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To say you had a crush on your best friend Eijiro Kirishima would be the understatement of the century. Everyone knew it about it; Bakugou made it his mission to give you non-stop crap about it, only making it worse when Kirishima was so oblivious to everything you did! You’d even asked him on a date for crying out loud! Though you stuttered and stumbled a bit getting there, he thought it was the both of you just going out as friends. What did a girl have to do to get his attention? Everything apparently…
Groaning, you walk into the common room and flop face-first onto the couch, earning a laugh from your friends sprawled out across the room.
“Progress?” Mina’s voice breaks the giggles and you turn your head slightly to the right, looking at her amused smile.
“I’m going to go crazy.” your complaint only makes the girls laugh more. Trying to get the guy you like to notice your feelings for him shouldn’t be this hard…right?
“Maybe you can write him an anonymous letter or something,” Ochako suggests, tapping a finger on her chin in thought.
“But if it’s anonymous it would defeat the purpose of the confession,”
“Then she can just add her name.” Shrugs your friend Kyoka, like that whole idea, was the easiest thing.
“Ohhh maybe buy him some candy or something and write a cute little note and sign your name at the bottom. That would be sooooo cute!” Toru squeals and you can’t help but sigh.
“For Kirishima, protein bars would probably be better,” adds Tsu, resulting in the group sounding in agreement. Yeah, they weren’t wrong there, but you knew the boy had a secret stash of chocolate next to his bed when he got midnight snack cravings. It was when you’d first become close friends, Kirishima had come downstairs and found you snacking on strawberry ice cream from the freezer at a quarter past two in the morning. Turns out, he’d had the same idea. So you spent the next hour sitting on the floor of the communal kitchen, eating ice cream and getting to really know each other. And then as you walked back to your room, your heart almost bursting inside your chest, you realized what you felt for Kiri that night wasn’t just friendship.
“-maybe we need a different opinion…” Mina says, catching your attention. The pure mischief in her eyes screams trouble and as you hear the door to the dorms open, Mina perks up in a way that makes you want to puke from nerves.
“Bakugou!” Oh please anyone but him!
“What the hell do you want, Racoon Eyes?” His voice booms through the common area. God does this boy not have a quiet setting?
“What would be the best way to get Kirishima’s attention…Asking for a friend of course!” Mina asks, winking a so not subtle wink in your direction, making you blush bright red.
“You still haven’t told him yet idiot?” Bakugou’s attention is now directed to where you are sprawled sadly on the couch.
“No…” Your pillow-muffled response makes the girls stifle their laughter out of pity, whilst Bakugou just huffs in annoyance - as if your very presence requires too much effort for him to deal with.
“Just man up and tell him, moron,” he snaps like it’s the simplest thing ever and not utterly terrifying.
“I’m going to try option two,” He rolls his eyes and leans over the back of the couch, glaring at you.
“You’re such a coward. He’s not going to hurt your precious little feelings y/n, just do it already. I’m sick of hearing about this shit.”
“Hearing about what?” Your heart gets caught in your throat as the spiky-haired redhead in question walks into the room, a towel around his shoulders and looking like he walked out of a damn dream. You couldn’t bring yourself to do anything but turn all shades of pink and gulp for air like a fish. Since when had you gone from being able to talk to your best friend about literally anything to this stuttering and jumbled up mess? You weren’t all that sure, but you were aware that you’re currently making a fool of yourself.
You hadn’t realized that Bakugou had come back from the gym as well, and it made so much sense that Kirishima was with him, but god! Who the hell gave him permission to look that good? It should be illegal.
Kirishima’s red eyes meet yours from across the room, and he shoots you that signature smile that was so warm and you swore flowers actually sprouted wherever it was directed. Looking at him sometimes was like staring into the sun.
“We’re just going around saying cute things that would get our attention,” Mina swoops into the rescue making you instinctively rip your eyes from the redhead and focus them on her.
What are you doing? You mouth tensely, your back to your crush so that he can’t see your crimson face. Mina only winks at you in response, so you look to your other friend Ochako, who is currently no better. Supplying you with a cheeky grin and wagging her eyebrows suggestively, you can’t help but want to groan in annoyance at their antics.
“Well, I mean it is Valentine's day coming up, so that makes sense.” All the girls turn to him grinning, and you instinctively fear what someone says next.
“What would someone have to do to get your attention, Kiri?” Mina asks him teasingly, but also completely seriously. Oh my god… You couldn’t believe that she was actually asking him, but at the same time, you are curious. You have done basically anything but yell at him in the face that you liked him and wanted to date him, so you were listening a little too closely to his response. Pink dusting his cheeks, Kirishima looks over the group and scratches the back of his head with a nervous arm.
“Well, I guess it would have to depend on the person.”
“LAME! Come on Kiri, give us something more than that!” Mina whines, earning a chorus of agreements from the crowd of girls around you. It was so quick that you barely noticed it, but Kirishima glances at you before shifting on his feet nervously… He only looked at me because I’m his friend, and he finds these questions awkward. Yeah, that’s why.
“Well, I guess they’d probably just have to tell me. That’s super manly.” You try not to sink in your chair as Bakugou gives you a knowing look. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know asshole, you try to scream at him through your eyes. “Anyways, I’m going to go wash up.” Kirishima leaves the room, shooting you one last smile and you instinctively let out a breath as if you’d been holding it since he came into the room. Your lungs sure felt like they had.
“Told you so, dumbass,” Bakugou calls as he walks out the room, and the temptation to throw one of the cushions at him is almost too much, but you don’t have the energy to focus on him right at that moment. Instead, you take a deep breath and turn to Mina with determination in your eyes.
“I’m going to tell him.” The noise they all release from their throats somehow didn’t shatter the glass, however, it does earn an appearance from a very concerned Iida who barges into the common room in alarm. Never a boring day I guess, you think as you glance at the empty spot where Kirishima had just stood. Tomorrow, you let out a shaking breath. Tomorrow.
+ + + +
Today is the day. The sun is bright and high in the sky, it isn’t that cold for a February afternoon, and everything so far is going your way. It had to be today.
You linger around the entrance to your classroom, waiting for Kirishima to make his usual appearance. You hear him laughing along with Kaminari before you can even see him. You feel his throaty, sunshine-filled laugh echo through your bones and stir up the butterflies that had just begun to rest in your stomach. And when he rounds the corner and sees you waiting there, he sends you the sweetest smile that makes your thundering heart drop through the floor.
“Hey, y/n! Thanks for waiting,” he says happily. Kaminari’s eyes glance between the two of you quickly, before grinning far too ecstatically for your liking.
“It’s all good.”
“Where are you two off to?” Kaminari but’s in with a knowing smile. Kirishima looks at him as if only then suddenly remembering that he was there as well.
“It’s Friday afternoon and we’ve got an exam on Monday, dude. It’s crunch time.” Kirishima nods at you, bumping his fists together as if he’s readying for battle. You and Kirishima had begun to study together towards the end of your first year of school. He claimed that you were a better tutor than Bakugou, which you constantly brought up to the fiery blonde whenever he began to annoy you. You always ended up running away as if your life depended on it as soon as the words left your mouth, but his pissed off look made the risk of imminent death so worth it.
“Can I join you guys today?” You look over at your eccentric friend and can’t tell if he is being serious and wants to study, or if he just knows how important today is - because Mina can’t keep her mouth shut - and wants front seats to the show.
“Uh, I mean-” you are immediately cut off by a hand yanking Kaminari back by his collar and revealing a stoic faced Bakugou.
“Leave them alone sparky. You need to study and I’m only offering my services today, so take it or you’re on your own.” He doesn’t even give Kaminari a chance to breathe before begrudgingly pulling him down the hall away from you.
“Well looks like it’s just us y/n,” Kirishima says, taking a step down the hall. You can’t hide your smile, quickly moving to catch up to him.
“I’m glad. You’re enough to handle, I’m not sure how I’d go adding Kaminari to the mix.” You tease your best friend. With a fake and very over-exaggerated gasp, Kirishima places a hand on his heart and stares at you in shock.
“That really hurt, y/n.” He cries out, stopping in his steps as you keep walking ahead. You try to hold in your laugh at his antics but fail miserably, letting out a loud laugh as you turn back to him.
“Your heart isn’t on your right side, Kiri,” You correct him, walking backward for a few steps and only turning around when you see him run to catch up to you.
“I knew that. Just making sure you did.” He explains, falling into line next to you once again, making you look up at him and raise an eyebrow.
“Sure…” The two of you together walk out of the building in silence, just appreciating the peace that comes with being around each other. You and Kirishima didn’t have to even talk when you were together, just being in each other’s presence is enough.
You feel your hands begin to sweat as you step outside. You were really going to do this, you were going to tell him… But what if he doesn’t feel the same? Risking a glance at him, your heart flutters and you know you have to do it. If you have to continue on like this for another day you are going to lose it. You love Kirishima’s friendship, but god you want something more. You want him to hold your hand on your daily trips to and from the dorms, you want to go and eat katsudon with him and not as friends. You want to be able to kiss him for no other reason than that you could. You are willing to risk one of the closest friendships you’ve ever had for it.
“-day.” You blink and snap your head in Kirishima’s direction. He was talking and you didn’t catch a single word he said. A knowing smile cracks across Kirishima’s face as he takes in your startled expression.
“Was I that boring?” He jokes, pink beginning to dust his cheeks. Your heart lurches at the thought and you stop dead in your tracks.
“No! Not at all!” The words come out far too loudly which causes you to blush bright red and for Kirishima to frown at you. Oh god, what if he knew? You quickly try to change the topic whilst brushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “Sorry, I’m just in my own world. You’re definitely not boring, Kiri.” You promise.
“Y/n… Are you alright?” Letting out a groan, you wipe a hand down your face and sigh. Well, this is it, I guess.
“Actually Kiri, there’s something I need to tell you,” Suddenly you’re glad that you’re not walking because the look on his face that you see by peeking through your fingers would have made you trip over absolutely nothing.
“What is it?” God bless him, he’s concerned. And he had every right to be because it feels like you are about to pass out. Nervously, you begin to fidget with your hands before grasping them tightly in front of you.
“There’s this guy,” It’s all you had to say before Kirishima’s smile slipped straight off his face. Ouch. He must see something in your face because not even a second later, his usual happy-go-lucky smile reappears. You, however, can read Kirishima like a book, and when his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, you know he wasn’t feeling it.
“So, there’s a guy you like, huh?” He utters, adjusting the shoulder strap of his bag.
“Yeah, he’s super kind, brave, and handsome too.” You reply, a smile climbing onto your face.
“Sounds like a real catch, y/n.” Is all he says, starting to walk away - obviously expecting you to walk with him. “You deserve it.” How cute, you thought.
“Thanks, but really I’m the lucky one. We’ve been friends for so long too, and he treats me so well.” You boast, walking behind him, hoping for him to catch on. Kirishima stops so suddenly that you run into his back, what is he…
“I don’t…” He starts slowly, his back still turned to you. He moves as if he’s about to turn around and face you, but lets out a dejected sigh instead.
“Kiri…” he turns around at your voice, no smile or happiness found on his features. Just a look of pure devastation and concern.
“He’s a good guy?” You can’t help but want to smile at his question.
“Oh, the best.” Pursing his lips, Kirishima nods his head a few times before letting out a strangled groan that catches you off guard.
“Is it Bakugou?” You choke on oxygen and splutter as he looks you in the eye as if trying to tell if you are lying.
“No. Never. Nope. Not happening,” you shudder at the image of that possibility. Like sure, you’re not blind and Bakugou is attractive, but personally, that loses its appeal as soon as he opens his mouth.
“Kaminari?” He counters, taking a step forward with his face fixed into a scowl that is so unlike him and so rare that it throws you for a loop.
“No, Kiri-”
“Sero? Midoriya? Iida? No… wait Ojiro? Shoji?” The names leave his mouth a mile a minute as you gape at him. He is now in his own little world of chaos that you’ve created, a hand over his mouth as he mumbles.
“It’s Todoroki isn’t it?” Kirishima asks, whipping his head to you. Annoyance bleeds through his eyes as he says it. “It’s always Todoroki…”
You suddenly can’t hold it in - the frustration of not being able to get a single word in, the nerves pounding through your bloodstream, and maybe just a little bit of courage has you blurting it out.
“It's you!” Crimson eyes meet your own and you suck in a nervous breath as he stills completely. “It’s you…I want to…” Your voice drifts off as a smile breaks out across his face slowly.
“It’s me?” You don’t even have time to finish nodding before he practically leaps at you, picking you up around your middle and laughing so loudly that people walking past are staring. You can feel your heart pounding inside your head as you stare down at Kirishima… Wait, does that mean…
“Thank god,” he says as he begins to put you down, but doesn’t move to let you go. “I swear if you had said someone else, I probably would have died.” You want to roll your eyes at his dramatics, but your brain can’t seem to catch up. He likes you! He likes you too! That’s what that means, idiot!
“Kiri…” you only manage to get your voice out as a whisper.
“I really like you y/n, like stupidly so.” Now it’s your turn to grin like an absolute maniac at him. Holy crap, you did not expect this. The best case scenario, of course, was this outcome, but it wasn’t your expectation. Ohmygod he likes me.
“Will you…quit smiling at me, I can’t stop messing up my sentences when you look at me like that!” Kirishima complains, but there’s no annoyance in it as he’s grinning back at you.
“Look like what?” You argue. Reaching up to touch your cheeks which are now starting to hurt, Kirishima snatches your hand in his before you have the chance.
“So pretty. Seriously, y/n, give me a chance to breathe.” He says squinting at you playfully. “It’s like looking at the damn sun.” You’re laughing, a proper heart-filled laugh that ends with a snort loud enough for you to slap your hand over your mouth. Kirishima stares at you dazed for a moment as his free hand wraps around your waist.
“Can I kiss you?” he asks out of the blue, his cheeks tainted the same color as his hair and you’re sure you look the same. Your brain has officially stopped working.
“You don’t have to ask me, Kiri,” you point out.
“Consent is manly.” He grins before finally closing the distance between you. It both seems to last forever, but also for not even a second. Reaching up on your toes, you wrap your arms around Kirishima’s neck and pull yourself impossibly closer to him. When your lungs begin screaming at you and you realize you’re not breathing, you pull back from the blushing boy. You can’t stop your smile this time, even if you tried. This was the best idea you’d ever had.
“Want to go out with me for dinner tomorrow night?” He asks, pulling back just enough to look down in your eyes as his breath fans your face. Not in a million years had you thought that you would actually be standing here with Kirishima like this. But whatever luck you somehow gained overnight, you were so grateful for it. Just as you are about to respond with a massive yes, the impending doom of your incoming English exam on Monday emerges back into your train of thought.
“How about we do a study date for now? I wasn’t joking about the tutoring, you know.” You point out, making Kirishima fake a pout in annoyance.
“Fine,” he gently reaches down and envelops your small hand, linking your fingers between his. “I’ll just have to settle with that for now. But once we’re done, I’m taking you out for katsudon because I know it’s your favorite.” Without a second of hesitation, you reach up and kiss Kirishima lightly on the cheek, making that bright blush come back all over again.
“I can’t wait.”