Chapter Text
Shigeo’s eyes flickered with surprise at the question. “I don’t know. I just… say what I think.”
Izuku chuckled softly. “Well, you’re good at it….I’ve never really had someone listen to me like this before.”
Shigeo glanced down, embarrassed by the praise izuku gave him, his face a bit pink. "I’m just listening," he said quietly. "That’s all."
Izuku hovered closer, his form casting a faint glow in the hallway. “But it’s more than that. Shigeo, most people never saw me… really saw me! Even when I was alive, I was just… invisible. But you- You see me, and...”
Shigeo’s heart skipped a beat as he realized just how close Izuku was to him, his ghostly presence hovering barely inches away.
He could feel the faint chill in the air, the strange energy that seemed to ripple off Izuku’s form.
Izuku, now aware of the proximity, floated back slightly, his face tinged with embarrassment. "Oh-, sorry!” He glanced away, his gaze focusing on the familiar walls of the school.
“It’s… fine,” Shigeo finally said, his voice quieter than usual. His cheeks were still faintly flushed, but he held his ground. “You don’t have to apologize. I— I don’t mind.”
“It’s just… I’m not used to being seen or heard like this. You’re the only person who can even notice I’m here… I guess I got..a little carried away.” he rubbed the back of his neck, not making eye contact.
Shigeo tilted his head. “It’s okay. I get it. You’ve been alone for a long time.” He paused, trying to choose his next words carefully. “You don’t have to feel like you’re a burden.”
Izuku blinked, a flicker of emotion crossing his translucent face. “A burden? I-I didn’t mean to-"
“-No, that’s not what I meant…,” Shigeo interrupted gently. “I mean… you don’t have to apologize for being close. You don’t have to feel like you need to keep your distance from people all the time. Not from me.”
Izuku’s form shimmered slightly, and a puddled warm look in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. He gave a small, tentative smile, the kind that hinted at both gratitude and relief. “You’re… really kind, Shigeo. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you before..”
Shigeo looked away for a moment, the compliment catching him off guard. “I’m just being myself....That’s all.”
Izuku chuckled softly, the sound light and fleeting. “Still… thank you. It means a lot, having someone like you around. I thought I’d just be wandering here forever, without anyone to talk to. But then… you showed up.”
They continued walking down the hall together, side by side, the silence between them comfortable and understanding. Izuku, for the first time in a long while, felt seen—truly seen—in a way that transcended his spectral existence.
As tey walked, Izuku glanced at Shigeo again, his voice softer now. “Do you ever think about it? You know… what happens when someone like me moves on?”
Shigeo frowned slightly, thinking it over. “I’ve never really thought about it. I guess… I don’t know what it looks like. But if it brings you peace, then... I think it’s something good.”
Izuku’s smile widened just a little. “Yeah. I hope so. Maybe one day, I’ll get there. But… I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
Shigeo nodded, understanding without needing to say anything.