when he was fine on his own…After all, he didn’t need heartbreak and shitty misunderstandings.
Despite the numerous attempts to get him a partner, the blond always refused, putting his hobbies as main priorities over some extras that weren’t worth the try. Some might think this was harsh reasoning, but Katsuki’s close friends agree with his statement: If the blond was the most popular host of their station, it was for a good reason. Keeping this popularity was their advantage, especially when the golden-haired man didn’t need to censor himself to let the listeners understand when it became either too long or too personal for his liking. Luckily, Mina was here to bring a softer and more amusing atmosphere when Katsuki was out of reach.
The taller man opened the windows to let the air refresh this room and erase the previous dust he saw on the wooden table, admiring the silence. Katsuki never thought he would end up in a situation like this one, where he’d be the center of attention for many reasons, but his casual habits became his safe place. When the university was too harsh on his mental health, he liked to have random talks with strangers over the phone, learn about their lives, and even express his complaints. The group was impressed to see how comfortable the new recruit was on his first try, almost like he had always been made for this career! It helped a lot to be accepted by these extras until they all created some kind of unique bond over their mutual job, which was pretty unusual for someone like Katsuki, who had a hard time tolerating strangers.
The bright sunlight passed through the windows, highlighting the material within his reach and the welcoming atmosphere of the room. Katsuki rolled his eyes when he found another note from Mina, explaining how she’d solved the mic issue they had two days ago, causing some delay in their original program. At least Pinky was competent to stay serious about her job, compared to her shitty boyfriend, who preferred to joke around some shitty stuff. Katsuki remembers the first time he met his boss; an older man in his forties with bags under his eyes and black hair, reflecting the tiredness on his face. His name was Aizawa and he made sure to remind him of the rules, a gesture the blond took very seriously…even if naming Shitty Head as his second lead was a bad decision.
His calloused fingers grabbed the closest chair and rested his back against the plastic material, which was enough for his back pain.. His fingers grabbed the pen he kept inside his pencil case and the bunch of paper he got inside his bag, in case those idiots were running out of them, once again. Katsuki decided to focus on his program of the day, the songs he was supposed to play, and the last details to make sure he wasn’t lost after his distracted mind. The ink marked this blanket page, transcribing the blond’s thoughts until he heard the background noises of the door and familiar voices.
He rolled his eyes when he put the note aside and pushed the chair with his legs, taking a glimpse at the group standing a few centimeters away from him. The first thing his crimson irises noticed was the presence of the two couples, with their arms wrapped around each other’s necks, some shitty blush or laugh, under the exhausted expression on Sero’s face. At least the blond wasn’t alone in this hell, especially when he couldn’t blame people for falling in love, a sentiment uncontrollable for the most vulnerable spirits. The black-haired man was the first to make a nod when he sat beside the blond, explaining how he couldn’t wait to let the station start to get back to their job. Hearing Sero making such a request was rare, and when it happened, it only meant that he got really tired of Kirishima and Mina, who acted like teenagers who hadn’t seen each other for years. These two got an apartment, so why were they obligated to ruin his day by acting like lovebirds?
“Sorry for the delay, it was hard to find a place in the parking, but we found a new song to play,” the pink-haired woman explained with an amused tone. She crossed her fingers when her glance met the blond’s, who only ignored her as the rest of the group moved into the different areas, repeating their casual habits. The station was about to start in ten minutes, which gave free time for the preparation and checking if everything was alright.
The previous silence was now filled with a bunch of conversations from every side of the room, as everything started to form, mixed with the same apprehension of a potential mistake, and the excitement to do something they loved. Katsuki Bakugo was the one who joined the group at the very end, observing different kinds of interactions between the members.
The first person who approached him was Mina, with her big smile and excitement rising all over her face, explaining how happy she was to have another member in the club. She made the presentation and pointed out the rules, explaining how sometimes some exceptions could be made, knowing Aizawa wasn’t here to control each of their actions. The blond didn’t know how he ended up here, but before realizing it, the annoying extra who introduced him to this world of Radio Hosts became the closest friend he ever had. Pinky might be special and have her own world with distinct values, but she was here when he needed help, and never let him down, even at his lowest. Each time he made a mistake by accident, she was the one who took the blame and was warned by Aizawa, but she insisted on protecting him especially when she saw something that was rare nowadays, according to her statements.
The second person he naturally met was Pinky’s boyfriend, Shitty Hair. It was easier to use a nickname to describe him than to use his real name. That day, Katsuki replied with a middle finger and Kirishima simply pretended to be hurt, This dynamic was established between the trio, with Mina and Kirishima hanging out together, being lovebirds, and Katsuki on the third wheel. The red-haired man did save him a few times and was a good friend, despite being as annoying as his girlfriend.
However, his hope in humanity left when he met Pikachu, who was here to entertain the rest of the group and be seriously devoted to his special section. Denki didn’t hesitate to introduce himself, explaining how it was refreshing to have new faces, and easily showed his personality, surprising the taller man with his patience to tolerate this dumbass. Don’t get him wrong, Denki wasn’t a bad person and was respected when he wasn’t the clown of the group, he showed more than once how he was ready to take a break to help his friends and be the shoulder to cry on. Katsuki liked to mock him and reverse the joke the shorter man used against him, but it was touching to have this amusing tone in the most serious moments to change their minds.
Sero presented himself as someone who took his job too seriously and wasn’t paid enough for this mess. Katsuki didn’t understand what he meant until he observed the black-haired man play the babysitter for the rest of the group, realizing how this poor soul had handled them for too long. The blond noticed how his role was different from the others, mostly hidden behind the glasses and preparing the most annoying stuff, often helped by Denki’s girlfriend. Katsuki respected this huge amount of work the black-haired man had to do, compared to him who simply stood on a chair and listened to people, or pressed buttons from time to time.
Finally, Katsuki became acquainted with Jirou, the final member of the group. Despite being introduced as Pikachu’s girlfriend, she proved her worth and convinced the new recruit about her skills, more discreet but efficient enough to catch Katsuki’s attention. The blond was surprised to see how Sero and she had done a good job together, with Jirou preparing the special events and Sero making the plan B or checking the last details before going live. The purple-haired woman was smarter to take this “leader” role Kirishima was supposed to have, but she always denied how this role was “too serious” for her when she was just having fun. The group about how the pay at the end of the month was low, but the thousands of souvenirs they created together were better than money.
Katsuki Bakugo used to be a solitary shadow in the crowd, but he felt at ease with this bunch of idiots who made him feel safe in a job he would hate under different conditions. The taller man sighed, feeling Mina’s fingers ruffling his spiky hair to get his attention, wishing him good luck for his show. Katsuki replied with a middle finger, as he took a glimpse at his surroundings. He grabbed his bottle and took a powerful sip as the freshwater fell on his throat. It was refreshing enough to change his mind, as he sat on the cozy chair and faced the material.
At first, he was afraid of messing up with the bunch of buttons, but the group taught him the basics, which became a routine until his body was mesmerized by the gesture by heart. Now Katsuki didn’t have to be afraid, as his calloused hands grabbed the headset and put it on his ears. The previous noises were now muffled by the light fabric against his skin, as Jirou checked the sound, before seeing a thumb in the air. Katsuki’s heart started to beat faster when he saw the timer on the screen, knowing he would rather be in this recording studio than alone with his thoughts.
The countdown echoed in the background noises, being shouted by the red-haired man from afar as everyone made their final checks. The sudden silence filled the room, as the soft music started to play as an introduction, until the red button appeared on the screen, informing them that they were live. At this moment, the group stayed focused on their jobs as the blond introduced the theme of the day, the next host, and the most important part of the day: The free call.
It must be his favorite part of his job, when the antenna was silent, despite the late hour, and only the awakened soul listened to strangers’ rant. It was reassuring to have people calling for whatever reason, no matter if they wanted to share their last heartbreak, recent convention, or just talk to someone. It was the best place for lonely souls who needed a shoulder to cry on, a gesture that asked a bunch of courage, knowing each of your words was listened to by strangers. However, Katsuki liked to see how some people liked to answer the listener’s call and offer their help, creating a conversation between the three of them, in a relaxing atmosphere.
—----
The darkest colors easily erased this previous sky, announcing a distinct atmosphere at night. The blinding light that warmed the shadows during the days was now erased, letting this midnight sky take the lead, with the stars observing their shadows still awake at this late hour. The station had always been calmer at this period of the night, being the final moment of peace when the songs’ choices became lighter and the previous worries faded away.
Katsuki yawns with a hand on his open mouth, losing his fingers inside his spiky hair before staring at the clock on the wall. Despite this special routine, he hated returning home alone, explaining why he liked having some idiots driving him home to make sure he was safe. If Katsuki didn’t express his gratitude with explicit words, he often replied with a grin.
Mina finished the sip of her drink, hoping it would give her some strength for the next two hours. Tonight, Denki and Jirou left earlier due to their early classes tomorrow, leaving the trio alone in the huge building. A quick glance was necessary to see how the security guard was still here to keep their protection until the end, even if it was a different person. The pink-haired woman pinched the blond’s shoulder with a smile, wishing him good luck. Katsuki rolled his eyes and ignored the slight snore of the red-haired man in the other room, taking the best nap of his life in the worst condition possible.
“I guess it’s my time to shine,” he sighed.
His crimson eyes stayed focused on the red button on the screen, reflecting how each of their words or even breaths was diffused live to the night hollows. They weren’t as numerous as in the early afternoon, probably thirty or fewer compared to the hundreds they got earlier, but it was fine. It represented less pressure on their shoulders, especially under those conditions
“Alright, night hollow, it’s not surprising to see some of you awake at this hour. Don’t you have class or something to prepare for the early morning ?” Katsuki asked, checking the first calls that appeared on the screen. A slight grin crossed his cheeks, amused by the situation. “I see we have some regulars, already calling the line before making a proper introduction to the new listeners. I was about to explain the rules but maybe we should let actions convince people if they want to stay or not, Let’s hear our first case of the night.”
Katsuki’s fingers moved in the air, making a sign to the pink-haired woman to give the antenna to the first call. She was here to keep an eye on the situation, but trusted her friend for this job, especially when the most loyal people stayed up this late to have the blond’s advice.
“Hum hi….Are we alive?” The stranger’s voice asked with a hesitant tone. This person was holding back their tears, or at least tried to convince them when Katsuki and Mina had been working in this job for too long to distinguish this kind of behavior.
“Sure, Pinky selected you to be the lucky person to introduce this part of the show. Is it your first time here ?” He asked with a curious tone, resting his back on the chair, and crossing his arms against his chest.
The duo stayed silent as the poor soul continued their speech, explaining how they were afraid of making their coming out, having the impression of being forced by their surrounding. The taller man realized that he started with a strong case, he wasn’t a licensed therapist but could bring some sense into people’s minds.
“This line is anonymous, and we obviously don’t know anything about you, but listen to me,” Katsuki explained with a low tone, trying to bring reassurance and convince the new people to trust him despite his harsh behavior. ”You did confess this personal secret to a bunch of extras who have sleep issues or terrible night routines. In the end, the action is all yours and no one is forcing you to fit into some shitty category. Be whoever you want to be, as long as it’s legal, and take the lead in your own life.”
“But what about the others ?” The shaking voice said with a curious tone, and the blond noticed how the person on the line seemed interested in his words.
“Respectfully, we don’t give a shit about what they think,” he confessed with brutal honesty, being one of his qualities and the reason why he was so appreciated. “You started this on your own and you’ll end up the same way. The people you’ll meet on your way will be some forgotten memories depending on the narrative you choose to share. If I let some fucker tell me what to think or do, I’ll be already doomed to a shitty life for a long time but I’m here, taking calls from strangers in the middle of the night and living my job….What’s stopping you from being true to yourself ?”
“That’s….” The slight took a breath at the previous comment, realizing how Katsuki was right. The blond didn’t need to hear what the stranger had to say to guess the relief at the tone of his voice. “That’s pretty helpful, thanks for your help. I know I’ll have a lot to work on, but I have a starting point.”
“Therapy is also an option, try to look into it when you have time, I know it helped many people,” the taller man affirms, feeling the pride grin on the woman’s face from afar. It was the moment she enjoyed the most when her friend showed his true self and let the world see how he wasn’t a harsh person but a human with empathy and compassion for others, compared to popular beliefs. She made a sign to let him know how the call had just ended, and the blond nodded at the gesture, understanding what he had to do next. ”Got it now extras? If you want to be noisy about others' dramas or just confess whatever crosses your mind, you've found the perfect station.”
The series of calls continued until the clock on the wall revealed it was 1:30 am. The blond tried to continue his role of an anonymous friend who listens to many stories and sometimes gives advice. In all honesty, he had a good start with this confession at the beginning of the show and his drink was half empty on the side of the table, similar to Mina’s who changed her cans for simply water. They both felt that the next 30 minutes would be the longest, but they could survive for the night.
The red button appears on the screen, informing the blond that someone was still awake at this hour, and ready to talk. He found a better position on the chair and his pillow he had brought earlier for more comfort, and gave a sign to his friend to accept the call. The sudden silence in the room was filled with a heavy breath on the line, putting them on their guard. They wanted to ask who was stupid enough to make a late-night walk, but they decided to wait until the stranger regained his spirit. The slight breath on the line was replaced by some silence, and the crimson eyes stared at the screen, ready to ask if everything was alright until the stranger finally broke the previous silence.
“Oh hi, I…am I at the right station ?” The voice asked with a curious tone, regaining his breath as he closed the door of his apartment. Katsuki and Mina were used to crazy situations, but something was different with this one, and the 30 minutes left didn’t seem so long anymore. “The one where people talk about everything crossing their mind ?”
“Exactly, but may I ask what happened to have such an unforgettable introduction? No offense, but you look like you’ve run a marathon,” Katsuki said, losing his hands in his spiky hair. The previous pillow found his ass, regaining a better position.
“Because I did,” the stranger explained with an embarrassed tone. The blond didn’t need to picture this extra to see his hands meeting his neck with embarrassment. Indeed, a part of his job consisted of using his imagination to see the people’s reactions to his advice or comments, even if some of his expectations weren’t necessarily accurate to reality. He, somehow, succeeded in discerning some cases more easily than others, and this stranger fit into this category. “I was chased by some guy who followed me to my apartment. It was scary, but look I made it alive, isn’t it amazing ?”
The crimson eyes widened at the comment. Mina’s face turned pale at the previous revelation, realizing how this call might be more interesting than they expected. Katsuki almost choked on his water, wondering what was so exciting about being chased by someone with bad intentions, and what was so funny about it. He definitely needs to dig this situation to his advantage and understand the other’s reasoning. After all, the station was closing in less than an hour and he had nothing to lose.
“Are you mentally sane ?” He asked, brutally honest but he caught the surprised voice on the other end of the line. “You told me this as if it were another episode of your favorite show when your life was on the line. I bet the drugs you took must be strong, not to see how dangerous this situation was.”
“Oh- Sorry I’m not into this kind of addiction but I think there’s a misunderstanding,“ the shorter man replied with a sigh, and Katsuki swore he could feel a smile on the other’s face, even if they were too far to confirm this strange sense. “I’m relieved because it was the scariest thing that happened to me. It was like these horror movies you pray to don’t see in real life, but when it happens, you shit in your pant. Trust me, I had the scare of my life but I’m proud of myself for returning home safely.”
“Then why do you act like a brat who got his favorite toy at Christmas? You do know that ten people are listening to your story at the moment and probably consider you crazy, right ?” As always, Katsuki Bakugo knew how to be brutally honest, but it was too late and he lost control of his rational thinking. It might explain why his existence on the radio created so many controversies, from the people who appreciated his presence in the show, to the ones who despised his character. “I mean, I’m glad you’re safe and good for you, but are you alright ?”
“I’m trying to process what happened, but I felt the need to share this victory with someone,” the voice justified with a hidden laugh, creating more mysteries about his case. “A friend of mine recommended this line and I wanted to share my story to offer my life-saving advice! You see, it’s very important to have some spray near your reach, it won’t completely stop this individual with bad intentions, but it’ll slow them down. My favorite trick is to let them know they won before kicking them in the nuts, but don’t tell this to anyone…”
“That’s pretty useful, but the next time, try to grab something stronger,” Katsuki affirmed with a sigh. He had to admit how this was impressive, especially when the idiot on the line was still acting excited at the praise. He bet this extra was probably smiling, but the blond wouldn’t wish for a better way to end this night shift. “Some people can avoid the spray, and use their brain and muscles with the hope that this was the first and last time. Try to let this asshole taste his own stupidity by sending him straight to the cops.”
“That’s very interesting, I’ll definitely keep that in mind, thanks mister the stranger who took the time to listen to my rant,” the shorter man said with a smile, putting his back against his couch. His scarred fingers held the fabric of his pillow closer between his knees, realizing how his previous assumptions about this radio station were wrong. The host might be kinda harsh, but he gave pretty good advice and didn’t ignore him, which was better than nothing!
“You want me to congratulate you for surviving this? I wish I could, but it was a survival instinct, even if you did a decent job at protecting your own life,” Katsuki pointed out with a grin appearing at the corner of his face. It was based on meaningless details, but the guy’s pride could be felt in the tone of his voice, even if they couldn’t see each other.
“Thanks, I needed to hear it,” the shorter man whispered with a soft tone, losing his fingers into the closet blanket to bring it back to his cold body. His scarred fingers made sure to have a comfortable position with his head against a pillow, waiting for the stranger’s answer. Maybe it was his loneliness taking the lead, but Izuku was happy to have someone to talk to, especially at this hour. “I didn’t know this station existed until now, but it’s really nice and I bet you’ve received a bunch of calls. Aren’t you tired? I mean- it’s personal but this late shift must be tough.”
“I’m exhausted as fuck, I miss my bed and wish I could kick some ass in my dreams if that’s what you want to know,” the blond confessed with an amused tone, hearing a soft laugh escaping the other’s lips. A simple glance at Pinky told him that it was time to hang out soon. “It’s a miracle if I don’t have bags under my eyes tomorrow, but at least I know you're safe from some twisted mind.”
“You don’t know anything about me,” Izuku said with an interested tone, bringing the blanket closer to his shoulders. He felt how the words naturally escaped from his lips, especially when he spent his time talking to a stranger who would forget him tomorrow.
“Congrats you can use your brain,” Katsuki sighed with an unimpressed tone. He wondered how this guy might react from afar, a disadvantage to not being face-to-face with the listeners for moments like this one. He felt his body getting more tired than usual and knew he would reach his limits soon, but he didn’t want to sound too harsh on this stranger who probably had a lot to say for being this talkative. “I may appear as a dick but I don’t want to return home and know someone else got tricked into the charming spells of the night. We don’t know the messed up shit that happened once we put our guard down, especially in this place; it would be a shame to see another drama in the newspaper.”
“I appreciate the gesture,” Izuku whispered, resting his head against the pillow. His emerald eyes checked the clock on the wall of his kitchen, realizing how he was probably pushing this poor guy’s boundaries by staying up so late on the phone with him. “It’s getting late and I should probably sleep-”
“No way, you can finally make a good decision,” the blond replied with a grin that could be felt on the line. He wasn’t against some rest after the tough day he had, being grateful that tomorrow his morning classes were canceled. Katsuki didn’t know if it was the tiredness taking the lead over his rational thinking and reasoning, but he was convinced to hear a light chuckle leaving the guy’s lips on the line, wondering how this extra wasn’t tired at this late hour…another night hollow he might never understand.
“Hey, that’s mean,” the shorter man complained with a frown, a sign the radio host couldn’t see from afar. His fingers held the smooth fabric of the blanket against his body, putting his phone on the wooden table beside him until he heard the other’s voice, filling the silence of his empty apartment.
“It’s soon 2 am, do you expect me to be tender? I just want my bed.” He didn’t have anything against this listener who stayed up with him until the end, knowing he was just another lonely soul who needed a late-night talk… but he better have plushies because Katsuki Bakugo felt himself falling asleep on the spot.
“I understand…thanks for the advice and goodnight !” The voice on the declared with an ounce of excitement., There wasn’t any shade of hate or bother with the slight change of his tone, just a single smile that was transcribed with the choice of his words.
“Whatever,” he simply replied, putting his hands on his forehead. He declined the call and stared at the silent room.
The least he could say was how their mutual relief could be felt as both figures left their respective roles, even when Mina made a slight thumb in the air to say how the station was off. Usually, the blond would say a last word before closing the calls, but he was too tired and thanked the pink-haired woman. The crimson eyes glanced at the landscape drawing with delicate frames, observing how the stars seemed so far and close at the same time, probably listening to their narratives and sharing them with the moon. Katsuki liked to think the stars were old souls who lost themselves in time and became guardians of the next lives living there; they weren’t gods, but protective enough to know the story between each shadow leaving this maternity at least once in their lives.
He moved to complete the last check on the list, while the pink-haired woman cleared the room and materials. A last check was necessary, especially with the doors and potential intrusion that happened in the past, forcing Aizawa to be more than serious about this case, especially when it wasn’t some material that could be afforded on the market for a cheap price….
“This guy was something,” the blond pointed out with a sigh. He looked at the silenced town from afar, wondering how many people were still awake while his calloused fingers closed the windows with double security, making a final check as Mina simply stood there, texting on her phone with her bag on the back.
“Good thing Aizawa doesn’t listen to this part, we’ll be doomed otherwise,” She seemed amused by the previous comment and couldn’t agree more, but it wasn’t the first time they received this kind of confession. Since Mina worked there, she had a lot of funny anecdotes to share about the listeners she had, and it only increased after Katsuki’s presence in the group, especially when his strong personality attracted the unique narrative “ I’ll wake up Ei and we’ll drive you home, but hey….you did a great job, Kats.”
“If you say so,” Katsuki said with an unbothered expression, ignoring the slight smile on the woman’s face.
He didn’t need to share explicit words to express his gratitude to have friends by his side, especially when he never planned any of this, but it was enough to continue this unique job. The calloused hands moved to the corridor to grab his bag and take the last snack he left in the pocket; it wasn’t the luxury he expected, but his stomach called for help for a few minutes and he needed something to eat as soon as possible.
Once his fingers grabbed his jacket, he took a quick glimpse at the pink-haired woman, who stood beside the sleeping figure, her hands in his hair and whispering how he should wake up. Katsuki wanted to be selfish and say it was none of his problem to see this kind of scene, but he wondered how it might feel to be loved by someone in this tender way… Maybe he’ll never know, but at least he got his job to change his mind.
——-
Last night, Izuku Midoriya called the radio station to share his crazy story.
Earlier in the day, he heard some of his friends mention this famous radio station on campus, animated by students from different fields. The freckled man was naturally interested in the conversation, to his friends’ pleasure, who shared every detail they knew. After all, Izuku was amazed when he heard about this concept of letting people share their stories or ask for advice in complete anonymity.
The green-haired man was a curious soul and kept this idea at the back of his mind, as the day passed by in the blink of an eye. It was only when the bright sunlight was replaced by a fresh breeze against his curls, that he decided to leave the library and reach his home. He liked his small apartment near the campus, with transport a few meters away, due to his nonexistent desire to drive his car, unless for rare occasions. The small place he had wasn’t luxurious, but he liked having a roof over his head and a few things in his fridge to please his stomach.
Alright, he might eat the same thing every day but he was a simple guy and liked pasta with some sauce, bringing him an impression of novelty in his redundant habit. After all, being a student in the psychology field was pretty hard, especially in his second year with this constant selection and complex assignments with pressure on his shoulders. He liked the most basic things such as having his headphones and playlist to change his mind, texting his friends, or watching an old movie on his computer after a tough study session. The final exam was getting closer, and he was afraid of not making it; the first session might be the same for everyone, but he had already experienced the second chance, and based on his experience…it was harder than the previous one.
In this environment of constant selection, he was forced to stay focused on certain things and put his cocoon aside for a few days, if not weeks. He was glad he wasn’t alone in this chapter of his life, and wouldn’t mind hanging out in town to forget about the future awaiting him in the next years. The last night, he let his scarred fingers grab his headphones and press “play”, as his shadow moved in the familiar streets he used to see under a clear angle during the day.
He naturally mumbled the rhythm of the song as he got closer to his apartment when he heard some noises behind him. He took one headphone away and turned his head, seeing a strange shadow in the background. He naturally guessed it was another lonely soul who returned home at this late hour but he decided to walk faster and pretended a little longer with the hope the stranger didn’t doubt his acting. His heart missed a beat when he took a quick glimpse behind to see how the stranger was still there, and the simple comment about him being alone at night succeeded in bringing chills to his body. This man had bad intentions and he needed to escape from here as soon as possible, even if this meant being in jail, which might be better than his current situation….
Izuku pushed him away and let him know how he wasn’t interested in conversation, pretending to have his roommate coming very soon, but the stranger didn’t believe him. His attempts became clearer when the freckled man had no other choice but to grab his gas bomb and immediately press it closer to the other’s face, hearing a loud groan of pain. Izuku held his breath while his fingers found the keys in his back and took the chance to give an efficient kick. The stranger cursed his name, and Izuku ran as fast as possible, with thousands of theories crossing his mind about the worst-case scenarios. His shaking fingers finally succeeded in putting the keys in the handle, with heavy anxiety rising inside his chest with each second passing by.
He took a final glimpse behind him to see the stranger waiting at the entrance, scaring the shit out of the freckled man, who rushed up the stairs. Izuku was afraid, but an ounce of pride filled his chest as he finally reached his apartment. A heavy breath escaped from his lips as he realized what had happened, wondering if he should call the police, who probably dealt with this situation thousands of times, or his friends. Unfortunately, none of them were available, and he felt the need to talk about it-
Izuku Midoriya was stupid, and he understood this self-realization when he pressed his fingers on the screen and typed the number he heard earlier in the morning. He didn’t have any explanation but was surprised to see how the radio host was somehow harsh in his reaction, with an ounce of empathy and concern about his state. The freckled man knew it was ridiculous, but he found some relief in this small conversation he shared with the stranger on the line, knowing it was his job and was another name to forget on the list.
Maybe he should give it another try tonight….