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He found a mostly abandoned building a little ways away from UA. The only inhabitants of the building were the few homeless people that wouldn’t bother you if you didn’t bother them. They only looked up when you passed them, but they minded their own business.
The building was tall enough for what he wanted to do. Nothing ever blocked the stairwell to the roof. He’s been up there a couple of times already with the idea of what he wanted done. He always came back down but he wouldn’t today.
Today was a Monday. It was after school, they were free to do what they wanted until curfew, then they would have to return to the dorms. He didn’t bring his phone or a note with him. He had only the clothes on his back and the shoes he planned to leave behind.
None of his classmates knew about this building, but they had gotten used to him not sticking around the dorms immediately after school. They thought he had gone out training because that’s what he’s always told them. Still, he took the long and confusing way to get here, just in case anyone tried to follow him, which no one did.
He took his time going up the stairs, looking at everything one last time. He liked this place. He felt bad that when his body is discovered the homeless living here will have to find someplace else to stay. But that’s not his problem.
He opened the door to the roof. Just as he was about to take off his shoes he saw someone.
A boy with an emotionless face.
Despite what he was planning to do to himself he called out. “Hey, don’t do it please.”
The boy whipped his head around to look at him, surprised that he was stopped. He already stood on the other side of the rusty railing. Not leaning over yet, having both their feet planted at the edge.
Shouto covered his mouth. Why did he say that? He couldn’t care less about this boy. To be honest, he was a little pissed. Why today, when he had been up here before and there was no one? Why did he have to show up the one day Shouto wanted to do it?
The boy with the emotionless face started to tell Shouto his problem.
“You’ve probably heard it all before. I really thought that he might be the one, but then he told me he was done.”
Shouto balled up his fists and started to yell. “For god’s sake please! Are you serious? I just can’t believe that for some stupid reason you got here before me!”
The boy started to shake but Shouto wasn’t done.
“Are you upset cause you can’t have what you wanted? You’re lucky that you’ve never gotten robbed of anything!”
He just wanted parents that were together because they loved each other. He wanted his siblings to have a normal upbringing without having been neglected. He just wanted to be able to leave that house without being in pain and having more trauma added to his life.
The boy had climbed back over the railing and bowed with a smile.
“I’m feeling better, thank you for listening.” The boy with the emotionless face then disappeared.
After that Shouto went back to the dorms. He ate a small dinner, greeted everyone, and crawled back under his futon. Tomorrow, I’ll do it tomorrow.
Today was Tuesday. He went about his classes, school ended, and he walked back to the building. He looked over everything again, today he would really do it.
Alright, today’s the day, or so he thought. Just as he took both of his shoes off he saw another boy. This boy had bandages wrapped around his face and arms. The boy was on the other side of the railing, sitting against it with his legs to his chest. Despite himself, he called out.
The boy covered in bandages told Shouto his problems.
“You’ve probably heard it all before. Everyone ignores me, everyone steals. I don’t fit it with anyone here.”
“For god’s sake please! Are you serious? I just can’t believe that for some stupid reason you got here before me! ‘Cause even so, you’re still loved by everyone at home. There’s always dinner waiting at the table, you know?”
The dorms are the only home he’s ever known. He didn’t have to sneak around with the fear of being caught. There aren't crushing expectations put on him. Only students who knew how to cook or were being supervised were allowed to work in the kitchen.
It gave him this warm, domestic feeling to watch Bakugou argue with his friends on the proper way to make a dish. Or when Momo expressed the best kinds of tea and Jirou gave her every bit of her attention. Or when Iida would go in depth on how to maintain a healthy diet that would help them out in the long run. The rest of the class laughing and talking about their day in the background. And Shouto would sit there soaking it all in and dozing off until it was time to eat.
“I’m hungry.” Said the bandaged boy. He walked towards him and disappeared.
Shouto went back to the dorms again. He repeated what he did yesterday. Crawling back under his futon and staring into the dark. Tomorrow, I can do it then.
Wednesday came, then Thursday. Two more people and Shouto repeated the cycle all over again. He listened and in the end no one jumped. When it would come his turn he knew no one would do the same for him, no way he could keep anyone around long enough for them to hear it all. Tomorrow he thought again, he really meant it this time.
Today was Friday. For the first time on the roof, Shouto saw a boy with the same pain as himself. The boy wore a UA gym uniform.
“I just wanna stop the scars that grow every time that I go home. That’s why I came up here instead.” That’s what the boy in the uniform said.
Wait a minute, what did he just say? But Shouto couldn’t care less about this boy. But in the moment he yelled something he couldn’t quite believe in anymore.
“Hey, don’t do it please.”
What could he do? He couldn’t stop this boy, this was new. For once he’d bitten off more than he could chew. He collapsed onto his knees and hid his face in his hands. The boy said nothing as he frowned at him. His eyes revealed nothing and Shouto might as well have been talking to a ghost.
“Please just go away so I can’t see, your pitiful expression is just too much for me.”
The boy walked past his body. “I guess today is just not my day.” He looked away from Shouto and disappeared.
Today was Saturday. There was no one here today, it was finally his time. There was no one to interfere and get in his way. He climbed over the railing and looked at the ground below. In the back of his mind, he thought he heard two pairs of footsteps run to the stairs. But he ignored it. What did it matter? He was going to do it, no more interruptions.
Taking off his UA gym jacket and placing it on the railing, his shoes placed next to it. His fingers picked at the bandages he wrapped around his wrists. And finally in the safety of himself he let his emotionless face crumble. Tears ran down his face and he smiled to himself.
He leaned forward with his hands grabbing onto the bars. Once he was far enough he closed his eyes for the last time, kept his smile big and wide, and let go.