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The first time it happened, Bakugou didn’t think much of it. He had been in the middle of a conversation with Aizawa and Kirishima when he started coughing. He saw the small bright red carnation petals, unsure if they came from him or somewhere else. Aizawa didn’t seem to notice, he was busy reading over the assignment Bakugou and Kirishima had turned in. Kirishima was already zoned out and focused on something else. So, Bakugou placed the petals in his pocket and quickly forgot about them.
The second time, it was while he was sitting with his friends. It was late, they had stayed up watching movies, and even though he usually had left long before, he had decided to stay. He was leaning against Kirishima. His eyelids were heavy, he had stopped paying attention to the movie a long time ago. It was as if there was an itch in his throat that wouldn’t leave until he coughed. The petals landed on the floor. He frowned at them for a while, but then he felt Kirishima’s arm wrap around him and he suddenly didn’t care enough.
The third time was when he started to worry.
He was home for the weekend. He had been hanging out with his parents in the living room. They had put on some romantic comedy he was trying to pretend he wasn’t interested in while he texted Kirishima. He received a photo from his best friend. It was Kirishima with Sero and Kaminari, all three smiling at the camera. Bakugou couldn’t help the small feeling of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. That’s when he started coughing.
It was so bad his parents rushed to his side to make sure he was okay. The air wasn’t reaching his lungs and he could taste the petals before he saw them this time. They tasted disgusting. He didn’t fucking know what was going on. Once the coughing had stopped, he could feel his mom’s hand rubbing his back. The petals he had coughed up lay on the ground in front of him.
“Katsuki, how long has this been going on,” his mom demanded to know.
“I-I don’t know,” Bakugou told her with a frown. “It’s only happened once? Maybe two times before this.”
His mom gave his dad a worried look. “We need to talk to you.”
That was the moment Bakugou felt fear for the first time. His mom led him to the kitchen as his dad placed a kettle on the stove. No one said a word until there was a cup of warm tea in front of Bakugou.
“Do you know what this is?” His dad asked calmly.
“No, I hadn’t thought about it.”
“It’s called Hanahaki. We always thought there might be a possibility that you could have this… with the type of personality you have,” his mom said with a sigh.
“The fuck does that mean?” Bakugou glared.
“Don’t be so defensive, you brat. I had it,” she explained with a sigh. “It can be dangerous, but I think we’re early enough to stop any damage.”
Bakugou listened as his parents explained what this Hanahaki thing was. As he listened, Kirishima crept into his mind, causing another coughing fit. That was enough for him to know. He was in love with Kirishima, and he had two options. Confess and hope he felt the same, or undergo an operation that would remove his feelings. The words started to not make sense.
He wasn’t the most mature when it came to his emotions, but what would happen if he didn’t have any? His mind spiraled as his parents told him to think it over as they said goodnight. The only thing Bakugou could do as he lay in bed was think, and somehow he always ended up back to Kirishima. His heart ached and he knew what he had to do.
*
Kirishima was waiting for him when Bakugou arrived back at the dorm. It made his heart try to jump out of his chest. He couldn’t help but think how cute Kirishima was, waiting for him like a puppy, his eyes lit up when he saw him. He felt the tickle of petals in the back of his throat, so he cleared his throat.
“Bakugou!” Kirishima rushed over, wrapping him up in a hug.
Bakugou relaxed into it, wondering if it might be the last one he would get after what he had to say. “Hey, Kirishima,” he said softly, unable to help it.
Kirishima pulled away with a smile. “How did it go?”
Bakugoug shrugged. “Do you… have a couple of minutes?” Bakugou asked as he stared at the floor.
Kirishima’s smile was gone in that very second. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
“I-yeah, I just need to talk to you, is all,” Bakugou explained, his nerves getting the better of him. He had never been this nervous around Kirishima before.
“Okay,” Kirishima told him. “Do you want to do it here? Somewhere else?”
Bakugou thought about it for a second before shaking his head. “No, let’s go to my room?”
Kirishima agreed without hesitation. It felt like an eternity before they were alone in his room. Bakugou felt himself shaking. Kirishima had sat on his bed and was waiting. Bakugou couldn’t stay still, he was pacing the room, feeling like he had caged himself in.
“Bakugou,” Kirishima called out softly, grabbing his hand as he walked by him. He held it so softly, his thumb running over his knuckles. “Talk to me, is everything okay?”
Bakugou suddenly felt his whole body turn calm. Kirishima had that effect on him. He suddenly remembered something his mother had said. “Hanahaki means you think it’s unrequited, not that it actually is.”
Bakugou shifted his hand so that Kirishima and him were holding hands. He felt Kirishima squeeze it, encouraging him.
Bakugou took a deep breath, and the words came out without hesitation. “I love you. I love you so much it made me sick.”
Kirishima’s eyes widened, his mouth dropping open then closed, his eyes confused, but he didn’t let go of his hand.
“Are you… going to say anything?” Bakugou whispered nervously.
Kirishima nodded. “You caught me off guard,” Kirishima chuckled as he stood up and kissed Bakugou’s forehead. “I love you too,” he whispered against his skin. “But what do you mean you’re sick?”
Bakugou let out a sigh of relief. He would explain everything, but first, he needed to hear it again. “Say it again.” It sounded like he was begging.
Kirishima only smiled, wrapping his arms around Bakugou and pulling him close. “I love you, Bakugou Katsuki.”
Bakugou relaxed against Kirishima. Breathing him in, and feeling as if a pressure in his chest was disappearing. Breathing was always so much easier with Kirishima around.