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Izuku and Monoma munch on their imagawayaki, holding each other’s hands while making their way through the local summer festival. The impromptu event was sponsored by generous businessmen as a way to usher in the beginning of summer. It was also a way to say thanks to the heroes for the relatively low crime rate as of late and was hosted near Izuku’s home. Colorful paper lanterns hung above them, swaying in the slight breeze as people flitted from booth to booth, playing games and eating treats with wide, unabashed smiles. Izuku wipes at his mouth and turns to Monoma, wiping a stray speck of red bean paste off the corner of his mouth. Monoma blushes and squeezes his hand.
“Thanks.” He utters, smiling at Izuku with fond eyes.
“No problem!” Izuku returns with a sunny smile. Izuku squeezes his hand back as he finishes off the rest of his treat.
“Where are the others?” Monoma takes one more bite, finishing off the pastry as well.
“Kacchan is with Eijirou, Mina, Hanta, and Denki at a space-themed cafe nearby.” Izuku dusts off his silver grey yukata. “I know Tenya, Tsu, ‘Chako, and Sho ran off to see the puppet show that’s about to start in five minutes. The rest of them grouped together to go see the upcoming dance at the town square.”
“So, they’re on their own dates with their respective groups.” Monoma muses, swinging their arms slightly as they amble along.
“You could say that. Really though, this is our first date as a polycule for the summer. Tenya-kun thought it would be nice to relax a bit before we got into our Yuuei summer training.” Izuku hums, pulling Monoma closer to him. Monoma blushes as he finds himself molded to his partner’s side.
“It’s our first date together as well,” Monoma quietly intones, letting his head fall on his partner’s shoulder. Monoma tilts up to him, starry-eyed and full of longing as Izuku gives him a peck on the lips. The blonde tucks his heated face in the crook of his neck, arms snaking around his waist as he presses a kiss to his jaw.
“My Neito-kun, so sweet,” Izuku murmurs, syrupy in its tone as he kisses his lover’s fair locks. Monoma stays nestled for a second longer, then pulls apart from him. He grabs his partner’s hand, lacing their fingers together.
“You make me sweet,” Monoma returns, squeezing his hand. “You know, all of this feels so surreal to me. I didn’t think that by the time I hit my second year at Yuuei, that I would be in a relationship with one of our school's top heroes, much less have any type of connection to 2-A.”
“I’m still amazed that you let any of us in,” Izuku muses. “There was a time where I thought you’d never be able to trust any of us. I wanted the best for you. I want the best for everyone, really, for as long as we stay at Yuuei.”
“You don’t think any of us are going to want any type of connection after Yuuei?” Monoma’s brow furrows slightly as he looks at Izuku.
“Honey, that look of yours is what I’m trying to avoid. I don’t want us to worry so much about the future. As much as I’d like to keep us all together, I know that things change. 2-A could very well not want to be a polycule anymore and your class could no longer feel the same way about my class. Do I want those things to happen? No, but I know that relationships can end and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. People change and grow; it doesn’t mean they necessarily outgrow you though.” Izuku squeezes his hand three times. “I just want us to enjoy the time we have with each other. Really, tomorrow has enough troubles without us adding to it.” Monoma nods, slightly swinging their arms. The pair are about to pass a couple of stalls displaying colourful beaded jewelry when Katsuki’s group runs up to greet them.
“Hey Kacchan!” Izuku pecks him on the cheek. Mina pecks Izuku on the cheek and hugs him and the rest of the group do the same. Monoma offers them a wave and most of them wave back, with Kirishima and Mina going in to hug the copy quirk user. Katsuki takes his place on Izuku’s other side and holds his hand, Denki holding Katsuki’s hand. Eijirou kisses Hanta and Mina on the hand before taking his place between them and grasping each of their hands. The group makes their way through the crowd again.
“How was the space cafe?” Izuku asks, looking at his partner.
“Not too bad; the glow in the dark painted constellations on the ceilings and walls looked cool. I don’t know if I'd ever eat freeze-dried ice cream again, but it was interesting.” Katsuki shrugs. He eyes the karaage stall that’s coming up soon to their right. “Those vendors were at the city summer festival last year; they’re pretty good.”
“Okay, now I’ve gotta try it if ‘Tsuki approves of them!” Eijirou exclaims, swinging his arms as Mina, Hanta, and Denki match his hurried strides to get to the stall. Katsuki rolls his eyes but gives a small smile as he watches the trio. Izuku lays his head on the blonde’s shoulder, wrapping an arm around Monoma’s waist.
“How do you not die from so much affection?” Monoma queries out loud, face slightly flushed.
“Don’t be weak and just survive it,” Katsuki smirks, even as Monoma gives him an exaggerated, half-playful eye roll.
“But wouldn’t it be a way to go, Neito-kun? Here lies Neito Monoma, who died from too much love!” Izuku giggles and the sound makes Monoma and Katsuki’s hearts squeeze a little.
“Go.” Katsuki grunts as he does his best to shoo away the pair. Monoma looks at him with a question in his eyes as Izuku laces their fingers together once more. “It’s your first actual date with Copycat here, nerd.” He directs at the curly-haired boy. “We have the rest of the evening to catch up with you.” He makes eye contact with Monoma. “Hopefully he won’t bore you to death with his muttering.”
“Hey!” Izuku sputters back, eyes twinkling with mirth as he bats at Katsuki’s shoulder. Monoma can only shake his head, a smile playing at his lips. Katsuki grins back as he presses a kiss to the freckled forehead and nods back at Monoma, heading towards the karaage stall to join Eijirou and his group.
Several minutes later, Izuku and Monoma find themselves at a water gun stall. Bright vanity bulbs line the overhead sign as green, red, and yellow metallic cans glint in the light. Izuku hands the shateki vendor a 500 yen coin and lines up behind the mounted gun.
“Win me that Deku-bear at the top?” Monoma smiles as he kisses the boy on the cheek. Izuku blushes but kisses him back.
“You got it!” He hits all 10 targets with lightning precision. The vendor can only gape as he brings the bear down with the hook and hands it to the blonde. Monoma envelopes the three foot bear with a tight hug before holding it with one arm and linking the other arm with Izuku’s.
“You happy you got some merch of me? It’ll keep you company on the days that I'm at my work study,” Izuku teased as they meandered down the path towards the koi pond.
“It’s a piece of my boyfriend that I get to keep in my room,” Monoma’s eyes twinkle as he replies, grinning at his blushing partner. He pulls Izuku closer as the pond comes within sight. They pass through a huge red trellis arch with lotus flowers interwoven into its lattice down a cobblestone path. The cobblestone path gives way to a simple white veranda containing rosewood benches and vines of hanging wisteria. Leaning against the wood railing, the pair peer out at the koi pond framed by large stones, wild grasses, and flowering bushes.
Izuku wraps an arm around Monoma and pulls him close, tipping his chin up with careful fingers. He connects their lips together with the barest of touches before the blonde deepens the kiss. They spend several minutes trading languid kisses, unhurried in their pace.
“You look good like that,” Izuku murmurs as he pulls apart from Monoma, running a hand down his back as he gazes upon his flushed complexion and red, kiss-bitten lips. His partner’s only response is to rest his forehead on his as the copy user pulls him closer by the waist with both arms.
“I look good, flustered?” Comes the slightly breathless reply half a second later as Monoma locks eyes with Izuku.
“Yes, but it’s more than that.” Izuku cradles his face with one hand as his thumb runs over his cheekbone. “You look content, happy, at peace. You carry yourself differently now. I hear it in the way you laugh, how you smile, when you talk. Especially when you hold me, it’s like you won’t ever let go.” They wrap their arms around each other as Izuku rests his head against the blonde’s, looking out at the koi that circle and flit around each other.
“I never thanked you.”
“Thanked me for what?” Izuku turns slightly towards him, drawing circles on the nape of his neck.
“For giving me a chance. For meeting me where I was at and loving me as I am. For showing me that I needed to change and that I could change. You've given me this life with you and with them--” Monoma releases a shaky sigh. “It just feels like an impossibility sometimes.”
“Well, it’s not.” Monoma feels soft lips land on his forehead. “And you don’t give yourself enough credit. You took the chance, you took that leap of faith. You didn’t have to and honestly, I would’ve still done my best to help you, to make sure you didn’t destroy yourself. But you were the brave one, Neito-kun. Despite all the voices in your head telling you ‘no’, you went ahead and stepped into the water with me.” Izuku feels him burrow his head into his chest. “I’m glad you’re here with us now. It would’ve been a shame for you to miss out on all this love.”
Juuzou Honenuki is walking arm in arm with Tenya Iida and he can’t keep his eyes off of the slight flush that fills the class rep’s face.
They pass various stalls, pointing out the various goods and foods that are on display, trading small talk about battles, schoolwork, and family life. Honenuki genuinely enjoys hearing about how Iida, now known as Ingenium on the hero side, took down fire users that were attempting to burn down an adoption agency for heteromorphic children.
“It was very disgraceful, the nerve of them! They said, and I quote, ‘why give such abominations a chance to live?’ They are children! I honestly don’t know why people like them would try and strike such fear into those little hearts! I would not let any harm befall them, so I took them down using Recipro Burst. Pardon me for even saying this, but it wasn’t much of a fight. They didn’t really know how to use their fire quirks effectively.” Tenya pushes up the bridge of his glasses. “Sorry for hogging so much of the conversation,” he offers, the flush on his face growing a bit deeper.
“You aren’t,” Honenuki breezily assures him. “I wanted to hear about that battle and you did good, especially from what was captured on the media side at the time. The way you handle your quirk is impeccable.” He grins at Tenya, pulling the boy a little closer to him. Silence falls upon them as they sit at tables with bench seating.
“Am I making you uncomfortable, Iida-san?” Honenuki asks with a wrinkle in his brow, creating a bit of distance from the boy sitting across from him. “If the physical proximity bothers you, I’ll stop. Sorry, I should’ve asked.” He scratches at the back of his head, smiling sheepishly.
“It’s not!” Tenya answers hurriedly, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m just not used to being close to someone like that…” He trails off, glancing off to the side.
“Well, you’re easy to be around.” Honenuki gives him a brilliant smile as he holds his hand. “I’m glad we have a chance to spend more time with each other.”
“What do you want us to be?” Tenya hates asking such an awkward question, but he figures if he doesn’t do so now, he’ll forever hold off on doing so and he refuses to do such a thing.
“I want to be your friend. Maybe your life partner, if you’ll have me as such. I wouldn’t mind calling you my boyfriend, that’s for sure.” Honenuki looks up from drawing patterns on the back of Tenya’s hand to see the boy blushing profusely. “I’m not in a rush to put labels on it. At this point in time, I see how you are as a person and I want you in my life.” He lifts that same hand and kisses the back of it, lacing their hands together.
“We’ll figure it out together,” Tenya smiles at him, squeezing their joined hands as they rise from their seats.
Yosetsu Awase is holding hands with Todoroki Shouto and having the time of his life. They’ve teamed up to take down 2-A and 2-B in a lively, modified game of tag and they find themselves running from Sen Kaibara, Fumikage Tokoyami, and Yui Kodai.
“C’mon, they’re eventually gonna catch up to us!!” Awase tugs Shouto along, both of them breathless with laughter as they run down the forest path, trying not to get the last two red balloons on them popped. The pair merged their paths earlier with the rest of 2-A and 2-B, both classes at a loss as to what they wanted to do for the rest of the evening. Kendou suggested a mixed game of tag and the classic rule of ‘last man standing’ out in a forest near the festival. With both classes going all out, it was definitely going to set the stage for some interesting events.
“Hop on!” At this point, however, Awase doesn’t really hop on the path of ice that Shouto creates for them. Instead, he is pulled up and over by his wrists as his feet meet the ice. “Can’t have my partner falling behind now, can we?” The dual-user gives him a small, friendly smile.
“Partner?” Awase can’t help the flush that fills his face as he turns slightly towards Shouto.
“Partner, friend, whatever we are. It’s not like we hide the fact that we like each other.” Shouto shrugs. They both turn, only to dodge a large stick thrown from behind and find Kodai, hot on their heels.
“Maybe we should talk about this when we’re not too preoccupied!” Awase exclaims as he binds metallic logs to the tree trunks passing by them.
Tsuyu, Kyouka, Mezou, and Mashirao sit shoulder to shoulder on the sidelines. They were the first ones out in the game, so they watch with rapt interest as their classmates move swiftly through the forest, executing their plans to eliminate their opponents.
“Shi-ne!!!” The battle cry echoes throughout the forest, accompanied by thunderous blasts.
“Oh shit!” Mina sprints away from the source, Eijirou, Izuku, Kamakiri, and Kuroiro running along with her.
“Does it bother you, the questions we get asked about our relationship?” Tsuyu asks as she lays her head on Kyouka’s shoulder.
“People will be nosey about things like this because it’s very foreign to them. So naturally, they would have a lot of questions.” Kyouka shrugs, kissing Tsuyu’s forehead. “You mean so much to me, Tsuyu. I know that I love you. It doesn't matter what we are. Hell, the label can change from day to day. All I know is that you're important to me.” She squeezes Tsuyu’s hand, snuggling closer to her.
“I know, sweetheart. I just don’t want people bothering you too much.” Tsuyu kisses her cheek before laying her head back down on the brunette’s shoulder.
“You hear what Kyouka just said, Mezou? That goes the same for you.” Mashirao bumps shoulders with him as he wraps an arm around the multi-limb user. Mezou leans into his hold, resting his chin on the blonde’s head.
“Say goodbye!” Kodai exclaims as she effortlessly dodges the metallic logs, nearly a foot away from Yosetsu and Shouto, Kaibara and Tokoyami following closely behind.
“Hold on!” Shouto grabs Yosetsu by the wrists and swings him around to trade places, placing a solid kick to Kodai’s chest.
“Shit!” Kodai was flung backwards, colliding with her allies and bouncing on the forest floor. Shouto once more grabbed his partner by the wrist and doubled back on towards them, their ice path gleaming in the summer sun. Once they were close enough, the dual-user flung ice shards at the enemies’ balloons with devastating precision.
“Well, that’s one problem taken care of,” Yosetsu scratches the back of his head, Shouto stretching his arms and moving his neck from side to side as they get their bearings.
“I’m coming for that ass, Deku!!!” A round of blasts echo in the distance, accompanied with “He’s getting close, hurry!”
“One more to go,” Shouto gives a small smile, nodding in the direction of the fray as they start to run towards it.
“What’s the plan, Deku? He’s about to annihilate us!” Mina sprints alongside Izuku and Kamakiri, Eijirou and Kuroiro close behind as they make traps. Eijirou shreds a bit of the forest floor while Kuroiro uses his Vantablack to shade him from the heat. It only slows Katsuki for a bit before he gains ground again.
“I’ll need Kuroiro to help us out with this. Is there a dark enough part of the forest we can convene in, using your quirk?” Deku turns towards him, wiping the sweat off of his freckled forehead.
“I’ve been around this forest long enough to know there’s caves up ahead. We can rest there for a bit.”
“Alright, lead the way!” Kuroiro takes the front, the rest following after him. Several minutes later, they plunge themselves into pitch black darkness at the first cave they find.
“Wrap us in your Vantablack, the light source from my quirk should be enough for now.” Izuku sparks up, green lightning traveling down his body as pitch blackness takes over them once more.
“Mina and Eijirou will set a covered trap. I’ll be behind that covered trap to help lure Kacchan closer to me. Blackwhip will be enough to immobilize his arms and if that fails, Kuroiro will trap him with Vantablack so that Eijirou and Kamakiri can go in and pop his balloons.” Izuku rolls his shoulders back, taking in the expressions of his allies.
“Sounds like a solid enough plan!” Eijirou exclaims with a thumbs up. They break and head out of the cave, swiftly executing their plan. Three minutes later, the blasts are undeniably close.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Izuku has to fight to keep the smile off of his face at Katsuki’s taunt. He silently throws out a thanks to Itsuka for cobbling this game together, bringing out a competitive but more playful side of his partner he absolutely loved. Mina and company hide behind the trees, waiting for their cues. Izuku steps into the clearing, a few meters away from the trap, covered in shredded rocks and leaves, a puddle of acid beneath it. He dons a wide eyed, harried look, his head swinging from side to side to give off the illusion of being apprehensive.
“Deku!!” Katsuki propels himself towards Izuku with his blasts, a feral grin plastered on his face. Izuku’s eyes widen in response as he backs away, hoping the trap will work. Katsuki trips but rolls back up, eyeing his dissolving shoes.
“What the--” Katsuki looks closer then shakes one of the pairs off. His head whips up in surprise as black tendrils wrap around his arms and legs, the ghost of a smirk playing on Izuku’s features. Izuku shouts, a ‘woop woop’ sound as Mina and her group emerge from their hiding spots, advancing towards the blonde. The tendrils yank him forward as he falls on his back, pulling him closer to the green haired boy.
“We gotcha now, blasty!” Mina grins, dousing one of the balloons attached to his front in acid, Eijirou and Kamakiri going in to pop his balloons.
“You sure about that?” Katsuki sends a blast through Blackwhip and at the group. The tendrils release their grip on him as he springs back up. Mina, Kamakiri, and Kuroiro look down at their front in vain hope that the balloons haven’t popped.
“We’re out for the count.” Mina huffs a sigh and shrugs, making her way to Kyouka’s group, Kuroiro and Kamakiri trailing behind her. Eijirou shielded the balloons from the blast with his hardening quirk, reassessing the situation as quickly as he could in order to stay in the game.
“You’re next, Eijirou,” Katsuki declares, smirking at the redhead before going after Izuku. Izuku pushes off using Shoot style, leaping ahead to evade Katsuki’s advances, the explosion user close behind. Eijirou sprints to keep up, eventually ending up by Izuku’s side to protect him from any more blasts.
“What’s the plan now, boss?” Eijirou is still as sunny as ever, canine grin stretching from cheek to cheek.
“Evading is our best option, until we can find a place where his blasts are the most ineffective.” Izuku and Eijirou look to the side, only to barely dodge a metallic log propelled by a column of ice.
“You’re still in the game?!” Eijirou’s eyes are wide with shock, his partner mirroring that same expression as they come to a halt.
“Took out all of Class 2-B and most of Class 2-A.” Shouto reveals as he and Yosetsu smirk, taking stock of their surroundings and eyeing Katsuki who has stopped as well. “I’m guessing he took out the rest of our class.” Shouto cracks his knuckles as Yosetsu pulls out two metallic logs. It is here that Eijirou decides to take a gamble; he runs towards the duo, intent on making it look like he’s going straight for their front. A column of ice followed by fire head straight for him, but he defends against both of them with little effort, hardening quirk rebuffing the worst of it. The metallic logs glance off the hardened skin as well, bouncing uselessly to the ground. When he gets within close combat range, he backflips over them, activating his quirk and ramming both arms down their chests from behind, shredding cloth and balloons.
“I have to work on my close range skills.” Shouto closes his eyes in disappointment for a moment, fingers worrying at his forehead.
“We’ll get it next time,” Yosetsu offers up, laying a hand on his shoulder.
“We should probably get some clothes as well,” Shouto looks down at his shredded shirt at the same time Yosetsu does. Half a second later, the welding user glances at Shouto’s chest, blushing as his eyes focus on a small patch of exposed skin.
“You’re staring at my abs,” Shouto fixes him with an intense stare.
“Sorry!” Yosetsu blushes and scratches at the back of his head. His partner only shrugs as they start heading back towards Kyouka’s group.
“And then there were three,” Izuku announces as he, Katsuki, and Eijirou circle one another. Izuku lets One for All power up, green lightning enveloping his body. Katsuki’s palms spark and Eijirou’s quirk ripples throughout his body.
“Winner takes all, no holds barred!” Eijirou exclaims, punching fist to palm.
“Just how I like it!” Katsuki leaps at Eijirou, blasts propelling him towards his target. Eijirou runs at him head on, blasts glancing off of his quirk protected skin as Deku goes in for the sweeping kick to catch Katsuki off guard. Katsuki jumps over Izuku’s legs and grabs ahold of one of them, flinging him back. Eijirou emerges from the smoke and goes for the front again, another blast hitting him dead on. Katsuki blasts him from the left as he gets within punching range, but Eijirou feints right, popping another balloon.
“One more to go!” Eijirou singsongs, shark teeth showing in an excited grin. Black tendrils suddenly wrap him from behind, two of his balloons already popped before he catches up with what is going on. The redhead grabs the crackling vines and flings Izuku, but the boy lands in a solid crouch, pulling Eijirou close to him and popping the last balloon with a flick of air from his fingers.
“Aw, damn it!” Eijirou pouts, heaving a sigh as he walks back towards home base.
Eijirou makes his way back to Class 2-A and 2-B at the base of a big Oak tree, most of them spaced out enough to let the slight breeze weave its way between the laying bodies. Eijirou takes his place next to Shouto, laying down and wrapping his arms around him.
“Those two are the last ones to duke it out,” Eijirou squishes his cheek on Shouto’s shoulder. He closes his eyes, savoring another slight breeze that passes through.
“Not a surprise, really,” Shouto murmurs as he squeezes Yosetsu’s hand, Yosetsu moving to lay closer to the dual-toned hair boy.
“Hopefully they finish in time, so that we can change clothes for the fireworks at the river.” Tenya props himself up on one arm as he runs a thumb against Honenuki’s hand. Honenuki’s arms are wrapped around Tenya’s waist as he dozes off, sidling closer to the engine user as he sighs contentedly.
“If they don’t finish within the next 5 minutes, I’m heading over there and zapping them both,” comes the unbothered declaration from Denki, nestled under Hitoshi’s arm, Kyouka under the other one.
“Denki!” Momo admonishes, raising her head from Kyouka’s chest to look at the electric user.
“I’m spending time with datemates and partners,” Denki shrugs, closing his eyes again. “Normally, I’m all for their competitiveness, but I’m not letting it cut into our time together.”
Izuku dodges the explosions sent his way, eyes flicking from side to side for an opening to distract his opponent. Given the predicament he was in, having only one balloon to protect, he would need to make his move quickly. Katsuki was in the same boat but less inclined to be as careful, considering he had the upper hand currently with the offensive position he had taken.
“You can try and run, I’m just gonna catch you!” Katsuki propels himself forward with his blasts. Izuku can only give him a fierce, friendly grin as he dashes away, calculating the number of possible moves to end this fight.
I can try and use the move from our first day at Yuuei, but he’ll see right through that. He’s improved leaps and bounds since that time; it’ll be futile to even put that into play. I can deploy one of my air blasts and go in for a melee, but I run the risk of leaving myself open without fully disengaging or stopping temporarily his ability to make explosions. If this were a real fight, I could try and wear him out or slow the production of his nitroglycerin, but I don’t wanna take it that far. Using Blackwhip would be my best option at this point, but I have to be quick with my restraints.
Izuku turns around and deploys Blackwhip, taking hold of Katsuki’s wrists and ankles. He flings him hard enough to land the blonde on his back as he lands on top of him to pop the last balloon. Katsuki rolls quickly and takes hold of Blackwhip, flinging Izuku to the side and placing a controlled blast on one of the tendrils. The tendril loosens its hold and returns back to Izuku. Izuku releases an air blast at Katsuki’s feet, leaving his opponent just off balance enough to grab one of his arms and go in for the kill. Katsuki directs a blast to the ground and throws Izuku around once more. Izuku lands in a sliding crouch and props himself right back up.
“Not bad, nerd! I’m actually having fun with this!” Katsuki wipes at his mouth with the back of his hand. Izuku gives him a determined, sharp look, waving him over.
“Oh-ho! You asked for it, Deku!” Katsuki runs at Izuku and propels himself over the green-haired boy once he gets within punching range. Izuku protects his last balloon with an outward air blast, but it’s too late.
Katsuki calls it in with a well-placed micro blast to the orb, reaching from behind his back, shredding it to pieces.
“Damn it, so close!” Izuku pouts, staring sullenly at what remained of the balloon.
“Close doesn’t get you first place,” Katsuki smirks, punching his partner in the shoulder. The boy rolls his eyes at the blonde but allows himself to be taken in by the waist with a strong arm.
“Not half bad for a year or so’s work with One for All,” Katsuki observes, as they walk back to base. “You’re starting to make that power your own.” Izuku can only smile, knowing it’s high praise, especially coming from him.
“Of course. I want to be able to say I can be a good hero, as well as keep up with you, Kacchan,” Izuku answers, laying his head down on his boyfriend’s shoulder as they make their way down the beaten path.
Several minutes later, they find themselves at the base of an Oak tree, looking at 2-A and 2-B lying beneath the shade, some dozing, some cuddling with their chosen partners, some splayed like a starfish to catch the breeze blowing through the trees. Tenya turns his head towards the infamous duo and raises his eyebrows.
“It’s a good thing Itsuka and I had you all bring your hero cases and a duffle bag of extra clothes, just in case.” Tenya shakes his head, tapping Honenuki’s hand and rising as his arms release him. Izuku and Katsuki look down at their shredded shirts, as if taking notice of their sorry state for the first time. Katsuki only shrugs, taking Izuku’s hand in his as he watches the rest of them rise and stand up.
“We have two hours before the fireworks display. Let’s meet up at this tree 30 minutes before it starts.” Kendou grabs Izuku’s hand, the freckled boy dragging Katsuki along with him as they make their way to Mei’s temporary base, set up in an old shipping container and refitted with essential storage and remodeled as a holding area of sorts, near the festival.
An hour and 30 minutes later sitting beneath the tree, both classes were dressed in new yukatas, fresh faced and a little more rested. They sat as a mixed group, some trading stories about what they had done during the day, others sitting or cuddling with their chosen companions.
“Sounds like you had fun today!” Mei had her arms wrapped around Izuku, her head perched on soft curls as he finished his recounting of what had happened during the last man standing game.
“They joined us about an hour later, both of their shirts shredded, and all Tenya could do was sigh,” Ochako laughed, her head on Izuku’s shoulder as she ran gentle fingers up and down his arm.
“You guys are the absolute worst when it comes to games.” Shouto raises his head from Izuku’s lap to glance down at Katsuki resting in his lap.
“I don’t wanna hear anything from you, Icy-Hot. I’m not the one who decimated their clothes five minutes before dinner reservations with our partners, from a ‘quick’ spar with Deku,” Katsuki grumbles, wiggling closer to Hitoshi while wrapped in his embrace.
“Pot calling the kettle black there, Shouto,” Tenya adds in, one arm draped around Kaibara’s shoulders, the other hooked around Honenuki, their fingers laced together.
“Never said I wasn’t the worst,” Shouto amends, carding a cool hand through blonde spikes. “Just that Katsuki takes the prize for it.”
“Hey!”
Izuku can only laugh at his boyfriends’ antics, snuggling closer to Mei as he does so. He kisses her softly, one arm wrapped around her waist.
“You take such good care of me and my partners. Thank you so much baby, for setting up those containers for us. It couldn’t have been easy on such short notice.” Izuku rests his head on her chest.
“Eh, it wasn’t too bad. It was mostly persuading Principal Nedzu to release the funds for refitting and remodeling those containers in a couple of days. Plus, they make you happy and I consider them to be my closest friends. Why wouldn’t I try my best to take care of them?” Mei runs her hand through soft curls. Izuku glances at Monoma sitting shoulder to shoulder with Eijirou, laughing and exchanging tales with what had transpired during the last man standing game. Beside Monoma is Itsuka, resting her head on his shoulder, her hand in his.
I want something like this for you, for the rest of your life, Neito-kun. I want nothing more than your heart to be this full for the rest of our lives. If nothing else lasts in this life, I want it to be you and me, and all of us, weathering the storms together. Kami-sama, if nothing else, please grant me this one wish. Izuku squeezes Mei and Uraraka closer to him and drops a forehead kiss on Shouto.
“We have 25 minutes left to make it down to the river. Let’s head there now to get some good seats.” Tenya rises up, grabbing both Kaibara and Honenuki’s hands. The rest trail closely behind the trio, either holding hands or linking arms with their chosen companions.
Izuku looks up to the inky black sky in wonder, lit by the red, green, and gold fireworks. As hard as Monoma tries to focus on the pretty display before him, nothing can quite match the light and awe in his partner’s eyes. Monoma knows he’s not the only one who feels this way, as he’s caught Katsuki, Shouto, Iida, Honenuki, Momo, Denki, and many others sneaking glances at Izuku. Everyone has chosen to sit by him tonight, some trying to sit as close as humanly possible without crowding the pathways too much. Scarred hands grab Katsuki and Monoma’s hands and squeeze them tight, his emerald eyes widening even more at the peony firework that fades from green to gold against the murky backdrop.
“So gorgeous!” Izuku breathes out, pulling his partners closer to him.
“Not as gorgeous as this boy sitting next to me.” Katsuki turns Izuku’s chin as Monoma emphatically nods in agreement. Katsuki runs his thumb from temple to jaw, kissing the bright, happy boy softly. They pull apart as carmine eyes stare into green ones that are starstruck and full of longing, freckled cheeks rosy from blush. The poor boy only has a minute to catch his breath, before Monoma gently turns his chin and grabs a kiss of his own. Izuku rests his head on Monoma’s forehead, squeezing his partners’ hands before pulling them to him again, Katsuki resting his chin on Izuku’s shoulder.
“Technically, you just made out with me too, Neito,” Katsuki smirks, eyeing the boy. The other blonde can only blush in response.
“Kacchan, why do you--” Izuku sighs, rolling his eyes in half-amusement, half-exasperation.
“Am I wrong, though?” Katsuki challenges, an eyebrow raised.
“You taste pretty sweet, Katsuki.” Monoma volleys back, shrugging with an air of affected casualness. Izuku can only laugh as he feels Katsuki grow still behind him, not even bothering to look at the expression on his face, confident that his explosive partner wears a look of slack-jawed surprise on his face.
“Whatever,” Katsuki grumbles, recovered for the most part as he places his head back on Izuku’s shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist. Monoma places his head on the green-haired boy's other shoulder, linking their arms together. Izuku glances to the side and sees Tenya exchanging short, sweet kisses with Honenuki and Kaibara, a soft hand resting at the back of their necks, before they gaze at the sky again. He looks down in his lap to see Hitoshi and Shouto holding a kiss for a brief second, pulling apart and breathing in each other.
“I love you,” Shouto murmurs, squeezing Hitoshi’s waist. “I’m so goddamn glad you’re here with us, that you no longer have to put up with people who see you as a villain.”
“I love you too,” Hitoshi stares back into dual-colored eyes, touched beyond words, cradling his partner’s face instead. Izuku can only smile, carding through both of their locks as the pair look back up at the sky and nestle into his lap.
Beside them, Tsuyu and Fumikage exchange kisses, lacing their hands together as they look at a timefall firework break down into scintillating, silver streams.
“I’m glad I get to share this with you,” Tsuyu blissfully sighs. Fumikage pulls her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. “You’ve been through so much, my love. A little light through these trying times we’ve gone through is more than warranted.” In front of them, Mezou places a forehead kiss on Mashirao as the tail user holds his hand.
I won’t give up on us, even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love, I’m still looking up
The song fills the night air as the fireworks burst in the sky, the very truth of its words making its home in the hearts of 2-A and 2-B that very night.