Durian

To say Katsuki was on edge would be the understatement of the century.

It'd been… what, five/six months? They still didn't have a single clue about who the killer was. The only profile they'd gotten was that the killer was male based on his shoe size. The tracks were hidden so they couldn't even get what brand of shoe he wore. Just the outline of a foot.

In that time period, they'd lost five more students. Some Monoma Neito kid from the class next door was first to go. The only reason Katsuki even knew who he was is because the day before he'd turned up dead, the guy came over to scope out the 'fresh meat' and basically insulted every aspect of his existence- which, frankly, made the guy annoying in every aspect of the word. He couldn't even say he was too upset that the guy died. How fucked up is that?

The kid was blonde with pale blue eyes and reminded Katsuki of a Danganronpa character. He'd been murdered like one, too. It was hard to think about it.

Next was Tokoyami Fumikage. The kid was emo beyond all belief and he didn't even know him really. He pissed him off to high Heaven with all his 'revelry in the dark' bullshit.

Tokoyami had been found blindfolded in an alley with his mouth sewn shut. When the blindfold had been removed, it was discovered his eyelids had been melted shut.

Wonder how much he liked the dark, now? It was… like some kind of dark joke. Which was just ironic in Katsuki's opinion, but in such a way he couldn't bring himself to be amused by it.

The third, fourth, and most recent were some girls a few classes over. Their names were hella basic and the single reason he remembered them was because of their names being broadcast on the news. Hagihara Miko, Imai Shiori, and Asaoka Chiyo. The only interaction he'd even had with them was overhearing their conversation.

He couldn't find himself upset about their deaths, either… because they thought it was him killing the students.

It was stupid to be butthurt about, because they didn't know him and he knew it himself that he was innocent. Nonetheless, it did hurt. They'd said it had to be him because of his awful personality and how all the students that died so far were ones that got close to him in some way.

Which wasn't even true. Dunce Face, Soy Sauce Face, Kyoka, and Half n' Half got close and they were just fine. But it worried him. What if the next day Katsuki woke up to find they'd been killed? And that it was his fault? Half n' Half dragged his friends into it, too. Even then only two of them decided to stick around. Ochaco and the green kid he'd decided to call Deku.

Ochaco was chill, hell he was at the gym with her and Deku right now. Deku got on his nerves but Ochaco was alright. She was strong and nice. Nice to him-

Apparently the toad girl- Asui Tsuyu- who'd died a few months prior was her girlfriend. If he was her, he'd blame himself for her death. But she didn't. She just smiled at him kindly and invited him to the gym with her every time she went. Speaking of, the only reason they'd been able to identify Asui's body at all was the student ID that'd fallen out of her skirt pocket just outside the alley she was found in and her dental records. Her body was completely unrecognizable. Burned to a crisp.

There was only one thing that let them even connect all the murders together, besides from the fact how they obviously went to the same school. One way or another, their mouths had all been mutilated. They called the killer The Silencer. Dumb name if you asked Katsuki. They'd even given each individual murder a name.

Kirishima Eijiro and Mina's suicide, as it had been determined by the red tulips found on his body and her having been present, that she was intended to die too. He didn't like whoever had been naming them. It was like they found it to be a joke, or maybe they were so desensitized to it at that point they couldn't be bothered. They called it Romantic Homicide. They named it after a fucking song.

Asui Tsuyu, Trial by Fire.

Monoma Neito, Pacified. Why? Because the killer stuck a fucking pacifier in his mouth, that's why. They couldn't even detect what killed him. Virtually, it looked as though he'd had a heart attack but he was way too young and healthy for that to even be a realistic possibility. Katsuki guessed it was potassium chloride.

Fumikage Tokoyami, Dark Silence. Shitty, emo, bullshit name.

Then the girls he'd never actually met… they were called the Gruesome Gossip Girls. Which was the stupidest one yet. It was based on their reputation as gossips at school and the gruesome nature of their murder. It was considered the reason behind their murder was the fact they gossiped so much but that possibility was shot down as most of the other students targeted weren't gossips.

On the other hand, they'd been found together and their time of death was estimated to be practically the same. Considering Mina had escaped the killer, that goes to show how little these three girls paid attention to their surroundings. 'Oh, wait, my friend's dead? Wait does that mean-' and then bleghhhh. Stupid extras. Sometimes Katsuki wonders how his peers got into this school.

"Hey, Katsukii~ c'mon, come back to us," Ochaco snapped her fingers in his face to which he blinked confusedly and furrowed his eyebrows.

The brunette crossed her arms with a pout, her pink cheeks puffing, "I can't spot you if you sit there staring at the ceiling the whole time."

He grunted, "Whatever, Round Face. I'm tired anyway, I'm just gonna go home," Katsuki murmured, sitting up from the bench press.

She uncrossed her arms, casting a glance to Deku who shrugged from where he was alternating dumbbells. Ochaco sighed, "We're worried about you, Katsuki. You've been, like, super spacey lately. Everything alright?"

Katsuki huffed, "Your girlfriend was murdered and you ask if I'm okay?" He said gruffly.

"I've been attending therapy and I've learned not to blame myself for not walking her home. I get it, but I'm concerned about your support system- or, lack thereof." She frowned.

"I'm fine," He said, waving her off, "Just thinking about something."

Ochaco's frown intensified before her shoulders sagged, "Whatever you say, Katsuki. Just know Izu, Shou, and I are here for you. You're not alone. Willing to bet Denki, Hanta, and Kyoka are, too."

He snorted, "Oh, please, what advice could Dunce Face and Soy Sauce Face provide? Nothing mental health related, that's for sure."

She sighed again, "Katsuki…"

"Like I said, I'm fine. Don't worry about me, Pink Cheeks."

Ochaco threw her hands up, "That's it! At least I can say I tried." And she walked back towards Deku, who tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it was more apprehensive if anything.

It was true, he really was just thinking about something. Albeit something related to the murders, but still thinking. The only one he'd remotely blamed himself for was Kirishima's alongside Mina's suicide, but Dabi-Sensei had managed to help him out of that mentality.

Katsuki gathered his gym bag and walked back home, mind never once leaving the speculation behind. He barely cast a glance at his parents when they'd greeted him, heading straight to his room to search for articles on The Silencer, as dumb a name as it was. He clicked the first link, which was mainly just the profile the police had.

Unknown AKA: The Silencer

SEX: M RACE: (Spec.) A? TYPE: Pre-Med S MOTIVE: Unk. (PC?)

DATE(S): 20XX VENUE: Musutafu, Japan VICTIMS: (Cur.) Seven

MO: Year 3 UA students, mouths/vocal instruments mutilated; Occasional use of fire

DISPOSITION: Unsolved

Attempt on the life of [Ashido Mina] who later committed suicide

Katsuki clicked off the website, heading to a page that listed the current victims and details of the murder. He skimped out of the details, not wanting his head to get an idea of the scene. He did want to get sleep that night, after all.

Kirishima, Eijiro (17) AKA: Romantic Homicide

CoD: Strangulation ESTIMATED ToD: 23 HRS LOCATION: Alley between 24/7 Konbini and [Best Jeanist's] DATE: 27/04/XX

Asui, Tsuyu (17) AKA: Trial by Fire

CoD: Asphyxiation by Smoke Inhalation ESTIMATED ToD: 21 HRS LOCATION: Alley between [Bi-Rite] and [Hello Kitty] Cat Cafe DATE: 13/05/XX

Monoma, Neito (18) AKA: Pacified

CoD: Unk. (Symptoms of [Heart Attack]) ESTIMATED ToD: 22 HRS LOCATION: Kōen Park DATE: 15/06/XX

Fumikage, Tokoyami (17) AKA: Dark Silence

CoD: Brain Hemorrhage ESTIMATED ToD: 2 HRS LOCATION: Alley between [Hot Topic] and [Hawks' Aviary] DATE: 08/07/XX

Hagihara, Miko (17) Imai, Shiori (18) Asaoka, Chiyo (17) AKA: Gruesome Gossip Girls

CoD: Asphyxiation ESTIMATED ToD: 1 HRS LOCATION: Alley between [Moonbucks] and [Uwabami's Beauty Salon] DATE: 19/10/XX

It was obvious at that point everything the killer gave them was just something he wanted them to find. Cocky bastard. The blonde frowned, thoroughly unsatisfied, but before he could continue his search his mother called him down for dinner. With a sigh, he turned his laptop off and closed it, heading down the stairs.

"Hey, brat," His mom greeted as he sat down at the Western-style dining table. His father just nodded to him with a soft smile.

"How's school been?" She asked after taking a seat.

Katsuki shrugged. Was there really an acceptable answer to that question?

His mother, Mitsuki, frowned but didn't press. They murmured their prayers and thanks for the food, a simultaneous 'itadakimasu' before gathering food into their plates and eating in a comfortable silence.

It was his father who broke it.

"Katsuki, about your teacher…" Which was all it took to make the blonde choke on his curry. He coughed and sputtered, and his father waited while he cleared his throat.

"What about him?" He said hoarsely.

Mitsuki and his father, Masaru, shared a look.

"It's obvious you have a crush on him, son," Masaru continued.

His mother nodded solemnly, despite the coy smile on her face.

"It's glaringly obvious, Katsuki," She confirmed. Her gaze, which was identical to his own, studying his reaction.

He coughed, setting his spoon down, "Well, what's your fucking point? It's not like anything will happen."

At that, Mitsuki's smile widened in an almost sadistic manner, "I say go for it. He's cute, from a rich family, and he's really not that much older than you."

Katsuki's eyes widened in surprise, "What?"

She huffed, "You heard me, brat."

"But- the age gap is fucking- he could get arrested- I'm a student."

That's when his father joined in, "Obviously it would be after you graduate, we just wanted you to know you have our support."

Katsuki was at a loss, "He doesn't- he wouldn't even look at me like that."

His parents shared another look before his mom turned back to him, "Hun, he's been looking at you like that."

The blonde felt his face warm up. God, had he? There was no way, right?

"You're fucking lying."

She shrugged, "I thought the same about your father. He was in college already when I was in my first year of high school. I thought there was no way, but look where we are now."

Masaru nodded his assent, "We didn't do anything until she graduated, but you see the point."

Katsuki blinked. Fuck, he did see the point. But- did Dabi-Sensei really look at him the same way? He couldn't believe it.

When he went to bed, he was unable to sleep for an entirely different reason. Dabi-Sensei liked him… did he really? He spent his whole night staring at the ceiling thinking of the possibilities.

Strolling into class that morning, grumpy and running on fumes, he was greeted with Dunce Face kneeling in front of Kyoka holding a coffee-stained scroll which he unfurled dramatically with the entire class watching.

Kyoka in question was facepalming and shaking her head in embarrassment.

Dunce Face cleared his throat and pulled out a megaphone (everyone covered their ears at that), "HEAR YE, HEAR YE! ART THOU SINGLE, DEAR BARD JIROU KYOKA?"

She shook her head fondly before looking at him with a smile, "Yes, I will go on a date with you, you idiot."

His smile lit up the room but before anybody could say anything, Dabi-Sensei (who they didn't hear kick the door open over the megaphone,) shouted at them, "Okay, Shakespeare, sit your ass down or it's detention."

Dunce Face's smile instantly disappeared as he shuffled to his seat in mild panic. Katsuki sat down and propped his chin in his palm, looking at Sensei curiously. The teacher caught his gaze, smiling at him softly. It wasn't his usual smirk…

Huh, maybe his mom was right.

Maybe there really was something in the way he looked at him.