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Is it Ego, or Dignity?

Summary:

So what if Endeavor asked Todoroki and Kirishima to demonstrate their quirks at some middle school? That didn't make Katsuki jealous. No way!

(Narrator: He was jealous AF.)

Notes:

The vague premise of this fic actually came from an atla Zuki fic, but it doesn't have that much in common. It also arose from the realization that there is a criminal lack of Todoroki in my fics, and the situation needed to be fixed immediately!
Also, showing some of the ways Katsuki's influenced Eijiro, for better of for worse.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

 

It started with an afternoon just like any other.

Katsuki was down in the common room with the Idiot Brigade, fiddling on his phone while Sero debated with Kirishima over a couple of video game characters and Ashido, Jiro, and Kaminari talked about music. A couple of times, either party would try to rope him into their conversation, requiring him to either give his two cents or brush them off. But all in all, it wasn’t a half shitty day.

Then Icy-Hot had to come along and ruin it.  

He automatically looked up when the elevator opened and Todoroki stepped out, heading toward them. 

“Kirishima?” 

“Oh, Hey Todoroki.” The redhead chirped with a grin. 

Seeing that it didn’t involve him, Katsuki returned to his phone, but was still half-listening to the conversation. 

“You and I have gotten a proposition.” Todoroki continued. 

“Really? From who?” 

“My Dad.” 

“For what?” 

“He just called asking if we would be interested in a talk and demonstration with the third-years at Serenno Middle School who’re planning to register for Yuuei. Kind of like a Career Day.” 

Katsuki jerked upright in his seat. 

“I would provide an example of an offensive-style quirk,” The dual-quirk teen continued “And you’d be defensive-type, obviously.” 

What. The. Hell? 

“Holy shit!” Kirishima gasped. “Your dad asked for me ?” 

“I guess he’s been paying more attention to the rest of the class than I thought. He’s seen a little of what you can do, and thinks it would be perfect for this assignment.” 

Seriously, what the fuck was happening here? 

“What kind of demonstrations are we talking about?” 

“A little bit of closely-supervised sparring with the students.” 

Kirishima was beaming. “That’s so cool! I’d love to, Man! When is it?” 

By now Katsuki had regained the ability to speak. “Wait just a fucking minute!”

Everyone looked over at him. “Something wrong, Bro?” Kirishima asked. 

“Why you two?!” 

Todoroki pursed his lips slightly. “He only needs one offense-type and one defense-type. Any more would probably be redundant.” 

“Who the fuck you callin’ redundant?!” 

“Nobody. I’m just saying that more than one demonstration for each would just be unnecessary and just take up time.” 

“Then why the fuck do you get to do the demo for offensive-type? Huh? My fighting ain’t good enough for your old man?” 

“I’m sure he’s got nothing wrong with your fighting style or quirk. It’s your personality he’s not so sure about.” 

Katsuki felt a muscle in his cheek twitch.

“Fucking what?!” 

Sero and Ashido failed to hold in their laughter, Jiro shook her head, and Kaminari shot Katsuki a shit-eating grin. “Betcha’ weren’t expecting that burn. Eh, Kacchan?” 

“Shut up!” Katsuki snapped. “This is bullshit!” 

“It wasn’t my decision.” Todoroki pointed out. “But, face it, you’re not exactly kid-friendly.” 

“I could be if I wanted to, Shitstain!” 

Kirishima bumped her fist against his shoulder with a mollifying smile. “You’ll get your chance, Dude. I know it.” 

 He folded in on himself, fuming. “Like hell.” 

“Sorry.” Todoroki said lamely. 

“You can shove your sorries up your ass.” Katsuki snarled. 

The other boy just shrugged and turned back to Kirishima. “To answer your earlier question, he’d like us to do it Friday next week.” 

“Sounds great!” She struck her fists together. “Count me in!” 

“Good. I’ll let him know we accept.” 

He left the room without further ado. 

“Wow Kiri!” Ashido exclaimed. “Getting picked by Endeavor out of a class full of talent to teach future students! That’s a huge deal!” 

“I know!” She was practically vibrating in her seat. “I’m so pumped, guys!” 

“You’d be the best candidate to teach those little rugrats a thing or two.” Sero said. “You’re friendly, outgoing, motivational…” 

“Way more fun than their teachers.” Kaminari added. 

“If anyone can motivate some irritable middle-schoolers, it would be you.” Jiro said. 

“Those kids are gonna’ love you!” Ashido declared. 

The conversation continued along this vein, while Katsuki slouched in the cushions, forgotten and sullen.

 


 

Eijiro couldn’t believe her luck. 

Out of all the Yuuei students with defensive-type quirks, Endeavor picked her to demonstrate alongside his beyond-talented son. 

It was so cool! 

“Honored” didn’t even begin to describe how she felt. She was psyched! Jazzed! Rarin’ to go! She couldn’t wait! 

The only thing spoiling the experience was knowing how disappointed Bakugo was to not be included. 

Even long after he’d caught up with the class and gotten his provisional license, the humiliation of the whole thing was still a sore point with the exploding teen. It would probably be a lingering insecurity for many months to come, if not years.  

As far as the whole Serenno demonstration thing went, he still put on a tough guy act, pretending it wasn’t bothering him, even though it very obviously was. Trying not to talk about it in his presence just annoyed him, and he would snap at her for treating him with kid gloves. 

It was a balancing act, to be sure.

She just hoped he would eventually realize that being passed over wasn’t necessarily a comment on his capabilities. 

 


 

Katsuki was not jealous. 

No way in hell. 

Just because Shitty Hair and the Icy-Hot bastard were asked by the current Number One to demonstrate for a bunch of potential heroes-in-training and Katsuki wasn’t didn’t mean he was resentful. 

He was eighteen, for fuck’s sake. An adult. An accomplished sidekick of Japan’s Number Five Hero, Miruko. He didn’t need to impress some brats to feel good about himself. 

But, damn it all… 

Why did these extras have to make such a big fucking deal about it? 

Kirishima never talked about it with him, doing her best to spare his feelings, but the rest of their class had no such compunctions. Whenever there was another person with her, the subject would inevitably come up, the other person or persons would gush about how awesome it was and how much she deserved it, and Kirishima would get caught up in the excitement. 

Well, they weren’t wrong … 

But you’d think she and Todoroki had been chosen to pass along some ancient and esoteric secrets of enlightenment to the following generation, for all the fuss people made over it. All they were doing was talking about school life in Yuuei and giving a couple demos of their fighting styles. Nothing to it. Kirishima could do the latter in her sleep. 

Literally. 

The first– and almost last– time he’d attended one of Ashido’s sleepovers, he’d been awoken by a hardened karate chop to his ankle that left him in a boot for ten days. Kirishima still couldn’t live it down. 

Katsuki knew, on some level, that he was being unfair. Both Todoroki and Kirishima had more patience than he ever could and were much less likely to make any of the kids run off screaming.

And yet, he sulked. 

He continued to stew for the next few days as the two talked and trained together, leaving him without his best sparring partner.

After a couple of days, though, Kirishima resumed their routine, begging him to help her get in top form by the big day, even asking him to critique the talk she was planning to give.

He was sorely tempted to just blow her off (no pun intended). But, for someone who’s intelligence could be described as average at best, she could be incredibly persuasive. He kept trying to figure out her secret in order to combat it, but it always managed to elude him. 

All she had to do was give a big, earnest, pleading smile, and suddenly her request would seem… a little more compelling. Even looking away was futile, since she could convey the exact same emotion with her voice alone.

It was annoying as hell. Yet here he was. Helping her even though he was sore over the whole thing. 

When the day came, he felt oddly less pissed than he had for the last week and change. He even joined the others in sending the two off. Not because he cared, but so those goddamn extras wouldn’t keep bitching over his lack of support. 

Of course, they refused to believe it. Kirishima clapped him on the back and enthusiastically thanked him for all he’d done to help. 

In spite of it all, he actually found himself hoping just a little bit that the whole thing wouldn’t be a total disaster. 

(Seriously, how the fuck did she do this to him?) 

 


 

They left at ten that morning, and he didn’t hear from them again until Todoroki called him at three-thirty, right in the middle of the trigonometry assignment. 

Katsuki let out a curse, tempted to ignore it, except that Todoroki would probably just keep on calling him until he answered. Might as well end it as soon as possible. 

He hit Answer.  

“The fuck do you want? I’m fucking busy.” 

“Sorry, I figured you would be.” Todoroki responded. “This is kind of important.” 

“It better be.” 

“I’ll be quick: Kirishima might need some help when we get home. Things were… more intense than we were expecting, and, as it is, she can barely walk.” 

“What the hell could a bunch of untrained fourteen-year-olds do that she couldn’t brush off like mosquitos?” 

“What makes you think they weren’t trained?” 

“Still…” 

“Nobody injured her, but she managed to strain a muscle or two… dozen.” 

“So, what do you want me to do about it?” 

“She isn’t accepting much help from me, or anybody else, probably out of embarrassment. It’s like watching an arthritic old woman struggling just to move around. I figured you might be one of the few people she’d take assistance from.” 

Katsuki clicked his tongue. “That stubborn idiot.” 

“Well, if ever there was an authority on stubborn…” 

“Shut up!” 

“Anyway, I was thinking you could, I don’t know, just so happen to be in the Common Room when we get home… “ 

The idea of taking orders from Icy-Hot still grated on his nerves, But, in this case, maybe he could bury the hatchet for an hour or so. 

Tch! Fine.” 

“Thank you. I’m sure she’ll be beyond grateful.” 

“Whatever.” 

He didn’t bother asking exactly what happened. Knowing Kirishima, she’d be telling him the whole story in great detail later this evening. 

 


 

“You’re really sure you don’t want…?” 

“Nope! I’m good! Just give me a sec’.” 

Eijiro ignored Todoroki’s concern expression as she struggled to heave herself out of the bus seat, gritting her teeth against the screaming protest of her muscles. 

“You okay, Kid?” The driver asked as she carefully dismounted, trying not to fall flat on her face. 

“Yeah. Thanks. Just overdid it a little during training.” She shot him a smile over her shoulder. 

Truthfully, she hadn’t felt this sore in ages.  

And she had no one to blame but herself. 

The doors shut with a hiss and the vehicle lumbered off, leaving Eijiro to hobble in the direction of Heights Alliance while Todoroki shortened his stride so she could keep up with him. Probably the only thing keeping her upright at this moment was the promise of the soft couches in the Common Room, and a long hot bath afterwards. 

“Listen,” Todoroki began. “If I had any idea they were attending Serenno, I never would’ve…” 

“I know, Dude.” Eijiro managed a weak smile. “Don’t keep beating yourself up about it.” 

“Only if you promise to do the same.” 

Her smile dropped. “That’s totally different…” 

“Well!” 

Eijiro fought back a groan at the loud, obnoxious voice of Momoma Neito. The self-titled bane of Class 3A. 

“Do my eyes deceive me, or is that Todoroki and Kirishima?” 

She turned to see him along with TetsuTetsu walking toward their own dormitory with book bags in hand. The presence of the metal hero made her relax just a little bit. 

“Hey guys.” 

“Hiya!” Tetsu responded. “Wow, Kirishima! You okay?” 

“Yeah. Nothing a little rest can’t fix.” 

Monoma grabbed the opportunity. “We heard you two were demonstrating for third-years at Serenno Middle School.” his eyes widened in mock shock. “Don’t tell me those untried fourteen-year-olds managed to leave you, a seasoned Yuuei third-year, like that !” 

“Lay off, Man.” Tetsu grumbled. “She’s obviously gone through enough.” 

Todoroki shook his head. “If you must know, she just won a fight with three very skilled and talented fire-quirk users, simultaneously. All her injuries are from straining her muscles.” 

“I’m sure she did.” Monoma said with a skeptic smile. “You wouldn’t happen to have any proof, would you?” 

“Ask my dad what happened. He found the whole thing very amusing.” 

Todoroki turned his back to Monoma and, to the confusion of the other three teens, used his ice quirk to create a platform just three inches tall. 

“Sorry Kirishima, but I can’t stand watching you limp all the way to the dorms.” He took her by the arm and urged her to step on the platform, then extended it into a path toward their dormitory. He pulled her along, her shoes sliding easily on the slick surface. 

“Dude,” Eijiro protested. “You’re exhausted…” 

“Not nearly as much as you are.” 

“Well, bye guys!” Tetsu waved while his classmate pouted over the trash-talk session being cut short. 

“Bye.” Eijiro waved back before saying to Todoroki. “Thanks a million, man.” 

“Don’t mention it.” 

 


 

Bakugo, Tokoyami, and Ojiro were in the Common Room when they got there. The three boys looked up and frowned at the sight of Eijiro bent over like she was over a hundred years old. 

“Rough day?” Ojiro asked.  

“You could say that.” Eijiro sighed, making her way to the nearest couch.  

Bakugo’s face looked a little more pinched than normal. “What the hell happened to you?” 

She let her backpack fall to the floor and collapsed onto the cushions, not even bothering to remove her uniform blazer. 

“Two words: Todoroki triplets.” 

The exploding teen looked as close to horrified as she’d ever seen him.

“What?”

She jerked her thumb to a sheepish-looking Shouto. “Did you know our buddy here’s got a set of triplet cousins three years younger than us? Because I didn’t, ‘till this morning.” 

Bakugo continued to look like he’d swallowed something unpleasant. “Fucking… Todoroki triplets ?! As in three of ‘em?!” 

Eijiro smiled a little. “I know I’m shit at math, Dude, but I’m pretty sure there were, indeed, three of them.”

Ojiro’s eyes widened. “Wow! Really?” 

“Multiples are extremely rare in Japan.” Tokoyami remarked. 

Bakugo glared at their double quirk classmate. “When the fuck were you gonna’ mention that little detail?” 

“I had no idea they attended Serenno until my dad mentioned them on the drive over.” His mouth turned down in distaste. “And I’m not inclined to brag about them.” 

“They’ve got the family flame quirk.” Eijiro explained. “And they are good. ” 

“Don’t tell me you fought all three of them at once!” Ojiro declared. 

“Unfortunately…” 

“No wonder you’re in such a state.” Tokoyami said, shaking his head. 

“Tell me you nailed the little bastards.” Bakugo demanded. 

“Don’t worry Bakubro, I won. But they made me work for it.” 

A smile twitched at the corners of Todoroki’s mouth. “She’s being modest. She mopped the floor with them.” 

Bakugo snorted. “Guess all that training wasn’t such a waste of time after all, Shitty Hair.” 

“Yeah.” With a grunt, she struggled to sit up. “‘Scuse me, but I need a shower and a hot soak right now.” 

Without missing a beat, Bakugo jumped to his feet and snatched up her backpack from the ground before grabbing her arm and hauling her onto her feet. 

“C’mon. Let’s get you to yer’ damn room before you trip over Grape Head like an idiot or something.” He started marching toward the elevator. 

Eijiro stumbled after him. "Whoah, Bakugo, you don’t have to…” 

“Well, I am. Get fucking used to it.” He said, not breaking his stride.

She managed a wheezy laugh. “Hey, wait up!”  

 


 

After depositing Kirishima in her room, Katsuki didn’t see her for maybe another three hours.

No one did.  

Her absence at dinner left everyone concerned.

“Man, she must be really hurtin’.” Sero said. 

Jiro twirled an earlobe jack with her finger. “I could hear her groaning and whimpering in the girls’ baths. I’d have gone in to help if I didn’t think it would embarrass her.” 

"Wait," Mineta drooped in obvious disappointment. “Is that what that noise was?” 

Ashido narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Just what did you think it meant?” 

“... Nothing.” 

Right. And Shinso was Aizawa’s secret love child.  

“Man!” Kaminari frowned down at his plate. “If I had any idea how rough it was gonna’ be, I’d have tried to talk her out of it.” 

“Me too.” Deku said, wearing his trademark worried face. “Middle-schoolers can be brutal.” 

And he would know.

Ashido frowned at Katsuki. “You’ve been awfully quiet.” 

“So?” 

“She’s one of your best friends! The least you could do is show a little concern!” 

Katsuki rolled his eyes. “She’s no delicate flower, Pinky. Just give her a day or two, and she’ll be back to her loud, obnoxious self in no time.” 

“You’re so mean!” 

“He’s got a point, though.” Kaminari conceded. “We need to give her more credit. She’ll probably be fine after a little rest.”  

“She still needs to eat, though.” Uraraka pointed out. “Somebody should probably bring her something.” 

“Fine.” Katsuki muttered. “M’giving her today’s assignments anyway. Fucking might as well…” 

“That's very considerate of you, Bakugo.” Iida declared. 

“Don’t get used to it.” 

The class rep smiled amiably. “If you say so.”  

 


 

After finishing his own dinner and putting his dishes in the sink, he grabbed a plate and piled it with beef, rice, and steamed vegetables, then headed up to Kirishima’s dorm. 

“Oi,” He rapped his knuckles on the door. “Shitty Hair.” 

He heard a faint mumble that sounded like “Come in”

She was lying face down on her bed dressed in her sleeping clothes, arms straight at her sides and her damp hair fanned out. 

“You awake?” 

“Mh-hm.” 

He plunked the dish on her bedside table. “Then get up. Ya’ gotta’ eat and shit.” 

She turned her face toward him, blowing strands of hair out of the way. “Thanks, Dude. Owe you one.” 

“Owe me two.” He grabbed the small stack of textbooks sitting at the base of her punching bag’s stand. “You’ve still got homework.” 

The redhead let out a whine. “Come on, Man. I’m in no shape for Trig.” 

“Tough shit. If you don’t face it sooner or later, yer’ sorry ass’ll get left behind, and then you’ll really have something to whine about.” 

“I know, I know.” She growled. “Jerk.” 

But she made no move to get up.

Katsuki studied her for a second, then heaved a sigh and crossed his arms. “Alright, spill.” 

“Spill what?” 

“You know damn well what. You just won a fight, but yer’ acting like you lost. Plus, it ain't like you to clam up.”

She winced. “Am I that obvious?” 

“Just tell me what the fuck happened with Icy-Hot’s cousins.”  

If possible, Kirishima drooped even more. 

“I’m… really not proud of myself right now. Don’t like the way I reacted.” 

He rolled her desk chair closer and sat in it, waiting expectantly. 

She took a deep breath. 

“Endeavor’s brother has a set of triplets: One girl and two identical boys. Talent runs in the family, and they go out of their way to make sure everyone knows it. They think they're God’s gift to pro heroes.” 

That sounded uncomfortably familiar. 

“Yeah. I know the type.” 

Kirishima turned onto her side. “Pretty sure they didn’t think too highly of me. Whenever I talked, they’d get that ‘I smell broccoli cooking” look on their faces. You know?” 

Katsuki was starting to hate their guts already. 

“And,” She continued “When it was time for my demonstration, their instructor picked all three of them to spar with me. Looking back, I think she was hoping I’d embarrass them. They acted like she’d assigned them to clean out a septic tank by hand, or worse. But they obeyed. Next thing I knew, we were on the training grounds and they were looking at me like they were sharks and I was the seal. 

“They probably thought it was an easy win. Combined, I’d say they’re about as strong as our Todoroki was near the beginning of first year. I couldn’t have been able to take them then, but I can now.”

She flashed him a brief smile. “Guess letting you blast me to Kingdom Come for the last two years paid off.” 

He felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth but tried to ignore it. 

“The longer the fight went, the more frustrated they got. They just kept hitting me, trying to out-maneuver me, nothing was working. So they resorted to trash-talking me.” 

She rolled her eyes. “My God, they just went on and on about my totally lame, useless quirk, how stupid I was, how no Todoroki was gonna’ lose to, quote, ‘A talking rock with tits’. I just laughed it all off.” 

She pressed her lips into a thin line.

“When that tactic didn’t work, they decided to fight dirty. The sister and one of the brothers got close, and just as the girl was aiming for me, the brother grabbed my ass.” 

Katsuki sat bolt upright. 

“He did WHAT?!” 

“Happened so quickly, if the adults saw it they could’ve tried to play it off as an accident. But I saw the smug looks on their faces.” 

Katsuki grit his teeth, feeling his palms burn and spark. “Why that dirty little shit…!” 

“Relax, Bro. I don’t think he’ll be pulling another stunt like that anytime soon.” 

This didn’t calm him down. 

No one…  NO ONE… treated Kirishima like that! Ever!

Even fucking Mineta had learned that early on. The little fucker claimed she was too butch for his liking, but everyone was pretty damn sure he was a little scared of her. 

Was that why she was so upset? No, she’d said she was ashamed of how she’d reacted. 

“What did you do?” 

“I got angry. Really fucking angry.” 

“You should’ve!” 

“I know. But from that moment on, I needed to win! I forgot why I was there in the first place! All I could think was that I needed to beat these little punks, and beat them hard! No holds barred!” 

“You went all out?” 

“I went apeshit!” 

This time, he didn’t fight the smile pulling at his mouth. “Damn. Didja’ now?” 

“Before I knew it, they were all lying on the ground yelling that they tapped out. The guy that groped me had a bloody nose, and the other brother was crying.” 

Katsuki barked a laugh. “Not bad, Shitty Hair.” 

She glared at him, “Are you kidding? It’s very bad! I lost my temper and beat up some bratty kids who were calling me names! And the worst part is… I liked it!” 

Katsuki laughed again, harder. 

“It’s not funny!” 

“No, it’s fucking Karma. You weren’t beating those shits up, you beat them at sparring, fair and square.” 

Kirishima buried her face in her hands with a groan. “Then why do I feel so fucking awful? God, I dunno’ what came over me! It was like getting possessed by…” 

“Me?” 

She bit her lip and lowered her hands. “Kind of. Yeah.” 

He smirked. “Didn’t get in trouble, didja’?” 

“Nope.” She said miserably. “The opposite, in fact. I got the feeling those three didn’t make many friends. Even Endeavor seemed impressed.” 

An odd, warm sense of satisfaction welled up in Katsuki. “Yeah?” 

“Pretty sure I heard him laughing at my parting shot. ‘You guys just lost to a talking rock with tits’.” 

For a third time, Katsuki laughed. “You said that?” 

“Yes.” She groaned. 

“What happened to the one that groped ya’?” 

“Everyone saw it. He got suspended for the rest of the month.” 

Katsuki was grinning from ear-to-ear by now. “Sounds to me like those three little bitches had it coming a long time now. Someone had to teach them a lesson sooner or later.” 

“But did I have to teach them like that?” 

Katsuki chuffed. 

“Remember how I was at the beginning of first year?” 

“Yeah, you… tended to stand out.” Kirishima said, diplomatically. 

“Would you say I’m a better person now than I was then? Or at least less of an asshole?” 

“Definitely. There’s no contest.” 

“And why d’you think that is?” 

“Um…” 

“I’ll tell ya’ why. It’s ‘cause there were people willing to put me in my place, knock me down a few notches, pound some sense into my thick skull. It was high time I learned that I’m not the hottest shit, and this school taught me that. And no one… not the students or the faculty… was taking any of my shit.” 

She smiled a little. “Heh. I know I didn’t.” 

“Hell no.” 

She was the first person to treat him like an actual equal. Not a prodigy, not a delinquent, and not a work in progress. Just a normal kid like her. Sure, she expressed admiration, but she never put him up on a pedestal or let him walk all over her… or anyone, for that matter. 

More than anyone else, she was to thank for all the ways he’d improved as a person. 

But this was way too personal to say out loud. So he did the next best thing. 

Katsuki leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Listen very carefully, ‘cause I am never saying this again. If it weren’t for people like you, Deku, or even Icy-Hot, I’d still be just as bad as those three nightmares. Probably worse. They should be fucking grateful.” 

She began to smile. “You think so?” 

“I fucking know it.” 

She gave a faint chuckle. ‘You’ve got a hell of a way to cheer people up. But it works.” She grinned up at him. “Thanks a lot, Bro.” 

The air suddenly felt a little thicker. A little warmer. And looking at that smile just a little too much. 

“Uh, yeah. Well,” He got up and headed toward the door. “That’s all I got to say. That plate better be empty by the time I get back.” 

“Yes, Mom.” Kirishima laughed.   

 


 

Not long after, Katsuki went to take his evening bath, finding Todoroki and Shouji already there. 

“How’s Kirishima doing?” The former asked. 

“Sore. But she’ll live.” 

“Good to hear,” Shouji commented, leaning back and folding his hands on his stomach. “Todoroki was just telling me about the fight.” 

Katsuki stripped and perched on one of the stools to wash himself before sinking into the tub until the water nearly touched his chin.

When Shouji got out a few minutes later, Todoroki spoke in a low, amused tone. “I think my dad’s taken a liking to Kirishima.” 

Katsuki made a face. “Did I say I wanted to talk?”

“You never do.” 

“There’s a damn good reason for that.” 

“Just saying, my old man and I have at least two things we agree on.” 

“Seriously, why the hell are you still talking?” 

Todoroki continued as if he hadn’t said anything. “One: the triplets are spoiled brats who’ve had this coming for a very long time. Two:...” He smiled a little. “Kirishima’s pretty amazing.” 

“Yer’ damn right she’s…!” 

Katsuki’s mouth snapped shut as his face burned. 

Why…?

Where the hell did…?

What the fuck? 

Todoroki just looked at him with that knowing smile. 

“She… ain’t too shitty.” Katsuki mumbled, averting his eyes. 

“Glad you noticed.” 

“Stop staring at me, ya’ fucking weirdo!” 

The other boy shrugged. “Just as well. I’ve been in here long enough.” He stepped out of the bath, while Katsuki was weighing the pros and cons of drowning himself here and now. 

 


 

Eijiro finally buckled down and ate the dinner Bakugo had brought, reminding herself that she’d recover faster if she kept her strength up. 

She still thought the whole thing with the triplets could’ve gone better, but she wasn’t mad at herself for losing her shit like she was a few minutes ago. 

For the first time since it happened, she let herself feel satisfied that she’d been able to hold her own against three Todorokis all at once. No mean feat for anyone. 

That was one of the great things about Bakugo Katsuki. He had a way of making his friends feel like they’d earned the victory when it came and gave them the drive to try for it again when they missed the mark. In his own, unorthodox way, he inspired her in ways no one ever had before. Even her idol. 

Just the fact that he’d gone through the trouble of cheering her up and understanding her emotions spoke volumes. 

No matter what anyone else said, Bakugo was a great friend, and she was lucky to know him.

She took a huge bite of beef and groaned happily. 

Best dinner she’d had in ages.

Notes:

A story with Katsuki struggling between his pride and trying to be a good friend (and being a little in love) is my jam.
Taking a page from Horikoshi, I named the middle school after a place in Star Wars.
Also, it's canon that Kirishima does hardened karate chops in his sleep. He almost got poor Iida at the summer training camp in the second light novel.