Chapter Text
After three years and...a lot...of trauma, it shouldn't be a surprise that most of their class was comfortable using their given names amongst each other. They'd overcome much together, and most of them felt like they knew each other pretty well.
But, there was one person that Izuku wouldn't have really expected to warm up to a classmate so much. Izuku had only heard his own given name from the boy a handful of times in their seventeen years.
So, it wasn't odd for the sudden shock that resulted from hearing Kacchan's gruff voice shout angrily from the communal kitchen, "Eijirou!"
Izuku froze. His eyes slid to Eijirou himself, who was sitting on the floor next to Shouto as part of their small study group. Eijirou was also frozen, but apparently in fear rather than shock.
"Sounds like you're in trouble," Ochako chimed mischievously next to Izuku.
"Whatever it is, I'm innocent!" Eijirou shouted back nervously.
"My ass!" Kacchan rounded the corner holding a Tupperware container. "Did you skip lunch?"
Eijirou looked aside guiltily. "Uh... no?"
"Lie again." Kacchan dared, marching forward.
Eijirou held up his hands defensively, scooching closer to Shouto as if to use him as a shield. Shouto had already gone back to his notes, unbothered and obviously not intending to offer any assistance. "I'm sorry! I forgot!"
"I'm not gonna forget to kick your ass! If I cook for you, the least you could do is eat it, hair for brains!"
"Cook for me, Kacchan! I'll eat it." Denki chirped from the other couch where he had abandoned the study group to play a video game quietly.
"Here," Kacchan tossed him the container. Denki fumbled, but managed to catch it. "At least someone will appreciate my efforts." He turned back towards the kitchen before barking out, "And I told you to stop fucking calling me that!"
"Aw, come on, man," Denki pouted. He opened the container and gave it a sniff. "Fuck, that smells delicious."
Eijirou jumped up from the floor and followed after Kacchan towards the kitchen. "Katsuki, I appreciate you; I just got distracted! I swear it won't happen again," he whined. The rest of their conversation was lost to the distance.
Izuku sat dumbstruck a bit longer as Ochako went back to her notes as well, not noticing that Izuku wasn't paying much attention anymore. So far, even if it wasn't often, Izuku's was the only given name he'd heard Kacchan use. He didn't realize that that had made him feel special until now, and felt a sharp pang of jealousy.
Which immediately turned into guilt. He should be happy that Kacchan is close with his friends. It was good for him, and really reflected how much he'd grown since middle school. He should be glad that Kacchan finally has worthy friends.
Izuku turned back to Ochako, intending to return to their study session, but then it clicked that no one else had reacted to the exchange. Surely he wasn't the only one surprised by such familiarity.
Either it wasn't that big of a deal to anyone else, or maybe it wasn't the first time they'd heard it.
Izuku felt just a bit miserable.