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“Kacchan, why am I here?” Midoriya pouts at his best friend as they stand behind a crowd of fans, waiting to enter the stadium.
“Shut up, nerd,” Bakugou scoffs, stepping forward with the line, inching closer to the metal detectors and ticket checkers. “Ei gets to start today because the other guy is hurt.” Glaring at the smaller male, Bakugou’s eyes dare Midoriya to complain more.
“I know that, Kacchan,” Midoriya resists the urge to roll his eyes. “But why am I here?” He fiddles with the paper ticket in his fingers.
“Because he’s your friend too, asshole,” Bakugou shoots back before moving up to third in line. Midoriya sighs and follows the blonde. The conversation goes silent after that as the two get their tickets scanned and pass through the metal detector without any problems.
Midoriya trails behind Bakugou as they make their way to their seats, studying the baseball fans passing by. He smiles at excited children with ice cream staining their lips and parents sporting jerseys of their favorite players.
Midoriya doesn’t know much at all about baseball, so he feels very out of place. But Bakugou was right, Kirishima was a good friend of his, as well as his roommate, and he was excited for him to be starting (whatever that means).
The two men reach their seats on the far end of the third base side and Midoriya pulls out the team program, determined to understand more about the sport and players.
“Kacchan! Look!” Finding Kirishima’s profile, Midoriya points at the redhead’s picture before beaming at Bakugou.
The blonde’s cheeks tint red before he clicks his teeth and looks away. “I see it, ya damn nerd,” Bakugou leans forward, elbows on his knees as he glares at the field ahead of them where Kirishima and his team are warming up. Midoriya internally smirks before looking back at the booklet.
Midoriya mutters to himself as he reads each profile, then abruptly shuts up when he reaches the pitchers name. Bakugou, on the edge of blowing up because of the constant noise falling from Midoriya’s lips, notices the sudden silence from the male beside him and looks over.
“What is it, Deku?” Bakugou asks with an exasperated expression. Midoriya jolts in his seat and blushes.
“N-Nothing, Kacchan.” Midoriya dismisses the blonde, but Bakugou isn’t having it. Glancing at the book in the freckled teen’s hands, Bakugou quickly snatches it and looks at the page Midoriya had been staring at. “Kacchan!!” Midoriya yells and tries taking back the program.
“Seriously? Half-n-half?” Bakugou snorts, holding the book out of Midoriya’s reach. “Like what you see, huh, Deku?” The blonde smirks at his best friend.
“Give it back, Kacchan.” Midoriya ignores the teasing tone, stretching further to grab the program. Bakugou chuckles darkly, leaving a small window of opportunity for Midoriya to take back the program. “I just think he’s, y’know…” Midoriya mumbles, words trailing off as he stares again at the red and white haired athlete.
Bakugou scoffs without a reply and returns to watching his boyfriend warm-up the pitcher that Midoriya happens to be swooning over.
-
“But I thought you said the pitchers don’t hit?” Midoriya asks Bakugou his hundredth question of the night and Bakugou is shaking with anger.
“Only if that can’t hit, Deku,” The words come out short and curt. Smoke is practically puffing from Bakugou’s ears and Midoriya knows he’s walking on thin ice, but he has to know.
“So, Todoroki can hit?” Deku keeps his eyes on the home pitcher. Todoroki is a lefty, and being on the third base side, Midoriya has a perfect view of the male’s full body and handsome face that is scarred around his left eye.
Bakugou grunts because if he talks, it’ll come out mean and he can’t deal with Midoriya’s tears right now, not when Kirishima’s team it so close to their first ever shutout. Todoroki is only up to bat now because the DH got hit by a pitch and the team’s pitcher was the only other slugger.
The scores 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh and UA is winning. The count is two balls and two strikes and Midoriya is on the edge of his seat, even though he’s not entirely sure why.
A changeup is thrown and Todoroki swings and Midoriya is knocked out.
-
“Wha?” Midoriya comes to about an hour later. The game is over and people are heading home, but he’s in the first aid room and Bakugou’s talking with Kirishima at the door.
“Hey nerd, how ya doing?” Bakugou takes note of his friend waking up and makes his way over to the freckled male laying on the makeshift hospital bed. Bakugou sits in a plastic chair beside Midoriya.
“‘M jus’ fine, Kaccha,” Midoriya slurs. The blonde snorts and Kirishima cackles loudly.
“Man, Sho got him hard.” The redhead continues to chuckle while walking towards the two. Midoriya begins to giggle too, even though he has no idea what Kirishima is laughing about.
“Whatcha laughing about, Deku?” Bakugou raises an annoyed eyebrow.
“I dunno,” Midoriya sighs happily. His head lulls to the side as his eyes begin to close again.
“Hey! Nerd!” Bakugou yells in Midoriya’s ear, causing the male to jolt and open his eyes widely. He looks over at his best friend. “Can’t go back to sleep.”
“But ‘m tired,” Midoriya whines, squeezing his eyes shut to make a point.
“Oi!” Bakugou’s volume increases and Kirishima shushes his boyfriend because he’s too loud. Bakugou quietly snarls at the redhead before lowering his voice only slightly. “Keep your eyes open, Deku.” Bakugou’s voice is stern and Midoriya reluctantly opens his eyes.
“But the room is spinning, Kaccha,” Midoriya’s head shakes side to side against the thin pillow.
“Dammit,” Bakugou curses. “Shitty Hair, go get the medic.” Kirishima darts out the door and Bakugou stands, laying a gentle hand on Midoriya’s shoulder. “Just keep your eyes open and focus on me, nerd,” Midoriya stops moving his head and faces Bakugou. His pupils are blown wide and for just a moment, Bakugou is worried about his friends health.
“Thanks Kaccha,” Midoriya’s hand flops across his torso, trying to reach the blonde’s touch. “You’re so nice.” Bakugou flushes at the compliment and clicks his teeth.
“Shut up, nerd.” Bakugou demands and taps his foot, anxious for his boyfriend’s return.
Moments later, Kirishima jogs back into the room, a medic and Todoroki close behind.
“Hello, Mr. Midoriya, my name is Jason, how’re you feeling?” The medic takes Bakugou’s spot as the blonde steps backwards, but stays close to Midoriya.
“Ggggreat!” Midoriya says enthusiastically and Kirishima snorts behind his hand, causing Todoroki to smack him in the side, eliciting a soft “ow” from the redhead.
“I’m glad to hear that. I assume you’re tired?” Midoriya nods quickly then suddenly stops, eyes wide. “Don’t move too much, or you’ll get dizzy.” Midoriya responds with a soft okay and glances around the room. When he notices Todoroki, he points at the male with a wide grin.
“It’s you!” Midoriya yells trying to sit up, but Bakugou holds him down. The blonde looks at Todoroki and nods his head, beckoning the athlete over.
Todoroki walks closer nervously. “H-Hi,” He whispers before coughing into his fist. “Hello, I’m Shouto Todoroki.” he introduces himself formally and Midoriya beams.
“‘M ‘Zuku Midoriya!” His words are becoming clearer, but the slurring is still prominent. Todoroki’s lips twitch to a smile, but then quickly form into a frown.
“I’m really sorry,” Todoroki looks at his shoes with sad eyes. Midoriya quirks an eyebrow in confusion.
“For what?” Kirishima and the medic both chuckle under their breath while Todoroki sighs heavily.
“My foul ball is what hit you and now you’re here,” Todoroki explains, a pink dusting his cheeks.
“What’s a foul ball?” Midoriya overlooks every other part of that sentence, focusing solely on the baseball term that he didn’t know. Bakugou snorts.
“It’s when the ball is hit off the bat into foul territory,” Bakugou explains rolling his eyes. Midoriya looks up and back to his best friend.
“What’s foul territory?” Bakugou’s nostrils flare in annoyance and Todoroki speaks up before the blonde can freak out.
“What matters is that I hit the ball that hit you and I’m sorry,” Midoriya looks back and stares at the pitcher for a couple long moments, as Todoroki shrinks slightly under the intense gaze.
“That’s okay!” Midoriya exclaims. “You’re cute, so it’s alright!” Midoriya smiles so wide his eyes crinkle.
The room goes deadly silent before Bakugou bursts out laughing.
“Oh my God, that’s great,” Wiping a fake tear from his eye, Bakugou continues to chuckle freely. “He’s been crushing on you since looking at your profile and would never have the balls to tell you that without being fucked up.” Bakugou cackles loudly and clutches at his stomach. Midoriya starts giggling too.
“He’s right,” Midoriya admits and finally Todoroki cracks a smile.
“I-I’m flattered,” Todoroki says. The room is quiet shortly after as Todoroki and Midoriya look at each other, the athlete wearing a shy smile and the injured sporting a goofy grin.
“Alright,” The EMT breaks the silence and everyone jumps slightly. “Mr. Midoriya, I’m going to send you home with some pain killers and a couple ice packs. Do you have someone to help take care of you?” Todoroki backs away from the bed, standing against the wall across from Midoriya so he could be out of the way.
“Yeah,” Bakugou speaks up. “He lives with me and Ei.” Kirishima grins at his boyfriend, causing the blonde to flush and glare back.
“Great! So if he has any more problems, do not hesitate to bring him to the emergency room. Thankfully he didn’t suffer too badly from the hit, and will probably have a nasty bump for a couple days.” At that, Midoriya touches the lump on the side of his head before wincing.
Bakugou nods before bending over and picking up Midoriya’s backpack. “Ready to go, nerd?”
Midoriya slowly sits up and nods. Bakugou gestures for the male to slip off the bed as Kirishima, Bakugou, and Midoriya make their way out of the first aid room.
-
They’re reaching the gates to exit the stadium when a distant voice floods the three’s ears.
“Midoriya!” Todoroki jogs up to the group and stops in front of the freckled male. “C-Can I have your number?” Midoriya’s eyes widen. “Y-Ya know, to make sure you’re okay.” Todoroki stutters, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
“Don’t you have Ei’s number to do tha-” Bakugou’s cut off by Kirishima’s hand on his mouth. The blonde grunts and Kirishima gives him a look to shut up.
“O-Okay,” Midoriya agrees, voice small as his concussion-induced confidence fades.
The two exchange numbers before Midoriya follows Bakugou and Kirishima out of the stadium, glancing back at the handsome pitcher who stands watching the trio leave, a tiny smile gracing his features.
While Bakugou and Kirishima bicker about what they want for dinner, Midoriya thinks, I can get into baseball.