Chapter Text
Eijiro couldn't help but laugh at the excited tug he felt on his arms as they entered the arena. After he promised his mom that they'd be safe ten times over, bundling up his little brother Ichiro in about ten layers, and a promise to text when they got the chance, Eijiro was finally able to take off with Ichiro to his big surprise.
He had been saving up for months, but it was all worth it to see the look on Ichiro’s face as he walked into the hockey arena. It was something they bonded over since Ichiro was a baby. He'd sit on his big brother’s lap and watch with awe as the players flew across the ice. He'd been a pretty big fan of Yagi Toshinori’s team for the longest time, and it only made sense that Ichiro would become an even bigger one.
And, much like he was obsessed with the player deemed “Crimson Riot” in his heyday, Ichiro was obsessed with a player they call “Dynamight”, Bakugo Katsuki. Just out of high school and around his age, Eijiro would consider him a good role model to have. If it wasn't for his kind of asshole-ish personality and that kind of terrible attitude he had on the ice. But, he guesses it came with the territory. Bakugo Katsuki was a mega-hockey star, and Eijiro didn't even begin to understand the ins and outs of that.
That doesn't mean he particularly appreciates his attitude or understands all the hype.
But, still, Ichiro was obsessed with him. He bought him every poster, figure, and trading card, tried his best to tie the smallest jersey to fit, and made sure they watched every game. Ichiro didn't even know they were going to a game until today, and the way his face lit up was priceless.
“Do you want any snacks, bud?” He asked, bending down to pick Ichiro up in his arms.
He chuckled as Ichiro tried to fight his way back down, but he shook his head.
“It's crowded, Ichi, you need to stay with your big brother, okay?”
Ichiro pouted, but accepted his place in his arms, turning to wrap his little arms around his neck.
“Do you think I'll get to see Mr. Bakugo?”
“I'm sure you will! He's the star player after all.”
“If I yell really loud, will he hear me?”
With a laugh, he blew a raspberry on Ichiro’s cheek, earning a protesting shove and a dramatic wipe of his cheek.
“Eijiro!” Ichiro whined, trying his best to push him away and pouting.
Eijiro, being the big brother he was, gave him another, tickling his tummy as he started to laugh.
“Eijiro!” Ichiro shouted, face red with laughter as he pushed his hand against his mouth.
“Okay, okay! You got me, Ichi! I'll stop!” He grinned, fixing him back on his hip. “Want some snacks for the game? Your big brother is hungry.”
“Can we get cotton candy?”
Eijiro sighed; his mom had told him specifically not to fill Ichiro up with sweets only. The kid barely has an appetite as is, compared to when Eijiro was small, and he only asks for sweets when he is hungry.
“How about this, Ichi? We get two hot dogs to share, and then we can get cotton candy if you eat it all?”
Ichiro pouted, and oh, Eijiro's poor heart. He'd give his baby brother the whole world if he could.
“Okay, Eiji,” Ichiro said, his excitement getting the best of him already as he started to rest his head on his shoulder.
“You rest, buddy. The game is starting soon.”
He felt the press of Ichiro’s warm cheek against his collarbone, and he smiled, making sure to move as carefully as possible as he went to the food booths.
Almost everyone in the crowd around them fell in love with Ichiro as he kept jumping up and down and screaming throughout the game. He had even eaten his whole hot dog, and Eijiro didn't know what to be more excited about.
“You having fun, bud? Did you see the play Dynamight just made?” He asked, tickling him on his back.
“He's so cool, Eiji!” Ichiro beamed, pressing his hands against the glass and looking at the players with starry eyes.
“He is really cool, Ichi!” He agreed, watching as Bakugo swerved across the ice to pass the puck to another player, Midoriya. He watched as Midoriya made the goal, cheering along with the crowd.
“Why did he pass it to Midori—Deku?” Ichiro asked, not really ever being able to pronounce his name.
“'Cause that's what teamwork is about, bud!”
Ichiro frowned, “I thought Dynamight made all the points.”
“He makes a lot of points, but he also helps others make points too! That's what makes him awesome!”
“Does that make him manly?” Ichiro asked, cute little confusion crinkling his brow.
“Yeah! Very manly!” Eijiro beamed, grabbing Ichiro to sit back on his lap.
“I'm hungry, Eiji.”
“Yeah, bud? What do you want?”
“Can we get another hot dog and fizzy juice?”
Eijiro chuckled, “Yeah, buddy. We can get some fizzy juice.” He led Ichiro off his lap just to scoop him up in his arms to go to the food court again.
⋆ ⭑ ⋆
“Eiji! Eiji!” Ichiro said through a mouthful of hot dogs.
“Don't talk with your mouth full, little man.”
Ichiro did a big, dramatic swallow, taking a sip of his soda afterward.
“Okay, tell me what you wanted, now.” He said with a pat to his baby brother’s head.
“Eiji! Do you think we can go meet Dynamight?”
He smiled, “Aw, bud, they don't really meet fans.”
Especially not Bakugo. He'd always dodge the crowd, never sign autographs, brush off reporters and interviews.
So, he didn't want to break Ichiro’s heart, but he also didn't want to get his hopes up.
“But,” Ichiro pouted, “They do it on TV!”
“Hmm, what do you mean?”
Ichiro turned to him, “When they're going home! People go say bye to them!”
“You mean by the locker rooms?” He asked.
“Yeah! Locker rooms!”
Eijiro thought about it, but it was pretty late. And it was kind of past Ichiro’s bedtime already. But he didn't seem to be slowing down any time soon, and maybe the excitement would tire him out. He always had a hard time putting him to bed when his mom wasn't there, and he knew she'd be working late today. He honestly doesn't know what she’s gonna do when he's out for college.
He also wanted Ichiro to have the best experience, considering that this might be the only game he gets to take him to for a while.
“Eiji!” Ichiro pouted, tugging on his arm and climbing on his lap, elbowing him in the stomach in the process.
“Careful little man, don't be impatient.”
“I'm not!” He whined, huffing with a pout.
“Little man, if you don't behave, we'll go straight home.”
“But, Eijiro!” Ichiro whined, prompting Eijiro to give him a look.
“Are you going to behave for your big brother?”
Ichiro sniffed, giving him the biggest puppy dog eyes, “Yes!”
“And what are you supposed to say when you ask for something?”
“Please, Eijiro!”
He laughed, reaching down to ruffle his hair, “There you go!”
“Please, please, please, Eijiro!”
He gave Ichiro a teasing look, putting on his own pout, “Alright, buddy. Since you said please.”
Ichiro jumped off his lap in a flash, “Thank you, Eijiro! You're the bestest big brother ever!”
He honestly is kind of tired after this long day, taking care of Ichiro and the hype of the game. Though if this is going to make his little brother happy, he'd do it. He’d do anything to get a smile on his face. Especially after their dad left, it's the least he can do to take him to games. He needs those experiences, and Eijiro is determined to give Ichiro all the things he never got as a kid. Even more, now that Eijiro is going away for college, he needs to make sure Ichiro is spending time away from it all, being a kid.
Eijiro chuckled, getting up himself and reaching down to scoop Ichiro up in his arms, “Alright, let's go!”
⋆ ⭑ ⋆
Ichiro is all but jumping for joy as the players approach, and Eijiro can't help but laugh when his little brother's eyes light up at the sight of them, especially Bakugo. He has the biggest frown on his face as he nears the crowd of fans, a complete contrast to Midoriya in front of him, who is all smiles and waves and short greetings.
He had to think that part of that is what made Bakugo popular, the mystery of it all.
"It's him!" His brother beams, starting to wave frantically.
"Yeah, it is, bud." He chuckles, looking at Bakugo coming their way. He watches as other players stop and greet their fans, but of course, Bakugo just rolls his eyes and starts heading to the back.
"Do you think he'd sign my picture?!" His brother asks.
Eijiro frowns, "I don't know, bud. He played a lot tonight, and he seems tired. Don't get sad if he says no, okay?"
"I won't!" His brother says, starting to hold out his picture of Bakugo to the line of players.
He fully expects Bakugo just to ignore them.
And he's fully ready to scoop his baby brother up in his arms and distract him by buying him a team themed puck or ice cream or something, but then he hears a low chuckle, and he swears he hears the crowd gasp as Bakugo stops.
"Whatcha so excited for, eh brat?" Bakugo bends down to Ichiro with a smile, setting down his hockey stick on the floor.
"You did awesome, Mr. Bakugo!" His brother says, stars in his eyes.
"Mr, eh? Save that shit for my dad." Bakugo chuckles again, reaching over to ruffle his hair. Eijiro has to admit, being this close to Bakugo, he can see why everyone fawns over him. He's… handsome. Especially with that grease paint he has dripping all over his face, the way he paints it to black out his eyes and up to his nose. He has the smallest braids in his hair, and call him crazy, but he smells pretty good considering he just played in a hockey game for hours.
“C-can you sign my picture, Bakugo?" Ichiro asks, tears already forming in his eyes from how excited and nervous the poor kid was.
"I'll do you one better. How about that?"
Bakugo asks for a marker from his coach who's passing by and grabs the picture from his hands.
And Eijiro, well, Eijiro is a little star-struck. Feeling like an idiot just standing there while a famous hockey player is talking to his baby brother, just gawking at how pretty he is.
He watches as Bakugo signs Ichiro’s picture, then looks down and grabs his hockey stick, signing that too. He hears Ichiro gasp.
"Here, kid. For you."
The smile that leaves his brother as he's grabbing the stick is worth everything in the world.
"Look, Eijiro! Look!" Ichiro beams, holding up the hockey stick to him.
"That's awesome, bud! Say thank you to Mr. Bakugo!"
Bakugo looks up at Eijiro as if just noticing he's there. He smiles at him briefly before he looks back down at Ichiro.
"Thank you, Bakugo!" His brother says.
“You're welcome. You have good manners, kid.” He laughs, ruffling Ichiro’s hair one last time.
Eijiro feels his heart stop as Bakugo bends back up, smirking at him straight on and making his stomach jump as he reaches for his hand. He doesn't know if he's actually going crazy, but his stomach runs up to his heart, making static go down his spine.
He watches intently as Bakugo writes something on his palm with the marker, and Eijiro is sure his face is bright red. He could feel heat down to his neck.
"Call me if you ever come back to a game. I'll give you better seats than the shitty ones you were at." Bakugo says, pushing his hand back towards him.
Bakugo leaves him with a wink, and luckily his little brother is too enamored with his new signed merchandise to notice that his big brother wants to faint.
Because on his palm is Bakugo's number with the name "- Katsuki ;)" underneath it.
