Chapter Text
The early morning sun cast a warm, golden glow over the narrow streets of Musutafu, bathing the small bakery in soft light. The air was fresh with the promise of a new day, but inside Midoriya’s Delights, the scent of freshly baked bread and pastries had already taken over. The quiet hum of the ovens accompanied by the faint gurgle of the coffee machine gave the bakery a sense of calm that Izuku Midoriya had grown to appreciate.
Izuku moved around the kitchen with practiced grace, his green curls lightly dusted with flour as he kneaded a batch of dough. He paused for a moment, glancing through the window at the quiet street outside. The early hours were his favorite part of the day—before the rush, when it was just him, the steady rhythm of the bakery, and the peaceful silence of the world waking up. He let out a content sigh, returning his attention to shaping the dough into perfectly round buns.
Eri's Corner was a modest little hub, with just a few small tables and a glass counter showcasing the variety of treats Izuku had carefully prepared. While the bakery wasn’t big, it had become a staple of the busy city streets, a place where people stopped in for a moment of quiet. Izuku poured his heart into every loaf, every pastry, each creation infused with a bit of the warmth and care he held for his customers. It wasn’t just a business—it was his safe haven, the life he’d built for Eri and himself, where they could hide away from the world outside.
As the timer chimed, Izuku pulled open the oven door, letting the fragrant aroma of croissants spill into the kitchen. He carefully lifted the tray onto the counter, watching as the golden layers of dough gleamed in the morning light. A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips. Perfect, he thought.
The radio played softly in the background, filling the air with a gentle melody that matched the bakery’s quiet ambiance. With the croissants cooling, Izuku turned his attention to the next batch of scones. As he measured out the ingredients, the familiar jingle of the doorbell caught his ear, signaling the arrival of his first customers.
Izuku wiped his hands on his apron and stepped out of the kitchen, greeted by the sight of a few regulars who had become part of his morning routine. Mrs. Takahashi, a sprightly elderly woman with kind eyes, stood at the counter, her bright smile lighting up the room.
“Morning, Izuku!” she called, her voice warm and full of affection.
“Good morning, Mrs. Takahashi!” Izuku replied, returning her smile. “The usual?”
She nodded eagerly. “You know me too well, dear. I can’t resist those strawberry tarts.”
Izuku laughed softly, already moving to wrap up her order. As he handed her the neatly packaged tarts, Mrs. Takahashi gave him a gentle pat on the hand, her eyes twinkling with gratitude.
“You take such good care of us, Izuku. I don’t know what we’d do without this place.”
The words warmed Izuku’s heart. He watched as she left, the bell above the door jingling once more as the morning slowly picked up. More customers filtered in—people Izuku had come to know over the last six years, each with their own routines and favorite treats.
Miss Sukino always grabbed a breakfast roll on her way to work and returned in the afternoon to grab a blueberry loaf, Mr Bahn didn’t like anything sweet but his son had a craving for the stuff. Izuku could list all the different quirks and tidbits of information he had picked up over the years, the community never hesitating to chat and share their lives with him.
As the mid-morning rush came and went, the bakery fell back into a peaceful lull. Izuku was just about to check on the second batch of bread when the doorbell rang again. This time, though, the voice that followed was impossible to mistake.
“Oi, Deku, you got any of those spicy buns today?”
Izuku’s breath caught in his throat for a moment before he turned to see Katsuki Bakugo standing at the counter, his usual scowl softened ever so slightly. The tall, imposing figure was a stark contrast to the cozy bakery setting, yet somehow, over the past few weeks, Katsuki had become a fixture in Izuku’s daily routine.
Katsuki’s sharp eyes scanned the display case, his hands casually shoved into the pockets of his fitted jacket. Even in something as simple as jeans and a jacket, there was an undeniable aura about him—like he commanded attention without even trying. The sunglasses perched on his head gave him a relaxed appearance, but Izuku knew better. There was an intensity to Katsuki that always seemed to simmer beneath the surface.
Izuku swallowed, suddenly very aware of his flour-dusted clothes and the light sheen of sweat on his forehead. “Uh, yeah. I just pulled a batch out of the oven.”
Without waiting for Katsuki’s response, Izuku hurried back to the kitchen. His heart was racing—he could feel it pounding in his chest as he grabbed the tray of freshly baked buns. Over the last three weeks, the model had made it a point to visit almost daily, always asking for the spicy buns. It had taken Izuku a few days to realize who he was, but once the pieces clicked, he had been both surprised and... well, nervous.
At first, he hadn’t thought much of it, it wasn’t unusual for people to become new regulars to his shop, but Katsuki was different. The man never came in at set times, seemingly at random but daily- and always lingering after he had gotten his items. Katsuki, the face of Dynamight Fashion, in his humble little bakery. It didn’t seem real, and yet here he was. His burgundy eyes peering straight through Izuku’s own.
Katsuki took the bag, his gaze lingering on Izuku for just a second longer. A small, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Best damn thing to wake up to,” he muttered, his voice rough.
Izuku chuckled awkwardly, brushing a hand through his messy hair. “Glad you like them.”
There was a beat of silence. Katsuki didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he lingered, his eyes drifting around the shop as if taking in the atmosphere.
“Quiet morning?” Katsuki asked, his voice gruff but casual.
Izuku nodded, wiping his hands on a towel. “Yeah, for now. It usually picks up later in the afternoon.”
Katsuki grunted in response, his gaze once again finding Izuku, red piercing through his own green ones. Izuku offered an awkward smile but got nothing in return as Katsuki stared at him for a beat longer. The tension rose as Katsuki continued his little staring match, Izuku could feel the sweat dripping down his neck.
There was nothing unkind in his eyes- if anything they just seemed to be taking in his shoddy appearance, which made Izuku sweat even more knowing this was an international supermodel judging him. But then the beat passed as if deciding he’d spent enough time lingering, Katsuki straightened up, adjusting his sunglasses on his head.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.”
With that, he was gone, the doorbell jingling softly in his wake.
Izuku let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Katsuki’s visits were becoming a strange part of his routine. There was something about the way the model looked at him, the way he seemed to take an interest in the bakery... and in him. It left Izuku feeling a little off-balance, but also it was the most excitement he’s had in years.
With Katsuki no longer in the store, Izuku shook the nerves from his shoulders, wiped his hands across his apron and turned back to the kitchen. Clearing any thought of katsuki from his mind as he settled back into his routine of decorating cakes and making loaves of bread.
By mid-day, Izuku had finished his prep for a large catering order he had coming up. He found himself sitting at one of the tables, checking his phone for any new messages and reading the daily news as he ate a croissant. It would only be a few more hours until Eri would get back from school and as much as Izuku loved his daughter, he enjoyed the peace while she was at school.
When Eri had come into his life it had been hard. Her Father had been Izuku’s best friend, Kai Chisaki having been a former ringmate of Izuku’s. They both had been gunning for top scholarships in Kick Boxing for Yuuei, a national-level sports college they’d been dreaming of getting into. Kai had been a few years older than Izuku and had taken him under his wing.
The day Eri was born, Izuku was there, right beside the man as he named him her Godfather. He’d cried so much that day, that his eyes had a red tinge for the next three days. Izuku swore he’d watch over them as their family grew, supporting them from the sidelines.
He remembers the day he got the call. There had been a car accident on a highway on the other side of town, Kai and his fiance having been killed upon impact. Eri had been in the backseat, her car seat totaled and badly concussed. Izuku had been her emergency contact, and he’d rushed to the hospital as fast as possible. Holding a nurse's hand as she broke the news of Kai’s death.
That had been the second time Izuku had cried so much, his eyes stained red for days on end.
With Eri’s newly orphaned status, Izuku decided to fight for guardianship over her. Eri’s maternal grandmother had tried to fight as well, but Izuku knew how her own daughter had grown up. She and Chisaki were engaged damn it, he wasn’t going to let that happen to Eri as well.
It took over a year, giving up his dream and a bakery for him to finally gain guardianship. His mother and stepfather had supported him the entire journey, more than happy to help him start up the bakery to show financial security and sign on as co-owners for the lease.
The day he got to hold Eri in his arms and take her home had been the third time Izuku cried, at Twenty years old Izuku was now a father. Eri was only one at the time, her hair a shaggy mess and underfed in her maternal grandmother’s care. Every day with Eri by his side made all the blood, sweat and tears he’s poured worth it. Seeing her smile, eyes lit with joy, made him feel at ease- his lucky charm and one he was to take care of and nourish.
Izuku wiped the few tears hanging onto the corners of his eyes as he reminisced, his little girl was seven now. She was in school, happy, loved, and a little artist. The bakery had a corkboard on the wall of Eri’s dedicated little corner, it wasn’t anything big, a small wooden red table and a pink beanbag.
The board was full of Eri’s artwork, ones she was proud to showcase in the store for customers to see. Izuku’s favorite was one she had done at the park a few months ago, Eri smiling high on the swings as Izuku pushed her. Wiping his hands across his apron, Izuku stood moving back toward the kitchen. The lunch rush would be starting soon.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm amber hue through the bakery’s windows, the familiar jingle of the doorbell cut through the quiet. Izuku looked up from the tray of pastries he was arranging just in time to see Eri step inside. Her big, bright eyes scanned the room, locking on him with excitement.
“Daddy!” Eri beamed, her face lighting up as she hurried toward the counter. Her small figure was dwarfed by the school bag slung over her shoulders, but the joy in her step made her seem larger than life.
Izuku’s heart melted, as it always did when he saw her. No matter how long or tiring the day had been, seeing Eri never failed to fill him with a burst of energy. He wiped his hands on his apron and crouched down, arms wide to scoop her into a hug.
“Hey, sweetie,” he said, his voice gentle as he embraced her. “How was school?”
Eri pulled back slightly, her face flushed with the joy of the afternoon, and she fished into her bag. “It was good! Look what I made!” She thrust a crumpled piece of paper into Izuku’s hands, her eyes shining with pride.
Izuku unfolded the paper and found himself staring at a colorful drawing of the bakery. She had drawn him behind the counter, a bright smile on his face, and Eri sitting at one of the small tables by the window, crayons scattered around her. There were customers in the shop too, all of them grinning as they enjoyed the treats on display.
“This is incredible, Eri!” Izuku said, genuinely impressed. “You captured the bakery perfectly. Even the croissants look delicious!”
Eri giggled, clearly pleased with herself, and Izuku couldn’t help but chuckle along with her. These small moments were what he treasured the most—simple, but filled with love.
“I’m gonna go sit down,” she announced, pointing to her usual spot.
“Of course, sweetie,” Izuku replied, brushing a hand through her soft hair. “I’ll bring you a snack in a minute.”
Eri skipped over to her spot by the window, setting down her bag and pulling out her coloured pencils. She loved to draw while the afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over the bakery’s wooden floors. It had become their routine—Eri would sit and create her colorful worlds, while Izuku handled the late afternoon customers, always keeping one eye on her.
Izuku returned to the counter, pulling out a small plate and placing one of the spicy buns on it. Katsuki’s favorite. He couldn’t help but think of him, even now. For the past few weeks, Katsuki’s visits had been the highlight of his day, no matter how much he tried to deny it.
Shaking his head, he focused on the task at hand, adding a few cookies and a glass of milk to the plate. Izuku brought the snack over to Eri, setting it down gently on the table. “Here you go, your favorite,” he said, smiling.
Eri looked up from her drawing, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the food. “Thanks Dad!”
She dug into the snack with enthusiasm, her focus shifting between bites and her art. As Izuku returned to the counter, he watched her for a moment, a warmth spreading in his chest. He loved his daughter more than life, it was perfect with just the two of them against the world.
The bakery had quieted down as the afternoon wore into early evening, but it was still warm and inviting. Izuku liked these slower moments—the hum of the coffee machine, the soft chatter of the radio, the smell of baked goods lingering in the air. It was a peaceful reprieve before they closed up for the night.
He was cleaning out the display case when the bell above the door jingled again, and Izuku glanced up to see a familiar figure standing in the entrance. Katsuki Bakugou. His heart did that strange, fluttery thing again, and Izuku scrunched his eyes as he saw him. This was new… Katsuki had never come into the bakery twice in the same day.
Katsuki stepped inside, his sharp eyes scanning the shop before they settled on Izuku. He wasn’t dressed for a photoshoot today—his jacket was more casual, his sunglasses resting on top of his head. He looked, for lack of a better word, more approachable.
“Oi, Deku,” Katsuki called, making his way over to the counter. “You got more of those spicy buns?”
Izuku blinked the confusion out of his eyes, jumping into action to grab the last three buns. “You’ve got good timing, these are last batch for the day”
Katsuki’s lips twitched slightly, as if suppressing a grin. “Damn right I do.”
Izuku smiled as he held out the paper bag over. “I’ll give you them all since we’re about to close anyway.” The familiarity of serving Katsuki somehow comforting him.
Katsuki shot a wide-eyed look at him. “You sure? I mean, I’ll happily take ‘em, thanks.”
“Yeah don’t worry about it, think of it as thanks for being such a loyal customer.” Izuku’s nose crinkled as he smiled, almost as if he was sharing a secret with the model.
The blonde nodded slowly, looking at Izuku with a puzzled expression. Katsuki didn’t take the bag and leave like he should have. Instead, his gaze flickered over to Eri, who was quietly sitting by the window, focused on her drawing.
For a brief moment, Katsuki’s hardened expression softened. He looked at Eri with something akin to curiosity, his head tilting ever so slightly. Izuku watched the moment pass, surprised by the quiet interest in Katsuki’s eyes.
“She yours?” Katsuki asked, his voice lower than usual.
Izuku blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Yeah. That’s my daughter, Eri.”
Katsuki nodded, his eyes lingering on Eri for a moment longer before he turned back to Izuku. “She’s got talent,” he said, surprising Izuku with the compliment.
Izuku smiled warmly, glancing over at Eri as well. “She loves drawing. Spends every afternoon here with me, working on her art.”
“Just the two of you?” Katsuki question, eyes looking into Izuku’s
“Yeah…just the two of us,” Izuku answered, eyes breaking away to look to the side.
There was a brief pause, and then Katsuki’s mouth twitched into something that resembled a smile. “She’s got a good dad, then.”
The compliment took Izuku by surprise, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. He smiled slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed by it.
“Thanks,” Izuku finally said, his voice soft. “That means a lot.”
Katsuki gave a slight nod before turning back toward the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, his tone as casual as ever, though something unspoken lingered in the air.
As the bell above the door jingled again and Katsuki stepped out into the fading afternoon light, Izuku found himself staring after him, his thoughts swirling.
He glanced over at Eri, who had finished her snack and was now adding the final touches to her drawing.
Izuku let out a deep sigh as he continued to close the shop. Tomorrow will be another day. Another visit from Katsuki, another chance to unravel the strange man who keeps popping into his humble bakery asking for spicy buns- oh he’s going to need to stock up on ingredients for that if both he and Eri keep asking for them.
But for now, the bakery was quiet, and for just a little while longer, it was enough.
Katsuki’s heart was doing weird things in his chest as he stepped into the cold Autumn air. The damn thing kept flipping and squeezing inside its cage, his hand scrunching the paper bag beneath it. He released his breath as he walked down the street, collecting his thoughts.
Okay. So the Deku the Hot Baker has a kid. A kid. He’s a Hot Baking Dad. Katsuki could work with that. The kid- Eri his mind supplied- was cute. Katsuki had been going to the bakery for weeks now and he’d sometimes seen her in the little corner with the table, he’d just assumed she’d belong to one of the other patrons.
Going into the bakery had been a happy coincidence at first, Katsuki had been trying to escape some girl that had been following him all day. It was just his luck when he had spotted the first door and slipped inside only to be met with the most vibrant veridian eyes and cozy atmosphere.
The man behind the counter greeted Katsuki, offering him a polite smile. He stayed at the front counter, watching the blonde. Feeling a bit awkward about running into the first store he saw, Katsuki ended up buying the first thing he saw- a spicy bun, and god damn, he wishes he could relive the first bite he took all over again. Whatever Deku put in it was God tier. Waiting for the girl to leave the area, Katsuki took a seat at one of the nearby tables, just far enough back that he had a full view outside the windows but was covered in shadow.
First thing he had noted was how the man at the counter seemed to be alone in the store, running the show by himself. Next thing he had noted was the sense of calm that seemed to permeate the small shop, large front windows offering plenty of warm lighting and soft trumpet echoing through the space.
Katsuki let out a sigh as the peace sunk into his bones- his day had been hectic enough between photoshoots and the random girl following him about. He just wanted to go home for a shower and get the heavy make-up off, his left eye was twitching like crazy. Biting into the bun he’d bought, Katsuki’s not ashamed to say he’d almost moaned as he bit it. He hadn’t had any real bread or flavors in months, his harsh regimen kept him stuck to any variation of chicken or tuna and leafy greens one could think of. This singular bun was a godsent item Katsuki had really needed today.
Trying to eat the bun as slowly as possible to savor its taste, Katsuki turned back to look at the baker working behind the counter. If there was one word to describe the man, it was charming. With fluffy forested hair framing his freckled cheeks and emerald eyes drawn down as he focused on the dough beneath his hands, muscles flexing as he kneaded it. If that wasn’t enough, the freckles spanned across his arms- disappearing underneath his plain t-shirt. He was definitely easy on the eyes.
Katsuki squinted, trying to read the man’s name tag on his apron. The print was small but he could definitely make out the kanji that read Deku. In Katsuki’s humble opinion, it definitely wouldn’t have been his first choice to name a kid that- but some parents were weird. Katsuki could understand that and sympathize with the poor baker named Deku.
Mourning the loss of his bun as he took the final bite, Katsuki settled further into his seat, simply enjoying the vibe in the store. It was such a nice break away from the dizzying flash-covered life he lived, the almost still warmth of the shop inviting him to stay as he watched people pass outside on the streets.
He almost felt invisible, blending right into the masses as he sat there in this little no name bakery near his agency. Deku hadn’t even recognised him- going straight back to his work once he had served Katsuki. No bright lights, no directions, no stark white backgrounds, just warm sunlight, the smell of bread and soft jazz.
The gentleness was broken as the bakery’s door opened, a soft bell ringing as an older man stepped into the store and headed straight for the counter. Deku was at attention at once, moving to serve the man with a smile that Katsuki felt could warm him up on the coldest of days. They exchanged pleasantries, softly chatting after the man had gotten his items. The old man must have said something funny because Deku had let out a small laugh that was just music to Katsuki’s ears.
This bakery was starting to grow on him, with its soft peace and cute baker. It was homely in a way Katsuki hadn’t felt in years, if ever. Katsuki’s home had always been loud and raucous, his mother’s voice filling any space she was in. Even with his parents coming and going from home to the agency or whatever country they were in whenever it pleased them. They lead busy lives as the CEOs of Japan’s biggest fashion brand. It was always filled with something going on, some event that sent everyone scrambling around the house trying to prepare.
The Bakery was the complete opposite of everything Katsuki had ever experienced, and he wanted to keep experiencing this other side. The quiet and peace one could feel by simply existing. Katsuki watched as the old man left, never sparing the model a glance before he was out in the streets again continuing his day.
Checking his phone, Katsuki had ten new messages, one from today’s photographer asking when his next shoot was and a few from his personal assistant letting him know his schedule for tomorrow. Checking the time, Katsuki noted he’d been sitting in the little bakery for twenty minutes. The time slipping through his fingers quickly, he took that as his que to leave.
Standing up from the table, Katsuki glanced out the window looking for the girl who had been following him. Satisfied that she was nowhere to be seen, Katsuki stepped out of the shop and threw a quick thanks over his shoulder. As the door closed behind him, Katsuki took note of where the bakery was located and its name. Already determined to come back again the next day after his meeting at the agency, if only just to soak in the ambience of the place and maybe have a conversation with the cute baker as well.
As it turned out, talking to the baker was harder than Katsuki thought. Not because Deku did anything- but because Katsuki just couldn’t find the right words. It had been four days since his first visit to the bakery and every day, Katsuki came back.
The amount of gluten he was eating was shredding his stomach up but it was worth it if it meant he could see the baker again.
So far, Katsuki’s attempts at starting a conversation with the man had been lackluster. Usually ending with a gruff thanks as he took a seat at one of the nearby tables.
He had been determined to at least get more than a usual customer interaction out of the man, maybe asking him how his day had been before backing out like a coward as soon as green filled his vision. Just as he’d done the prior two visits. The fourth day was different though, because Katsuki had gotten Deku’s name wrong.
As Deku had handed him his bun, Katsuki stared at him, trying to gather the courage to speak only to give up again. “Thanks Deku,” Katsuki turned away quickly, heading to a nearby table.
“Uhm- actually, It’s Izuku.” A voice called from behind him, soft and apologetic as it lilted down.
Katsuki froze in place, slowly spinning on his heels to face the baker. “Wait, are you serious?”
The baker nodded, eyes casted off to the side as he ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, I totally get it, it happens all the time. But- yeah. Izuku.” He let out an awkward laugh at the end
“So I’ve just been calling you by the wrong name this whole time?” Katsuki gaped as he faced him. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Well, you look like you wanna be left alone so I didn’t wanna bother you too much…” Izuku stood behind the counter, still not making eye contact.
Katsuki’s jaw clicked shut at that because yeah- he had been pretty unapproachable in his attempts to be approachable. “Uh- yeah sorry about that. I’ll keep it in mind, but I think I’ll stick with Deku. Kinda sounds like Dekiru y’know?”
Izuku offered him a small smile. “ ‘I can do it’ That’s fine I guess.”
Katsuki shifted his weight, not wanting to give up the conversation now that the bullets had been bitten. “ So… been busy today?” His voice coming out rough with the topic change.
“Uh, yeah, the morning rush was pretty intense,” Izuku answered, sounding pleasantly surprised by the question. “But it’s calming down now.”
Katsuki gave a small nod, eyes flicking over the empty tables. “Yeah, figured. Place always smells good though.”
Izuku’s face lit up, clearly pleased with the compliment. “Thank you! I try to keep everything fresh.”
Katsuki grunted again, not sure what else to say. Checking his phone, the time told him his break was ending and he had to be back in the studio within five minutes. “Well… see you tomorrow, I guess.”
He turned toward the door but hesitated before pushing it open, glancing back over his shoulder. “Please save me some spicy buns.”
Izuku chuckled softly, nodding. “I will.”
With a brief wave, Katsuki left the bakery, the doorbell chiming behind him. His steps were quick, but there was a warmth lingering in his chest. He’d completed his first mission, actually talking to the baker.
As Katsuki reached his apartment, he placed the three spicy buns on the marble counter in his kitchen. The apartment was dark, cold, sparse of anything personal and too big for just him. His parents had bought it for him when he’d started working Full time, something about him being a grown ass man and needing his own space. As he moved to his bedroom, Katsuki started to reassess his current mission.
Originally, it had been to get Izuku’s number but now that Katsuki knew he had a kid, that mission felt ...different. It wasn’t like he didn’t know how to talk to people—hell, his job made him interact with hundreds every week. But there was something about Izuku that made Katsuki hesitate.
He was soft, warm, and attentive in a way Katsuki wasn’t used to. And now, with the knowledge that Izuku was a single dad, Katsuki couldn’t just stroll in with his usual approach. There was more to consider. A kid meant responsibilities, something far deeper than just casual flirting or trying to score a date.
Katsuki sat heavily on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair. He wasn’t even sure why he was thinking this hard about it. Sure, Izuku had caught his attention in a way that no one had in years, but there was no denying that things had gotten more complicated. His eyes wandered to the neat but stark walls of his bedroom, the silence of the apartment feeling heavier than usual.
What would it even be like? To date someone with a kid? Katsuki had never thought about it before. Sure, he could look after a kid for a few hours and it would be just fine, but to have a kid around 24/7? Could he really fit into that kind of life? He cursed under his breath, feeling a strange mix of uncertainty and curiosity gnawing at him.
Shaking his head, Katsuki stood and crossed to his wardrobe, trying to shove the thoughts aside as he stripped off his shirt. It was too soon to be worrying about all this. He barely knew the guy, and he sure as hell didn’t need to overthink every little detail. But despite his best efforts, his thoughts kept circling back to that bakery and the quiet, freckled smile that had started to feel familiar.
“Just get the damn number,” he muttered to himself. “One step at a time.”