Eleven years ago, your childhood friend Todoroki Touya died.

Consumed by his own flames, flew too close to the sun, it's almost poetic the way he left, but death can only be found poetic in media, this is tragedy.

You can't help but feel guilty, you did encourage him to keep training and you went to Sekoto Peak all the time to support him, you were a kid as well, how were you supossed to know he'd die the one day you didn't meet him?

Therapy, medications, a change of peace, you tried everything to get rid of the shame, but you still feel like you killed him yourself. It's hard, even as an adult.

Five months ago, Dabi came into your life.

The first time you saw him, your doorknob was broken and when you got into your apartment, he was just standing there. When you met his eyes, you knew he was Touya.

But he keeps telling you, Touya is dead and he's everything that's left of him, don't treat him like a child because he isn't one, he's part of something bigger now.

You just smile and nod.

There are moments where you can pretend Touya is alive such as now, your arms wrapped around Dabi's neck, his head on your chest, while you two rest on bed.

"...You don't believe me,"

Dabi speaks, taking you out of your little bubble. His voice comes out as muffled as he has his face pressed against your chest, but he lifts up his gaze to look at you dead in the eyes.

"you don't believe me when I say Touya's dead, do you?"