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~1~ Katsuki
“Deku, I seriously don’t want to be a fucking third wheel.” snaps Katsuki as he looks at his childhood best friend, a grimace on his face as he pouts at him.
“You wouldn’t be a third wheel, Kacchan, it’s just me and Hitoshi! You like Toshi!” whines Izuku with a genuine pout, ignoring the insinuation that his best friend just poured down his fucking throat.
“Yeah, and I know how you feel about eyebags. The hell do I wanna put myself through that for?” asks Katsuki with a huff as he looks away from the pouting, the wide eyes, the damn persuasion.
“Come on, Kacchan, it’s a movie! All we’re doing is going to see the new Underground Hero movie. There’s no way you’ll feel like a third wheel at the movie!” argues Izuku as he pokes Katsuki in the chest, irritable that he couldn’t convince him with his pout like normal.
“Fuckin’ fine! But I swear to All Might I will leave the moment I feel like a fuckin’ third wheel.” snaps Katsuki with a harsh eye roll that hurts his head as he gives in to the pleading.
“Yay! Toshi, he’s coming too! See you in an hour at the gates!” hollers Izuku happily, waving to Hitoshi who waves back with an amused smirk on his lips.
An hour later, Izuku is dragging Katsuki to the gates where Hitoshi is waiting, purple beanie on his head that matches the purple cat on his black sweatshirt, ripped skinny jeans with purple jewels along the pocket that they both know is from Eri’s attempts at bedazzling along with the purple jewels on his scuffed converse shoes.
Izuku knows how hot Hitoshi looks, but he promised Kacchan that he wouldn’t be a third wheel.
Which means no simping, dammit!
Katsuki watches Izuku adjust his excitement, watches him struggle to stop from whispering about how attractive eyebags is to him, like he always does when he sees him, even in their uniform. He watches as Izuku greets eyebags with a wave before they reach him, watches the way eyebags’ eyes trail down his figure, not that Izuku’s paying any fucking attention, already rambling about this new hero introduction in the comic series All Can Be Heroes. Katsuki arches a brow at Hitoshi, and snorts when his cheeks go red at being caught.
“Are you okay, Toshi? Your face is really red.” says Izuku softly, worrying over eyebags without hesitation.
“And I’m outta here.” huffs Katsuki under his breath as he turns and walks away from them as Hitoshi reassures Izuku that he’s fine.
“Kacchan! Get back here, you said you’d come too! I know you want to see the movie too!” hollers Izuku as he uses blackwhip to wrap around one of Katsuki’s wrists.
“And I told you, I am not a third wheel.” calls Katsuki, taking advantage of his ability to make Izuku sputter and loosen his quirk control enough for him to take off.
“What- Kacchan!” hollers Izuku loudly, irritation mixing with embarrassment.
“Why did he say he was a third wheel?” asks Hitoshi softly, confused as he looks at Izuku.
“Because he’s a jerk. I think he just didn’t want to tell me that he’s planning to take Shouto to see the movie tomorrow night for their first date. Shouto said they were going to the movies, and apparently, Kacchan has planned everything out, but won’t tell him anything. It doesn’t matter though, we should hurry so we can see the previews too!” replies Izuku with a careless shrug as they start walking, wondering if that was Katsuki’s plan the entire time, or if he was taking Shouto to a different movie.
~2~ Dekusquad
Izuku drags Shouto with him as he’s the only one in the squad dragging his feet about this.
“Come on, Sho, you promised to eat lunch with us today!” whines Izuku as he tugs Shouto against his will.
“And you promised I wouldn’t have to watch you and Hitoshi dance around each other.” grumbles as he tries to fight back, despite knowing Izuku is stronger than him.
“We aren’t dancing around each other. Honestly, you and Kacchan are so frustrating! He doesn’t even see me that way, Sho!” whines Izuku with a petulant pout as he stops tugging to meet Shouto’s unimpressed look.
“Honestly, I can’t believe I’m listening to this. You two are so- Izuku, you two like each other, but you’re both blind. I’m not dealing with it when I could spend lunch with my boyfriend.” huffs Shouto as he gets his arm back, crossing both of them over his chest.
“It’s squad day, Sho. You aren’t allowed to eat with Kacchan on squad days, you both promised us!” Izuku points this out with a victorious grin as he puts his hands on his hips.
“Fine, but I swear I’m leaving at the first sign of you two ignoring everybody for each other.” replies Shouto with a sigh as he gives in and walks ahead of Izuku, heading to where the Dekusquad has set themselves up on a wide blanket under one of the cherry blossom trees.
“Yes!” cheers Izuku before he turns around and gets caught up to Shouto, taking his wrist and dragging him with a free laugh as Shouto joins in his running to their squad spot. “I got him!”
“Thank goodness! It’s not a squad lunch without the entire squad.” says Ochako brightly as she tugs Izuku down next to her, cuddling up to him even as he grimaces at the closeness.
“I told you I’d get him, ‘chako. But I think I’m gonna sit next to Hitoshi today, the Katsudon’s closer to him.” replies Izuku softly before he’s up and moving to sit against the trunk of the tree next to Hitoshi on the other side of where Ochako’s placed herself.
“Ochako, I am not going to sit here and watch you annoy Izuku. He doesn’t like you as anything more than a friend, and honestly, it’s getting on my last nerve that you won’t listen to us.” say Shouto with a glare as he settles on the other side of Izuku to block Ochako’s advances, irritation flaring through his veins.
“Well, I don’t think you recognize what flirting is. You’re dating a bomb.” snaps Ochako as she tries yet again to get closer to Izuku.
“Uraraka, I am not interested in you; I apologize if I made you think I was. You’re a good friend, but that’s all you are to me… I-I’m not-” stutters Izuku, cutting himself off before he can say anything else, firm tone catching Ochako off guard as her eyes well up with tears.
“You can like me, Izuku, how do you know you don’t? You might just be confused because you spend so much time wrapped up in Hitoshi, Katsuki, and Shouto.” says Ochako, pleading for him to not crush the hope she’s still firmly holding onto.
“I’m not interested in you, Ochako… I’m not interested in girls.” says Izuku softly, feeling guilty for having to break her hope, but he knows who he wants.
“I- I- Oh… Okay, Deku.” murmurs Ochako, voice full of surprise as she looks at him with wide eyes, clearly not expecting this outcome.
“Well, since we’re outing ourselves, I’m bi.” says Momo softly, hesitant, but genuine as she looks at Izuku.
“Oh, Momo! I’m so proud of you!” exclaims Izuku happily, cheering.
“I’m asexual, ribbit.” says Asui softly, smiling as Izuku cheers for her as well.
“I’m straight… But I’m also seeing Mei from support.” says Iida as he takes part in their moments.
“I knew you two would be adorable together! I’m so happy for you, Tenya!” cheers Izuku proudly, smirking because he was right.
“Well, I guess I’ll put mine out there too. I’m gay.” says Hitoshi softly as his deep voice rumbles into their moment, and Izuku turns to him with a wide grin.
“I’m so happy you felt comfortable enough to tell us, Toshi!” replies Izuku softly, leaning over to knock his shoulder into Hitoshi’s, smiling brightly when those purple eyes lock on his emerald orbs.
~3~ Aizawa
“The goal is for the heroes to touch the rocket. If you fail, the villains win. If a hero gets a singular hand on the rocket, the heroes win.” Announces Shota as he and Vlad look over their crowd of students. “We will be pairing you up with someone from the other class. Vlad will announce your teams, and then we will start with group A.”
As Vlad starts announcing groups, Izuku waves over at Hitoshi subtly, grinning wide when Hitoshi waves back as Neito talks to him.
“- group C, we have heroes Izuku and Hitoshi versus villains Denki and Monoma. For group D, we have heroes Katsuki and Kendo versus villains Shouto and TetsuTetsu. Finally, group E, we have heroes Eijirou and Reiko versus villains Tsuyu and Kosei.” finishes Vlad, voice booming as he announces the teams, splitting them evenly into groups. “The other half will compete tomorrow, and then we will have an assignment for you all afterwards. The rest of you will join us in the press box to watch your peers, and I will give you this singular piece of advice, take notes on each match. Remember, this is a team exercise, so work together.”
“Group A is up, everyone else, come on. Villains, go find the rocket. Heroes wait here. You will have five minutes to devise a gameplan, when the buzzer sounds through the arena, it’s go time.” says Aizawa loudly, tired voice accentuated enough to catch everyone’s attention before he turns and walks to the door with Vlad following closely behind him.
Hitoshi and Izuku are strategizing the entire time, muttering as Izuku takes notes with Hitoshi pointing things out as they go. When it’s their turn, they head to the door, walking down the stairs, and then they walk out into the arena, waiting by the door for the buzzer as Monoma and Denki disappear into the building.
“You should be focusing on getting to the rocket, it’ll be easier to get Denki talking, and I’m betting that Monoma will be with the rocket for that exact reason.” says Hitoshi softly as the timer counts, looking at Izuku as he tugs lightly at the capture weapon with one hand.
“Yeah, but you can get Monoma talking easier, and I don’t know if he chose to take on Denki’s quirk or not. If he’s with the rocket, you should go there. I can handle Denki.” says Izuku thoughtfully as he turns to meet Hitoshi’s eye, feeling himself get a little lost in the hint of fondness showing.
“Bunny, you know you’re more than capable of handling Monoma whether he’s copied Denki’s quirk or not.” says Hitoshi softly as he looks at Izuku, eyes softening around the edges.
“Well, kitten, I’m pretty sure Monoma won’t expect you.” says Izuku just as softly, stepping a bit closer to Hitoshi unthinkingly.
“If you two could stop flirting, for two seconds, the buzzer has sounded.” comes Aizawa’s voice through the tinny speaker.
“We’re not flirting, sensei!” says Izuku after they put a big distance between them in their shock.
“Get a move on, you’re wasting time.” says Shota, not reacting to the comment as he reminds them of their timer.
They end up winning, but only because Hitoshi went after Monoma instead of Denki, just like Izuku said.
~4~ Mic
Izuku is going to the Yamada-Aizawa campus apartments with Hitoshi because he’s been invited to a family dinner night by Hitoshi. They’re walking together, bumping into each other as they walk, giggling as they talk about how Monoma freaked out when Denki asked him out and accidentally short circuited both of them.
It was a freak accident that had Denki cracking up once he was okay a little while later, after Monoma said yes to the date that they left to go on just before Hitoshi came to get Izuku from Class A’s dorm.
“We’re only having burgers because Pops found a good American burger place last week, so he stopped to grab dinner for us all from there on their way home. Eri is pretty stoked that you’re coming though, heard her squeal in excitement on the phone when I checked with dad.” says Hitoshi as their giggles subside, just as they’re reaching the building that’s housing the teachers.
“Well, I’m excited to be able to come hang out at a family dinner!” exclaims Izuku happily as he steps inside the building after Hitoshi held the door open for him.
“We’re up on the second floor, it’s the first door on your left.” says Hitoshi as the door shuts behind him, stepping forward to lead the way, grabbing Izuku’s hand unthinkingly.
Izuku’s cheeks burn a little as he holds Hitoshi’s hand and follows him up the stairs. He’s quiet as Hitoshi lets them in with a key he has on a chain around his neck, but when Hitoshi tugs him into the apartment, he interlaces their fingers together. Hitoshi doesn’t even react, so Izuku knows it’s not that big of a deal.
“I didn’t know you two were dating! Sho, I didn’t know they were dating! Why didn’t you tell me they were dating? Hitoshi, why didn’t you tell me you two were dating?” Mic’s questions are rapid-firing and have Hitoshi and Izuku freezing in the large archway leading into the dining room and kitchen.
“I- We- We’re- wha?” asks Hitoshi with wide eyes as he shares a shocked and confused look with Izuku.
“Uh, Mic-sensei, we’re not dating… we’re just friends, he was just tugging me along cause I got distracted downstairs.” replies Izuku as he softly brings his hand back to himself, trying to hide his disappointment as he smiles at Present Mic.
“I wasn’t-” starts Hitoshi as he turns to look at Izuku with confusion before he puts up his blank face and looks back at his dads. “We’re not dating, why does everyone keep asking that?”
Izuku ignores the way it hurts as Mic says, “Well, you two were just holding hands, and your dad said you two were flirting during the joint training last week. And I heard Katsuki complain about being a third wheel two weeks before that.”
“We’re friends, Pops, please drop it. Where’s Eri?” asks Hitoshi as he quickly changes the subject just as Eri pops into the room with a wide grin. “Hey, Eri-berry!”
“Toshi-Yoshi!” squeals Eri excitedly as she runs and jumps at him to hug him close as he kneels to hug her too. “Izu, I’m so glad you’re here too!”
“Yeah, hi Eri! It’s good to see you again, and it seems like you’ve gotten taller!” exclaims Izuku as he kneels down next to Hitoshi and Eri wraps her other arm around his neck and places her head between them, and he sees the blankness melting from Hitoshi’s face.
Dinner is eventful, and nobody mentions the dating thing again.
~5~ Inko
“I’m telling you, you’ll love him when you meet him! He’s such an amazing person, and he’s had a rough time because of his quirk, you know.” rambles Izuku as he dips out a bowl of Katsudon from the steaming pan on the stove, talking to his mom about Hitoshi. “He has a brainwashing quirk, and he’s just so capable of amazing things that I can’t hardly believe he’s been given such a rough hand. But Mom, he is the sweetest person in the world, I swear.”
“Now, what is the name of this young man?” asks Inko as Izuku walks over to the table with his bowl, settling in front of her.
“His name is Hitoshi Shinsou, but he’s adopted by Aizawa-sensei and Mic-sensei.” replies Izuku brightly as he prepares a bite.
“He sounds lovely. How long have you known him?” asks Inko curiously after she swallows her bite.
“Since first year. I actually competed against him in the Sports Festival. He did an amazing job, nearly got me.” replies Izuku excitedly before shoving a big bite into his mouth.
“You certainly seem to like him quite a bit.” says Inko with a knowing tone before she takes another bite of food.
“Of course, I do. He’s so talented and sweet, and he’s working so hard to become a hero after being treated unfairly for so long.” explains Izuku happily as he looks at his mom, missing the knowing tone in her voice as he rambles. “His bravery and determination are things I will never not love about him, but it’s also the softness he shows with Eri, and how caring he is for everyone. He cares, so, so much, and I just- I don’t know how anyone can dislike him. Even with his sarcastic attitude, he’s an amazing person to talk to.”
“Izuku, how long have you had a crush on him?” asks Inko full stop, no hesitation in her voice, just a calm understanding tone.
Izuku feels his bite of food fall out of his mouth as he looks at his mom with wide eyes when the question processes.
“Oh, honey, you’re making a mess. It’s quite obvious, and you know I just want you to be happy no matter who it is that you end up with.” says Inko as she reaches over with her napkin to wipe his mouth.
“I-I- sorry, what?” asks Izuku as he shakes his head, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as his mom settled back into her place. He takes a second, and then he opens his mouth again. “Since first year.”
“Awe, and why haven’t you told him yet?” asks Inko softly as Izuku holds a hand over his mouth, surprised at himself.
“I- because he deserves someone amazing, and I’m just- not. Besides that, he’s made it pretty clear that we’re just friends.” says Izuku softly, dejected as he looks down at his food.
“Have you also been telling everyone that you’re just friends?” asks Inko softly as she reaches over to lift her son’s face to look at her.
“I- well, yeah because he- well actually, I- huh… I think I started the friend thing, but he never- or maybe he did… he never seemed to be bothered by the label, but maybe I’m wrong. He seemed kinda upset when I told his pops that we were just friends.” rambles Izuku as he slumps into his seat, a sense of confusion splaying alongside the hope building in his chest.
“Maybe next time someone insinuates that you two are more than friends, watch how he responds or reacts.” says Inko thoughtfully as she twirls another bite around before slurping it up.
“I think I just might...” murmurs Izuku softly as he take a bite of food, chewing slow.
~+1~
Izuku and Hitoshi are heading to the cat cafe, and it’s been a week since he talked to his mom.
He’s been watching, not saying anything, and he’s getting more comfortable with the idea that maybe Hitoshi sees him as more than just a friend too. He doesn’t deny the dating questions, and his cheeks flush just light enough that it can be overlooked. There’s a feeling of hope that Izuku hasn’t been able to shake since Hitoshi asked him if he wanted to go to the cat cafe with him, just the two of them.
When they get to the cafe, they find a booth for them near the cat tree in the window, and a small grey and black patched cat makes their way over to them alongside a larger brown and grey cat. The cats jump on their laps without any prompting, and Izuku can’t help but giggle when the small grey one headbutts Hitoshi as the bigger one lays across his lap.
“That one seems like they want to be your best friend.” says Izuku through his giggles.
“She definitely does. She’s pretty picky, doesn’t like anyone except for the chef that feeds her. Your date here is a surprising exception.” says the woman who Izuku finds leaning on his side of the booth.
“He’s a pretty amazing one, that’s for sure.” says Izuku softly as he looks at Hitoshi, watching the flush rise to his cheeks, the soft, surprised smile that curves his lips is soon mirrored by Izuku’s own.
“Well, what can I get you two lovebirds?” asks the woman as she pulls out a pad of paper and a pen from nowhere.
“He’ll take Katsudon, and I’d really love some curry.” replies Hitoshi quickly before Izuku can order himself, and Izuku spies the blank look and immediately mentally kicks himself for not correcting her.
“Wonderful, I’ll be right back with some waters while you two talk.” says the woman with a pinched look on her face like she’d just drank something sour.
Izuku stares down at the cat in his lap, not wanting to meet Hitoshi’s eyes, but then Hitoshi says, “You’d been correcting everyone that we were just friends, and this week you haven’t been. What’s going on, Izuku?”
“Well, I- I just-” Izuku stutters as his head shoots up and forces his eyes to lock with purple orbs. “Do you not want me to stop correcting them? Because I can keep doing that, but it doesn’t seem to make either of us very happy.”
Izuku specifically says us, emphasizing it as he motions between them, keeping his voice soft, curious, and open.
“D-Do you- what do you mean, neither of us are happy with it? Do you want to be more…?” asks Hitoshi confused but hopeful as he poses the question, petting the cat that has climbed up to lay on his shoulder.
“I would love nothing more than for us to be more, but do you want to date me? Because I know I don’t offer much, and I’m pretty plain-” replies Izuku as a ramble starts only for Hitoshi to reach his hand over to lift the hand that Izuku left sitting on the table.
“Izuku, I’m going to stop you right there. I can’t believe you just said you’re plain. There’s not a plain thing about you, bunny. You’re fucking adorable, you’re hot as hell, and you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met in my life.” says Hitoshi as he cuts Izuku off, eyes soft, voice firm as he settles back in his chair comfortably.
“Does that mean that you would want to date me, then?” asks Izuku softly, feeling more secure in asking his question.
“Izuku, I would love to date you.” replies Hitoshi easily, a shy sort of smile curving his lips as Izuku squeezes his hand in his own.
“Well, then we can call this a first date, or I can plan one for next Friday.” offers Izuku shyly as the waitress makes her way back over to them.
“Next Friday being the first date sounds like a wonderful idea.” says Hitoshi as he meets Izuku’s eyes.