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It had all started after the Sports Festival, Izuku quickly became friends with Shouto and they now were extremely close, which is how he found himself in this uncomfortable situation. It first happened during class, he started coughing violently. It didn’t last long but it was quite painful, and after he finally got his coughing under control there was a single, white flower petal lying delicately in his hand, it was odd but he decided not to worry about it at that moment, he had to pay attention to class. When class finally ended he quickly walked back to his dorm, trying to be as fast as possible without looking suspicious.
At the safety of his dorm he took out his phone and searched for any diseases that included coughing up flower petals, he only found one result: Hanahaki disease, it was caused by unrequited love, being sped up the more time they spent around the person they had Hanahaki for and the only ways to get rid of it were to either confess to them and not get rejected, which would usually speed up the process, or getting surgery which was not only expensive, but also made it so that you would lose all feelings of love for that person, he hoped he didn’t have to do that.
The biggest problem was that he had Hanahaki for his best friend, Shouto Todoroki.
Shouto is perfect, he is objectively attractive, with his shoulder-length red and white hair split perfectly in the middle that he has been letting grow, he has heterochromia, one eye being grey and the other being a vibrant blue, in contrast to both his other eye and the scar over the left side of his face.
He didn’t seem the nicest at first, but under the cold mask was a boy that only wanted to be loved. The boy is perfect, Izuku however, is not. He hates his green hair that can't be tamed no matter how hard he tries, his freckles (mostly because he was made fun it a few times), but what he despises the most is the fact that no matter how many times his friends tell him that they like him, a part of his mind keeps saying that they hate him and that they're still his friends only out of pity. Long story short, his best friend was way out of his league.
He didn’t want to avoid Shouto but he had no choice until he made his decision. It worked at first. Surprisingly, Shouto didn’t confront him, which Izuku assumed to be the boy being extremely busy. He couldn’t stop the effect from getting worse completely since he needed to see the boy every day during class.
Avoiding Shouto only lasted for about 3 days before he started coughing up full flowers. They were White Roses, eventually, the flowers would come out with the red markings of his blood.
It had been about a week since he first coughed up his first flower. "Hey, Deku! Are you okay? You've been looking more tired recently, Is there anything wrong?" Uraraka asked. "I'm fine, Ochaco, I’ve just been feeling a little sick recently, I’m sure its nothing, so there's no need to worry about me, ok?" She nodded, but looked a bit skeptical, knowing he wasn’t fine, but didn’t press further, not wanting to make him uncomfortable.
it hurt Izuku to lie to one of his best friends but he decided that he should tell her later, since she saw right through his lies but decided not to ask further questions. That happened multiple times during the day, many people going up to ask him if he was fine. people also worried about Shouto, Izuku hoped he was ok, he looked about as sick as him, he was the only one who didn’t ask if the boy was okay. He felt bad about not checking up on his best friend so he decided to just text him, it'd be safer anyways.
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Shouto always knew he liked his best friend, he just didn’t really expect that on a monday morning as he was getting ready for school that he'd personally experience the pain of coughing up a flower. It was a single daisy petal in a beautiful shade of yellow that reminded him of the sun, just like Izuku.
The boy was a sunshine incarnate, he was thoughtful, always looking out for Shouto and was always there when he needed him, he was the first person that wasn’t put off by his cold exterior and still tried to reach out to him.
He recognized that he had Hanahaki and that he needed to stay away from the other as much as he could; he wanted to confess but he wasn’t ready yet. He hoped that he wouldn’t be rejected but it was more likely for that to happen than having his feelings reciprocated. He got to class and greeted Izuku like he usually did, not really wanting anyone to suspect something was wrong and he tried to cough lightly to not bring any attention to the fact that he was not fine.
It was during english class that Shouto heard Izuku coughing, violently. It didn’t last long but it looked like he was in a lot of pain. Shouto wanted to ask if the boy was ok but as soon as class ended he ran out the door as quickly as he could.
It had now been a week and nobody really noticed anything odd in his or Izuku’s slight change in behaviour, slightly avoiding each other when before they were seen together a lot of the time, that is at least until Uraraka came into the room that day.
"Hey, Deku! Are you okay? You've been looking more tired recently, Is there anything wrong?" He heard her say. He slightly envied Uraraka for being able to talk to Izuku without having to worry if he'd cough up yellow daisies on him like he used to be able to do. The boy said that he'd been fine and was just feeling slightly sick, Shouto still hadn’t been able to ask if he was okay, wanting to see if his actions were just particularly weird that day which was not the case.
During the whole day, most people came up to either him or Izuku to ask if they were okay since they both seemed extra tired, Yaoyorozu was the first to come up to him and ask, them being close friends. They weren't as close as Izuku but still quite close so it made sense that she was the first to ask if he was okay (He tried not to pay any attention to the fact that Izuku didn’t ask him but he hadn’t either so it kinda made sense). "Todoroki, are you feeling alright? You seem a bit stressed, is anything going on?" he wanted to tell her the truth, wanted to tell her that he had fallen in love with his best friend and had a few weeks to decide if he wanted to confess or not. "I’m fine, thanks for asking, I've just been studying a bit more which is why i look a bit more tired." instead of saying the truth, he lied. He was used to lying, he didn’t really like doing it but it was necessary, he'd probably tell her the truth later, but for now he didn’t want to tell the rest of his class, specially not Izuku who was close enough that he'd probably hear him if he said anything.
A while after class, Shouto was in his room, texting Momo and telling her about the situation when he got a text from Izuku.
Conversation with Glow Sticc Bones:
Glow Sticc Bones: Hey Sho, srry ive been more distant recently but im like hella busy recently and couldnt text you.
Glow Sticc Bones: You seem a bit tired, is there anything going on? I couldnt check up on u and felt super guilty about it, just know im not ignoring you
Glow Sticc Bones: Dont forget u can always talk 2 me about anything ok?
Glow Sticc Bones: Oh! But like, no pressure if you dont want to talk about it, i can give you space 2 if u want!
Prince Zuko: It's fine, Izuku, i assumed you were busy and couldn’t check up on me, I’m just a bit tired because I’ve been studying more but other than that, everything is fine. I noticed you've been a bit more distant the last week or so, but i didnt want to mention anything in case it was just a day or 2, which it wasn't. Is everything fine, Izuku?
Glow Sticc Bones: Everything is fine but thanks for asking Sho!
Glow Sticc Bones: I just wanted to make sure u were ok 'cuz id be a horrible friend if i
didnt ask so
Prince Zuko: You aren't a horrible friend, Izuku, but thanks for asking anyways.
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After Izuku made sure Shouto was ok, he went to his conversation with Ochaco, he had given up on lying to her, specially knowing she didn’t really buy it.
Conversation with -space girl-:
Glow Sticc Bones: So
Glow Sticc Bones: I need to tell u smth
-space girl-: unless its about how ur hiding things from your best friend, i dont want to hear it
Glow Sticc Bones: Im rlly srry i lied but i had to, dont u understand Ocha?
-space girl-: no, i rlly don’t
-space girl-: i feel absolutely betrayed, izuku, i cant forgive you for this
Glow Sticc Bones: I'll buy you mochi
-space girl-: for how long?
Glow Sticc Bones: A month
-space girl-: ok nvm, i love and would die for you
-space girl-: now what were u hiding from me?
Glow Sticc Bones: So...
Glow Sticc Bones: There's this disease called Hanahaki, have u heard about it?
-space girl-: yeah i've heard about it, my best friend's sister had it, had 2 get surgery for it
Glow Sticc Bones: Oh, im srry
-space girl-: its fine, we werent rlly that close
-space girl-: anyways, what about it?
Glow Sticc Bones: Well...
Glow Sticc Bones: I sort of have it
-space girl-: wait, rlly?
-space girl-: is it todoroki~?
Glow Sticc Bones:...Maybe
-space girl-: srsly?
Glow Sticc Bones: Yh
Glow Sticc Bones: And idk what 2 dooooo
-space girl-: confess, obviously!
Glow Sticc Bones: I cant!
Glow Sticc Bones: He's 2 perfect, there's no way he'll like me back!
-space girl-: there is!
-space girl-: have u seen the way he looks at u?
-space girl-: he rarely smiles unless ur involved
-space girl-: besides, do u have enough money 4 surgery?
Glow Sticc Bones:...I dont
-space girl-: exactly! just confess! either u die without confessing, u die after he rejects u, or u live bc he likes u back!
Glow Sticc Bones: Maybe ur right
Glow Sticc Bones: I'll think about it .
-space girl-: go get yo man, deku!
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Shouto and Momo were in his room studying when he decided to tell her. "Momo, i have to tell you something. I was lying when i said i was fine". "Oh! What happened, Todoroki? Do you need anything?" She asked. Shouto was kind of nervous about telling her, but he knew he needed to get it out "Well, i found out i have Hanahaki. For Izuku" he finally said. She looked sad, he knew that look, she pitied him. She didn’t ask further questions and they continued studying. He enjoyed hanging out with her but she was quiet and reserved, she wasn’t like Izuku, who made everything enjoyable, who saw the good in everyone and everything.
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Izuku woke up at around 5 AM, getting ready for his morning jog, when he started coughing, he felt thorns clawing at his throat, and when he stopped coughing, in his hand was a white rose, tainted with blood. The right half of it was crimson red, it reminded him of Shouto, to him it was ironic that something so beautiful, something that reminded him of who he loved, could bring him so much pain, he chuckled at the thought, and placed the rose in the vase he was keeping his roses in, a few of them had already started wilting, all of them a pure white, with some of them having little speckles of crimson on them, this rose being the most eye-catching, having more than half of it dyed with blood.
He left his room, walked down the stairs and left, feeling the early morning breeze. He remembered what Ochaco had said about shooting his shot, worst case scenario he'd get rejected and die, he couldn’t really get surgery, he wasnt poor but he wasnt rich enough to get it even if he wanted to. He didn’t even realize he'd gotten back to the dorms until he saw the doors of Heights Alliance. When he walked back in he saw a few people were awake, Tsuyu and Ochaco were both sitting on the couch, practically cuddled up together, talking while drinking a cup of hot cocoa, he was happy for them, who had recently started dating.
There was also Iida, who was drinking a cup of orange juice in the kitchen, listening as Sero talked about the most recent manga he'd read and Tokoyami, who was sitting oddly at the end of the couch. He quickly waved to his classmates and went back to his room to get ready for class.
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Shouto woke up with a few yellow daisies next to him. He couldn’t remember much of what had happened, but, he vaguely remembered waking up a few times during the night, only to cough up flowers and go back to sleep. He took the daisies to the vase on his room and decided that he'd need to tell Izuku soon. He got dressed and went to the kitchen in the common room to get himself some breakfast. He grabbed some toast and tea and quickly ate it before going to class.
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"Today we're going to be doing some one on one battles, everyone get your hero outfits ready and meet me outside in 3 minutes" Aizawa said. Everyone ran to the locker rooms to get their hero outfits as fast as they could. Shouto quickly got into his hero outfit and went to meet Aizawa outside.
He wasn't the fastest, Kirishima, Bakugo, Uraraka and Izuku being there already. Soon, everybody was there and Aizawa announced the pairings. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side and he got paired up with Izuku.
He didn’t know if he'd be able to get through the sparring without coughing up more flowers but, he would try. He didn’t pay attention to the rest of the pairings announced and waited for his fight to start, it seemed the other wasn’t really the happiest about sparring with him either.
He ended up spacing out, one minute Mina and Bakugo were about to fight, the next, Izuku was next to him, tapping his shoulder to get his attention.
They went to their spot and waited for Aizawa to count them down. Shouto went first, making an ice wall. Izuku kicked the wall down and tried to attack him, he quickly brought up more ice with his right which made Izuku step back. He took that opportunity to go forward with a fire covered fist which was blocked. The fight when on for a while and Shouto realized what Izuku was trying to do, he was stalling because he had more stamina than him. Eventually he was tired and Izuku tackled him and pinned him down, he was uncomfortable with the position, Izuku basically straddling him, and blushed. Aizawa gave the win to the other boy and he quickly got away to cough the flowers away.
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Izuku's Hanahaki was getting worse and worse, with the battle he had against Shouto, it got really bad. It was now 2 days later and he was coughing up lots of flowers. He decided that today was the day, he was finally going to confess after school
The day went by quickly, the classes passing in a blur.
he doodled in his notebook during classes, trying to calm down his anxieties about confessing, he had to do it soon, or he'd probably choke on the flowers growing in his lungs.
Conversation with -space girl-:
Glow Sticc Bones: I'm going 2 confess 2 Shouto today
Glow Sticc Bones: Really anxious about it but i hope it goes well!
-space girl-: i do 2, good luck deku! hope it all goes well
Glow Sticc Bones: So do I, if u dont see me tmrw just assume i died lol
-space girl-: u treat that as if its a joke
Glow Sticc Bones: It kinda is tho
-space girl-: it's not, but go off ig
-space girl-: gl again, you better not die on me ok?
Glow Sticc Bones: K, i promise
Glow Sticc Bones: And if it doesnt go well
Glow Sticc Bones: I love you
-space girl-: ...love you too
With Ochaco's blessing, Izuku was almost sure everything would go right, he tried to keep himself optimistic, hoping to manifest his feelings being reciprocated and texted Shouto
Conversation with Prince Zuko:
Glow Sticc Bones: So
Glow Sticc Bones: I need 2 tell u smth
Glow Sticc Bones: Can i meet up w/ u in ur room?
Prince Zuko: You know you don’t have to ask, Izuku
Glow Sticc Bones: Ik but i just wanted 2 make sure
Glow Sticc Bones: See u in a bit!
He took a deep breath and left his room, heading out to Shouto's.
He had spent about an hour stressing about everything, wanting to make his confession perfect, he rehearsed what he was going to say and picked out an outfit he thought made him look cute consisting of an oversized grey hoodie, jeans and some simple planet themed earrings (they made him feel better about himself).
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Shouto was in his room, staring at the ceiling, in silence, contemplating life since he had nothing better to do. A slightly loud noise interrupted his thoughts, he fumbled around to grab his phone and checked his messages, Izuku asked to come to his room since he had to tell him something.
He decided that after Izuku told him whatever he needed to say he'd finally confess. He didn’t think he needed to "dress up" but Yaoyorozu said that usually confessions were at least slightly planned out and he should try to look at least a little presentable while doing that.
He quickly put on some jeans and a black Turtleneck and thought that he at least looked fine, he quickly texted Yaoyorozu to ask if he looked nice, he thought he did but it didn’t hurt to get a second opinion on it.
Conversation with Yaomomo!:
Prince Zuko: [Image]
Prince Zuko: What do you think of my outfit?
Yaomomo!: It looks good! Although it depends on the context of what you're going to be doing
Prince Zuko: Izuku is coming up to my room, I'm going to confess to him
Yaomomo!: Oh! I think it looks nice, I wish you luck!
Prince Zuko: Thank you, Yaoyorozu, I am not sure if he reciprocates my feelings but, in case he rejects me and i die, i want to tell you that you i appreciate all you've done for me during our friendship
Yaomomo!: I appreciate all you've done for me, too! I hope everything goes well but, if it doesn’t, know that I'll miss you
Prince Zuko: I'll miss you too, Yaoyorozu
As he finished talking to Yaoyorozu he heard a faint knock on the door. He got up and opened the door, seeing Izuku there. He looked really cute and he blushed slightly, stepping aside to let him in.
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Izuku knocked on the door, waiting for Shouto to open the door. "Hi, Sho!" He said as the door opened, waiting for him to step aside so he could walk in. He closed the door behind him, considering to sit down on his bed, but deciding against it.
He tried to build up the courage to tell him, he knew he couldn’t back down at that point since he was already there. Shouto sat stood next to him as he tried to speak, completely forgetting what he was going to say.
He decided to just start speaking and come up with something to say while he was speaking "So... the truth is-" he started coughing. He felt the flowers try to come out but there was so much he couldn’t cough them all out, they came out in waves and Shouto tried helping him, but started choking too.
They stood there in front of one another, both coughing flowers. He gave up, what was the point of trying to resist? He was going to die, there was no way to save himself or Shouto and fell to the ground.
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Shouto panicked when he felt the flowers coming out, he couldn’t move, coughing up the yellow daisies. They were almost completely covered with blood.
He knew he wouldn’t last long but still tried to cough up all the flowers and breathe. He saw Izuku fall to the ground and couldn’t hold anymore, falling to the ground, next to the other boy.
There on the floor, were both boys, on a pile of white roses, yellow daisies and blood. They died next to one another, neither having the chance to confess.