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*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* The First Night *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 4 AM.
Certainly, no one would be using the laundry room that early, right? Eijirou figured he could just start cleaning his clothes without fighting over who got the best washer if he stayed up late enough.
But to his surprise, one of the washers was already spinning round and round, sloshing soapy water against its window.
In the corner on a plastic red chair, Bakugou was scrolling on his phone, paying him absolutely no mind at all.
“Oh, hey Bakugou!” Kirishima smiled as he loaded his laundry. “I didn’t think you’d be up this late.”
“Tch. I always get up this early on laundry day.” Bakugou looked up from his phone to peer into the washer’s sudsy waves.
“Oh, uh…” He closed the door and clicked it closed, pressing a few buttons before the machine filled with water. “I guess that makes sense. I don’t like fighting with everyone over the big washer.”
All of the washers in the laundry room were the same except one particularly large washer. It was supposed to be for anyone who needed to wash bed sheets or comforters, but something about it just washed clothes better than the rest of the machines.
“The hell?”
Kirishima turned to Bakugou as he noticed his raised brow and accusatory squint. His arms were crossed like he did whenever he was severely judging someone.
“What?” Kirishima couldn’t help but sweat under his stare, even though he was sure he hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Why are you washing whites with colors, idiot?” He gestured to the mix of white, black, and red in the machine.
Kirishima raised his hands in defense, shaking them in front of him as if Bakugou had actually threatened him. “I’ve been washing my clothes together my whole life! Separating whites from colors is just an old wives tale!” It was, right? It had to be!
“Tch. When your white shirt turns pink I’ll say I told you so.” Bakugou’s attention went back to his phone as he leaned deeper into the chair.
But in his paranoia, Kirishima wasn’t done bickering. “How would you know anyway? All you wear is black!” He pointed to the dark pit that was Bakugou’s washer.
“Whatever, Shitty Hair.”
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* Just A Spark: Night Two *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 5 AM.
This time he was certain he was alone as the machine whirred in front of him.
Until he wasn’t.
Bakugou froze and stared for a moment as he carried his laundry basket inside the room.
“Hey, Bakugou!” Kirishima grinned at his friend. He wasn’t sure why Bakugou was acting so odd, but at the same time, Kirishima would be acting odd too if he consistently woke up every day at the crack of dawn.
“Hey, Shitty Hair.” Bakugou finally seemed to unfreeze and started loading his clothes into the washer. He sprinkled some sort of bright green pebble-like stuff inside that Kirishima had never seen before rather than liquid soap.
“Got up late, huh?” Kirishima asked, looking his friend up and down. His shirt was slightly wrinkled and his hair was messier than usual.
Bakugou rubbed his eye unconsciously. “Yeah, well, so what if I got some extra sleep? Gonna need it to study for the exams. You should be resting if you’re trying to pass.” He shot a sharp look at him. “I know damn well you didn’t wake up this early to do laundry.”
“I couldn’t sleep.” Kirishima admitted. His stomach tightened and he avoided Bakugou’s harsh gaze. “I just keep wondering if I’m gonna pass.”
That wasn’t exactly true, though. What he was actually nervous about was the fact that studying with Bakugou had taken on a completely different vibe lately.
Instead of just studying in the common room, Bakugou had suggested they should meet up at a coffee shop down the street from their school.
Then it was a park. Then a hiking trail. Then a lake Kirishima didn’t even know existed, tucked away deep in the woods where no one else would bother them.
Kirishima couldn’t help but see Bakugou a little differently outside of school. He was a little less angry and a little more willing to actually hold a conversation. His jaw often relaxed since he wasn’t clenching it so much.
And Kirishima began to realize Bakugou could actually be nice sometimes.
Silence fell across the laundry room as Bakugou sat and scrolled on his phone in the seat right next to Kirishima. Neither of them said a word to each other, even when Kirishima started folding his dry clothes.
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* One Plus One Equals: The Third Night *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 6 AM
And everything started feeling a lot more ridiculous.
Despite Kirishima’s frantic run down to the laundry room- because he had somehow fallen asleep at 7 PM sharp on a warm Thursday evening and slept for 11 hours straight- he still managed to find Bakugou in his corner of the laundry room.
And just like the other two nights, they greeted each other. A washing machine was loaded with clothes. And Kirishima couldn’t help but feel his stomach getting tighter.
He sat next to Bakugou despite his nerves. “Can you show me that thing again? With the whatever-it’s-called equations? I fell asleep doing homework last night.” He showed Bakugou his notebook and homework assignment.
Bakugou rolled his eyes and took the pages out of his hand. “None of this is right, idiot.” He pointed with the tip of the pen. “You keep forgetting a step right here. It’s basic PEMDAS.”
“Oh, right…” Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck. “What was that again?”
He couldn’t help but laugh as Bakugou smacked him in the head with his own notebook. Kirishima waved away the second hit and complained, “Come on, man! Math is hard!”
Bakugou curled his lip. “Math is easy with the right teacher. So listen to me.” He jabbed the pen at one of the equations.
Kirishima leaned closer to see the marks he was making on the page.
“So… like this?” He took back his homework and continued working on the problem.
“Yeah, that’s what you were forgetting.” Bakugou casually swung his arm across the back of their seats.
Kirishima stiffened for a minute, but the moment was broken as one of the washers sang a tune to indicate Bakugou’s clothes were ready.
As Bakugou stood up, Kirishima couldn’t help but wonder, What the heck was that?!
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* Mina Ashido is the Queen of Friendship: A Cafeteria Confession *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 7 AM.
And Kirishima couldn’t get what happened yesterday out of his head.
Ashido had met him at the lunch table, whisking him aside for a “super top secret meeting.”
“Do you know who Bakugou’s girlfriend is?” Ashido asked him straight up with a suspicious look on her face.
“His what?” Kirishima’s mouth hung open dumbly. The question found him completely blindsided. His… girlfriend? In his shock, he could barely comprehend what Ashido was saying.
“I heard him making fun of Kaminari for being the only single guy in Class 1-A! So he must be dating someone!” Ashido bounced on her tiptoes, pleading with her hands clasped. “You gotta at least have a hint, right?”
“That’s… news to me.” Kirishima suddenly found his breath hitching in his throat. His heart was barely beating somewhere on the tile floor below, if it was still beating at all.
“He must have forgotten about you though.” Ashido tapped her chin. “I’d totally be the first to know if you started dating someone, right, Kiri?” She looked him up and down.
“Yeah, totally!” He promised. He jabbed his thumb somewhere vaguely behind him as his throat started to burn. “Um… I gotta go…”
He had run off in the general direction of their home room and barely managed to finish his lunch between waves of jealous nausea.
The laundry room had been empty this morning, too. So there was no way he could have talked to Bakugou about it before his walk to school. And if he approached his friend during class, he knew he would get a stiff answer, if he even answered at all. There would be a great probability he would just blast him to the Heavens for mentioning something like that in public.
So all Kirishima could do was wait until he had Bakugou alone to ask him.
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* Bitter Silence: Night Five *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 4 AM again.
Kirishima silently sat in the laundry room, Bakugou right next to him like always.
But the taste on Kirishima’s tongue was too bitter to speak.
They were best friends! If Bakugou had a girlfriend he would know, right? In one way or another, he would have at least seen them holding hands or something.
Though… maybe Bakugou wasn’t the hand holding type.
Even though his arm was currently draped over Kirishima’s shoulders. Maybe it was different because they were friends, somehow?
Kirishima peeked over at what Bakugou was scrolling through on his phone. For sure he would have a photo of her somewhere, or messages from her coming through?
But of course not.
Because they were the only ones awake at 4 AM
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
Bakugou Gets A Clue: Night Six *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 5 AM.
And Kirishima finally got the balls to ask the question above the sound of sloshing water.
“Ashido heard you started dating someone.” He scratched his chin, trying to look casual about it. “What are they like? They gotta be pretty special to get your attention.”
“He is.” Bakugou said simply. “But he’s too damn shy to make any real moves. Sometimes I wonder if we’re actually dating or if he’s just an idiot.” He put his arm on the back of the chair again, almost pointedly. But Kirishima had no idea what that might mean.
Instead, he was focused on what Bakugou had said. A gnawing feeling crept into his stomach. “Oh.” Kirishima frowned. So it was true, after all. Ashido was right. At Bakugou’s steady glare, he shook himself out of his sadness. “But you think everyone is an idiot.” He half-heartedly teased. Anything to avoid hinting to Bakugou that he was actually pretty upset.
“Because everyone is.” Bakugou scrunched his nose in annoyance.
Kirishima wasn’t brave enough to pry further.
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* From Shitty Hair to Eijirou: Night Seven *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 6 AM.
This time, Kirishima purposefully waited until he heard Bakugou carry his clothes to the laundry room.
He figured if he was going to spend any time with his best friend, it would be on laundry day. After all, a secret boyfriend probably took up most of Bakugou’s time.
Not that Kirishima would know. He had taken to eating lunch in the classroom all by himself.
If he had to see Bakugou lowkey flirting with another guy, or sharing subtle looks, or anything like that, he was certain he would have a hard time eating anything ever again. His heart would be too broken to even love food anymore.
But now was his time. So why not make it count?
He fought off the drowsiness that stung at his eyelids as he carried his clothes downstairs.
The typical, “Hey, Bakugou”
The usual, “Hey, Shitty Hair.”
But then the unusual: “Katsuki.”
“What?” Kirishima blinked a few times. His head spun for a second, too many questions whirling around his head to do anything more than freeze on the spot with a dirty shirt hanging from his hand.
“Last name shit’s kinda weird isn’t it? Katsuki’s fine if you want.”
His answer was simple, and casual. Like it was supposed to answer all of Kirishima’s questions in an instant.
But it didn’t at all. You would have to be really close to someone to use their first name, even amongst friends. First names had deep meaning, and using them showed your closeness to someone.
Kirishima furrowed his brow, suddenly realizing one crucial thing.
If someone was Bakugou’s boyfriend, they’d probably call him by his first name. Or a nickname.
That would mean…
Right. That would make sense. There was only one other person in class who called him anything but ‘Bakugou.’
Kirishima still offered his name anyway. Because they were still friends. “Any chance you’d call me Eijirou?”
“Slim to none.” Bakugou cruelly said.
“Right.” Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck before loading up his laundry. Just the usual.
But still, so strange.
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* Of Midoriya and Bakugou: A (false) Realization *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was a dreary, wet 7 AM.
Rain pattered against Kirishima’s window and they all had gotten an email that classes were canceled due to the weather and to be cautious of potential power outages.
Kirishima stayed in his warm bed, picking up the pieces of his freezing cold heart.
He ignored the texts from Bakugou- or Katsuki, now- insisting they should study together.
And he ignored the prying texts from Ashido, too.
But what he couldn’t ignore was that Midoriya had sent him a message, too, asking if he wanted to meet in the gym room to spar for training.
Why didn’t he do that with his boyfriend? Katsuki was a wonderful sparring partner. Out of everyone, Kirishima would know that best.
Or at least he used to.
He couldn’t help but notice that Katsuki and Midoriya had been much more forgiving of each other’s presence since their house arrest.
That must have been where it all started.
Of course Bakugou would notice the guy who had led the charge of his rescue. (Even though he’d never actually admit that’s what it was.)
And of course it was the guy he had been childhood friends with. (Even though he would have never called them friends back then.)
Kirishima tossed his phone down to the carpet below his bed.
Anything else that would make his chest get tighter could wait. Now, he would go back to sleep to forget.
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* Playing Hooky: Laundry Edition *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 8 AM.
Kirishima walked to school in between Ashido and Kaminari. His feet dragged with every step, barely able to keep up with them.
Kaminari finally asked, “You good? You look awful.” His golden eyes were wide with concern.
“Yeah…” Ashido looked at his face with scrutiny. “You’re super pale and your eyes are dark. Eww,” She backed up a step. “You’re not getting sick, are you?”
Kirishima stopped in his tracks. “Actually…” He kept his gaze as low as his self esteem, staring at the asphalt below them. “I’m not feeling too good. Can you tell Aizawa I’m feeling sick? I’m just gonna…”
He turned on his heel half mindedly like an unthinking zombie. All he wanted was to lay down in bed and forget everything.
“Oh… okay…” Ashido sounded concerned, but didn’t say anything more.
Kirishima stumbled into his room. But as he nearly tripped over a pair of boxers, he realized, Aw, man. I forgot to do laundry .
He slowly picked up his clothes and dragged his basket down the stairs.
At least this time he could be, for absolute certain, alone.
He opened the washer, but it wasn’t empty. Inside was a note, handwritten in orange pen.
See you at 4 AM next week, idiot.
*.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:* Eijirou Kirishima is an Idiot: The Last Night *.·:·.★ ✦ ★･:･:*
It was 4 AM.
Bakugou’s laundry was in the dryer this time.
Kirishima sat next to him, his whole body feeling like he'd been dragged through the mud.
But he had to know. He had to finally figure out where the hell he went wrong. Though his chest ached, and he was nearly begging himself not to ask, there had to be some kind of closure here. He had to move on. And the only way he could was by asking one painful question.
“Hey, Bak-“ He corrected himself. “Katsuki?”
“Hm?” Katsuki didn’t even look at him.
“Before you started dating your boyfriend-“ who totally isn’t Midoriya “- did I ever have a chance with you?”
Bakugou was silent for far too long before clicking his tongue. “Tch. I knew you were an idiot.”
“Right. I should go…” Kirishima was about to stand up, but he was stopped right in his tracks.
It was only a mumble, barely able to be heard, but Bakugou said, “Of course you had a chance with me, Ei.”
Kirishima couldn’t look at him. “Then what did he do better than me?” He grimaced, bracing for impact.
“Nothing.” Bakugou groaned out loud, the sharp smack of his palm hitting his forehead echoed through the laundry room. “You idiot. If I just wanted to study I’d have done it in the dorms.”
“Wait…” Kirishima furrowed his brows.
“ You’re my boyfriend, idiot.”
What?
They were dating all this time? The coffee shops, the mountain hikes, the parks… They were all dates?!
“So that’s what you meant by shy!” Kirishima exclaimed as the pieces started fitting together. “I didn’t make any moves on you because I had no idea we were even dating!”
Bakugou laughed. A real, genuine laugh. “Good thing I noticed before things got too serious, numbskull.” He knocked on Kirishima’s temple jokingly.
“Well you should know I’m not actually shy! And that this whole time I was totally crushing on you big time.” Kirishima laughed at himself, shaking his head in embarrassment. “Man, crushing on your own boyfriend is a whole other level, huh?”
“Shut up.” Bakugou rolled his eyes. “Dumbass.” He turned his body to face Kirishima better and grabbed his shoulders to hold him still. “I ain’t shy either.” He whispered before leaning closer, his breath dancing along Kirishima’s lips just before closing the gap.
Kirishima’s heart pounded and sweat beaded across his forehead. His entire body crackled with electric sparks of joy. Bakugou’s lips were a perfect match for his, soft, and warm, but mostly, the kiss felt like coming home.
They shared kisses over and over until finally Kirishima whispered with the very last of his breath;
“Shit. I’m actually dating Katsuki Bakugou.”