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↞ ・ [ Prologue ] ・ ↠
When Katsuki turned 17, he honestly expected his friends to make a big deal about it.
Or at least, as big a deal as they made for every other fucking excuse to celebrate that they could conjure up- including, but not limited to: obscure holidays celebrated halfway across the planet and the final episode of a popular show part of the group watched together since moving in. But this was especially the case for birthdays.
Since the previous summer when they'd moved into the dorms, his classmates had partied for someone’s day of birth no less than six times. It could have been more, but he wasn't counting. Their birthdays were all distributed pretty evenly, with no one sharing a birthday in the class, though some chose to have joint weekend celebrations if they were near enough. Various partying schemes he'd seen play out over the last three semesters ranged from elaborate movie nights to tame but meticulous dinners and over-the-top outings (which Yuuei had slowly been becoming more lenient about the further from that incident they got. Katsuki was just glad when people had finally moved on).
Seriously, though- he was the first to turn 17! He was the oldest in the class, actually, as Kirishima had oh so helpfully pointed out after Katsuki had been called immature for his short fuse. It wasn't Katsuki's fault that he was surrounded by idiots who didn't even know how to fry eggs and clean up properly. And anyway, no one bothered to take him seriously when he tried to use this knowledge to his advantage- in fact, Tape Face and Lightning Rod had only been calling him old for the past two weeks- so what good was it pointing it out? Even Deku had left him alone about it too after his three failed attempts to bring it up.
His more…eccentric classmates were particularly obnoxious and Plus Ultra when it came to people's birthdays. He’d seen parties before the dorm system, but it became even more of a spectacle after they'd all moved in together. One could no longer escape such things due to weekends or celebrating with family or other reasons. Many of them elected to spend their day with friends in class 1-A (now 2-A) anyways.
Depending on the person, they typically got something they’d appreciate. Once a month the class would congregate and discuss plans for the upcoming ones. And while he pointedly made efforts to stay out of it, Katsuki had inadvertently been dragged into participating in more than one of them. He’d just come to expect Mina or even Deku to come find him wherever he hid and eventually stopped fighting it with more than some mildly annoyed grumbling.
And now it was his turn. After glimpsing the class calendar, he realized he was the only person in this odd birthday gap. It had been several weeks since the last celebration. Well over a month had passed and it would be another month until the next. Katsuki just knew something was brewing even if he hadn’t been directly confronted and had yet to hear anything all week. It only made him more suspicious, particularly that his big-mouth friends hadn’t given him daily reminders of the looming day since he told them off about it at the beginning of the month.
“Heey, Ka-cchan~!” Denki’s annoying voice called, having been trailing him all day with the lingering noisy questions. He'd finally been caught on his trek back to the dorms from a day out in town. “Come on, you gotta tell us what kinda party you want! Or else we'll make it All Might-themed-”
“ Buzz off, Air Head. I already said I don't want no stupid party.”
“Oh, come ooon, dude!” Sero piped up as well, snickering a bit at how much Katsuki was denying it. “It wouldn't be stupid. Be a good sport, Bakugo! It's as much for you as for us, we wanna party! What kind of cake do you even like?”
“Get those dumb ideas outta your dumber heads!” Katsuki snapped. “Throw a party for anything else, just don't bring me into it. I don't care, so go bother Shitty Hair or some shit.”
Denki went on as if he'd not heard Katsuki's dissent. “We can ask Mr. Childhood Friend, maybe. I bet it's some horrendous spicy monstrosity. I've never seen him eat something sweet. Like, ever. You?”
They both laughed as Katsuki ignored and took the chance to lose them. He didn't care if they threw him a party or didn't. And knowing them, they were going to keep bothering him about it.
He hadn't been interested in celebrating since he was a kid. The last party he remembered being excited about was the last one Izuku came to in elementary school. Parties after that had been tainted without his presence there. Being surrounded by a dozen fake friends had eventually lost its appeal somewhere over the last decade. These days he just celebrated with his parents. He'd probably do the same this year, and that was fine by him. Let it pass by uneventfully.
Strangely, he hadn't heard another word about any plans after that talk, though. And he hadn't had another thought about it until a week ago when he realized the date in question was close. He sighed, resigning himself to the long day during which he'd have to deal with everyone not leaving him alone. Birthdays weren't special for him. Everyone had one, what was the use of celebrating something he hadn't earned or won?
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
When he woke up on the morning of, he was immediately on alert. He sat up slowly, eyeing his phone before looking around and listening. After suspiciously being greeted with pure silence, he grabbed his phone and threw off the blanket, bare legs met by the chill air of his room.
Just a quick glance left him puzzled, as the only messages he received were from his grandmother and his parents. Well. This was...unexpected. Sure enough, the only birthday wishes he found were from family anywhere he looked. Nothing from a classmate, though.
Well, whatever. It wasn't like he cared at all if they told him a stupid “happy birthday”: they were just words, though truthfully, he'd been expecting to be bombarded by them first thing this morning. Heck, he should be relieved his classmates didn't barge into his room yelling to wake him up with terrible singing at ass o'clock on a Friday morning (he was never going to participate in that god-awful, irritating ritual, so stop asking, Deku ).
Katsuki decided to go ahead with his usual routine. Acknowledged or not, it was still his birthday, and nothing was stopping him from doing something for himself. Still, he couldn't help some negative feeling bubbling in his chest as he passed people on the way downstairs and not one of them directed more than a “good morning” his way. He didn't reply and each interaction only seemed to irritate him more.
They'd just gotten back to school for the new semester a few weeks ago, and everyone was back to just lounging around before class in the morning. Admittedly, several of the usuals were missing, but he had woken up earlier than usual. Just to cook himself breakfast before class, though. Definitely not for anything else on his damn birthday. ...maybe most were still waking up and hadn’t gotten up early for...anything today.
Right now, laying around in the first floor’s commons area was seventy-five percent of “his squad”, which he did not agree to refer to them as. The idiots still insisted on associating with him and, well, there wasn't much more he could do about it, now was there? He'd tried telling them to get lost once, and it honestly was a hopeless endeavor at this point.
So, when his own self-proclaimed “friends” didn't so much as give him a second glance when he entered the common area, he was admittedly pissed. Not even a single birthday text to annoy him at midnight or even this morning. No spam of balloon or present emojis in the group chat. Not a word since yesterday night’s homework discussion. And now they couldn’t even be bothered to say anything?
Glaring at them suspiciously, he proceeded to stomp his way over to the currently empty kitchen area.
Tch. Some friends he had.
Pikachu had the gall to sit up and look over from where he was, lounging across Kirishima’s legs on the couch like some cat. “Hey, Bakugo! Morning, dude, are you gonna make something?”
Kirishima blinked and looked over too, perking up and waving.
Katsuki kept his back to them, gritting his teeth slightly. “Don’t even ask! I ain’t making extra shit for any of you losers!”
Not for people who forgot his birthday. As if he’d ever cook for them again. His amazing Katsudon and baked Swai?? They could forget it!
“What?? Aww, why! What did we do? But your food is so good!” the blond whined dejectedly, sniffling dramatically. As if the pathetic look would work on anyone but Dumb Hair. “ Please?? ”
Katsuki didn’t answer, electing to let them come to their own belated revelations. The hell was everyone’s problem?? He knew they knew! The lot of them had access to a whole ass calendar dedicated to stuff like this somewhere in the shared class files!
Well screw them, he'd make his own damn food like he always did. (And it’d taste better too, rather than forcing himself to stomach whatever those hopeless amateurs made.)
Grumbling to himself, Katsuki started over to the cupboard to grab the olive oil.
“Ah, Bakugo! Good morning. I wasn't expecting to see you here already.”
Startled, but not willing to show it, Katsuki snapped his head around to glare over his shoulder at Iida, who'd materialized next to the fridge. Katsuki didn't say anything, scoffing and snapping back to his food.
Mr. Class Rep would let them realize their mistake, he thought as he went to pour the premade vegetable broth into his small pot, waiting.
“Ah, well I see you are busy, so I will be brief. I am merely handing out today’s mail. Here! A letter addressed to you.”
Katsuki slouched slightly, rolling his eyes and decidedly ignoring him. When the class rep didn't leave, Katsuki gritted his teeth. He snatched it with a pointed look to make him go away. A glance at the envelope’s neat writing and he knew it was from his parents.
Katsuki shoved it into his pocket, going back to angrily stirring as he was left alone again. Iida left without even acknowledging anything else.
After about five minutes of tuning out his classmates and the tv, he lifted the pot off the stove and turned to grab what he needed to make the fish.
Sero almost ended up with a face full of hot broth just appearing like that. Was everyone trying to scare the hell out of him?
The idiot was standing in front of the cabinet he'd been heading for, idling and staring into the shelf above it, seemingly at the various cereals there. Where the hell had he come from? Sero blinked at him and gave his toothy grin when Katsuki told him to move out the way.
“Oh! Bakugo, hey! Didn't see you there, do you need something out of the cabinet?” Without waiting for Katsuki to snap at him, he took a quick survey of the things Katsuki had out. “Ah, miso soup, huh? Sounds delicious, great choice, mhm. No worries, bro, I'll grab it for ya!”
He opened the cabinet slightly, reaching in and holding out a bottle of vinegar to Katsuki, who merely scowled at him. “ Move, Dunce Face, I'll get my own damn ingredients-”
“Bakugo, that smells amazing! What is it?” Mina’s voice rose behind him. Only it was both her and Jiro that started crowding him.
Katsuki scowled. Why the hell was everyone bothering him all of a sudden?
He sighed audibly in his annoyance, putting the pot down on an unused burner. “None of your business! Leave me alone!”
Mina pouted, folding her arms, “It's the common area. And maybe we wanted to make our breakfast too?”
Jiro just looked offended as she turned to grab a pan to make her breakfast. “It's not like we were gonna bother you for any anyway.”
Katsuki growled. “Good! Stay out of my way, then!”
The horned girl leaned against the counter, shaking her head. “You don't have to be so mean! Honestly, you should learn to start the day off better. How can you be so rude to your own friends as soon as you wake up??”
Katsuki scoffed, going to turn back to what he was doing when two hands on his shoulders stopped him.
“ WHO -”
His hands sparked angrily as he eyed Sero over his shoulder, who circled around him, minding (but not deterred by) the usual threat. “Bakugo! Calm down, my man, you're blowing up for no reason. You haven't been like this in a while...something wrong?”
Katsuki’s frown deepened as he silently despised the genuine look of concern on his friends’ faces. No. He wasn't going to tell them what they'd forgotten. If they all didn't remember, he wasn't going to remind them how bad they should feel.
“Nothing. Let. Go .” Katsuki smacked his arms away, and Sero had the good sense not to persist.
The tension held there didn't lie, though. It was definitely not nothing.
Sero stood a moment longer, debating, before seeming to decide to let it go. He sighed and shrugged easily.
“All right, all right. If you say so. I'm gonna go get ready.”
Katsuki watched him stroll out before being left in silence with the girls. He glanced away, shoving his hands into his pockets as he shuffled back to the stove to stare at his half-made breakfast.
The silence of even those who had been talking out in the seating area had ceased, and it was getting to him. He blinked and tried to lose the tension he suddenly had, red eyes wandering over to the pantry again. Squinting, he walked over to it and snatched it open. After a brief survey of the contents, he scoffed and shut it back. “Tch. Forget it. I'm not hungry.”
He left the pot behind, giving up on cooking food, not even looking at anyone when he felt eyes on him. The elevator was thankfully already down, but the doors couldn't open fast enough.
When they shut behind him, a collective sigh went throughout the room.
Hagakure peeked out from where she'd been hiding behind the counter after slipping past during Iida’s distraction. She sighed, holding the box of candles and cake toppers. “Who even put these away in there??”
Mina’s pink hair stuck out of the doorway, looking at the others. “...That was close .”
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
Possibly the worst thing right now was that Deku was nowhere to be found. If anyone, that nerd would have something to say. Maybe the two of them could hang out after school...or something. Katsuki didn't have any other plans. Maybe Izuku did?
He’d opened his phone now for the eighth time that morning and been surprised that there was still nothing. Not a single text from his annoying friends, let alone the green-haired nerd: his last message was from two days ago.
He deflated a little. Well, maybe he’d expected too much. They’d only been hanging out more since their house arrest last year. But if anyone, he had at least expected to see something from him. It wasn’t like he'd forgotten...right?
Katsuki frowned. He wasn't scared nor incapable of confrontation. So he went looking for him to hear it from the nerd himself.
He knocked after only a moment of deliberating what he was here to do exactly. He waited but there was no answer. He hadn’t seen the nerd yet this morning, and he wouldn’t have walked out without Katsuki hearing some exchange. Surely he wasn’t still sleeping?
He reached to knock again only for Aoyama to spot him while leaving his room.
“Oh, looking for Midoriya? He isn’t there.”
Katsuki gave him a look. “How would you know? You look like you just rolled out of bed.”
Aoyama tutted at him. “He texted me, of course. Honestly, don’t be so confrontational. I was only helping.”
With that, the teen in the shimmering pajamas turned and headed to get himself breakfast.
Katsuki frowned in his wake, before looking back to Izuku’s door. So he’d thought to tell Glitter Beam that he would be gone, but for some reason couldn’t text Katsuki?
“...dumb morons. Can’t do anything right. The hell even is that nerd?”
He turned and left, resigning to just get ready as usual. Clearly, this had been a stupid idea. He’d just see him in class.
Katsuki went back up to his room for his toiletries and checked his message-less phone once more before heading down to shower. That sometimes helped him relax and cool down.
Of course, half a dozen of the other boys thought it was the perfect time to do the same. Everyone was chatting about the day ahead and how glad they were for the weekend and their stupid fun plans to hang out. He’d never been as annoyed by the community baths as he was right now and just wanted to shower in peace.
“Hey, Bakubro! Any plans for the weekend?” Kirishima asked around his toothbrush.
Katsuki tutted at the question as he let the hot water wash over him. Maybe if he stood there long enough, the useless feelings would disappear with it down the drain.
“Denki suggested we go to that new big arcade over in Akihabara-”
“I don't want to tag along on your dumb date.” Katsuki dismissed.
Kirishima shook his head. “No, dude, Mina and Sero were going too...you okay? You seem, um.”
“Tense,” Tokoyami supplied from the next shower over.
“...yeah,” Kirishima relented, glancing back. “What's up?”
Katsuki couldn't take it. He turned off the water and briefly swiped at himself with his towel before wrapping it around his waist.
“Tense? Me? Not at all,” he snipped, snatching his stuff on his way out. He'd forgotten his uniform to change into anyway, so he made the trek to the elevator this way.
He only ran into Koda, who looked worried, but decidedly kept to himself on the other side, getting out before the bristling blond boy.
He stomped out on the fourth floor to his room to throw on his clothes. He wanted to be sure they heard him slam the door, though it admittedly didn't help him feel any better and he realized everyone who lived on this floor wasn’t even here except him.
Fuming, he got dressed and snatched his bag before taking the stairs down so he wouldn't be trapped in the elevator with anyone, because the next person unlucky enough to run into him risked being on the receiving end of some hurtful words that they likely didn't deserve.
“Wait, Bakubro! You’re heading out right now???”
Welp, there was one of the exceptions right now. Katsuki scowled and kept walking, ignoring his shark-toothed peer.
“Hey, wait up!” Kirishima called to him, sounding way too casual.
Katsuki did not wait up. In fact, he snatched his shoes and went outside, shutting yet another door loudly behind him with a sense of pointed hostility. He felt some satisfaction out of that, but it was brief. Maybe he’d take the hint.
He sat on the steps, yanking his shoes on, and hurriedly tying them before he started to school, not wanting anyone to catch up to him.
Though when he realized Kirishima hadn’t pursued him anyway, he tutted. Guess his supposed best friend wasn’t that worried about him...
The five-minute walk to the school building was at least quiet, though this only gave him the time alone to sink further into his thoughts.
The nerve of these guys to call themselves his friends! After weeks of bugging him nonstop, they don't even say anything when it's finally here? Let them feel bad, then. Someone in that place was bound to realize sooner or later. Deku surely would.
Sure, he was gonna be 70 minutes early, but at this point, he didn't very much care. He wouldn’t have to see them for nearly as long. He could use the time to blow off steam and, frankly, he didn’t want to see any of them anyway for as long as possible.
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
The quiet was short-lived since, after hardly 20 minutes, Iida entered the classroom. These days he usually walked with Deku and Uraraka when he didn’t have anything requiring him to be early. He attempted to converse with Katsuki, giving a greeting, but after a failed attempt to get much response from the disinterested scowling blond, he stopped attempting to engage and let him be.
The rest of the class eventually began trickling in. People were going about their conversations as usual and Katsuki was actively attempting to tune them out. Kirishima tried to talk with him, and Katsuki knew he was worried without him asking. Good. Let them wonder. Katsuki refused a word back, swiping through his phone but not really taking in anything. If they didn't know what they did, all the more reason to ignore them.
Was it petty? That was the point. Juvenile and unnecessary? Maybe, but it gave him some sense of retribution for their crime.
Jiro approached him when she entered, holding up a neatly wrapped block of paper. He quirked an eyebrow at it, before narrowing his eyes when he met her own looking down at him expectantly.
She placed it on his desk when he didn’t speak first. “Guess we felt sorry you didn’t get breakfast. We made you extra. Mina saved the broth you were cooking in the fridge.”
Katsuki frowned, a protest already brewing on his lips. “I don’t need your-“
“Just take it,” Jiro cut in before he could, clasping her hands together and glancing away, “...Lunch is hours away. You should eat something. It’s Tamagoyaki. I figured I was decent at making omelets and this is just a rolled one. And it’s good. So just try it?”
Katsuki’s stare wasn’t as harsh as it had started out, and at this point he just waited for her to leave, going back to his neutral sulking.
The rocking hero unconsciously twirled her finger around her hanging ear jacks. “Maybe it’ll help...ah, nevermind. Forget it. Anyway...hope you like it.”
She sat down at her seat next to him, knowing no response would come from the silent blond.
Katsuki glanced at the package on his desk emitting a pleasant, savory smell. What, was this supposed to be some way of apologizing??
He scoffed to himself quietly, frowning at it. As if he'd cave to bribery.
“Oooh! Bakugo, what smells so good?? If you aren’t gonna eat it I'll gladly take it off your hands~”
Katsuki felt someone’s presence and hands suddenly on his desk. Where the hell had Kaminari even come from??
“Beat it, Static Brain, get your own damn food!”
“But if you aren’t gonna eat it, why let it go to waste??”
“Who said I wasn’t?! Stop breathing all over it!”
With a trying glare, Katsuki snatched the package away, keeping it from the other who just continued complaining and pouting about it, arms thrown out across Katsuki’s desk.
Katsuki opened it and spitefully shoved one of the squarish pieces in his mouth, continuing to deny Kaminari any. And, hell, he definitely wasn’t sharing now that he knew it was palatable.
But then Deku entered the class, talking with Uraraka and the frog girl. Katsuki immediately stared him down, ignoring the act his whining classmate was putting on. Finally, there he was. Izuku would surely set them all straight.
Katsuki watched as he separated from the girls and walked over to their row.
“Excuse me, Kaminari-kun. Good morning,” he stated as he stepped over the legs in his way and sat down behind them. “Good morning, Kacchan!” he said cheerily and Katsuki waited.
But Deku just turned and started talking to Sero and Tokoyami about the practice later today for next week’s new practical.
And for the whole class, he never said anything else to Katsuki.
Not through homeroom or during math. Katsuki got paired with Jiro during some History assignment.
And at lunch, Izuku just...left. Like usual, with his group of friends, with only a short wave to him as he passed. Never having said anything about what day it was.
He...he couldn't believe this.
He was gonna end the nerd next time he saw him.
His friends gave him a concerned look while waiting for him to come with them, as Katsuki was gripping the handout pretty hard, and it looked slightly blackened where he’d held it.
They eventually managed to get him to go, though he spoke to no one about what had been getting to him still. This day just needed to be over already.
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
Katsuki thought it was pretty justified in their afternoon sparring session, he didn’t go easy on anyone. Not that he ever went easy or half-assed anything in his life, but today he was particularly... determined, to show it.
It was no-quirks, just hand to hand, but Katsuki took every chance he got to throw his opponent into the mat, more often than not leaving them wheezing.
The false calm Katsuki portrayed was honestly scarier than his usual competitive mood.
Brave Izuku had stepped up to go first and had been laid out in 20 seconds flat. He’d yet to get up for the past five minutes from where he’d been flipped over Katsuki’s shoulder and hurled onto the mat, dazed. Ojiro and Uraraka got him on his feet and walked him over to the bench for some water.
After that, no one else wanted to spar with him and had to be voluntold to do so. Poor Sero hadn’t stood a chance before he'd been twisted and pinned.
“Ow, ow! Uncle! Get off! ” he yelped, squirming under the other teen’s sharp weight from a knee in his back.
“All right, take a break, Bakugo,” Aizawa pulled Katsuki out after that match (if you could call the one-sided event that) for unnecessary roughness, seeing where this was going. “Walk with me.”
Aizawa started away, his old clipboard with class notes tucked under his arm. He knew Katsuki would (begrudgingly) follow without him repeating himself.
He stepped over to a corner away from prying ears to talk with his student, tired gaze turning to him.
“Alright. What's going on today? Don't think I didn't notice how you were in homeroom this morning.”
It came out as more a statement of knowledge than an accusation. He did want to understand and try to help, though. Teenagers sometimes needed guidance in the emotional department. That was just as true with budding heroes. Possibly even more so.
Katsuki scoffed, folding his arms. “I guess that's all people have noticed going on with me today.”
Aizawa sighed, figuring it must have been some sort of teenage drama again with them. There always seemed to be. “...whatever it is, you need to work it out. With words this time, please. Don't resort to scrapping with your classmates, problem child 2.”
Katsuki’s eyes narrowed at that, gaze cutting away instead to look at other sparring matches going on in the gym, now being supervised by Ectoplasm. Aizawa watched him for a moment before sighing. “I don't know why you're upset with them-”
“I ain't upset .”
“-but try to be open-minded,” he stressed, trying to level with the teenager. “Don't shut people who care about you out.”
“Tch. They don't care that much.”
Katsuki looked back at his sensei, and Aizawa easily saw through the anger Bakugo was putting on. It was clear that he was mostly just talk when it came to things he said that would otherwise sting.
His friends knew this, and could somehow tell the difference. Aizawa knew after teaching him for the past year. What Bakugo Katsuki said didn’t always match what he meant or acted on. And right now, this child looked more hurt than anything. That was easily more concerning.
“I don't think you truly believe that.”
“Think what you want,” he retorted, before looking away.
Aizawa noticed Midoriya looking their way, none-too-subtle as well. “...I wouldn't believe them as ones to leave you disappointed, given their surprising track record of...19.”
Katsuki’s eyebrows shot up silently, giving Aizawa all the evidence he needed. The pro flipped through his clipboard blankly for a moment. Then it was closed and tucked back under his arm. “Anyway. Class is almost over for the day. I'll give you a three-minute head start to go change if you're still determined to avoid them.”
He put a hand on Katsuki’s shoulder supportively, nodding. “Bakugo. Set a good example, alright? You are the oldest. Make this school year count. Don't sulk about on your birthday.”
Whatever anger had been floating around inside dissipated at that. Someone finally acknowledged it. “You knew?”
“A teacher knows his students,” Aizawa shrugged cryptically, starting back over to the rest of his class as they were wrapping up their fights. “Go on now.”
Katsuki watched the older man before starting away himself to the gym exit to shower with the little extra time.
Aizawa sighed to himself. “It's not like I haven't been reminded twenty times this week by your peers,” he murmured out of earshot. “Or had eight different emails yesterday concerning the very pressing matter of off-campus store trip permission slips.”
Why couldn't these kids make his job easier...let alone remember to grab everything they needed in a single trip?
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
Katsuki had just been absently shuffling around ever since returning from the sparring session. With leftover bitterness defused out of him, not much remained but a desire to just go back to his room. He just sat staring at the clock as Midnight went on about “the art of creating your hero image”.
Classes finally ended for the day. Katsuki was the first one up, bag packed.
He vanished out into the hall, though rather than going for the entrance, he disappeared upstairs. He knew those guys were gonna be looking for him and he couldn’t deal with that right now. He wouldn’t make it to the dorm without being caught, so he’d just lose them this way. Wanting alone time wasn’t the same thing as hiding!
As people left or went to their after school activities, Katsuki found a place to sit on the third floor: a little seating area in the hall by a massive window looking out on the front. Katsuki watched students walking out below, putting his earphones in. He wound up not listening to music, instead going through the handful of voicemails he had from family.
He didn’t even realize when nearly an hour passed. He gathered his things and exited the building. Maybe he should just go home for the weekend...
Izuku was relieved when he caught Katsuki walking up the path to the dorms. He and the others had panicked when they lost him, and it’d been Izuku’s job to find him again. He was lucky his guess was right, that Katsuki had been dodging them earlier.
The lone teen trudging hadn’t even noticed him, though at this point, maybe he was just ignoring everyone. They all knew Katsuki wasn't happy, and Izuku hadn't foreseen him even caring, let alone asking it this badly. He needed to fix this before 7. Otherwise, Katsuki wasn't even going to want anything to do with...the plan.
Concerned, the green-haired teen shoving his phone into his pocket and hurried to catch him before he got too close.
“Kacchan! Hey, there you are! I was looking for you.”
Katsuki tensed, having thought the nerd left school ages before him. How had he caught him? So much for avoiding anyone, though he’d cooled off from his earlier mood. “Oh, now you stop avoiding me? Screw off, nerd, I don’t care.”
Izuku winced. Uh oh. “A-Avoiding you? I wasn't...I-I haven’t been! I swear!”
“Oh? Sure, play dumb, then…” Katsuki rolled his eyes and started away again.
Izuku hurried ahead, thinking better of grabbing him. Instead, he stopped in front of him with his best pleading gaze in his eyes for him to listen. “I'm not playing dumb. It's just been a busy week with school and all, not that I'm making excuses. I just haven’t run into you m-much outside of class. I... I'm sorry it felt that way. I didn't know you’d feel ignored because of it.”
He was really having to dance around this carefully, wasn't he?
Katsuki just gave him a worn-out look, fight drained out of him. “That supposed to be an apology?” he muttered, ready to honestly be done with the conversation. “Well if that's all, I'd really like to go in now. To be alone .”
A pang of worry went through Izuku. Katsuki...was hurting.
“...ah, actually, if you aren't busy, want to go off-campus with me? It won't be long, I swear. I just kind of need a buddy, per the rules.”
Katsuki frowned at him tiredly. “Then go find one of your little friends, Deku. Any one of them would fill that tag-along role.”
“I did ask one of them. I came to you, didn't I?” Izuku countered, stepping closer. “Maybe I wanted it to be you to hang out with. I thought...you might want to too.”
Katsuki didn’t exactly know what to say to that, tilting his head at Izuku. He wasn’t sure he even wanted that...but his mouth wouldn’t move to say so. Maybe it was the pathetic, desperate baby eyes Izuku was using against Katsuki. It wasn’t fair, Izuku was cheating with that. Wait...when had that even started to work??
While Katsuki just stood there on the dorm sidewalk, squinting at him, Izuku flexed his hands before decidedly reaching out. He took Katsuki's free hand hesitantly, the grip hardly there, as if expecting it to not stay, but he gave the blond an option. Katsuki frowned at him but didn't pull away. That gave Izuku a little hope. Maybe he didn't want to be as alone as he claimed?
And now he wouldn’t have to resort to kidnapping him with his power and booking it out of there, as Kaminari had suggested for a backup plan. Izuku... didn’t think it would have ended as well.
“Come on, Kacchan. Let’s just hang out for a while.”
Katsuki found it hard to say no to the boy whose kind smile and gentle yet sure touch made him weak. He couldn't lie to himself nor face seeing disappointment in those green eyes. So he said nothing, allowed Izuku to lead him away from the dorms while their friends secretly watched on and gave the all-clear to continue.
Everything was going according to schedule.
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
Izuku took Katsuki to the train station 6 minutes from campus. Both still dressed in their school uniform. With their school IDs, they got on and caught the 5 pm train to the Kiyashi Ward. Izuku did most of the talking, trying everything he could to cheer Katsuki up.
Izuku pulled Katsuki on a detour into the comic shop they liked to visit and browse. The Symbol of Peace collection had been getting updated merchandise, retired retro rarities as well as brand new additions, since All Might’s retirement, and that at least got Katsuki into a real conversation.
The water fountain sparkled surreally during the golden hour. And somehow, Izuku got Katsuki to take a photo with him by it. Despite being awkward, it was a simple request that Katsuki figured he could do. He wasn't in the frame of mind to refuse.
He lifted the corner of his mouth up slightly as Izuku held out his phone and snapped a few pictures. Katsuki thought his smile wasn't as nice as Izuku’s bright one, but Izuku seemed very pleased with it and that was enough.
They went and got orange-lime juice slushies from another place a few doors down. Izuku had insisted on paying for them both. They dipped in and out of several places over the course of an hour, looking at whatever was interesting. Izuku would often reach for Katsuki's hand as they walked, and Katsuki accepted this, comforted by it and glad that Izuku initiated it each time. He grasped back and he saw Izuku smile more when he did.
Slowly, Katsuki was feeling better about it all. Today hadn't been terrible . Especially not now, walking hand in hand with his oldest friend again.
It honestly was hard to believe this was happening. They’d finally gotten back to a point of hanging out again and not being so awkward and hostile (...on his own part). Katsuki genuinely enjoyed being around Izuku and thought about him more. But this here, walking together and so openly enjoying each other’s company was so surreal. It made him feel calm and trusted by the other boy to be so close to him. He didn’t want it to be a one-time thing and he worried Izuku might realize what was happening and stop.
It felt delicate and fleeting, as if Katsuki twitched the wrong way, Izuku would let go. And he knew it’d end one way or another...even if he didn’t really want it to. He wanted it all the time. He didn’t wanna let go when they went back to reality, because this clearly wasn’t the same world they were from, where they’d had a falling out and only recently reconnected.
So what if he was just glad Izuku had dragged him on this evening out? Katsuki hadn't given much resistance, because maybe it had been a lie. He wanted to hang out with his friends and not be alone lying around in his room on his birthday. Maybe it was his own fault for telling them the opposite…
As they wandered the second floor, not really having any destination, Katsuki eventually asked what exactly they were here for in the first place.
“Ah, you know, just some tape and...a new phone cord. Some stuff for Compress-sensei’s project,” he shrugged.
Katsuki raised an eyebrow. “The one due in June…?”
“Y-Yeah! I wanted to get ahead on it.”
Katsuki shrugged, tossing his empty cup in the trash. “If you say so, nerd.”
Izuku looked up at the large purple clock tower. It was six-thirty. He smiled.
“Well, it's getting late anyway. Let's grab those real quick and catch the next train back.”
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
As he walked back with Izuku, feeling better than he had all day, he was still quiet about his thoughts. Maybe they really hadn't done anything, just like he’d said for them not to. And maybe it did hurt that he was the only one who was omitted from the class tradition. Even if he said he hadn’t wanted it...maybe, (at least in the privacy of his own mind), he could concede that he actually really did.
The closer they got while heading back to the dorms, without Izuku’s hand in his to help him match pace, the more Katsuki lagged behind. The paper bag of Izuku’s seemingly random supplies weighed heavy in his unblemished hand as even Izuku had yet to mention anything to him.
In fact, Izuku had gone back to not talking much to Katsuki, not even noticing that the blond had fallen several feet behind.
Though he did look up with a small smile on his face once he was at the Height’s Alliance entrance when they reached it. Izuku could see that down the sidewalk, the lobby of Class 2-A’s building was dark.
Izuku pocketed his phone, finally looking around and noticing Katsuki, stopped several feet behind him and looking down. Izuku’s excited smile fell, turning to face him questioningly. “Kacchan?”
Katsuki glanced up at him. “...you knew. As big an obsessive nerd as you are, I know you knew it,” he stated, face carefully set as he spoke. But he didn't stop there.
“The whole time...all day. But you never said anything. None of you did. That's what this outing was about, wasn't it? Was it supposed to make me feel less shitty, or did you just feel bad?”
Izuku bit his lip worriedly. Uh oh. Now was when this all was coming out? Izuku had expected it earlier, but he'd thought the trip had helped.
“N...no, Kacchan, that's not it. I just...I really did just want to hang out,” Izuku attempted to reassure him.
Katsuki didn't look like he believed him. They were too close for all of this to be for nothing. That wasn't how surprises worked! He needed Katsuki to go inside, but he didn't want him to be upset when he did. He glanced back to the dorms before walking back down the sidewalk to him. “Y...okay. Yeah, I knew,” he admitted, because there wasn't much point in him denying it.
Katsuki tutted at him, turning away crossly.
“B-But I didn't know you wanted me to mention it! Kacchan, you said you didn't want to celebrate.”
“Dang it, Izuku! I didn't say for you to flat out ignore it!” Katsuki snapped, throwing his free arm out in frustration, gripping the bags tightly. How was that not the most obvious thing in the world?? “I didn't mean whatever this is!”
Izuku was a little stunned by the use of his name so openly from the explosive teen. He blinked, shaking his head. “K... Kacchan-”
“Guys? What’re you doing out here, it's past curfew.”
Both teens turned around when they heard the familiar voice, spotting Kirishima rounding the corner followed by Kaminari.
“Yeah, what's the hold-up? We do not want to get caught out here by the teachers,” the electric quirk user stated, glancing around as if waiting for Hound Dog to spring from the bushes.
Katsuki scowled more and couldn't help himself looking for a fight. “What do you losers want? Some friends you are.”
Kaminari looked offended. “W-What did we do now?? That's the thanks we get for trying to save you?”
“Bakugo, what's been going on? You've been acting weird all day.”
Katsuki almost threw his school bag at them. “I can't believe you brick-heads! Even balls for brains somehow got his day!”
Kaminari and Kirishima exchanged looks before looking back at Katsuki. “What are you talking about?”
“What am-?! It's my damn birthday! And my own friends just acted like it was just any old Friday!” Katsuki yelled. “The one time you morons actually listen, and it's for this?! Fuckin’ incredible timing! No stupid terrible singing at midnight, no annoying texts, none of you idiots bothering me! Here I was being an idiot all week when you really weren't scheming anything at all! But hey, you got me just what I asked for. ”
Okay, they needed an intervention.
“Kacchan,” Izuku said carefully, walking up with a soft, sympathetic smile and a tilt of his head that honestly only upset Katsuki even more, “Are you saying you actually wanted a party?”
Katsuki shook, because of course Deku of all people would give him that, thinking he was all slick! “Fuck no! I don't need any stupid party! But you didn't even- all I got- yo-you were gone!! I mean, you too?! I mean, what the hell, Deku!? I at least thought you'd-...we were finally becoming friends again. But no, not even a single shitty text! L-look, not that I hated the outing, but you seriously expect me to believe it was for some cheap office supplies? I mean, tape? Seriously? You have an infinite tape-dispenser as a classmate. You really couldn't think of a better excuse?”
Izuku heard two snickers behind him that were really not helping, even if they were by no means being malicious. Katsuki wouldn’t take it that way, though. Kirishima managed to stop pretty quickly, but Katsuki had unfortunately already heard it and zeroed in on them, glowering.
He shouldered past Izuku, who was trying to placate him and failing. “The hell’s so funny, huh, Dunce Face?!”
Kaminari couldn't help it. At that, he snorted, and burst out laughing, leaning against Kirishima who was looking nervous as he held him up. “Hahaha! I can't believe it! I knew it! You big liar, you're normal after all!”
Katsuki was stunned for a long moment as he was seemingly laughed at. He didn't really know how to respond for a moment. What was this? He didn't know what to say, tense and breathing hard, and so became defensive. “You...I see how it is, you asshole! So what, you happy? Shut up!”
Kirishima, playing the mediator, stepped in front of Kaminari when he saw the physical issue this was going to turn into if he didn’t. “What Denki means to say is...I guess we’re a little surprised? We didn’t think you actually wanted a party.”
“Yeah, Bakugo. We didn’t think you’d be upset by it,” Uraraka’s softer tone spoke up from further back. Well this was just becoming a little old get together, wasn't it? Did these guys have nothing better to do but be nosy?
And there Deku was in their midst, looking at him with what better not have been pity. He wanted to wipe the expression off his face, because of all people, how could he do this? No, Deku without a doubt hadn't forgotten: he was too much of a nerd who knew too much about him.
Was this some sort of revenge from the universe for all those years Katsuki had left Izuku alone on his birthday? Izuku, who had only ever had his mom and Katsuki there and it had been enough? Katsuki had ignored the invites and in middle school, they'd eventually stopped coming each July. It all came full circle. He was more than over this.
“... I'm out of here.”
Katsuki shoved Izuku’s bag to him before walking away from the scene. He heard them trying to talk to him, but he just hurried down the sidewalk and up the steps. He wanted to forget all of this. Izuku ran to catch him, but Katsuki was already opening the door. Why was it pitch black in here?! They were never out this early.
“Ah-! Kacchan, wait-! ”
The lights flew on before Katsuki had the chance to find the switch.
“ SURPRISE!! ” came a loud chorus along with a symphony of various popping and asynchronous party blowers.
Confetti came raining down on him from three different directions, the tiny colorful pieces decorating his hair while glittery string hung off him where it landed on his shoulders and half-raised arms.
Katsuki looked genuinely startled, frozen in the doorway. His eyes were wide as his classmates all started talking at once, rushing over with smiles and congratulations. Mina got to him first, carefully maneuvering the camera she had as she threw her arms around him in a hug.
It was enough to shake him out of the stunned stupor, and his eyes shifted down to look at the pink girl as she beamed at him. “Happy birthday!”
Iida marched up with the rest of the group, Yaoyorozu on his left. They were both smiling. “Ah, there you are! We were getting worried.”
“Yes! Happy birthday, Bakugo-kun! We've been waiting all day to tell you.”
There were more equally enthused shouts of the phrase and Katsuki realized then just how badly he'd been wanting to hear it.
He felt the presence of the friends who'd been outside with him at his back, a gentle hand on his shoulder. Katsuki slowly turned his head and met Izuku’s sparkling gaze.
Izuku glanced back at the others, then to Katsuki, who was taken aback by the look he got from his childhood friend. Izuku looked as sheepish as he was relieved. “Kacchan, we couldn't forget your birthday. Honest.”
Katsuki recovered by the time Mina released him and Izuku gave a light laugh. “Y-You seem pretty speechless. We did a good job then?”
“We got you! Admit we got you!” Sero snickered, unable to resist. “You should've seen your face just now! You looked like you were gonna run.”
“I got it on camera!” Mina giggled, “That was the best reaction ever! That has to go on the class page.”
“ Don’t you dare,” Katsuki finally managed to get words out, squinting, “And you didn't scare me!”
Kirishima clapped him on the shoulder with a sharp grin before being overwhelmed by his emotions and dragging him into a bear hug. “Oooh, I’m so sorry, bro! I could barely stand seeing you like that all day! Please don’t be mad!”
Izuku got caught up in the crossfire as Kaminari and Sero nearly knocked them over when they joined too, a cascade of glittery paper falling off their friend. Surprisingly enough, Katsuki didn’t try to pull away. He hardly even looked annoyed...well, at least until he noticed Mina snapping another picture.
“No hard feelings!” Kami sniffed, hugging his fellow blond tightly, “Please don’t kill me later, I got you a cool present. And it was all Midoriya’s idea, so-”
“ Anyway,” Izuku cut in before Kami could get him solely in trouble, “Y-You don’t have to answer now. We...We made you dinner! T-To make up for the lack of birthday breakfast. And other things, so…”
The hug was released, and Katsuki stood with his attention on the fumbling Izuku.
“So...we hope you’ll stay for a bit? And celebrate.”
Katsuki was quiet as he felt everyone looking at him, curious and quiet.
Katsuki tutted, sliding out of his shoes. He walked in past them all. As he did, he looked up at the decorating they’d done while he was gone, orange and black streamers hanging from the ceiling. Hanging just inside the entrance where they were all still standing was a black banner with “Happy Birthday, Bakugo!” written in what looked to be bright ass pumpkin orange paint.
A few dangling paper skulls and explosion cutouts dangled near it and along the walls. It looked like they got most of the decorations from a Halloween store. The thought made him crack the tiniest smile. Something actually smelled really good coming from the kitchen as he walked by to the elevator. He pressed the call button before turning back to his waiting classmates, Izuku standing in the center, waiting anxiously.
Katsuki lifted his head, almost snorted at that. “What’s that look for? At least let me get out of this damn uniform you’ve yet to let me get out of.”
Katsuki stepped into the elevator, but not before he glimpsed the relief and grins on his friends’ faces. He heard the immediate excited chatter following as he disappeared into the lift, a smirk on his lips. In the privacy of the elevator, leaning against the wall, he found himself feeling lighter than he had all day.
“Huh. A surprise party…”
He couldn’t believe he’d ruled that out. Or rather, how good 19 teenagers could be at hiding it all from him so that it wasn’t even on his radar. He was...admittedly impressed. Guess he shouldn’t have doubted his friends. And it had been Izuku’s idea? That was what Denki had said. He smiled fondly while walking to his room.
“That nerd…”
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
Katsuki didn’t take long to rejoin them. He dropped off his bag and returned in more comfortable pants and a black shirt. He was glad he’d decided to shower after gym earlier rather than waiting. Somehow they managed to get him into a party crown and pulled him to the table for eating, the dishes already laid out.
Between Shouto’s spicy cold soba pot and Shoji’s chicken and rice bowls, the cooking wasn’t half bad. (Though the high-end dumplings Momo ordered seemed to disappear faster than anything.) Katsuki would never let Half ‘n Half know just how good he thought it was, but he was 100% going to try and get Izuku to smuggle him the recipe.
After the leftover food along with the sides was put aside for whoever sought out seconds, they decided presents should be next before Sato’s cake.
Katsuki had already seen the pile of many standard gifts on a table off to the side. But Iida and Tokoyami pushed in the main event- an absolutely giant box wrapped in striped paper. Three people could have comfortably hidden inside it. Momo had made the wrapping for them, given how big a roll they needed. It took four of them to figure out how to go about it. A big red curly present topper was stuck on top.
It had Katsuki’s complete attention. “What's this?” he asked, curiosity beating out his show of indifference.
Kirishima hopped up from his seat near the birthday boy, grinning. “Why don't you find out?”
Izuku shifted in his chair nervously when he saw them pull it in. Oh, they were doing this one first?
He rose too, joining Iida and Kirishima behind Katsuki as he stopped in front of the box. Everyone watched, either gathering around or from where they were sitting.
Izuku had been starting to have doubts and second thoughts thinking about this moment towards the end of the meal. Now, as Katsuki was pulling the meticulously wrapped paper off, the greenet was being downright jittery. What if Katsuki...didn't like it at all? Or reacted badly after getting his hopes up?? In front of everyone at his own party! Maybe it had been a stupid idea. And it’d be all his fault! Katsuki would never forgive him because it was his idea and they should have just gone with Hagakure’s nonflammable workout gloves idea.
A large steadying hand on his shoulder offset the oncoming panic Izuku was on the verge of. He looked up at his blue-haired friend whose presence never failed to help his confidence and help him have a cool head. Iida gave him a mild smile, nodding assuringly, as if he knew exactly what Izuku was worked up about.
“It's alright. Watch,” were his quiet reassuring words for his freckled friend, and there wasn't much else they could do. And in the moment, just hearing that moderately quelled Izuku's anxiety.
The large box was wrapped...it was deceiving in more ways than one. And everyone who knew was watching giddily, or at least with interest to how he'd react and well...it wasn't like they could take it back now.
He glanced to his left and the class redhead gave him two enthusiastic thumbs up. If only he had Kirishima’s confidence. Or maybe he just needed to have more faith in both his friends and Katsuki.
Katsuki had a grin he wasn’t hiding. He stood up. “The hell did you even get that big of a box, huh?”
Izuku stood by tapping his fingers together as he watched Katsuki easily tear the wrapping paper off the giant cardboard box to unfold the lid.
Izuku couldn't watch. Please get it, Kacchan…
There was a pause. Katsuki's face was deceptively blank as, after a moment, as he didn't really know what was expected from him. “...huh.”
The box was filled to the brim with loose balls of crumpled black paper. Dozens of them. Well, upon further inspection, not all of them were that way: some were uncrumpled, pointy shapes of various pale colors sticking out against the dark pile.
Katsuki raised an eyebrow at what he was seeing, confused. No one bothered to offer any explanation though, so he decided to find out for himself.
He pulled out the nearest colored paper, a light blue one, and oh. It was a star. The next yellow one he picked up was the same. They were all the same. Little palm-sized paper stars scattered seemingly at random, yet delicately spaced and uncrushed. Searching and plucking them out was like pulling them from their twinkling reflection in a rippling moonlit pond. And there were a lot of them sunk inside when he moved his hand through. What was this?
He dug through the noisy paper, finding more. Katsuki’s hand touched something suspended in the middle that felt different from both the stars and the filler black paper, so he pulled it out. It was small, feeling like just another piece of paper at first. But this one wasn't folded like the rest.
It was a photo from last year, taken during what looked to be the school festival. Katsuki didn't even realize they'd had any pictures from the day nor did he remember this, but there was the whole class, effects crew included, during what looked like after the performance all cheering and celebrating the success on the stage. It was in really nice quality as well.
He looked at it and the stars again.
...Wait a second. He'd seen these before. As his brain recalled exactly what these were, his hands moved before he really thought about it and unfurled the folded star in hand. And yes, that was right. There was writing in it as he opened it up. It was a note and the bottom was signed “Koji Koda”.
No one said anything as his friends grinned in waiting, and Izuku hated how he could only focus on the stifled giggles and loud shuffling around him as Katsuki sifted through the dozens of snowball-sized notes, the purpose dawning on him.
“...lucky stars,” Izuku blurted after too long a silence from Katsuki. He had to say something. “You can save them, l-like in a jar? Or box..since these ones are ki-kinda big. And then open them..! W-whenever you want. They're notes and letters from everyone, some of us wrote more than one...I think All Might did one too. Um. They're just...so you know we...a-ah…”
Izuku's face had slowly started turning more red the more his helpless rambling went on, and thankfully Kirishima was willing to bail him out, stepping up and putting his hands on Izuku’s shoulders supportively. “They're so you know how much we care about you! Everyone had something to write to you, bro.”
Mina clapped happily. “You can open them when you're sad and they'll help you feel better.”
Encouraged, Izuku nodded with a little smile. “Y-Yeah! They're...reminders. And...and you might not realize it, but we're all really close, so that includes you too.”
Sero grinned, winking at them. “Like it or not, you're one of us, dude. We weren't gonna let you get away with feeling left out.”
“Yeah, and like we were gonna miss the chance to see you all embarrassed!” Kaminari teased, “But seriously, what kind of friends would we be if we actually didn't do anything for your birthday?”
Katsuki eyed them all in turn, several of the stars he'd fished out gingerly cradled in his arm. He looked at the stars and the picture and then to the class again.
“...you guys know you could’ve just texted this to me, right?” Katsuki quipped, though his soft smirk betrayed him. “So this big box was a bunch of sentimental paper?”
He got laughs at that, everyone more relaxed and relieved, it seemed. Sero took that moment to tap Izuku's shoulder before pressing the package into his hands.
Izuku cleared his throat nervously and Katsuki focused on him. He could practically see the shorter shaking where he stood, he was so tense.
“Ah...t-the box...was for the class present, b-but we didn't know what to get you! At...at first,” he explained, looking at Katsuki before green eyes flitted away again.
And his hands were behind his back. Katsuki turned to him fully, waiting.
Izuku finally revealed another box. It was white and covered in colorful speckling. Izuku held it out to him hesitantly and Katsuki took it from him, setting the class picture aside. He tilted his head at it. It didn't weigh that much and was sort of flat.
“...so we just...thought of this.”
“More to it, huh?”
What more was there than this? Katsuki opened the box up and pulled out the contents.
Mina handed him the picture of the class he'd set aside and Katsuki slipped it into the sleeve so it was visible through the front cover. He flipped through and saw that it was half full of pictures taken throughout the past year. And oh.
He blushed seeing the photo he and Izuku had taken not two hours ago smack in the middle of the second page. How the hell had they gotten that in there?? “Seriously??” he sputtered under his breath, quickly turning the pages. He half-glared accusingly at Izuku.
Izuku blushed brightly seeing it from how close he was. But it wasn't much a surprise to him. He was smiling regardless.
All the pictures had the blond in them, some he remembered taking and others were candid with his friends. Who had even found the time to compile this?
Katsuki looked at them all before scoffing lightly, tucking the book under his arm. “...where exactly am I supposed to even put all this litter?”
Izuku’s astonished look split into a wide smile taking up the 70% of his face that eyes and freckles weren't. He saw right through Katsuki's fake indifference.
“Oooh! Kacchan~” he beamed, eye looking glossy just that fast.
That nerd had better not cry.
Still, Katsuki couldn't hide the small smile his own traitorous face donned in response and quickly scoffed, turning away to attempt to salvage his status. “What? I'm just supposed to drag this crumpled mess to my room??”
“W-Well! Maybe you could use the big photo sleeves in the back of the book for your favorite ones?” Izuku supplied, swiping at his eyes as if no one would notice. “S-Some of them...the letters, are long.”
Kirishima grinned, grabbing his red-wrapped gift from the pile against the wall. “Yeah! You can figure it out later~ You've got more gifts, you know! Open mine first- ”
“As if! You guys have been hogging him,” Mina cut in, slipping in front of Kirishima with a swirl-patterned baby blue bag held up in her hands. “Mine’s something you'll love .”
“Yay, presents!” Hagakure squeed, clutching her present too. “You can use mine! Here's a hint, it'll help with working out without worrying about your hands~”
Katsuki was guided over to the couch where they then started going through all the gifts and cards. It was the most open Izuku had ever seen him be around the class as a whole, and it felt good knowing Katsuki was happy. Katsuki kept the album in his lap.
Sato ended up bringing out the cake he’d been saving nearly an hour after dinner ended. He held it up from the grabby hands of his more impatient classmates.
“ Guys, let him get the candles blown out first.”
There were two striped white number candles with his age and two dotted red-letter candles that made his initials. Four sparklers stuck out of the top for a bit of flair.
Todoroki lit them with a small flame from his fingertip before it was placed in front of Katsuki and he was able to get a better look at it.
Sato had really outdone himself, as he usually did when asked to make the birthday cakes. Though he said he had help from Higajure and Aoyama with the decorating and apparently Todoroki had helped buy some of what Sato needed.
The cake was a two-layered sheet cake that could easily be split between all of the teenagers. It had a layer of red, orange, and yellow marble frosting on top of white, and the candles illuminating it in the dim lights gave the illusion of a colorful explosive with a lit fuse.
Izuku was beaming as he stood right beside Katsuki, his hand just barely touching the blond’s shoulder. Katsuki could feel him practically vibrating from his excitement. He wasn’t lucky enough to escape being the center of an odd rendition of the hero birthday song he remembered from his childhood. Izuku had no doubt taught them if his grin at the end was any indication. The fact Izuku had held on to the dumb song they'd made up as pre-schoolers stirred something nostalgic yet fleeting in him.
“You have to make a wish, Kacchan~”
Katsuki rolled his eyes a little bit at the childish suggestion. Still, to himself, he did before he blew out the candles.
The cake somehow got even more impressive when cut into, as the fluffy vanilla was a mild marbling of the same colors as the frosting.
Even though it was sweet, it was mildly so, and with its drizzled citrus frosting, even Katsuki couldn’t deny that it was really damn good.
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
“Man, Bakubro, could you have been any more cryptic about what you wanted? You know, you could've just admitted it from the beginning, right?” Kirishima laughed while Sero threw his arm across Katsuki's shoulders from where he was relaxing on the sofa. They'd just gotten back from moving things upstairs.
Katsuki had put the stars into a smaller box and the big one sat in the corner for now. Iida insisted on recycling it the next day.
“Seriously. You spent weeks telling us to fuck off with any party plans and you wanted one after all? You've got to learn to be more straightforward, dude.”
“Shut up, I already told you it wasn’t about no stupid party,” Katsuki squinted at them, unable to believe they’d managed to set him up like this. He wasn’t some whining kid. He worked on his second slice of cake while talking with them. A little over half the class was settling down for the movie.
“Yeah, yeah. We know, you just thought we forgot about you~ Aww, didn't know we mattered so much to you!” Kami teased. He cracked a wider smile when Katsuki threw a napkin at him.
“Well like we said, it was Midoriya’s idea to not say anything. He said you’d catch on easy or something,” Jiro pointed out as she joined them, flopping down on one of the acquired bean bags they brought out on movie nights. “And that you might not like being woken up anyways.”
“Nerd! Was this all part of your stupid plan to trick me into this?” he scoffs mildly, looking back at the other.
Izuku had been grabbing one of the last dumplings when addressed and looked as if he'd been caught. He raised his hands in his innocence. “What?? O-Of course not! It was just a surprise party, Kacchan, really! It wasn’t a trick.”
He bit into the delicious savory piece, walking over and sitting next to Katsuki.
Uraraka smiled. “Izu-kun more than anyone hated seeing you sulking all day. We had to keep him away as much as we could to not get him to spill the beans.”
Izuku was blushing even before Jiro chimed in, “Do you know how many times we almost got caught? Though Mido’s quick thinking bought us the time we needed, thanks to the date you two had-”
Katsuki sputtered, while Izuku coughed next to him on the dumpling bite. Red eyes were wide in denial but an equally red face was betraying him. “WHA- DATE?? That wasn’t a-! I didn’t..!!"
“W-We didn't-!! Ochako-san, whyyy, ” he groans, a hand covering his mortified face futilely.
The group outside of the two embarrassed boys laughed pretty hard at how easily they made them both red in the face.
Izuku didn't think he’d ever live it down. Both were thankful for the distraction of the movie starting to save them.
In the dark, Izuku was rather close. He gave a small smile when he noticed Katsuki looking. “I hope you liked the party anyway,” he said quietly.
Katsuki blinked at him before looking over at the tv. He slipped his hand into Izuku’s as if he'd left it waiting there for him. It was too dark for the subtle move to be seen.
“..yeah, nerd,” he answers, hardly a whisper.
I did.
Izuku squeezed back. He was more than happy to hear that.
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
Katsuki was nodding even before the second action movie Sero put in got past its previews. Yet he wasn't ready to leave and go to bed. At this point, less than half the class was still out here with him, and he blearily noted Izuku’s form pressed to his side, curly hair tickling his cheek. His arm had found its way around Izuku for the comfort of position and had stayed there while one of Izuku's arms had snaked around Katsuki's lower back at some point, essentially hugging him. Izuku's breaths were even and low as he'd drifted off, and Katsuki really had no incentive to move away from the warm, grounding weight of the other boy, tingling limbs be damned. He couldn't help the ease he felt now, surrounded by people he'd never admit he cared about, and who cared about him and that he hoped knew without him having to say it.
The common room was swathed in an early quiet for a Friday night. The low hum of the heater and even breathing interrupting the silence was an unexpected type of peaceful. It was only on rare occasions that he was surrounded by his closest peers’ like this, finding himself nodding off among them. He couldn’t deny that he appreciated it more than being alone, even if it was just accidental circumstance that put him here. It was the natural conclusion to a day like today, and it was comforting.
Izuku’s presence most of all was a constant in his life. An anchor that he needed and would drift away without. And Katsuki thought himself the least deserving of it.
Izuku was as much a mystery as he was an open book. Katsuki had tried to drive him away, assuming it was all just some ruse...how could someone he demeaned and pushed away be this stubbornly set on backing him? But it was the truth. Katsuki didn't think he could yet admit out loud.
And there wasn't much he could do about it, was there? If he'd ever wanted to.
He didn't. He didn't want it to change...unless it was for the better.
With no one awake as a witness, who was there to say anything if he had pressed his lips gently onto Izuku's head? Who would believe that Katsuki was capable of more tender acts as wrapping an arm around Izuku more carefully, drawing comfort and also trying to give it to someone who wouldn't even know of it?
Free hand gingerly resting over the grey and red book in his lap, he gazed at its sleek cover rather than the dim movie menu screen as he allowed himself this fleeting moment. He fell back asleep in the company of the people who were best and definitively described as his friends. Friends who cared about him, that relentlessly stayed and that wouldn't leave him alone no matter how many times he had walked away. Maybe it was becoming true for him, too. Maybe he liked this fact.
He was just glad it was dark despite the glow of the tv, because he wouldn't be able to deny his smile so easily.
↞ ・ [ ❈ ] ・ ↠
Some time in the early hours of the weekend morning, Katsuki was seized by consciousness. He didn't remember making the choice to depart after waking up on the couch surrounded by several other bodies, but he hadn't been trapped by them. Someone had shut off the tv and put the extra food away.
His side was cold. Was that why he was awake? Izuku had disappeared at some point, and Katsuki stared pensively at where he'd been.
Must have finally realized what happened.
Maybe it was too soon. Or maybe Katsuki was too awkward.
He looked down, for a moment with those thoughts swirling before he finally got up. With Izuku gone, Katsuki figured he should head up too. He was still pretty tired and the couch wasn't exactly great for sleeping.
He absently settled the throw blanket over Mina’s curled up form before picking up his book gift and walking out. He stepped silently over Kirishima and Kaminari so comfortably hanging off one another, content. Katsuki didn't let himself linger too long on the two. Though he did wonder if he should wake them. ...no, he figured. They somehow looked comfy where they were. He headed for the elevator.
So much for rising early to take on the day. He and Izuku had planned to spend the day out. He hoped Izuku was fine with pushing their outing to lunch, but maybe he wouldn't mind. If he even still wanted to.
Darkness still shrouded the quiet halls as he found his way to his room. He didn't know how they'd managed to get him to stay up until midnight (and it had been a struggle on Katsuki's part to do so), but the couple hours of sleep there were nice. Though that had sadly ended.
The elevator stopped on the way up, doors sliding open with a low two-note indicator sound.
He hadn’t been expecting to run into a nodding Izuku, who was in more comfortable sleeping clothes. Izuku seemed surprised to see him too when Katsuki stepped in.
“Sorry. Did I wake you up when I left?” he murmured, leaning against the wall. He didn't even push any button for wherever he was heading. Just looking at Katsuki.
Katsuki shook his head slowly. “Nah. I woke up on my own.” A pause. “What are you still up for, though? I thought you headed to bed.”
Izuku couldn’t hide the sheepish look even in the low light. “Ah...well, I was going to go back. I-I didn’t...want to just leave you guys out there.”
“Tt. They're fine. All cuddled up without us.”
Izuku gave a tiny amused smile, “You just left them?”
“Mina found a different thing to cling to, so I wasn’t exactly needed there anymore,” he shrugged. Izuku hummed lowly in response.
“Guess we won't make it to that cafe first thing today like we wanted.” Katsuki comments. One of Izuku's gifts had been an invitation for breakfast at this nice new place downtown.
Izuku smiles faintly. “That's alright. We can go whenever we wake up. Their lunch is good too. I just wanted to spend more time together.”
Katsuki’s half-lidded gaze stayed on him until the elevator slowed to a stop and moonlight through the far window spilled into the elevator.
Izuku almost looked disappointed before flashing Katsuki a tired smile. “Well. Goodnight. See you in a couple of hours.”
Katsuki put his free hand in his pocket, album still tucked under his arm. Rather than departing, he raised an eyebrow.
“Where were you heading? You never pushed a button.”
Izuku blushed, that much was painfully obvious as he flapped a hand at Katsuki dismissively, inching towards the button panel. He hadn't realized Katsuki had noticed that. Heck, he hadn't even noticed that. “O-oh? The.. bathroom! I left something, my toothbrush. I-I forgot.”
Katsuki eyed him, and after a moment of looking literally everywhere else to avoid it, forest green eyes found his crimson red. Izuku froze in his fidgeting, looking like he’d been caught.
Katsuki held the metal door so it couldn’t close as he turned slightly, not breaking eye contact. Izuku didn’t know what to do with the expectant look, not sure if he was reading it right.
When Izuku didn’t move, still standing there in the corner hugging his sides, Katsuki stepped back inside, closer. The taller teen silently reached and grasped Izuku’s hand in his.
Izuku looked startled, though his tense scarred hand clasped back instantly, at least putting Katsuki somewhat at ease. There was some amount of trust there. Izuku hadn't pulled away. “Kacchan?”
Katsuki scoffed, towing him along with their linked hands. “Come on, nerd.”
Izuku was unresisting as the two exited the elevator together, Izuku’s sluggish mind trying to wake him up from whatever dream this was.
Katsuki led the way to his room. The cracked blinds let in the only source of light, as Katsuki didn’t bother flipping the light switch when he shut the door. It was enough though; his room was illuminated to the point they could see just fine. The clock on his headboard told him it was past 3.
The blond gingerly placed the album next to Izuku’s present (a vintage All Might-themed holding chest perfect for holding all the lucky stars) and the card he'd gotten from All Might thoughtfully organized on his desk.
Izuku stood in the middle unsurely, trying to stay awake by blinking excessively.
Katsuki nudged him lightly towards the bed. “Sit down if you’re that tired.”
Izuku turned wide eyes on him, but Katsuki had already grabbed a pair of shorts and a comfortable black t-shirt and disappeared into the bathroom.
By the time he came back out, tossing his clothes into the laundry bin, Izuku was sitting as much on the edge as he could, looking like he'd slip off the mattress any second. Katsuki rolled his eyes, drawing the curtains and climbing in behind him.
“You don’t have to stay, nerd,” he murmured, sleep going to take him momentarily whether he wanted it to or not, “but if you are, don’t stay like that. Come lie down.”
‘With me’ went unspoken.
The blond pulled the blanket back as he slipped into it and held it open, waiting to see what he’d do. Katsuki knew what he himself wanted...what they both hopefully wanted. To just be close for a little while longer. They were so close, and yet...would Izuku accept it? Was Katsuki even reading him right? What if he didn't want it and was scared to tell him?
The insecure thoughts were coming to a head, having been there all day bringing him down.
Izuku didn't like him in that way.
They'd just barely repaired their friendship.
It was too soon...if Izuku would ever have him like this at all. After however many times Katsuki messed up.
Izuku looked over his shoulder at him, able to find Katsuki’s deceivingly calm gaze watching him even in the dark. The greenet took just long enough that Katsuki’s worry crept into his even expression, but then Izuku moved. He crawled into the free space beside Katsuki, laying down facing him. Katsuki draped the grey blanket down over Izuku too.
Despite the bed not being for two bodies to share, there was a foot of distance separating them. Katsuki didn't comment on it, as he gave Izuku the choice of how close he wanted to be. Anything not to scare him away, no matter how much Katsuki wished to have the basic innocent contact with him once more.
And after a beat on the edge of the bed, Izuku wiggled a few inches closer and Katsuki had met him in the middle, closing the distance gradually. Until they were touching. Eye to eye, heads practically resting together.
Katsuki just took the moment to observe Izuku’s features while so deliberately near. He almost regretted never having been this close in the light...he was captivating. More beautiful than normal, with his dozens of stippled dots scattered across his face, barely enough to stand out in the darkness. His exhausted emerald eyes gazing back and observing Katsuki back just as intentionally.
Laying so close, Katsuki caught the faint trace of Izuku’s wash on his skin, fresh and natural. He had never gotten to appreciate it before, but that didn’t mean he couldn't now. The pleasant scent only made him want to be closer and linger in it, analyzing why it made him think of brisk summer nights in the mountains when he closed his eyes to focus on its familiarity.
Katsuki's hand shifted up, and without thinking, nudged a stray curl away from Izuku's eye. His hand lingered there, hovering just over his cheek. Katsuki wanted to ask why he wasn’t sleeping, of how they both were even still managing to crack an eye open.
Izuku's hand found his, grasping it and lowering it to rest against his cheek himself, eyes closing. Katsuki ran his thumb over the scarred hand, so different from Katsuki's unmarred ones. Both had been through so much yet showed it differently. Katsuki liked Izuku's hands more.
He wanted the last thing he saw before he slept to be this, just as he wanted it to be what he woke up to. Though when Katsuki's eyes drifted closed for more than a few seconds, he felt the lightest press against his forehead. He blinked and saw Izuku pulling back. He hadn't even realized he'd moved to do it. Only thanks to the thin lines of moonlight creeping in through the blinds did he see the faint blush dusting Izuku’s flecked cheeks and it was honestly too much.
Katsuki couldn't help it. He leaned forward enough to reach the other boy and Izuku met him in the middle. Soft, unsure lips pressed against equally inexperienced ones, chaste and tentative. Then with all the combined confidence of two young birds learning flight, they deepened the connection, but only superficially. Both were innocent and blameless. Neither were willing to risk more in this fragile moment, as a breath taken the wrong way could shatter it and hurt, but there were no regrets to be had either.
It was hard for Katsuki to deny the pleasant fluttering in his chest. If he thought too much about it, surely he would combust. He was vaguely aware of Izuku’s hands gripping him as if Katsuki might flee otherwise, trembling slightly. Katsuki tried to reassure him even as they had to separate, not letting Izuku retreat too far from him.
It couldn't have lasted more than two moments, but it was enough. More than he’d ever thought he’d get outside his dreams. Never in a million years could someone have convinced him this was how his birthday would end. He prayed it wasn’t all just a daydream concocted to spite himself. That couldn’t have been, though. Izuku was warm and close and very real.
After they’d pulled apart, Izuku ducked, hiding his face in Katsuki's chest. No tension was there at least, putting Katsuki's worry to rest.
The taller relaxed and had a fond look, carefully putting his arms around Izuku and petting his hair comfortingly. What exactly did this mean for them? Katsuki's lagging serotonin-filled mind couldn't tell just then, but that could be dealt with in the morning.
Izuku peeked up at him after several minutes of quiet. Still awake somehow. Katsuki only knew from the soft green hair shifting under his chin. The hand at his side curled into his shirt more. He cracked an eye open, a silent question.
“...I’m happy here with you, Kacchan,” he said in an unsteady whisper as if he were admitting something of the utmost sensitivity.
Katsuki was surprised and waited for him to continue, but the silence stretched again and Katsuki wondered if he’d even said anything at all. Izuku shifted against his arm, legs shifting. Katsuki decided he’d respond to the voice regardless.
“...I’m glad you’re here too,” Katsuki murmured, and maybe he hadn't imagined it because Izuku relaxed again next to him, curling closer, nuzzling back into him. “...and...thank you. For today.”
Izuku breathed a little easier, smiling warmly. Katsuki held the smaller boy to him gently and Izuku slipped an arm around Katsuki too. They were finally still, their breathing falling in sync while held so close.
Katsuki did not really want to fall asleep. If he slept, this would end and they would have to figure it out without running any longer...but maybe that was what they needed. As long as it didn't have to be the last time he had this...had Izuku in his arms, then maybe it was time to take the risk. It might end better than he hoped, and he allowed himself to rest easy with it in mind. It was enough reason for Katsuki to wake with a confession pouring out without rein.
Thankfully, Izuku wanted him just as much. He reciprocated wholly, mercifully silencing his love with another sweet kiss.
The End