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Ashido, Sero, Kaminari, and Kirishima knew Katsuki didn’t like surprises but they couldn’t help themselves. Even though they had class, they needed to celebrate somehow. Ashido held her phone waiting for Katsuki to come out of his room, Kaminari held the cupcake, waiting to light the candles with his fingers, Sero carried all of the presents they’d gotten him, and Kirishima readied himself to tackle his best friend in the biggest hug he could get away with.
Katsuki opened the door and immediately shut it in their faces.
“C’mon, Bakugou! You’ll have to come out sometime!” Kirishima said, shifting his weight back and forth excitedly.
“No, I can skip class,” Katsuki said through the door.
“Well, you won’t,” Sero responded. “You can’t stand to miss class.”
“I mean if you want us to do it in front of the others then by all means we can wait,” Ashido said.
“I’ll go out the balcony,” Katsuki grumbled.
“Shit, I’ll trap him!” Sero said, dropping the presents and bolting to the elevator.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be!” Kirishima shouted through the door.
“Plus, the cupcake is chocolate chili!” Kaminari called out.
The group heard Katsuki stop and make his way back to the door. He opened it just a crack, eyeing the cupcake in Kaminari's hand. Katsuki groaned and his friends knew they got him.
“Fuck, let’s get this over with," Katsuki said. He opened the door and Kirishima immediately jumped on him.
Ashido took a photo of Kirishima grinning like he had met Crimson Riot. It took everything in Katsuki to not drop him on the ground but he just let things happen. He held Kirishima in his arms bridal style and quickly set him down upright after Ashido gave him the okay to drop him. Katsuki wanted that cupcake and if he fought he wouldn’t get it.
Sero ran back, disappointed he missed out on the fun.
“Aw, I want a Bakugou embrace,” Sero groaned.
“No,” Katsuki snapped and Kirishima handed him his presents.
“One from each of us and even a couple from some others in class. You can open them later though so we’re not late.”
Katsuki threw them on his bed nonchalantly, not really caring about them. He wasn’t a big fan of his birthday. Everyone always made such a big fucking deal about it.
“17! The oldest in the class!” Kaminari shouted gleefully as he lit the ‘1” candle, then the ‘7’ one.
“Happy Birthday, Bakugou!” They all yelled happily while he blew them out. Thankfully, they didn’t sing but Katsuki assumed it was mostly because they were already running late to class. Katsuki took the ‘7’ candle and sucked the red frosting off. It was delicious; spicy and sweet. They’d even used some chili flakes like sprinkles.
“Don’t throw those candles away!” Sero said hurriedly to him. “We’ll wash them and use them again.”
“Frugal much?” Kaminari teased.
“Yeah, can’t Yaomomo create more?” Ashido asked earnestly.
“Let’s not be wasteful,” Kirishima shrugged then checked his phone. “We better get to class. Let’s go!”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, quickly sucking off the frosting from the other candle and set both on his desk. It was surprisingly really good.
“Satou made it,” Ashido answered the unspoken question she could see on Katsuki's face.
He nodded and noticed the custom cupcake wrapper that looked like the design of his hero costume.
“Yaomomo thought it would be a nice touch,” Kirishima said, grinning as Katsuki unwrapped the cupcake.
“Fuck, how many people were in on this?” Katsuki asked before taking a bite. The chocolate was rich, dark, and slightly bitter which was good since the frosting had a lot of sugar in it. There was even jelly inside. Was that strawberry and chili together?
“Oh, everyone had some part in it,” Sero grinned. “What? Did you think we’d forget?”
“More like hoped,” Katsuki whispered, stuffing the final bite of cupcake into his mouth. He wouldn’t admit he liked it to them but maybe he’d ask Satou for the recipe later.
They got to class with a minute to spare. Deku, Uraraka, and Tsu chatted by his desk, which immediately annoyed him. Couldn’t they talk anywhere else?
“Oh, sorry, Bakugou, we’ll move. Happy birthday by the way,” Tsu said with a smile grinned before going to sit at her own desk.
Katsuki gritted his teeth, bristling in annoyance and threw his bag down by his chair.
“Kacchan doesn’t like his birthday,” Deku whispered to Uraraka. “Doesn’t like everyone annoying him.”
“If you know I don’t like it, why do you keep talking?” Katsuki grumbled. Deku heard and laughed meekly.
“Strange. I’d thought you’d love all the attention that comes with birthdays. I mean, people are celebrating you,” Uraraka said thoughtfully.
“It’s for the wrong reasons,” he answered.
“Wrong reasons?” Uraraka walked around his desk to look at him. Katsuki glared at her.
“I don’t have to answer to you,” he growled and shoved his hands in his pocket, turning his face away from her.
“I don’t mean to be a pest but maybe you’d be happier and not so angry all the time if you let people show you some appreciation outside of winning fights,” Uraraka said awkwardly and quietly.
“He doesn’t even really let that happen,” Sero interjected. Katsuki ignored him.
“Why don’t you shut the fuck up, Uraraka? You don’t know me,” he snarled.
Uraraka stood up straighter then turned and walked away.
“That was kinda mean, Kacchan,” Deku mumbled behind him.
“She needs to get her nosy ass out of my business,” Katsuki growled. “Got what she deserved.”
Soon after that exchange, Mr. Iida entered the classroom and Katsuki was thankfully distracted from his birthday for the rest of the school day. Fortunately for him, his friends were too busy with training and homework to bother him afterwards.
Katsuki studied in the library for a while before grabbing some takeout from a local restaurant. He hadn’t checked his phone all day simply because he knew it would piss him off but with good food in his future he decided to get it over with.
Hag (Mom): Happy Birthday, Katsuki! You better not have spoiled anything with your attitude today. Love you!
Dad: Love you Son hope you had a great day. 17 wow! So proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished
Deku 🤬: Happy Birthday, Kacchan! I know we’ve had ups and downs but I’m so happy you’re my friend.
Kirishima: Bakubro! Happy Birthday! Love you, man!
Raccoon-Eyes 🦝: Happy bday my grumpy guy! You’re a pain in the neck but I wouldn’t have it any other way! 😘 Enjoy the day!
Dunce-Face: Your an old man now! Whats it like to almost be a cripple? Haha jk your cool bkgo 🤩 Glad your always there to steer me in the right direction 🤗 Ill always be there to charge your phone 🤪
Bakugou grimaced at Kaminari's text. He hated typos and he was sure Kaminari never edited them just to piss Katsuki off.
Big Lips: Hope you liked the cupcake! Happy bday
Ears 🦻: Don’t make a big deal out of me texting you. Happy birthday, thanks for studying with me sometimes
Bakugou didn’t hate that one. Jirou was cool and way out of Kaminari’s league. He’d probably never figure out how that idiot had convinced her to go out with him.
❄️👤🔥: Midoriya is forcing me to do this. Happy Birthday, I guess. Why is everyone obsessed with birthdays? You don’t have to answer.
Katsuki maneuvered the bag of food so he could text Todoroki back.
Katsuki Bakugou: Because they're idiots, that’s why. Don’t let Deku make you do shit.
He caught up on the rest of his texts, just a bunch from his family he never talked to and the last of his classmates' messages. One each from Tokoyami, Sero, and Hagakure.
When Katsuki got back to the dorms, he relaxed a little seeing no signs of birthday festivities. He went straight to the elevator, planning to eat in his room, but Yaoyorozu cornered him.
“Bakugou! Did you like the cupcake wrapper?” She asked with big, excited eyes.
“Yeah." Bakugou pushed the button, hoping his lack of eye contact would make her leave him alone.
“Oh, by the way, I didn’t give my present before this morning to Kirishima like he asked,” Yaoyorozu started rambling. Kirishima had asked the class to give him presents? He’d kill him for that. What was that idiot thinking? Katsuki then remembered to pay attention to Yaoyorozu and caught the end of her long-winded speech. “So, with that being said, what do you want?”
“Nothing,” he answered honestly.
“Nothing? You can have anything! My treat,” Yaoyorozu said, smiling at him sweetly.
“Oh, just let her make you something, Bakugou,” Uraraka said from the couch next to them.
“Please?” Yaoyorozu added.
“Ugh!” Katsuku groaned. He didn’t care what she made him. On second thought, he didn’t have any of his own hero merch and she had made that liner look like his costume. “Fine! Make me a hoodie like that cupcake wrapper.”
“Oh, okay! I’m glad you liked that so much. I’ll put it next to your door later tonight." Yaoyorozu waved him goodbye then ran over to Todoroki and Iida who were sitting at a table together, eating and studying.
Katsuki went up to his room, set his food on his desk and tackled the small pile of presents that he’d been dreading to open. He hated it. People always wanted him to feign being happy or thank them for the stupid crap they’d wasted their money on. At least no one was watching him. Good call, Kirishima.
Grabbing a pork bun, Katsuki sat on the bed and picked up the biggest one, obviously wrapped by Sero as it had no real wrapping, just tape.
“Fuck this,” Katsuki groaned and ripped open the tape with all his strength, letting out his birthday rage by ripping everything off with as much power as he could muster. He opened the box and inside were new camo hiking boots.
“Not bad,” he muttered as he tried them on. They fit well and they didn’t look like shit. One point for Sero.
He opened the next one, wrapped in All-Might wrapping paper.
“Wonder who this is from,” Katsuki said sarcastically.
Ripping off the paper, he opened the box and saw a limited edition All-Might mug carefully wrapped in tissue paper. There was a note on top.
I think this is more your style than mine. I didn’t spend any money on you, I promise! - Deku
It was black and silver with the signature lines of his costume etched into the mug. It had a nice matte finish and the silver shined in the light. Katsuki absolutely hated that he loved it.
“If that nerd expects a thank you, he’s wrong,” he said to himself, putting the mug on the shelf next to his bed.
Next was a present that screamed Ashido. She had picked out a pink zebra striped bag and a few fireworks such as sparklers, roman candles, and some firecrackers stuck out of it hot pink tissue paper with a note from her.
For when you overuse your quirk! Have fun!
Katsuki laughed and immediately started thinking of ways he could prank his friends with them. He opened the bag to find more fireworks inside. Enough for many, many pranks.
Next was an unwrapped small, longish box from Kaminari. Katsuki opened it to find a pair of stylish sunglasses. He didn’t hate them; he actually thought they’d fit well with his wardrobe but it was obvious that Kaminari was cleaning out his own collection.
Kirishima’s present came with a card full of sappy friendship shit that Katsuki grimaced at. Part of him was reluctant to open the present because of it. Katsuki gritted his teeth and tore open the red wrapping paper.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Katsuki whispered, stunned at what he saw.
It was a box full of at least a dozen of interesting and unique hot sauces. This would last him the whole school year!
Katsuki grinned and inspected each of them, excited to try them all out.
He opened the rest of the presents quickly as he wanted to try the hot sauce named Brain Burner. It looked awesome.
The rest of the gifts included a book on analytical geometry from Iida shockingly, a bag of spicy snacks from Hagakure, a postcard with Miruko on it from Mineta reading ‘she looks like your type of gal’, and a black kalimba with tuning hammers from Jirou with a note saying ‘it’s probably not your style but I bet you can’t get good at it ;)’.
“Those are fighting words, Ears," Katsuki said as he threw the note aside and started picking away at it. It sounded okay. She was kinda right that it wasn’t his style but it was relaxing to play. Maybe he’d practice before sleeping or something to help him calm down.
After he put away his presents and was sitting down to finish the rest of his dinner, a card flew underneath his door.
“The fuck?” Katsuki said, his mouth partially full with food. He picked it up, eyeing the card quizzically, sat back down at his desk, and ripped it open.
It was a homemade card with a drawing of an angry Katsuki on the front exploding with rage. It read ‘To the Boy Who Hates Birthdays’. He opened it up and read the slightly messy handwriting.
I don’t understand but I don’t have to. You hate birthdays. You hate people fawning over you and telling you how amazing you are. Probably because people do it all the time so it doesn’t really mean anything to you on this day, only it's more annoying since they’re saying words that make you feel uncomfortable like friendship, love, and happy. You said they do it for the wrong reasons so my only assumption is that you think they’re faking their appreciation of you or that you're undeserving of that type of attention. You don't owe me or anyone anything for the gifts they give you. Just accept them, please. Because even if you don't care, we do. You’ve changed a lot since I first met you but I hope you know that I’ve changed too. I’m going to stand up to you and I’m going to ask questions. I know you don’t like people spending money on you or getting you things so I did neither. Use it wisely. Hope your day didn’t suck. - O. Uraraka
Katsuki’s breath caught in his throat. Who the fuck did she think she was? Her words hit him in the chest but upon seeing her present in the envelope he laughed hard.
It was a homemade coupon shaped like an extra large, red, classic ticket. In big, bold letters it said “SHUT UP NOW!” In smaller, neater letters underneath it read: ‘This coupon is good for Ochako Uraraka to stay quiet for a whole conversation or the remainder of one. She will not defend Deku or any other classmates and will not speak unless specifically asked by Katsuki Bakugou to participate’. Underneath that it said in slightly bigger letters ‘Limit One’.
Katsuki laughed maniacally as he held up the coupon in the air like a trophy.
Katsuki wouldn’t have called their relationship friendly and it pissed him off that she thought she knew him enough to say what she had in her letter. Even his therapist was less perceptive. It didn’t matter though because now he could shut her up whenever he wanted. Oh, the things he’d get to yell at Deku without her intervention, maybe even everyone if he timed it right! Katsuki’s goal was to make her regret making this for him. It was the absolute greatest present he’d ever received and he’d save it for the perfect moment.