Work Text:
… about romance, about love,
about liking, and about disliking
Should I add more?
-“Ai Kotoba” by DECO*27 ft. Hatsune Miku-
Bakugou Katsuki didn’t mean to hear the conversation in the girls’ toilet during lunch break. She just happened to use one of the stalls when she heard a group of girls entered the bathroom together. Katsuki could just walk out no problem, but the conversation that followed their entrance made her wanted to stay. She would deny it of course if anyone asked, but she really wanted to know what the girls wanted to say about Midoriya Izuku once that name came up in the discussion.
She knew the girls were first-year students. After all, Katsuki was using the bathroom in the first-year’s building after someone clogged the bathrooms on the third-year’s building. People just stared at her as she made her way across the hallway, probably wondering why one of the UA’s Big Three doing in the building (take a shit, of course). Everyone had heard about them, Deku, Katsuki, and that fucking half-and-half Todoroki Shouto, all of them were treated as quasi celebrities especially after the stunts they pulled during the third-year’s sport festival (it was fucking awesome, it turned into riot). Katsuki swore Deku was now leading some sort of cult with how many fan girls trying to talk to him and threw lunch boxes at him almost on daily basis. It pissed her off a bit, but in the end of the day, Katsuki could threw a smug smile at everyone else because Deku ate the lunch she made and shared the rest with the whole class. Katsuki was petty, so what?! She had the right to make her boyfriend lunch, and she knew shitty Deku would just go to the cafeteria and ordered katsudon every fucking day, and Katsuki knew better how to make a balanced meal despite the popular belief.
But let’s return to the situation at hand, as Bakugou Katsuki sat on the toilet and eavesdropped at her juniors’ discussion about her boyfriend.
“Midoriya-senpai is really kind, you know,” one of the girls said, her voice was high-pitched and overly bubbly which rubbed Katsuki the wrong way. “He helped with my internship after the class orientation. He actually knows a lot of famous pro heroes…”
“I know, right? He helped me too with mine!” another girl said, just as bubbly as the first one. “And you know, he is also cute.”
“But I think Todoroki-senpai is cuter?” the third girl chimed in.
“Hmmm… But don’t you think Todoroki-senpai is more of a cool and handsome type? Sometimes I wondered if he spent his time riding white horse in a castle somewhere…” the first girl laughed.
“Oh… Todoroki-senpai is more of a prince-like,” the second girl agreed. “But Midoriya-senpai is definitely the kind-and-cute type. And he’s always smiling, it’s so sweet. He looks a lot approachable than Todoroki-senpai.”
“Yeah. I always feel warm and safe when I see him, even from afar,” the third girl sighed. “Hana-chan from Class B managed to give him her homemade lunch box yesterday, I heard.”
“Lucky… I was too scared to give him mine,” the first girl sounded crestfallen. “But a senior from 2-A said Midoriya-senpai is dating Bakugou-senpai!”
Katsuki twitched when her name was brought in the conversation. It wasn’t like Deku and her were hiding their relationship, Katsuki just assumed everyone knew at this point. After all, they had been dating since the end of their first year in UA. It was almost two years now, and the two of them were friends for like their whole life.
“Geh… That Bakugou-senpai?” the second girl asked. “But she’s so scary!”
“I know! It’s hard to believe, right? I mean, Midoriya-senpai is always smiling and so sweet and kind… But Bakugou-senpai is the exact opposite, right? I heard she beat up Uraraka-senpai during her first-year sport festival!”
“Ah, I saw that one. She was really violent! They chained her up during the award ceremony because she was furious despite getting the first place…”
“Scary…” the third girl whined. “Why would Midoriya-senpai date such violent person? I mean, even the sight of Bakugou-senpai made the most badass student outside the Big Three cower in fear…”
“I’m not even sure,” the second girl said. “I think Uraraka-senpai would be more suitable with Midoriya-senpai, right? I mean, they’re already best friend and all. And Uraraka-senpai is just as sweet and kind as Midoriya-senpai… It was so soothing watching them together.”
“I know that feeling!” the first girl giggled. “Bakugou-senpai is way too scary and intense. I feel like she was just bullying Midoriya-senpai and he just humored her because they’re childhood friends…”
“They are?” the third girl asked.
“Yeah. A senpai from third year said so. Maybe Midoriya-senpai just agreed to date her because they were childhood friends, and since he was too kind to reject her, they dated now. I mean, it would be awkward if your childhood friend confessed to you and you rejected them, right? Imagine how weird it would feel if they were in the same class as well.”
“Ugh… that’s sooo awkward…” the second whimpered. “But Midoriya-senpai could definitely do better. Half the school are in love with him and the other half admired him…”
“Hush… Don’t let Bakugou-senpai hear you said that. She’ll blow you up to pieces,” the first girl giggled.
“Haha… Oops?”
Little did they know, the said Bakugou Katsuki was sitting down in silence in one of the stalls, unmoving until the three girls left. Her mind was racing over the conversation… It made her wonder…
“Oi, shitty hair. Why do you think Deku go out with me?” Katsuki asked absentmindedly when she returned to class while Deku was still outside, meeting with All Might about something. She would never admit it, but the conversation in the girls’ bathroom had haunted her since lunch break.
“Huh?” Kirishima Eijirou frowned at his best friend in confusion, deeply wondering if Bakugou ate something she shouldn’t eat or got hit by weird Quirk during her quest to find usable bathroom (it was a mess, seriously). “What are you talking about, Sis?”
“That shitty Deku… why does he even bother to fucking date me?” Bakugou uncharacteristically buried her face in her arms as she slumped on the table.
“Well, he likes you…” Kirishima tried.
“But why?!” God, Katsuki sounded like whiny teenage girl, now, but she couldn’t help herself. She was having a crisis here, she could fucking sound like anything she wanted. Even if it was shitty whiny girl.
“Because you’re childhood friends? I mean… Midoriya knew you best and so you are about him. Though I know the two of you have a really rough patches along the way, but it’s all work out in the end, right?” Kirishima looked at his friend with concern. It was worrying seeing Bakugou acting like this, Kirishima wondered if it was the real Bakugou Katsuki instead of some villain disguising as her.
“That’s true, isn’t it…? It’s convenient…” Bakugou mumbled into her arms.
Kirishima considered of calling Midoriya at that moment, but just before he did it, the said person was entering the classroom looking as cheerful as usual. Midoriya’s eyes quickly zoning in for Bakugou, and Kirishima caught the worrying look on Midoriya’s face as he approached Bakugou’s seat.
“Kacchan? Are you okay?” he asked, sounding worried over his girlfriend.
“Shut up, shitty nerd,” Bakugou mumbled, still refusing to look up.
“Is something wrong?” Midoriya asked again, still feeling concerned.
“Go die.”
Midoriya sighed as he sat on his seat behind Bakugou, watching her slumped figure in the mix of worry and confusion. Even Kirishima was concerned at his friend’s behavior. Bakugou was never one to be depressed, she was either angry or determined. But right now, she was being quiet, even her insults didn’t have the same bite as usual. Whatever happened to her must be related to Midoriya in some way since she asked Kirishima about it earlier. The red head wondered if the two of them got into fight or something. But they looked find during lunch. Bakugou made bento again while Midoriya shared his free fan girl’s bento with everyone (it was still weird seeing them practically throwing their lunch boxes at Midoriya after being far too shy to actually talk to him). Kirishima could see it ticked Bakugou off a bit (as per usual) but the girl looked smug when Midoriya ate the one she made (sometimes it was just too easy to read her). But nothing went unusual. Bakugou went to the bathroom while Midoriya went to the teacher’s lounge to talk to All Might.
Kirishima sighed as he was mulling over his friend’s love life. He just hoped Midoriya found something about Bakugou.
Maybe they needed to punch someone afterward.
Katsuki knew she was spooking everyone once the afternoon class continued. She was uncharacteristically quiet, making everyone threw concerned looks at her. She wanted to scream and told off everyone to just leave her alone. She could feel Deku’s gaze burning through her back.
Katsuki was pissed, which wasn’t actually anything new. She always pissed.
But right now, she was pissed at herself for doubting Deku, she was pissed at the group of first-year girls for making her thinking about this, and she was pissed at Deku for… well, for being the object of her angst at the moment.
Katsuki knew she wasn’t the prettiest girl, and she never minded it before. Her hair was cut short, spiking everywhere, making her looked rather boyish. She didn’t have huge eyes like Round-face, or girly figure like shitty pinky. Her body was compact with muscles, though not as bulky, but still, it was hard and not girlishly soft. Unlike shitty ponytail, Katsuki’s boobs were small. And her thighs were too big and full of muscles because of her physical training. She never cared about her looks before, often only wear T-shirt and shorts or pants for her casual fashion. The other girls in class wore a bit of makeup, but Katsuki realized how dry her skin looked like and how plain she looked. Why did she care out of the blue? Sure, she never heard anyone criticize her style (except for shitty pinky at one time when Katsuki went to the mall with her and bought more black T-shirts), even though they would, Katsuki would ignore it and told them to “go die”.
Why did she care about being pretty, now? Deku didn’t seem to mind about whatever she was wearing to their dates (Katsuki blushed a bit when thinking about them). He never asked Katsuki to wear makeup or growing her hair long. Deku would just smile as they held hands, talking over ice cream dates, or… kissing… He never complained about Katsuki’s dry lips (she tried, okay?), or her plain face. Deku would smile, talking to her about things that would also made her smile because stupid Deku was sweet like that… Fucking nerd being too loveable…
Katsuki’s eyes drifted to Uraraka. Her brown hair looked soft and well groomed, unlike Katsuki’s ash brown mess. Her face was cute too… and her makeup was on point, looking all natural but just the right amount to highlight her best features. Her boobs were bigger, and even though she was not exactly the slim-skinny girl, she looked soft to hug. Shitty Deku was close to her… they were best friend since their first-year. She helped him as he helped her. It was no secret between the girls that Uraraka used to have a crush on Deku in their first year.
I think Uraraka-senpai would be more suitable with Midoriya-senpai, right?
Fucking first-years and their fucking bathroom gossips!
Katsuki was pissed and she was ready to blow something up to make herself feel normal again.
Fuck everything.
Katsuki was successfully avoiding Deku for the rest of the day. She took off once the bell rang and ran away before Deku could catch up to him. Instead of going to the dorm like she was supposed to do, instead she ran to some training ground to blow off some steam. It pissed her off feeling like this.
Why should she be worried? Deku was dating her! Not Uraraka or some other girls! There was no need for her to be jealous—
Wait… was she jealous? At the thought of Deku deserved someone other than her?
Deku deserved better and a lot more after the shit Katsuki had put him through when they were younger. How many times she threatened to blow him off during middle school? How many time she bullied him, calling him useless because of his Quirkless status? How many times she had hurt him… and that time in their third year of middle school when she basically told him to kill himself…
Katsuki blew another boulder into pieces.
She was the worst. She was a bully, an arrogant jerk of a bully with bad temper and foul mouth.
Why did Deku…no, Izuku, wanted to be with her?
… because they were childhood friends, and since he was too kind to reject her, they are dating now. I mean, it would be awkward if your childhood friend confessed to you and you rejected them, right? Imagine how weird it would feel if they were in the same class as well…
Izuku was far too good for her… He was far too kind, that stupid, shitty nerd. Katsuki was selfish to keep him by her side despite everything she had done in the past… How could Deku could still smile at her called him—
“Kacchan!!”
Katsuki was frozen on the spot when she heard the familiar nickname from the familiar voice. Shit. Her heart was not ready yet… she still had some pent up emotion she wanted to release before she was ready to face Deku again… maybe asking him about their relationship without breaking down like some stupid protagonist from some shitty shoujou manga.
Fuck.
“Kacchan…! I was worried about you… You just left after class… I thought you went to the dorm, but I couldn’t find you there, then I asked Uraraka-san and she said she saw you heading this direction right after leaving. I was worried; you weren’t acting like yourself today. I thought you were sick or something… and Kirishima-kun was also concerned about you, so I decided to check on you, but you seemed to have been avoiding me this entire afternoon, and it made me wondered if I did something wrong but I didn’t know what—“
Fuck, Katsuki often forgot how much Deku’s mumbles could be annoying she wanted to yell at him to shut up, but she couldn’t find the heart to do so.
“Are you okay, Kacchan?” Izuku asked carefully as he took a step closer to her.
“Stop or I’ll blow you the fuck up to pieces,” Katsuki growled, making Deku stopped. He still looked worried as hell. Shit.
“Kacchan…” Deku sighed, there was a taste of fondness in his exasperated tone, it made Katsuki’s heart ache beautifully.
Fucking Deku.
“Kacchan, do you want to talk about it?” Deku asked again.
No, she didn’t want to. But words had spilt from her lips before she could stop them.
“Why do you date me?” Katsuki asked, her voice were shaking stupidly.
“Huh?” Izuku looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t act stupid, you fucking nerd. I asked you, why do you date me? A lot of girls—and maybe even boys—like you, but why do you chose to date me?” Katsuki asked again, this time her voice was steadier.
“Because I like you,” he said simpy, voice was firm in assurance.
Katsuki blushed, even hearing those words for so many times from shitty Deku still made her heart skipped a beat (not that she would ever admitted it). But Katsuki quickly got hold of herself.
“But why? I have been so horrible to for years, I called you names. I’m not the most beautiful girl in the fucking UA, I’m not cute. My boobs are small and my ass is flat! My legs are too muscular, and I can blow off your head when I’m angry because I’m violent! Why are you even dating me in the first place?!” Katsuki ended up shouting at Deku like she always had been. “I’m suck at girly things! I don’t even own a skirt except for the school uniform! And my boobs are just too GODDAMN SMALL!!!”
The boulder to her side exploded as she blew it with her quirk.
“Kacchan, you mentioned your boobs twice…”
“So fucking WHAT?!” she roared. “You can date anyone in school! Everyday people lined up to give you their homemade lunch boxes hoping you will look their way! Why do you stick with me, you shitty Deku?!”
Katsuki was breathing heavily as she glared at Deku who still kept his distance away. She felt the hot tears threatening to roll down from her frustration, but like hell she would cry in front of anyone. She would kill every witness in the vicinity.
“Like I said, that’s because I like you, Kacchan, and I don’t need any other reason,” Izuku said simply. “I don’t care about other people—well, I care, but not in this particular way—I care about you, I like you. Sure, you’ve put me through a lot, and we both know it was just something that cannot be undone between us… Do I feel like shit when you insult me? Yes. But I know my feelings, and I always admired you, Kacchan, above everything else. Even from when we were younger, Kacchan is always my image of ‘victory’.”
The sincere smile on Izuku’s face and his words broke all her defense as Katsuki charged forward before Izuku could dodge, her hand had shot up to Izuku’s face and held his head tightly, her hand effectively covering his eyes.
“Don’t move or I’ll blow your face up, Deku,” her threat barely held any force, but Izuku kept still in her grasp. Katsuki knew she couldn’t show him her face. She looked like a boiled crab judging by how hot and red her face was.
“Kacchan—“
“Why do you have to be so nice? You shitty—I hate you, you moron!” Katsuki was shaking as her dam was broken and she cried, holding Izuku’s face tighter to make sure he couldn’t see her.
“I love you too, Kacchan…” Izuku said as if it was the most normal thing to say.
“Shut the fuck up!” she yelled.
“I don’t want to. I’ll say it as many time until you believe me.”
“Fucking nerd!”
“I love you.”
“Go die.”
“I love you.”
“Fuck you.”
“I always have been in love with you.”
“Stupid Deku!” Katsuki didn’t think twice before she pulled him roughly by his collar and pulled him down for a kiss. It was sloppy, their teeth knocked uncomfortably, but Katsuki didn’t care. “I hate you…” she whispered once they pulled away, face hot and blushing bright red.
Izuku smiled. “I love you.”
Fucking nerd.
“So… ‘the image of victory’?” Katsuki asked once the couple calmed down and walking down the street hand in hand like they always did (she just realized despite her rough hands, hers was smaller compared to Izuku’s scarred ones… Izuku’s hands were beautiful, not that she would admit it loudly). “You said sappy shit, nerd.”
“Kacchan is the one who worried about her boobs size,” Izuku said casually, face blushing slightly.
“Shut the fuck up! Every girl has the rights to worry about their size!” Katsuki yelled at him.
“I like you the way you are. Kacchan is beautiful already, so you don’t have to worry about how you look. You can wear a potato sack, you would still be beautiful. Do everything you’re comfortable doing.”
“Round-face is cute though,” Katsuki mumbled.
“Well, yes, Uraraka-san is cute. But you don’t have to be like her just to be cute as well. I think Kacchan has your own stylr cuteness,” Izuku smiled. “You said you’re not girly enough, but you have your own way. You’re very good at cooking and can blow up some bad guys while you’re at it. It’s very badass. If you still want to try some new fashion style, we can try finding something… Maybe with Ashido-san and everyone’s help as well… I like you no matter what.”
“Stop saying embarrassing things, idiot!” Katsuki looked away to hide her blush.
“Besides, I like girl with small boobs.”
“DIE, YOU FUCKING NERD!!!”
Izuku was laughing, Katsuki was smiling.
She was fine now.
Izuku loved her and she loved him too, and that was enough.
(Not that she would loudly admit it though.)