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Izuku is convinced that Katsuki is mad at him because he hasn't stopped starting in his direction since he walked into the common room. A couple of years before Katsuki decided to apologize, Izuku thought he didn't like him at all because he was constantly glaring at him. However, now that they're friends it must be because he's simply angry with him.
He'd like to know why, but Izuku is still too nervous to do ask directly; maybe he should ignore him for a while or at least until Katsuki himself decides to approach him and tell (or more likely yell at) him the reason why he's pissed.
Izuku sits on a different couch, determined to focus on his conversation with Uraraka and Iida, although it's difficult because he swears he can feel Katsuki's eyes on him. It doesn't help at all that Ashido is constantly giggling and making fun of Katsuki for some reason.
He shouldn't look at him.
After a while (and he's not sure exactly how that happened) Katsuki ends up sitting on the same couch, right next to him, making it way more difficult to ignore him.
"Let's go study together, nerd."
Finally, Izuku turns his head in Katsuki's direction, ready to face whatever is going on, but feels absolutely confused when he doesn't see a frown or scowl on Katsuki's face.
What's going on?
Actually, now that he's paying attention he realizes that Katsuki is smiling softly at him; it's a smile that would be imperceptible if it wasn't because they were very close.
"S-Sure, sounds good, Kacchan."
"Let's go then," even the blond's voice is gentle; Izuku had never heard him talking like that before.
It's very confusing.
It happens again during the study session and afterwards when they go grab something from the dining room hours later. Then it happens again the next day during lunch and also in the classroom when Aizawa is not there; Katsuki has to turn around on his chair to stare at Izuku directly.
He should ask his friend (because they're friends now, right) but Izuku honestly doesn't know how to start that type of conversation.
Then he decides to ask for advice from his other friends first.
"Uhh... have you noticed that Kacchan stares at me a–"
"Finally!" Uraraka blurts out, looking almost relieved. "I knew you weren't THAT oblivious, Deku-kun!"
Oh, so they have noticed... why didn't they say anything before?
"I know he's angry, but I'm not sure why and he doesn't want to tell me! Well, I know I should ask but–"
"What?" Uraraka cuts him off again. "What are you talking about?"
"What do you mean?" Izuku says, noticing that Iida is getting confused as well. "Kacchan is always glaring at me lately that's what I'm talking about. I thought you had noticed!"
"Wait, hold on a second..." the girl takes a deep breath, looking like she can't quite believe what's happening. "You think Bakugo is mad at you?"
"Yes," Izuku nods. "Why would he stare at me so much if he wasn't?"
For a brief second, it looks like one of Uraraka's eyes starts twitching, but then the moment is gone.
"This is worse than I thought. Iida, help me!"
The tall boy looks from the distressed girl back to Izuku.
"It appears Bakugo is actually–"
"Nevermind, I'll do it myself." Uraraka sighs, putting a hand on Iida's shoulder to make him stop. "Have you ever tried to actually look back whenever he's 'glaring' at you?"
Blushing, Izuku shakes his head.
"I don't want him to yell at me."
"In the last couple of months, has he ever yelled at you?"
Oh, she's right. He hasn't, which makes the situation even more confusing.
"No, but–"
"He doesn't stare at you like he's angry, Deku-kun," she interrupts him, taking a deep breath before cupping Izuku's face in her hands, like she wants him to pay attention to every single word she's saying. "He stares at you like he's in love."
Feeling his face like it's on fire, Izuku starts shaking his head from side to side.
"That's n-not possible!"
"Why not?"
"Kacchan doesn't see me that way!"
"He literally does!"
Iida nods right behind Uraraka. Izuku closes his eyes, wondering if he's dreaming that conversation, however, when he opens them again, Uraraka is still narrowing her eyes at him.
"Ask him."
He won't, not now, probably never because that's ridiculous.
***
Alright, maybe he does need to talk to him about it.
But it's really difficult to say something; what if Katsuki gets mad at him for it? What if Izuku got it completely wrong?
What if Katsuki is actually angry with him?
No, he probably isn't because he hasn't stopped helping him train or study; he even spends as much time with Izuku as he can.
Izuku takes a deep breath, not even bothering to keep reading the All Might article he found online; it's useless, it's impossible for him to focus at the moment.
He can feel Katsuki's red eyes on him again; he knows his friend is staring at him.
"Kacchan..." Izuku turns around and blushes as soon as his eyes meet Katsuki's.
He's never seen him so relaxed before; Katsuki looks content, staring at Izuku like he's suddenly the most important thing to him.
It makes him feel nervous.
"Are you–" he can't finish the sentence because Katsuki leans closer and smiles at him fondly. Izuku can finally see it; it's a fond expression, full of warm emotions.
"Izuku," Katsuki looks nervous too, vulnerable; like he has just made a difficult decision.
"Maybe we should–"
Katsuki kisses Izuku on the cheek; it's a small, quick peck that leaves both of them red and speechless for a couple of seconds.
"You are very important to me, nerd," the blond mumbles; he's struggling with the words but he does as best as he can to get the message across. "I..."
Katsuki has never been good with words, most of the time he used to say the opposite of what he felt, but Izuku knows he's been working on that. And yet, he feels like there's so much more hidden in that sentence.
So Izuku kisses him on the forehead to let him know he understands; he doesn't need to say it if he's not ready.
Katsuki melts into the kiss and stares back at him like he's done many times before. This time the emotions are so clear for Izuku that he can't quite believe he mistook them for anger.
Then, Izuku thinks he's going to explode because Katsuki starts kissing him all over the face, but he takes his time, almost like he's determined to kiss every single one of the freckles on Izuku's face.
"Let me take care of you," Katsuki whispers, even though they're alone. "Let me adore you, nerd."
Izuku is glad that Katsuki still calls him nerd because it's the only thing that convinces him the conversation is a real one and he's not dreaming somehow.
He wants to say it back because he knows what it means, he knows what Katsuki is trying to tell him, but he's too flustered to do it.
"Okay, Kacchan," he says instead, knowing his freckles have momentarily disappeared under a very deep blush.
He hopes Katsuki understands.
Although it seems he does because the blond smiles triumphantly before giving Izuku a kiss on the lips.
A kiss on the lips that's a promise, a confession and a hopeful wish at the same time.
With a smile, Izuku closes his eyes and kisses him back.